The relationship among the Auletobius species of the subgenus Canarauletes and the description of a new species (Attelabidae: Rhynchitinae)

Eine neue Auletobius-Art des Subgenus Canarauletes, Auletobius gaditanus spec. nov., wird aus dem Süden Spaniens beschrieben. Die Meldung, dass die Schwesterart Auletobius maroccanus Hoffmann, 1953 (Locus typicus: Marokko, Reggou, Moyen Moulouya) ebenfalls in Spanien (Almeria: Punta del Sabinar) vorkommt, wird korrigiert. Auch bei diesem Nachweis handelt es sich zweifelsfrei um die neue, hier beschriebene Art, die in einer morphologischen und molekularen Differentialdiagnose (CO1) von den verwandten Arten aus Marokko, den Kanarischen Inseln und Madeira abgegrenzt wird. Für fast alle Canarauletes-Arten wird hier erstmalig ein molekulares Dendrogramm im Diskussionsteil vorgestellt.   Nomenklatorische Handlungen Auletobius gaditanus spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:17F6BFE9-974E-46B2-BA6E-05624044EAD7A new Auletobius species of the subgenus Canarauletes, Auletobius gaditanus spec. nov., is described from southern Spain. The report that the sister taxon Auletobius maroccanus Hoffmann, 1953 (Locus typicus: Morocco, Reggou, Moyen Moulouya) also occurs in Spain (Almeria: Punta del Sabinar) is corrected, because this specimen also belongs to the new species without doubt. In a morphological and molecular differential diagnosis, the new species is distinguished from the closest related species, and for the first time, a molecular relationship analysis (CO1) is presented for almost all species of the subgenus Canarauletes, whose main distribution area is in the Canary Islands and Madeira.   Taxonomic acts Auletobius gaditanus spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:17F6BFE9-974E-46B2-BA6E-05624044EAD

The Effect of City Conditions on Youth Violence in Mexico A Spatial Econometric Analysis by Metropolitan Area

Using Mexico s Social Cohesion Survey for the Prevention of Violence and Crime ECOPRED 2014 and the Mexican Intercensal Population Survey CONTEO 2015 this paper analyses the characteristics and environment factors that influence the violent behavior of young people aged 14 to 24 years within the 47 largest Mexican cities The existence of spatial correlation between Mexican cities is corroborated and after controlling for it it is found that factors related to addictions drug use by young people and their families and a violent environment around the young being bullied robbed or having violent friends neighbors coworkers or classmates are positively related to the percentage of young people who shout hit objects hit people carry weapons or have been arrested Public policies to reduce the use of drugs and to improve the environment where young people live mainly in their neighborhoods schools and jobs will have a direct effect on reducing the violent behavior of young people And given the confirmed existence of spatial effects coordinated efforts between nearby cities could multiply the impact of such public policie

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Genotyping: Automation and Application in Routine Laboratory Testing

A large number of assays designed for genotyping human papillomaviruses (HPV) have been developed in the last years. They perform within a wide range of analytical sensitivity and specificity values for the different viral types, and are used either for diagnosis, epidemiological studies, evaluation of vaccines and implementing and monitoring of vaccination programs. Methods for specific genotyping of HPV-16 and HPV-18 are also useful for the prevention of cervical cancer in screening programs. Some commercial tests are, in addition, fully or partially automated. Automation of HPV genotyping presents advantages such as the simplicity of the testing procedure for the operator, the ability to process a large number of samples in a short time, and the reduction of human errors from manual operations, allowing a better quality assurance and a reduction of cost. The present review collects information about the current HPV genotyping tests, with special attention to practical aspects influencing their use in clinical laboratories

Semen parameters can be predicted from environmental factors and lifestyle using artificial intelligence methods

Fertility rates have dramatically decreased in the last two decades, especially in men. It has been described that environmental factors as well as life habits may affect semen quality. In this paper we use artificial intelligence techniques in order to predict semen characteristics resulting from environmental factors, life habits, and health status, with these techniques constituting a possible decision support system that can help in the study of male fertility potential. A total of 123 young, healthy volunteers provided a semen sample that was analyzed according to the World Health Organization 2010 criteria. They also were asked to complete a validated questionnaire about life habits and health status. Sperm concentration and percentage of motile sperm were related to sociodemographic data, environmental factors, health status, and life habits in order to determine the predictive accuracy of a multilayer perceptron network, a type of artificial neural network. In conclusion, we have developed an artificial neural network that can predict the results of the semen analysis based on the data collected by the questionnaire. The semen parameter that is best predicted using this methodology is the sperm concentration. Although the accuracy for motility is slightly lower than that for concentration, it is possible to predict it with a significant degree of accuracy. This methodology can be a useful tool in early diagnosis of patients with seminal disorders or in the selection of candidates to become semen donors.This study was partially funded by Vicerrectorado de Investigación, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain (Vigrob-137)

Impact of primary care nursing workforce characteristics on the control of high-blood pressure: A multilevel analysis

