An integrated genetic-demographic model to unravel the origin of genetic structure in European eel (<i>Anguilla anguilla</i> L.)

The evolutionary enlightened management of species with complex life cycles often requires the development of mathematical models integrating demographic and genetic data. The genetic structure of the endangered European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) has been thoroughly analyzed in several studies in the past years. However, the interpretation of the key demographic and biologic processes that determine the observed spatio-temporal genetic structure has been very challenging owing to the complex life cycle of this catadromous species. Here, we present the first integrated demographic-genetic model applied to the European eel that explicitly accounts for different levels of larval and adult mixing during oceanic migrations and allows us to explore alternative hypotheses on genetic differentiation. Our analyses show that (i) very low levels of mixing occurring during larval dispersal or adult migration are sufficient to erase entirely any genetic differences among sub-populations; (ii) small-scale temporal differentiation in recruitment can arise if the spawning stock is subdivided in distinct reproductive groups; and (iii) the geographic differentiation component might be overestimated if a limited number of temporal recruits are analyzed. Our study can inspire the scientific debate on the interpretation of genetic structure in other species characterized by complex life cycle and long-range migrations

The Choking game: a deadly game. Analysis of two cases of \u201cself-strangulation\u201d in young boys and review of the literature

The choking game is defined as a self-strangulation or strangulation by another person with the hands or a noose to achieve a brief euphoric state caused by cerebral hypoxia. Death may occur, but forensic pathologists often classify them as suicides or accidental deaths, without focusing on the possibility that they may result from a deliberate self-temporary-asphyxiation, turned into a deadly game. Presenting two fatal cases of self-strangulation involving an 11-year-old boy and a teenager of 15 years, the authors identify victims' characteristics and death scene's evidence, which may help to distinguish if a death is from an asphyxial suicide or an asphyxial gam

No apparent genetic bottleneck in the demographically declining European eel using molecular genetics and forward-time simulations

No apparent genetic bottleneck in the demographically declining European eel using molecular genetics and forward-time simulations

Modelos semi-empíricos para o método do 137Cs na determinação da erosão de um solo LRd

Usando o método do 137Cs, foram estudadas duas parcelas de experimento convencional de erosão, em solo do tipo Latossolo Vermelho Distroférrico, localizadas no Instituto Agronômico do Paraná (IAPAR) na cidade de Londrina. Através da redução percentual do conteúdo de 137Cs em relação ao local de referência, foram calculadas as perdas de solo utilizando os modelos proporcional, balanço de massa e distribuição de perfil. Usando a correlação entre as concentrações de 137Cs e a erosão medida pelo método convencional, obteve-se duas equações de calibração que foram aplicadas às medidas realizadas na bacia do rio Unda e comparados com três modelos encontrados na literatura. Como local de referência foi escolhida uma floresta natural localizada próxima às parcelas. O inventário médio de 137Cs foi de 555 ± 16 Bq.m-2. Os inventários das parcelas de erosão variaram de 112 a 136 Bq.m-2 para amostras coletadas até 30 cm de profundidade. As taxas de erosão estimadas pelos modelos variaram de 64 a 85 Mg.ha-1.ano-1 para os modelos proporcional e distribuição de perfil, de 137 a 165 Mg.ha-1.ano-1 para o modelo de balanço de massa, enquanto que a erosão média obtida pelo método convencional foi de 86 Mg.ha-1.ano-1. Das duas equações de calibração obtidas, a que leva em conta a distribuição de 137Cs com o perfil do solo foi a que apresentou maior consistência. Esta forneceu taxas de erosão para a bacia do rio Unda (que é da mesma classe de solo) no intervalo de 4 a 48 Mg.ha-1.ano-1. Os modelos proporcional e distribuição de perfil, forneceram taxas que variara, respectivamente, de 7 a 45 Mg.ha-1.ano-1 e de 6 a 69 Mg.ha-1.ano-1

New insights on the population genetic structure of the great scallop (Pecten maximus) in the English Channel coupling microsatellite data and demogenetic simulations.

International audienceThe great scallop (Pecten maximus) is a commercially important bivalve in Europe, particularly in the English Channel, where fisheries are managed at regional and local scales through the regulation of fishing effort. In the long term, knowledge about larval dispersal and gene flow between populations is essential to ensure proper stock management. Yet, previous population genetic studies have reported contradictory results. In this study, scallop samples collected across the main fishing grounds along the French and English coasts of the English Channel (20 samples with temporal replicates for three sites,n= 1059 individuals), and the population genetic structure was analysed using 13 microsatellite loci. Coupling empirical genetic data with demogenetic modelling based on a biophysical model simulating larval exchanges among scallop beds revealed a subtle genetic differentiation between south-west English populations and the rest of the English Channel, which was consistent with larval dispersal simulations. The present study provides a step forward in the understanding of great scallop population biology in the English Channel, underlining the fact that even in a context of potentially high gene flow and recent divergence times since the end of the last glacial maximum, weak but significant spatial genetic structure can be identified at a regional scale

Impacto ambiental da recuperação de áreas degradadas com utilização de leguminosas arbóreas na região de Mata Atlântica no estado do Rio de Janeiro.

Made available in DSpace on 2011-04-09T14:12:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 27Impactoambientaldarecuperacaodeareasdegradadascomutilizacaodeleguminosas.pdf: 71498 bytes, checksum: a5cdabe6b1a8ed2704bdfdfef629f7eb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-04201

Therapeutic activity of lipoxin A4 in TiO2-induced arthritis in mice: NF-κB and Nrf2 in synovial fluid leukocytes and neuronal TRPV1 mechanisms

BackgroundLipoxin A4 (LXA4) has anti-inflammatory and pro-resolutive roles in inflammation. We evaluated the effects and mechanisms of action of LXA4 in titanium dioxide (TiO2) arthritis, a model of prosthesis-induced joint inflammation and pain.MethodsMice were stimulated with TiO2 (3mg) in the knee joint followed by LXA4 (0.1, 1, or 10ng/animal) or vehicle (ethanol 3.2% in saline) administration. Pain-like behavior, inflammation, and dosages were performed to assess the effects of LXA4in vivo.ResultsLXA4 reduced mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia, histopathological damage, edema, and recruitment of leukocytes without liver, kidney, or stomach toxicity. LXA4 reduced leukocyte migration and modulated cytokine production. These effects were explained by reduced nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) activation in recruited macrophages. LXA4 improved antioxidant parameters [reduced glutathione (GSH) and 2,2-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS) levels, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) mRNA and Nrf2 protein expression], reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) fluorescent detection induced by TiO2 in synovial fluid leukocytes. We observed an increase of lipoxin receptor (ALX/FPR2) in transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1)+ DRG nociceptive neurons upon TiO2 inflammation. LXA4 reduced TiO2‐induced TRPV1 mRNA expression and protein detection, as well TRPV1 co-staining with p-NFκB, indicating reduction of neuronal activation. LXA4 down-modulated neuronal activation and response to capsaicin (a TRPV1 agonist) and AITC [a transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) agonist] of DRG neurons.ConclusionLXA4 might target recruited leukocytes and primary afferent nociceptive neurons to exert analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities in a model resembling what is observed in patients with prosthesis inflammation