Think small

This is the final version of the article. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.The tadpole larva of a sea squirt is only the second animal to have its entire nervous system mapped out, and the results confirm that there is still much to learn from the smallest brains

La revista‘ Materiales de Construcción’, 2003-2012: un análisis bibliométrico

The aim of the present work was to make a bibliometric analysis of research articles and technical notes published in the journal ‘Materiales de Construcción’ between 2003 and 2012. Authors’ productivity and collaboration, affiliation and nationality of authors, collaboration amongst institutions using techniques of social networks analysis, and the impact factor of the journal were analyzed. The results show high levels in authors’ diversification and collaboration; high number of institutions but a low level of collaboration among them; and a big increase of impact factor during all the period. The main conclusion of this work is that ‘Materiales de Construcción’ has evolved positively since 2003 to 2012, becoming a quality journal in its area.El objetivo del presente trabajo es realizar un análisis bibliométrico de los artículos y notas técnicas que se han publicado en la revista Materiales de Construcción entre 2003 y 2012. Se analizan la productividad de los autores y el grado de colaboración entre los mismos, las instituciones de los autores y sus países de origen, la colaboración entre las instituciones de autores utilizando técnicas de análisis de redes sociales y el factor de impacto de la revista. Los resultados indican que hay elevados niveles en la diversificación y en la colaboración de autores; un alto número de instituciones pero un escaso grado de colaboración entre las mismas; y un gran incremento en el factor de impacto durante el periodo analizado. La principal conclusión de este trabajo es que Materiales de Construcción ha evolucionado positivamente desde 2003 a 2012, llegando a ser una revista de calidad en su ámbito

Informes de la Construcción: un análisis bibliométrico (2007-2013)

This work offers a bibliometric analysis of the journal “Informes de la construcción” between 2007 and 2013. The following parameters were analysed: Productivity of authors and collaboration degree, institutions and countries of authors, collaboration of institutions using Social Networks Analysis, impact factor, composition of its editorial team, and period of time between reception and acceptance of papers. The results reveal high levels in diversification and collaboration among authors; high productivity of universities and reseach centres, mainly in Spain, but limited collaboration among them; ups and downs of annual data of Impact Factor; huge growth of editorial team and long staying of its members; and long periods of time between aceptation and publication of papers. In conclusion, “Informes de la construcción” could be considered a good scientific journal, but some aspects of the journal should be ameliored.Este artículo realiza un análisis bibliométrico de la revista Informes de la Construcción entre 2007 y 2013. Se analizan la productividad de autores y el grado de colaboración, sus instituciones y países de origen, la colaboración entre instituciones empleando el análisis de redes sociales, su factor de impacto, la composición de su equipo editorial y los tiempos entre recepción y aceptación de artículos. Los resultados indican elevados niveles en diversificación y colaboración de autores; gran productividad de universidades y centros de investigación, principalmente españoles, pero escasa colaboración entre estos; altibajos en cifras anuales de factor de impacto; gran crecimiento del equipo editorial y larga permanencia de sus miembros; y elevados tiempos de espera entre aceptación y publicación de artículos. La conclusión es que Informes de la construcción es una revista científica de categoría, pero que debe mejorar algunos aspectos de su edición

Inter-individual stereotypy of the Platynereis larval visual connectome

This is the final version of the article. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.Developmental programs have the fidelity to form neural circuits with the same structure and function among individuals of the same species. It is less well understood, however, to what extent entire neural circuits of different individuals are similar. Previously, we reported the neuronal connectome of the visual eye circuit from the head of a Platynereis dumerilii larva (Randel et al., 2014). We now report a full-body serial section transmission electron microscopy (ssTEM) dataset of another larva of the same age, for which we describe the connectome of the visual eyes and the larval eyespots. Anatomical comparisons and quantitative analyses of the two circuits reveal a high inter-individual stereotypy of the cell complement, neuronal projections, and synaptic connectivity, including the left-right asymmetry in the connectivity of some neurons. Our work shows the extent to which the eye circuitry in Platynereis larvae is hard-wired.The research leading to these results received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013)/European Research Council Grant Agreement 260821.European Research Council (ERC): Grant Agreement 260821, Gaspar Jekel

