Live-captures of common bottlenose dolphins <i>Tursiops truncatus</i> and unassessed bycatch in Cuban waters: evidence of sustainability found wanting

In the period 1986-2004, 238 common bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus were exported from Cuba, as shown by UNEP/WCMC data, more than 60% of these to facilities in Latin America and the Caribbean, some 32% to Europe and the rest to Canada and Israel. There is a very significant increase in exported numbers, reaching 28 individuals per annum in 2002. It is unclear how many T. truncatus have been used in domestic dolphinaria. A review of available information did not identify evidence to corroborate hypotheses that: (i) T. truncatus off Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago (where removals occur) does not show population structure; and (ii) virtually no bycatches occur in Cuban waters. Here it is argued that, considering Cuba's fully developed marine fisheries, some level of mortality from bycatch is inevitable. Other potential threats are also identified. Global phylogenetics research of T. truncatus is revealing unexpected and more complex, stock structures, in inshore (coastal) forms within relatively small areas. In Cuba, low mean group sizes (less than 10) suggest that one or more coastal stock(s) are exploited. Sex distribution of measured specimens suggest a significant bias towards extraction of females. It is concluded that sustainability of harvest levels of Cuban T. truncatus cannot be evaluated until abundance estimates become available and population structure is verified by molecular genetic methods. Pérez-Cao (2004) indicated that available density estimates should not be used to determine [safe] catch quotas. The authors strongly recommend that international trade of T. truncatus from Cuba ceases until no-detriment can be authenticated and that more research be developed. Similar arguments may be applicable to other unassessed but exploited populations in the Wider Caribbean

Commensal Bacteroidetes protect against Klebsiella pneumoniae colonization and transmission through IL-36 signalling

The microbiota primes immune defences but the identity of specific commensal microorganisms that protect against infection is unclear. Conversely, how pathogens compete with the microbiota to establish their host niche is also poorly understood. In the present study, we investigate the antagonism between the microbiota and Klebsiella pneumoniae during colonization and transmission. We discover that maturation of the microbiota drives the development of distinct immune defence programmes in the upper airways and intestine to limit K. pneumoniae colonization within these niches. Immune protection in the intestine depends on the development of Bacteroidetes, interleukin (IL)-36 signalling and macrophages. This effect of Bacteroidetes requires the polysaccharide utilization locus of their conserved commensal colonization factor. Conversely, in the upper airways, Proteobacteria prime immunity through IL-17A, but K. pneumoniae overcomes these defences through encapsulation to effectively colonize this site. Ultimately, we find that host-to-host spread of K. pneumoniae occurs principally from its intestinal reservoir, and that commensal-colonization-factor-producing Bacteroidetes are sufficient to prevent transmission between hosts through IL-36. Thus, our study provides mechanistic insight into when, where and how commensal Bacteroidetes protect against K. pneumoniae colonization and contagion, providing insight into how these protective microorganisms could be harnessed to confer population-level protection against K. pneumoniae infection

Charge transport and recombination of dye sensitized 1D nanostructured-TiO2 films prepared by reactive sputtering

Dye sensitized solar cells (DSCs) are governed by light absorption, charge injection, electron transport and recombination and electrolyte diffusion. One way to improve the efficiency of these devices is by the design of highly ordered nanostructured semiconductor materials.The advantages can be two-fold: Firstly charge transport within the metal-oxide can be enhanced and hence thicker films can be employed and secondly, the complete permeation with a solid-state hole-transport medium of the sensitized metal-oxide can be facilitated. Nanostructured materials should promote vectorial electron diffusion and have as few recombination sights as possible so as to further enhance electron lifetimes and electron collection efficiencies. These materials should also have a high surface area so as to allow for efficient dye-loading and hence light absorption. Highly ordered TiO2 nanostructured films were prepared by reactive sputtering and their charge transport characteristics evaluated in DSCs. These were compared to DSCs employing mesoporous TiO2 films prepared by doctor blade technique using commercial paste. Charge transport characteristics were evaluated by impedance spectroscopy (IS), incident photon to current conversion efficiencies (IPCE) and current-voltage (iV) curves under simulated AM1.5G irradiation. Film morphology and structural properties were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively

Calcium-independent stimulation of membrane fusion and SNAREpin formation by synaptotagmin I

Ñeurotransmitter release requires the direct coupling of the calcium sensor with the machinery for membrane fusion. SNARE proteins comprise the minimal fusion machinery, and synaptotagmin I, a synaptic vesicle protein, is the primary candidate for the main neuronal calcium sensor. To test the effect of synaptotagmin I on membrane fusion, we incorporated it into a SNARE-mediated liposome fusion assay. Synaptotagmin I dramatically stimulated membrane fusion by facilitating SNAREpin zippering. This stimulatory effect was topologically restricted to v-SNARE vesicles (containing VAMP 2) and only occurred in trans to t-SNARE vesicles (containing syntaxin 1A and SNAP-25). Interestingly, calcium did not affect the overall fusion reaction. These results indicate that synaptotagmin I can directly accelerate SNARE-mediated membrane fusion and raise the possibility that additional components might be required to ensure tight calcium coupling

Produção de mudas de Ipomoea acuminata (Vahl) Roem. & Schult. por estaquia: resultados preliminares.

