Palaeohistology and palaeopathology of an Aeolosaurini (Sauropoda: Titanosauria) from Morro do Cambambe (Upper Cretaceous, Brazil)

Altres ajuts: CAISEP (Comisión de Ayudas a la Investigación de la Sociedad Española de Paleontología) project #2018-07153A recent publication of fossil bones of titanosaurs assigned to Aeolosaurini from the Morro do Cambambe site (Mato Grosso state, Brazil, Upper Cretaceous) reported anomalous growth in some of them. Here, we present osteohistological sections of elements to understand not only the microstructure and growth of such bones, but also the nature of those anomalies. The primary bone of all specimens consisted of a variation of the fibrolamellar complex, with the inner cortex being rich in woven bone with dispersed longitudinal canals, while the outer cortex was parallel-fibred with rows of longitudinal canals, interlayered by Lines of Arrested Growth (LAGs). We identified a maximum of two LAGs in the cervical rib and haemal arch, and four in the dorsal rib. The haemal arch shows an External Fundamental System (EFS) in most sections. The advanced remodelling and variation of the fibrolamellar bone in the cortex suggests that all the specimens represent individuals that reached sexual maturity. However, the haemal arch was distinct due to the wide distribution of EFS. The dorsal rib exhibited periosteal and endosteal outgrowth. Such microstructure was assigned to a reactive bone due to an intra-thoracic infection (a pneumonia, probably related to a tuberculosis), which is the first report in a non-avian dinosaur. The microstructure resembles the medullary bone recovered in dinosaurs, which suggests that further studies of medullary bone in thoracic bones should also regard the pathological cases.En una reciente publicación de los huesos fósiles de titanosaurios asignados al clado Aeolosaurini provenientes del yacimiento de Morro do Cambambe (estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil, Cretácico Superior), se reconocieron anormalidades en el crecimiento de algunos de ellos. En el presente trabajo presentamos cortes osteohistológicos de elementos para entender no sólo la microestructura y crecimiento de los mismos, sino también la naturaleza de aquellas anomalías. Entre ellos, seleccionamos una costilla cervical y una costilla dorsal media posterior, así como un arco hemal. El hueso primario de todos los especímenes comprendía una variación del complejo fibrolamelar, siendo la corteza interna rica en tejido reticular óseo con canales longitudinales dispersos, mientras que la corteza externa tenía fibras paralelas con hileras de canales longitudinales, intercaladas por líneas de crecimiento detenido. Identificamos un máximo de dos líneas de crecimiento detenido tanto en la costilla cervical como en el arco hemal, y cuatro en la costilla dorsal. El arco hemal muestra un Sistema Externo Fundamental en la mayoría de las secciones. La remodelación avanzada y la variación del hueso fibrolamelar en la corteza, se sugiere que todas los especímenes alcanzaron la madurez sexual. Sin embargo, el arco hemal fue distinto debido a la amplia distribución de Sistema Externo Fundamental. Con base en la microestructura, identificamos un semaforonte subadulto, y probablemente a un adulto. La costilla dorsal mostró una excrecencia perióstica y endosteal. Dicha microestructura se ha identificado con un hueso reactivo a una infección intratorácica (una neumonía, probablemente relacionada con una tuberculosis), que es el primer informe de un dinosaurio no aviano. La microestructura se asemeja al hueso medular recuperado en los dinosaurios, lo que sugiere que los estudios posteriores del hueso medular en los huesos torácicos también deberían considerar los casos patológicos

A laboratory study of anisotropic geomaterials incorporating recent micromechanical understanding

This paper presents an experimental investigation revisiting the anisotropic stress–strain–strength behaviour of geomaterials in drained monotonic shear using hollow cylinder apparatus. The test programme has been designed to cover the effect of material anisotropy, preshearing, material density and intermediate principal stress on the behaviour of Leighton Buzzard sand. Experiments have also been performed on glass beads to understand the effect of particle shape. This paper explains phenomenological observations based on recently acquired understanding in micromechanics, with attention focused on strength anisotropy and deformation non-coaxiality, i.e. non-coincidence between the principal stress direction and the principal strain rate direction. The test results demonstrate that the effects of initial anisotropy produced during sample preparation are significant. The stress–strain–strength behaviour of the specimen shows strong dependence on the principal stress direction. Preloading history, material density and particle shape are also found to be influential. In particular, it was found that non-coaxiality is more significant in presheared specimens. The observations on the strength anisotropy and deformation non-coaxiality were explained based on the stress–force–fabric relationship. It was observed that intermediate principal stress parameter b(b = (σ2 − σ3)/(σ1 − σ3)) has a significant effect on the non-coaxiality of sand. The lower the b-value, the higher the degree of non-coaxiality is induced. Visual inspection of shear band formed at the end of HCA testing has also been presented. The inclinations of the shear bands at different loading directions can be predicted well by taking account of the relative direction of the mobilized planes to the bedding plane

