Criteria for age estimation of anchovy otoliths in the Alborán Sea (Western Mediterranean Sea) based on the monitoring of the hyaline edge formation

Abstract This study determines the seasonality in the formation of rings in the anchovy otoliths by monitoring hyaline edge in the Alborán Sea. Monthly samples were collected between October 1989 and December 1992 from the catches of the purse seine fleet. Two hyaline zones in the otolith are deposited per year, one in winter (primary) and a minor one during the summer spawning season. The formation of hyaline rings is significantly correlated with the temperature of seawater. The highest percentage of hyaline edge formation, recorded over the four year study, periodically occurred in February, when the temperature is at its lowest. When the nutritional status of fish is better, the percentage of individuals forming hyaline edge is lower. Considering these facts, a number of criteria for interpreting the growth rings on the anchovy otolith were developed. The population is subjected to a high rate of exploitation, so with the absence of older individuals in the area, it means that growth can only be accurately described in the first year. With some variations, depending on the year, anchovy grows between 12 and 13cm in their first year of life

High embryogenic ability and plant regeneration of table grapevine cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.) induced by activated charcoal

Somatic embryos and plants from immature anthers or ovaries were obtained from the Vitis vinifera cvs Sugraone, Crimson Seedless, Italia and Don Mariano. Explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (4, 7 or 10 μM) and 6-benzyladenine (0.7, 1 or 1.3 μM) for callus induction. Callus frequency depended on genotype, explant type and the culture medium used. Calli were transferred to half strength MS without growth regulators for embryo differentiation. The presence of activated charcoal (AC, 0.25 %) in this medium was essential to obtain somatic embryos in the case of Crimson Seedless, Italia and Don Mariano and to increase the frequency of embryogenic calli in Sugraone (from 5.8 % without AC to 99.5 % with AC). Ovaries and anthers showed different degrees of embryogenic competence. When somatic embryos were placed in a medium with indole-3-acetic acid (10 μM), gibberellic acid (1 μM) and 0.25 % AC, embryo germination was normal, i.e. embryos turned green, the hypocotyls and cotyledons started to grow and the apical root axis developed. The percentage of germinated embryos was 100 % for Sugraone and 27.5 %, 38.1 % and 54.5 % for Don Mariano, Italia and Crimson Seedless, respectively. When the germinated embryos were transferred to half strength MS medium in test tubes, 100 % of Crimson, Italia and Don Mariano and 68.3 % of Sugraone embryos developed into normal plants.

Biogeography of epibenthic crustaceans on the shelf and upper slope off the Iberian Peninsula Mediterranean coasts: implications for the establishment of natural management areas

Special Volume: Mediterranean marine demersal resources: the Medits international trawl survey (1994-1999)The patterns of occurrence and bathymetric distribution of epibenthic crustaceans on the continental shelf and upper slope down to a depth of 800 m are analysed based on data gathered during six demersal trawl surveys performed annually in spring along the Mediterranean coasts of the Iberian Peninsula (from the Straits of Gibraltar to Cape Creus) between 1994 and 1999. A total of 598 valid hauls has been studied providing a total of 108 species of decapods, two stomatopods, one euphausiid, one mysid and one isopod. The study area has been subdivided into seven sectors according to their geomorphological characteristics, and the patterns of occurrence and abundance by depth have been analysed separately for each of the sectors. Detailed data on bathymetric distribution are presented for each species. Two main biogeographical areas can be discerned along the study area, which can approximately be separated at Palos Cape: the Alborán Sea to the southwest, and the northwestern Mediterranean (Levantine and Catalan Seas) northwest of Palos Cape. The continental shelf in the Alborán Sea (the most western area of the Mediterranean) is extremely narrow whereas it is much wider in the northwestern Mediterranean. The influence of Atlantic waters entering the Mediterranean is particularly strong in the Alborán Sea which shows a particularly high species richness of Atlantic affinity. Within the context of the western Mediterranean Sea, the Alborán Sea region shows important faunistic characteristics such that it might be considered as a possible separate natural management area for demersal fisheriesVersión del editor1,006

