Redescription of\u3ci\u3e Eimeria escomeli\u3c/i\u3e (Rastegaieff, 1930) from \u3ci\u3eMyrmecophaga tridactyla,\u3c/i\u3e and a First Report from Bolivia

Eimeria escomeli (Rastegaieff, 1930) Levine and Becker, 1933, is redescribed from the giant anteater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla (L.), from the departamento de La Paz, Bolivia. This is the first report of parasites from M. tridactyla from Bolivia and only the third time that coccidians have been recorded from this host

Residual Effects of N-K Fertilization of Coastal Bermudagrass on Spring Populations of Weed Species

A Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) sod was treated during a five-year period with rates of N and K fertilizers ranging from none to high levels of both elements. In the spring of the sixth year differences in weed species and population densities among the treated plots were observed. Spring weed counts showed that high rates of N fertilizer reduced the number of weed species and the total broadleaf weed population density by 37 and 81%, respectively. The higher rates of K fertilizer also reduced the population density of common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber) and yellow toadflax (Linaria vulgaris Hill),the two dominant broadleaf weed species. The grass weed population, predominantly crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis ,L. Scop.) was not affected significantly by either N or K fertilizer levels

Automatic eduction and statistical analysis of coherent structures in the wall region of a confine plane

This paper describes a vortex detection algorithm used to expose and statistically characterize the coherent flow patterns observable in the velocity vector fields measured by Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) in the impingement region of air curtains. The philosophy and the architecture of this algorithm are presented. Its strengths and weaknesses are discussed. The results of a parametrical analysis performed to assess the variability of the response of our algorithm to the 3 user-specified parameters in our eduction scheme are reviewed. The technique is illustrated in the case of a plane turbulent impinging twin-jet with an opening ratio of 10. The corresponding jet Reynolds number, based on the initial mean flow velocity U0 and the jet width e, is 14000. The results of a statistical analysis of the size, shape, spatial distribution and energetic content of the coherent eddy structures detected in the impingement region of this test flow are provided. Although many questions remain open, new insights into the way these structures might form, organize and evolve are given. Relevant results provide an original picture of the plane turbulent impinging jet

Fractal properties of isolines at varying altitude reveal different dominant geological processes on Earth

Geometrical properties of landscapes result from the geological processes that have acted through time. The quantitative analysis of natural relief represents an objective form of aiding in the visual interpretation of landscapes, as studies on coastlines, river networks, and global topography, have shown. Still, an open question is whether a clear relationship between the quantitative properties of landscapes and the dominant geomorphologic processes that originate them can be established. In this contribution, we show that the geometry of topographic isolines is an appropriate observable to help disentangle such a relationship. A fractal analysis of terrestrial isolines yields a clear identification of trenches and abyssal plains, differentiates oceanic ridges from continental slopes and platforms, localizes coastlines and river systems, and isolates areas at high elevation (or latitude) subjected to the erosive action of ice. The study of the geometrical properties of the lunar landscape supports the existence of a correspondence between principal geomorphic processes and landforms. Our analysis can be easily applied to other planetary bodies.Comment: 21 pages, 7 figure

Physiotherapy management of joint hypermobility syndrome - a focus group study of patient and health professional perspectives.

OBJECTIVE: To develop an understanding of patient and health professional views and experiences of physiotherapy to manage joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS). DESIGN: An explorative qualitative design. Seven focus groups were convened, audio recorded, fully transcribed and analysed using a constant comparative method to inductively derive a thematic account of the data. SETTING: Four geographical areas of the UK. PARTICIPANTS: 25 people with JHS and 16 health professionals (14 physiotherapists and two podiatrists). RESULTS: Both patients and health professionals recognised the chronic heterogeneous nature of JHS and reported a lack of awareness of the condition amongst health professionals, patients and wider society. Diagnosis and subsequent referral to physiotherapy services for JHS was often difficult and convoluted. Referral was often for acute single joint injury, failing to recognise the long-term multi-joint nature of the condition. Health professionals and patients felt that if left undiagnosed, JHS was more difficult to treat because of its chronic nature. When JHS was treated by health professionals with knowledge of the condition patients reported satisfactory outcomes. There was considerable agreement between health professionals and patients regarding an 'ideal' physiotherapy service. Education was reported as an overarching requirement for patients and health care professionals. CONCLUSIONS: Physiotherapy should be applied holistically to manage JHS as a long-term condition and should address injury prevention and symptom amelioration rather than cure. Education for health professionals and patients is needed to optimise physiotherapy provision. Further research is required to explore the specific therapeutic actions of physiotherapy for managing JHS

