Direct and Indirect Entry Pathways of Diatom Organic Matter into the Marine Food Web

Primary production in marine systems is dominated by microscopic phytoplankton. Most of this production is quickly consumed by zooplankton, which includes single-celled organisms (protists) and multicellular animals. Diatoms are one of the most productive phytoplankton groups and copepods, one of the most abundant animal groups in the ocean, are important zooplankton consumers of diatom production. Insight into how food webs are currently structured and how marine ecosystems function can be made by understanding the magnitude of energy flow, and the mechanisms that influence the efficiency of energy movement, between diatoms and copepods. The studies in this dissertation leverage copepod-diatom grazing experiments to investigate how copepods select diatoms to consume. Copepods must break through the diatom shell made of a biosilica composite to access the contents within the cell, and prior work has suggested it is preferable for the copepod to distinguish between cells with weak or strong shells (i.e., mechanical information). The results for the model system studied here suggest that the thickness of the shell (i.e., strength) does not significantly limit copepod consumption and therefore the diatom shell mechanical properties are not a primary selection factor for copepods. Chemical sensing is important and is likely used to distinguish between cells with higher organic content or detect specific classes of compounds. Diatoms were grown in different conditions to produce variable types including cells having thin shells with low protein content or thick shells with high protein. To test the combined effect of protein xii content and shell thickness on copepod preference, copepods were acclimated to one cell type, starved, and then fed several diatom blends mixed in different proportions. Copepods always consumed fewer of the diatoms on which they had been acclimated, instead targeting new diatoms even in blends where new diatoms were three times less abundant; neither protein content nor shell thickness provided predictive power in this model system. These trends strongly suggest that copepods prefer a varied diet and will search and target new food, even if it presents a stronger mechanical barrier or is less nutritious. This dissertation also demonstrates that copepods can assimilate diatom-derived compounds in a previously unknown way. Domoic acid (DA), a diatom-produced toxin, was used as a tracer to demonstrate the movement of dissolved organic matter into the food web. This work provides the first direct evidence that an algal toxin can be transferred into the food web via consumption of organic polymers instead of the producing organism; DA was measured in the dissolved phase, particulate phase, and in copepods which could only ingest the DA-laced organic polymers. This pathway has implications for how DA is cycled through pelagic and benthic food webs and the duration over which it can remain in marine systems. Collectively, these findings have relevance from food-web transfer of metabolites to factors affecting phytoplankton bloom dynamics and provide information on processes that should be considered when trying to predict how the ecology of this critical trophic interaction will change in the future ocean

Protocolo de actuación para el correcto diagnóstico y tratamiento del dengue en Pediatría

Introduction: dengue is the most important arbovirosis worldwide, considered as an emerging infectious disease. Our country does not escape from this reality. Children are undoubtedly among the most vulnerable age groups.Objective: to improve the action protocol for the correct diagnosis and treatment of dengue at the Provincial Pediatric Hospital of Pinar del Río.Development: the fundamental elements of the definition of a dengue case, evolutionary course of the disease, classification according to severity, positive and differential diagnosis, with emphasis on the timely treatment for the prevention of complications and death in pediatric patients with clinical suspicion are presented.Conclusions: this protocol does not replace the one approved by the National Pediatric Group, but complements and summarizes a series of aspects that are essential for the management of children with dengue fever.Introducción: el dengue es la arbovirosis más importante a nivel mundial, considerada como una enfermedad infecciosa emergente. Nuestro país no escapa de esta realidad. Los niños, sin dudas, se encuentran entre los grupos etarios más vulnerables.Objetivo: perfeccionar el protocolo de actuación para el correcto diagnóstico y tratamiento del dengue en el Hospital Pediátrico Provincial de Pinar del Río.Desarrollo: se presentan los elementos fundamentales de la definición de caso de dengue, curso evolutivo de la enfermedad, clasificación según gravedad, diagnóstico positivo y diferencial, con énfasis en el tratamiento oportuno para la prevención de complicaciones y muerte en pacientes pediátricos con sospecha clínica.Conclusiones: este protocolo no sustituye al aprobado por el Grupo Nacional de Pediatría, pero complementa y resume una serie de aspectos que son imprescindibles para el manejo del niño con dengue

Playing With the City: Street Art and Videogames

In this paper we introduce and describe the phenomenon of videogame street art as a specific kind of street art. We consider its materiality and significance, and conceptualize it in the light of a double manifestation of play: the playful appropriation of the city by the artist and the fact that Street art encapsulates the act of playing videogames in a visual form. Digital play spills out of our computer screens and occupies the urban space with the explicit intention of involving spectators, who are invited to play in symbolic ways that actualize nostalgic memories of gaming and can be related to a more general “play turn” in our culture. </p

Estudio de prefactibilidad para la instalación de una planta productora de chocolate en forma de chupetes endulzados con Stevia y rellenos de Aguaymanto (Physalis Peruviana L) elaborado con cacao orgánico (Theobroma Cacao L) proveniente de Junín

