Phenotypic traits that vary geographically within species are commonly assumed to represent local adaptations to different environments. In order for local adaptation to evolve by natural selection, three conditions must be met: (1) traits must vary geographically, (2) local variants of traits must provide a fitness advantage (increased survival or reproductive success) within the local environment, and (3) local variants of traits must be heritable. In chapter two, we review evidence for local adaptation in birds. Geographic variation among populations is nearly ubiquitous, yet experimental tests of the fitness advantages of local trait variants are rare among populations of birds, presumably because of the difficulties in transporting individuals between populations. Thirty-seven studies have tested the heritability of among population variation in traits. Thirty-three of the 37 studies found some degree of heritability of variation among populations, consistent with traits diverging in response to natural selection. In chapter three, we experimentally test the fitness consequences of divergent nest morphologies of Yellow Warblers (Dendroica petechia) using reciprocal nest transplant experiments between a temperate and subarctic site in Canada. Yellow Warblers breeding at our subarctic site build larger nests constructed with more insulative materials than Yellow Warblers breeding at our temperate site, and these differences are the result of different nest building behaviours. Temperate nests transplanted to subarctic sites experienced significantly colder temperatures, and tended to suffer higher egg and nestling mortality due to climatic conditions (cold temperatures), than locally transplanted subarctic nests. Adult females breeding in subarctic sites that received temperate nests changed their incubation behaviours by taking shorter recesses than females who received locally transplanted subarctic nests. In contrast, subarctic nests transplanted to our temperate site showed no changes in nest temperature, fledgling success, or parental behaviour during incubation. We suggest that divergent selective pressures acting on Yellow Warblers in subarctic and temperate environments results in different nest building behaviours. Cold temperatures in our subarctic site likely favour increased investment in larger, insulative nests, whereas warmer temperatures at our temperate sites likely favour reduced investment in nest building, and consequently smaller nests. / Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-28 13:16:38.686

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The primary obstacle to enabling wide spread adoption of composite tissue transplantation, as well as to improving long term solid organ transplant outcomes, is establishing a personalized medication regimen optimizing the balance between immunosuppression and immune function the individual minimum effective level of immunosuppression. Presently, the clinical gold standard for monitoring immune function is histologic inspection of biopsy for tissue damage, or monitoring blood chemistry for signs of organ failure. These trailing indicators reflect damage that has already accumulated, and are of little use in proactively determining the immunologic state of a patient. Samples collected from small animal surgical models were used to quantify the amount of immune signaling protein present (cytokines and chemokines) under various experimental conditions. Patterns in protein expression that reliably discriminate amongst the groups were then investigated with statistical inference methods such as the logistic classifier, decision tree, and random forest, operating in both the original feature space and in transformed feature spaces. This work demonstrates computational methods are effective in elucidating and classifying cytokine profiles, allowing the detection of rejection in composite tissue allografts well in advance of the current clinical gold standard, and shows that the methods can be effective in solid organ contexts as well. This work further determines that cytokine patterns of inflammation associated with rejection are specific to the structure and composition of the tissue in which they occur, and can be distinguished from immune signaling patterns associated with unspecific inflammation, wound healing, or immunosuppressed tissue. Clinical translation of these findings may provide novel computational tools that enable physicians to design personalized immunosuppression strategies for patients. The methods described in this work also provide information that can be used to investigate the biological basis for the observed immune signaling patterns. Further development may provide a computational framework for identifying novel therapeutic strategies in other pathologies.

Bakgrund: Antalet utförda hjärttransplantationer i Sverige ökar och uppgår nu till omkring femtio transplantationer per år. Främsta orsaken till en hjärttransplantation är grav hjärtsvikt. Att drabbas av hjärtsvikt som ung är ovanligt och mycket påfrestande. Om hjärttransplantation blir aktuellt sätts patienten upp på väntelista där medianväntetiden är tre månader. Tidigare forskning visar att sjuksköterskan har en viktig roll i patientens upplevelse under denna tid. Syfte: Studiens syfte är att analysera och beskriva unga kvinnors upplevelser inför en hjärttransplantation. Metod: Kvalitativ innehållsanalys används som analysmetod. Data består av fem bloggar publicerade på internet. Resultat: Unga kvinnor som väntar på en hjärttransplantation upplever fysiska begränsningar i vardagen. Närstående, sjukvårdspersonal och omgivningen är viktiga för att ge stöd och fungera som drivkraft i situationen. Den ovissa väntan präglas av oro och rädsla för den egna döden. Väntan innebär att unga kvinnor får en ny syn på livet. Slutsats: Unga kvinnors livsvärld förändras drastiskt i väntan på hjärttransplantation och det är av stor vikt att sjuksköterskan uppmärksammar denna förändring och utformar omvårdnaden därefter. / Background: The number of performed heart transplants in Sweden is increasing and is now about fifty transplants per year. The primary reason for a heart transplant is severe heart failure. To suffer from heart failure as young is rare and trying. If heart transplantation becomes necessary the patient is placed on a waiting list where the median waiting time is three months. Previous research shows that nurses have an important role in the patient's experience during this time. Aim: The study aims to analyze and describe the experiences of young women facing a heart transplant.  Method: Qualitative content analysis is used as analytical method. Data consists of five blogs published on the Internet. Results: Young women waiting for a heart transplant experience physical limitations in daily life. Relatives, professionals and the environment are important to provide support and act as motivation in the situation. The uncertain waiting is incused by anxiety and fear of their own death. The waiting means that young women will have a new outlook on life. Conclusion: The lifeworld of young women drastically changed awaiting heart transplantation and it´s important for the nurse to recognize this change and frame the care thereafter.

