Age-dependent mortality, fecundity, mobility effects on the neolithic transition

We present a model that makes it possible to analyze the effect of the age dependences of mortality, fertility and dispersal persistence on the speed of propagating fronts in two spatial dimensions. Speeds derived analytically agree very well with those obtained from numerical simulations. Infant mortality and total fecundity are the most relevant parameters affecting the front speed, whereas the adult mortality rates and dispersal persistences are less important. We apply the model to the Neolithic transition in Europe. The predictions of the model are consistent with the archaeological data for the front speed, provided that the infant mortality lies within a relatively narrow range

Informe sobre la evaluación de la calidad del agua de la quebrada Zapatero del municipio de La Plata Huila, mediante la aplicación de los métodos BMWP/COL y ASPT correlacionados con parámetros fisicoquímicos.

Este trabajo de investigación se realizó con el propósito de evaluar la calidad del agua de la quebrada Zapatero del municipio de La Plata Huila, utilizando macroinvertebrados como indicadores biológicos del agua, con el fin de aportar información que ayude a determinar el grado de contaminación de la fuente hídrica. Se establecieron 3 puntos de muestreo, los cuales se seleccionaron teniendo en cuenta la parte alta, media y baja de la cuenca. Para realizar el análisis y la recolección de la fauna bentónica, se efectuaron 15 repeticiones por cada uno de los puntos de muestreo utilizando una red de pantalla para atrapar los macroinvertebrados, utilizando la metodología BMWP/Col, el método ASPT correlacionados con parámetros fisicoquímicos. Se recolectaron en total 4000 macroinvertrebados distribuidos en 4 Phylum, 6 Clases, 13 Órdenes, 27 Familias y 34 Géneros, los parámetros como, pH, turbiedad, conductividad, temperatura, Solidos Totales Disueltos (TDS), salinidad, presentaron cambios en cada uno de los puntos de muestreo, la fuente hídrica cuenta con alta disponibilidad de Concentración Oxígeno, en relación con los resultados obtenidos con el índice BMWP/Col y el índice ASPT permitió clasificar las tres zonas en Clase II – Calidad Aceptable- Aguas Ligeramente Contaminadas. Se concluye que la evaluación de la calidad del agua de la quebrada Zapatero mediante indicadores biológicos es una estrategia confiable donde se obtiene resultados favorables para conocer los grados de contaminación de la fuente hídrica.The research was carried out with the aim of evaluating the water quality of Zapatero stream from the municipality of La Plata-Huila, using macroinvertebrates as biological water indicators, in order to provide information that determine the contamination degree. Three sampling points were established, considering the upper, middle and lower part of the stream. 15 repetitions were made for each sampling points, using a screen net according to the BMWP/Col methodology, and the ASPT method correlated with physicochemical parameters. A total of 4000 macroinvertebrates were distributed in 4 phylum, 6 Classes, 13 Orders, 27 Families and 34 generas. Parameters as pH, turbidity, conductivity, temperature, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), salinity showed changes among sampling points. The water source has high availability of oxygen concentration, in relation to the results obtained with the BMWP/Col index and the ASPT index allowed classifying the three zones in Class II - Acceptable Quality - Slightly Contaminated Water. We concluded that the evaluation of Zapatero stream water quality by biological indicators is a reliable strategy where favorable results are obtained to know the water source contamination degree

Reform of the Coal Sector in an Open Economy: The Case of China

Cheap, abundant and easy to transport and store, coal has been produced and consumed to meet people's energy needs. The last decade's growth in global coal use has been driven mainly by developing economies like China, whose phenomenal economic growth has been powered by coal-fired electricity and promoted by the export of manufactured goods. A recent reform focus in China's coal sector is on coal taxation. The paper develops a game-theoretic model tailored to the context of China where coal taxation reform takes place against the background of privatisation of coal firms and an open economy. It finds that the adoption of special coal taxes is optimal for social welfare under most circumstances, but may induce coal firms to commit opportunistic behaviour in the process of privatisation. The paper also cautions about potential resistance to the reform from consumers, coal firms and government officials

Role of Astrocytic Dysfunction in the Pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease Animal Models from a Molecular Signaling Perspective

