Aristonectes quiriquinensis, sp. nov., a new highly derived elasmosaurid from the upper Maastrichtian of central Chile

This paper describes a new species of elasmosaurid plesiosaur, Aristonectes quiriquinensis, sp. nov., based on a partial skeleton recovered from upper Maastrichtian beds of the Quiriquina Formation of central Chile. The material described here consists of two skeletons, one collected near the village of Cocholgue, and a second juvenile specimen from Quiriquina Island. Prior to these finds, Aristonectes was viewed as a monospecific genus, including only the enigmatic Aristonectes parvidens, the holotype of which consists of an incomplete skull and incomplete postcranium. Other material referred to the genus includes an incomplete juvenile skull and other postcranial material from the upper Maastrichtian of Antarctica, as well as a partial skull from the Quiriquina Formation of central Chile. The relationships of Aristonectes have been controversial, with competing theories assigning the genus to Cryptoclididae, Elasmosauridae, and Aristonectidae; however, there is a developing consensus that Aristonectes is a derived elasmosaurid, and this paper gives strong evidence for this view. Comparison of the specimen here studied with the holotype of A. parvidens demonstrates that A. quiriquinensis is a distinct species. The completeness of the adult skeleton allows the first confident size estimates for adult Aristonectes. It is a large plesiosaurian with a relatively large skull with numerous homodont teeth, a moderately long and laterally compressed neck, and relatively narrow trunk, with slender and elongate forelimbs. The two specimens are restricted to the upper Maastrichtian of central Chile, posing questions concerning the austral circumpolar distribution of different elasmosaurids towards the end of the Cretaceous.Fil: Otero, Rodrigo A.. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Soto Acuña, Sergio. Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Santiago; Chile. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: O'Keefe, Frank Robin. Marshall University; Estados UnidosFil: O'gorman, Jose Patricio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; ArgentinaFil: Stinnesbeck, Wolfgang. Heidelberg University; AlemaniaFil: Suárez, Mario E.. Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Santiago; Chile. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Rubilar-Rogers, David. Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Santiago; Chile. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Salazar, Christian. Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Santiago; Chile. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Quinzio Sinn, Luis Arturo. Universidad de Concepción; Chil

A new locality with ctenochasmatid pterosaurs (Pterosauria: Pterodactyloidea) in the Atacama Desert, Northern Chile

We describe a new locality with ctenochasmatid pterosaurs found in a tidal estuarine paleoenvironment of the Quebrada Monardes Formation (Lower Cretaceous). The new locality, which is named “Cerro Tormento”, is in Cerros Bravos in the northeast Atacama region, Northern Chile. Here, we describe four cervical vertebrae, one of them belonging to a small individual, the impression of a right scapulocoracoid, a left coracoid, an impression of a left humerus, an incomplete left humerus, a distal fragment of the right humerus, and impressions of a left femur and tibiotarsus. The presence of three humeri and a cervical vertebra belonging to a small pterosaur indicate that these materials represent more than one individual. The cervical vertebrae present diagnostic traits shared with ctenochasmatid pterosaurs, such as elongated vertebral centra, with integrated neural arch, low neural spines, and dorsally located neural canal. It is currently not possible to determine if there are one or more species represented. This finding is the second geographic occurrence of pterosaurs of the clade Ctenochasmatidae in the Atacama region, although it is currently uncertain if ctenochasmatids from both locations were contemporaneous. This suggests that the clade Ctenochasmatidae was widespread in what is now northern Chile. In addition, the presence of bones belonging to more than one individual preserved in Cerro Tormento suggest that pterosaur colonies were present at the southwestern margin of Gondwana during the Early Cretaceous.Fil: Alarcón Muñoz, Jhonatan Andrés. Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas. Departamento de Geología; Chile. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Codorniú, Laura. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Departamento de Geología; ArgentinaFil: González, Edwin. Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería; ChileFil: Suárez, Mario E.. Atacama Fosil Research; ChileFil: Suárez, Manuel. Universidad Andrés Bello; ChileFil: Vicencio Campos, Omar. Atacama Fosil Research; ChileFil: Soto Acuña, Sergio. Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas. Departamento de Geología; ChileFil: Kaluza, Jonatan Ezequiel. Fundación de Historia Natural Félix de Azara; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Vargas, Alexander O.. Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas. Departamento de Geología; ChileFil: Rubilar Rogers, David. Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Chile; Chil

