Gastropod community structure on seagrass beds in Bahoi Village, North Minahasa

The village of Bahoi has a vast expanse of seagrass meadows of approximately 16.50 Ha, located between mangrove and coral reef ecosystems. This study aims to inventory the gastropod species in the seagrass meadow of Bahoi village waters and to determine the gastropod community structure through analysis of species density, relative density, species diversity index, and dominance index. The method used was a transect line method along 50 meters and a 1x1m quadrat pulled towards the sea, repeated three times during low tide. A total of 117 individuals were found, belonging to 26 species (11 families and 17 genera) of gastropods in the seagrass meadow of Bahoi village coastal waters. Based on the results, the highest density value was 1.10 ind/m2 with a relative density of 28.20%. Based on the analysis, the dominance index (D) of gastropods in the seagrass meadow of Bahoi village coastal waters was low, with values of D = 0.019 to 0.041, indicating that there was no specific species dominance in the seagrass meadow of Bahoi village coastal waters. This has an effect on the diversity index with a value of H' = 2.51, which is categorized as moderate. These results show that the diversity of gastropod species in the seagrass meadow of Bahoi village waters is quite diverse due to the absence of specific gastropod species dominance. Keywords: Bahoi, Seagrass Meadow, Gastropods, Community Structure. Abstrak   Desa Bahoi memiliki luas hamparan padang lamun ± 16.50 Ha yang berada di antara ekosistem mangrove dan ekosistem terumbu karang. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melakukan inventarisasi jenis-jenis gastropoda di hamparan lamun perairan Desa Bahoi, dan mengetahui struktur komunitas gastropoda melalui analisis kepadatan spesies, kepadatan relatif, indeks keanekaragaman spesies, dan indeks dominasi. Metode yang digunakan adalah metode transek garis sepanjang 50 meter dan kuadrat berukuran 1×1m yang ditarik ke arah laut, dan dilakukan ulangan sebanyak 3 kali pada saat air surut.Ditemukan 117 individu yang termasuk ke dalam 26 spesies (11 famili dan 17 genera) gastropoda di hamparan padang lamun perairan pantai desa Bahoi. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian, nilai kepadatan tertinggi sebesar 1,10 ind/m2 dengan kepadatan relatif 28,20%. Berdasarkan hasil analisis, Indeks Dominansi (D) gastropoda di hamparan lamun perairan pantai desa Bahoi tergolong rendah, dengan nilai D=0,019 sampai dengan 0,041 menunjukkan bahwa tidak terdapat dominasi spesies tertentu di hamparan padang lamun perairan pantai desa Bahoi. Hal ini berpengaruh terhadap Indeks Keanekaragaman dengan nilai H’=2,51 sehingga berada pada kategori sedang. Hasil tersebut menunjukkan bahwa keanekaragaman jenis gastropoda di hamparan lamun perairan pantai desa Bahoi cukup beragam dikarenakan tidak adanya dominasi spesies gastropoda tertentu. Kata kunci: Bahoi, Padang Lamun, Gastropoda, Struktur Komunita

Evaluation of the effects of erythritol on gene expression in Brucella abortus

Bacteria of the genus Brucella have the unusual capability to catabolize erythritol and this property has been associated with their virulence mainly because of the presence of erythritol in bovine foetal tissues and because the attenuated S19 vaccine strain is the only Brucella strain unable to oxydize erythritol. In this work we have analyzed the transcriptional changes produced in Brucella by erythritol by means of two high throughput approaches: RNA hybridization against a microarray containing most of Brucella ORF's constructed from the Brucella ORFeome and next generation sequencing of Brucella mRNA in an Illumina GAIIx platform. The results obtained showed the overexpression of a group of genes, many of them in a single cluster around the ery operon, able to co-ordinately mediate the transport and degradation of erythritol into three carbon atoms intermediates that will be then converted into fructose-6P (F6P) by gluconeogenesis. Other induced genes participating in the nonoxidative branch of the pentose phosphate shunt and the TCA may collaborate with the ery genes to conform an efficient degradation of sugars by this route. On the other hand, several routes of amino acid and nucleotide biosynthesis are up-regulated whilst amino acid transport and catabolism genes are down-regulated. These results corroborate previous descriptions indicating that in the presence of erythritol, this sugar was used preferentially over other compounds and provides a neat explanation of the the reported stimulation of growth induced by erythritol

