Conserving pattern and process in the Southern Ocean: designing a Marine Protected Area for the Prince Edward Islands

South Africa is currently proclaiming a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of its sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands. The objectives of the MPA are to: 1) contribute to a national and global representative system of MPAs, 2) serve as a scientific reference point to inform future management, 3) contribute to the recovery of the Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides), and 4) reduce the bird bycatch of the toothfish fishery, particularly of albatrosses and petrels. This study employs systematic conservation planning methods to delineate a MPA within the EEZ that will conserve biodiversity patterns and processes within sensible management boundaries, while minimizing conflict with the legal toothfish fishery. After collating all available distributional data on species, benthic habitats and ecosystem processes, we used C-Plan software to delineate a MPA with three management zones: four IUCN Category Ia reserves (13% of EEZ); two Conservation Zones (21% of EEZ); and three Category IV reserves (remainder of EEZ). Compromises between conservation target achievement and the area required by the MPA are apparent in the final reserve design. The proposed MPA boundaries are expected to change over time as new data become available and as impacts of climate change become more evident

AnBx - Security Protocols Design and Verification

Designing distributed protocols is challenging, as it requires actions at very different levels: from the choice of network-level mechanisms to protect the exchange of sensitive data, to the definition of structured interaction patterns to convey application-specific guarantees. Current security infrastructures provide very limited support for the specification of such guarantees. As a consequence, the high-level security properties of a protocol typically must often be hard-coded explicitly, in terms of low-level cryptographic notions and devices which clutter the design and undermine its scalability and robustness. To counter these problems, we propose an extended Alice & Bob notation for protocol narrations (AnBx) to be employed for a purely declarative modelling of distributed protocols. These abstractions provide a compact specification of the high-level security guarantees they convey, and help shield the design from the details of the underlying cryptographic infrastructure. We discuss an implementation of the abstractions based on a translation from the AnBx notation to the AnB language supported by the OFMC [1,2] verification tool. We show the practical effectiveness of our approach by revisiting the iKP e-payment protocols, and showing that the security goals achieved by our declarative specification outperform those offered by the original protocols

Insuficiência respiratória aguda causada por hiperinfecção pelo Strongyloides stercoralis : relato de caso

O presente trabalho aborda um caso de hiperinfecção por StrongyIoides stercoralis em um paciente idoso, com DPOC e Cor Pulmonale. Descrevem-se as manifestações clínicas atuais, relacionadas à infecção respiratória aguda grave que segue curso inusitado; apontam-se aspecios diagnósticos e terapêuticos relevantes para o sucesso da intervenção médica. É ressaltada a importância das informaçÕes fornecidas pela radiologia, fibrobroncoscopia e microbiologia do lavado broncoalveolar, para a elucidação diagnóstica. Enfatiza-se que, sendo uma doença curàvel, de terapêutica simples e pouco dispendiosa, não haja retardo no inicio do tratamento, pois, uma vez estabelecida, a hiperinfecção pelo S. stercoralis apresenta alto risco de mortalidade.This article presents a case of hyperinfection by Strongyloides stercoralis in an old patient wilh chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute respiratory insufficiency. Clinical manifestations related to severe acute respiratory infection which follows unusual course are described; diagnoslic and therapeutic aspects relevant to a successful medicaI intervention are pointed out. lt is emphasized the importance of information provided by radioIogy, fibrobronchoscopy and microbiology of the bronchoalveolar lavage, for the diagnostic elucidation. Being an easily curable disease, with simple and non-expensive therapeutics, it is important not to delay the beginning of the treatment, for, once it is established, the hyperinfection by Strongyloides stercoralis presents high risk of mortality

Clinical and structural damage outcomes in axial spondyloarthritis patients receiving NSAIDs or advanced therapies: a description of a real-life cohort

