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Genus Ophthalmoplax Rathbun, 1935 Type species. Zanthopsis brasiliana Maury, 1930, by subsequent designation (Vega et al. 2013)., Published as part of Guzmán, Walter, Bermúdez, Hermann D., Gómez-Cruz, Arley De Jesús & Vega, Francisco J., 2023, Validation of Ophthalmoplax andina Guzmán, Bermúdez, Gómez-Cruz, & Vega (Decapoda: Brachyura: Portunoidea) from the late Campanian, Upper Cretaceous of Colombia, pp. 495-497 in Zootaxa 5315 (5) on page 495, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5315.5.8, http://zenodo.org/record/8142423, {"references":["Rathbun, M. J. (1935) Fossil Crustacea of the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain. Geological Society of America, Special Papers, 2, 1 - 160. https: // doi. org / 10.1130 / spe 2 - p 1","Maury, C. J. (1930) O Cretaceo da Parahyba do Norte. Servico Geologico e Mineralogico do Brasil, Monografias, 8, 1 - 350.","Vega, F. J., Phillips, G. E., Nyborg, T., Flores-Ventura, J., Clements, D., Espinosa, B. & Solis-Pichardo, G. (2013) Morphology and size variation of a Portunoid crab from the Maastrichtian of the Americas. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 47, 1 - 20. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / j. jsames. 2013.07.005"]}

Ophthalmoplax andina sp. nov. (Fig. 1) Ophthalmoplax andina Guzmán, Bermúdez, Gómez-Cruz & Vega, 2016: 95–101, figs. 3–5A. [Not available] Type material. HOLOTYPE: UN-DG-CR-021, carapace preserving dorsal surface, carapace length 8.5 mm, width 14.4 mm, late Campanian shales of the Lodolitas de Aguacaliente Formation, Guadalupe Group, Colombia. PARATYPE: UN- DG-CR-021, carapace preserving dorsal surface and base of long left lateral spine, length about 21.6 mm, width 42.1 mm, same locality as holotype. Diagnosis. Carapace small, wider than long, subquadrate; rostrum bifid; orbital spines sharp and short. Dorsal carapace surface mostly defined by sharp transverse ridges and grooves, deep grooves demarcating mesobranchial region; mesobranchial region with wide transverse ridges with fine tubercles on crests, connected to long, sharp lateral spine. Etymology. The name of the new species is related to the Andean region of Colombia; used as a noun in apposition. Remarks. A full description and figures of Ophthalmoplax andina and stratigraphic account are given by Guzmán et al. (2016).

Guzmán, Walter, Bermúdez, Hermann D., Gómez-Cruz, Arley De Jesús, Vega, Francisco J. (2023): Validation of Ophthalmoplax andina Guzmán, Bermúdez, Gómez-Cruz, & Vega (Decapoda: Brachyura: Portunoidea) from the late Campanian, Upper Cretaceous of Colombia. Zootaxa 5315 (5): 495-497, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5315.5.8, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5315.5.8

Ophthalmoplax andina sp. nov. (Fig. 1) Ophthalmoplax andina Guzmán, Bermúdez, Gómez-Cruz & Vega, 2016: 95–101, figs. 3–5A. [Not available] Type material. HOLOTYPE: UN-DG-CR-021, carapace preserving dorsal surface, carapace length 8.5 mm, width 14.4 mm, late Campanian shales of the Lodolitas de Aguacaliente Formation, Guadalupe Group, Colombia. PARATYPE: UN- DG-CR-021, carapace preserving dorsal surface and base of long left lateral spine, length about 21.6 mm, width 42.1 mm, same locality as holotype. Diagnosis. Carapace small, wider than long, subquadrate; rostrum bifid; orbital spines sharp and short. Dorsal carapace surface mostly defined by sharp transverse ridges and grooves, deep grooves demarcating mesobranchial region; mesobranchial region with wide transverse ridges with fine tubercles on crests, connected to long, sharp lateral spine. Etymology. The name of the new species is related to the Andean region of Colombia; used as a noun in apposition. Remarks. A full description and figures of Ophthalmoplax andina and stratigraphic account are given by Guzmán et al. (2016)., Published as part of Guzmán, Walter, Bermúdez, Hermann D., Gómez-Cruz, Arley De Jesús & Vega, Francisco J., 2023, Validation of Ophthalmoplax andina Guzmán, Bermúdez, Gómez-Cruz, & Vega (Decapoda: Brachyura: Portunoidea) from the late Campanian, Upper Cretaceous of Colombia, pp. 495-497 in Zootaxa 5315 (5) on page 496, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5315.5.8, http://zenodo.org/record/8142423, {"references":["Guzman, W., Bermudez, H. D., Gomez-Cruz, A de J. & Vega, F. J. (2016) Ophthalmoplax (Decapoda, Brachyura, Portunoidea) from the late Campanian, Upper Cretaceous, of Colombia. Boletin de la Sociedad Geologica Mexicana, 68 (1), 93 - 103. https: // doi. org / 10.18268 / bsgm 2016 v 68 n 1 a 11"]}