The functional neuroanatomy resource (FNAR) at Weill Cornell Medicine

INTRODUCTION. Computer assisted instruction has long proven useful in teaching of neuroanatomy, particularly when accompanied by traditional lecture presentations that present image and text data to students. The work describes the functional neuroanatomy resource (FNAR) innovation created at Weill Cornell Medicine – the first homegrown functional neuroanatomy teaching application developed for iPads by a medical school, including the learning options actively utilized by students and plans for continued development of the app. RESOURCES. Previously the teaching of functional neuroanatomy has relied heavily on gross brain and histological material created at the medical college and presented through computer technology initially server-based and then web-based. When the institution decided to move students to mobile devices, all students were provided with iPads. The functional neuroanatomy faculty and educational computing team accepted the challenge to make the FNAR content available through an iPad app. DESCRIPTION. This first local FNAR app integrates and indexes an image database along with various text resources. The app utilizes mouse-over and overlay technology, allowing users to easily highlight and select different areas of the brain and spinal cord and their related structures; it allows students to access the self-assessment tools onto the image overlays so that students can test their knowledge as they progress. CONCLUSIONS. A recent student evaluation reflects students rating the overall quality and usefulness of the FNAR as “excellent” (3.85 on a 4-point scale). Future plans include incorporating radiographic images and an “on-the-fly image set” technology, allowing students to query the database specifically designed to answer their questions

Breadwinners and Homemakers: Migration and Changing Conjugal Expectations in Rural Bangladesh

The literature on marriage norms and aspirations across societies largely sees the institution as static – a tool for the assertion of masculinities and subordination of women. The changing meanings of marriage and conjugality in the contemporary context of globalisation have received scant attention. Based on research in rural Bangladesh, this article questions the usefulness of notions of autonomy and dependence in understanding conjugal relations and expectations in a context of widespread migration for extended periods, especially to overseas destinations, where mutuality is crucial for social reproduction, though in clearly genderdemarcated domains

Lipopolysaccharides of brucella abortus and brucella melitensis induce nitric oxide synthesis in rat peritoneal macrophages

Producción CientíficaSmooth lipopolysaccharide (S-LPS) and lipid A of Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis induced the production of nitric oxide (NO) by rat adherent peritoneal cells, but they induced lower levels of production of NO than Escherichia coli LPS. The participation of the inducible isoform of NO synthase (iNOS) was confirmed by the finding of an increased expression of both iNOS mRNA and iNOS protein. These observations might help to explain (i) the acute outcome of Brucella infection in rodents, (ii) the low frequency of septic shock in human brucellosis, and (iii) the prolonged intracellular survival of Brucella in humans.This work was supported by (grants FIS 96/1017, SAF96-0144, and SAF98-0176

Exploring the attitudes of students undertaking sports degrees towards online international learning

Abstract Aims: There is an increased focus on the internationalisation of the learning experiences of university students1. One way this can be achieved is through ‘virtual internationalisation’2, which can be promoted through the use of Online International Learning (OIL) programmes. This article on sport pedagogy investigates the attitudes of sport students to such a programme. Methods: This article uses quantitative and qualitative methods. 63 students completed a survey and wrote reflective reports. Data was collected from a survey of 16 targeted questions addressing the attitudes of students towards the programme. Students also wrote reflective reports on their experiences, allowing for qualitative responses to be analysed. Results: 62% of students surveyed found the internationalised module to have been a worthwhile experience in terms of learning new skills and working with a partner from an institution based in another continent. 65% suggested that they learned skills on the internationalised module they would use again in education and in future employment. Students from European Union countries gave high rates of positive feedback. 100% reported that the module was a worthwhile experience, compared to 60% of UK students and 38% of international students from outside the European Union. Conclusion: 62% of students surveyed stated that they learned new skills, and there was a perceived value to the programme in terms of enhancing employment prospects. Virtual mobilities projects offer a possible method for tutors to give students international experiences, which is important as sport is now a globalised industry