Identification of the complement C4d fragment in peritubular capillaries as a specific marker for antibody mediated rejection in renal transplantation revealed the critical role of antibodies in graft survival. In this thesis, I document the design and findings of studies performed to investigate the clinical impact of anti-HLA antibodies present before and/or after transplantation. Over time, the detection techniques for anti-HLA antibodies has evolved from the less sensitive complement-dependent lymphocytotoxicity (CDC) crossmatching (XM) to more sensitive solid phase assays such as Luminex®. Studies have been conducted to compare the predictive value of different antibody detection techniques. The first result chapter presents antibody specificity in positive CDC B-cell crossmatch (BXM), analysed with highly specific Luminex® assays. The study also investigates the predictive value of BXM in the general transplant population. I found that donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSA) are only present in one third of positive BXM and are associated with poor outcomes. The novel finding is that >80% of the DSA detected by BXM are complement-fixing IgG₁ and IgG₃ subclasses. Transplant glomerulopathy (TG) is type of chronic renal graft rejection. The pathogenesis of TG is unclear. In the second result chapter, I report risk factors and involvement of anti-HLA antibodies in the development of TG. This study shows that glomerular rejection, delayed graft function, HLA presensitization and DSA have a univariate effect on TG development. Multivariate analysis revealed that DSA are an independent predictor of TG, after adjustment for other risk factors. I have further investigated the role of BXM in a unique, well-matched, highly sensitized patient group transplanted under the national renal exchange programme. I compared Luminex® antibody analysis with BXM in predicting transplant outcomes. In highly sensitized patients, DSA are found in two thirds of positive BXM. In univariate analyses, BXM is associated with humoral rejection whereas DSA defined by Luminex® are associated with total and all rejection types. The major finding is that, by multivariate analysis, DSA defined by Luminex® are an independent predictor of total and humoral rejection, but BXM are not. These interesting findings are reported in the third result chapter. Studies reported in this thesis define the clinical significance of anti-HLA antibodies in renal transplant outcomes. Method comparison studies provide useful information on antibody specificity and their impact on graft survival. Collectively, a better understanding of alloantibodies associated with graft rejection and limitation of antibody detection methods may facilitate donor selection and choice of immunosuppressants, and consequently improve transplant outcomes. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1379925 / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Adelaide, School of Medicine, 2010

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, 2010. / Title from screen (viewed on April 8, 2010). School of Nursing, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Advisor(s): Betsy L. Fife, Joan K. Austin, Patrick O. Monahan, Silvia M. Bigatti, Linda G. Bell. Includes vitae. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 233-248).

Bakgrund: Antalet individer som lever med ett transplanterat organ ökar. Transplantation innebär att ersätta ett sviktande organ med ett friskt fungerande organ från en donator. En transplantation innebär en förändring av livet. Sjuksköterskan har ansvar för undervisning och stöd för patienten samt etablering av en fortsatt vårdkontakt. Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva patientens upplevelse av att leva med ett transplanterat organ. Metod: En litteraturöversikt har genomförts och grundats på tio kvalitativa artiklar från olika databaser som besvarar syftet. Analysen av artiklarna ledde till subteman och teman som presenteras i litteraturöversiktens resultatdel. Litteraturöversikten har begränsats till att enbart innefatta transplantation av organen hjärta, lungor, lever och njurar. Resultat: Resultatet presenteras i fyra teman och fem subteman. De fyra teman är En förändrad kropp, Leva med konsekvenserna av medicinering, En emotionell berg- och dalbana och Att leva vidare. Patienterna upplevde en kroppslig förändring samt paradoxala känslor kring transplantationen. Hinder och möjligheter upplevde de transplanterade i återhämtningsprocessen samt konsekvenser som de var tvungna att leva med. I resultatet framkom vilken betydande roll sjuksköterskan, sjukvården och närstående har för patienten. Att genomgå en transplantation innebär en anpassning till en ny situation med livsstilsförändringar. Diskussion: I resultatdiskussionen används Husserls livsvärldsteori som teoretisk referensram. Patienterna upplevde en förändrad livsvärld och ett behov av att anpassa sig till det nya livet som ett transplanterat organ medförde. / Background: The number of individuals living with a transplanted organ is increasing. A transplant involves replacing a failing organ with a healthy functioning organ from a donor. A transplant involves a change of life. The nurse is responsible to educate and to support the patient and the establishment of a continuing care contact. Aim: The aim was to describe the patient´s experience of living with a transplanted organ. Method: A literature review has been conducted based on ten articles from different databases that will give answers the aim of the essay. The analysis of the articles led to subthemes and themes which are presented in this literature review result section. This literature review has been limited to only include the transplantation of organs heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. Results: The result are presented in four teams and five subthemes. The four themes are A changed body, Live with the consequences of medication, An emotional roller coaster and Live on. Patients experienced a bodily change and also paradoxical emotions related to the transplantation. The patients experienced obstacles and opportunities during the recovery process and also had to live with other consequences of the transplant. The results showed that the nurse, the health care received and close relatives played a significant role for the patient. A transplantation is an adaption to a new situation with lifestyle changes. Discussion: In the result discussion Husserl’s life-theory is used as a theoretical framework. Patient experienced a great change and needed to adapt to a new life, which the transplanted organ caused.