This article examines the effect of energy subsidies on human capital spending for a sample of 57 emerging and developing countries over the period 2004-2019. The results of the system-based GMM approach reveal that energy subsidies negatively and significantly influence social spending on human capital in the full panel, the poor and resource-rich countries in our sample. These results confirm a political implication which consists in rationalizing energy subsidies in order to raise funds to support social spending on human capital in emerging and developing countries.

This article is a contribution to and reassessment of the debate about the concept of ‘white labourism’ hosted in this journal in 2010. White labourism is a concept formulated by Jonathan Hyslop to describe an ideology combining an anti-capitalist critique with racial segregation that he argued was dominant in a transnational white working class in the British Empire in the early twentieth century. The debate about this concept has focused on the appeal and extent of this ideology in South Africa during the early twentieth century. In light of recent scholarship on Southern Africa, we take a longer-term perspective to critically examine the concept and the debate. Specifically, we make three interventions into this debate: we consider the role of white workers outside British imperial networks; we examine how radical and revolutionary ideas disappeared from white-working class politics in the mid-twentieth century; and we reassess the connection between transnational flows of people and ideas. Racial divisions in the working class and labour movement in Southern Africa were persistent and enduring. We argue that racial segregation had an enduring appeal to white workers in Southern Africa, and the sources of this appeal were more varied and locally rooted than simply transnational migration to the region.

the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, project TK03030121 Conceptual Design of an Innovative Safety System for Gas-cooled Nuclear Reactors

"An abundant and diverse assemblage ofdecapod crustaceans from theNeogene (Miocene to Pliocene) from the Las Perdices and Tubará forma - tions in San Jacinto Fold Belt (Co - lombian Caribbean) is here reported. Found in shallow marine and paralic sediments, specimens of the following species are identified: Callianassidae, Neocallichirus scotti (Brown and Pilsb - ry, 1913), Glypturus toulai (Rathbun, 1919), Petrochirus bouvieriRathbun,1919, Hepatus lineatinus Collins and Todd in Todd and Collins, 2005, Pa - laeopinixa perornata Collins and Mor - ris, 1976, Persephona enigmatica Collins and Todd in Todd and Collins, 2005, Microphrys sp., Necronectesproavitus (Rathbun, 1918), Scylla sp., Euphylax maculatus Collins and Todd in Todd and Collins, 2005, and Eurytium sp. All of these species indicate a cor - relation with other Caribbean crus - taceans from the Neogene, mainly of Panama, Costa Rica, and Venezuela. The facies association and decapod assemblage suggest shallow marine environments for the Neogene units of this area of Caribbean coast ofColombia."

A ~20 mm thick spherule bed representing Chicxulub impact ejecta deposits and marking the Cretaceous/Paleogene (K/Pg) boundary was recently discovered on Gorgonilla Island (Gorgona National Natural ...

A 22-year-old female presented for evaluation of five years of progressive left exophthalmos and intermittent blurred vision. She had previously received laser treatment for peripheral retinal neovascularization and had undergone lip reconstruction for a left-sided congenital vascular facial malformation. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated diffuse enlargement of the left extraocular and temporalis muscles, with prominent vessels in the temporalis muscle and intraconal fat. Left fundoscopic examination revealed grossly enlarged, tortuous retinal vessels extending from the optic disc to the peripheral retina and an abnormal network of capillaries. On the basis of these findings, a diagnosis of retinoencephalofacial angiomatosis was established. Retinoencephalofacial angiomatosis is a rare, non-hereditary disorder associated with ipsilateral retinal, brain, and facial arteriovenous malformations. This is the first report, to the authors' knowledge, of retinoencephalofacial angiomatosis presenting with exophthalmos secondary to extraocular muscle enlargement.

