“In vitro” Hedeoma multiflorum Benth propagation in response to different nutritional conditions

An efficient protocol for in vitro propagation of Hedeoma multiflorum Benth (“Tomillo de las Sierras”) was established. To determine the effect of different medium and plant growth regulators on the growth rates and essential oil production, nodal segments from in vitro 90-days old plantlets were incubated on the following media: 1) SH (Schenk and Hildebrandt); 2) WP (Lloyd and McCown); 3) B5 (Gamborg). All the media studied were supplemented with different combinations and consentrations of growth regulators: naphtaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 6-benzyl adenine (BA). The optimal shoot length and number of nodes of the plantlets, showing no statistical difference, were obtained in WP with the addition of 2.69:0.5 μM, 0.5:0.5 and 2.69:0.05 μM of NAA:BA and in absence of these growth regulators (control). The best multiple shoot medium with no statistical difference, corresponded to SH with the addition of 0.5:2.25 μM and B5 with 0.05:2.25, 0.5:2.25 and 2.69:2.25 μM of NAA:BA. The major essential oil determined by GC/MS, were common in all the plantlets grown in all the media being pulegone (62-64%) , menthone (25-28 %) and isomenthone (2-2,3%).Fil: Diaz S.. Provincia de Córdoba. Ministerio de Ciencia y Técnica. Centro de Excelencia en Productos y Procesos de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Figueroa A. C.. Provincia de Córdoba. Ministerio de Ciencia y Técnica. Centro de Excelencia en Productos y Procesos de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Palacio, Lorena. Provincia de Córdoba. Ministerio de Ciencia y Técnica. Centro de Excelencia en Productos y Procesos de Córdoba; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Goleniowski, Marta Ester. Provincia de Córdoba. Ministerio de Ciencia y Técnica. Centro de Excelencia en Productos y Procesos de Córdoba; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentin

In vitro propagation and stoloniferous stem formation of Thelesperma megapotamicum

An efficient “in vitro” propagation protocol for Thelesperma megapotamicum (Spreng.) Kuntnze was established. Nodal segments were cultured in vitro with different combination and concentration of growth regulators. Microshoots (60-days) cultured in Murashige and Skoog (MS) with the addition of 4 mg/l 6-benzyl adenine (BA) were used as explants and incubated on a half salt concentrations MS/2 medium supplemented with different combination of indol butyric acid (IBA) and sucrose for 120 days. Explants cultured on a half of Murashige and Skoog salts (MS/2) with the addition of 1,0 mg/L-40 g/L and 1,5mg/L - 30g/L of IBA and sucrose gave shoot number and principal stem length as the control medium with higher stoloniferous stem percentage or development of shoots in stoloniferous stem respectively.Fil: Figueroa, A. C.. Provincia de Córdoba. Ministerio de Ciencia y Técnica. Centro de Excelencia en Productos y Procesos de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Diaz, S.. Provincia de Córdoba. Ministerio de Ciencia y Técnica. Centro de Excelencia en Productos y Procesos de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Palacio, Lorena. Provincia de Córdoba. Ministerio de Ciencia y Técnica. Centro de Excelencia en Productos y Procesos de Córdoba; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Goleniowski, Marta Ester. Provincia de Córdoba. Ministerio de Ciencia y Técnica. Centro de Excelencia en Productos y Procesos de Córdoba; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentin

Plant-hummingbird interactions and temporal nectar availability in a <i>arestinga </i>from Brazil

ABSTRACT Hummingbirds are the most important and specialized group of pollinating birds in the Neotropics and their interactions with plants are key components to many communities. In the present study we identified the assemblage of plants visited by hummingbirds and investigated the temporal availability of floral resources in an area of restinga, sandy plain coastal vegetation associated with the Atlantic forest, in Southeastern Brazil. We recorded flower and nectar features, flowering phenology and interactions between plants and hummingbirds and estimated the amount of calories produced per hectare from June 2005 to August 2006. Ten plant species were visited by two hummingbirds,Amazilia fimbriata and Eupetomena macroura. Resource availability was highly variable among plant species and over time. Nectar volume and concentration per flower were similar to other Neotropical hummingbird-visited plant assemblages. The estimated nectar resource availability between months varied from 0.85 to 5.97 Kcal per hectare/day, demanding an area between one and 6.8 ha to support a single hummingbird. Our study reports an unusual tropical setting where almost all interactions between hummingbirds and plants were performed by a single hummingbird species,A. fimbriata. Hence, the variable nectar availability is probably influencing hummingbird movements, its foraging area, and consequently plant pollination