Despite the fact that astrocytes are the most abundant glial cells, critical for brain function, few studies have dealt with their possible role in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease (PD). This article explores relevant evidence on the involvement of astrocytes in experimental PD neurodegeneration from a molecular signaling perspective. For a long time, astrocytic proliferation was merely considered a byproduct of neuroinflammation, but by the time being, it is clear that astrocytic dysfunction plays a far more important role in PD pathophysiology. Indeed, ongoing experimental evidence suggests the importance of astrocytes and dopaminergic neurons' cross-linking signaling pathways. The Wnt-1 (wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member 1) pathway regulates several processes including neuron survival, synapse plasticity, and neurogenesis. In PD animal models, Frizzled (Fzd) neuronal receptors' activation by the Wnt-1 normally released by astrocytes following injuries leads to β-catenin-dependent gene expression, favoring neuron survival and viability. The transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) capsaicin receptor also participates in experimental PD genesis. Activation of astrocyte TRPV1 receptors by noxious stimuli results in reduced inflammatory response and increased ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) synthesis, which enhances neuronal survival and differentiation. Another major pathway involves IκB kinase (IKK) downregulation by ARL6ip5 (ADP-ribosylation-like factor 6 interacting protein 5, encoded by the cell differentiation-associated, JWA, gene). Typically, IKK releases the proinflammatory NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells) molecule from its inhibitor. Therefore, by downregulating NF-κB inhibitor, ARL6ip5 promotes an anti-inflammatory response. The evidence provided by neurotoxin-induced PD animal models guarantees further research on the neuroprotective potential of normalizing astrocyte function in PD.Fil: Udovin, Lucas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Quarracino, Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Herrera, María Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; Argentina. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires"; ArgentinaFil: Capani, Francisco. Universidad Autónoma de Chile; Chile. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Otero-losada, Matilde Estela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Perez Lloret, Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; Argentin

Geographical isolation and restricted gene flow drive speciation of Aegla singularis (Decapoda, Anomura, Aeglidae) in southern South America

Geographical isolation is a key element in allopatric speciation. If gene flow is interrupted for long enough by geographical barriers, populations can evolve independently and eventually form distinct species. Aegla singularis provides an ideal model to study this process due to the characteristics of the geographical area that it occupies and its limited dispersal ability. Aegla singularis inhabits streams of the Uruguay and Paraná River basins in the Neotropical region of South America. The basins are separated by the Sierra Central Mountains. Here we studied the speciation of A. singularis resulting from geographical isolation by using molecular and morphometric data. Individuals of A. singularis were analysed using geometric morphometrics and genetic data (COII and EFα1). We found significant differences in shape and genetics between A. singularis populations from the two basins. These differences suggest ongoing divergence due to restricted gene flow caused by the geographical barrier of the Sierra Central Mountains, indicating that the populations of the Parana and Uruguay River slopes are undergoing divergence.Fil: Loretán, Gisela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Rueda, Eva Carolina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Cabrera, Juan Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Perez Losada, Marcos. Universidad de Porto; PortugalFil: Collins, Pablo Agustin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; ArgentinaFil: Giri, Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto Nacional de Limnología. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto Nacional de Limnología; Argentin

The Genetic Basis of Probable REM Sleep Behavior Disorder in Parkinson’s Disease

Patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) experience REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) more frequently than healthy controls. RBD is associated with torpid disease evolution. To test the hypothesis that differential genetic signatures might contribute to the torpid disease evolution in PD patients with RBD we compared the rate of genetic mutations in PD patients with or without probable RBD. Patients with a clinical diagnosis of PD in the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) database entered the study. We excluded those with missing data, dementia, psychiatric conditions, or a diagnosis change over the first five years from the initial PD diagnosis. Probable RBD (pRBD) was confirmed by a REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Screening Questionnaire score > 5 points. Logistic regression and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms were used to relate Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPs) in PD-related genes with pRBD. We included 330 PD patients fulfilling all inclusion and exclusion criteria. The final logistic multivariate model revealed that the following SNPs increased the risk of pRBD: GBA_N370S_rs76763715 (OR, 95% CI: 3.38, 1.45–7.93), SNCA_A53T_rs104893877 (8.21, 2.26–36.34), ANK2. CAMK2D_rs78738012 (2.12, 1.08–4.10), and ZNF184_rs9468199 (1.89, 1.08–3.33). Conversely, SNP COQ7. SYT17_rs11343 reduced pRBD risk (0.36, 0.15–0.78). The ML algorithms led to similar results. The predictive models were highly specific (95–99%) but lacked sensitivity (9–39%). We found a distinctive genetic signature for pRBD in PD. The high specificity and low sensitivity of the predictive models suggest that genetic mutations are necessary but not sufficient to develop pRBD in PD. Additional investigations are needed.Fil: Perez Lloret, Santiago. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Chevalier, Guenson. Universidad Abierta Interamericana; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bordet, Sofía. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Abierta Interamericana; ArgentinaFil: Barbar, Hanny. Universidad Abierta Interamericana; ArgentinaFil: Capani, Francisco. Universidad Abierta Interamericana; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Udovin, Lucas. Universidad Abierta Interamericana; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Otero losada, Matilde Estela. Universidad Abierta Interamericana; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Analysis of a silvopastoral system with animals of the autochtonous swine breed Porco Celta in Galicia (NW Spain)

