Stochastic estimation for seroprevalence of infections laryngotracheitis virus in broilers in Uruguay

The objective of this study was to estimate the true seroprevalence of seropositive individual broilers against infectious laryngotracheitis virus in Uruguay using a Bayesian inference software based on Markov chain Monte Carlo technique. Seventeen farms were kept under investigation between 2008 and 2009. Each study flock was randomly selected at different farms recruited from the capital city Montevideo, Canelones and Lavalleja Departments. The required total sample size was determined by power analysis, and blood samples collected were analysed using a commercial ELISA for the detection of antibody to the pathogen mentioned above. The overall seroprevalence of the virus was estimated at 31.5% [95% Bayesian credible interval (16.8–49.2%); N = 1790]. Because none of the study broilers had been inoculated against the virus prior to sampling, most of these results could be ascribed to natural exposure by field viruses and/or vaccine viruses from neighbouring layers. It should be considered as further risk assessment for clarifying the suitable vaccines to prevent chicken population in Uruguay from the virus.El objetivo de este estudio fue estimar la real seroprevalencia de pollos parrilleros seropositivos contra el virus de la laringotraqueítis infecciosa en Uruguay, mediante el uso de un “software” de inferencia Bayesiana que aplica la metodología de Monte Carlo basado en Cadenas de Markov (MCMC). En la investigación se incluyeron diecisiete granjas entre los años 2008 y 2009. Cada galpón fue seleccionado al azar en granjas ubicadas en la ciudad capital, Montevideo, y en los Departamentos de Canelones y Lavalleja. El tamaño de muestra necesario fue determinado en base al poder estadístico del análisis, y las muestras de sangre recolectadas fueron analizadas utilizando un ELISA comercial para la detección de anticuerpos contra el patógeno mencionado anteriormente. La seroprevalencia total del virus fue estimada en 31.5% [95% intervalo de credibilidad Bayesiano (16.8–49.2%); N = 1790]. Debido a que ninguno de los individuos bajo estudio habían sido vacunado contra el virus previamente al muestreo, la mayoría de los resultados podrían ser atribuidos a la exposición natural al virus de campo y/o al virus vacunal de aves en galpones vecinos. Esto debería ser tenido en cuenta como un elemento adicional del análisis de riesgo en la adecuada selección de vacunas para prevenir el contagio del virus a la población de pollos en Uruguay

Impact of an endurance training program on exercise-induced cardiac biomarker release

We evaluated the influence of a 14-wk endurance running program on the exercise-induced release of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and NH2-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Fifty-eight untrained participants were randomized to supervised endurance exercise (14 wk, 3–4 days/wk, 120–240 min/wk, 65–85% of maximum heart rate) or a control group. At baseline and after the training program, hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP were assessed before and 5 min, 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h after a 60-min maximal running test. Before training, hs-cTnT was significantly elevated in both groups with acute exercise (P < 0.0001) with no between-group differences. There was considerable heterogeneity in peak hs-cTnT concentration with the upper reference limit exceeded in 71% of the exercise tests. After training, both baseline and postexercise hs-cTnT were significantly higher compared with pretraining and the response of the control group (P = 0.008). Acute exercise led to a small but significant increase in NT-proBNP, but this was not mediated by training (P = 0.121). In summary, a controlled endurance training intervention resulted in higher pre- and postexercise values of hs-cTnT with no changes in NT-proBNP

A Single-Institution Experience with Metallic Ureteral Stents: A Cost-Effective Method of Managing Deficiencies in Ureteral Drainage

IntroductionThe limitations of traditional ureteral stents in patients with deficiencies in ureteral drainage have resulted in frequent stent exchanges. The implementation of metallic stents was introduced to improve the patency rates of patients with chronic upper urinary tract obstruction, obviating the need for frequent stent exchanges. We report our clinical experiences with the use of metallic ureteral stents in the management of poor ureteral drainage.Materials and MethodsFifty patients underwent metallic ureteral stent placement from 2009 to 2012. Stent failure was defined as an unplanned stent exchange, need for nephrostomy tube placement, increasing hydronephrosis with stent in place, or an elevation in serum creatinine. Stent life was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier methodology, as this was a time dependent continuous variable. A cost analysis was similarly conducted.ResultsA total of 97 metallic stents were placed among our cohort of patients: 63 in cases of malignant obstruction, 33 in the setting of cutaneous ureterostomies, and 1 in an ileal conduit urinary diversion. Overall, stent failure occurred in 8.2% of the stents placed. Median stent life was 288.4 days (95% CI: 277.4-321.2 days). The estimated annual cost for traditional polymer stents (exchanged every 90 days) was $9,648-$13,128, while the estimated cost for metallic stents was $4,211-$5,313.ConclusionOur results indicate that metallic ureteral stent placement is a technically feasible procedure with minimal complications and is well tolerated among patients. Metallic stents can be left in situ for longer durations and provide a significant financial benefit when compared to traditional polymer stents

