Survival, maturation, fecundity and hatching rates of unablated and ablated Penaeus indicus H.M. Edwards from brackishwater ponds

Penaeus indicus harvested after three months of rearing in brackishwater ponds and averaging 6.9 g for females and 5.6 g for males were stocked in two 12 cu m flowthrough ferrocement tanks at 240 females and 200 males per tank. The females were ablated on one eyestalk in one tank and remained unablated in the other tank; all males were unablated. Ablated females spawned up to 7 times per female; unablated females spawned up to only 3 times during the two month duration of the experiment. Ablated females produced a total number of 17.5 x 106 eggs, 6.6 x 106 nauplii, and an average of 23,480 eggs/spawning and 37.8% hatching rate from a total of 757 spawnings. Unablated females produced a total of 2.0 x 106 eggs, 1.1 x 106 nauplii, and an average of 26.990 eggs/spawning and 53.9% hatching rate from a total of 74 spawnings. Survival of ablated females was 53.5% compared to 69.4% for unablated females; males in both tanks averaged more than 90% survival

Water quality monitoring in Térraba Sièrpe Wetland (Costa Rica) using multi- and hyperspectral EO data

The project MONEOWET focuses on multispectral and hyperspectral Earth Observation (EO) data to investigate water quality in relation to agricultural activities within the Térraba Sièrpe Wetland in Costa Rica. This study corresponds to an initiative focused on investigating the applicability of remote sensing data in tropical systems. The main topic of this project is the use of EO data to assess the impacts and dynamics of agricultural activities on the sensitive RAMSAR wetland ecosystem Térraba Sièrpe at the mouth of the Térraba and Sièrpe rivers. One goal of this project is to develop a first EO database and define analytical methods for water quality studies in that area and beyond. The results will provide a deeper insight into the processes of the entire wetland ecosystem and may help to detect harmful damage to the fragile environment caused by surrounding agricultural activities. The long-term goal is sustainable water and land use management that is exemplary for many other tropical wetlands in Latin America. Scientists from Germany and Costa Rica are working together to collect data with established (e.g. Sentinel 2, Landsat 8) and new Earth Observation sensors (e.g. DESIS on the ISS) to assess water quality parameters and link these parameters to agricultural land use in the surrounding area. The common goal of the project is to evaluate the applicability of Landsat 8, Sentinel-2 and DESIS multi- and hyperspectral satellite imagery for water quality studies in tropical environments. Field campaigns were carried out during wet season (November 2018 and November 2019) and dry season (March 2019 and March 2021). The sampling sites for in-situ measurements were taken in the three main meanders of the Sièrpe River and the main meander of Térraba River within the wetland. At each sampling site, the spectral signature of the river was recorded using an Ocean Optics Sensor System (OOSS). The multispectral (Sentinel 2, Landsat 8) and hyperspectral EO (DESIS) data were atmospherically corrected to Bottom-of-atmosphere (BOA) reflectance using Sen2cor (ESA) and PACO (Python-based Atmospheric Correction, DLR), respectively. The WASI-2D inversion method, a semi-analytical model, which retrieves the optically active water quality variables: chlorophyll, total suspended matter (TSM) and colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) was used and parameterized with site - specific inherent optical properties (SIOPs) of the area and applied to time series of L2A Sentinel, Landsat 8 and DESIS images. Some of the Sentinel-2 and Landsat overpasses were coincident with available field data, however DESIS images could not be obtained during field campaigns, thus only a qualitative evaluation is presented. Although cloud cover in the tropics is a major challenge, the influence of thin clouds could be corrected and the concentrations of TSM and CDOM could be derived quantitatively. Chlorophyll could not be derived reliably in most areas, in particular not from Landsat 8, most likely because its concentration was relatively low and water absorption was dominated by CDOM. The high temporal dynamics of the river system, which is strongly influenced by tides, makes comparison of satellite data collected at different times very difficult, as is comparison with field data. Nevertheless, Sentinel 2-derived maps of water constituents and corresponding Landsat 8 and DESIS images show good agreements in the average concentrations of TSM and CDOM concentration and plausible spatial patterns, and field measurements show that they are in a plausible range. The results indicate that under favorable observational and environmental conditions, the applied atmospheric correction and the used retrieval algorithm are suitable to use DESIS, Sentinel 2 and Landsat 8 data for mapping TSM and CDOM in tropical environments, while chlorophyll is challenging. Their quantitative determination by satellite is therefore an important contribution of this project to the ecological assessment of the waters and the surrounding environment of the study area

Influence of 2′-fucosyllactose on the microbiota composition and metabolic activity of fecal cultures from breastfed and formula-fed infants at two months of age