The discovery of a new Cretaceous/Palaeogene (K/Pg) bathyal marine sequence on Gorgonilla Island, SW Colombia, extends the presence of Chicxulub impact spherule deposits to the Pacific region of northern South America and to the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The Gorgonilla spherule layer is approximately 20 mm thick and consists of extraordinarily well-preserved glass spherules up to 1.1 mm in diameter. About 70–90% of the spherules are vitrified, and their chemical composition is consistent with Haiti (Beloc) impact glass spherules. Normal size-grading, delicate spherule textures, welded melt components and an absence of bioturbation or traction transport suggest that the Gorgonilla spherule layer represents an almost undisturbed settling

Se documenta la presencia de una nueva especie del braquiuro Ophthalmoplax con base en dos especimenes recolectados en lutitas de la Formacion Lodolitas de Aguacaliente, parte media del Grupo Guadalupe, (Cordillera Oriental, Andes de Colombia), la cual registra un evento transgresivo regional. Los pequenos crustaceos se han colectado en rocas que representan las ultimas parasecuencias con patron de apilamiento retrogradacional, muy cerca de la superficie de maxima inundacion (MFS), al final del transgressive systems tract (TST) del Campaniano tardio. Este es el registro mas antiguo del genero Ophthalmoplax en America. Se discuten las afinidades morfologicas con otras especies del genero, asi como la reduccion de talla, en relacion a eventos de anoxia y paleotemperatura

Hintergrund: Alkoholabhängigkeit ist eine chronische Erkrankung, die hohe Kosten im Gesundheitssystem verursacht. Auswertungen der Routinedaten der beiden wichtigsten stationären Einrichtungen der Tertiärversorgung innerhalb eines Versorgungsgebietes ergaben, dass ca. 3,5% der dort[zum vollständigen Text gelangen Sie über die oben angegebene URL], 17. Deutscher Kongress für Versorgungsforschung (DKVF)

A 40 m stratigraphic section at Gorgonilla Island, Colombia, provides a unique deepmarine, low-latitude, Southern Hemisphere record of events related to the end-Cretaceous Chicxulub impact and the global Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary (KPB). The KPB is marked by a 20-mm-thick, densely packed spherule bed as defined by planktic foraminifera, in contrast to complex relationships found in high-energy, impact-proximal sites in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean basins. The absence of basal Danian foraminiferal Zone P0 may indicate a possible hiatus of This study is a contribution to project CGL2015–64422-P (MINECO/FEDER-UE, Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness and the European Fund for Regional Development). Gilabert acknowledges support from the MINECO/FEDER-UE (FPI grant BES-2016–077800). Vajda was supported by the Swedish Research Council (VR grant 2015–4264, and LUCCI, Lund University Carbon Cycle Centre). Authors thank Paleoexplorer SAS (Colombia) for logistics and fieldwork support, and Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia

Purpose To report the clinical course and multimodal imaging features of acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR) complicated by choroidal neovascularization (CNV) treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment or photodynamic therapy (PDT). Methods Observational case series. Retrospective analysis of patients presenting to different institutions with evidence of AZOOR and neovascular lesions. Diagnosis of AZOOR was made on the basis of clinical presentation and multimodal imaging. All patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation and multimodal retinal imaging, including color fundus photos, fundus autofluorescence, fundus fluorescein angiography and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Results Four patients (three males, mean age 53.5 years) were included in the study. Mean follow-up was 5.1 years. Presentation of AZOOR was unilateral in two patients and bilateral in the remainder two patients. One of the patients presenting with unilateral AZOOR developed zonal lesions in the fellow eye during follow-up. All patients presented with unilateral type 2 (subretinal) CNV. Three patients underwent intravitreal anti-VEGF injections and one patient underwent a single PDT. Multimodal retinal imaging showed zonal or multizonal progression during treatment. After treatment, visual acuity and CNV stabilization was observed in all patients. Conclusions The presence of CNV expands the clinical spectrum of AZOOR. CNV complicating AZOOR may be effectively treated with intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF, despite progression of the zonal lesions. Further studies are required to define the role of treatment in the progression of the zonal lesions.

