First record of Leishmaniasis in wild Jaguars (Panthera onca) from Mexico

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease and parasitic zoonosis that occurs worldwide (i.e., Latin America, Africa and Eurasian countries; Desjeux 2005, Dahroug et al. 2010, 2011, Otranto et al. 2013). It is caused by parasitic kinetoplastids of the Leishmania genus transmitted by arthropod vectors (i.e. sandflies such as Lutzomyia spp.) and presents a great diversity of clinical profiles, depending on the affected areas (Otranto et al. 2013). This disease mainly affects humans and wild carnivoran species, mostly canids, with dogs as major reservoir hosts (Deane & Deane 1954, Silva et al. 2000, Figueiredo et al. 2008, Dantas-Torres et al. 2012). Even though domestic and wild felids are unusual reservoirs, and rarely develop the disease, several studies suggest that these species may play an important role in the epidemiology of the disease (Poli et al. 2002, Maia et al. 2008, Nasereddin et al. 2008, Dantas-Torres et al. 2012). Here we report the first record of a clinical manifestation of Leishmaniasis disease in a wild Jaguar (Panthera onca) in Quintana Roo, Mexico.Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease and parasitic zoonosis that occurs worldwide (i.e., Latin America, Africa and Eurasian countries; Desjeux 2005, Dahroug et al. 2010, 2011, Otranto et al. 2013). It is caused by parasitic kinetoplastids of the Leishmania genus transmitted by arthropod vectors (i.e. sandflies such as Lutzomyia spp.) and presents a great diversity of clinical profiles, depending on the affected areas (Otranto et al. 2013). This disease mainly affects humans and wild carnivoran species, mostly canids, with dogs as major reservoir hosts (Deane & Deane 1954, Silva et al. 2000, Figueiredo et al. 2008, Dantas-Torres et al. 2012). Even though domestic and wild felids are unusual reservoirs, and rarely develop the disease, several studies suggest that these species may play an important role in the epidemiology of the disease (Poli et al. 2002, Maia et al. 2008, Nasereddin et al. 2008, Dantas-Torres et al. 2012). Here we report the first record of a clinical manifestation of Leishmaniasis disease in a wild Jaguar (Panthera onca) in Quintana Roo, Mexico

Evolution of central pattern generators for the control of a five-link bipedal walking mechanism

Central pattern generators (CPGs), with a basis is neurophysiological studies, are a type of neural network for the generation of rhythmic motion. While CPGs are being increasingly used in robot control, most applications are hand-tuned for a specific task and it is acknowledged in the field that generic methods and design principles for creating individual networks for a given task are lacking. This study presents an approach where the connectivity and oscillatory parameters of a CPG network are determined by an evolutionary algorithm with fitness evaluations in a realistic simulation with accurate physics. We apply this technique to a five-link planar walking mechanism to demonstrate its feasibility and performance. In addition, to see whether results from simulation can be acceptably transferred to real robot hardware, the best evolved CPG network is also tested on a real mechanism. Our results also confirm that the biologically inspired CPG model is well suited for legged locomotion, since a diverse manifestation of networks have been observed to succeed in fitness simulations during evolution.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures; substantial revision of content, organization, and quantitative result

Simple scoring system to predict in-hospital mortality after surgery for infective endocarditis

BACKGROUND: Aspecific scoring systems are used to predict the risk of death postsurgery in patients with infective endocarditis (IE). The purpose of the present study was both to analyze the risk factors for in-hospital death, which complicates surgery for IE, and to create a mortality risk score based on the results of this analysis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Outcomes of 361 consecutive patients (mean age, 59.1\ub115.4 years) who had undergone surgery for IE in 8 European centers of cardiac surgery were recorded prospectively, and a risk factor analysis (multivariable logistic regression) for in-hospital death was performed. The discriminatory power of a new predictive scoring system was assessed with the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Score validation procedures were carried out. Fifty-six (15.5%) patients died postsurgery. BMI >27 kg/m2 (odds ratio [OR], 1.79; P=0.049), estimated glomerular filtration rate 55 mm Hg (OR, 1.78; P=0.032), and critical state (OR, 2.37; P=0.017) were independent predictors of in-hospital death. A scoring system was devised to predict in-hospital death postsurgery for IE (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.780; 95% CI, 0.734-0.822). The score performed better than 5 of 6 scoring systems for in-hospital death after cardiac surgery that were considered. CONCLUSIONS: A simple scoring system based on risk factors for in-hospital death was specifically created to predict mortality risk postsurgery in patients with IE

A Survey and Tutorial of Electromagnetic Radiation and Reduction in Mobile Communication Systems

Abstract—This article provides a survey and tutorial of electromagnetic (EM) radiation exposure and reduction in mobile communication systems. EM radiation exposure has received a fair share of interest in literature; however, this work is one of the first to compile the most interesting results and ideas related to EM exposure in mobile communication systems and present possible ways of reducing it. We provide a comprehensive survey of existing literature and also offer a tutorial on the dosimetry, metrics, international projects as well as guidelines and limits on the exposure from EM radiation in mobile communication systems. Based on this survey and given that EM radiation exposure is closely linked with specific absorption rate (SAR) and transmit power usage, we propose possible techniques for reducing EM radiation exposure in mobile communication systems by exploring known concepts related to SAR and transmit power reduction of mobile systems. Thus, this paper serves as an introductory guide for EM radiation exposure in mobile communication systems and provides insights towards the design of future low EM exposure mobile communication networks