'The debatable territory where geology and archaeology meet': reassessing the early archaeobotanical work of Clement Reid and Arthur Lyell at Roman Silchester

The first large-scale archaeobotanical study in Britain, conducted from 1899 to 1909 by Clement Reid and Arthur Lyell at Silchester, provided the first evidence for the introduction of Roman plant foods to Britain, yet the findings have thus far remained unverified. This paper presents a reassessment of these archaeobotanical remains, now stored as part of the Silchester Collection in Reading Museum. The documentary evidence for the Silchester study is summarised, before the results are presented for over a 1000 plant remains including an assessment of preservation, identification and modern contamination. The dataset includes both evidence for the presence of nationally rare plant foods, such as medlar, and several archaeophytes. The methodologies and original interpretations of Reid and Lyell’s study are reassessed in light of current archaeobotanical knowledge. Spatial and contextual patterns in the distribution of plant foods and ornamental taxa are also explored. Finally, the legacy of the study for the development of archaeobotany in the 20th century is evaluated

To be or not to be a pseudogene: a molecular epidemiological approach to the mclx genes and its impact in tuberculosis

Tuberculosis presents a myriad of symptoms, progression routes and propagation patterns not yet fully understood. Whereas for a long time research has focused solely on the patient immunity and overall susceptibility, it is nowadays widely accepted that the genetic diversity of its causative agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, plays a key role in this dynamic. This study focuses on a particular family of genes, the mclxs (Mycobacterium cyclase/LuxR-like genes), which codify for a particular and nearly mycobacterial-exclusive combination of protein domains. mclxs genes were found to be pseudogenized by frameshift-causing insertion(s)/deletion(s) in a considerable number of M. tuberculosis complex strains and clinical isolates. To discern the functional implications of the pseudogenization, we have analysed the pattern of frameshift-causing mutations in a group of M. tuberculosis isolates while taking into account their microbial-, patient- and disease-related traits. Our logistic regression-based analyses have revealed disparate effects associated with the transcriptional inactivation of two mclx genes. In fact, mclx2 (Rv1358) pseudogenization appears to be primarily driven by the microbial phylogenetic background, being mainly related to the Euro-American (EAm) lineage; on the other hand, mclx3 (Rv2488c) presents a higher tendency for pseudogenization among isolates from patients born on the Western Pacific area, and from isolates causing extra-pulmonary infections. These results contribute to the overall knowledge on the biology of M. tuberculosis infection, whereas at the same time launch the necessary basis for the functional assessment of these so far overlooked genes.This work was supported by Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal, and cofunded by Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2-O Novo Norte), Quadro de Referencia Estrategico Nacional (QREN), through the Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER), and from Projeto Estrategico - LA 26 - 2013-2014 (PEst-C/SAU/LA0026/2013). H.N.-G. received a personal FCT Grant (SFRH/BD/33902/2209). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Magnesium induces neuronal apoptosis by suppressing excitability

In clinical obstetrics, magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) use is widespread, but effects on brain development are unknown. Many agents that depress neuronal excitability increase developmental neuroapoptosis. In this study, we used dissociated cultures of rodent hippocampus to examine the effects of Mg++ on excitability and survival. Mg++-induced caspase-3-associated cell loss at clinically relevant concentrations. Whole-cell patch-clamp techniques measured Mg++ effects on action potential threshold, action potential peak amplitude, spike number and changes in resting membrane potential. Mg++ depolarized action potential threshold, presumably from surface charge screening effects on voltage-gated sodium channels. Mg++ also decreased the number of action potentials in response to fixed current injection without affecting action potential peak amplitude. Surprisingly, Mg++ also depolarized neuronal resting potential in a concentration-dependent manner with a +5.2 mV shift at 10 mM. Voltage ramps suggested that Mg++ blocked a potassium conductance contributing to the resting potential. In spite of this depolarizing effect of Mg++, the net inhibitory effect of Mg++ nearly completely silenced neuronal network activity measured with multielectrode array recordings. We conclude that although Mg++ has complex effects on cellular excitability, the overall inhibitory influence of Mg++ decreases neuronal survival. Taken together with recent in vivo evidence, our results suggest that caution may be warranted in the use of Mg++ in clinical obstetrics and neonatology