TOXOPLASMOSIS COMO AGENTE CAUSAL DE ABORTOS EN ALPACAS

El estudio tuvo por objetivo determinar la asociación del T. gondii con los abortos en el primer, segundo y tercer trimestre de gestación, así como su relación con la mortalidad perinatal en la alpaca. El estudio se realizó en el Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo de Camélidos Sudamericanos-Lachocc de la Universidad Nacional de Huancavelica, a una altura de 4450 msnm, durante la campaña reproductiva de enero de 1999 a marzo de 2000, a través del monitoreo de anticuerpos de T. gondii, mediante la técnica de Hemoaglutinación Indirecta (HAI). Se evaluaron 332 alpacas hembras previo al empadre obteniéndose una seroprevalencia de 36.5% (121/332). Con 108 alpacas seronegativas se siguió su seroconversión obteniéndose una incidencia acumulada de 25% (27/108) a los 270 días después del empadre. La tasa de fertilidad total fue 70.4% (76/108), estando infectadas por T. gondii el 27.6% (21/76) sin haber diferencia significativa en fertilidad entre animales positivos y negativos a T. gondii. Las tasas de aborto para los periodos de 90 a 180, 181 a 270, y 271 a 330 días de gestación fueron de 6.6, 5.6 y 7.6%, respectivamente, y la tasa de mortalidad perinatal fue 8.1% sin haber diferencia estadística a la prueba de Fisher entre alpacas negativas e infectadas por T. gondii. Además, se encontró que la primoinfección de T. gondii en alpacas hembras es independiente de la edad pero que las alpacas seropositivas presentan 3.3 veces mayor riesgo de aborto que las seronegativas.El estudio tuvo por objetivo determinar la asociación del T. gondii con los abortos en el primer, segundo y tercer trimestre de gestación, así como su relación con la mortalidad perinatal en la alpaca. El estudio se realizó en el Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo de Camélidos Sudamericanos-Lachocc de la Universidad Nacional de Huancavelica, a una altura de 4450 msnm, durante la campaña reproductiva de enero de 1999 a marzo de 2000, a través del monitoreo de anticuerpos de T. gondii, mediante la técnica de Hemoaglutinación Indirecta (HAI). Se evaluaron 332 alpacas hembras previo al empadre obteniéndose una seroprevalencia de 36.5% (121/332). Con 108 alpacas seronegativas se siguió su seroconversión obteniéndose una incidencia acumulada de 25% (27/108) a los 270 días después del empadre. La tasa de fertilidad total fue 70.4% (76/108), estando infectadas por T. gondii el 27.6% (21/76) sin haber diferencia significativa en fertilidad entre animales positivos y negativos a T. gondii. Las tasas de aborto para los periodos de 90 a 180, 181 a 270, y 271 a 330 días de gestación fueron de 6.6, 5.6 y 7.6%, respectivamente, y la tasa de mortalidad perinatal fue 8.1% sin haber diferencia estadística a la prueba de Fisher entre alpacas negativas e infectadas por T. gondii. Además, se encontró que la primoinfección de T. gondii en alpacas hembras es independiente de la edad pero que las alpacas seropositivas presentan 3.3 veces mayor riesgo de aborto que las seronegativas

Quantitative determination of c-myc facilitates the assessment of prognosis of OSCC patients

Myc genes are a family of proto-oncogenes whose proteins are implicated in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis, and in regulating the activity of genes involved in cell division. The aim of the present study was to establish a quantitative description of the expression of c-myc and evaluate its relationship with other clinical and prognostic factors, as well as to establish a multivariate survival prediction model. This is a retrospective study of 68 patients diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We constructed a tissue microarray for investigating the expression of c-myc by immunohistochemistry. Statistical analyses were carried out, and a multivariate model that predicts survival was established. The average expression of c-myc was 50.32 (SD, 26.05) with a range from 6.60 to 99.48; similar for initial and advanced tumor stages. Non-smoking patients had higher levels of c-myc, showing statistically significant differences (Kruskal-Wallis chi2=5.975; p=0.05). We found no statistically significant relationship between the quantitative expression of c-myc and any other clinical or pathological parameters. For each unit of increase of c-myc, the risk increased by 1.15 (p<0.001; HR, 1.150; 95% CI, 1062-1245). Further study of this protein, which may have a significant diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic value is warranted. Its determination can be valuable when used together with other markers to assess the prognosis of OSCC patients