The oldest record of the brachyuran Diaulax Bell, 1863 is based on the description of Diaulax rosablanca n. sp. from the middle part of the Rosablanca Formation (Early Cretaceous, early Valanginian, Department of Santander, Colombia). This is also the oldest record for fossil crustaceans from Colombia. The new species is represented by numerous specimens showing ontogenic variation in size and shape, with adults becoming larger and wider at the anterior portion of carapace. Differences with the other five species of the genus are subtle but sufficient to erect a new species. The associated ammonites Lissonia riveroi (Lisson, 1907), Acantholissonia gerthi (Weaver, 1931) and Raimondiceras sp. confirm an age corresponding to the middle part of the early Valanginian. The paleoenvironment is interpreted as a shallow, restricted low-energy carbonate platform or lagoon within well-oxygenated warm waters. The outcrop includes other decapod remains, too incomplete to offer a preliminary identification.

By preventing access of drugs to the CNS, the blood-brain barrier hampers developments in brain pharmacotherapy. Strong efforts are currently being made to identify drugs that accumulate more efficaciously in ischaemic brain tissue. We identified an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter, ABCC1, which is expressed on the abluminal surface of the brain capillary endothelium and mildly downregulated in response to focal cerebral ischaemia, induced by intraluminal middle cerebral artery occlusion. In biodistribution studies we show that ABCC1 promotes the accumulation of known neuroprotective and neurotoxic compounds in the ischaemic and non-ischaemic brain, ABCC1 deactivation reducing tissue concentrations by up to two orders of magnitude. As such, ABCC1's expression and functionality in the brain differs from the liver, spleen and testis, where ABCC1 is strongly expressed on parenchymal cells, resulting -- in case of liver and testis -- in directed transport from the tissue into the blood. After focal cerebral ischaemia, ABCC1 deactivation abolished the efficacy of both neuroprotective and neurotoxic compounds. Our data indicate that ABCC1 acts as gateway for pharmacological compounds to the stroke brain. We suggest that the tailoring of compounds binding to abluminal but not luminal ABC transporters may facilitate stroke pharmacotherapy

Background: Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is a heterogeneous entity with multiple aetiologies, all linked to underlying vascular disease. Among these, VCI related to subcortical small vessel disease (SSVD) is emerging as a major homogeneous subtype. Its progressive course raises the need for biomarker identification and/or development for adequate therapeutic interventions to be tested. In order to shed light in the current status on biochemical markers for VCI-SSVD, experts in field reviewed the recent evidence and literature data. Method: The group conducted a comprehensive search on Medline, PubMed and Embase databases for studies published until 15.01.2017. The proposal on current status of biochemical markers in VCI-SSVD was reviewed by all co-authors and the draft was repeatedly circulated and discussed before it was finalized. Results: This review identifies a large number of biochemical markers derived from CSF and blood. There is a considerable overlap of VCI-SSVD clinical symptoms with those of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although most of the published studies are small and their findings remain to be replicated in larger cohorts, several biomarkers have shown promise in separating VCI-SSVD from AD. These promising biomarkers are closely linked to underlying SSVD pathophysiology, namely disruption of blood-CSF and blood-brain barriers (BCB-BBB) and breakdown of white matter myelinated fibres and extracellular matrix, as well as blood and brain inflammation. The leading biomarker candidates are: elevated CSF/blood albumin ratio, which reflects BCB/BBB disruption; altered CSF matrix metalloproteinases, reflecting extracellular matrix breakdown; CSF neurofilment as a marker of axonal damage, and possibly blood inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules. The suggested SSVD biomarker deviations contrasts the characteristic CSF profile in AD, i.e. depletion of amyloid beta peptide and increased phosphorylated and total tau. Conclusions: Combining SSVD and AD biomarkers may provide a powerful tool to identify with greater precision appropriate patients for clinical trials of more homogeneous dementia populations. Thereby, biomarkers might promote therapeutic progress not only in VCI-SSVD, but also in AD.