Lateral variability of ichnological content in muddy contourites: Weak bottom currents affecting organisms’ behavior

Although bioturbation is commonly recognized in contourites, only a few studies have analyzed the ichnological content of these deposits in detail. These studies have mainly focused on meso-scale bigradational sequence (a coarsening upward followed by a fining-upward sequence resulting from variations in current velocity). Here we present data from gravitational cores collected along the NW Iberian Margin showing systematic variation in ichnological content across proximal to distal depocenters within a large-scale elongated contourite drift. Data demonstrate that tracemakers’ behavior varies depending on the distance relative to the bottom current core. Trace fossils are already known to be a useful tool for studying of contouritic deposits and are even used as criterion for differentiating associated facies (e.g., turbidites, debrites), though not without controversy. We propose a mechanism by which the distance to the bottom current core exerts tangible influence on specific macro-benthic tracemaker communities in contourite deposits. This parameter itself reflects other bottom current features, such as hydrodynamic energy, grain size, nutrient transport, etc. Ichnological analysis can thus resolve cryptic features of contourite drift depositional settings.The contribution and research by JD was funded through the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 792314 (ICON-SE). The research of FJR-T was funded by project CGL2015-66835-P (Secretaría de Estado de Investigacion, Desarrollo e Innovacion, Spain), Research Group RNM-178 (Junta de Andalucía), and Scientific Excellence Unit UCE-2016- 05 (Universidad de Granada). AM’s research is funded by the I2C program of the Xunta de Galicia Postdoctoral programme (ED481B 2016/029-0). The research was conducted as part of “The Drifters Research Group” (RHUL) and “Ichnology and Palaeoenvironment Research Group” (UGR) programs

Allelic Variation, Alternative Splicing and Expression Analysis of Psy1 Gene in Hordeum chilense Roem. et Schult

Background: The wild barley Hordeum chilense Roem. et Schult. is a valuable source of genes for increasing carotenoid content in wheat. Tritordeums, the amphiploids derived from durum or common wheat and H. chilense, systematically show higher values of yellow pigment colour and carotenoid content than durum wheat. Phytoene synthase 1 gene (Psy1) is considered a key step limiting the carotenoid biosynthesis, and the correlation of Psy1 transcripts accumulation and endosperm carotenoid content has been demonstrated in the main grass species. Methodology/Principal findings: We analyze the variability of Psy1 alleles in three lines of H. chilense (H1, H7 and H16) representing the three ecotypes described in this species. Moreover, we analyze Psy1 expression in leaves and in two seed developing stages of H1 and H7, showing mRNA accumulation patterns similar to those of wheat. Finally, we identify thirtysix different transcripts forms originated by alternative splicing of the 59 UTR and/or exons 1 to 5 of Psy1 gene. Transcripts function is tested in a heterologous complementation assay, revealing that from the sixteen different predicted proteins only four types (those of 432, 370, 364 and 271 amino acids), are functional in the bacterial system. Conclusions/Significance: The large number of transcripts originated by alternative splicing of Psy1, and the coexistence of functional and non functional forms, suggest a fine regulation of PSY activity in H. chilense. This work is the first analysis of H. chilense Psy1 gene and the results reported here are the bases for its potential use in carotenoid enhancement in duru

Three-Dimensional Analysis of Spiny Dendrites Using Straightening and Unrolling Transforms

Current understanding of the synaptic organization of the brain depends to a large extent on knowledge about the synaptic inputs to the neurons. Indeed, the dendritic surfaces of pyramidal cells (the most common neuron in the cerebral cortex) are covered by thin protrusions named dendritic spines. These represent the targets of most excitatory synapses in the cerebral cortex and therefore, dendritic spines prove critical in learning, memory and cognition. This paper presents a new method that facilitates the analysis of the 3D structure of spine insertions in dendrites, providing insight on spine distribution patterns. This method is based both on the implementation of straightening and unrolling transformations to move the analysis process to a planar, unfolded arrangement, and on the design of DISPINE, an interactive environment that supports the visual analysis of 3D patterns

