Neurobiological foundations of multisensory integration in people with autism spectrum disorders: the role of the medial prefrontal cortex.

This review aims to relate the sensory processing problems in people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), especially multisensory integration (MSI), to the role of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) by exploring neuroanatomical findings; brain connectivity and Default Network (DN); global or locally directed attention; and temporal multisensory binding. The mPFC is part of the brain¿s DN, which is deactivated when attention is focused on a particular task and activated on rest when spontaneous cognition emerges. In those with ASD, it is hypoactive and the higher the social impairment the greater the atypical activity. With an immature DN, cross-modal integration is impaired, resulting in a collection of disconnected fragments instead of a coherent global perception. The deficit in MSI may lie in the temporal synchronization of neural networks. The time interval in which the stimulation of one sensory channel could influence another would be higher, preventing integration in the typical shorter time range. Thus, the underconnectivity between distant brain areas would be involved in top-down information processes (relying on global integration of data from different sources) and would enhance low level perception processes such as over focused attention to s

Safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222) against SARS-CoV-2: an interim analysis of four randomised controlled trials in Brazil, South Africa, and the UK.

BACKGROUND: A safe and efficacious vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), if deployed with high coverage, could contribute to the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in a pooled interim analysis of four trials. METHODS: This analysis includes data from four ongoing blinded, randomised, controlled trials done across the UK, Brazil, and South Africa. Participants aged 18 years and older were randomly assigned (1:1) to ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine or control (meningococcal group A, C, W, and Y conjugate vaccine or saline). Participants in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group received two doses containing 5 × 1010 viral particles (standard dose; SD/SD cohort); a subset in the UK trial received a half dose as their first dose (low dose) and a standard dose as their second dose (LD/SD cohort). The primary efficacy analysis included symptomatic COVID-19 in seronegative participants with a nucleic acid amplification test-positive swab more than 14 days after a second dose of vaccine. Participants were analysed according to treatment received, with data cutoff on Nov 4, 2020. Vaccine efficacy was calculated as 1 - relative risk derived from a robust Poisson regression model adjusted for age. Studies are registered at ISRCTN89951424 and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04324606, NCT04400838, and NCT04444674. FINDINGS: Between April 23 and Nov 4, 2020, 23 848 participants were enrolled and 11 636 participants (7548 in the UK, 4088 in Brazil) were included in the interim primary efficacy analysis. In participants who received two standard doses, vaccine efficacy was 62·1% (95% CI 41·0-75·7; 27 [0·6%] of 4440 in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group vs71 [1·6%] of 4455 in the control group) and in participants who received a low dose followed by a standard dose, efficacy was 90·0% (67·4-97·0; three [0·2%] of 1367 vs 30 [2·2%] of 1374; pinteraction=0·010). Overall vaccine efficacy across both groups was 70·4% (95·8% CI 54·8-80·6; 30 [0·5%] of 5807 vs 101 [1·7%] of 5829). From 21 days after the first dose, there were ten cases hospitalised for COVID-19, all in the control arm; two were classified as severe COVID-19, including one death. There were 74 341 person-months of safety follow-up (median 3·4 months, IQR 1·3-4·8): 175 severe adverse events occurred in 168 participants, 84 events in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group and 91 in the control group. Three events were classified as possibly related to a vaccine: one in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group, one in the control group, and one in a participant who remains masked to group allocation. INTERPRETATION: ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 has an acceptable safety profile and has been found to be efficacious against symptomatic COVID-19 in this interim analysis of ongoing clinical trials. FUNDING: UK Research and Innovation, National Institutes for Health Research (NIHR), Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lemann Foundation, Rede D'Or, Brava and Telles Foundation, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Thames Valley and South Midland's NIHR Clinical Research Network, and AstraZeneca

Safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222) against SARS-CoV-2: an interim analysis of four randomised controlled trials in Brazil, South Africa, and the UK