Population genetic suggestions to offset the extinction ratchet in the endangered Canarian endemic Atractylis preauxiana (Asteraceae)

Abstract We examined the levels and apportionment of genetic variation of the 11 known subpopulations of Atractylis preauxiana at 95 RAPD loci to help streamline a conservation strategy for this Canarian endemic taxon, which is in a critical situation because of the constant exposure of plants to intensive, uncontrolled anthropic action in the last few decades. Our results revealed low genetic variation levels that match with the general picture of demographic and habitat degradation that this taxon is undergoing. Although geographic isolation between Tenerife and Gran Canaria is an effective barrier to gene flow, genetic heterogeneity within islands is also substantial, plausibly due to the negative impact of fragmentation on genetic variation. Our genetic results, together with declining population sizes, poor seedling survival, and recent population extinctions, compellingly indicate that A. preauxiana is undergoing an extinction ratchet, whereby every further local extinction will add up to the probability of total species&apos; extinction. Our genetic results suggest that mitigating the deleterious consequences of this effect entails urgent mixed reinforcements of all sub-populations with sub-populations from the same island and urgent translocation of the two sub-populations from Tenerife that are doomed to extinction to ecologically suitable areas, together with seed collection and preservation in a convenient ex situ banking facility

Aristonectes quiriquinensis, sp. nov., A New Highly Derived Elasmosaurid from the Upper Maastrichtian of Central Chile

This paper describes a new species of elasmosaurid plesiosaur, Aristonectes quiriquinensis, sp. nov., based on a partial skeleton recovered from upper Maastrichtian beds of the Quiriquina Formation of central Chile. The material described here consists of two skeletons, one collected near the village of Cocholgue, and a second juvenile specimen from Quiriquina Island. Prior to these finds, Aristonectes was viewed as a monospecific genus, including only the enigmatic Aristonectes parvidens, the holotype of which consists of an incomplete skull and incomplete postcranium. Other material referred to the genus includes an incomplete juvenile skull and other postcranial material from the upper Maastrichtian of Antarctica, as well as a partial skull from the Quiriquina Formation of central Chile. The relationships of Aristonectes have been controversial, with competing theories assigning the genus to Cryptoclididae, Elasmosauridae, and Aristonectidae; however, there is a developing consensus that Aristonectes is a derived elasmosaurid, and this paper gives strong evidence for this view. Comparison of the specimen here studied with the holotype of A. parvidens demonstrates that A. quiriquinensis is a distinct species. The completeness of the adult skeleton allows the first confident size estimates for adult Aristonectes. It is a large plesiosaurian with a relatively large skull with numerous homodont teeth, a moderately long and laterally compressed neck, and relatively narrow trunk, with slender and elongate forelimbs. The two specimens are restricted to the upper Maastrichtian of central Chile, posing questions concerning the austral circumpolar distribution of different elasmosaurids towards the end of the Cretaceous.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Hacer Arqueología en el contexto de Aislamiento Social Preventivo y Obligatorio

El presente artículo tiene como propósito reflexionar acerca de los aportes que la Arqueología y los arqueólogos brindan a la sociedad en el marco del Aislamiento Social Preventivo y Obligatorio que rige en nuestro país como consecuencia de la pandemia de COVID-19. Se presenta la diversidad de tareas que han realizado los arqueólogos en estos tiempos y se analizan las múltiples demandas que han surgido por parte de distintos sectores de la sociedad respecto del quehacer de esta disciplina. Se propone que el rol de la Arqueología en estos tiempos es aportar contenidos en el ámbito de la cultura y de la educación en todos sus nivelesFil: Lanzelotti, Sonia Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto de las Culturas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de las Culturas; ArgentinaFil: Chichkoyan, Karina Vanesa. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Departamento de Ciencias Sociales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Acuña Suárez, Gabriel E.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil. Investigaciones Arqueológicas y Paleontológicas del Cuaternario Pampeano. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Investigaciones Arqueológicas y Paleontológicas del Cuaternario Pampeano; ArgentinaFil: Aranda, Claudia Marcela. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología; ArgentinaFil: Estevez, Juan Manuel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras. Museo Etnográfico "Juan B. Ambrosetti"; ArgentinaFil: Favier Dubois, Cristian Mario. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil; ArgentinaFil: Guarnochea, Miguel. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Departamento de Ciencias Sociales; ArgentinaFil: Lamami, Marcelo Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto de las Culturas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de las Culturas; ArgentinaFil: Luna, Leandro Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Historia y Ciencias Humanas; ArgentinaFil: Martínez, Lila. Universidad Nacional de Lujan. Rectorado. Instituto de Investigaciones Geograficas; ArgentinaFil: Maruscak, Gala. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras; ArgentinaFil: Saiz Reales, Mauro. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras; Argentin