Preparing arbitrary pure states of spatial qudits with a single phase-only spatial light modulator

We present a new method for preparing multidimensional spatial qudits by means of a single phase-only spatial light modulator (SLM). This method improves previous ones that use two SLMs, one working in amplitude regime and the other in phase regime. To that end, we addressed diffraction gratings on the slits that define the state and then we performed a spatial filtering in the Fourier plane. The amplitude of the coefficients of the quantum state are determined by the modulation deep of the diffraction gratings, and the relative phase is the mean phase value of the diffraction gratings. This encoding result to be more compact, less expensive and use the photons more efficiently.Instituto de Física La Plat

Body growth and phenotypic variation of the carcasses of native duck lineages (Cairina moschata)

Natives ducks are birds that require little handling and are resistant to many diseases that affect chickens. Thus, they adapt to low-input farming conditions, which contributes to the food security of small farmers. Although they exhibit potential for growth, their production characteristics are relatively unknown, so they are underexploited. The objective of this study was to compare how nonlinear models fit the growth curve of two genetic groups of duck and to evaluate variation based on carcass characteristics. Two hundred and twenty four animals were weighed weekly, from birth to 90 days of age. We used nonlinear models (Brody, Richards, Gompertz, Von Bertalanff and Logistic) to describe growth curve. For the evaluation of phenotypic variation, we measured seven carcass traits from 81 ducks carried out by principal component analysis. The logistic model best fit the growth curve, and the absolute growth rates (AGR) for the Catolé duck showed that females reached their maximum AGR at approximately 30 days but did not reach their ideal commercial weight. The drumstick, thigh and liver yields accounted for 41.17% of the differences between the Catolé and Paysandu ducks. The slaughter of male Catolé ducks is recommended between 70 and 90 days because a drastic decrease in growth occurs after this time. For the slaughter of females, feeding management modifications and improvement in growth indices are recommended to increase the final weight and AGR. The carcass yields indicate potential for native duck meat production

Preparing arbitrary pure states of spatial qudits with a single phase-only spatial light modulator

We present a new method for preparing multidimensional spatial qudits by means of a single phase-only spatial light modulator (SLM). This method improves previous ones that use two SLMs, one working in amplitude regime and the other in phase regime. To that end, we addressed diffraction gratings on the slits that define the state and then we performed a spatial filtering in the Fourier plane. The amplitude of the coefficients of the quantum state are determined by the modulation deep of the diffraction gratings, and the relative phase is the mean phase value of the diffraction gratings. This encoding result to be more compact, less expensive and use the photons more efficiently.Instituto de Física La Plat

Emergency Department as an epidemiological observatory of Human Mobility: the experience of the Moroccan population

We conducted a retrospective study of the accesses to the Emergency Department registered from January 2000 to December 2014 in 5 major hospitals in the Metropolitan Area of Rome. We extrapolated data relating to patients of Moroccan origin from about 5 million total accesses, so we compared with Italians data which, in the same period, came to ED. The Moroccan population is distinguished by a larger number of diagnoses belonging to the ICD-9 code of Infectious Diseases and, more precisely, to Respiratory Infectious Diseases. There are also no differences in the assignment of such diagnoses to Moroccans with Italian citizenship, and this led to think that this could play an important role in the use of the ED and moreover that enrollment to the National Health Service may reduce its inappropriate use. Regarding to Degenerative Disorders, the result of our analysis is quite emblematic, showing that the accesses to the ED is due to Cardiovascular Diseases: 6.33% of Italians' accesses against 1.81% of Moroccans and 2.36% of Moroccans with Italian citizenship. The main explanation for this difference is, obviously, due to the age of the population: about 60% of Moroccans who accessed to ED was less than 40 years old. It is interesting how, in the field of ​​Cardiovascular Diseases, Moroccans have a lower percentage of diagnosis compared to Italians for acute diseases and a greater percentage of diagnoses for chronic diseases, suggesting once again that accesses to ED for migrants often is due to the inability to use the general services of the National Health Service. In conclusion, from the point of view of the Emergency Department, Migration Medicine still has Infectious Diseases as the main reason for access. Degenerative Disorders remain a prerogative of the Italians, but we could certainly assume that the Moroccan population would develop at some point with the aging