TGF-β-Mediated Sustained ERK1/2 Activity Promotes the Inhibition of Intracellular Growth of Mycobacterium avium in Epithelioid Cells Surrogates

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases including infection with intracellular pathogens such as the Mycobacterium avium complex. Infection of macrophages with M. avium induces TGF-β production and neutralization of this cytokine has been associated with decreased intracellular bacterial growth. We have previously demonstrated that epithelioid cell surrogates (ECs) derived from primary murine peritoneal macrophages through a process of differentiation induced by IL-4 overlap several features of epithelioid cells found in granulomas. In contrast to undifferentiated macrophages, ECs produce larger amounts of TGF-β and inhibit the intracellular growth of M. avium. Here we asked whether the levels of TGF-β produced by ECs are sufficient to induce a self-sustaining autocrine TGF-β signaling controlling mycobacterial replication in infected-cells. We showed that while exogenous addition of increased concentration of TGF-β to infected-macrophages counteracted M. avium replication, pharmacological blockage of TGF-β receptor kinase activity with SB-431542 augmented bacterial load in infected-ECs. Moreover, the levels of TGF-β produced by ECs correlated with high and sustained levels of ERK1/2 activity. Inhibition of ERK1/2 activity with U0126 increased M. avium replication in infected-cells, suggesting that modulation of intracellular bacterial growth is dependent on the activation of ERK1/2. Interestingly, blockage of TGF-β receptor kinase activity with SB-431542 in infected-ECs inhibited ERK1/2 activity, enhanced intracellular M. avium burden and these effects were followed by a severe decrease in TGF-β production. In summary, our findings indicate that the amplitude of TGF-β signaling coordinates the strength and duration of ERK1/2 activity that is determinant for the control of intracellular mycobacterial growth

Sex Selective Abortion, Neoliberal Patriarchy and Structural Violence in India

This article explores sex selective abortion (SSA) as a form of structural violence within the broader notion of women’s ‘protection’ in contemporary India. While SSA tends to be framed more generally within ethical and choice-based frameworks around abortion access and reproductive ‘rights’, and specifically in India around preference for sons as a discriminatory, cultural, technological misogyny, this article argues that sex selective abortion in India needs to be understood as an outcome of broader systemic economic, political and social processes. The deepening of neoliberal values through state policies has impacted significantly on social relations, shaping SSA as a manifestation of structural violence. State-driven policies in India reflect a neoliberal governmentality through state patriarchy that is implicit within the neoliberal developmental, governmental and capitalist paradigm of contemporary India. This article argues that SSA is structurally produced and therefore cannot be remedied through awareness-raising strategies such as beti bachao or financial inclusion as a means to ‘protect’ or ‘save the girl child’. Indeed, it is neoliberal economic forces that actively, though seemingly inadvertently, promote anti-women, sex selective abortion as a reproductive strategy, which is then disciplined through neoliberal governmentality. This highlights SSA as a form of gendered and structural, rather than discriminatory, violence

Fosmidomycin Uptake into Plasmodium and Babesia-Infected Erythrocytes Is Facilitated by Parasite-Induced New Permeability Pathways

., a mouse malaria parasite. and related parasites. Our data provide further evidence that parasite-induced new permeability pathways may be exploited as routes for drug delivery

Introduction: Toward an Engaged Feminist Heritage Praxis

We advocate a feminist approach to archaeological heritage work in order to transform heritage practice and the production of archaeological knowledge. We use an engaged feminist standpoint and situate intersubjectivity and intersectionality as critical components of this practice. An engaged feminist approach to heritage work allows the discipline to consider women’s, men’s, and gender non-conforming persons’ positions in the field, to reveal their contributions, to develop critical pedagogical approaches, and to rethink forms of representation. Throughout, we emphasize the intellectual labor of women of color, queer and gender non-conforming persons, and early white feminists in archaeology