Objective: To determine the impact of Primary Health Care (PHC) nursing workforce characteristics and of the clinical practice environment (CPE) perceived by nurses on the control of high-blood pressure (HBP). Design: Cross-sectional analytical study. Setting: Administrative and clinical registries of hypertensive patients from PHC information systems and questionnaire from PHC nurses. Participants: 76 797 hypertensive patients in two health zones within the Community of Madrid, North- West Zone (NWZ) with a higher socioeconomic situation and South-West Zone (SWZ) with a lower socioeconomic situation, and 442 reference nurses. Segmented analyses by area were made due to their different socioeconomic characteristics. Primary outcome measure: Poor HBP control (adequate figures below the value 140/90 mm Hg) associated with the characteristics of the nursing workforce and selfperceived CPE. Results: The prevalence of poor HBP control, estimated by an empty multilevel model, was 33.5% (95% CI 31.5% to 35.6%). In the multilevel multivariate regression models, the perception of a more favourable CPE was associated with a reduction in poor control in NWZ men and SWZ women (OR=0.99 (95% CI 0.98 to 0.99)); the economic immigration conditions increased poor control in NWZ women (OR=1.53 (95% CI 1.24 to 1.89)) and in SWZ, both men (OR=1.89 (95% CI 1.43 to 2.51)) and women (OR=1.39 (95% CI 1.09 to 1.76)). In all four models, increasing the annual number of patient consultations was associated with a reduction in poor control (NWZ women: OR=0.98 (95% CI0.98 to 0.99); NWZ men: OR=0.98 (95% CI 0.97 to 0.99); SWZ women: OR=0.98 (95% CI 0.97 to 0.99); SWZ men: OR=0.99 (95% CI 0.97 to 0.99). Conclusions: A CPE, perceived by PHC nurses as more favourable, and more patient–nurse consultations, contribute to better HBP control. Economic immigration condition is a risk factor for poor HBP control. Health policies oriented towards promoting positive environments for nursing practice are neededThe results presented here form part of a study that has been funded partially with the First Prize for National Research in Nursing (12th edition) from Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla (Santander) in 2010

Neotropical tadpoles: spatial and temporal distribution and habitat use in a seasonal lake in Veracruz, México

We studied a tadpole assemblage in a seasonal neotropical lake where 14 species of anurans reproduce. Tadpoles were collected monthly at nine sampling stations at depth intervals of 1 m from the surface to the bottom (13 m). Sufficient numbers of tadpoles of three species were collected to compare habitat use. This three species assemblage breed in the following order (first to last): Smilisca baudinii, Gastrophryne usta, and Rana berlandieri. R. berlandieri had the greatest microhabitat breadth followed by S. baudinii. S. baudinii and G. usta had high microhabitat overlap, but significant differences in microhabitat use were found. S. baudinii tended to occur near the bottom, while G. usta was near the surface. This study shows that temporal and habitat partitioning both occur and depend on the species of tadpole. Dynamic interactions occur between habitat and temporal dimensions. Phenology and habitat selection depend both on the species and on abiotic and biotic factors

Are superficial neuromasts proprioceptors underlying fast copulatory behavior?

In male Poeciliid fishes, the modified anal fin (i.e., gonopodium) and its axial and appendicular support are repositioned within the axial skeleton, creating a novel sexually dimorphic ano-urogenital region. During copulation, the relative location of the gonopodium is crucial for successful insemination. Therefore, the repositioning of these structures and organ relied on the reorganization of the efferent circuitry that controls spinal motor neurons innervating appendicular muscles critical for the movement of the gonopodium, including the fast and synchronous torque-trust motion during insemination attempts. Copulation occurs when a male positions himself largely outside a female’s field of view, circumducts his gonopodium, and performs a rapid, complex maneuver to properly contact the female urogenital sinus with the distal tip of the gonopodium and transfers sperm. Although understanding of the efferent circuitry has significantly increased in the last 24 years, nothing is known about the cutaneous receptors involved in gonopodium movement, or how the afferent signals are processed to determine the location of this organ during copulation. Using Western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis, as our model, we attempt to fill this gap in knowledge. Preliminary data showed cutaneous nerves and sensory neurons innervating superficial neuromasts surrounding the base of adult male gonopodium; those cutaneous nerves projected ventrally from the spinal cord through the 14th dorsal root ganglion and its corresponding ventral root towards the base and fin rays of the gonopodium. We asked what role the cutaneous superficial neuromasts play in controlling the positioning and timing of the gonopodium’s fast and synchronous movements for effective sperm transfer. First, we found a greater number of superficial neuromasts surrounding the base of the male’s gonopodium compared to the base of the female’s anal fin. Second, we systemically removed superficial neuromasts surrounding the gonopodium base and observed significant impairment of the positioning and timing of gonopodial movements. Our findings provide a first step to supporting the following hypothesis: during radical reorganization of the Poeciliid body plan, superficial neuromasts have been partially co-opted as proprioceptors that allow the gonopodium to control precise positioning and timing during copulatory attempts