Weighted Banach spaces of harmonic functions

“The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13398-012-0109-z."We study Banach spaces of harmonic functions on open sets of or endowed with weighted supremum norms. We investigate the harmonic associated weight defined naturally as the analogue of the holomorphic associated weight introduced by Bierstedt, Bonet, and Taskinen and we compare them. We study composition operators with holomorphic symbol between weighted Banach spaces of pluriharmonic functions characterizing the continuity, the compactness and the essential norm of composition operators among these spaces in terms of associated weights.The research of the first author was partially supported by MEC and FEDER Project MTM2010-15200 and by GV project ACOMP/2012/090.Jorda Mora, E.; Zarco García, AM. (2014). Weighted Banach spaces of harmonic functions. Revista de la Real Academia de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales. Serie A. Matematicas. 108(2):405-418. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13398-012-0109-zS4054181082Axler, S., Bourdon, P., Ramey, W.: Harmonic Function Theory, 2nd edn. Springer, Berlin (2001)Bierstedt, K.D., Bonet, J., Galbis, A.: Weighted spaces of holomorphic functions on balanced domains. Mich. Math. J. 40(2), 271–297 (1993)Bierstedt, K.D., Bonet, J., Taskinen, J.: Associated weights and spaces of holomorphic functions. Stud. Math. 127(2), 137–168 (1998)Bierstedt, K.D., Summers, W.H.: Biduals of weighted Banach spaces of analytic functions. J. Aust. Math. Soc. Ser. A 54(1), 70–79 (1993)Bonet, J., Domański, P., Lindström, M.: Essential norm and weak compactness of composition operators on weighted Banach spaces of analytic functions. Can. Math. Bull. 42(2), 139–148 (1999)Bonet, J., Domański, P., Lindström, M.: Weakly compact composition operators on weighted vector-valued Banach spaces of analytic mappings. Ann. Acad. Sci. Fenn. Math. Ser. A I 26, 233–248 (2001)Bonet, J., Domański, P., Lindström, M., Taskinen, J.: Composition operators between weighted Banach spaces of analytic functions. J. Aust. Math. Soc. Ser. A 64, 101–118 (1998)Bonet, J., Friz, M., Jordá, E.: Composition operators between weighted inductive limits of spaces of holomorphic functions. Publ. Math. Debr. Ser. A 67, 333–348 (2005)Boyd, C., Rueda, P.: The v-boundary of weighted spaces of holomorphic functions. Ann. Acad. Sci. Fenn. Math. 30, 337–352 (2005)Boyd, C., Rueda, P.: Complete weights and v-peak points of spaces of weighted holomorphic functions. Isr. J. Math. 155, 57–80 (2006)Boyd, C., Rueda, P.: Isometries of weighted spaces of harmonic functions. Potential Anal. 29(1), 37–48 (2008)Carando, D., Sevilla-Peris, P.: Spectra of weighted algebras of holomorphic functions. Math. Z. 263, 887–902 (2009)Contreras, M.D., Hernández-Díaz, G.: Weighted composition operators in weighted Banach spaces of analytic functions. J. Aust. Math. Soc. Ser. A 69(1), 41–60 (2000)García, D., Maestre, M., Rueda, P.: Weighted spaces of holomorphic functions on Banach spaces. Stud. Math. 138(1), 1–24 (2000)García, D., Maestre, M., Sevilla-Peris, P.: Composition operators between weighted spaces of holomorphic functions on Banach spaces. Ann. Acad. Sci. Fenn. Math. 29, 81–98 (2004)Gunning, R., Rossi, H.: Analytic Functions of Several Complex Variables. AMS Chelsea Publishing, Providence (2009)Hoffman, K.: Banach Spaces of Analytic Functions. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs (1962)Krantz, S.G.: Function Theory of Several Complex Variables. AMS, Providence (2001)Lusky, W.: On weighted spaces of harmonic and holomorphic functions. J. Lond. Math. Soc. 51, 309–320 (1995)Lusky, W.: On the isomorphism classes of weighted spaces of harmonic and holomorphic functions. Stud. Math. 175(1), 19–45 (2006)Meise, R., Vogt, D.: Introduction to Functional Analysis. Oxford University Press, Oxford (1997)Montes-Rodríguez, A.: Weight composition operators on weighted Banach spaces of analytic functions. J. Lond. Math. Soc. 61(2), 872–884 (2000)Ng, K.F.: On a theorem of Diximier. Math. Scand. 29, 279–280 (1972)Rudin, W.: Real and Complex Analysis. MacGraw-Hill, NY (1970)Rudin, W.: Functional analysis. In: International series in pure and applied mathematics, 2nd edn. McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York (1991)Shields, A.L., Williams, D.L.: Bounded projections, duality and multipliers in spaces of harmonic functions. J. Reine Angew. Math. 299(300), 256–279 (1978)Shields, A.L., Williams, D.L.: Bounded projections and the growth of harmonic conjugates in the unit disc. Mich. Math. J. 29, 3–25 (1982)Zheng, L.: The essential norms and spectra of composition operators on $$H^\infty$$ . Pac. J. Math. 203(2), 503–510 (2002

