Modelling of essential fish habitat based on remote sensing, spatial analysis and GIS

We review the variety of existing modelling approaches applied to species habitat mapping and we discuss issues arising from the availability and nature of sampled biological data and corresponding ecological and environmental habitat descriptors, as well as the different spatial analysis approaches that are selected according to specific hypotheses. We focus on marine species habitat mapping, presenting an overview of work on modelling fish habitat carried out through a European Communities Policy-Support Action, EnviEFH 'Environmental Approach to Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Designation' (2005-2008). The selection of the appropriate habitat model is dataset-specific and the resulting EFH maps are often similar in spite of using different models. Derived EFH maps are based on either environmental ranges (used as minimum and maximum environmental habitat descriptors) or probability of occurrence values. We apply model outputs to regions larger than sampled areas making use of the capacity of satellite data to cover wide areas. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V

Dizajniranje i vrednovanje okularnih umetaka moksifloksacin hidroklorida

The objective of the present investigation was to prepare and evaluate ocular inserts of moxifloxacin. An ocular insert was made from an aqueous dispersion of moxifloxacin, sodium alginate, polyvinyl alcohol, and dibutyl phthalate by the film casting method. The ocular insert (5.5 mm diameter) was cross-linked by CaCl2 and was coated with Eudragit S-100, RL-100, RS-100, E-100 or Eudragit L-100. The in vitro drug drainage/permeation studies were carried out using an all-glass modified Franz diffusion cell. The drug concentration and mucoadhesion time of the ocular insert were found satisfactory. Cross-linking and coating with polymers extended the drainage from inserts. The cross-linked ocular insert coated with Eudragit RL-100 showed maximum drug permeation compared to other formulations.Cilj rada bio je priprava i evaluacija okularnih umetaka moksifloksacina. Okularni umetak izrađen je od vodene suspenzije moksifloksacina, natrijevog alginata, polivinilnog alkohola i dibutil-ftalata metodom odlijevanja filma. Okularni umetak (promjera 5,5 mm) umrežen je pomoću CaCl2 i obložen Eudragitom S-100, RL-100, RS-100, E-100 ili Eudragit L-100. In vitro drenaža/permeacija lijeka proučavana je koristeći staklenu modificiranu Franzovu difuzijsku ćeliju. Koncentracija lijeka i vrijeme mukoadhezije okularnih umetaka bili su zadovoljavajući. Umrežavanje i oblaganje polimerima produljilo je drenažu iz umetaka. Umreženi okularni umetci obloženi s Eudragit RL-100 pokazali su veću permeaciju lijeka u odnosu na ostale pripravke

Transcription of toll-like receptors 2, 3, 4 and 9, FoxP3 and Th17 cytokines in a susceptible experimental model of canine Leishmania infantum infection

Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) due to Leishmania infantum is a chronic zoonotic systemic disease resulting from complex interactions between protozoa and the canine immune system. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are essential components of the innate immune system and facilitate the early detection of many infections. However, the role of TLRs in CanL remains unknown and information describing TLR transcription during infection is extremely scarce. The aim of this research project was to investigate the impact of L. infantum infection on canine TLR transcription using a susceptible model. The objectives of this study were to evaluate transcription of TLRs 2, 3, 4 and 9 by means of quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in skin, spleen, lymph node and liver in the presence or absence of experimental L. infantum infection in Beagle dogs. These findings were compared with clinical and serological data, parasite densities in infected tissues and transcription of IL-17, IL-22 and FoxP3 in different tissues in non-infected dogs (n = 10), and at six months (n = 24) and 15 months (n = 7) post infection. Results revealed significant down regulation of transcription with disease progression in lymph node samples for TLR3, TLR4, TLR9, IL-17, IL-22 and FoxP3. In spleen samples, significant down regulation of transcription was seen in TLR4 and IL-22 when both infected groups were compared with controls. In liver samples, down regulation of transcription was evident with disease progression for IL-22. In the skin, upregulation was seen only for TLR9 and FoxP3 in the early stages of infection. Subtle changes or down regulation in TLR transcription, Th17 cytokines and FoxP3 are indicative of the silent establishment of infection that Leishmania is renowned for. These observations provide new insights about TLR transcription, Th17 cytokines and Foxp3 in the liver, spleen, lymph node and skin in CanL and highlight possible markers of disease susceptibility in this model

Alternanthera kanhae (Amaranthaceae), a new species from Sabarmati Estuary of India

Vanzara, Akash G., Katara, Ilesh, Nagar, Padamnabhi S. (2021): Alternanthera kanhae (Amaranthaceae), a new species from Sabarmati Estuary of India. Phytotaxa 500 (1): 21-28, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.500.1.3, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.500.1.

Alternanthera kanhae A. G. Vanzara, I. Katara & P. S. Nagar 2021, sp. nov.