Analysis of ancestral and functionally relevant CD5 variants in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

OBJECTIVE: CD5 plays a crucial role in autoimmunity and is a well-established genetic risk factor of developing RA. Recently, evidence of positive selection has been provided for the CD5 Pro224-Val471 haplotype in East Asian populations. The aim of the present work was to further analyze the functional relevance of non-synonymous CD5 polymorphisms conforming the ancestral and the newly derived haplotypes (Pro224-Ala471 and Pro224-Val471, respectively) as well as to investigate the potential role of CD5 on the development of SLE and/or SLE nephritis. METHODS: The CD5 SNPs rs2241002 (C/T; Pro224Leu) and rs2229177 (C/T; Ala471Val) were genotyped using TaqMan allelic discrimination assays in a total of 1,324 controls and 681 SLE patients of Spanish origin. In vitro analysis of CD3-mediated T cell proliferative and cytokine response profiles of healthy volunteers homozygous for the above mentioned CD5 haplotypes were also analyzed. RESULTS: T-cell proliferation and cytokine release were significantly increased showing a bias towards to a Th2 profile after CD3 cross-linking of peripheral mononuclear cells from healthy individuals homozygous for the ancestral Pro224-Ala471 (CC) haplotype, compared to the more recently derived Pro224-Val471 (CT). The same allelic combination was statistically associated with Lupus nephritis. CONCLUSION: The ancestral Ala471 CD5 allele confers lymphocyte hyper-responsiveness to TCR/CD3 cross-linking and is associated with nephritis in SLE patients

Revista Colombiana de Computación. Volumen 7 Número 2 Diciembre de 2006

Tenemos la satisfacción de presentar a la comunidad académica el último número del año 2006 de la Revista Colombiana de Computación. Continuamos recibiendo artículos de diferentes países del mundo, de gran calidad, como los que se publican en este número.We are pleased to present to the academic community the last issue of 2006 of the Revista Colombiana de Computación. We continue to receive articles from different countries around the world, of great quality, such as those published in this issue

Global application of an unoccupied aerial vehicle photogrammetry protocol for predicting aboveground biomass in non‐forest ecosystems

P. 1-15Non-forest ecosystems, dominated by shrubs, grasses and herbaceous plants, provide ecosystem services including carbon sequestration and forage for grazing, and are highly sensitive to climatic changes. Yet these ecosystems are poorly represented in remotely sensed biomass products and are undersampled by in situ monitoring. Current global change threats emphasize the need for new tools to capture biomass change in non-forest ecosystems at appropriate scales. Here we developed and deployed a new protocol for photogrammetric height using unoccupied aerial vehicle (UAV) images to test its capability for delivering standardized measurements of biomass across a globally distributed field experiment. We assessed whether canopy height inferred from UAV photogrammetry allows the prediction of aboveground biomass (AGB) across low-stature plant species by conducting 38 photogrammetric surveys over 741 harvested plots to sample 50 species. We found mean canopy height was strongly predictive of AGB across species, with a median adjusted R2 of 0.87 (ranging from 0.46 to 0.99) and median prediction error from leave-one-out cross-validation of 3.9%. Biomass per-unit-of-height was similar within but different among, plant functional types. We found that photogrammetric reconstructions of canopy height were sensitive to wind speed but not sun elevation during surveys. We demonstrated that our photogrammetric approach produced generalizable measurements across growth forms and environmental settings and yielded accuracies as good as those obtained from in situ approaches. We demonstrate that using a standardized approach for UAV photogrammetry can deliver accurate AGB estimates across a wide range of dynamic and heterogeneous ecosystems. Many academic and land management institutions have the technical capacity to deploy these approaches over extents of 1–10 ha−1. Photogrammetric approaches could provide much-needed information required to calibrate and validate the vegetation models and satellite-derived biomass products that are essential to understand vulnerable and understudied non-forested ecosystems around the globe.S