Sperm mobility: mechanisms of fertilizing efficiency, genetic variation and phenotypic relationship with male status in the domestic fowl, Gallus gallus domesticus

When females are sexually promiscuous, sexual selection continues after insemination through sperm competition and cryptic female choice, and male traits conveying an advantage in competitive fertilization are selected for. Although individual male and ejaculate traits are known to influence paternity in a competitive scenario, multiple mechanisms co-occur and interact to determine paternity. The way in which different traits interact with each other and the mechanisms through which their heritability is maintained despite selection remain unresolved. In the promiscuous fowl, paternity is determined by the number of sperm inseminated into a female, which is mediated by male social dominance, and by the quality of the sperm inseminated, measured as sperm mobility. Here we show that: (i) the number of sperm inseminated determines how many sperm reach the female sperm-storage sites, and that sperm mobility mediates the fertilizing efficiency of inseminated sperm, mainly by determining the rate at which sperm are released from the female storage sites, (ii) like social status, sperm mobility is heritable, and (iii) subdominant males are significantly more likely to have higher sperm mobility than dominant males. This study indicates that although the functions of social status and sperm mobility are highly interdependent, the lack of phenotypic integration of these traits may maintain the variability of male fitness and heritability of fertilizing efficiency

Motility of small nematodes in disordered wet granular media

The motility of the worm nematode \textit{Caenorhabditis elegans} is investigated in shallow, wet granular media as a function of particle size dispersity and area density ($\phi$). Surprisingly, we find that the nematode's propulsion speed is enhanced by the presence of particles in a fluid and is nearly independent of area density. The undulation speed, often used to differentiate locomotion gaits, is significantly affected by the bulk material properties of wet mono- and polydisperse granular media for $\phi \geq 0.55$. This difference is characterized by a change in the nematode's waveform from swimming to crawling in dense polydisperse media \textit{only}. This change highlights the organism's adaptability to subtle differences in local structure and response between monodisperse and polydisperse media

Eye drop Self-medication: Comparative Questionnaire-based study of two Latin American cities.

A broad spectrum of ocular symptoms are treated by self-medication with commercial eye-drops.  This behavior threatens individuals' visual health. In Latin America, evidence is poor. Objective:  To  detect,  characterize  and  compare  patterns  of  ophthalmic  self-medication  between  Córdoba (Argentina) and Barranquilla (Colombia).Design:  Analytic, cross-sectional and comparative population-based study. Setting: Two private tertiary care ophthalmology centers from Córdoba, Argentina, and Barranquilla, Colombia.Participants:  Patients 18 years of age or older who consulted for the first time in this two institutions duringAugust-November 2009, were included. A number of 570 patients were enrrolled.Methods:  Data collected through a semi-structured questionnaire. Main outcome measure: To determine thefrequency of self-medication with eyedrops on a specific population of two cities in Latin America.Results:  Comparable  rates  of  ocular  self-medication  were  found  (25.6%  and  25.7%  for  Cordoba  and Barranquilla, respectively). The percentage of men and women who self-medicated was not significantly different between both samples. The major source of eye drops recommendation in the Argentineans patients was the pharmacist (31%); while the social source was predominant in Colombian individuals (53%). In Cordoba, the most frequently used product was a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drop in combination with a vasoconstrictive agent (32%); while in Barranquilla, antibiotic eye drops were preferred (33%). Self-medication was higher between the ages of 31 and 50 years old in Argentinean citizens (28%) and between 18 to 31 years old in the Colombiancommunity (39%). This habit was found mostly in patients who completed university studies in Cordoba (33%); in Barranquilla, individuals with lower educational level practice more this behavior (36%).Conclusion:  In both populations, patients commonly treat ocular conditions by self-medicating. Currently, anincreasing number of eye drops are obtainable without prescription and a high percentage of self-medicated patients in both samples ignore the possible side effects of the used medication.Fil: Marquez, Gabriel. Fundación VER; ArgentinaFil: Hildegard Piñeros-Heilbron. Fundación Oftalmológica del Caribe; ColombiaFil: Sanchez, Victoria M.. Fundación VER; ArgentinaFil: Torres, Victor Eduardo Roque. Fundación VER; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad; ArgentinaFil: Gramajo, Ana L.. Fundación VER; ArgentinaFil: Juarez, Claudio P.. Fundación VER; Argentina. Fundación Oftalmológica del Caribe; ColombiaFil: Peña, Fernando. Fundación Oftalmológica del Caribe; ColombiaFil: Luna, José D.. Fundación VER; Argentin