Synthesis of functionalized triblock copolyesters derived from lactic acid and macrolactones for bone tissue regeneration

Synthetic and functional grafts are a great alternative to conventional grafts. They can provide a physical support and the precise signaling for cells to heal damaged tissues. In this study, a novel RGD peptide end-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(lactic acid)-b-poly(globalide)-b-poly(lactic acid)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (RGD-PEG-PLA-PGl-PLA-PEG-RGD) is synthetized and used to prepare functional scaffolds. The PGl inner block is obtained by enzymatic ring-opening polymerization of globalide. The outer PLA blocks are obtained by ring-opening polymerization of both, l-lactide or a racemic mixture, initiated by the α-ω-telechelic polymacrolactone. The presence of PGl inner block enhances the toughness of PLA-based scaffolds, with an increase of the elongation at break up to 300% when the longer block of PGl is used. PLA-PGl-PLA copolymer is coupled with α-ω-telechelic PEG diacids by esterification reaction. PEGylation provides hydrophilic scaffolds as the contact angle is reduced from 114° to 74.8°. That difference improves the contact between the scaffolds and the culture media. Moreover, the scaffolds are functionalized with RGD peptides at the surface significantly enhancing the adhesion and proliferation of bone marrow-derived primary mesenchymal stem cells and MC3T3-E1 cell lines in vitro. These results place this multifunctional polymer as a great candidate for the preparation of temporary grafts

Osteotomía de Weil percutánea en el tratamiento de las metatarsalgias: correlación clínico-radiológica

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar los resultados de la osteotomía de Weil percutánea para el tratamiento de la metatarsalgia de origen mecánico. Para ello, se revisaron de forma retrospectiva los primeros 28 casos consecutivos intervenidos mediante osteotomía de Weil percutánea en pacientes con metatarsalgia mecánica por sobrecarga de los metatarsianos centrales. Se entrevistó a la totalidad de los pacientes, evaluando los resultados radiológicos, estéticos y funcionales, utilizando para ello la Escala de Valoración funcional AOFAS (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society) para el antepié. Los resultados fueron considerados como buenos o excelentes desde el punto de vista funcional en 81% de los pies intervenidos y en el 89% desde el punto de vista estético. La puntuación final media en la escala AOFAS fue de 78,3. Tuvimos 3 casos de infección por estafilococo aureus que se resolvieron con tratamiento antibiótico específico. No se observaron pseudoartrosis. Por todo ello, consideramos que la osteotomía de Weil es una técnica adecuada y segura para tratar las metatarsalgias de causa mecánica.The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the short-term results after percutaneous Weil osteotomy for the treatment secondary metatarsalgia related to repetitive high-pressure loading under the metatarsal heads. We analyzed retrospectively clinical and radiological outcome of 28 consecutive patients who were treated with percutaneous, subcapital osteotomy for metatarsalgia with overload etiology. Analysis of the esthetic, functional and radiologic results was performed using AOFAS forefoot score. Good to excellent functional results were achieved in 81% of the feet, cosmetic in 89% with average score 78,3 points. Three patients developed a superficial wound infections, which responded to antibiotics. Union occurred in all cases. Percutaneous Weil osteotomy is safe and effective technique for treatment of secondary metatarsalgia with mechanic etiology

Climate variability and recruitment success of European hake (Merluccius merluccius L.) in NW Africa

Recently it was stated a strong dependence of European hake abundance with climate variability in NW Africa. This relationship was explained by the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) driving the upwelling temporality and its geographic coverage, which could be responsible of changes in survival rate during early life stages of this species. Following this hypothesis, this work focuses on the relative importance of climate variability on recruitment dynamics of European hake. Interannual variability of recruitment success were analyzed through two types of time series: (i) from monthly and annual length distribution fishery data (1982-1999) of Spanish trawling fleet that worked under Spanish or European-Moroccan fishery agreements and (ii) recruits annual abundance from scientific Moroccan surveys (1982-2004). The time series were compared with the annual smoothed NAO index to evaluate the type of relationship, persistence and their relative contribution as a variation source of recruitment success. The recruitment to the fishery took place during all year with peaks in spring and summer, but the seasonal component was weak. The time series were in synchrony with NAO index of the previous year and showed strong positive correlation. The variation of recruitment success explained by NAO was 25 to 82 % depending on time series size. The main NAO effect in recruitment dynamics was the widening-contraction of Recruitment Window. During NAO+ phase several success cohorts were recruited by year, while in NAO- the success cohorts were scarce and weak. The climate signal in recruitment dynamics of European hake was robust, recurrent and persistent independently of fishing effort

