Time for change in Portuguese science

There is an almost perfect positive relationship between scientific output and gross domestic product (GDP) in Western Europe (Fig. 1). But two countries — Ireland and Portugal — spoil the relationship

Canarias libre y socialista

VILADOT-CEDO

Morphometric changes and sex steroid levels during the annual reproductive cycle of the Lusitanian toadfish, Halobatrachus didactylus

The Lusitanian toadfish has group synchronous oocytes, which grow from November until June–July when they are released probably as a single batch. Blood plasma levels of estradiol-17b (E2) and testosterone (T) increase during vitellogenesis and drop rapidly during final maturation and ovulation, when 17,20b, 21-trihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20b,21-P) levels increase. The male reproductive apparatus is composed of paired testes and multichambered accessory glands, which secrete mucosubstances and are connected to the spermatic duct. Changes in the gonadosomatic index of males paralleled the females but started to drop slightly earlier. The swimbladder and accessory glands also underwent important seasonal changes in weight reaching a maximum at spawning. T, 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) and 17,20a-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20a-P) were generally low except for a sharp peak in June. 17,20b,21-P also peaked in June and then declined slowly. 17,20b-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20a-P) was undetectable in males and females. As with other species of the family two types of males were identified: type I males with smaller testes (ca. 7-fold) and larger accessory glands (ca. 3-fold) and swimbladders than type II. Type I males also had significantly higher (ca. 6- fold) 11-KT levels than type II males. This suggests a role for 11-KT in the development of structures important for reproductive behaviour

Water calcium concentration modifies whole-body calcium uptake in sea bream larvae during short-term adaptation to altered salinities

Whole-body calcium uptake was studied in gilthead sea bream larvae (9–83·mg) in response to changing environmental salinity and [Ca2+]. Calcium uptake increased with increased fish size and salinity. Fish exposed to calcium-enriched, diluted seawater showed increased calcium uptake compared with fish in diluted seawater alone. Calcium uptake was unchanged in Na+- enriched, diluted seawater. Overall, [Ca2+], and not salinity/osmolarity per se, appears to be the main factor contributing to calcium uptake. By contrast, drinking was reduced by a decrease in salinity/osmolarity but was little affected by external [Ca2+]. Calculations of the maximum contribution from drinking-associated calcium uptake showed that it became almost insignificant (less than 10%) through a strong decrease in drinking rate at low salinities (0–8‰). Diluted seawater enriched in calcium to the concentration present in full-strength seawater (i.e. constant calcium, decreasing salinity) restored intestinal calcium uptake to normal. Extra-intestinal calcium uptake also benefited from calcium addition but to a lesser extent

Liderazgo transformacional y su relación con la visión compartida y aprendizaje organizativo de los colaboradores de Manpower – Chiclayo 2017

La investigación realizada se ha enfocado en el estudio de la relación entre el liderazgo transformacional con la visión compartida y el aprendizaje organizativo de los colaboradores de la empresa Manpower en la ciudad de Chiclayo. Para ello se tomó una muestra del total de trabajadores que fueron en total 83 divididos en las cuatro áreas de la empresa (Logística, Trade marketing, Ingeniería, Minería y Ambiente y Administrativos). Ellos respondieron a un cuestionario adaptado y elaborado para medir las tres variables en estudio; el tipo de investigación tuvo un enfoque cuantitativo de nivel correlacional, no experimental y transversal. Los resultados indicaron que el liderazgo transformacional se relaciona de forma positiva tanto con la visión compartida como con el aprendizaje organizativo. Estos resultados confirman la importancia del liderazgo transformacional y que, según los resultados hallados en cada una de las dimensiones, invita a una revisión profunda del significado de los conceptos estudiados que permiten fortalecer la organización a miras de establecerse como una empresa competitiva. Finalmente, el modelo teórico analizado queda como un aporte para investigaciones que pretendan seguir el mismo fin

Gill transcriptome response to changes in environmental calcium in the green spotted puffer fish