La presente tesis busca determinar la factibilidad de mercado, técnica y económicofinanciera para la instalación de una planta productora de chupetes de chocolate endulzados con stevia y rellenos de aguaymanto elaborado con cacao orgánico proveniente de Junín. El proyecto contará con una vida útil de 5 años e iniciará las actividades en mayo del 2021. El producto pesará 32,25g y estará destinado a personas entre 6 y 55 años ante la necesidad de un producto orgánico y saludable para el consumo. El precio para el mercado es de S/. 1,5 y se espera satisfacer una demanda que, para el primer año del proyecto, se ubica en 10 366 436 chocolates en forma de chupetes y para el último periodo de 13 608 576 del producto, lo que generarán unos ingresos por ventas de S/. 15 549 654 y S/. 20 412 864 respectivamente. Acerca del estudio de mercado se realizó una encuesta de 11 preguntas, herramienta aplicada a trescientas noventa y tres (393) personas, de las cuales el 71,50%, mostraron estar dispuestas a comprar el producto. El estudio de localización dio como ubicación de la empresa el departamento de Lima y específicamente el distrito de Chorrillos. La estructura de financiamiento corresponde en 60% (S/. 984 757,80) por capital social y 40% (S/. 656 505,20) por préstamo bancario, lo que totaliza una inversión inicial de S/. 1 641 263,01. Los estados financieros arrojaron resultados positivos para cada uno de los periodos de vida del proyecto, los indicadores económicos y financieros como el VAN son positivos (VANE= S/. 12 563 405,99 y VANF= S/. 14 154 538,64), por otra parte la TIRE obtenida es mayor que la tasa de descuento COK (TIRE= 184%) ¿ COK (10,05%) y la TIRF (323,80%) ¿ COK (10,05%), los periodos de recuperación son de 1 año y de 10 meses respectivamente, lo que indica que el proyecto es viable.The project seeks to determine the technical and economic-financial feasibility for the implementation of a chocolate production plant in the form of lollipops sweetened with stevia and filled with aguaymanto made with organic cocoa from Junín. The project will have a useful life of 5 years and will start activities in May 2021. The product will weigh 32,25g and will be intended for people between 6 and 55 years old in need of an organic and healthy product for consumption. The price for the market is S/. 1,5 and it is expected to satisfy a demand that, for the first year of the project, stands at 10 366 436 chocolates in the form of pacifiers and for the last period of 13 608 576 of the product, which will generate a sales income of S /. 15 549 654 and S/. 20 412 864 respectively. About the market study, a survey of 11 questions was carried out, a tool applied to three hundred and ninety-three (393) people, of which 71,50%, showed their willingness to buy the product. The location study gave as the location of the company the department of Lima and specifically the district of Chorrillos. The financing structure corresponds to 60% (S/. 984 757.80) for share capital and 40% (S/. 656 505,20) for bank loan, which totals an initial investment of S/. 1 641 263,01. The financial statements showed positive results for each of the life periods of the project, the economic and financial indicators such as the NPV are positive (VANE = S /. 12 563 405,99 and VANF = S /. 14 154 538,64), on the other hand the TIRE obtained is higher than the discount rate COK (TIRE = 184%) ¿ COK (10,05%) and the TIRF (323,80%) ¿ COK (10,05%), the recovery periods are 1 year and 10 months respectively, indicating that the project is viable

Drivers of diatom production and the legacy of eutrophication in two river plume regions of the northern Gulf of Mexico

In the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGoM), the Louisiana Shelf (LS) and Mississippi Bight (MB) subregions are influenced by eutrophication to varying degrees. Despite recognition that dissolved silicon may regulate diatom productivity in the nGoM, there is only one published data set reporting biogenic silica (bSiO2) production rates for each subregion. We report that bSiO2 production rates on the LS and MB are high and appear to be controlled by different nutrients among seasons. Despite exceptional upper trophic level biomass regionally, which suggests significant primary production by diatoms (as in other systems), gross euphotic-zone integrated bSiO2 production rates are lower than major bSiO2 producing regions (e.g. upwelling systems). However, when normalizing to the depth of the euphotic zone, the bSiO2 production rates on the LS are like normalized rates in upwelling systems. We suggest local river-plume influenced hydrography concentrates diatom productivity within shallow euphotic zones, making production more accessible to higher trophic organisms. Comparison of rates between the LS and MB suggest that the fluvial nitrate within the LS stimulates bSiO2 production above that in the MB, which has a smaller watershed and is less eutrophic (relatively). Beyond understanding the factors controlling regional bSiO2 production, these data offer the most comprehensive Si-cycle baseline to date as the LS and MB will likely exchange freely in the mid to late century due to land subsidence of the Mississippi River delta and/or sea-level rise

The Relationship Between the Site of Metastases and Outcome in Children With Stage IV Wilms Tumor: Data From 3 European Pediatric Cancer Institutions

