Lactococcus garvieae, an unusual pathogen in infective endocarditis: case report and review of the literature

Lactococcus garvieae is an unusual cause of infective endocarditis (IE). No current diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines are available to treat IE caused by these organisms. Based on a case report, we provide a review of the literature of IE caused by L. garvieae and highlight diagnostic and treatment challenges of these infections and implications for management. A 50-year-old Asian male with mitral prosthetic valve presented to the hospital with intracranial haemorrhage, which was successfully treated. Three weeks later, he complained of generalized malaise. Further work up revealed blood cultures positive for Gram-positive cocci identified as L. garvieae by MALDI-TOF. An echocardiogram confirmed the diagnosis of IE. Susceptibility testing showed resistance only to clindamycin. Vancomycin plus gentamicin were started as empirical therapy and, subsequently, the combination of ceftriaxone plus gentamicin was used after susceptibility studies were available. After two weeks of combination therapy, ceftriaxone was continued as monotherapy for six additional weeks with good outcome. Twenty-five cases of IE by Lactococcus garvieae have been reported in the literature. Compared to other Gram-positive cocci, L. garvieae affects more frequently patients with prosthetic valves. IE presents in a subacute manner and the case fatality rate can be as high as 16%, comparable to that of streptococcal IE (15.7%). Reliable methods for identification of L. garvieae include MALDI-TOF, 16S RNA PCR, API 32 strep kit and BD Automated Phoenix System. Recommended antimicrobials for L. garvieae IE are ampicillin, amoxicillin, ceftriaxone or vancomycin in monotherapy or in combination with gentamicin

Physical chemical and biological analysis of rio santo domingo, Río Verde tributary, La Vieja river basin, Alto Cauca, Colombia

Se realizó un análisis fisicoquímico y biológico del río Santo Domingo, afluente río Verde, cuenca río La Vieja, Alto Cauca, Colombia, en 12 estaciones de muestreo durante bajas (febrero, junio y julio) y altas lluvias (abril, marzo y mayo). Se aplicaron índices de diversidad alfa como Shannon-Wiener, Dominancia, Margalef y Pielou; diversidad beta con Jaccard y diversidad gamma Schluter-Ricklefs y BMWP/Col para estimar la calidad del agua. El ANDEVA mostró diferencias significativas entre las épocas de lluvia para el oxígeno disuelto, el pH, la conductividad y la humedad relativa. Se registraron en total 12405 ejemplares de macroinvertebrados: 8177 en bajas y 4228 en altas lluvias; Ephemeroptera fue el orden más abundante para ambas épocas con el género Baetodes; el ANDEVA de dos factores mostró significancia de la abundancia absoluta entre épocas y zonas; el BMWP/Col indicó que la calidad del agua fue buena, a excepción de la estación 3 que presentó una calidad aceptable. Se capturaron 97 ejemplares de peces: 70 para bajas y 27 para altas lluvias; las especies de peces más abundantes fueron Astroblepus chapmani y Brycon henni. Los índices de diversidad y riqueza fueron bajos para las comunidades de macroinvertebrados y peces. La diversidad gamma para macroinvertebrados y peces fue consistente con el número de especies encontradas en el estudio. El río es oligotrófico, con tendencia a la eutroficación en ambos periodos climáticos.A physical-chemical and biological analysis of the Santo Domingo river, Verde river tributary, La Vieja river basin, Alto Cauca, Colombia, was carried out at 12 sampling stations during low rainy (February, June and July) and high rainy seasons (April, March and May). Alpha diversity indexes such as Shannon-Wiener, Dominancia, Margalef and Pielou were applied. Beta diversity indexes with Jaccard and gamma diversity Schluter-Ricklefs and BMWP / Col were applied to estimate water quality. ANOVA showed significant differences between rainy seasons for dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity and relative humidity. A total of 12,405 macroinvertebrates were recorded: 8,177 in low and 4,228 in high rainy season; Ephemeroptera was the most abundant order for both seasons with the genus Baetodes. The two-factor ANOVA showed significance of absolute abundance between seasons and zones. The BMWP / Col indicated that the water quality was good, except for the station 3 that presented an acceptable quality. A total of 97 specimens of fish were caught: 70 for low and 27 for high rainy season. The most abundant species of fish were Astroblepus chapmani and Brycon henni. Diversity and richness indices were low for macroinvertebrate communities and fish. Gamma diversity for macroinvertebrates and fish was consistent with the number of species found in the study. The river is oligotrophic, with a tendency to eutrophication in both rainy seasons