Organizado por Patricia Póvoa de Mattos, Celso Garcia Auer, Rejane Stumpf Sberze, Katia Regina Pichelli e Paulo César Botosso

Using natural resource wealth to improve access to water and sanitation in Mozambique: A 2012 Australian Development Research Awards Scheme Project—Final Report, October 2015

The project “Using Natural Resource Wealth to Improve Access to Water and Sanitation in Mozambique” was funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through its 2012 Australian Development Research Awards Scheme programme. The project ran from May 2013 to October 2015 and sought to build the case for long-term investment in the water and sanitation sector in Mozambique. In particular, it considered the opportunities afforded by mining activity and associated revenue to address significant gaps in water supply and sanitation (WSS)

Medical Students’ Perceptions of Peer Assessment in a Problem-based Learning Curriculum

Objectives: Peer assessment (PA) is believed to support learning and help students develop both professionally and personally. The aim of this study was to examine medical students’ perceptions of intragroup PA in a problem-based learning (PBL) setting. Methods: This study was carried out between September and November 2014 and involved six random groups of fourth-year undergraduate medical students (n = 60) enrolled at the Arabian Gulf University in Manama, Bahrain. While working on set tasks within a curriculum unit, each student evaluated a randomly selected peer using an English language adapted assessment tool to measure responsibility and respect, information processing, critical analysis, interaction and collaborative skills. At the end of the unit, students’ perceptions of PA were identified using a specifically-designed voluntary and anonymous selfadministered questionnaire in English. Results: A total of 55 students participated in the study (response rate: 92%). The majority of students reported that their learning (60%), attendance (67%), respect towards group members (70%) and participation in group discussions (71%) improved as a result of PA. Regarding problem analysis skills, most participants believed that PA improved their ability to analyse problems (65%), identify learning needs (64%), fulfil tasks related to the analysis of learning needs (72%) and share knowledge within their group (74%). Lastly, a large proportion of students reported that this form of assessment helped them develop their communication (71%) and self-assessment skills (73%), as well as collaborative abilities (75%). Conclusion: PA was well accepted by the students in this cohort and led to self-reported improvements in learning, skills, attitudes, engagement and other indicators of personal and professional development. PA was also perceived to have a positive impact on intragroup attitudes

Multiplexed-shotgun-genotyping data resolve phylogeny within a very recently derived insular lineage

Premise of the study: Endemic plants on oceanic islands have long served as model systems for studying patterns and processes of evolution. However, phylogenetic studies of island plants frequently illustrate a decoupling of molecular divergence and ecological/morphological diversity, resulting in phylogenies lacking the resolution required to interpret patterns of evolution in a phylogenetic context. The current study uses the primarily Macaronesian fl owering plant genus Tolpis to illustrate the utility of multiplexed shotgun genotyping (MSG) for resolving relationships at relatively deep (among archipelagos) and very shallow (within archipelagos) nodes in this small, yet diverse insular plant lineage that had not been resolved with other molecular markers. • Methods: Genomic libraries for 27 accessions of Macaronesian Tolpis were generated for genotyping individuals using MSG, a form of reduced-representation sequencing, similar to restriction-site-associated DNA markers (RADseq). The resulting data fi les were processed using the program pyRAD, which clusters MSG loci within and between samples. Phylogenetic analyses of the aligned data matrix were conducted using RAxML. • Key results: Analysis of MSG data recovered a highly resolved phylogeny with generally strong support, including the fi rst robust inference of relationships within the highly diverse Canary Island clade of Tolpis . • Conclusions: The current study illustrates the utility of MSG data for resolving relationships in lineages that have undergone recent, rapid diversifi cation resulting in extensive ecological and morphological diversity. We suggest that a similar approach may prove generally useful for other rapid plant radiations where resolving phylogeny has been diffi cult.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Dysfunction of the Heteromeric KV7.3/KV7.5 Potassium Channel is Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Heterozygous mutations in the KCNQ3 gene on chromosome 8q24 encoding the voltage-gated potassium channel KV7.3 subunit have previously been associated with rolandic epilepsy and idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) including benign neonatal convulsions. We identified a de novo t(3;8) (q21;q24) translocation truncating KCNQ3 in a boy with childhood autism. In addition, we identified a c.1720C > T [p.P574S] nucleotide change in three unrelated individuals with childhood autism and no history of convulsions. This nucleotide change was previously reported in patients with rolandic epilepsy or IGE and has now been annotated as a very rare SNP (rs74582884) in dbSNP. The p.P574S KV7.3 variant significantly reduced potassium current amplitude in Xenopus laevis oocytes when co-expressed with KV7.5 but not with KV7.2 or KV7.4. The nucleotide change did not affect trafficking of heteromeric mutant KV7.3/2, KV7.3/4, or KV7.3/5 channels in HEK 293 cells or primary rat hippocampal neurons. Our results suggest that dysfunction of the heteromeric KV7.3/5 channel is implicated in the pathogenesis of some forms of autism spectrum disorders, epilepsy, and possibly other psychiatric disorders and therefore, KCNQ3 and KCNQ5 are suggested as candidate genes for these disorders