Delayed Corneal Epithelial Healing after Intravitreal Bevacizumab: A Clinical and Experimental Study

Purpose: To report corneal epithelial defects (CEDs) and delayed epithelial healing after intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection and to describe delayed corneal epithelial healing with topical administration of bevacizumab in an experimental rabbit model. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on 850 eyes of 850 patients with neovascular eye disease and diabetic macular edema who had received 1.25 to 2.5 mg IVB. In the experimental arm of the study, photorefractive keratectomy was used to create a 3 mm CED in the right eyes of 18 New Zealand rabbits which were then randomized to three equal groups. All rabbits received topical antibiotics, additionally those in group A received topical bevacizumab and animals in group B were treated with topical corticosteroids. The rate of epithelial healing was assessed at different time points using slitlamp photography. Results: In the clinical study, seven eyes of seven subjects developed CEDs the day after IVB injection. All of these eyes had preexisting corneal edema. The healing period ranged from 3 to 38 days (average 11 days) despite appropriate medical management. In the experimental study, topical bevacizumab and corticosteroids both significantly hindered corneal epithelial healing at 12 and 24 hours. Conclusion: Bevacizumab was demonstrated to cause CEDs in clinical settings. Moreover, corneal epithelial healing was delayed by topical application of bevacizumab, in the experimental model. These short-term results suggest that corneal edema may be considered as a risk factor for epithelial defects after IVB

Como el cambio climatico afectara la distribucion y abundancia de la polilla de la papa: Un analisis utilizando modelos fenologicos y sistemas de informacion geograficas.

La polilla de la papa Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepdidoptera: Gelechiidae) ha co-evolucionado en el centro de origen de la papa en los Andes de Perú y Bolivia. Se ha convertido en una especie invasiva y está reportada en más de 90 países. Se encuentra en casi todos los sistemas de producción tropical y subtropical de papa en África, Asia y América Central y del Sur, y es considerada la plaga más dañina en países en desarrollo. P. operculella es una especie multivoltina, no presenta diapausa para superar las condiciones ambientales desfavorables, sino que utiliza períodos cortos de temperatura adecuada para continuar con su desarrollo. Esta especie es altamente adaptable a una amplia gama de condiciones climáticas en diferentes agro-ecologías. Posiblemente esta capacidad se haya desarrollado en su hábitat nativo en los Andes orientales, donde originalmente ha experimentado grandes fluctuaciones climáticas diarias y estacionales. Se utilizó las tablas de vida para desarrollar un modelo fenológico basado en clima para P. operculella que incluye un conjunto de funciones que describen la dependencia de la temperatura en los procesos que determinan su ciclo de vida por ejemplo el desarrollo, la mortalidad y la reproducción. Se aplicaron tres índices de riesgo (índice de riesgo de establecimiento, el índice de generación, y el índice de actividad) que fueron acoplados a los sistemas de información geográfica (SIG) para mapear y cuantificar los cambios por efecto del cambio climático del escenario SRES-A1B (2050) en comparación con la base de datos actual de WorldClim (2000). El estudio concluye que el potencial de daño P. operculella irá aumentando progresivamente en todas las regiones en donde la plaga ya existe actualmente, con un aumento significativo en las regiones más cálidas donde se cultiva la papa en los trópicos y sub-trópicos. También se estima una ampliación en las regiones tropicales de clima templado (zonas de montaña y valles interandinos) con un moderado incremento del potencial de daño a nuevas zonas de riesgo de infestación con un estimado de 44.322 ha en Bolivia, 9.569 ha en Ecuador y 39.511 ha en Perú. Esta información es de suma importancia para preparar a los agricultores a tales cambios y desarrollar programas adecuados de MIP que respondan a estos cambios