Ciliomotor circuitry underlying whole-body coordination of ciliary activity in the Platynereis larva

This is the final version of the article. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.Ciliated surfaces harbouring synchronously beating cilia can generate fluid flow or drive locomotion. In ciliary swimmers, ciliary beating, arrests, and changes in beat frequency are often coordinated across extended or discontinuous surfaces. To understand how such coordination is achieved, we studied the ciliated larvae of Platynereis dumerilii, a marine annelid. Platynereis larvae have segmental multiciliated cells that regularly display spontaneous coordinated ciliary arrests. We used whole-body connectomics, activity imaging, transgenesis, and neuron ablation to characterize the ciliomotor circuitry. We identified cholinergic, serotonergic, and catecholaminergic ciliomotor neurons. The synchronous rhythmic activation of cholinergic cells drives the coordinated arrests of all cilia. The serotonergic cells are active when cilia are beating. Serotonin inhibits the cholinergic rhythm, and increases ciliary beat frequency. Based on their connectivity and alternating activity, the catecholaminergic cells may generate the rhythm. The ciliomotor circuitry thus constitutes a stop-and-go pacemaker system for the whole-body coordination of ciliary locomotion.The research leading to these results received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013)/European Research Council Grant Agreement 260821. This project is supported by the Marie Curie ITN ‘Neptune’, GA 317172, funded under the FP7, PEOPLE Work Programme of the European Commission. This project is supported by the DFG - Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Reference no. JE 777/3–1).Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft 777/3-1 Gaspar JekelyMax-Planck-Gesellschaft Open-access funding Gaspar JekelyEuropean Commission GA 317172 Gaspar Jekel

A serial multiplex immunogold labeling method for identifying peptidergic neurons in connectomes.

This is the final version of the article.Available from eLife Sciences Publications via the DOI in this record.Electron microscopy-based connectomics aims to comprehensively map synaptic connections in neural tissue. However, current approaches are limited in their capacity to directly assign molecular identities to neurons. Here, we use serial multiplex immunogold labeling (siGOLD) and serial-section transmission electron microscopy (ssTEM) to identify multiple peptidergic neurons in a connectome. The high immunogenicity of neuropeptides and their broad distribution along axons, allowed us to identify distinct neurons by immunolabeling small subsets of sections within larger series. We demonstrate the scalability of siGOLD by using 11 neuropeptide antibodies on a full-body larval ssTEM dataset of the annelid Platynereis. We also reconstruct a peptidergic circuitry comprising the sensory nuchal organs, found by siGOLD to express pigment-dispersing factor, a circadian neuropeptide. Our approach enables the direct overlaying of chemical neuromodulatory maps onto synaptic connectomic maps in the study of nervous systems.The research leading to these results received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013)/European Research Council Grant Agreement 260821. This project is supported by the Marie Curie ITN "Neptune", GA 317172, funded under the FP7, PEOPLE Work Programme of the European Commission

Neuronal connectome of a sensory-motor circuit for visual navigation.

This is the final version of the article. Available from eLife Sciences Publications via the DOI in this record.Animals use spatial differences in environmental light levels for visual navigation; however, how light inputs are translated into coordinated motor outputs remains poorly understood. Here we reconstruct the neuronal connectome of a four-eye visual circuit in the larva of the annelid Platynereis using serial-section transmission electron microscopy. In this 71-neuron circuit, photoreceptors connect via three layers of interneurons to motorneurons, which innervate trunk muscles. By combining eye ablations with behavioral experiments, we show that the circuit compares light on either side of the body and stimulates body bending upon left-right light imbalance during visual phototaxis. We also identified an interneuron motif that enhances sensitivity to different light intensity contrasts. The Platynereis eye circuit has the hallmarks of a visual system, including spatial light detection and contrast modulation, illustrating how image-forming eyes may have evolved via intermediate stages contrasting only a light and a dark field during a simple visual task.The research leading to these results received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013)/European Research Council Grant Agreement 260821

