Echinoderms from Santa Catarina, southern Brazil: an update on biodiversity and distribution

We provide an update, based on literature records, on biodiversity and distribution of echinoderms along the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Sixty-one echinoderms taxa are reported, in 36 families. We present information on habitat distribution, taxonomy and possible threats to these species. The highest number of echinoderm records was between 25°19′S and 28°11′S latitudes, and sites of the Continental Shelf and the Reserva Biológica Marinha of Arvoredo area had the most species records (30 and 26 species, respectively). In addition, Santa Catarina is the southernmost record, in the Atlantic Ocean, for 40 echinoderm species; of these, 10 are on the regional list of endangered species. Eight species are endemic to Brazil and one ophiuroid species was reported herein for the first time at Santa Catarina: Ophiacantha pentacrinus Lütken, 1869

Field‐based evidence for intra‐slab high‐permeability channel formation at eclogite‐facies conditions during subduction

International audienceFluid release from subducting oceanic lithosphere is a key process for subduction zone geodynamics, from controlling arc volcanism to seismicity and tectonic exhumation. However, many fundamental details of fluid composition, flow pathways, and reactivity with slab-forming rocks remain to be thoroughly understood. In this study we investigate a multi-kilometer-long, high-pressure metasomatic system preserved in the lawsonite-eclogite metamorphic unit of Alpine Corsica, France. The fluid-mediated process was localized along a major intra-slab interface, which is the contact between basement and cover unit. Two distinct metasomatic stages are identified and discussed. We show that these two stages resulted from the infiltration of deep fluids that were derived from the same source and had the same slab-parallel, updip flow direction. By mass balance analysis, we quantify metasomatic mass changes along this fluid pathway and the time-integrated fluid fluxes responsible for them. In addition, we also assess carbon fluxes associated with these metasomatic events. The magnitude of the estimated fluid fluxes (104-105) indicates that major intra-slab interfaces such as lithological boundaries acted as fluid channels facilitating episodic pulses of fluid flow. We also show that when fluids are channelized, high time-integrated fluid fluxes lead to carbon fluxes several orders of magnitude higher than carbon fluxes generated by local dehydration reactions. Given the size and geologic features of the investigated metasomatic system, we propose that it represents the first reported natural analogue of the so-called high permeability channels predicted by numerical simulations

Improved graft patency rates and mid-term outcome of diabetic patients undergoing total arterial myocardial revascularization

Objectives: Diabetes negatively affects the outcome of patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or coronary surgery. However, data are lacking with respect to the impact of arterial revascularization in the diabetic population. Methods: Between 1999 and 2003, 100 of 491 diabetics underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) with total arterial grafting (Group 1, G1); these patients were compared with 100 diabetics undergoing conventional CABG with saphenous veins (Group 2, G2), who were matched for Euroscore and other risk factors such as age, obesity, hypertension, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), previous myocardial infarction and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Results: Both groups had a similar number of diseased coronary vessels (G1=2.6 vs G2= 2.7) and received a similar degree of myocardial revascularization (grafted vessels: G1=2.2 vs G2=2.4). Early outcome was comparable between the groups in terms of ventilatory support (G1=10.8±6 vs G2=10.4±5 hours), intensive care unit (ICU) stay (G1=24±12 vs G2=25±14 hours) and major post-operative complications such as atrial fibrillation (G1=26% vs G2=28%), peri-operative myocardial infarction (G1=1% vs G2=2%)and prolonged ventilatory support (G1=6% vs G2=5%). Hospital mortality was 2% in G1 and 3% in G2. Angiography was performed at a mean follow-up of 34 months in 65.9% and 71.1% of hospital survivors of G1 and G2 respectively: patients of G1 showed a significantly higher patency rate (G1=96% vs G2=83.6%, p=0.02). Additionally, patients of G1 showed a significantly lower incidence of recurrent myocardial ischemia (G1=7 pts. vs G2=18 pts., p=0.03), late myocardial infarction (G1=2 pts. vs G2=10 pts., p=0.03) and need for coronary reintervention (G1=1 pt. vs G2=12 pts, p=0.004). Conclusions: Total arterial grafting in diabetic patients significantly improved the benefits of coronary surgery providing at mid term a higher graft patency rate with a lower incidence of cardiac related events. (Heart International 2006; 3-4: 136-40

Decellularized diaphragmatic muscle drives a constructive angiogenic response in vivo