Dinámica de crecimiento de plantas de pimentón (Capsicum annuum L.) sometidas a la aplicación de Trichoderma harzianum Rifai en ambientes controlados

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo evaluar el crecimiento de plantas de pimentón (Capsicum annuum L.) en condiciones controladas bajo el efecto de Trichoderma harzianum Rifai. Para lo cual se consideraron modelos no lineales, entre ellos: logístico y gompertz. El ensayo se realizó en Casas de Cultivos bajo condiciones controladas aplicando un diseño de tratamiento (dos tratamientos y tres (3) repeticiones). Tratamiento T1: Aplicación de una dosis del hongo Trichoderma de 100 gr. antes de la siembra. Tratamiento T2: Aplicación de una dosis del hongo Trichoderma de 100 gr. después de la siembra. Se midieron las siguientes variables: longitud de la planta (cm), diámetro del tallo (cm) y área foliar (cm2) cada 15 días a partir del momento del trasplante. Los resultados arrojaron que el modelo logístico debe ser considerado únicamente para ajustar datos de altura de plantas de pimentón a las que se les aplicó una dosis del hongo Trichoderma antes de la siembra, mientras que para el resto de las variables y demás condiciones experimentales se aconseja utilizar el modelo gompertz. Así mismo, cuando se aplicó una dosis del hongo Trichoderma a las plantas de pimentón antes de la siembra se evidenció una mayor tasa intrínseca de crecimiento, un menor crecimiento máximo y las plantas tardaron más tiempo en desacelerar el crecimiento en altura pero menos tiempo en desacelerar el desarrollo del área foliar. Mientras que cuando se aplicó una dosis del hongo Trichoderma después de la siembra las plantas reportaron una mayor tasa intrínseca de crecimiento, un menor crecimiento máximo tardaron menos tiempo en desacelerar el crecimiento en diámetr

Integration model of methodological components within the CIAF context

Este trabajo presenta un modelo de integración de componentes metodológicos dentro del contexto del “Marco de Desarrollo de Sistemas Groupware Interactivos (CIAF: Collaborative Interactive Application Framework)”. Como caso de estudio se realiza la integración de dos propuestas enmarcadas en el desarrollo de sistemas interactivos, la primera, TD-MBUID (Task & Data Model Based User Interface Development), enfocada en el desarrollo de la interfaz de usuario y la segunda, MPIu+a (Modelo de Proceso de la Ingeniería de la Usabilidad y la Accesibilidad),en la evaluación de la usabilidad.This paper presents a methodology for integrating methodological components, based on the "Framework for Interactive Groupware Systems Development (CIAF: Collaborative Interactive Application Framework)." As a case study, the integration of two proposals under development of interactive systems is performed, the first, TD-MBUID (Task & Data Model Based User Interface Development), focused on the development of the user interface and the second, MPIu+a (Modelo de Proceso de la Ingeniería de la Usabilidad y la Accesibilidad), in the usability evaluation

Modelo de integración de componentes metodológicos dentro del contexto de CIAF

Este trabajo presenta un modelo de integración de componentes metodológicos dentro del contexto del “Marco de Desarrollo de Sistemas Groupware Interactivos (CIAF: Collaborative Interactive Application Framework)”. Como caso de estudio se realiza la integración de dos propuestas enmarcadas en el desarrollo de sistemas interactivos, la primera, TD-MBUID (Task & Data Model Based User Interface Development), enfocada en el desarrollo de la interfaz de usuario y la segunda, MPIu+a (Modelo de Proceso de la Ingeniería de la Usabilidad y la Accesibilidad),en la evaluación de la usabilidad

The Absence of Caspase-8 in the Dopaminergic System Leads to Mild Autism-like Behavior