Cerebrospinal fluid biomarker candidates associated with human WNV neuroinvasive disease

During the last decade, the epidemiology of WNV in humans has changed in the southern regions of Europe, with high incidence of West Nile fever (WNF) cases, but also of West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND). The lack of human vaccine or specific treatment against WNV infection imparts a pressing need to characterize indicators associated with neurological involvement. By its intimacy with central nervous system (CNS) structures, modifications in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) composition could accurately reflect CNS pathological process. Until now, few studies investigated the association between imbalance of CSF elements and severity of WNV infection. The aim of the present study was to apply the iTRAQ technology in order to identify the CSF proteins whose abundances are modified in patients with WNND. Forty-seven proteins were found modified in the CSF of WNND patients as compared to control groups, and most of them are reported for the first time in the context of WNND. On the basis of their known biological functions, several of these proteins were associated with inflammatory response. Among them, Defensin-1 alpha (DEFA1), a protein reported with anti-viral effects, presente

Quantitative electroencephalography reveals different physiological profiles between benign and remitting-relapsing multiple sclerosis patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A possible method of finding physiological markers of multiple sclerosis (MS) is the application of EEG quantification (QEEG) of brain activity when the subject is stressed by the demands of a cognitive task. In particular, modulations of the spectral content that take place in the EEG of patients with multiple sclerosis remitting-relapsing (RRMS) and benign multiple sclerosis (BMS) during a visuo-spatial task need to be observed.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The sample consisted of 19 patients with RRMS, 10 with BMS, and 21 control subjects. All patients were free of medication and had not relapsed within the last month. The power spectral density (PSD) of different EEG bands was calculated by Fast-Fourier-Transformation (FFT), those analysed being delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma. Z-transformation was performed to observe individual profiles in each experimental group for spectral modulations. Lastly, correlation analyses was performed between QEEG values and other variables from participants in the study (age, EDSS, years of evolution and cognitive performance).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Nearly half (42%) the RRMS patients showed a statistically significant increase of two or more standard deviations (SD) compared to the control mean value for the beta-2 and gamma bands (F = 2.074, p = 0.004). These alterations were localized to the anterior regions of the right hemisphere, and bilaterally to the posterior areas of the scalp. None of the BMS patients or control subjects had values outside the range of ± 2 SD. There were no significant correlations between these values and the other variables analysed (age, EDSS, years of evolution or behavioural performance).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>During the attentional processing, changes in the high EEG spectrum (beta-2 and gamma) in MS patients exhibit physiological alterations that are not normally detected by spontaneous EEG analysis. The different spectral pattern between pathological and controls groups could represent specific changes for the RRMS patients, indicative of compensatory mechanisms or cortical excitatory states representative of some phases during the RRMS course that are not present in the BMS group.</p

Cluster analysis of behavioural and event-related potentials during a contingent negative variation paradigm in remitting-relapsing and benign forms of multiple sclerosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Event-related potentials (ERPs) may be used as a highly sensitive way of detecting subtle degrees of cognitive dysfunction. On the other hand, impairment of cognitive skills is increasingly recognised as a hallmark of patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS). We sought to determine the psychophysiological pattern of information processing among MS patients with the relapsing-remitting form of the disease and low physical disability considered as two subtypes: 'typical relapsing-remitting' (RRMS) and 'benign MS' (BMS). Furthermore, we subjected our data to a cluster analysis to determine whether MS patients and healthy controls could be differentiated in terms of their psychophysiological profile.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We investigated MS patients with RRMS and BMS subtypes using event-related potentials (ERPs) acquired in the context of a Posner visual-spatial cueing paradigm. Specifically, our study aimed to assess ERP brain activity in response preparation (contingent negative variation -CNV) and stimuli processing in MS patients. Latency and amplitude of different ERP components (P1, eN1, N1, P2, N2, P3 and late negativity -LN) as well as behavioural responses (reaction time -RT; correct responses -CRs; and number of errors) were analyzed and then subjected to cluster analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Both MS groups showed delayed behavioural responses and enhanced latency for long-latency ERP components (P2, N2, P3) as well as relatively preserved ERP amplitude, but BMS patients obtained more important performance deficits (lower CRs and higher RTs) and abnormalities related to the latency (N1, P3) and amplitude of ERPs (eCNV, eN1, LN). However, RRMS patients also demonstrated abnormally high amplitudes related to the preparation performance period of CNV (cCNV) and post-processing phase (LN). Cluster analyses revealed that RRMS patients appear to make up a relatively homogeneous group with moderate deficits mainly related to ERP latencies, whereas BMS patients appear to make up a rather more heterogeneous group with more severe information processing and attentional deficits.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings are suggestive of a slowing of information processing for MS patients that may be a consequence of demyelination and axonal degeneration, which also seems to occur in MS patients that show little or no progression in the physical severity of the disease over time.</p