IntroductionThis study aims to describe the clinical characteristics, disease activity, and structural damage in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) who receive chronic treatment with nonsteroideal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or advanced therapies in a clinical setting.MethodsCross-sectional study on axSpA patients consecutively recruited from the outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital. We collected data on clinical and demographic characteristics, as well as treatment patterns involving NSAIDs and advanced therapies. Structural damage was assessed using mSASSS.ResultsOverall, data from 193 axSpA patients (83% ankylosing spondylitis) were gathered, with a mean disease duration of 21.4 years. Of these, 85 patients (44%) were exclusively taking NSAIDs, while 108 (56%) were receiving advanced therapies, with TNF inhibitors being the predominant choice (93 out of 108, 86.1%). Among patients using NSAIDs, 64.7% followed an on-demand dosing regimen, while only 17.6% used full doses. Disease activity was low, with a mean BASDAI of 3.1 and a mean ASDAS-CRP of 1.8. In comparison to patients under chronic NSAID treatment, those taking advanced therapies were primarily male (69.4% versus 51.8%, p = 0.025) and significantly younger (mean age of 49 versus 53.9 years, p = 0.033). Additionally, patients on advanced therapies exhibited lower ASDAS-CRP (p = 0.046), although CRP serum levels and BASDAI scores did not differ between the two groups. In the multivariable analysis, therapy (NSAID versus biological treatment) was not independently associated with ASDAS-CRP, BASDAI or mSASSS.ConclusionThis cross-sectional analysis of a real-world cohort of axSpA patients shows positive clinical and radiological outcomes for both NSAIDs and advanced therapies

The thromboxane receptor antagonist NTP42 promotes beneficial adaptation and preserves cardiac function in experimental models of right heart overload

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease characterized by increased pulmonary artery pressure leading to right ventricular (RV) failure. While current PAH therapies improve patient outlook, they show limited benefit in attenuating RV dysfunction. Recent investigations demonstrated that the thromboxane (TX) A2 receptor (TP) antagonist NTP42 attenuates experimental PAH across key hemodynamic parameters in the lungs and heart. This study aimed to validate the efficacy of NTP42:KVA4, a novel oral formulation of NTP42 in clinical development, in preclinical models of PAH while also, critically, investigating its direct effects on RV dysfunction. Methods: The effects of NTP42:KVA4 were evaluated in the monocrotaline (MCT) and pulmonary artery banding (PAB) models of PAH and RV dysfunction, respectively, and when compared with leading standard-of-care (SOC) PAH drugs. In addition, the expression of the TP, the target for NTP42, was investigated in cardiac tissue from several other related disease models, and from subjects with PAH and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Results: In the MCT-PAH model, NTP42:KVA4 alleviated disease-induced changes in cardiopulmonary hemodynamics, pulmonary vascular remodeling, inflammation, and fibrosis, to a similar or greater extent than the PAH SOCs tested. In the PAB model, NTP42:KVA4 improved RV geometries and contractility, normalized RV stiffness, and significantly increased RV ejection fraction. In both models, NTP42:KVA4 promoted beneficial RV adaptation, decreasing cellular hypertrophy, and increasing vascularization. Notably, elevated expression of the TP target was observed both in RV tissue from these and related disease models, and in clinical RV specimens of PAH and DCM. Conclusion: This study shows that, through antagonism of TP signaling, NTP42:KVA4 attenuates experimental PAH pathophysiology, not only alleviating pulmonary pathologies but also reducing RV remodeling, promoting beneficial hypertrophy, and improving cardiac function. The findings suggest a direct cardioprotective effect for NTP42:KVA4, and its potential to be a disease-modifying therapy in PAH and other cardiac conditions

A prospective survey in European Society of Cardiology member countries of atrial fibrillation management: baseline results of EURO bservational Research Programme Atrial Fibrillation (EORP-AF) Pilot General Registry

