The occurrence of Natsushima bifurcata (Polychaeta : Nautiliniellidae) in Acharax hosts from mud volcanoes in the Gulf of Cadiz (south Iberian and north Moroccan Margins)

Fifteen specimens of nautiliniellid polychaetes were found in the mantle cavity of bivalves of the genus Acharax (Solemyidae) collected in several mud volcanoes from the Gulf of Cadiz. They were identified as Natsushima bifurcata Miura and Laubier (1990), a species previously known only from Sagami Bay (Japan). The morphological comparison of these specimens with the holotype suggests that they belong to the same morphological species, although further studies should consider whether they could be genetically different. The ecology of the species is discussed in relation to the available information on the family. The occurrence of Natsushima bifurcata in the Gulf of Cadiz is the first record of the species in the North Atlantic.EC FP6 - GOCE-CT-2005-511234 HERMESTraining Through Research Programme, IOC-UNESC

A Comparison of Deep Inelastic Scattering Monte Carlo Event Generators to HERA Data

The Monte Carlo models ARIADNE, HERWIG and LEPTO are compared to deep-inelastic scattering data measured at the ep-collider HERA

Adenocarcinoma do pâncreas localmente avançado e metastizado com resposta completa a quimioterapia

Os autores apresentam o caso clínico de doente do sexo feminino, 54 anos, raça branca, que recorreu ao médico assistente por dor abdominal associada a manifestações constitucionais. A ecografia revelou massa pancreática e formações nodulares hepáticas compatíveis com lesões secundárias, resultado posteriormente corroborado por tomografia computorizada, que acrescentou critérios de irressecabilidade, nomeadamente invasão dos vasos mesen- téricos e do duodeno. A biopsia ecoguiada obteve material cujo estudo anatomopatológico revelou tratar-se de adeno- carcinoma do pâncreas. Iniciou quimioterapia, verifican- do-se melhoria clínica progressiva. A reavaliação imagio- lógica, após 7 ciclos de tratamento, não detectou a lesão primitiva nem as lesões secundárias, sugerindo resposta completa. Foi mantido esquema regular de quimioterapia, persistindo a remissão 8 meses após a documentação da resposta completa

Are organic falls bridging reduced environments in the deep sea?: Results from colonization experiments in the Gulf of Cadiz

Organic falls create localised patches of organic enrichment and disturbance where enhanced degradation is mediated by diversified microbial assemblages and specialized fauna. The view of organic falls as “stepping stones” for the colonization of deep-sea reducing environments has been often loosely used, but much remains to be proven concerning their capability to bridge dispersal among such environments. Aiming the clarification of this issue, we used an experimental approach to answer the following questions: Are relatively small organic falls in the deep sea capable of sustaining taxonomically and trophically diverse assemblages over demographically relevant temporal scales Are there important depth- or site-related sources of variability for the composition and structure of these assemblages? Is the proximity of other reducing environments influential for their colonization? We analysed the taxonomical and trophic diversity patterns and partitioning (α- and β-diversity) of the macrofaunal assemblages recruited in small colonization devices with organic and inorganic substrata after 1-2 years of deployment on mud volcanoes of the Gulf of Cádiz. Our results show that small organic falls can sustain highly diverse and trophically coherent assemblages for time periods allowing growth to reproductive maturity, and successive generations of dominant species. The composition and structure of the assemblages showed variability consistent with their biogeographic and bathymetric contexts. However, the proximity of cold seeps had limited influence on the similarity between the assemblages of these two habitats and organic falls sustained a distinctive fauna with dominant substrate-specific taxa. We conclude that it is unlikely that small organic falls may regularly ensure population connectivity among cold seeps and vents. They may be a recurrent source of evolutionary candidates for the colonization of such ecosystems. However, there may be a critical size of organic fall to create the necessary intense and persistent reducing conditions for sustaining typical chemosymbiotic vent and seep organisms

Multiple gestation epidemiology--15 years survey

Between January of 1987 and December of 2001 were born 1243 twins related to 609 multiple pregnancies, in Maternidade Bissaya-Barreto. Data were grouped in periods of three years and several parameters were studied. The rate of multiple gestation has increased probably due to the contribution of the assisted conception techniques, and to the increase of the number of multiple fetal pregnancies (two or more) and to the increase of the mother age. These more frequent obstetric problems were preterm birth, gestational hypertension and abnormal sonographic data of fetal growth. The average age of delivery was 34 weeks and the birth weight has decreased. The most important factors for neonatal morbidity were hyaline membranous disease, intraventricular haemorrhage and the twin-twin transfusion syndrome. The neonatal mortality decreased in the last studied period

Hypercalcemic crisis associated with primary hyperparathyroidism during pregnancy

Primary hyperparathyroidism is a rare occurrence in pregnancy with significant risks to the mother and the foetus, witch is related to the level of serum calcium. A 41-year-old women, gravida 2, para 1, presented at 22 weeks gestation with nausea, vomiting and mild cognitive dysfunction associated with hypercalcemic crisis. The hypercalcemia was observed to be related to parathyroid hyperplasia that was surgically removed. Complete resolution of her symptomatology and hypercalcemia occurred postoperatively. The pregnancy was complicated with transient hypertension. A small for gestational age healthy male infant was delivered at term with no neonatal complications related with this pathology

Study of the vertical transport in p-doped superlattices based on group III-V semiconductors

