Is developmental plasticity triggered by DNA methylation changes in the invasive cane toad ()?

Many organisms can adjust their development according to environmental conditions, including the presence of conspecifics. Although this developmental plasticity is common in amphibians, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Exposure during development to either 'cannibal cues' from older conspecifics, or 'alarm cues' from injured conspecifics, causes reduced growth and survival in cane toad () tadpoles.

Pearl Farming Micro-Nanoplastics Affect Oyster Physiology and Pearl Quality.

Pearl farming is crucial for the economy of French Polynesia. However, rearing structures contribute significantly to plastic waste, and the widespread contamination of pearl farming lagoons by microplastics has raised concerns about risks to the pearl industry. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of micro-nanoplastics (MNPs, 0.

Marine Flora of French Polynesia: An Updated List Using DNA Barcoding and Traditional Approaches.

Located in the heart of the South Pacific Ocean, the French Polynesian islands represent a remarkable setting for biological colonization and diversification, because of their isolation. Our knowledge of this region's biodiversity is nevertheless still incomplete for many groups of organisms. In the late 1990s and 2000s, a series of publications provided the first checklists of French Polynesian marine algae, including the Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta, Ochrophyta, and Cyanobacteria, established mostly on traditional morphology-based taxonomy.

Locomotion behavior of juveniles of the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera: A new non-invasive tool for the evaluation of stress effects.

The lack of knowledge about the sensitivity of the endangered freshwater pearl mussel (FWPM) Margaritifera margaritifera to environmental pollution and the rapid decline of its populations in Europe, have led to the need of developing non-destructive experimental protocols in order to assess the impact of such pollution. This species has a complex life cycle and the early life stages are considered the most sensitive. This study deals with the development of a methodology for the assessment of juvenile mussels' locomotor behavior using an automated video tracking system.

Bacterial plasmid-associated and chromosomal proteins have fundamentally different properties in protein interaction networks.

Plasmids facilitate horizontal gene transfer, which enables the diversification of pathogens into new anatomical and environmental niches, implying that plasmid-encoded genes can cooperate well with chromosomal genes. We hypothesise that such mobile genes are functionally different to chromosomal ones due to this ability to encode proteins performing non-essential functions like antimicrobial resistance and traverse distinct host cells. The effect of plasmid-driven gene gain on protein-protein interaction network topology is an important question in this area.

Informing plasmid compatibility with bacterial hosts using protein-protein interaction data.

The compatibility of plasmids with new host cells is significant given their role in spreading antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence factor genes. Evaluating this using in vitro screening is laborious and can be informed by computational analyses of plasmid-host compatibility through rates of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) between plasmid and host cell proteins. We identified large excesses of such PPIs in eight important plasmids, including pOXA-48, using most known bacteria (n = 4363).

Deep-Water Fish Are Potential Vectors of Ciguatera Poisoning in the Gambier Islands, French Polynesia.

Ciguatera poisoning (CP) cases linked to the consumption of deep-water fish occurred in 2003 in the Gambier Islands (French Polynesia). In 2004, on the request of two local fishermen, the presence of ciguatoxins (CTXs) was examined in part of their fish catches, i.e.

Visitor arrivals forecasts amid COVID-19: A perspective from the Asia and Pacific team.

It is important to provide scientific assessments concerning the future of tourism under the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19. To this purpose, this paper presents a two-stage three-scenario forecast framework for inbound-tourism demand across 20 countries. The main findings are as follows: in the first-stage ex-post forecasts, the stacking models are more accurate and robust, especially when combining five single models.

Longitudinal Observation of Border Tissue Configuration During Axial Elongation in Childhood.

Purpose: To investigate the change of border tissue configuration during axial elongation in childhood.

Methods: Fifty-four subjects (108 eyes; age range, 29.3-132.

Insights into the Metabolome of the Cyanobacterium from the Lagoon of Tahiti and First Inspection of Its Variability.

Cyanobacteria are known to produce a large diversity of specialized metabolites that can cause severe (eco)toxicological effects. In the lagoon of Tahiti, the benthic cyanobacterium is commonly found overgrowing the proliferative macroalga or dead branching corals. The specialized metabolome of the cyanobacterium was therefore investigated together with its variability on both substrates and changes in environmental parameters.

One year structural and functional glaucoma progression after trabeculectomy.

We evaluated the changes in visual field mean deviation (VF MD) and retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness in glaucoma patients undergoing trabeculectomy. One hundred patients were examined with VF and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) before trabeculectomy and 4 follow-up visits over one year. Linear mixed models were used to investigate factors associated with VF and RNFL.

Analysis and Comparison of GPS Precipitable Water Estimates between Two Nearby Stations on Tahiti Island.