Although breast milk is considered the gold standard of nutrition for infant feeding, some circumstances may make breastfeeding difficult. Several commercial milk preparations include syn-thetic human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in their composition. However, the effect of HMOs on the establishment of the intestinal microbiota remains incompletely understood. Independent batch fermentations were performed with feces from six full-term infant donors of two months of age (three breastfed and three formula-fed, exclusively) in the presence of 2′fucosyllactose (2′FL), one of the most abundant HMOs in human milk. Microbiota composition was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing at baseline and at 24 h of incubation. The 2′FL consumption, gas accumulation, and levels of different metabolites were determined by chromatography. Microbiota profiles at baseline were clearly influenced by the mode of feeding and by the intrinsic ability of microbiotas to degrade 2′FL. The 2′FL degradation rate clustered fecal cultures into slow and fast degraders, regardless of feeding type, this being a determinant factor influencing the evolution of the microbiota during incubation, although the low number of donors precludes drawing sound conclusions. More studies are needed to decipher the extent to which the early intervention with HMOs could influence the microbiota as a function of its ability to utilize 2′FL.This research was funded by a contract of Lallemand Health Solutions Inc. with IPLA-CSIC and by the Intramural CSIC Research project PIE201970E061. S.A. was the recipient of a postdoctoral Juan de la Cierva Contract (Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, Ref. IJCI-2017-32156) and NS has a postdoctoral contract awarded by the Biosanitary Research Foundation in Asturias (FINBA, Spain)

A GIP Receptor Agonist Exhibits β-Cell Anti-Apoptotic Actions in Rat Models of Diabetes Resulting in Improved β-Cell Function and Glycemic Control

The gastrointestinal hormone GIP promotes pancreatic islet function and exerts pro-survival actions on cultured beta-cells. However, GIP also promotes lipogenesis, thus potentially restricting its therapeutic use. The current studies evaluated the effects of a truncated GIP analog, D-Ala(2)-GIP(1-30) (D-GIP(1-30)), on glucose homeostasis and beta-cell mass in rat models of diabetes.The insulinotropic and pro-survival potency of D-GIP(1-30) was evaluated in perfused pancreas preparations and cultured INS-1 beta-cells, respectively, and receptor selectivity evaluated using wild type and GIP receptor knockout mice. Effects of D-GIP(1-30) on beta-cell function and glucose homeostasis, in vivo, were determined using Lean Zucker rats, obese Vancouver diabetic fatty rats, streptozotocin treated rats, and obese Zucker diabetic fatty rats, with effects on beta-cell mass determined in histological studies of pancreatic tissue. Lipogenic effects of D-GIP(1-30) were evaluated on cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes.Acutely, D-GIP(1-30) improved glucose tolerance and insulin secretion. Chronic treatment with D-GIP(1-30) reduced levels of islet pro-apoptotic proteins in Vancouver diabetic fatty rats and preserved beta-cell mass in streptozotocin treated rats and Zucker diabetic fatty rats, resulting in improved insulin responses and glycemic control in each animal model, with no change in body weight. In in vitro studies, D-GIP(1-30) exhibited equivalent potency to GIP(1-42) on beta-cell function and survival, but greatly reduced action on lipoprotein lipase activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.These findings demonstrate that truncated forms of GIP exhibit potent anti-diabetic actions, without pro-obesity effects, and that the C-terminus contributes to the lipogenic actions of GIP

In Vitro Probiotic Modulation of the Intestinal Microbiota and 2′Fucosyllactose Consumption in Fecal Cultures from Infants at Two Months of Age

2-fucosyllactose (2 FL) is one of the most abundant oligosaccharides in human milk, with benefits on neonatal health. Previous results point to the inability of the fecal microbiota from some infants to ferment 2 FL. We evaluated a probiotic formulation, including the strains Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell®-52 (R0052), Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis Rosell®-33 (R0033), and Bifidobacterium bifidum Rosell®-71 (R0071), individually or in an 80:10:10 combination on the microbiota and 2 FL degradation. Independent batch fermentations were performed with feces from six full-term infant donors of two months of age (three breastfed and three formula-fed) with added probiotic formulation or the constituent strains in the presence of 2 FL. Microbiota composition was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Gas accumulation, pH decrease and 2 FL consumption, and levels of different metabolites were determined by chromatography. B. bifidum R0071 was the sole microorganism promoting a partial increase of 2 FL degradation during fermentation in fecal cultures of 2 FL slow-degrading donors. However, major changes in microbiota composition and metabolic activity occurred with L. helveticus R0052 or the probiotic formulation in cultures of slow degraders. Further studies are needed to decipher the role of the host intestinal microbiota in the efficacy of these strains.This research was funded by a contract of Lallemand Health Solutions Inc. with IPLA-CSIC (Spanish National Research Council contract number 201266) and by the Intramural Spanish National Research Council project PIE201970E061. S.A. was the recipient of a postdoctoral Juan de la Cierva contract (Ministry of Science and Innovation, Ref. IJCI-2017-32156), and N.S. has a postdoctoral contract awarded by the Biosanitary Research Foundation in Asturias (FINBA, Spain)

Modulación in vitro de la microbiota intestinal de niños lactantes y del consumo de 2’-fucosillactosa con cepas de bacterias lácticas probióticas