PosterPig traditional production systems in Galicia (NW Spain) are based on seasonal resources us like chestnut and pastures. The Breeders' Association of the autochthonous Celtic breed of pigs (ASOPORCEL) has developed a novel system within the traditional Galicia grazed forest areas in order to preserve landscape quality and biologic diversity, minimizing therefore the environmental impact of pig production. One of the main concerns of silvopastoral system implementation is the need of fencing. Fencing costs could be reduced if animals are rearing with infrastructures based on Pavlov animal condition reflex management in an extensive system. Therefore, cost reduction is obtained thanks to the clear reduction of personnel needs to feed animals, fencing costs and understorey clearance to reduce forest fires. In 2013 an experiment was carried out in Nebra (NW of Spain) in a young Pinus pinaster plantation. Pig stocking rate was around 3.85 pigs per ha (25 males and 25 females) in a total surface of 13 ha. Forest grazing program was initiated when animals were three months old in March 2013 and finished in December 2013. They were allowed access the whole plot. Concentrate was provided twice every day after sounding an alarm to attract pigs. All the animals adapted rapidly to the system. Two types o understory vegetation (Ulex and Pteridium) was sampled following a transect from close to far away feeding areas (three distances). Fern control was intense, being gorse less consumed. After nine months, average animal daily gain (ADG) obtained was 290 ± 4 gr. We can conclude that the used method is perfectly adaptable to the systems of exploitation suggested for the Celtic pig breed. This will be highly relevant to preserve this autochthonous breed and increase the number of extensive farms in the area while contributing to fix population dedicated to use silvopastoral systems

A comparative analysis of costs of single and dual rapid HIV and syphilis diagnostics: results from a randomised controlled trial in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: HIV and congenital syphilis are major public health burdens contributing to substantial perinatal morbidity and mortality globally. Although studies have reported on the costs and cost-effectiveness of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for syphilis screening within antenatal care in a number of resource-constrained settings, empirical evidence on country-specific cost and estimates of single RDTs compared with dual RDTs for HIV and syphilis are limited. METHODS: A cluster randomised controlled study design was used to compare the incremental costs of two testing algorithms: (1) single RDTs for HIV and syphilis and (2) dual RDTs for HIV and syphilis, in 12 health facilities in Bogota and Cali, Colombia. The costs of single HIV and syphilis RDTs and dual HIV and syphilis RDTs were collected from each of the health facilities. The economic costs per woman tested for HIV and syphilis and costs per woman treated for syphilis defined as the total costs required to test and treat one woman for syphilis were estimated. RESULTS: A total of 2214 women were tested in the study facilities. Cost per pregnant woman tested and cost per woman treated for syphilis were US$10.26 and US$607.99, respectively in the single RDT arm. For the dual RDTs, the cost per pregnant woman tested for HIV and syphilis and cost per woman treated for syphilis were US$15.89 and US$1859.26, respectively. Overall costs per woman tested for HIV and syphilis and cost per woman treated for syphilis were lower in Cali compared with Bogota across both intervention arms. Staff costs accounted for the largest proportion of costs while treatment costs comprised <1% of the preventive programme. CONCLUSIONS: Findings show lower average costs for single RDTs compared with dual RDTs with costs sensitive to personnel costs and the scale of output at the health facilities. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02454816; results

Chromosomal in situ suppression hybridization of immunologically classified mitotic cells in hematologic malignancies

Chromosomal in situ suppression (CISS) hybridization was performed with library DNA from sorted human chromosomes 8, 9, 15, 17, 21, and 22 on immunologically stained bone marrow cells of four patients with a hematologic neoplasm, including two patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and trisomy 8, one patient with promyelocytic leukemia bearing the translocation t(15;17)(q22;q11-12), and one patient with chronic myeloid leukemia and the translocation t(9;22)(q34;q11). In all patients, the results of conventional karyotype analysis could be confirmed by one- or two-color CISS hybridization using the appropriate chromosome-specific libraries. Our results show that CISS hybridization can detect both numerical and structural chromosome changes in immunologically classified cells with high specificity and reliability. The fact that chromosome spreads of very poor quality can now be included in such analyses is a decisive advantage of this approach. In addition, the suitability of this approach for interphase cytogenetics is discussed