Fluvial geomorphological dynamics and land use changes: impact on the organic carbon stocks of soil and sediment

The drainage basin of the Turrilla river (SE of Spain) went through important land cover changes since 1950s; from mainly an agrarian scenario in 1956 to other depopulated and forested in 2015. This study analyzes the effects of land use changes on fluvial dynamics and their relationship with the organic carbon (OC) stock in fluvial sedimentary deposits as well as in the soil of the basin. Methods included a fluvial geomorphological analysis and a land use change analysis in combination with OC databases of soil and sediment. Results showed that the fluvial channel experienced important morphological changes related to different erosion processes and stabilization of fluvial deposits, induced by land use changes in the drainage area. The active channel decreased 63% in the study period, while bank erosion and gully erosion increased (34% and 21 %, respectively). Alluvial fans and alluvial plain were also extended (21% and 7 %, respectively) and alluvial bars were colonized by vegetation. Sediment was impoverished in OC compared to catchment soils (0.24 enrichment ratio sediment/soil). However the increase of OC stock (Mg ha-1) was very similar between soil (25 %) and sediment (23 %). The total reservoir of OC (Mg) increased 27% in sediments and 25% in the catchment soils. Results show the large influence of geomorphological dynamics on the OC reservoir at the catchment scale. A very high potential of fluvial sediments to increase OC sinks was observed, particularly in scenarios where the active channel is narrowed and the fluvial channel is encroached with vegetation, facilitating the input of OC in sediment. The potential of sediment to sequester organic carbon could be very useful in planning and management of fluvial sedimentary zones in climate change mitigation policies. © 2019, Universidad Austral de Chile. All rights reserved.Este estudio ha recibido apoyo financiero del proyecto DISECO (CGL2014-55405-R) del Plan Nacional de Ciencia del Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad de España, del proyecto SOGLO (P7/24 IAP BELSPO) del gobierno de Bélgica. AHM recibió apoyo financiero para una estancia en la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (Argentina) del Banco de Santander mediante el Convenio Becas de Intercambio Latinoamérica (Programa ILA). CBF recibió apoyo financiero para dos estancias en el extranjero del programa Salvador de Madariaga 2017 (Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte, Gobierno de España) y del programa Jiménez de la Espada 2017 (Fundación Séneca, Agencia de Ciencia y Tecnología de la Región de Murcia). MAB fue parcialmente financiada por un contrato Juan de la Cierva-Incorporación (Ref: IJCI-2015-23500). Todas estas estancias permitieron el trabajo continuado en la redacción de este artículo

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus in a Mediterranean region

Low vitamin D levels have been found in patients with autoimmune diseases, including type I diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. The main source of vitamin D is exposure to sunlight, but the same solar radiation is known to exacerbate lupus erythematosus. We investigated the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). We designed a cross-sectional study including 55 patients with CLE to measure their serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) by chemiluminescence immunoassay and compare it with a control group consisting of 37 healthy sex and age-matched subjects recruited from the patients’ relatives as well as healthcare workers. Correlations with clinical and demographic variables were determined. Approximately 95% of patients with CLE had less than 30 ng/ml of serum 25(OH)D, which is accepted as the lower limit for vitamin D adequacy. Mean serum vitamin D values were significantly lower than controls (p = 0.038) and were associated with higher levels of parathyroid hormone (p = 0.050). A history of CLE was a strong predictor of insufficiency of vitamin D (odds ratio 4.2; 95% confidence interval 1.0–17.4). The results suggest a role of CLE in the metabolism of the vitamin and provide guidance for future studies looking at a potential role for vitamin D in the prevention and treatment of CLE