Intriguing olfactory proteins from the yellow fever mosquito,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Aedes aegypti</Emphasis>

Four antennae-specific proteins (AaegOBP1, AaegOBP2, AaegOBP3, and AaegASP1) were isolated from the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti and their full-length cDNAs were cloned. RT-PCR indicated that they are expressed in female and, to a lesser extent, in male antennae, but not in control tissues (legs). AaegOBP1 and AaegOBP3 showed significant similarity to previously identified mosquito odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) in cysteine spacing pattern and sequence. Two of the isolated proteins have a total of eight cysteine residues. The similarity of the spacing pattern of the cysteine residues and amino acid sequence to those of previously identified olfactory proteins suggests that one of the cysteine-rich proteins (AaegOBP2) is an OBP. The other (AaegASP1) did not belong to any group of known OBPs. Structural analyses indicate that six of the cysteine residues in AaegOBP2 are linked in a similar pattern to the previously known cysteine pairing in OBPs, i.e., Cys-24–Cys-55, Cys-51–Cys-104, Cys-95–Cys-113. The additional disulfide bridge, Cys-38–Cys-125, knits the extended C-terminal segment of the protein to a predicted 2-helix. As indicated by circular dichroism (CD) spectra, the extra rigidity seems to prevent the predicted formation of a C-terminal -helix at low pH.Electronic Supplementary Material  Supplementary material is available for this article if you access the article at . A link in the frame on the left on that page takes you directly to the supplementary material.     

Umbilical cord haemangioma associated with an eruptive cutaneous haemangioma in a female infant

We report a female infant noted prenatally to have an umbilical cord mass. At birth, a labial strawberry haemangioma was noted. She subsequently developed an abdominal mass which was discovered to be a proliferating haemangioma, continuous with both the labial and the umbilical stump lesions.     

Spondyloarthropathy in vertebrae of the aquatic Cretaceous snake <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lunaophis aquaticus</Emphasis>, and its first recognition in modern snakes

Inflammatory arthritis is documented for the first time in snakes. Ossification of the intervertebral capsule and zygapophyseal joints resulting in segmental vertebral fusion was observed in the aquatic Cretaceous snake Lunaophis aquaticus. Such pathologic alterations are pathognomonic for the spondyloarthropathy form of inflammatory arthritis. A survey of 2144 snakes in recent collections, performed to identify Holocene prevalence, revealed only two occurrences in extant snakes. The findings in Bitis gabonica and Elaphe taeniura were indistinguishable from those noted in Lunaophis aquaticus and identical to those previously recognized in modern varanids. The pathology likely represents a form of reactive arthritis related to enteropathic infection. While the disease probably did not affect general locomotion, its vertebral column position may have compromised mating.     

Potential Impacts of Highway Median Barriers on Wildlife: State of the Practice and Gap Analysis

Median barriers separate lanes of traffic moving in opposite directions on multilane highways. Such traffic safety devices can reduce head-on collisions but also have the potential to reduce landscape permeability by impeding wildlife movements across highways. Median barriers may also increase the risk of wildlife–vehicle collisions if an animal becomes trapped or confused amid barriers searching for a place to cross. A 2002 Transportation Research Board report highlighted the need to better understand the potential impacts of highway median barriers on wildlife. This lack of information can cause significant project delays and increase transportation project costs. This study represents the first attempt in North America to bring together information about highway median and roadside barriers and wildlife and provide preliminary guidelines to balance the needs of motorist safety and wildlife movements.     

Effect of Compatibilizing Agent on the Properties of Highly Crystalline Composites Based on Poly(lactic acid) and Wood Flour and/or Mica

This article contains a concept of the mechanical properties improvement of the highly crystalline poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and filled composites. PLA as a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer was plasticized with poly(ethylene glycol) and filled with 30 vol% of organic and/or inorganic filler. The degree of crytallinity was intentionally increased by annealing. The filler/polymer matrix interphase was modified with the addition of 4, 4′-Methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). The effect of compatibilizing as well as plasticizing agent on the thermal and mechanical properties, the water-absorption behaviour and crystallization characteristics were studied. The results indicated that high content of filler and crystallites have a strong influence on the composite′s mechanical properties despite of the plasticizer content, showing a high Young modulus. The MDI seems to react in preference easy with plasticizing agent and then alternatively with filler due to the low functionality of commercial PLA grade.     

Prenatal genetic counselling for psychiatric disorders

Psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and obsessive–compulsive disorder are common disorders with complex aetiology. They can exact a heavy toll on the individual with the condition and can have significant impact on family members too. Accordingly, psychiatric disorders can arise as a concern in the prenatal context – couples may be interested in learning about the chance for their child to develop the illness that manifests in the family and may be interested in discussing options for prenatal testing. However, the complex nature of these conditions can present challenges for clinicians who seek to help families with these issues. We established the world's first specialist genetic counselling service of its kind in Vancouver, Canada, in 2012, and to date, have provided counselling for ~500 families and have demonstrated increases in patients' empowerment and self efficacy after genetic counselling. We draw on our accumulated clinical experience to outline the process by which we approach prenatal genetic counselling for psychiatric disorders to assist other clinicians in providing thoughtful, comprehensive support to couples seeking out this service. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The co-occurrence of Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder: is it because of additional genetic variations?

Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at a significantly higher frequency than the typical population. The differentiation of ASD symptoms from those of severe intellectual disability presents diagnostic challenges, which have led to more refined methods in the clinical evaluation of ASD in DS. These improved phenotypic characterization methods not only provide better diagnosis of ASD in DS, but may also be useful in elucidating the etiology of the increased prevalence of ASD in DS. Because all individuals with the classic presentation of DS have trisomy 21, it is possible that those with co-occurring DS and ASD may have additional genetic variants which can act as modifiers of the phenotype, leading to the development of ASD. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Red-throated loons (Gavia stellata) breeding in Alaska,USA, are exposed to PCBs while on their Asian wintering grounds

Red-throated loons (Gavia stellata) breeding in Alaska declined 53% during 1977–1993. We compare concentrations of environmental contaminants in red-throated loons among four nesting areas in Alaska and discuss potential ramifications of exposure on reproductive success and population trends. Eggs from the four areas had similar total polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations, but eggs from the Arctic coastal plain had different congener profiles and greater toxic equivalents (TEQs) than eggs from elsewhere. Satellite telemetry data indicate that red-throated loons from the Arctic coastal plain in northern Alaska winter in southeast Asia, while those breeding elsewhere in Alaska winter in North America. Different wintering areas may lead to differential PCB accumulation among red-throated loon populations. For eggs from the Arctic coastal plain, TEQs were great enough to postulate PCB-associated reproductive effects in piscivores. The correlation between migration patterns and PCB profiles suggests that red-throated loons breeding in northern Alaska are exposed to PCBs while on their Asian wintering grounds.