Ultrastructure of the Interlamellar Membranes of the Nacre of the Bivalve Pteria hirundo, Determined by Immunolabelling

The current model for the ultrastructure of the interlamellar membranes of molluscan nacre imply that they consist of a core of aligned chitin fibers surrounded on both sides by acidic proteins. This model was based on observations taken on previously demineralized shells, where the original structure had disappeared. Despite other earlier claims, no direct observations exist in which the different components can be unequivocally discriminated. We have applied different labeling protocols on non-demineralized nacreous shells of the bivalve Pteria. With this method, we have revealed the disposition and nature of the different fibers of the interlamellar membranes that can be observed on the surface of the nacreous shell of the bivalve Pteria hirundo by high resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The minor chitin component consists of very thin fibers with a high aspect ratio and which are seemingly disoriented. Each fiber has a protein coat, which probably forms a complex with the chitin. The chitin-protein-complex fibers are embedded in an additional proteinaceous matrix. This is the first time in which the sizes, positions and distribution of the chitin fibers have been observed in situ.AJOM was financed by a PhD Grant of the FPI program from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación; TCB's PhD Grant belonged to the FPU Program of the same Ministry. AJOM and AGC were supported by Projects CGL2010-20748-C02-01 and CGL2013-48247-P of the mentioned Ministry, and RNM6433 of the Consejería de Economía, Innovación y Ciencia of the Junta de Andalucía. The European COST Action TD0903 contributed via two Short Term Scientific Missions to AJOM in FM's lab in Dijon

Conversión normalizada (SKOS) de sistemas de organización del conocimiento interoperables en la web

Este estudio examina de forma exhaustiva la literatura científica dedicada a los procesos de skosificación de vocabularios y sistemas de organización del conocimiento. Se analizan en profundidad 49 trabajos que describen y detallan la transformación de un total de 59 vocabularios controlados convencionales o SOC (Sistemas de Organización del Conocimiento) a Simple Knowledge Organization System (SKOS). Se identifican los puntos clave para hacer el análisis de metodologías de transformación de vocabularios en SKOS para la web y se comparan los estudios para determinar las aproximaciones y parámetros más recomendables para llevar a cabo estos procesos de conversión de vocabularios, cada vez más frecuentes y necesarios en la web semántica y en entornos de linked data (LD). Los resultados señalan que la mayor parte de SOC transformados son tesauros, que los formatos mayoritarios son de texto o registros bibliográficos, que el objetivo más común al cambiar a SKOS es la mejora de la interoperabilidad de los vocabularios, y que los procesos de conversión pueden agruparse mediante tres formas: scripts realizados en distintos lenguajes, transformaciones XSL y lenguajes de mapeo. Se concluye que SKOS es considerado por los autores como una buena opción para mejorar la interoperabilidad de vocabularios controlados. This paper examines exhaustively the scientific literature about skosification processes of vocabularies and knowledge organization systems (KOS). Forty nine documents that describe and detail transformation of 59 conventional controlled vocabularies or KOS to Simple Knowledge Organization System (SKOS) were analyzed. The key points for the analysis of vocabulary transformation methodologies in SKOS for the Web were identified, and studies were compared to determine the most recommendable approximations and parameters, for conversion processes of vocabularies were each time more frequent and necessary in semantic web and linked data (LD) environments. Results indicated that the majority of transformed SOCs are thesauri, that most formats were text or bibliographic records, that the most common objective in the change to SKOS was improvement of interoperability of the vocabularies and that the conversion processes could be grouped by three forms: Scripts made in different languages; XSL transformations, and mapping languages. It was concluded that SKOS is considered by the authors as a good option for improving the interoperability of controlled vocabularies

Efecto de niveles de furazolidona en producción de carne y huevo

El uso de drogas en la nutrición de las aves, tanto en profilaxis como en el control de algunas enfermedades, se ha generalizado y ha sido uno de los factores que han contribuido al desarrollo y progreso de la industria avícola (Morrison, Tremer y Standish, 1974)