Skeletal muscle tissue engineering (TE) aims to efficiently repair large congenital and acquired defects. Biological acellular scaffolds are considered a good tool for TE, as decellularization allows structural preservation of tissue extracellular matrix (ECM) and conservation of its unique cytokine reservoir and the ability to support angiogenesis, cell viability, and proliferation. This represents a major advantage compared to synthetic scaffolds, which can acquire these features only after modification and show limited biocompatibility. In this work, we describe the ability of a skeletal muscle acellular scaffold to promote vascularization both ex vivo and in vivo. Specifically, chicken chorioallantoic membrane assay and protein array confirmed the presence of pro-angiogenic molecules in the decellularized tissue such as HGF, VEGF, and SDF-1\u3b1. The acellular muscle was implanted in BL6/J mice both subcutaneously and ortotopically. In the first condition, the ECM-derived scaffold appeared vascularized 7 days post-implantation. When the decellularized diaphragm was ortotopically applied, newly formed blood vessels containing CD31+, \u3b1SMA+, and vWF+ cells were visible inside the scaffold. Systemic injection of Evans Blue proved function and perfusion of the new vessels, underlying a tissue-regenerative activation. On the contrary, the implantation of a synthetic matrix made of polytetrafluoroethylene used as control was only surrounded by vWF+ cells, with no cell migration inside the scaffold and clear foreign body reaction (giant cells were visible). The molecular profile and the analysis of macrophages confirmed the tendency of the synthetic scaffold to enhance inflammation instead of regeneration. In conclusion, we identified the angiogenic potential of a skeletal muscle-derived acellular scaffold and the pro-regenerative environment activated in vivo, showing clear evidence that the decellularized diaphragm is a suitable candidate for skeletal muscle tissue engineering and regeneration

Solving parallel problems by OTMP model

Since the early stages of parallel computing, one of the most common solutions to in troduce parallelism has been to extend a sequential language with some sort of parallel version of the for construct, commonly denoted as forall construct. Although similar syntax, these forall loops di er in their semantics and implementations. The High Performance Fortran (HPF) and OpenMP versions are, likely, among the most popular. This paper presents yet another forall loop extension for the C language. In this work, we introduce a parallel computation model: One Thread Multiple Processor Model (OTMP). This model proposes an abstract machine, a programming model and cost model. The programming model de nes another forall loop construct, the theorical machine aims for both homogeneous shared and distributed memory computers, and the cost model allo ws the prediction of the performance of a program. OTMP does not only in tegrates and extends sequential programming, but also includes and expands the message passing programming model. The model allows and exploits any nested levels of parallelism, taking advan tage of situations where there are several small nested loops.Eje: Procesamiento distribuido y paralelo (PDP)Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Nested parallelism in parallels paradigms

Data parallelislm is one of the more successful efforts to introduce explicit parallelism to high level programming languages. This approach is taken because many useful computations can be framed in term of a set of independent sub-computation, each strongly associated with an element of a large data structure. Such computations are inherently parallelizable. Dala parallell programming is particularly convenient for two reasons. The first is its case of programming and the second is that it can scale easily to larger problem sizes. Several data parallel language implementations now exists. However, almost all discussion of data parallelism were limited to the simplest and least expressive form: unstructured data parallelism (flat). Many other generalizalions of the data parallel model have been proposed, which permit the nesling of data parallel constructors to specify parallel computation across nested and irregular data structures. These language implementations include the capability of nesled parallel invocations, combining the facility of programming on a data parallel model with the efficiency in the execution on irregular data structures of the task parellel model.Eje: Procesamiento Concurrente, paralelo y distribuido. RedesRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Nested parallelism in parallels paradigms

Data parallelislm is one of the more successful efforts to introduce explicit parallelism to high level programming languages. This approach is taken because many useful computations can be framed in term of a set of independent sub-computation, each strongly associated with an element of a large data structure. Such computations are inherently parallelizable. Dala parallell programming is particularly convenient for two reasons. The first is its case of programming and the second is that it can scale easily to larger problem sizes. Several data parallel language implementations now exists. However, almost all discussion of data parallelism were limited to the simplest and least expressive form: unstructured data parallelism (flat). Many other generalizalions of the data parallel model have been proposed, which permit the nesling of data parallel constructors to specify parallel computation across nested and irregular data structures. These language implementations include the capability of nesled parallel invocations, combining the facility of programming on a data parallel model with the efficiency in the execution on irregular data structures of the task parellel model.Eje: Procesamiento Concurrente, paralelo y distribuido. RedesRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Reaction: Italian referendum and Matteo Renzi’s resignation

Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, has announced he will resign following defeat in the country’s constitutional referendum. We asked a number of EUROPP contributors for their immediate thoughts on the result, Renzi’s resignation, and where Italy is heading next. Alberto Alemanno: “The vote has killed the dream of once in a generation change” James Newell: “The result was not simply another anti-establishment revolt” Andrea Lorenzo Capussela: “Rationality imposed itself, and in large numbers” Silvia Merler: “Italy is now headed for a complex and delicate period of political and economic uncertainty” Lorenzo Piccoli: “Renzi did not have much choice but to resign” Jonas Bergan Draege: “Both the M5S and Lega Nord could emerge strengthened from the No vote” Angelo Martelli: “The determinant factor of Renzi’s defeat has been the sluggish pace of the Italian recovery” Davide Morisi: “The correlation is clear: Renzi’s personalisation strategy has backfired” Mattia Guidi: “Listening to the will of the people will be a hard task: several questions have no answer at present” James Dennison: “This was no Brexit-Trump moment: The package of reforms was complex and broad enough for citizens of all stripes to find cause for concern” Fabio Bordignon: “Renzi’s 41% – ironically, the same result he had obtained at the 2014 European election – became the symbol of his defeat