Efficient Photoelectrochemical Reduction of Nitrite to Ammonium and Nitrogen Containing Gaseous Species Using Ti/TiO2 Nanotube Electrodes

The present work describes a suitable method for removing nitrite contaminant from water by using a photoelectrocatalytical method. A Ti/TiO2 nanotube electrode was used as a cathode under UV irradiation and applied potential of -0.2 V vs. Ag/AgCl and it led to 100% of nitrite removal after 6 min of photoelectrolysis conducted in NaCl 7 mmol L-1, pH 7 and in absence of dissolved oxygen. Nitrite reduction on Ti/TiO2 photoelectrodes occurs in the cathodic compartment cell via electrons generated when the electrode is under UV irradiation leading to a generation of 7% of remaining ammonium and 93% nitrogen containing gaseous species after 6 min of treatment. The results indicate that the method could be an efficient tool for the treatment of nitrite in water containing nitrite.O presente trabalho descreve uma nova metodologia para remoção de nitrito de águas contaminadas usando o processo fotoeletrocatalítico. Um eletrodo de nanotubos de Ti/TiO2 foi utilizado como fotocátodo sob irradiação UV e potencial aplicado -0,2 V vs. Ag/AgCl e levou a remoção de 100% do nitrito após 6 min de fotoeletrocatálise em solução de NaCl 7 mmol L-1, pH 7 e ausência de oxigênio dissolvido. A redução de nitrito sobre o eletrodo de Ti/TiO2 ocorre no compartimento catódico da célula pelos elétrons fotogerados quando o eletrodo é irradiado com luz UV, gerando 7% de amônio e 93% de espécies gasosas de nitrogênio após 6 min de tratamento. Os resultados indicam que o método pode ser uma ferramenta eficiente para o tratamento de águas contaminadas com nitrito.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Comportamento de Linhagens de Mungo Verde em Condicoes de Campo em itaguai, RJ.

No campo experimental do Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Biologia do Solo (CNPBS)EMBRAPA, Seropédica, Itagual, RJ, avaliou-se o comportamento de 25 linhagens de feijão-mungo (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilezek), em solo Podzólico Vermelho- Amarelo da série Itaguaí, no plantio das águas de 1988189. As linhagens mais produtivas foram VC-3012B com 1.520 kgIha, e VC-3301A com 1.484kglha, sendo a produtividade média de 1.230 kg/ha. 0 número de vagens/planta, número de sementes/vagem, número de lóculos vazios/vagem e número de nódulos por planta diferiram significativamente entre as linhagens; o mesmo não aconteceu para o peso de nódulos secos/planta, matéria seca e N total da parte aérea. Foram realizadas quatro colheitas de grãos, sendo que a primeira e a terceira participaram, juntas, com 91,1% da produção total, indicando a possibilidade de serem feitas apenas duas colheitas, mesmo no período das águas

The Instars Mentoring Program: Successes, Challenges, and Lessons Learned Over 5-Years of Broadening Participation in Freshwater Science

Mentoring Program engages undergraduate students from under-represented groups in the study of freshwaters and provides student funding to attend the SFS Annual Meeting. The program offers undergraduate Instars Fellows an opportunity to learn about the many disciplines of freshwater science and to interact with other undergraduates, graduate student mentors, and professional SFS members. Since the program’s inception in 2011, Instars has hosted a total of 63 undergraduates as Fellows and 32 SFS graduate students as Mentors. A broad diversity of under-represented groups, including African Americans, Hispanic/Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and First-Generation College students have participated, with many alumni continuing into SFS-related graduate programs and some even returning to the program as graduate mentors. Others have transitioned into careers in the freshwater sciences or education. Instars is an important program for the SFS’s Education and Diversity Committee to meet its mission to promote membership diversity. To date, funding has been provided by the SFS for more than $50K with substantial assistance from partnering institutions. In this presentation we outline the many successes of the program and remaining challenges

SFS Instars: A Mentoring Program to Increase Diversity in the Next Generation of Freshwater Scientists

Instars is a mentoring opportunity for undergraduates from under-represented groups interested in the study of freshwaters. The program provides opportunities for networking among graduates, faculty and professionals hoping to encourage diversity in our discipline. In addition to an orientation workshop, the 2013 program is sponsoring a special session, “The Future of Freshwater Science”. Instars was launched at the 2011 meeting in Providence, RI with 6 Fellows and 3 graduate mentors representing 7 states and 8 institutions. Participation expanded in 2012 with 11 Fellows and 8 mentors, representing 9 states and 15 institutions. A broad diversity of under-represented groups, including African Americans, Hispanic/Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and First-Generation College students have participated, with three alumni continuing into SFS-related graduate programs. To date, funding has been provided by the Society for Freshwater Science for more than $20K with substantial assistance from partnering institutions. Institutions may help expand Instars by sponsoring undergraduates to cover registration, travel or other costs associated with attending the conference. We strongly encourage institutional sponsorship and are seeking resources to help provide stable funding for this growing program