The electrical conductivity σ has been calculated for p-doped GaAs/Al0.3Ga0.7As and cubic GaN/Al0.3Ga0.7N thin superlattices (SLs). The calculations are done within a self-consistent approach to the k→⋅p→ theory by means of a full six-band Luttinger-Kohn Hamiltonian, together with the Poisson equation in a plane wave representation, including exchange correlation effects within the local density approximation. It was also assumed that transport in the SL occurs through extended minibands states for each carrier, and the conductivity is calculated at zero temperature and in low-field ohmic limits by the quasi-chemical Boltzmann kinetic equation. It was shown that the particular minibands structure of the p-doped SLs leads to a plateau-like behavior in the conductivity as a function of the donor concentration and/or the Fermi level energy. In addition, it is shown that the Coulomb and exchange-correlation effects play an important role in these systems, since they determine the bending potential

Effects of a 10 km race on physiological and immunological responses

Introduction: The number of 10 km running races has been increasing in Brazil and the number of finishers almost triplicated in the last decade. However, there is limited amount of data showing the relationship between this event and the immune system response. Aim: Investigate the effects of a 10 km running race on physiological and immunological response in healthy well trained male volunteers. Methods: Fourteen male participants (32,21 ± 10,24 years old, 78,80 ± 9,30 kg) took part in this study. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), visual analog scale (VAS), heart rate (HR) and blood samples were taken before, immediately and 24 hours after the race. Lactate, glucose, creatine kinase (CK) and C-reactive protein (CRP), as well as leukocyte number and subpopulation of T cell (CD4+ and CD8+) were analyzed. Results: Participants completed this race in 49,85 ± 7,04 min. There was a significant increase post-race compared to pre-race for HR (67 ± 9 to 159 ± 21 bpm), RPE (6 ± 0 to 15 ± 2) and lactate (3.6 to 6.6 mmol/dL). Glucose levels did not present any significant changes. CK level did not change immediately after the race, but was higher (131,21 ± 62,50 to 286,85 ± 234,35 U/L ) at the 24 h post-race time point. CRP was lower at 24 h (8,37 ± 2,23 to 4,50 ± 2,28 mg/dL). VAS values changed from 0 (before) to 5,64 ± 2,20 (immediately after) to 2,21 ± 2,86 (24 hours). The number of circulating leukocyte (5,83 ± 0,89 to 9,15 ± 1,77 103/µL), neutrophil (2,96 ± 0,49 to 4,34 ± 0,73 103/µL), lymphocyte (2,21 ± 0,57 to 3,92 ± 1,27 103/µL), monocyte (0,46 ± 0,10 to 0,64 ± 0,23 103/µL) and basophil (0,05 ± 0,02 to 0,09 ± 0,03 103/µL) increased significantly immediately after the race, returning to the basal level in 24 h. There was no difference in circulating eosinophils number. The absolute number of CD4+ (828,5 ± 215,8 to 1063,2 ± 235,3 cell/µL) and CD8+ (766,92 ± 347,79 to 1470,30 ± 782,90 cell/µL) also increased immediately after the race returning to basal in 24 h. Significant reduction of the CD4+/CD8+ lymphocyte subpopulation ratio (1,21 ± 0,45 to 0,85 ± 0,33 cell/µL) was observed post-race returning to basal level at 24 h post-race. Results are presented as mean ± SD. (p\u3c0,0001). Conclusion: These results suggest that a 10 km running race is an intense physical activity and induces physiological changes. In addition, intense running provokes a significantly, although transient, modulation of the immune system, specifically of leukocyte sub-population

Strategies to mitigate the emission of methane in pastures: Enteric methane: A review

The global population reached 7.9 billion in 2021, which represents a 160% increase in the number of people to be fed since 1960. Agricultural systems must sustainably meet food demand for this growing population while minimizing or mitigating potential environmental impacts, which are of growing concern to both consumers and the scientific community. High protein animal products (meat and milk) play a crucial part in human nutrition and pastures represent ~20% of the planet’s surface. Pastoral areas have a great influence on both ecological balance and human subsistence. Ruminant livestock production systems are hotly debated because of the emission of methane, which is produced during enteric fermentation of ingested food within the rumen. Methanogenesis is a naturally occurring process in the digestive system of ruminant animals and ingesting a high-quality diet has been shown to reduce methane production. An additional function of pastoral grasslands is the capacity of the soils to operate as carbon sinks. Well managed pastures absorb carbon from the atmosphere where it can add to soil organic matter directly, through residue decomposition or excrement returns. However, in Brazil and globally, the efficiency of animal productivity tends to be lower in extensively grazed farming systems. Changes to pasture and grazing management in combination with the adoption of technology is necessary to improve the quality of pastures, increase animal productivity, and consequently reduce methane emissions from ruminant livestock. This review will discuss how to improve the conversion efficiency using pasture management to reduce or mitigate enteric methane production

Addressing drinking water salinity due to sea water intrusion in Praia de Leste, Parana, by a brackish water desalination pilot plant

Seawater intrusion into the Pombas River, source of freshwater to Praia de Leste on the coast of Parana in Brazil presents a problem to the water utility as most water treatment plants in Brazil are conventional. To find a solution to this problem, a pilot plant (1 m3 /h) consisting of ultrafiltration (UF) followed by reverse osmosis (RO) was developed and evaluated. For testing, brackish water was produced with a concentration of 1,500 ± 100 mg/L of total dissolved solids (TDS), mixing seawater and fresh water. To evaluate the water quality, TDS, electrical conductivity, pH, temperature, apparent color, turbidity, alkalinity, total hardness, calcium, chloride and sulfate were monitored. For operational performance, flowrates, osmotic pressure, filtration rate, recovery rate and mass balance were analyzed. On average, the UF system removed 96.4% of turbidity and 98.6% of apparent color; whereas the RO system removed 99.4% of TDS. The overall average recovery (UF and RO) was 45.81% with average osmotic pressure of 8.21 bar, filtration rate of 30.7 L/h/m2 in the UF system and 21.7 L/h/m2 in the RO system. From a water quality point of view, the system was effective in processing brackish into fresh water of high quality