Aims: Given the advances in atrial fibrillation (AF) management and the availability of new European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines, there is a need for the systematic collection of contemporary data regarding the management and treatment of AF in ESC member countries. Methods and results: We conducted a registry of consecutive in- and outpatients with AF presenting to cardiologists in nine participating ESC countries. All patients with an ECG-documented diagnosis of AF confirmed in the year prior to enrolment were eligible. We enroled a total of 3119 patients from February 2012 to March 2013, with full data on clinical subtype available for 3049 patients (40.4% female; mean age 68.8 years). Common comorbidities were hypertension, coronary disease, and heart failure. Lone AF was present in only 3.9% (122 patients). Asymptomatic AF was common, particularly among those with permanent AF. Amiodarone was the most common antiarrhythmic agent used (~20%), while beta-blockers and digoxin were the most used rate control drugs. Oral anticoagulants (OACs) were used in 80% overall, most often vitamin K antagonists (71.6%), with novel OACs being used in 8.4%. Other antithrombotics (mostly antiplatelet therapy, especially aspirin) were still used in one-third of the patients, and no antithrombotic treatment in only 4.8%. Oral anticoagulants were used in 56.4% of CHA 2DS2-VASc = 0, with 26.3% having no antithrombotic therapy. A high HAS-BLED score was not used to exclude OAC use, but there was a trend towards more aspirin use in the presence of a high HAS-BLED score. Conclusion: The EURObservational Research Programme Atrial Fibrillation (EORP-AF) Pilot Registry has provided systematic collection of contemporary data regarding the management and treatment of AF by cardiologists in ESC member countries. Oral anticoagulant use has increased, but novel OAC use was still low. Compliance with the treatment guidelines for patients with the lowest and higher stroke risk scores remains suboptimal. © The Author 2013

A new class of glycomimetic drugs to prevent free fatty acid-induced endothelial dysfunction

Background: Carbohydrates play a major role in cell signaling in many biological processes. We have developed a set of glycomimetic drugs that mimic the structure of carbohydrates and represent a novel source of therapeutics for endothelial dysfunction, a key initiating factor in cardiovascular complications. Purpose: Our objective was to determine the protective effects of small molecule glycomimetics against free fatty acid­induced endothelial dysfunction, focusing on nitric oxide (NO) and oxidative stress pathways. Methods: Four glycomimetics were synthesized by the stepwise transformation of 2,5­dihydroxybenzoic acid to a range of 2,5­substituted benzoic acid derivatives, incorporating the key sulfate groups to mimic the interactions of heparan sulfate. Endothelial function was assessed using acetylcholine­induced, endotheliumdependent relaxation in mouse thoracic aortic rings using wire myography. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) behavior was evaluated in the presence or absence of the free fatty acid, palmitate, with or without glycomimetics (1µM). DAF­2 and H2DCF­DA assays were used to determine nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, respectively. Lipid peroxidation colorimetric and antioxidant enzyme activity assays were also carried out. RT­PCR and western blotting were utilized to measure Akt, eNOS, Nrf­2, NQO­1 and HO­1 expression. Results: Ex vivo endothelium­dependent relaxation was significantly improved by the glycomimetics under palmitate­induced oxidative stress. In vitro studies showed that the glycomimetics protected HUVECs against the palmitate­induced oxidative stress and enhanced NO production. We demonstrate that the protective effects of pre­incubation with glycomimetics occurred via upregulation of Akt/eNOS signaling, activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway, and suppression of ROS­induced lipid peroxidation. Conclusion: We have developed a novel set of small molecule glycomimetics that protect against free fatty acidinduced endothelial dysfunction and thus, represent a new category of therapeutic drugs to target endothelial damage, the first line of defense against cardiovascular disease

Policy coordination and integration, trust, management and performance in public health related policy networks: a survey

Intersectoral policy networks may be effective in dealing with complex public health problems. Their performance is assumed to depend on network management and trust as well as on integrated public health policy (IPHP; i.e. policy coordination and integration). We studied the role of network management and trust in the realization of IPHP and network performance as well as the relation between IPHP and network performance. In 34 Dutch local policy networks, we measured the perceptions of 278 actors through a web-based survey and used regression analyses to assess the relations between policy variables. Management and trust were positively related to perceived IPHP and network performance, while IPHP was also positively related to perceived network performance. In public health, the performance of intersectoral policy networks may be improved by adequate network management, the creation of trust, and policy coordination and integration. Future research could further explore the role of specific characteristics of the network manager, like the manager’s background, relation to the other actors, and leadership style

Irrigación en plantaciones de café y su efecto en el agua residual del procesamiento de los frutos