Background A safe and efficacious vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), if deployed with high coverage, could contribute to the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in a pooled interim analysis of four trials. Methods This analysis includes data from four ongoing blinded, randomised, controlled trials done across the UK, Brazil, and South Africa. Participants aged 18 years and older were randomly assigned (1:1) to ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine or control (meningococcal group A, C, W, and Y conjugate vaccine or saline). Participants in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group received two doses containing 5 × 1010 viral particles (standard dose; SD/SD cohort); a subset in the UK trial received a half dose as their first dose (low dose) and a standard dose as their second dose (LD/SD cohort). The primary efficacy analysis included symptomatic COVID-19 in seronegative participants with a nucleic acid amplification test-positive swab more than 14 days after a second dose of vaccine. Participants were analysed according to treatment received, with data cutoff on Nov 4, 2020. Vaccine efficacy was calculated as 1 - relative risk derived from a robust Poisson regression model adjusted for age. Studies are registered at ISRCTN89951424 and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04324606, NCT04400838, and NCT04444674. Findings Between April 23 and Nov 4, 2020, 23 848 participants were enrolled and 11 636 participants (7548 in the UK, 4088 in Brazil) were included in the interim primary efficacy analysis. In participants who received two standard doses, vaccine efficacy was 62·1% (95% CI 41·0–75·7; 27 [0·6%] of 4440 in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group vs71 [1·6%] of 4455 in the control group) and in participants who received a low dose followed by a standard dose, efficacy was 90·0% (67·4–97·0; three [0·2%] of 1367 vs 30 [2·2%] of 1374; pinteraction=0·010). Overall vaccine efficacy across both groups was 70·4% (95·8% CI 54·8–80·6; 30 [0·5%] of 5807 vs 101 [1·7%] of 5829). From 21 days after the first dose, there were ten cases hospitalised for COVID-19, all in the control arm; two were classified as severe COVID-19, including one death. There were 74 341 person-months of safety follow-up (median 3·4 months, IQR 1·3–4·8): 175 severe adverse events occurred in 168 participants, 84 events in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group and 91 in the control group. Three events were classified as possibly related to a vaccine: one in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group, one in the control group, and one in a participant who remains masked to group allocation. Interpretation ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 has an acceptable safety profile and has been found to be efficacious against symptomatic COVID-19 in this interim analysis of ongoing clinical trials

Genetic variation in the invasive avian parasite, Philornis downsi (Diptera, Muscidae) on the Galápagos archipelago

BACKGROUND: Understanding the dispersal and genetic structure of invasive insects across islands is important for designing management plans that are appropriate at spatial and temporal scales. For invasive parasites, population dynamics are largely determined by the distribution and density of their host species. The introduced parasitic fly, Philornis downsi, parasitises nestlings of endemic birds on all major islands of the Galápagos archipelago. The fly's high mortality and fitness impacts are of conservation concern for vulnerable and declining species of Darwin's finches. Using microsatellite data in Bayesian clustering and landscape genetic analyses, we examine gene flow and dispersal in P. downsi between three islands and across habitats (highlands, lowlands) and examine for the presence of population bottlenecks. We also examine variation at the mitochondrial gene CO1 across islands to establish if cryptic species were present. RESULTS: Both the mitochondrial and microsatellite data were consistent with there being a single species across islands. We found low genetic differentiation between islands and strong evidence for inter-island gene flow, or shared recent ancestry among individuals. Landscape genetic analysis identified two genetic clusters: one encompassing Santa Cruz and Isabela, and one on Floreana Island. There was no evidence of genetic differentiation between habitats and molecular variance was mainly attributable to within individuals. The combined P. downsi population was found to have undergone a population bottleneck. CONCLUSION: Philornis downsi populations have high connectivity within and between islands, with low levels of genetic differentiation between Floreana and the other two islands examined. The genetic bottleneck found across islands suggests there was a small founding population or few introduction events of P. downsi. The high dispersal capacity and wide habitat use of P. downsi highlights the significant threat that this parasite poses to the Galápagos avifauna. Our findings are relevant for assessing the viability of methods to control P. downsi on Galápagos, such as the sterile insect technique.13 page(s

Genetic variation in the invasive avian parasite, (Diptera, Muscidae) on the Galápagos archipelago-2

Left) and Isabela (n = 9) (centre top), and (b) all individuals from Floreana Island (n = 76) (bottom right). Black dots represent independent geographic sampling points (i.e. location of bird nests). Note that two geographic sampling points on Isabela Island were within 5 m of each other and are not distinguishable.<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Genetic variation in the invasive avian parasite, (Diptera, Muscidae) on the Galápagos archipelago"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6785/8/13</p><p>BMC Ecology 2008;8():13-13.</p><p>Published online 31 Jul 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2527555.</p><p></p

Genetic variation in the invasive avian parasite, (Diptera, Muscidae) on the Galápagos archipelago-0

Haped distribution is indicative of a mode-shift in allele frequency due to a recent genetic bottleneck.<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Genetic variation in the invasive avian parasite, (Diptera, Muscidae) on the Galápagos archipelago"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6785/8/13</p><p>BMC Ecology 2008;8():13-13.</p><p>Published online 31 Jul 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2527555.</p><p></p

Data from: Panmixia supports divergence with gene flow in Darwin’s small ground finch, Geospiza fuliginosa, on Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands

