Current global environmental change calls for comprehensive and complementing approaches for biodiversity conservation. According to recent research, consideration of the diversity of Earth’s abiotic features (i.e., geodiversity) could provide new insights and applications into the investigation and management of biodiversity. However, methods to map and quantify geodiversity at local scale have not been developed although this scale is important for conservation planning. Here, we introduce a field methodology for observing plot-scale geodiversity, pilot the method...

Concept learning is considered a high-level adaptive ability. Thus far, it has been studied in laboratory via asocial trial and error learning. Yet, social information use is common among animals but it remains unknown whether concept learning by observing others occurs. We tested whether pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) form conceptual relationships from the apparent choices of nest-site characteristics (geometric symbol attached to the nest box) of great tits (Parus major). Each wild flycatcher female (n...

While the strength of sexual signals is important in mate attraction, the ability to accurately compare signals may also have a major effect on mate choice. Large distances between competitors may reduce competition, as accurate comparison of signals becomes harder. This may be advantageous to weak signallers and detrimental to stronger signallers. We create a mathematical model examining optimal distance from stronger competitors for sexual signallers and test its predictions using the common glow-worm (Lampyris...

The mutualism between legumes and rhizobia is clearly the product of past coevolution. However, the nature of ongoing evolution between these partners is less clear. To characterize the nature of recent coevolution between legumes and rhizobia, we used population genomic analysis to characterize selection on functionally annotated symbiosis genes as well as on symbiosis gene candidates identified through a two-species association analysis. For the association analysis, we inoculated each of 202 accessions of the legume...

Arctic ecosystems are changing dramatically with warmer and wetter conditions resulting in complex interactions between herbivores and their forage. We investigated how Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) modify their late winter diets in response to long-term trends and interannual variation in forage availability and accessibility. By reconstructing their diets and foraging niches over a 17-year period (1995–2012) using serum δ13C and δ15N values, we found strong support for a temporal increase in the proportions of...

Additional file 3. Table S3: Performance of three strategies.

Additional file 5. Figure S2: Mutational profile of plasma samples. Gene mutations detected in tissue and plasma samples in each patient. Colors denote different variant types. Horizontal and vertical bars denote the detection of tissue mutations in presurgical and postsurgical plasma samples, respectively. Twenty most prevalent gene mutations in tissue samples were shown.

Additional file 5. Figure S2: Mutational profile of plasma samples. Gene mutations detected in tissue and plasma samples in each patient. Colors denote different variant types. Horizontal and vertical bars denote the detection of tissue mutations in presurgical and postsurgical plasma samples, respectively. Twenty most prevalent gene mutations in tissue samples were shown.

Additional file 1: eFigure1. Flow diagram. eFigure 2. Published studies per medical content area. eFigure 3. Risk of bias per question. eFigure 4. Risk of bias inside intervention categories. eFigure 5. Intervention components in single-component interventions. eMethods 1. Search strategies. eMethods 2. Risk of Bias Tool for RCTs of complex interventions. eMethods 3. Refined version of intervention taxonomy for de-implementation interventions. eMethods 4. Rationale for refined intervention taxonomy. eMethods 5. Rationale for outcome hierarchy of...

Concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) have increased over the past few decades, causing freshwater browning. The impacts of browning on biodiversity have been little studied, despite many of the individual stressors associated with browning being known to control freshwater communities. We explored the responses of benthic invertebrates along a wide gradient of DOC concentrations (3.6 mg to 27 mg L-1) in 63 boreal streams variously impacted by peatland drainage or peat production. DOC was...

Additional file 1: Supplementary Table 1. Motives to exercise by competitive goals in sports. Supplementary Table 2. Motives to exercise by body size perception.

Abstract Background Understanding the micro-­evolutionary response of populations to demographic declines is a major goal in evolutionary and conservation biology. In small populations, genetic drift can lead to an accumulation of deleterious mutations, which will increase the risk of extinction. However, demographic recovery can still occur after extreme declines, suggesting that natural selection may purge deleterious mutations, even in extremely small populations. The Chatham Island black robin (Petroica traversi) is arguably the most inbred bird...

