Diel migration of sound scatterers into, and out of, the Cariaco Trench anoxic water

Acoustic measurements at 25 kHz show that a well-defined sound-scattering layer in the Cariaco Trench migrates down in the early morning to the oxic-anoxic interface and splits into two components: one remains in oxygen-deficient water above the interface; the other penetrates several hundred meters into the anoxic hydrogen sulfide- and methane-containing region of the water column...

Diaphus taaningi Norman, the principal component of a shallow sound-scattering layer in the Cariaco Trench, Venezuela

A myctophid fish, Diaphus taaningi Norman, is the principal component of a distinct daytime sound-scattering layer lying near 250 m, well above the anoxic, hydrogen-sulfide zone of the Cariaco Trench. The scattering layer produced strong sonar echoes at 12, 25, and 50 kHz; mean sound-scattering strength at layer depth at 25 kHz was approximately --73 dB and at 50 kHz was approximately --67 dB...

Mismatch induced speciation in Salmonella: model and data

In bacteria, DNA sequence mismatches act as a barrier to recombination between distantly related organisms and can potentially promote the cohesion of species. We have performed computer simulations which show that the homology dependence of recombination can cause de novo speciation in a neutrally evolving population once a critical population size has been exceeded. Our model can explain the patterns of divergence and genetic exchange observed in the genus Salmonella, without invoking either natural selection or geographical population subdivision. If this model was validated, based on extensive sequence data, it would imply that the named subspecies of Salmonella enterica correspond to good biological species, making species boundaries objective. However, multilocus sequence typing data, analysed using several conventional tools, provide a misleading impression of relationships within S. enterica subspecies enterica and do not provide the resolution to establish whether new species are presently being formed

Tailored second line therapy in asthmatic children with the arginine-16 genotype

The arginine-16 beta-2 receptor genotype confers increased susceptibility to exacerbations in asthmatic children taking regular long acting beta-2 agonists. We therefore evaluated using montelukast as an alternative to salmeterol as tailored second line asthma controller therapy in children expressing this susceptible genotype. 62 persistent asthmatic children with the homozygous arginine-16 genotype were randomized to receive salmeterol 50ug bid or montelukast 5/10mg od as add on to inhaled fluticasone for 1 year. School absences (the primary outcome) were reduced with montelukast arm compared to salmeterol: difference in score = 0.40 (95%CI 0.07-0.87) p=0.005. Albuterol use was also reduced with montelukast compared with salmeterol: difference in score = 0.47 (95%CI 0.16-0.79) p<0.0001. Greater improvements occurred in both symptom and quality of life scores with montelukast vs salmeterol, while there was no difference in FEV1. Montelukast may be suitable as tailored second line controller therapy instead of salmeterol in asthmatic children expressing the susceptible arginine-16 genotype - moving towards a personalised medicine approach to management

Nutritional status of children, inmates of a small institution for homeless children in the capital of the State of S. Paulo, Brazil

Nutritional surveys (food consumption, clinical and biochemichal) were conducted in a small institution for homeless children. Results showed that only 30% of the children presented adequate calorie intake. Most of the children presented adequate protein intake, but almost half consumed less than 2/3 of the calcium RDA considered necessary. Food handling, processing, and distribution also proved inadequate and wastage, high. Skinfold measurement showed up one case of obesity. Furthermore, most of the children presented clinical signs of vitamin A deficiency, mostly skin lesions; while about half presented clinical signs of riboflavin deficiency. Biochemical data showed that 63.6% had deficient plasma levels of vitamin A, none showed abnormal results for riboflavin excretion, four showed packed blood cell volume below normal, and all had normal hemoglobin levels. Stool examinations revealed a high rate of pathogenic protozoa (Hymenolepis nana), in fact, one of the highest in Brazilian literature.Foram realizados, em um pequeno orfanato, inquéritos nutricionais (alimentar, clínico e bioquímico) cujos resultados mostraram que 30% das crianças tinham ingestão inadequada de calorias, metade ingestão inadequada de cálcio e todas ingestão adequada de proteínas. A manipulação, o processamento e a distribuição dos alimentos eram inadequados e o desperdício era alto. Mais da metade das crianças apresentaram peso abaixo dos padrões, mas a maioria estava acima de 90% para altura, segundo idade. A medida da prega cutânea revelou apenas uma criança obesa. Com relação à vitamina A, a maioria das crianças revelou sinais clínicos atribuíveis à hipovitaminose A, predominantemente sinais cutâneos. Cerca de metade dos examinados revelou sinais de arriboflavinose. Foi baixo o número de crianças que apresentaram sinais clínicos de carência de proteína, ferro e ácido ascórbico. Os dados bioquímicos revelaram que 63,6% das crianças apresentavam níveis séricos abaixo do normal, enquanto que todas apresentaram excreção normal de riboflavina. Com relação à anemia, apenas 4 crianças apresentaram hematócrito abaixo do normal mas todas apresentaram níveis normais de hemoglobina. Os exames de fezes mostraram coeficientes altos para protozoários e Hymenolepis nana, um dos mais altos da literatura brasileira