In the last decade, new non-apoptotic roles have been ascribed to apoptotic caspases. This family of proteins plays an important role in the sculpting of the brain in the early stages of development by eliminating excessive and nonfunctional synapses and extra cells. Consequently, impairments in this process can underlie many neurological and mental illnesses. This view is particularly relevant to dopamine because it plays a pleiotropic role in motor control, motivation, and reward processing. In this study, we analyze the effects of the elimination of caspase-8 (CASP8) on the development of catecholaminergic neurons using neurochemical, ultrastructural, and behavioral tests. To do this, we selectively delete the CASP8 gene in cells that express tyrosine hydroxylase with the help of recombination through the Cre-loxP system. Our results show that the number of dopaminergic neurons increases in the substantia nigra. In the striatum, the basal extracellular level of dopamine and potassium-evoked dopamine release decreased significantly in mice lacking CASP8, clearly showing the low dopamine functioning in tissues innervated by this neurotransmitter. This view is supported by electron microscopy analysis of striatal synapses. Interestingly, behavioral analysis demonstrates that mice lacking CASP8 show changes reminiscent of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Our research reactivates the possible role of dopamine transmission in the pathogenesis of ASD and provides a mild model of autism.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad RTI2018-098645-B-I00, PID2019-109569GB-I00, RTI2018-099778-B-I00Junta de Andalucía P18-RT-1372, US-1264806, PI-0080-2017, PI-0009-2017, PI-0134-2018, PEMP-0008-2020, P20_00958, CTS-510Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI18/01691Instituto de Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias Biomédicas de Cádiz-INiBICA LI19/06IN-CO22, IN-C09European Union 95568

I. MUFFIT: A multi-filter fitting code for stellar population diagnostics

Numerical methods and codes.-- et al.[Aims]: We present MUFFIT, a new generic code optimized to retrieve the main stellar population parameters of galaxies in photometric multi-filter surveys, and check its reliability and feasibility with real galaxy data from the ALHAMBRA survey. [Methods]: Making use of an error-weighted X2-test, we compare the multi-filter fluxes of galaxies with the synthetic photometry of mixtures of two single stellar populations at different redshifts and extinctions, to provide the most likely range of stellar population parameters (mainly ages and metallicities), extinctions, redshifts, and stellar masses. To improve the diagnostic reliability, MUFFIT identifies and removes from the analysis those bands that are significantly affected by emission lines. The final parameters and their uncertainties are derived by a Monte Carlo method, using the individual photometric uncertainties in each band. Finally, we discuss the accuracies, degeneracies, and reliability of MUFFIT using both simulated and real galaxies from ALHAMBRA, comparing with results from the literature. [Results]: MUFFIT is a precise and reliable code to derive stellar population parameters of galaxies in ALHAMBRA. Using the results from photometric-redshift codes as input, MUFFIT improves the photometric-redshift accuracy by ∼10-20%. MUFFIT also detects nebular emissions in galaxies, providing physical information about their strengths. The stellar masses derived from MUFFIT show excellent agreement with the COSMOS and SDSS values. In addition, the retrieved age-metallicity locus for a sample of z ≤ 0.22 early-type galaxies in ALHAMBRA at different stellar mass bins are in very good agreement with the ones from SDSS spectroscopic diagnostics. Moreover, a one-to-one comparison between the redshifts, ages, metallicities, and stellar masses derived spectroscopically for SDSS and by MUFFIT for ALHAMBRA reveals good qualitative agreements in all the parameters, hence reinforcing the strengths of multi-filter galaxy data and optimized analysis techniques, like MUFFIT, to conduct reliable stellar population studies.L.A.D.G. acknowledges support from the "Caja Rural de Teruel" for developing this research. A.J.C. is a Ramon y Cajal Fellow of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. This work has been supported by the "Programa Nacional de Astronomia y Astrofisica" of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) under grant AYA2012-30789, as well as by FEDER funds and the Government of Aragon, through the Research Group E103. L.A.D.G. also thanks the Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) and Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) for offering the opportunity to support and develop part of this research in collaboration with I.F. MINECO grants AYA2010-15081, AYA2010-15169, AYA2010-22111-C03-01, AYA2010-22111-C03-02, AYA2011-29517-C03-01, AYA2013-40611-P, AYA2013-42227-P, AYA2013-43188-P, AYA2013-48623-C2-1, AYA2013-48623-C2-2, and AYA2014-58861-C3-1 are also acknowledged, together with Generalitat Valenciana projects Prometeo 2009/064 and PROMETEOII/2014/060, and Junta de Andalucia grants TIC114, JA2828, and P10-FQM-6444. MP acknowledges financial support from the JAE-Doc programme of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), co-funded by the European Social Fund.Peer Reviewe

