Nueva colonia reproductiva del gaviotín peruano (Sternula lorata) en la costa sur de Perú

This note describes the existence of a new reproductive colony of Sternula lorata in Pampa El Palo, located in the district and province of Ilo, department of Moquegua. Between August 2016 and March 2017, 8 to 324 S. lorata were recorded and 12 active nests were found. The reproductive area comprises about 600 ha and is characterized by being an open area with sandy-type soil and the presence of shells. This species faces some anthropogenic threats in the area, such as the traffic of motorized vehicles, the passage of local fishermen and the presence of domestic dogs.En la presente nota se describe la existencia de una nueva colonia reproductiva de Sternula lorata en Pampa El Palo, ubicado en el distrito y la provincia de Ilo, departamento de Moquegua. Entre agosto de 2016 y marzo de 2017 se registraron de 8 a 324 S. lorata y se encontraron 12 nidos activos. El área reproductiva comprende unas 600 ha y se caracteriza por ser una zona abierta con suelo de tipo arenoso y presencia de conchuelas. Esta especie enfrenta algunas amenazas antrópicas en el lugar, tales como el tránsito de vehículos motorizados, el paso de pescadores locales y la presencia de perros domésticos

Ancient DNA Analysis of 8000 B.C. Near Eastern Farmers Supports an Early Neolithic Pioneer Maritime Colonization of Mainland Europe through Cyprus and the Aegean Islands

The genetic impact associated to the Neolithic spread in Europe has been widely debated over the last 20 years. Within this context, ancient DNA studies have provided a more reliable picture by directly analyzing the protagonist populations at different regions in Europe. However, the lack of available data from the original Near Eastern farmers has limited the achieved conclusions, preventing the formulation of continental models of Neolithic expansion. Here we address this issue by presenting mitochondrial DNA data of the original Near-Eastern Neolithic communities with the aim of providing the adequate background for the interpretation of Neolithic genetic data from European samples. Sixty-three skeletons from the Pre Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) sites of Tell Halula, Tell Ramad and Dja'de El Mughara dating between 8,700–6,600 cal. B.C. were analyzed, and 15 validated mitochondrial DNA profiles were recovered. In order to estimate the demographic contribution of the first farmers to both Central European and Western Mediterranean Neolithic cultures, haplotype and haplogroup diversities in the PPNB sample were compared using phylogeographic and population genetic analyses to available ancient DNA data from human remains belonging to the Linearbandkeramik-Alföldi Vonaldiszes Kerámia and Cardial/Epicardial cultures. We also searched for possible signatures of the original Neolithic expansion over the modern Near Eastern and South European genetic pools, and tried to infer possible routes of expansion by comparing the obtained results to a database of 60 modern populations from both regions. Comparisons performed among the 3 ancient datasets allowed us to identify K and N-derived mitochondrial DNA haplogroups as potential markers of the Neolithic expansion, whose genetic signature would have reached both the Iberian coasts and the Central European plain. Moreover, the observed genetic affinities between the PPNB samples and the modern populations of Cyprus and Crete seem to suggest that the Neolithic was first introduced into Europe through pioneer seafaring colonization

Mitochondrial DNA genetic relationships at the ancient Neolithic site of Tell Halula

The extent of racemization of aspartic acid (Asp) -expressed as D/L ratio- has been used as a marker of biomolecular degradation in ancient remains. However, Asp racemization rate is highly variable, and depends on biochemical and geochemical factors. In this paper we aim to determine to which extent the fraction analyzed and the kind of sample used may influence the D/L Asp ratios. Other factors, such as burial site and sample preservation conditions, are also considered. D/L Asp ratios were obtained in 38 ancient human samples from 30 different individuals in which Real Time PCR quantification and amplification of short mtDNA fragments had been previously achieved. Four samples were taken from bones, 16 from whole teeth and 18 from dentine. In 7 cases whole tooth and dentine fractions from the same individual were analyzed. The samples belonged to 8 archaeological sites from Pre-pottery Neolithic B (PPNB), Cardial Neolithic and Chalcolithic time periods. Results show significant differences between the D/L Asp ratios obtained in dentine and whole tooth fractions from the same tooth and individual, as well as among dentine samples from the same archaeological site and among samples of the same age from different, though nearby, archaeological sites. Ancient DNA (aDNA) could be characterized in the majority of the samples, independently from their racemization values, which suggests that other factors, apart from the sample preservation stage, are more significantly affecting the racemization rate. A generalized use of the Asp racemization ratio as a threshold value for ancient DNA preservation needs to be questioned until further methodological standardization is considered

Epidemiologia i perfil de resistència antibiòtica de Neisseria gonorrhoeae: Catalunya, 2018-2021

Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Epidemiologia; Resistència antibiòticaNeisseria gonorrhoeae; Epidemiología; Resistencia antibióticaNeisseria gonorrhoeae; Epidemiology; Antibiotic resistanceAquest informe té com a objectiu analitzar les característiques epidemiològiques dels casos confirmats d’NG i la sensibilitat antimicrobiana dels casos declarats a l’SNMC durant el període 2018-2021

Detection of norovirus in saliva samples from acute gastroenteritis cases and asymptomatic subjects : Association with age and higher shedding in stool

Norovirus infections are a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide and across all age groups, with two main genogroups (GI and GII) infecting humans. The aim of our study was to investigate the occurrence of norovirus in saliva samples from individuals involved in outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis in closed and semiclosed institutions, and its relationship with the virus strain, virus shedding in stool, the occurrence of symptoms, age, and the secretor status of the individual. Epidemiological and clinical information was gathered from norovirus outbreaks occurring in Catalonia, Spain during 2017-2018, and stool and saliva samples were collected from affected and exposed resident individuals and workers. A total of 347 saliva specimens from 25 outbreaks were analyzed. Further, 84% of individuals also provided a paired stool sample. For GII infections, norovirus was detected in 17.9% of saliva samples from symptomatic cases and 5.2% of asymptomatic individuals. Positivity in saliva occurred in both secretors and nonsecretors. None of the individuals infected by norovirus GI was positive for the virus in saliva. Saliva positivity did not correlate with any of the studied symptoms but did correlate with age ≥ 65 years old. Individuals who were positive in saliva showed higher levels of virus shedding in stool. Mean viral load in positive saliva was 3.16 ± 1.08 log10 genome copies/mL, and the predominance of encapsidated genomes was confirmed by propidium monoazide (PMA)xx-viability RTqPCR assay. The detection of norovirus in saliva raises the possibility of oral-to-oral norovirus transmission during the symptomatic phase and, although to a lesser extent, even in cases of asymptomatic infections

On the mechanics of edge cracking and the reliable determination of edge formability limits

Blanked edge surfaces are rough and hardened. They therefore lead to inhomogeneous deformation on the edge, which can trigger localization within the shear affected zone (up to few mm from the edge). The size and extent of these phenomena are primarily a function of the shearing process and are only marginally coupled to the global/homogeneous deformation behavior of the blank A direct numerical simulation of such local deformation effects would require a prohibitively high resolution to capture the microgeometry of the edge and thus remains unfeasible in the current industrial practice. A predictive model can therefore only be achieved by determining limit strains on the edge, which are compatible with the homogeneous numerical framework used. The present contribution aims discussing the basic mechanics of edge cracking based on tensile tests with edges blanked with different die clearances. The local and global strain evolutions in the vicinity of the edge are analysed and a new evaluation procedure is proposed for the reliable determination of limit strains. The application of this method in industrial context is also discussed.open access</p