A rostral neurovascular system in the mosasaur Taniwhasaurus antarcticus

Mosasaurs were a cosmopolitan group of marine squamate reptiles that lived during the Late Cretaceous period. Tylosaurinae mosasaurs were characterized for having an edentulous rostrum anterior to the premaxillary teeth. External morphology of the snout of the tylosaurine Taniwhasaurus antarcticus from the Upper Cretaceous beds at James Ross Island (Antarctic Peninsula) shows a complex anatomy with diverse large foramina and bone sculpture. A computed tomography scan of the Taniwhasaurus rostrum revealed a complex internal neurovascular system of branched channels in the anteriormost part of the snout. Systems like this are present in extant aquatic vertebrates such as cetaceans and crocodiles to aid them with prey detection, and are inferred to have functioned in a similar manner for several extinct reptile clades such as plesiosaurs and ichthyosaurs. Thus, it is probable that Taniwhasaurus also was able to detect prey with an enhanced neural system located in its rostrum. This condition may be more widespread than previously thought among mosasaurs and other marine reptiles.Fil: Alvarez Herrera, Gerardo Paulino. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Agnolin, Federico. Universidad Maimónides; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Novas, Fernando Emilio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentin

Flow-Injection Analysis of Hydrogen Peroxide Using a Horseradish Peroxidase-Modified Electrode Detection System

A flow-injection analysis (FIA) system utilizing a horseradish peroxidase-modified amperometric electrode is described. The enzyme was immobilized through adsorption onto a glassy carbon electrode and the system is used to determine hydrogen peroxide at submicromolar levels

Acute Demyelinating Disease after Oral Therapy with Herbal Extracts

Central nervous system demyelinating processes such as multiple sclerosis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis constitute a group of diseases not completely understood in their physiopathology. Environmental and toxic insults are thought to play a role in priming autoimmunity. The aim of the present report is to describe a case of acute demyelinating disease with fatal outcome occurring 15 days after oral exposure to herbal extracts

Liver, horseradish and bananas: a diet of enzymes for voltammetry

In this paper we will report on recent work that we have carried out involving enzymes such as glutamate dehydrogenase (from liver), peroxidase (from horseradish) and tyrosinase (from banana)

A combined strategy involving Sanger and 454 pyrosequencing increases genomic resources to aid in the management of reproduction, disease control and genetic selection in the turbot (Scophtalmus maximus)

Background Genomic resources for plant and animal species that are under exploitation primarily for human consumption are increasingly important, among other things, for understanding physiological processes and for establishing adequate genetic selection programs. Current available techniques for high-throughput sequencing have been implemented in a number of species, including fish, to obtain a proper description of the transcriptome. The objective of this study was to generate a comprehensive transcriptomic database in turbot, a highly priced farmed fish species in Europe, with potential expansion to other areas of the world, for which there are unsolved production bottlenecks, to understand better reproductive- and immune-related functions. This information is essential to implement marker assisted selection programs useful for the turbot industry [...]

Sensors based on polymer modified electrodes

This paper will review the recent results that we have obtained using novel ruthenium-containing polymers, and on the further studies on the incorporation of proteins into polymeric matrices

Incidence and clinical outcomes of nosocomial infections in patients presenting with STEMI complicated by cardiogenic shock in the United States

OBJECTIVES: This study addresses the incidence, trends, and impact of nosocomial infections (NI) on the outcomes of patients admitted with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and cardiogenic shock (STEMI-CS) using the United States National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. METHODS: We analyzed data from 105,184 STEMI-CS patients using the NIS database from the years 2005-2014. NI was defined as infections of more than or equal to three days, comprising of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), urinary tract infection (UTI), hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), bacteremia, and skin related infections. Outcomes of the impact of NI on STEMI-CS included in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay (LOS) and costs. Significant associations of NI in patients admitted with STEMI-CS were also identified. RESULTS: Overall, 19.1% (20,137) of patients admitted with STEMI-CS developed NI. Trends of NI have decreased from 2005-2014. The most common NI were UTI (9.2%), followed by HAP (6.8%), CLABSI (1.5%), bacteremia (1.5%), skin related infections (1.5%), and CDI (1.3%). The strongest association of developing a NI was increasing LOS (7-9 days; OR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.75-2.26; \u3e9 days; OR: 4.51; 95% CI: 4.04-5.04 compared to 4-6 days as reference). Increased mortality risk among patients with NI was significant, especially those with sepsis-associated NI compared to those without sepsis (OR: 2.95; 95% CI: 2.72-3.20). Patients with NI were found to be associated with significantly longer LOS and higher costs, irrespective of percutaneous mechanical circulatory support placement. CONCLUSIONS: NI were common among patients with STEMI-CS. Those who developed NI were at a greater risk of in-hospital mortality, increased LOS and costs

Representações dos proprietários e funcionários de fazendas sobre as mudanças e conservação da vegetação ciliar às margens do rio São Francisco, Nordeste do Brasil