Cardiac responses to β‐adrenoceptor stimulation is partly dependent on mitochondrial calcium uniporter activity

Background and Purpose: Despite the importance of mitochondrial Ca2+ to metabolic regulation and cell physiology, little is known about the mechanisms that regulate Ca2+ entry into the mitochondria. Accordingly, we established a system to determine the role of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter in an isolated heart model, at baseline and during increased workload following β-adrenoceptor stimulation. Experimental Approach: Cardiac contractility, oxygen consumption and intracellular Ca2+ transients were measured in ex vivo perfused murine hearts. Ru360 and spermine were used to modify mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter activity. Changes in mitochondrial Ca2+ content and energetic phosphate metabolite levels were determined. Key Results: The addition of Ru360, a selective inhibitor of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter, induced progressively and sustained negative inotropic effects that were dose-dependent with an EC50 of 7 μM. Treatment with spermine, a uniporter agonist, showed a positive inotropic effect that was blocked by Ru360. Inotropic stimulation with isoprenaline elevated oxygen consumption (2.7-fold), Ca2+-dependent activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase (5-fold) and mitochondrial Ca2+ content (2.5-fold). However, in Ru360-treated hearts, this parameter was attenuated. In addition, β-adrenoceptor stimulation in the presence of Ru360 did not affect intracellular Ca2+ handling, PKA or Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent PK signalling. Conclusions and Implications: Inhibition of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter decreases β-adrenoceptor response, uncoupling between workload and production of energetic metabolites. Our results support the hypothesis that the coupling of workload and energy supply is partly dependent on mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter activity.Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculare

The ALHAMBRA survey: accurate merger fractions derived by PDF analysis of photometrically close pairs

[Aims]: Our goal is to develop and test a novel methodology to compute accurate close-pair fractions with photometric redshifts. [Methods]: We improved the currently used methodologies to estimate the merger fraction fm from photometric redshifts by (i) using the full probability distribution functions (PDFs) of the sources in redshift space; (ii) including the variation in the luminosity of the sources with z in both the sample selection and the luminosity ratio constrain; and (iii) splitting individual PDFs into red and blue spectral templates to reliably work with colour selections.We tested the performance of our new methodology with the PDFs provided by the ALHAMBRA photometric survey. [Results]: The merger fractions and rates from the ALHAMBRA survey agree excellently well with those from spectroscopic work for both the general population and red and blue galaxies. With the merger rate of bright (MB ≤ -20 - 1:1z) galaxies evolving as (1 + z)n, the power-law index n is higher for blue galaxies (n = 2:7 0:5) than for red galaxies (n = 1:3 0:4), confirming previous results. Integrating the merger rate over cosmic time, we find that the average number of mergers per galaxy since z = 1 is Nm red = 0:57 0:05 for red galaxies and Nm blue = 0:26 0:02 for blue galaxies. [Conclusions]: Our new methodology statistically exploits all the available information provided by photometric redshift codes and yields accurate measurements of the merger fraction by close pairs from using photometric redshifts alone. Current and future photometric surveys will benefit from this new methodology.This work has been mainly funded by the FITE (Fondos de Inversiones de Teruel) and the projects AYA2012-30789, AYA2006-14056, and CSD2007-00060. We also acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Government grants AYA2010-15169, AYA2010-22111-C03-01, AYA2010-22111-C03-02, and AYA2013-48623-C2-2, from the Aragón Government through the Research Group E103, from the Junta de Andalucía through TIC-114 and the Excellence Project P08-TIC-03531, and from the Generalitat Valenciana through the projects Prometeo/2009/064 and PrometeoII/2014/060. A.J.C. is Ramón y Cajal fellow of the Spanish government. M.P. acknowledges the financial support from JAE-Doc program of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), co-funded by the European Social Fund.Peer Reviewe