Somatostatin neuron contributions to cortical slow wave dysfunction in adult mice exposed to developmental ethanol

IntroductionTransitions between sleep and waking and sleep-dependent cortical oscillations are heavily dependent on GABAergic neurons. Importantly, GABAergic neurons are especially sensitive to developmental ethanol exposure, suggesting a potential unique vulnerability of sleep circuits to early ethanol. In fact, developmental ethanol exposure can produce long-lasting impairments in sleep, including increased sleep fragmentation and decreased delta wave amplitude. Here, we assessed the efficacy of optogenetic manipulations of somatostatin (SST) GABAergic neurons in the neocortex of adult mice exposed to saline or ethanol on P7, to modulate cortical slow-wave physiology.MethodsSST-cre × Ai32 mice, which selectively express channel rhodopsin in SST neurons, were exposed to ethanol or saline on P7. This line expressed similar developmental ethanol induced loss of SST cortical neurons and sleep impairments as C57BL/6By mice. As adults, optical fibers were implanted targeting the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and telemetry electrodes were implanted in the neocortex to monitor slow-wave activity and sleep-wake states.ResultsOptical stimulation of PFC SST neurons evoked slow-wave potentials and long-latency single-unit excitation in saline treated mice but not in ethanol mice. Closed-loop optogenetic stimulation of PFC SST neuron activation on spontaneous slow-waves enhanced cortical delta oscillations, and this manipulation was more effective in saline mice than P7 ethanol mice.DiscussionTogether, these results suggest that SST cortical neurons may contribute to slow-wave impairment after developmental ethanol

Further Studies on Vibration Compaction of Cohesive Soils

The investigations described in this report are a continuation of previous work designed to determine the basic laws governing the compaction of cohesive soil by vibration. A report dated December, 1954, described the results of tests on sandy loam, while this report describes similar tests on a much more cohesive soil

TOI-150: A transiting hot Jupiter in the TESS southern CVZ

We report the detection of a hot Jupiter ($M_{p}=1.75_{-0.17}^{+0.14}\ M_{J}$,$R_{p}=1.38\pm0.04\ R_{J}$) orbiting a middle-aged star ($\log g=4.152^{+0.030}_{-0.043}$) in the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) southern continuous viewing zone ($\beta=-79.59^{\circ}$). We confirm the planetary nature of the candidate TOI-150.01 using radial velocity observations from the APOGEE-2 South spectrograph and the Carnegie Planet Finder Spectrograph, ground-based photometric observations from the robotic Three-hundred MilliMeter Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory, and Gaia distance estimates. Large-scale spectroscopic surveys, such as APOGEE/APOGEE-2, now have sufficient radial velocity precision to directly confirm the signature of giant exoplanets, making such data sets valuable tools in the TESS era. Continual monitoring of TOI-150 by TESS can reveal additional planets and subsequent observations can provide insights into planetary system architectures involving a hot Jupiter around a star about halfway through its main-sequence life.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables, accepted to ApJ