Introduction. In the coffee beneficiation process, nutrient-rich by-products with a high organic load are generated, which in most cases they are underused and deposited, without prior treatment in the water bodies. Objective. To evaluate the influence of irrigation, on the chemical compounds of the residual water obtained from the coffee fruits of the “Rubi” variety, irrigated by central pivot. Materials and methods. The experiment was developed at the Federal University of Lavras, Brazil, during 2018. The statistical delineation used was in random blocks, with three repetitions. The treatments corresponded to five irrigation sheets (0, 60, 80, 100, 120, and 140 % of the sheet of water evaporated from the Class A tank). The sowing spacing used per plot was 3.5 m X 0.80 m, in an area of 1.6 ha-1, subdivided into eighteen plots with approximately 888 m2 . The cherry fruits of the coffee were harvested from each treatment and mixed in water, in a ratio of 2 L of water: 1 L coffee fruit and then pulped in an industrial blender. The residual water obtained was analyzed through the standard method for the analysis of residual water. Results. The irrigation sheets caused a significant effect on the evaluated chemical parameters, the irrigated plants based on 57 % of the evaporated water from the Class A tank, resulted in chemical compounds within the established patterns, for the disposal of residual water in Brazil. The content of Mg, S, Mn, P, Zn, Cu, and Fe, was higher than the plots that did not receive irrigation. Conclusions. The use of irrigation in coffee, produce significant effects on the concentration of chemical compounds in the residual water of the coffee fruits of the “Rubí” variety.Introducción. En el proceso de beneficiado del café, se generan subproductos ricos en nutrientes y con elevada carga orgánica, que en la mayoría de casos son subutilizados y depositados, sin tratamiento previo en los cuerpos hídricos. Objetivo. Evaluar la influencia de la irrigación, sobre los compuestos químicos del agua residual obtenida del procesamiento de los frutos del café de la variedad “Rubi”, irrigada por pivote central. Materiales y métodos. El experimento se desarrolló en la Universidad Federal de Lavras, Brasil, durante el año 2018. El delineamiento estadístico utilizado fue en bloques al azar, con tres repeticiones. Los tratamientos correspondieron a cinco láminas de irrigación (0, 60, 80, 100, 120 y 140 % de la lámina de agua evaporada del tanque Clase A). El distanciamiento de siembra utilizada por parcela, fue de 3,5 m X 0,80 m, en un área de 1,6 ha-1, subdividida en dieciocho parcelas con aproximadamente 888 m2 . Los frutos cerezas del café, fueron cosechados de cada tratamiento y mezclados en agua, en proporción de 2 l agua: 1 l fruto de café y en seguida despulpados en una licuadora industrial. El agua residual obtenida, fue analizada a través del método estándar para el análisis de agua residual. Resultados. Las láminas de irrigación, provocaron efecto significativo, sobre los parámetros químicos evaluados, las plantas irrigadas con base en el 57 % del agua evaporada del tanque Clase A, resultaron con compuestos químicos dentro de los patrones establecidos, para el descarte de agua residual en Brasil. El contenido de Mg, S, Mn, P, Zn, Cu y Fe, fue superior a las parcelas que no recibieron irrigación. Conclusiones. El uso de la irrigación en café, produjo efectos significativos sobre la concentración de los compuestos químicos del agua residual de los frutos del café de la variedad “Rubí”

Structural diversity and mode of action on lipid membranes of three lactoferrin candidacidal peptides

The structure and membrane interactions of three antimicrobial peptides from the lactoferrin family were investigated through different techniques. Circular dichroism shows that the peptides adopt a secondary structure in the presence of DMPC/DMPG, and DSC reveals that they all interact with these membranes, albeit differently, whereas only LFchimera has an effect in pure zwitterionic membranes of DMPC. DSC further shows that membrane action is weakest for LFcin17-30, increases for LFampin265-284 and is largest for LFchimera. These differences are clearly reflected in a different structure upon interaction, as revealed by SAX. This technique shows that LFcin17-30 only induces membrane segregation (two lamellar phases are apparent upon cooling from fluid phase), whereas LFampin265-284 induces micellization of the membrane with structure compatible to a micellar cubic phase of space group Pm3n, and LFchimera leads to membrane destruction through the formation of two cubic phases, Pn3m and Im3m. These structural results show a remarkable parallel with the ones obtained previously by freeze fracture microscopy of the effect of these peptides against Candida albicans