Resumen del trabajo presentado a la 15ª Reunión de la Red Española de Bacterias Lácticas: Bacterias Lácticas en Alimentación y Salud, celebrada en Valencia (España), los días 26 y 27 de mayo de 2022.El establecimiento de la microbiota neonatal en las primeras etapas de la vida está modulado por varios tipos de factores entre los que destaca especialmente el tipo de alimentación (leche maternaLM o leche de fórmula-LF). La 2´-fucosillactosa (2´FL) es uno de los oligosacáridos más abundantes de la leche materna (“human milk oligosaccharides”-HMO), con actividad prebiótica. Los niños que no son amamantados con LM, lo ingieren en LF suplementadas, en combinación con cepas probióticas en muchas ocasiones. Sin embargo, el efecto tanto de este HMO como de la combinación con cepas probióticas a nivel de la microbiota intestinal y sus metabolitos no ha sido estudiado en detalle. Por tanto, es de gran interés la evaluación del efecto de la 2’FL y cepas probióticas destinadas a la alimentación de lactantes sobre la microbiota intestinal infantil (MI)

Outburst activity in comets: II. A multi-band photometric monitoring of comet 29p/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

We have carried out a continuous multi-band photometric monitoring of the nuclear activity of comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 from 2008 to 2010. Our main aim has been to study the outburst mechanism on the basis of a follow-up of the photometric variations associated with the release of dust. We used a standardized method to obtain the 10 arc-sec nucleus photometry in the V, R, and I filters of the Johnson-Kron-Cousins system, being accurately calibrated with standard Landolt stars. Production of dust in the R and I bands during the 2010 Feb. 3 outburst has been also computed. We conclude that the massive ejection of large (optically-thin) particles from the surface at the time of the outburst is the triggering mechanism to produce the outburst. Ulterior sublimation of these ice-rich dust particles during the following days induces fragmentation, generating micrometer-sized grains that increase the dust spatial density to produce the outburst in the optical range due to scattering of sun light. The material leaving the nucleus adopts a fan-like dust feature, formed by micrometer-sized particles that are decaying in brightness as it evolved outwards. By analyzing the photometric signal measured in a standardized 10-arcsec aperture using the Phase Dispersion Minimization technique we have found a clear periodicity of 50 days. Remarkably, this value is also consistent with an outburst frequency of 7.4 outbursts/year deduced from the number of outbursts noticed during the effective observing time.Comment: 19 pages, 3 Tables, and 6 figure

European communication networks in the Early Modern Age

Recent contributions to knowledge about early journalism developed in different parts of Europe*Italy, France, England, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain . . . *have made it possible to trace a fairly precise map for the historical origin of this phenomenon. However, the scope of work carried out with a view to developing frameworks of interpretation to explain the reasons for this appearance is not as far-reaching. This paper reviews the recurring theoretical models found to date in the specific bibliography and proposes a new framework of interpretation, capable of encompassing the complexity and pan-European nature of early journalism in history

Observation of Pulsed Gamma-rays Above 25 GeV from the Crab Pulsar with MAGIC

One fundamental question about pulsars concerns the mechanism of their pulsed electromagnetic emission. Measuring the high-end region of a pulsar's spectrum would shed light on this question. By developing a new electronic trigger, we lowered the threshold of the Major Atmospheric gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov (MAGIC) telescope to 25 GeV. In this configuration, we detected pulsed gamma-rays from the Crab pulsar that were greater than 25 GeV, revealing a relatively high cutoff energy in the phase-averaged spectrum. This indicates that the emission occurs far out in the magnetosphere, hence excluding the polar-cap scenario as a possible explanation of our measurement. The high cutoff energy also challenges the slot-gap scenario.Comment: Slight modification of the analysis: Fitting a more general function to the combined data set of COMPTEL, EGRET and MAGIC. Final result and conclusion is unchange

Using detrending to assess SARS-CoV-2 wastewater loads as a leading indicator of fluctuations in COVID-19 cases at fine temporal scales: Correlations across twenty sewersheds in North Carolina

Wastewater surveillance emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic as a novel strategy for tracking the burden of illness in communities. Previous work has shown that trends in wastewater SARS-CoV-2 viral loads correlate well with reported COVID-19 case trends over longer time periods (i.e., months). We used detrending time series to reveal shorter sub-trend patterns (i.e., weeks) to identify leads or lags in the temporal alignment of the wastewater/case relationship. Daily incident COVID-19 cases and twice-weekly wastewater SARS-CoV-2 viral loads measured at 20 North Carolina sewersheds in 2021 were detrended using smoothing ranges of ∞, 16, 8, 4 and 2 weeks, to produce detrended cases and wastewater viral loads at progressively finer time scales. For each sewershed and smoothing range, we calculated the Spearman correlation between the cases and the wastewater viral loads with offsets of -7 to +7 days. We identified a conclusive lead/lag relationship at 15 of 20 sewersheds, with detrended wastewater loads temporally leading detrended COVID-19 cases at 11 of these sites. For the 11 leading sites, the correlation between wastewater loads and cases was greatest for wastewater loads sampled at a median lead time of 6 days before the cases were reported. Distinct lead/lag relationships were the most pronounced after detrending with smoothing ranges of 4–8 weeks, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 wastewater viral loads can track fluctuations in COVID-19 case incidence rates at fine time scales and may serve as a leading indicator in many settings. These results could help public health officials identify, and deploy timely responses in, areas where cases are increasing faster than the overall pandemic trend