Evaluation of Kentucky\u27s Graduated Driver Licensing System

Kentucky\u27s current GDL program, which applies to drivers up to age 18, was enacted in 1996. The program includes a six-month instruction permit for drivers under age 18 (minimum age 16), a restriction on driving between midnight and 6am and a requirement for adult-supervised driving for permit drivers. In addition, there is a six-point limit on traffic violations with a penalty of license suspension for drivers under age 18, a requirement for a four-hour driving safety education class (or driver education course) and a 0.02 ml/dl limit on blood alcohol concentration (continues up to age 21 ). Objectives: The objectives of this program evaluation were: (a) to examine teen driver motor vehicle crashes, crash-related injuries, and crash-related costs before and after the implementation of the GDL program; (b) to examine the implementation of the program at the local level ; and (c) to recommend actions to enhance the program\u27s effectiveness in addressing the teen crash problem. Methods: Crash and licensing data before ( 1993-1995) and after GDL ( 1997-2000) were analyzed. Data on miles driven were obtained from driving logs of over I ,000 high school students. Estimation of the cost of crashes was derived from analysis of crash data using the Crash Cost computer software program. Information on local implementation of GDL was obtained through interviews and through a questionnaire survey of 700 law enforcement officers and over 40 district judges. Results: Results indicate a 31 percent reduction in crashes for 16 year-old drivers after the GDL program, and a similar reduction in fatal crashes (31 percent) and injury crashes (33 percent), crashes between midnight and 6am (36 percent), and alcohol-related crashes (32 percent). Cost analysis indicates an estimated reduction of $36 million per year in 16 year-old teen driver crash-related expenses. Results indicate that this is due to the 83% reduction in the number of 16 to 16 1/2 year-old drivers involved in crashes. However, the number of crashes has not been reduced for drivers over age 16 1/2, i.e. drivers who may be past the permit level. In addition, the six-point limit on traffic violations and the non-cumulative penalties on 0.02 blood alcohol limit violations have not reduced the number of traffic violations or alcohol-related crashes for teen drivers over age 16 1/2. Recommendations: The six-month permit level has been successful in substantially reducing crash-related injuries and fatalities and should be retained. Additional measures, such as upgrading to an expanded GDL program, are needed to reduce crash-related injuries and fatalities for 16 1/2 to 18 year-old drivers. Specific recommendation are made to increase parental awareness and enforcement of program provisions

Effectiveness of an educational video as an instrument to refresh and reinforce the learning of a nursing technique: a randomized controlled trial

The Undergraduate Nursing Course has been using videos for the past year or so. Videos are used for many different purposes such as during lessons, nurse refresher courses, reinforcement, and sharing and comparison of knowledge with the professional and scientific community. The purpose of this study was to estimate the efficacy of the video (moving an uncooperative patient from the supine to the lateral position) as an instrument to refresh and reinforce nursing techniques. A two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) design was chosen: both groups attended lessons in the classroom as well as in the laboratory; a month later while one group received written information as a refresher, the other group watched the video. Both groups were evaluated in a blinded fashion. A total of 223 students agreed to take part in the study. The difference observed between those who had seen the video and those who had read up on the technique turned out to be an average of 6.19 points in favour of the first (P < 0.05). The results of the RCT demonstrated that students who had seen the video were better able to apply the technique, resulting in a better performance. The video, therefore, represents an important tool to refresh and reinforce previous learning

Exosomes from Plasmodium yoelii-Infected Reticulocytes Protect Mice from Lethal Infections

Exosomes are 30–100-nm membrane vesicles of endocytic origin that are released after the fusion of multivesicular bodies (MVBs) with the plasma membrane. While initial studies suggested that the role of exosomes was limited to the removal of proteins during the maturation of reticulocytes to erythrocytes, recent studies indicate that they are produced by different types of cells and are involved in promoting inter-cellular communication and antigen presentation. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of exosomes from peripheral blood of BALB/c mice infected with the reticulocyte-prone non-lethal Plasmodium yoelii 17X strain. Importantly, proteomic analysis revealed the presence of parasite proteins in these vesicles. Moreover, immunization of mice with purified exosomes elicited IgG antibodies capable of recognizing P. yoelii-infected red blood cells. Furthermore, lethal challenge of immunized mice with the normocyte-prone lethal P. yoelii 17XL strain caused a significant attenuation in the course of parasitaemia, increased survival time, and altered the cell tropism to reticulocytes. These results were obtained also when the exosomes were isolated from a P. yoelii-infected reticulocyte culture indicating that reticulocyte-derived exosomes carry antigens and are involved in immune modulation. Moreover, inclusion of CpG ODN 1826 in exosome immunizations elicited IgG2a and IgG2b antibodies and promoted survival, clearance of parasites and subsequent sterile protection of 83% of the animals challenged with P. yoelli 17XL. To our knowledge, this is the first report of immune responses elicited by exosomes derived from reticulocytes opening new avenues for the modulation of anti-malaria responses