The divergence-with-gene-flow model of speciation has a strong theoretical basis with a growing number of plausible examples in nature, but remains hotly debated. Darwin’s finches of the Galápagos Archipelago have played an important role in our understanding of speciation processes. Recent studies suggest that this group may also provide insights into speciation via divergence with gene flow. On the island of Santa Cruz, recent studies found evidence for adaptive divergence in Darwin’s small ground finch, Geospiza fuliginosa, between ecologically contrasting arid and humid zones. Despite the short geographical distance between these zones, strong disruptive selection during low rainfall periods is expected to generate and maintain adaptive divergence. Conversely, during high rainfall periods, when disruptive selection is predicted to be weakened, population divergence in adaptive traits is expected to break down. Because periods of low and high rainfall irregularly alternate, the geographical pattern of adaptive divergence can be assumed to break down and, importantly, regenerate in situ. Here, we use microsatellite allele frequency data to assess the genetic population structure of G. fuliginosa on Santa Cruz. We sample 21 sites and four ecological zones across the island. We reject hypotheses of population substructure linked to ecological and geographical differences among sites in favour of a single panmictic population. Panmixia implies high levels of gene flow within Santa Cruz, which favours selection over genetic drift as a valid process generating phenotypic divergence in G. fuliginosa on Santa Cruz. We discuss how our findings may support classic adaptation, phenotypic plasticity, matching habitat choice or any combination of these three processes

Genetic variation in the invasive avian parasite, (Diptera, Muscidae) on the Galápagos archipelago-1

Tion of the putative number of clusters (); (b) Posterior density distribution of the number of clusters estimated from analysis in three replicates.<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Genetic variation in the invasive avian parasite, (Diptera, Muscidae) on the Galápagos archipelago"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6785/8/13</p><p>BMC Ecology 2008;8():13-13.</p><p>Published online 31 Jul 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2527555.</p><p></p

awesome repeat x infinity bonus ;-O

TesisLepidium meyenii (maca) es un recurso vegetal que ha alcanzado mucha relevancia en los últimos años debido a que muchas de las propiedades que la medicina tradicional le atribuía, han sido comprobadas científicamente. Es así que algunas de las propiedades verificadas o comprobadas son; el efecto sobre la espermatogénesis, efecto sobre el aprendizaje, actividad citoprotectora en condiciones de estrés oxidativo, función antiproliferativa a nivel prostático. Estas propiedades son atribuidas a los metabolitos secundarios que contiene, siendo uno de los principales compuestos conocidos las macamidas, que no son otra cosa que ésteres del ácido bencílico y sus derivados con ácidos grasos saturados e insaturados. Como es conocido, las condiciones climatológicas y edafológicas pueden no solo influenciar en la cantidad de metabolitos secundarios presentes, sino que también pueden afectar el color de las raíces del vegetal. Esto da lugar a la existencia de diferentes ecotipos de Lepidium meyenii, encontrándose entre los más comunes las variedades, amarilla, roja y negra En el presente trabajo se ha procedido a obtener extractos pentánicos por re-extracción continua líquido-líquido de extractos metanólicos de las 3 variedades mencionadas. En estos extractos ha sido posible la identificación y cuantificación de las siguientes macamidas; N-(3-metoxibenzyl) tetradecanamide (1), N-benzylhexadecanamide (2), N- (3-metoxibenzyl) hexadecanamide (3), N-benzyloctadecanamide (5), Nbenzyltetracosanamide (11). Esto fue posible gracias a que el laboratorio de farmacología del MCPHs University donó los estándares correspondientes. Esta cuantificación requirió un proceso de adecuación y estandarización de la técnica analítica cromatográfica con el fin de contar con resultados confiables, varios parámetros analíticos mostraron que el sistema cumple con los requisitos para un método validado. La respuesta del detector fue lineal en el rango de concentración de 0.25 a 50 μg/mL; con coeficientes de correlación mayores a 0.95, se obtuvo una precisión aceptable, con valores máximos de 4.097% para las concentraciones más bajas utilizada para el estándar (11) y (1); mientras que el resto está por debajo de 2%, los límites de detección y cuantificación variaron entre 0.10 y 0.64 μg/mL entre las macamidas analizadas y la exactitud fue evaluada al contaminar las muestras con una cantidad conocida de estándar, obteniendo un porcentaje de recuperación entre 80.91% - 101.26%. La evaluación de los extractos, mostró la ausencia de la macamida (11) en las tres variedades analizadas. Adicionalmente, el contenido del resto de las macamidas analizadas fue menor en la maca negra y roja frente al de la maca amarilla. Cabe mencionar que la macamida más abundante fue la N-benzylhexadecanamide (2) en los tres ecotipos siendo en el extracto de maca amarilla donde se encontró la concentración más alta de N-benzylhexadecanamide (2), 58.14 ±1.8 mg/g de extracto, mientras que en las otras dos variedades la concentración de la misma no superó los 20 mg/g de extracto. Adicionalmente mencionar que de las macamidas restantes se encontraron concentraciones inferiores a 3 mg/g de extracto Palabras clave: Lepidium meyenii, macamidas, ecotipo