Introdução: A fibrose cística também conhecida como mucoviscidose, é uma doença genética autossômica recessiva, crônica, com manifestações sistêmicas, sendo o transplante pulmonar uma das alternativas para o tratamento quando a doença se apresenta em fase terminal. Objetivos: Avaliar a função pulmonar, condicionamento físico e qualidade de vida em pacientes com fibrose cística após trinta meses do transplante pulmonar seguido de um programa de reabilitação do cardiopulmonar. Metodologia: Estudo de coorte ambispectivo, foram estudados 8 pacientes com fibrose cística (5 mulheres 3 homens com média de idade 27 ± 4,62 anos) no período de dezembro de 2006 a dezembro de 2010. Havido perda de 2 pacientes ao longo do estudo. Foram analisados o teste de caminhada de seis minutos(TC6M), testes de função pulmonar e o questionário SF-36 no pré-transplante, pós-transplante imediato, pósreabilitação cardiopulmonar e após trinta meses após o transplante. Resultados: Tempo de lista de espera de 883 ± 571 dias tempo de internação total 30,14 ± 12,6 dias. Os pacientes apresentaram em média no pré-transplante VEF1 25,1% e CVF 38,4%, no pós transplante imediato VEF1 52,6% e CVF 54,6%. após reabilitação VEF1 60,8% e CVF 65,2% e 30 meses pós transplante VEF1 66,6% e CVF 67,2% . No TC6M a média de distância percorrida antes do transplante foi de 488 metros, pós-transplante imediato 510 metros, pós-reabilitação 603 metros e 30 meses pós-transplante 462 metros. Quanto à qualidade de vida os pacientes apresentaram melhora nos momentos pós-alta hospitalar e após reabilitação e piora em alguns domínios 30 meses após o transplante. Conclusão: O transplante de pulmão permanece sendo um procedimento de alto risco, no entanto, é uma estratégia terapêutica viável para pacientes com fibrose cística em estágio avançado da doença. Os dados encontrados no estudo sugerem uma tendência positiva a curto prazo na capacidade funcional e qualidade de vida, contudo a médio prazo perecem diminuir, enquanto a função pulmonar apresenta crescente melhora a curto e médio prazo. São necessários mais estudos com um maior número de pacientes para se afirmar com propriedade os benefícios a longo prazo do transplante de pulmão para essa população. / Introduction: Cystic Fibrosis, also known as mucoviscidosis, is a chronic autosomal recessive genetic disorder with systemic manifestations, lung transplantation being one of the alternatives for treatment when the disease is in its terminal phase. Objective: Evaluate the lung function, physical conditions and the quality of life of the cystic fibrosis patient after 30 months from the lung transplantation following a rehabilitation program of cardiopulmonary therapy. Methodology: The study of the ambispective cohort, involved eight patients with cystic fibrosis (5 women and 3 men aged 27 ± 4.6 years) for the period from December 2006 to December 2010, two patients died during the study. Analysis was made of the Six Minutes Walk Test (6MWT), lung function and the SF-36 questionnaire for the pre-transplant, immediately post- transplant, post cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and 30 months after the transplant. Results: The waiting list was 883±571 days, hospitalization time totalled 30.14 ±12.6 days. The patients showed, on average, a pretransplant VEF1 25.1% and CVF 38.4%, immediately posttransplant VEF1 66.6% and CVF 54.6%, post cardiopulmonary rehabilitation VEF1 60.8% and CVF 65.2% end 30 months post-transplant VEF1 66.6% and CVF 67.2%. In the TC6M, the average distance done before the transplant was 488 meters, immediately post-transplant it was 510 meters, post cardiopulmonary rehabilitation it was 603 meters and 30 months after transplant it was 462 meters. The quality of life of the patients showed improvement from the moment of leaving the hospital and after rehabilitation but did deteriorate in some domains after 30 months from the transplant. Conclusion: The lung transplantation continues to be a high risk procedure, however it still is a therapeutic strategy available to patients with cystic fibrosis at the advance stage of the disease. The findings of the study suggest there is a positive trend in the short term functional capacity and quality of life in the medium term however perish decrease, while increasing lung function has improved in the short and medium term. Although it would require further study with a higher number of patients to affirm with confidence the benefit for the long term of lung transplants for this population.