The aim of this study was to analyze in detail the site of metastasis of stage 4 Wilms tumor (WT) and its correlation with outcome. The databases from 3 major European pediatric cancer institutions were screened for children with WT between 1994 and 2011. Of 208 children identified, 31 (14.9%) had metastases at diagnosis. The lung was affected in 29 children (93.5%) and the liver in 6 children (19.4%). Twenty-seven children (87.1%) had metastases isolated to 1 organ, with the lung being the most common site (80.7%). Five-year overall survival was significantly better in those children with distant disease in either lung or liver (95.8%) compared with those affected in both lung and liver (57.1%, P=0.028). Further, prognostic markers were the response of metastases to preoperative chemotherapy (P=0.0138), high-risk histology (P=0.024), and local stage (P=0.026). Five-year overall survival was 82.1% and 5-year event-free survival was 67.9%. The overall follow-up time was 74.1 and 87.2 (2 to 151) months among survivors, and the treatment-related complication rate was 16.7%. In conclusion, in our series of stage 4 WT, prognosis was excellent if histology was favorable, metastatic disease was isolated to either lungs or liver, and if metastases responded to preoperative chemotherapy

The Relationship Between the Site of Metastases and Outcome in Children With Stage IV Wilms Tumor: Data From 3 European Pediatric Cancer Institutions

The aim of this study was to analyze in detail the site of metastasis of stage 4 Wilms tumor (WT) and its correlation with outcome. The databases from 3 major European pediatric cancer institutions were screened for children with WT between 1994 and 2011. Of 208 children identified, 31 (14.9%) had metastases at diagnosis. The lung was affected in 29 children (93.5%) and the liver in 6 children (19.4%). Twenty-seven children (87.1%) had metastases isolated to 1 organ, with the lung being the most common site (80.7%). Five-year overall survival was significantly better in those children with distant disease in either lung or liver (95.8%) compared with those affected in both lung and liver (57.1%, P=0.028). Further, prognostic markers were the response of metastases to preoperative chemotherapy (P=0.0138), high-risk histology (P=0.024), and local stage (P=0.026). Five-year overall survival was 82.1% and 5-year event-free survival was 67.9%. The overall follow-up time was 74.1 and 87.2 (2 to 151) months among survivors, and the treatment-related complication rate was 16.7%. In conclusion, in our series of stage 4 WT, prognosis was excellent if histology was favorable, metastatic disease was isolated to either lungs or liver, and if metastases responded to preoperative chemotherapy

Cellular and Mitochondrial Effects of Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol dependence is correlated with a wide spectrum of medical, psychological, behavioral, and social problems. Acute alcohol abuse causes damage to and functional impairment of several organs affecting protein, carbohydrate, and fat metabolism. Mitochondria participate with the conversion of acetaldehyde into acetate and the generation of increased amounts of NADH. Prenatal exposure to ethanol during fetal development induces a wide spectrum of adverse effects in offspring, such as neurologic abnormalities and pre- and post-natal growth retardation. Antioxidant effects have been described due to that alcoholic beverages contain different compounds, such as polyphenols as well as resveratrol. This review analyzes diverse topics on the alcohol consumption effects in several human organs and demonstrates the direct participation of mitochondria as potential target of compounds that can be used to prevent therapies for alcohol abusers

Multi-ancestry GWAS reveals excitotoxicity associated with outcome after ischaemic stroke

During the first hours after stroke onset, neurological deficits can be highly unstable: some patients rapidly improve, while others deteriorate. This early neurological instability has a major impact on long-term outcome. Here, we aimed to determine the genetic architecture of early neurological instability measured by the difference between the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) within 6 h of stroke onset and NIHSS at 24 h. A total of 5876 individuals from seven countries (Spain, Finland, Poland, USA, Costa Rica, Mexico and Korea) were studied using a multi-ancestry meta-analyses. We found that 8.7% of NIHSS at 24 h of variance was explained by common genetic variations, and also that early neurological instability has a different genetic architecture from that of stroke risk. Eight loci (1p21.1, 1q42.2, 2p25.1, 2q31.2, 2q33.3, 5q33.2, 7p21.2 and 13q31.1) were genome-wide significant and explained 1.8% of the variability suggesting that additional variants influence early change in neurological deficits. We used functional genomics and bioinformatic annotation to identify the genes driving the association from each locus. Expression quantitative trait loci mapping and summary data-based Mendelian randomization indicate that ADAM23 (log Bayes factor = 5.41) was driving the association for 2q33.3. Gene-based analyses suggested that GRIA1 (log Bayes factor = 5.19), which is predominantly expressed in the brain, is the gene driving the association for the 5q33.2 locus. These analyses also nominated GNPAT (log Bayes factor = 7.64) ABCB5 (log Bayes factor = 5.97) for the 1p21.1 and 7p21.1 loci. Human brain single-nuclei RNA-sequencing indicates that the gene expression of ADAM23 and GRIA1 is enriched in neurons. ADAM23, a presynaptic protein and GRIA1, a protein subunit of the AMPA receptor, are part of a synaptic protein complex that modulates neuronal excitability. These data provide the first genetic evidence in humans that excitotoxicity may contribute to early neurological instability after acute ischaemic stroke. Ibanez et al. perform a multi-ancestry meta-analysis to investigate the genetic architecture of early stroke outcomes. Two of the eight genome-wide significant loci identified-ADAM23 and GRIA1-are involved in synaptic excitability, suggesting that excitotoxicity contributes to neurological instability after ischaemic stroke.Peer reviewe