Quaternary geographical sibling speciation and population structuring in the Eastern Atlantic skates (suborder Rajoidea) Raja clavata and R. straeleni

To access the final version, follow the next link. http://www.springerlink.com/content/t1809472211lk67q/Aim Geographical (allopatric) speciation is a dynamic process whose footprints in the living world are a continuum of stages of increasing divergence. Geographical speciation can also contribute to the evolution of marine taxa. This study looked for two of these evolutionary stages (i.e. structured populations and sibling species) in the diversification patterns of two Atlantic skates (Raja, suborder Rajoidea) which exhibited high morphological and ecological conservativism(undefined

Efeito da osteotomia intertrocantérica no femur proximal de coelhos: avaliação com utra-sonografia power Doppler e cintilografia

OBJECTIVE: In bone injury, repair results in local increased vascularity and bone marrow remodeling. Characterizing the vascular and metabolic imaging patterns of the proximal femur following an intertrochanteric osteotomy may help clinicians decide proper management of the patient. Our objective was to measure Doppler sonography and scintigraphy interval changes in the proximal femur following intertrochanteric osteotomy and compare imaging and histomorphometric measurements in the late post-operative stage (6 weeks after surgery) in a rabbit model of bone injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Both hips of 12 adult rabbits were imaged with power Doppler sonography and scintigraphy prior to and after (7 days and 6 weeks) unilateral osteotomy. Accuracy of the imaging methods was evaluated using hip operative status and histomorphometric results (vascular fractional area and number of vessels per area unit) as reference standard measures. RESULTS: A significant difference in the mean number of pixels was noted between operated and non-operated femura in late post-operative power Doppler examinations (P=0.049). Although without reaching statistical significance, the AUC of Doppler measurements (AUC=0.99) was numerically greater than the AUC of scintigraphy measurements (AUC=0.857±0.099) (P=0.15) in differentiating proximal femura with regard to their fractional vascular areas in the late post-operative stage. In contrast, scintigraphy tended to perform better (AUC=0.984±0.022) than Doppler ultrasound (AUC=0.746±0.131) to demonstrate the vascularity intensity per area unit (P=0.07) in the late stage. CONCLUSION: Our results warrant further investigation to determine the value of different imaging modalities for assessment of pathologic changes following hip surgery. Power Doppler sonography demonstrated larger AUCs (representing higher accuracy) for the discrimination of vascular fractional areas and scintigraphy, for discrimination of the number of vessels per area unit.OBJETIVO: Regeneração em casos de lesão óssea resulta em aumento da vascularização local e remodelamento da medula óssea adjacente. A caracterização imagenológica de padrões vasculares e metabólicos no fêmur proximal após uma osteotomia intertrocantérica pode auxiliar ortopedistas a decidirem qual a terapêutica mais apropriada. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as alterações temporais observadas por ultra-sonografia Doppler e cintilografia no fêmur proximal após a realização de uma osteotomia intertrocantérica; e comparar achados imagenológicos e histomorfométricos no estágio pós-operatório tardio (6 semanas após a cirurgia) num modelo animal de lesão óssea. MATERIAIS AND MÉTODOS: Ambos os quadris de 12 coelhos adultos foram examinados por ultra-sonografia power Doppler e cintilografia antes e após (7 dias e 6 semanas) uma osteotomia unilateral. A acurácia dos métodos de imagem foi avaliada usando-se o status operatório dos quadris and os resultados histomorfométricos (área vascular fracional e número de vasos/unidade de área) como medidas de referência. RESULTADOS: Uma diferença significativa foi observada entre o número médio de pixels presentes no fêmur proximal operado e não-operado ao exame de power Doppler obtido no estágio pós-operatório tardio (P=0.049). Embora ser atingir significância estatística, a área abaixo da curva ("area-under-the-curve") dos exames de power Doppler (AUC=0.99) for numericamente superior à área abaixo da curva dos exames de cintilografia (AUC= 0.857±0.099) (P=0.15) para diferenciar fêmures proximais com relação a suas áreas vasculares fracionais no estágio pós-operatório tardio. Ao contrário, a cintilografia tendeu a apresentar uma "performance" diagnóstica superior (AUC=0.984±0.022) em relação ao Doppler (AUC=0.746±0.131) para demonstrar a quantidade de vasos por unidade de área (P=0.07) no estágio tardio. CONCLUSÃO: Nossos resultados despertam a importância de continuar-se investigando o valor de diferentes métodos de imagem para se avaliar achados patológicos após a realização de cirurgias do quadril. A ultra-sonografia power Doppler demonstrou maiores áreas abaixo da curva (representando maior acurácia) para discriminar áreas vasculares fracionais e cintilografia, para discriminar quantidade de vasos/unidade de área

Algunes reflexions entorn de la conceptualització de la infància i adolescència en risc social a l'Estat espanyol