In Brazil, areas with high water potential for development ofirrigate agriculture was marked by the occupation of human groups. In this context, the vegetation along the São FranciscoRiver is constantly changing. This study sought to answer the following questions: “How do famers and farmworkersdescribe the possible changes in riparian forest over time?”; “Which events are responsible for these possible changes?”,and; “How do farmers describe aspects related to the use and conservation of riparian vegetation?” A total of 17 men andeight women, owners and farmworkers from areas close to the riparian vegetation, in five municipalities in the states ofBahia and Pernambuco, participated in this research. Semi-structured and semi-structured projective-type interviewswere used to investigate their representations of the conservation of riparian vegetation and changes in the local landscape,and to record historical events that influenced them. Aiming to record the local knowledge about the diversity of the mostimportant useful species, the free list technique was used. Only one informant said that the riparian vegetation has notchanged, six considered that the changes were for the worse and four considered that the changes were for the better. Fourowners responded that changes in the vegetation began 10 years ago, six indicated more than 30 years ago, two did notknow and one has not perceive any changes. Amongst the farmworkers, five said that vegetation had changed more than20 years ago, four indicated more than 10 years ago and four indicated that it had not changed. All informants agreed thatthe riparian vegetation should be preserved either because it protects the river (64%) or because it has other uses, such asattracting rain, providing shade, medicinal uses and increasing oxygen. Some of the informants (48%) considered the landowners responsible for the conservation of riparian vegetation, some (48%) that this was a duty of everybody and asmaller portion (4%) attributed responsibility to IBAMA. They also pointed out solutions to the conservation of thisvegetation: reforestation (39%), non-clearance (17%), environmental education (13%) and good care (13%). Futurerestoration projects that might take place in this area should take into account these representations, demands andexpectations.No Brasil, foi marcante a ocupação de grupos humanos em áreas com potencial hídrico elevado para odesenvolvimento da agricultura irrigada. Neste contexto, inseri-se o rio São Francisco, que vem passando por constantesmudanças em relação à sua cobertura vegetal original. O presente estudo buscou responder as seguintes perguntas: Comofazendeiros e funcionários representam as possíveis mudanças da vegetação ciliar ao longo do tempo? Quais os eventoshistóricos responsáveis por essas possíveis mudanças? Como os fazendeiros e funcionários representam os aspectosrelacionados às utilidades e à conservação da vegetação ciliar? Um total de 17 homens e oito mulheres, proprietários efuncionários de áreas próximas à vegetação ripária em cinco municípios dos estados da Bahia e Pernambuco, participaramda pesquisa. Entrevistas semiestruturadas e entrevista semiestruturada do tipo projetiva foram empregadas para investigaras representações sobre conservação da mata ciliar e mudanças locais da paisagem, bem como resgatar os eventos históricosque as influenciaram. Com o objetivo de registrar o conhecimento local sobre a diversidade de espécies úteis mais importantesfoi utilizada a técnica de lista livre. Em relação às modificações da paisagem verificou-se que apenas um entrevistadoafirmou não haver mudanças na vegetação ciliar, seis afirmaram que houve mudanças para pior e quatro para melhor.Quatro proprietários responderam que as mudanças na vegetação iniciaram há 10 anos, seis há mais de 30 anos, dois nãosabiam e um não verificou mudanças. Entre os funcionários, cinco afirmaram que elas ocorreram há mais de 20 anos, quatrohá mais de 10 anos e para quatro deles a vegetação não mudou. Observou-se que todos os informantes concordaram que avegetação deve ser conservada, sendo que 64% destacaram que ela protege o rio e os outros 36% indicaram outrasutilidades para a vegetação ciliar, tais como: atrair chuva, fazer sombra, usos medicinais e aumentar a quantidade deoxigênio. Sobre quem seriam os responsáveis pela conservação: 48% disseram que eram os próprios proprietários deterras, 48% afirmaram que era dever de todos conservar e 4% atribuíram a responsabilidade ao IBAMA. Eles tambémapontaram soluções para a conservação da vegetação ripária, como o reflorestamento (39%), não desmatar (17%), educaçãoambiental (13%) e cuidar bem (13%). Futuros projetos de restauração que podem vir a ocorrer nessa área devem levar emconsideração essas diferentes representações, demandas e expectativas

Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from immune tissues of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) challenged with pathogens

Background: The turbot (Scophthalmus maximus; Scophthalmidae; Pleuronectiformes) is a flatfish species of great relevance for marine aquaculture in Europe. In contrast to other cultured flatfish, very few genomic resources are available in this species. Aeromonas salmonicida and Philasterides dicentrarchi are two pathogens that affect turbot culture causing serious economic losses to the turbot industry. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms for disease resistance and hostpathogen interactions in this species. In this work, thousands of ESTs for functional genomic studies and potential markers linked to ESTs for mapping (microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)) are provided. This information enabled us to obtain a preliminary view of regulated genes in response to these pathogens and it constitutes the basis for subsequent and more accurate microarray analysis. Results: A total of 12584 cDNAs partially sequenced from three different cDNA libraries of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) infected with Aeromonas salmonicida, Philasterides dicentrarchi and from healthy fish were analyzed. Three immune-relevant tissues (liver, spleen and head kidney) were sampled at several time points in the infection process for library construction. The sequences were processed into 9256 high-quality sequences, which constituted the source for the turbot EST database. Clustering and assembly of these sequences, revealed 3482 different putative transcripts, 1073 contigs and 2409 singletons. BLAST searches with public databases detected significant similarity (e-value ≤ 1e-5) in 1766 (50.7%) sequences and 816 of them (23.4%) could be functionally annotated. Two hundred three of these genes (24.9%), encoding for defence/immunerelated proteins, were mostly identified for the first time in turbot. Some ESTs showed significant differences in the number of transcripts when comparing the three libraries, suggesting regulation in response to these pathogens. A total of 191 microsatellites, with 104 having sufficient flanking sequences for primer design, and 1158 putative SNPs were identified from these EST resources in turbot. Conclusion: A collection of 9256 high-quality ESTs was generated representing 3482 unique turbot sequences. A large proportion of defence/immune-related genes were identified, many of them regulated in response to specific pathogens. Putative microsatellites and SNPs were identified. These genome resources constitute the basis to develop a microarray for functional genomics studies and marker validation for genetic linkage and QTL analysis in turbot.This study was supported by a Consellería de Pesca e Asuntos Marítimos and the Dirección Xeral de I+D – Xunta de Galicia project (2004/CP480)S