A software tool for monitoring legal minimum lenght of landings: Case study of a fishery in sourthern Spain

Herramienta de interés para el control y la gestión de pesqueríasThe regulation of minimum legal size(MLS) of catches is a tool widely applied in the management of fisheries resources, although the MLS does not always coincide with the length at first maturit(LFM). The optimization of this management tool requires a series of quality control in fish markets and transportation. A software application has been developed to make the control of the landings of several target species easier and faster. In order to test and make this tool operational,six species of commercial interest were selected: four species of fish hand two species of bivalves. It is proposed to estimate the proportion of illegal specimens in the studied lot from the proportion of illegal individuals found in the samples taken from this lot.The input data for the application are the minimum legal size(MLS) of the species and the total length(TL)of each specimen sampled. The out put data is a statistical summary of the percentage of specimens of size less than the legal minimum(TL<=MLS)within different confidence intervals(90%,95% and 99%). The software developed will serve as a fast,efficient and easy to manage tool that allows inspectors to determine the degree of compliance on MLS control and to make a decision supported by statistical proof on fishing goods

Preliminary check-list of the bryophytes of Extremadura (Spain)

A list of all bryophytes recorded for Extremadura in the literature from 1802 to 2010 is provided. It includes 390 taxa (4 hornworts, 87 liverworts and 299 mosses). Information on the presence of these taxa in each of the Extremaduran provinces (Cáceres and Badajoz) is included. In addition, the conservation status of these species is added

A third functional isoform enriched in mushroom body neurons is encoded by the Drosophila 14-3-3ζ gene

Abstract14-3-3 Proteins are highly conserved across eukaryotes, typically encoded by multiple genes in most species. Drosophila has only two such genes, 14-3-3ζ (leo), encoding two isoforms LEOI and LEOII, and 14-3-3ε. We report a bona fide third functional isoform encoded by leo divergent from the other two in structurally and functionally significant areas, thus increasing 14-3-3 diversity in Drosophila. Furthermore, we used a novel approach of spatially restricted leo abrogation by RNA-interference and revealed differential LEO distribution in adult heads, with LEOIII enrichment in neurons essential for learning and memory in Drosophila

Mixed-Mode Chromatography of Mixed Functionalized Analytes as the Homologues of Benzalkonium Chloride. Application to Pharmaceutical Formulations

[Abstract] In this work, a retention behavior based on mixed-mode reversed-phase (RP)/hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) was observed for benzalkonium chloride (BAK) using a core-shell column functionalized with biphenyl groups. Although in the literature, the U-shaped retention was reported for polar compounds in mixed functionalized phases, in the present work, the behavior was dependent upon the chemical structure of the analyte with mixed functionality (ammonium group, a benzyl group and an alkyl chain) and on the high selectivity of the chromatographic column. The bimodal retention was observed for the four BAK homologues using a content of acetonitrile from 65 to 95% in the mobile phase. The data were adjusted to polynomial equations which allow for modeling and predicting the U-shaped retention. The salt concentration (50 and 100 mM), anion (formate and acetate) and cation (ammonium and triethylammonium) of the salt, pH (4 and 5) in the mobile phase were studied in order to understand their influence on the two retention modes. Significant electrostatic interactions were involved in the two retention modes, especially with a content of acetonitrile higher that 90%. Linear relationships between the retention factors of the four homologues were found in a wide range of %acetonitrile when the salt and triethylamine concentration, pH and nature of salt were changed. The differences found on the retention of the homologues, when increasing the alkyl chain length, were more significant in the RP mode due to predominant hydrophobic interactions. A pH decrease and a salt concentration increase caused a retention decrease for both modes. A decrease on of the retention was observed when acetate anion was replaced by formate anion. The different order of the polynomial equations according to the used mobile phase confirmed its relevant role in the interactions with the analytes and stationary phase. A mobile phase was selected (85% acetonitrile, pH 4 and 100 mM ammonium formate) for the BAK determination in cutaneous, otic and ophthalmic formulations with different active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients. Low sample volume (500 μL) and short analysis time ( 0.999, % RSD <4.5% for intra-day precision and <5.8% for inter-day precision, and recoveries in the 92–105% range) was obtained.This work was supported by Xunta de Galicia, Spain (Programa de Consolidación y Estructuración de Unidades de Investigación Competitivas- Program for the Consolidation and Structuring of Competitive Research Units ED431C 2017/28-2017-2020)Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2017/28-2017-202

On the Renormalization of a Bosonized Version of the Chiral Fermion-Meson Model at Finite Temperature

Feynman's functional formulation of statistical mechanics is used to study the renormalizability of the well known Linear Chiral Sigma Model in the presence of fermionic fields at finite temperature in an alternative way. It is shown that the renormalization conditions coincide with those of the zero temperature model.Comment: 12 pages, no figures, LaTex, reference [17] is updated, to appear in Phys. Lett.