Abstract Purpose To investigate whether exposure to systemic antibiotics influences the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and overweight/obesity. Methods The study sample comprised 2209 (110 with incident diabetes) participants from the population-based Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS) aged 24–39 years in 2001. The exposure was national linked register data on purchased antibiotic courses between 1993 and 2001. Clinical examinations including BMI were conducted in 2001, 2007 and 2011. Participants with prevalent diabetes...

Abstract Background Little research has investigated the associations between proximity to physical activity facilities and behavior-related health and the majority have focused on proximity from home address. We add to the literature by examining proximity of these facilities to work and home address and including a wide range of physical activity facilities. We assess the associations for proximity of physical activity facilities from home and work address with self-reported frequency of exercise and obesity. Methods...

Supplemental Material for The Association of Metformin, Other Antidiabetic Medications, and Statins With the Prognosis of Colon Cancer in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Cohort Study by Sami Erkinantti, Ari Hautakoski, Reijo Sund, Martti Arffman, Elina Urpilainen, Ulla Puistola, Arja Jukkola, Peeter Karihtala, and Esa Läärä in Cancer Control

Supplemental Material for The Association of Metformin, Other Antidiabetic Medications, and Statins With the Prognosis of Colon Cancer in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Cohort Study by Sami Erkinantti, Ari Hautakoski, Reijo Sund, Martti Arffman, Elina Urpilainen, Ulla Puistola, Arja Jukkola, Peeter Karihtala, and Esa Läärä in Cancer Control

Supplemental Material for The Association of Metformin, Other Antidiabetic Medications, and Statins With the Prognosis of Colon Cancer in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Cohort Study by Sami Erkinantti, Ari Hautakoski, Reijo Sund, Martti Arffman, Elina Urpilainen, Ulla Puistola, Arja Jukkola, Peeter Karihtala, and Esa Läärä in Cancer Control

Reproductive sharing in animal groups with multiple breeders, insects and vertebrates alike, contains elements of both conflict and cooperation, and depends on both relatedness between co-breeders, as well as their internal and external conditions. We studied how queens of the ant Formica fusca adjust their reproductive efforts in response to experimental manipulations of the kin competition regime in their nest, as well as their own reproductive status. Queens respond to the presence of competitors by...

The population numbers of taiga bean goose (Anser fabalis fabalis) have halved during recent decades. Since this subspecies is hunted throughout most of its range, the decline is of management concern. Knowledge of the genetic population structure and diversity is important for guiding management and conservation efforts. Genetically unique subpopulations might be hunted to extinction if not managed separately, and any inbreeding depression or lack of genetic diversity may affect the ability to adapt to...

1. Melatonin is an indole hormone that, among its myriad biological functions, regulates circadian and seasonal rhythms in animals. The ASMT gene plays an essential role in melatonin synthesis. However, in chickens, little is known about the regulatory elements governing its transcription. 2. The following study identified the transcription start site of the chicken ASMT gene by 5’-RACE. Then, the proximal minimal promoter was identified using a series of 5′ truncations of the ASMT promoter...

Concentrations of terrestrial-derived dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in freshwater ecosystems have increased consistently, causing freshwater browning. The mechanisms behind browning are complex, but in forestry-intensive regions browning is accelerated by land drainage. Forestry actions in streamside riparian forests alter canopy shading, which together with browning is expected to exert a complex and largely unpredictable control over key ecosystem functions. We conducted a stream mesocosm experiment with three levels of browning (ambient vs. moderate vs. high,...

Additional file 10. Figure S7: Prognostic value of presurgical ctDNA detection. A). The recurrence-free survival analysis of patients stratified by presurgical ctDNA detection. B). The multi-variant Cox regression for presurgical ctDNA detection. Abbreviations: RFS – recurrence-free survival, LNM – lymph node metastasis, LUAD – lung adenocarcinoma, LUSC - lung squamous-cell carcinoma.

Additional file 13. Supplementary results.

Additional file 1. Table S1: Patient demography.

Additional file 6. Figure S3: Prognostic values of postsurgical ctDNA detection at 3 months and 6 months. A-B) The recurrence-free survival analysis (top panel) and multi-variant Cox regression (bottom panel) of postsurgical ctDNA detection at 3 months (A) and 6 months (B). For the analysis at 6 months after surgeries, only patients with plasma samples available at this scheduled point and followed-up for more than 6 months were included. Abbreviations: RFS – recurrence-free survival, LNM...