Multi-component Transparent Conducting Oxides: Progress in Materials Modelling

Transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) play an essential role in modern optoelectronic devices through their combination of electrical conductivity and optical transparency. We review recent progress in our understanding of multi-component TCOs formed from solid-solutions of ZnO, In2O3, Ga2O3 and Al2O3, with a particular emphasis on the contributions of materials modelling, primarily based on Density Functional Theory. In particular, we highlight three major results from our work: (i) the fundamental principles governing the crystal structures of multi-component oxide structures including (In2O3)(ZnO)n, named IZO, and (In2O3)m(Ga2O3)l(ZnO)n, named IGZO; (ii) the relationship between elemental composition and optical and electrical behaviour, including valence band alignments; (iii) the high-performance of amorphous oxide semiconductors. From these advances, the challenge of the rational design of novel electroceramic materials is discussed.Comment: Part of a themed issue of Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter on "Semiconducting Oxides". In Press (2011

Listado anotado de Solanum L. (Solanaceae) en el Peru.

The genus Solanum is among the most species-rich genera both of the Peruvian flora and of the tropical Andes in general. The present revised checklist treats 276 species of Solanum L., of which 253 are native, while 23 are introduced and/or cultivated. A total of 74 Solanum species (29% of native species) are endemic to Peru. Additional 58 species occur only in small number of populations outside Peru, and these species are here labelled as near-endemics to highlight the role Peru playes in their future protection. Species diversity is observed to peak between 2500 – 3000 m elevation, but endemic species diversity is highest between 3000 – 3500 m elevation. Cajamarca has the highest number of endemic (29 spp.) and total species (130 spp.), even when considering the effect of area. Centers of endemic species diversity are observed in provinces of Cajamarca (Cajamarca), Huaraz and Carhuaz (Ancash), and Canta and Huarochirí (Lima). Secondary centres of endemism with high concentrations of both endemics and near-endemics are found in San Ignacio and Cutervo (Cajamarca), Santiago de Chuco (La Libertad), Oxapampa (Pasco), and Cusco (Cusco). Current diversity patterns are highly correlated with collection densities, and further collecting is needed across all areas, especially from Arequipa, Ayacucho, Puno, Ancash, Huánuco, Amazonas and Cajamarca, where high levels of species diversity and endemism are indicated but only a few collections of many species are known.Solanum L. es uno de los géneros que posee una alta riqueza de especies dentro de la flora peruana y dentro de los Andes tropicales en general. Presentamos una lista revisada de 276 especies de Solanum para el Perú, de estas 253 son nativas, mientras que 23 son introducidas y/o cultivadas. Un total de 74 especies de Solanum (29% de las especies nativas) son endémicas de Perú. Además 58 especies se encuentran solamente en pequeñas poblaciones fuera del Perú, y estas especies están designadas aquí como casi endémicas para destacar el rol importante del Perú en la futura protección de estas especies. El pico de diversidad de especies es observado entre 2500 – 3000 m de elevación, pero la diversidad de especies endémicas es más alta entre 3000 – 3500 m. Cajamarca tiene el más alto número de especies (130 spp.) y de especies endémicas (29 spp.), incluso si se considera el efecto del área. Centros de diversidad de especies endémicas se localizan en las provincias de Cajamarca (Cajamarca), Huaraz y Carhuaz (Ancash), Canta y Huarochirí (Lima). Centros de endemismos secundarios con una alta concentración tanto de especies endémicas y de casi endémicas se encuentran en San Ignacio y Cutervo (Cajamarca), Santiago de Chuco (La Libertad), Oxapampa (Pasco), y Cusco (Cusco): Los actuales patrones de diversidad están altamente correlacionados con la densidad de colecciones, por lo que es necesario una mayor colecta en todas las regiones, especialmente en Arequipa, Ayacucho, Puno, Ancash, Huánuco, Amazonas y Cajamarca, donde se indican altos niveles de diversidad y endemismo de especies, pero de las cuales existen pocas colecciones