Naturally occurring ingredients as potential antiaging cosmetics

The criteria adopted for establishing whether a determined substance has potential as a cosmetic constituent are based on the present legislation of each country. In this study, natural antiaging constituents as Fomes officinalis, rice protein and glutamic acid were pharmacologically evaluated using neuromuscular preparation. These constituents induced a neuromuscular blockade, individually and also in mixture, simulating a Botox®, but not, dimethylaminoethanol-effect. The pharmacological knowledge is beneficial since the real effect of each ingredient becomes apparent, increasing the consumer's confidence on the antiaging cosmetic.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Naturally occurring ingredients as potential antiaging cosmetics

The criteria adopted for establishing whether a determined substance has potential as a cosmetic constituent are based on the present legislation of each country. In this study, natural antiaging constituents as Fomes officinalis, rice protein and glutamic acid were pharmacologically evaluated using neuromuscular preparation. These constituents induced a neuromuscular blockade, individually and also in mixture, simulating a Botox®, but not, dimethylaminoethanol-effect. The pharmacological knowledge is beneficial since the real effect of each ingredient becomes apparent, increasing the consumer's confidence on the antiaging cosmetic.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Microscopic Polyangiitis With Selective Involvement of Central and Peripheral Nervous System : A Case Report

Background: Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is a necrotizing vasculitis that affects predominantly small-sized vessels in many organ systems. The disease generally causes glomerulonephritis, pulmonary damage, arthritis, and neuropathy. An exclusive involvement of both central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) is extremely rare. Case Presentation: A 62-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a 3 months history of right foot drop, recently complicated by intense myalgia, arthralgia, and allodynia to tactile, vibratory, and pressure stimuli. Since blood tests revealed elevated inflammatory indexes, we suspected either infectious or immune-mediated disorders. Chest radiograph, blood culture series, and echocardiogram revealed normal findings, while urinalysis showed a bacterial infection that was successfully treated. The neurophysiological findings were compatible with multiple mononeuritis, and a brain MRI evidenced ischemic lesions of both basal ganglia and thalamus. A wide-spectrum autoantibody assay revealed the presence of high-titer perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies specific for myeloperoxidase (MPO-ANCA). According to these findings, the diagnosis of MPA was made, and the patient was successfully treated with intravenous (IV) methylprednisolone, followed by two doses of rituximab. Conclusions: An assessment of both CNS and PNS should be included in the diagnostic evaluation of MPA. The involvement of the PNS may raise the risk of a relapsing course and treatment failure, therefore it should be considered in the choice of induction and maintenance therapy

Microalgae biomass interaction in byopolymer gelled systems

Microalgae are an enormous biological resource, representing one of the most promising sources for the development of new food products and applications. Pea protein/k-carrageenan/starch gels, interesting vegetarian alternatives to dairy desserts, served as model systems to study the addition of microalgal biomass, its effect, and subsequent rheological behaviour. Spirulina and Haematococcus gels presented a markedly different rheological behaviour compared to the control mixed biopolymer gelled system. The present goal is to clarify how these microalgae affect the gelation and interact with each biopolymer present in the complex mixed gel system. Hence, the aim of the present work is to study the effect of Spirulina and Haematococcus microalgal biomass addition on the rheological behaviour of pea protein, k- carrageenan and starch simple gels, as well as in pea protein/k-carrageenan and pea protein/starch systems. The gelation process was monitored in-situ through dynamic oscillatory measurements (temperature, time and frequency sweep tests) for a 24 h maturation period, and rheological results were supported with uorescence optical microscopy observations. The addition of Spirulina and Haematococcus to biopolymer gelled systems induced signi cant changes in the gels’ rheological behaviour and microstructure. In general, it was observed that the gelling mechanism is ruled by the biopolymers, while microalgae seem to be embedded in the gel network acting as active particle llers. The addition of Haematococcus resulted in more structured gels in comparison to the control and Spirulina systems. In the case of k-carrageenan gels, both microalgae induced a large increase in the rheological parameters, which should be related to the high ionic content of microalgal biomass. Spirulina addition on starch systems promoted a decrease in the gels’ rheological parameters. This should be related to the starch gelatinization process, probably by competing for water binding zones during the granules’ hydration proces