L'article realitza una aproximació a les interpretacions del concepte de risc social de la infancia per part de diversos autors d'àmbit estatal, tenint també en compte els marcs legals català i espanyol. Pretén aclarir quins són els criteris valoratius emprats, tant des de l'àmbit acadèmic com del professional, per interpretar les categoritzacions de la infància i l'adolescència en processos de dificultat i precarietat social. Des d'aquesta perspectiva, s'hi analitza l'estreta relació entre factors de risc, desemparament i marginació. S'hi rebutgen les interpretacions que responsabilitzen el propi menor de la desadaptació, i s'hi defensa la hipótesi de la necessitat d'una intervenció socioeducativa que treballi per una disminució dels factors de risc en el propi medi, mantenint el seu protagonisme en aquest procés.This article is an approach to the different acceptances of the concept social risk as well as the terms neglect and maladjustment, based on the reflections made by different authors and both statal and autonomous legal framework. It intends to clarify which are the criteria of values used in academic and professional ambits in order to understand the categoriesfound in the fields of childhood and adolescence in difficult and precarious conditions. The strong relation between risk factors, neglect and margination has been analysed from this point of view. In the same way the interpretations that hold the minor himself responsible for his maladjustment are rejected and the author defends the necessity of a socio-educational intervention, which reduces the risk factors in the child's environment, and the need of paying close attention to the child's main role in this process.El artículo realiza una aproximación a las interpretaciones del concepto de riesgo social de la infancia por parte de diversos autores de ámbito estatal, teniendo también en cuenta los marcos legales catalán y español. Pretende aclarar cuáles son los criterios valorativos utilizados, tanto desde el ámbito academico como profesional, para interpretar las categorizaciones de la infancia en procesos de dificultad y precariedad. Desde esta perspectiva, se analiza la estrecha relación entre factores de riesgo, desamparamiento y marginación. Se rechazan las interpretaciones que responsabilizan al propio menor de la desadaptación y se defiende la hipótesis de la necesidad de una intervención socioeducativa que trabaje para una disminución de los factores de riesgo en el propio medio, manteniendo su protagonismo en este proceso

Effect of intertrochanteric osteotomy on the proximal femur of rabbits: assessment with power Doppler sonography and scintigraphy

OBJECTIVE: In bone injury, repair results in local increased vascularity and bone marrow remodeling. Characterizing the vascular and metabolic imaging patterns of the proximal femur following an intertrochanteric osteotomy may help clinicians decide proper management of the patient. Our objective was to measure Doppler sonography and scintigraphy interval changes in the proximal femur following intertrochanteric osteotomy and compare imaging and histomorphometric measurements in the late post-operative stage (6 weeks after surgery) in a rabbit model of bone injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Both hips of 12 adult rabbits were imaged with power Doppler sonography and scintigraphy prior to and after (7 days and 6 weeks) unilateral osteotomy. Accuracy of the imaging methods was evaluated using hip operative status and histomorphometric results (vascular fractional area and number of vessels per area unit) as reference standard measures. RESULTS: A significant difference in the mean number of pixels was noted between operated and non-operated femura in late post-operative power Doppler examinations (P=0.049). Although without reaching statistical significance, the AUC of Doppler measurements (AUC=0.99) was numerically greater than the AUC of scintigraphy measurements (AUC=0.857±0.099) (P=0.15) in differentiating proximal femura with regard to their fractional vascular areas in the late post-operative stage. In contrast, scintigraphy tended to perform better (AUC=0.984±0.022) than Doppler ultrasound (AUC=0.746±0.131) to demonstrate the vascularity intensity per area unit (P=0.07) in the late stage. CONCLUSION: Our results warrant further investigation to determine the value of different imaging modalities for assessment of pathologic changes following hip surgery. Power Doppler sonography demonstrated larger AUCs (representing higher accuracy) for the discrimination of vascular fractional areas and scintigraphy, for discrimination of the number of vessels per area unit.OBJETIVO: Regeneração em casos de lesão óssea resulta em aumento da vascularização local e remodelamento da medula óssea adjacente. A caracterização imagenológica de padrões vasculares e metabólicos no fêmur proximal após uma osteotomia intertrocantérica pode auxiliar ortopedistas a decidirem qual a terapêutica mais apropriada. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as alterações temporais observadas por ultra-sonografia Doppler e cintilografia no fêmur proximal após a realização de uma osteotomia intertrocantérica; e comparar achados imagenológicos e histomorfométricos no estágio pós-operatório tardio (6 semanas após a cirurgia) num modelo animal de lesão óssea. MATERIAIS AND MÉTODOS: Ambos os quadris de 12 coelhos adultos foram examinados por ultra-sonografia power Doppler e cintilografia antes e após (7 dias e 6 semanas) uma osteotomia unilateral. A acurácia dos métodos de imagem foi avaliada usando-se o status operatório dos quadris and os resultados histomorfométricos (área vascular fracional e número de vasos/unidade de área) como medidas de referência. RESULTADOS: Uma diferença significativa foi observada entre o número médio de pixels presentes no fêmur proximal operado e não-operado ao exame de power Doppler obtido no estágio pós-operatório tardio (P=0.049). Embora ser atingir significância estatística, a área abaixo da curva ("area-under-the-curve") dos exames de power Doppler (AUC=0.99) for numericamente superior à área abaixo da curva dos exames de cintilografia (AUC= 0.857±0.099) (P=0.15) para diferenciar fêmures proximais com relação a suas áreas vasculares fracionais no estágio pós-operatório tardio. Ao contrário, a cintilografia tendeu a apresentar uma "performance" diagnóstica superior (AUC=0.984±0.022) em relação ao Doppler (AUC=0.746±0.131) para demonstrar a quantidade de vasos por unidade de área (P=0.07) no estágio tardio. CONCLUSÃO: Nossos resultados despertam a importância de continuar-se investigando o valor de diferentes métodos de imagem para se avaliar achados patológicos após a realização de cirurgias do quadril. A ultra-sonografia power Doppler demonstrou maiores áreas abaixo da curva (representando maior acurácia) para discriminar áreas vasculares fracionais e cintilografia, para discriminar quantidade de vasos/unidade de área