Abstract Background Calcium ion is tightly regulated in body fluids and for euryhaline fish, which are exposed to rapid changes in environmental [Ca2+], homeostasis is especially challenging. The gill is the main organ of active calcium uptake and therefore plays a crucial role in the maintenance of calcium ion homeostasis. To study the molecular basis of the short-term responses to changing calcium availability, the whole gill transcriptome obtained by Super Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SuperSAGE) of the euryhaline teleost green spotted puffer fish, Tetraodon nigroviridis, exposed to water with altered [Ca2+] was analysed. Results Transfer of T. nigroviridis from 10 ppt water salinity containing 2.9 mM Ca2+ to high (10 mM Ca2+ ) and low (0.01 mM Ca2+) calcium water of similar salinity for 2-12 h resulted in 1,339 differentially expressed SuperSAGE tags (26-bp transcript identifiers) in gills. Of these 869 tags (65%) were mapped to T. nigroviridis cDNAs or genomic DNA and 497 (57%) were assigned to known proteins. Thirteen percent of the genes matched multiple tags indicating alternative RNA transcripts. The main enriched gene ontology groups belong to Ca2+ signaling/homeostasis but also muscle contraction, cytoskeleton, energy production/homeostasis and tissue remodeling. K-means clustering identified co-expressed transcripts with distinct patterns in response to water [Ca2+] and exposure time. Conclusions The generated transcript expression patterns provide a framework of novel water calcium-responsive genes in the gill during the initial response after transfer to different [Ca2+]. This molecular response entails initial perception of alterations, activation of signaling networks and effectors and suggests active remodeling of cytoskeletal proteins during the initial acclimation process. Genes related to energy production and energy homeostasis are also up-regulated, probably reflecting the increased energetic needs of the acclimation response. This study is the first genome-wide transcriptome analysis of fish gills and is an important resource for future research on the short-term mechanisms involved in the gill acclimation responses to environmental Ca2+ changes and osmoregulation.Peer Reviewe

A haplotype-resolved draft genome of the European sardine (Sardina pilchardus)

The European sardine (Sardina pilchardus Walbaum, 1792) is culturally and economically important throughout its distribution. Monitoring studies of sardine populations report an alarming decrease in stocks due to overfishing and environmental change, which has resulted in historically low captures along the Iberian Atlantic coast. Important biological and ecological features such as population diversity, structure, and migratory patterns can be addressed with the development and use of genomics resources.Agência financiadora Portuguese national funds from FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology: UID/Multi/04326/2016; European Regional Development Fund (FEDER): 22153-01/SAICT/2016; ALG-01-0145-FEDER-022121; ALG-01-0145-FEDER-022231; MAR2020 operational programme of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (project SARDI-NOMICS): MAR-01.04.02-FEAMP-0024; European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme: 654008info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evolución clínica en pacientes con enfermedad cerebrovascular de tres hospitales del norte del Perú : 2017 - 2018

La enfermedad cerebrovascular (ECV) luego del alta hospitalaria genera una elevada mortalidad, discapacidad y rehospitalizaciones. Sin embargo, la información es limitada. Objetivo: Describir la evolución clínica en pacientes con Enfermedad Cerebrovascular de tres hospitales del norte del Perú: 2017-2018. Métodos: Estudio de cohorte prospectivo con un seguimiento a los siete días, al mes y a los tres meses. Se recolectó datos sociodemográficos y relacionados al evento de ECV a través de una ficha de recolección de datos. Resultados: El tipo de ECV más frecuente fue el isquémico con 51/90 casos. La mortalidad, la frecuencia de reingresos y nuevos eventos a los tres meses fueron del 23,8% (21/88), 34,09% (30/88) y 19,31% (17/88), respectivamente. El diagnóstico de reingreso más frecuente fue la neumonía (23,8%). El compromiso neurológico y la dependencia funcional disminuyó con respecto al inicio. Conclusiones: La mortalidad, frecuencia de reingresos y nuevos eventos durante un tiempo de seguimiento de tres meses fue mayor en comparación a otros estudios

Hormonal control of swimbladder sonic muscle dimorphism in the Lusitanian toadfish, Halobatrachus didactylus

The swimbladder and associated sonic muscle of the Lusitanian toadfish Halobatrachus didactylus increase in size throughout life and are, respectively, 25% and 30% larger in type I (nest-holder) males than females, which may generate sexual differences in sound production. Sexual dimorphism in swimbladder is also evident in the morphological features of sonic muscle fibers. During the breeding season, type I males have smaller myofibril contracting zones surrounded by larger sarcoplasm areas compared with females, possibly an adaptation to speed and fatigue resistance for the production of long mating calls. Type II (floater) males show characteristics that are intermediate, but statistically not significantly different, between type I males and females. Six weeks after castration and androgen (testosterone and 11- ketotestosterone) replacement in type I and type II males there were no alterations either in swimbladder mass or fiber morphology. However, 17b-estradiol induced a significant decrease in swimbladder mass and sarcoplasm area/myofibril area ratio. Six months after castration there was a clear reduction in the seasonal swimbladder hypertrophy in males and induction of sonic fiber morphological characteristics that resemble those occurring in females (low sarcoplasm area/myofibril area ratio). These results suggest that testicular factors are required to initiate sonic muscle hypertrophy and type I sonic fiber phenotype in H. didactylus, but a specific involvement of androgens has not been completely clarified