The implementation evaluation of primary care groups of practice: a focus on organizational identity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Since 2002 the Health Ministry of Québec (Canada) has been implementing a primary care organizational innovation called 'family medicine groups'. This is occurring in a political context in which the reorganization of primary care is considered necessary to improve health care system performance. More specifically, the purpose of this reform has been to overcome systemic deficiencies in terms of accessibility and continuity of care. This paper examines the first years of implementation of the family medicine group program, with a focus on the emergence of the organizational identity of one of the pilot groups located in the urban area of Montreal.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An in-depth longitudinal case study was conducted over two and a half years. Face to face individual interviews with key informants from the family medicine group under study were conducted over the research period considered. Data was gathered throuhg observations and documentary analysis. The data was analyzed using temporal bracketing and Fairclough's three-dimensional critical discourse analytical techniques.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Three different phases were identified over the period under study. During the first phase, which corresponded to the official start-up of the family medicine group program, new resources and staff were only available at the end of the period, and no changes occurred in medical practices. Power struggles between physicians and nurses characterized the second phase, resulting in a very difficult integration of advanced nurse practitioners into the group. Indeed, the last phase was portrayed by initial collaborative practices associated with a sensegiving process prompted by a new family medicine group director.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The creation of a primary care team is a very challenging process that goes beyond the normative policy definitions of who is on the team or what the team has to do. To fulfil expectations of quality improvement through team-based care, health care professionals who are required to work together need shared time/space contexts to communicate; to overcome interprofessional and interpersonal conflicts; and to make sense of and define who they collectively are and what they do as a clinical team.</p

Relationships between egg-recognition and egg-ejection in a grasp-ejector species

Brood parasitism frequently leads to a total loss of host fitness, which selects for the evolution of defensive traits in host species. Experimental studies have demonstrated that recognition and rejection of the parasite egg is the most common and efficient defence used by host species. Egg-recognition experiments have advanced our knowledge of the evolutionary and coevolutionary implications of egg recognition and rejection. However, our understanding of the proximate mechanisms underlying both processes remains poor. Egg rejection is a complex behavioural process consisting of three stages: egg recognition, the decision whether or not to reject the putative parasitic egg and the act of ejection itself. We have used the blackbird (Turdus merula) as a model species to explore the relationship between egg recognition and the act of egg ejection. We have manipulated the two main characteristics of parasitic eggs affecting egg ejection in this grasp-ejector species: the degree of colour mimicry (mimetic and non-mimetic, which mainly affects the egg-recognition stage of the egg-rejection process) and egg size (small, medium and large, which affects the decision to eject), while maintaining a control group of non-parasitized nests. The behaviour of the female when confronted with an experimental egg was filmed using a video camera. Our results show that egg touching is an indication of egg recognition and demonstrate that blackbirds recognized (i.e., touched) non-mimetic experimental eggs significantly more than mimetic eggs. However, twenty per cent of the experimental eggs were touched but not subsequently ejected, which confirms that egg recognition does not necessarily mean egg ejection and that accepting parasitic eggs, at least sometimes, is the consequence of acceptance decisions. Regarding proximate mechanisms, our results show that the delay in egg ejection is not only due to recognition problems as usually suggested, given that experimental eggs are not touched significantly more often. Thus, the delay in egg ejection is mainly the consequence of a delay in the decision to eject, probably triggered by mechanical constraints imposed by eggs that are harder to eject (i.e. larger). Our results offer important information on the relationships between recognition and ejection and contribute to a better understanding of host defences against brood parasites.Financial support was provided by the Junta de Andalucía (research project CVI-6653). JDI is funded by a postdoctoral contract (TAHUB-104) from the “Andalucía Talent Hub” program (co-funded by the European's Union Seventh Framework Program Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (COFUND) and the regional Government of Andalucía)