Shedding Light on Vampires: The Phylogeny of Vampyrellid Amoebae Revisited

With the advent of molecular phylogenetic techniques the polyphyly of naked filose amoebae has been proven. They are interspersed in several supergroups of eukaryotes and most of them already found their place within the tree of life. Although the ‘vampire amoebae’ have attracted interest since the middle of the 19th century, the phylogenetic position and even the monophyly of this traditional group are still uncertain. In this study clonal co-cultures of eight algivorous vampyrellid amoebae and the respective food algae were established. Culture material was characterized morphologically and a molecular phylogeny was inferred using SSU rDNA sequence comparisons. We found that the limnetic, algivorous vampyrellid amoebae investigated in this study belong to a major clade within the Endomyxa Cavalier-Smith, 2002 (Cercozoa), grouping together with a few soil-dwelling taxa. They split into two robust clades, one containing species of the genus Vampyrella Cienkowski, 1865, the other containing the genus Leptophrys Hertwig & Lesser, 1874, together with terrestrial members. Supported by morphological data these clades are designated as the two families Vampyrellidae Zopf, 1885, and Leptophryidae fam. nov. Furthermore the order Vampyrellida West, 1901 was revised and now corresponds to the major vampyrellid clade within the Endomyxa, comprising the Vampyrellidae and Leptophryidae as well as several environmental sequences. In the light of the presented phylogenetic analyses morphological and ecological aspects, the feeding strategy and nutritional specialization within the vampyrellid amoebae are discussed

The anterolateral complex of the knee: results from the International ALC Consensus Group Meeting

The structure and function of the anterolateral complex (ALC) of the knee has created much controversy since the 're-discovery' of the anterolateral ligament (ALL) and its proposed role in aiding control of anterolateral rotatory laxity in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injured knee. A group of surgeons and researchers prominent in the field gathered to produce consensus as to the anatomy and biomechanical properties of the ALC. The evidence for and against utilisation of ALC reconstruction was also discussed, generating a number of consensus statements by following a modified Delphi process. Key points include that the ALC consists of the superficial and deep aspects of the iliotibial tract with its Kaplan fibre attachments on the distal femur, along with the ALL, a capsular structure within the anterolateral capsule. A number of structures attach to the area of the Segond fracture including the capsule-osseous layer of the iliotibial band, the ALL and the anterior arm of the short head of biceps, and hence it is not clear which is responsible for this lesion. The ALC functions to provide anterolateral rotatory stability as a secondary stabiliser to the ACL. Whilst biomechanical studies have shown that these structures play an important role in controlling stability at the time of ACL reconstruction, the optimal surgical procedure has not yet been defined clinically. Concern remains that these procedures may cause constraint of motion, yet no clinical studies have demonstrated an increased risk of osteoarthritis development. Furthermore, clinical evidence is currently lacking to support clear indications for lateral extra-articular procedures as an augmentation to ACL reconstruction. The resulting statements and scientific rationale aim to inform readers on the most current thinking and identify areas of needed basic science and clinical research to help improve patient outcomes following ACL injury and subsequent reconstruction. Level of evidence V

Sewage sludge effects on mesofauna and Cork oak (Quercus suber L.) leaves decomposition in a Mediterranean forest firebreak

International audienceno abstrac

Abdominopelvic ultrasonographic findings after uncomplicated delivery

AbstractPurposeTo prospectively determine the range of abdominopelvic ultrasonographic findings, including Doppler resistance index (RI) of uterine arteries, 2 and 24hours after uncomplicated delivery.MethodWomen who delivered vaginally or after cesarean section without complication from January 2012 to April 2012 in a tertiary care hospital were prospectively included. Abdominopelvic ultrasonography, including uterine artery resistance index (RI) at duplex Doppler ultrasonography, was performed 2hours and 24hours after delivery.ResultsNinety-two women (mean age, 32.7 years) were included. Sixty-one (66%) delivered vaginally and 31 (34%) had cesarean section. Twenty-four hours after vaginal delivery, endometrial and anterior wall thicknesses dropped and uterine width increased (P<0.001). No changes in uterine length and posterior wall thickness were observed between 2 and 24hours after delivery. Transient pelvic free-fluid effusion was observed in 1/92 woman (1%). Uterine artery RI increased significantly from 2 to 24hours (0.50 vs 0.57, respectively; P<0.001).ConclusionPelvic free-fluid effusion is exceedingly rare in the early course of uncomplicated delivery. A significant increase in uterine artery RI during the 24hours following uncomplicated delivery is a normal finding. It can be anticipated that familiarity with these findings would result in more confident diagnosis of complications

Assessment of iodohexadecenoic acid as a tracer of fatty acid metabolism by external detection: a study on isolated rat heart.

International audienceLabelled fatty acids have been proposed to explore cardiac metabolism. For the analysis of the external detection curve obtained with 16-iodo 9-hexadecenoic acid (IHA), we developed a mathematical 4-compartment model with compartments 0, 1, 2 and 3 representing vascular IHA, intracellular IHA, esterified forms and iodide, respectively. This model, used here for isolated rat hearts perfused in a recirculating system, is validated by an intracellular analysis, then tested in various metabolic conditions. Thus, the mathematical analysis of the external detection curve gives us numerical data on IHA metabolism, especially the distribution between degradation and storage. Our results confirm the suitability of IHA for assessing myocardial metabolism

The 2007-2011 evolution of tropical methane in the mid-troposphere as seen from space by MetOp-A/IASI

International audienceSince July 2007, monthly averages of midtropospheric methane have been retrieved in the tropics over land and sea, by day and night, from IASI onboard MetOp- A, yielding a complete view of the geographical distribution, seasonality and long-term tendency of methane in the mid-troposphere. Retrieved methane displays a clear seasonal cycle of ~25 ppbv in the northern tropics, with a maximum in November and a minimum in April-May, a more complex cycle of ~15 ppbv in the southern tropics, and a south-to-north latitudinal variation of ~30 ppbv - in good agreement with regular aircraft measurements of the CONTRAIL program. Comparisons with CARIBIC aircraft measurements made at ~11 km yield an averaged difference between collocated IASI estimates and CARIBIC measurements of 7.2 ppbv with a standard deviation of 13.1 ppbv. Comparisons with aircraft measurements made above 6 km during five HIPPO campaigns give an averaged difference between collocated IASI estimates and HIPPO measurements of 5.1 ppbv with a standard deviation of 16.3 ppbv. These comparisons show that IASI captures well the evolution of mid-tropospheric methane. In particular, in 2007 and 2008, IASI shows an increase of mid-tropospheric methane in the tropical region of 9.5±2.8 and 6.3±1.7 ppbv yr-1, respectively - in excellent agreement with the rate of increase measured at the surface after almost a decade of nearzero growth. IASI also indicates a slowing down of this increase in the following years to ~2 ppbv yr-1, with the highest increase in 2010. Assuming that the recent evolution of methane is mostly due to an increase in surface emissions, IASI might indicate a decrease in tropical wetland emissions for the period 2009-2011 compared to 2007-2008, in agreement with decreasing tropical precipitation over this period, together with an increase in biomass burning emissions in 2010 in the southern tropics. © Author(s) 2013