<i>Alternanthera kanhae</i> A.G.Vanzara, I. Katara & P.S. Nagar <i>sp. nov</i>. (Figs. 1–2). <p> <b>Type:—</b> India, Gujarat, Anand district. Mota Kalodara, Sabarmati estuary, 22°36’1.50”N 72°29’32.30”E, alt ca. 9.144 m, 12 January 2018, <i>A.Vanzara BARO –2016.</i> (holotype: BARO –2016 Accession no. AN30720; AN30721, AN30722).</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis:—</b> <i>Alternanthera kanhae</i> is similar to <i>A. pungens</i> but differs by its prostrate habit, densely villous stem, densely villous subsessile blades, ovate bracts and bracteoles, not spinose tipped tepals and obcordate ovary. Our observation was further confirmed by phylogenetic analysis in which <i>A. kanhae</i> showed clear distinction with that of sister clades (associated species) with 72% bootstrap support (Fig.4).</p> <p> <b>Description:―</b> Perennial herbs, plant prostrate, greenish <b>–</b> white, with slender dark brown tap root, 3 <b>–</b> 5 mm diam. Stem, 1 <b>–</b> 2 mm diam., much branched, apical part quadrangular, basal part cylindric, green–pinkish red at maturity, densely villous at apex and nodes, hairs barbed 1 <b>–</b> 2 × 0.03 <b>–</b> 0.05 mm. Leaves 9 <b>–</b> 15 × 3 <b>–</b> 4 mm, spatulate, apex acute, margins entire, base attenuate; light–dark green, densely villous on both surfaces; midrib raised on abaxial surface. Spike, axillary, globular or slightly ovoid, 6 <b>–</b> 7 × 4 <b>–</b> 5 mm diam., with 16 <b>–</b> 24 flowers; peduncle ± sessile. Flower 2 <b>–</b> 4 × 1–3 mm, rachis with sparse villous hairs; pedicel ± sessile ca. 0.2 mm long. Bract single 1 <b>–</b> 2 × 0.4–0.7 mm, shortly acumiate, creamy white, glabrous, membranous; bracteoles 2, 0.7 <b>–</b> 0.9 × 0.1 <b>–</b> 0.3 mm, ovate, mucronate, creamy, glabrous, membranous. Perianth segments 2 <b>–</b> 3 × 0.7 <b>–</b> 0.9 mm, ovate, apex shortly acuminate, creamy, glabrous, membranous. Stamens 5, dorsifixed; anthers 0.12 <b>–</b> 0.14 × 0.16 <b>–</b> 0.18 mm, yellow; filament 0.6 <b>–</b> 0.8 × 0.03 <b>–</b> 0.05 mm, 1/ 2 in length of ovary, translucent; staminodes 5, 0.1 <b>–</b> 0.2 mm, shorter than filaments. Ovary 0.8 <b>–</b> 2 × 0.6 <b>–</b> 2 mm, apex obcordate, base cuneate, green, scatteredly pubescent, compressed. Style 0.1–0.3 × 0.7 <b>–</b> 0.8 mm long, glabrous; stigma bilobed, 0.7 <b>–</b> 0.9 × 0.16 <b>–</b> 0.18 mm, sticky, brown. Fruit indehiscent utricle, 0.6 <b>–</b> 0.8 × 0.7 <b>–</b> 0.9 mm, broadly obvoid, apex obcordate, base cuneate, cream to pale green, and usually flushed pink, compressed, surface colliculate. Seeds 0.7 <b>–</b> 0.8 mm long, smooth, compressed, broadly obvate, apex rounded, brown, glabrous.</p> <p> <b>Distribution:―</b> <i>Alternanthera kanhae</i> could be collected from only one location, Sabarmati estuary, Mota Kalodara, Anand district.</p> <p> <b>Habitat:―</b> <i>Alternanthera kanhae</i> was collected from the sandy beach of Sabarmati estuary.The associated species are <i>Phyla nodiflora</i> (Linnaeus 1753: 20) Greene (1899: 46), <i>Glinus oppositifolius</i> (Linnaeus 1753: 89) A. DC. (1901: 559), <i>Ammannia baccifera</i> Linnaeus (1753: 120), <i>Glinus lotoides</i> Linnaeus (1753: 463–464), <i>Amaranthus spinosus</i> Linnaeus (1753: 991), <i>Cyperu srotundus</i> Linnaeus (1753: 45), <i>Cynodon dactylon</i> (Linnaeus 1753: 58) Persoon (1805: 85) and <i>Rumex dentatus</i> Linnaeus (1753: 226).</p> <p> <b>Phenology:—</b> Flowering and fruiting all across the year.</p> <p> <b>Etymology:—</b> The new species is named after the almighty Lord Krishna, who is endearingly called <i>Kanha</i>.</p>Published as part of <i>Vanzara, Akash G., Katara, Ilesh & Nagar, Padamnabhi S., 2021, Alternanthera kanhae (Amaranthaceae), a new species from Sabarmati Estuary of India, pp. 21-28 in Phytotaxa 500 (1)</i> on pages 25-26, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.500.1.3, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5424379">http://zenodo.org/record/5424379</a&gt