Since Bevis first proposed Global Positioning System (GPS) meteorology in 1992, the precipitable water (PW) estimates retrieved from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) networks with high accuracy have been widely used in many meteorological applications. The proper estimation of GNSS PW can be affected by the GNSS processing strategy as well as the local geographical properties of GNSS sites. To better understand the impact of these factors, we compare PW estimates from two nearby permanent GPS stations (THTI and FAA1) in the tropical Tahiti Island, a basalt shield volcano located in the South Pacific, with a mean slope of 8% and a diameter of 30 km.

Chemotaxonomy and cytotoxicity of the liverwort .

The first chemotaxonomic study based on volatile components of (Mitt.) Grolle is reported. The GC-MS analysis of ether extract was performed; ten santalane and five pinguisane-type sesquiterpenes were identified together with perrottetianal A as major diterpene.

A selection of eleven plants used as traditional Polynesian cosmetics and their development potential as anti-aging ingredients, hair growth promoters and whitening products.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: In French Polynesia, embellishment of the hair and skin is an important cultural and everyday practice. Yet, little research has focused on traditional preparations used for beautification in this region and their potential development as innovative cosmetic ingredients.

Aim Of The Study: In this present study we aim to assess and compile the ethnocosmetic potential of plants of French Polynesia to select and further study plants showing the most promise to be developed as anti-aging, anti-blemish and hair care products.

Spermatozoa motility in bivalves: Signaling, flagellar beating behavior, and energetics.

Though bivalve mollusks are keystone species and major species groups in aquaculture production worldwide, gamete biology is still largely unknown. This review aims to provide a synthesis of current knowledge in the field of sperm biology, including spermatozoa motility, flagellar beating, and energy metabolism; and to illustrate cellular signaling controlling spermatozoa motility initiation in bivalves. Serotonin (5-HT) induces hyper-motility in spermatozoa via a 5-HT receptor, suggesting a serotoninergic system in the male reproductive tract that might regulate sperm physiology.

Age-Dependent Variation of Lamina Cribrosa Displacement During the Standardized Valsalva Maneuver.

Based on biomechanical theory, lamina cribrosa (LC) displacement, the key component of progressive glaucomatous change, is presumed to be dependent on intraocular pressure (IOP) as well as tissue stiffness of LC. In the performance of the Valsalva maneuver, both IOP and cerebrospinal fluid pressure can increase. The present study investigated the age-dependent variation of LC displacement during the standardized Valsalva maneuver in healthy subjects.

Differential effects of coral-giant clam assemblages on biofouling formation.

To prevent the settlement and/or the growth of fouling organisms (i.e. bacteria, fungi or microalgae), benthic sessile species have developed various defense mechanisms among which the production of chemical molecules.

The association between prelaminar tissue thickness and peripapillary choroidal thickness in untreated normal-tension glaucoma patients.

To evaluate the association between prelaminar tissue thickness (PLT) and peripapillary choroidal thickness (PCT) in untreated normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) patients.A cross-sectional study was conducted in 65 untreated NTG patients. All of the subjects were imaged with swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT, DRI OCT; Topcon, Tokyo, Japan) to obtain the horizontal scan crossing the optic nerve head center.

Persistence at the final stage of volcanic island ontogeny: Abiotic predictors explain native plant species richness on 111 remote Pacific atolls.

Aim: The final island ontogeny of the general dynamic model (GDM) (i.e., before island submergence) in tropical oceans corresponds to the coral atoll stage.

Three-Dimensional Ultrasonic Needle Tip Tracking with a Fiber-Optic Ultrasound Receiver.

Ultrasound is frequently used for guiding minimally invasive procedures, but visualizing medical devices is often challenging with this imaging modality. When visualization is lost, the medical device can cause trauma to critical tissue structures. Here, a method to track the needle tip during ultrasound image-guided procedures is presented.

Peripapillary Vessel Density in Glaucomatous Eyes: Comparison Between Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma and Primary Open-angle Glaucoma.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the peripapillary vessel density between eyes with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG) and eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Methods: Peripapillary vessel density in the radial peripapillary capillaries was assessed using optical coherence tomography angiography, and compared between patients with PXG and those with POAG, matched for age and mean deviation (MD) of standard automated perimetry. The vessel density was measured between the optic disc margin and 750 μm from the optic disc margin.

Long-Term Shape, Curvature, and Depth Changes of the Lamina Cribrosa after Trabeculectomy.

Purpose: To evaluate changes in lamina cribrosa (LC) shape, curvature, and depth after trabeculectomy.

Design: Prospective, observational case series.

Participants: A total of 112 patients (118 eyes) with open- or closed-angle glaucoma undergoing trabeculectomy.