How a Diverse Research Ecosystem Has Generated New Rehabilitation Technologies: Review of NIDILRR’s Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers

Over 50 million United States citizens (1 in 6 people in the US) have a developmental, acquired, or degenerative disability. The average US citizen can expect to live 20% of his or her life with a disability. Rehabilitation technologies play a major role in improving the quality of life for people with a disability, yet widespread and highly challenging needs remain. Within the US, a major effort aimed at the creation and evaluation of rehabilitation technology has been the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERCs) sponsored by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. As envisioned at their conception by a panel of the National Academy of Science in 1970, these centers were intended to take a “total approach to rehabilitation”, combining medicine, engineering, and related science, to improve the quality of life of individuals with a disability. Here, we review the scope, achievements, and ongoing projects of an unbiased sample of 19 currently active or recently terminated RERCs. Specifically, for each center, we briefly explain the needs it targets, summarize key historical advances, identify emerging innovations, and consider future directions. Our assessment from this review is that the RERC program indeed involves a multidisciplinary approach, with 36 professional fields involved, although 70% of research and development staff are in engineering fields, 23% in clinical fields, and only 7% in basic science fields; significantly, 11% of the professional staff have a disability related to their research. We observe that the RERC program has substantially diversified the scope of its work since the 1970’s, addressing more types of disabilities using more technologies, and, in particular, often now focusing on information technologies. RERC work also now often views users as integrated into an interdependent society through technologies that both people with and without disabilities co-use (such as the internet, wireless communication, and architecture). In addition, RERC research has evolved to view users as able at improving outcomes through learning, exercise, and plasticity (rather than being static), which can be optimally timed. We provide examples of rehabilitation technology innovation produced by the RERCs that illustrate this increasingly diversifying scope and evolving perspective. We conclude by discussing growth opportunities and possible future directions of the RERC program

Engineering Ligand and Receptor Pairs with LIPSTIC to Track Cell-Cell Interactions

Interactions between different cell types are critical for a plethora of biological processes, such as the immune response. We recently developed a novel technology, called LIPSTIC (labeling of immune partnership by SorTagging intercellular contacts), that allows for identifying cells undergoing specific interactions thanks to an enzymatic labeling reaction. Our work demonstrated the use of this technology to monitor interactions between immune cells, both in vitro and in vivo, by the genetic engineering of CD40 and CD40L, an essential costimulatory axis between antigen-presenting cells and T cells. Here we describe protocols to design novel LIPSTIC-engineered ligand and receptor pairs, clone constructs into retroviral expression vector, perform their initial validation, and use them to measure interactions ex vivo. This information will be useful to investigators interested in exploiting the LIPSTIC technology to track their favorite immune interaction. © 2021 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Design of LIPSTIC-engineered ligand and receptor pairs. Basic Protocol 2: Cloning of LIPSTIC-engineered ligand and receptor pairs. Basic Protocol 3: Validation of LIPSTIC-engineered ligand and receptor pairs in 293T cells. Basic Protocol 4: Measuring interaction with LIPSTIC in immune cells ex vivo

Multiple molecular sources reveal possible expansion range of the Egyptian sole in the Mediterranean

In the Mediterranean flatfish are valuable fishery resources, with potential for aquaculture production. The assessment and monitoring of the stocks status are crucial to achieve environment-friendly management. However, the coexistence of two cryptic Solea species, S. solea and S. aegyptiaca, might lead to misidentification of specimens during the collection of fishery data, especially in areas where they live in sympatry. Using recently developed molecular markers, which have enabled their reliable identification, we provide new insights on the evolutionary history of the Mediterranean soles by analyzing species distribution, population structure, demography and inter-specific reproductive interactions with multiple molecular datasets. The analyses reveal a wider distribution of S. aegyptiaca in the Mediterranean Sea than previously described, hence pointing to a possible range expansion. In both species all markers consistently revealed significant population structuring according to a longitudinal gradient and demographic expansion. Despite their sympatric distribution in various regions, nuclear data confirmed the lack of inter-specific hybridization or introgression. Further multidisciplinarity in research (combining morphology, reproductive biology, life history traits analysis with genetics) are needed to unravel the possible range expansion of S. aegyptiaca according to a general hypothesis of Mediterranean tropicalization and its ecological interactions with the sympatric S. solea