Several specimens of the mecochirid lobster Atherfieldastacus magnus (MʼCoy, 1849) collected in Mexico and Colombia, represent the oldest record for this species. The Mexican specimens are from the Valanginian-Hauterivian San Juan Raya Formation, in Puebla, central Mexico, and the Colombian specimens were found in Barremian deposits of the Paja Formation, north of Bogota. Previous reports of Atherfieldastacus magnus include numerous specimens from the Aptian of Europe (UK, Spain), Mexico, Colombia and Tibet. The new specimens collected in shales of the San Juan Raya Formation of Mexico, represent diverse sizes and excellent quality of preservation; in some samples the articles of the antennae can be observed, among other morphological characters not reported previously for this species. The association of the Mexican specimens with mollusks, echinoids and cones of an araucaria gymnosperm, suggest a shallow marine environment. The same is observed for the Colombian specimens, where sediments of the Paja Formation are reported as shallow marine. Additionally, sexual dimorphism in A. magnus is recognized, based on the analysis of differential morphology of the pleurae. Thus, for the moment, the biostratigraphic range for A. magnus ranges from the Valanginian to the Albian (Early Cretaceous), with the oldest occurrence in Mexico, where it persisted until Aptian times.

To correlate clinical features, imaging and pathologic findings in recurrent Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the orbit (SFT) in order to predict long-term behavior.Clinical features, imaging and pathologic findings of three patients with biopsy proven SFT are reported. Demographic and clinical features were recorded at presentation and at each consultation; imaging was performed as a diagnostic tool and for follow-up. A biopsy was performed at presentation and subsequently when symptoms worsened. Pathology specimens were reviewed retrospectively to corroborate diagnosis. Intraoperative and histopathologic features were recorded. A correlation was made between clinical, imaging and pathologic results to identify outcome predictors of recurrence, locally aggressive behavior and malignant transformation.All cases presented recurrent tumors with locally aggressive behavior over time. All were women in the fifth decade of life. Tumors induced proptosis, swelling of the lids and eye displacement at presentation and were diagnosed as other types of collagen-rich tumors before CD34 immunohistochemistry was available. Mean follow-up was 26.6 years (range 12-37). Relevant findings for all cases included a heterogeneous, irregular tumor containing cystoid spaces filled with mucoid material diffusely enhancing with imaging techniques. Intraoperative findings included a gelatinous matrix within the center of the tumor mass, which was not present at primary resection. Histopathology could not detect specific cellular patterns or immunological markers related to these changes.Recurrence and locally aggressive behavior was better predicted by imaging and surgical findings rather than histopathological characteristics. Cystoid degeneration in recurrent tumors may suggest malignant transformation over time.

Abundant concretions at two localities in central Colombia where the San Gil Inferior and San Gil Superior formations are exposed, have yielded numerous crustacean individuals, comprising one new genus Rathbunassa n. gen. (Callianassidae), two new species Joeranina colombiana n. sp., Planocarcinus johnjagti n. sp., and three further species. The following taxa are recorded: ?Paraxiopsis sp. (Axiidae), Rathbunassa aquilae (rAtHBun, 1935) n. comb. (Callianassidae), Joeranina kerri (Luque, FeLdmAnn, SCHweitzer, JArAmiLLo & CAmeron, 2012) n. comb., Joeranina colombiana n. sp. (Palaeocorystidae), Cenomanocarcinus vanstraeleni StenzeL, 1945 (Cenomanocarcinidae), and Planocarcinus johnjagti n. sp. (Necrocarcinidae). Based on ammonite evidence, the locality within the San Gil Inferior Formation is considered to be of late Aptian age, while the one exposing the San Gil Superior Formation is of middle Albian date. Joeranina kerri is found at both localities; in contrast Planocarcinus johnjagti n. sp. occurs exclusively in the upper Aptian, while the remainder of species are all from the middle Albian locality. The taxa reported herein add important data to the palaeobiodiversity and distribution of Cretaceous decapod crustaceans.

BACKGROUND: Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is a heterogeneous entity with multiple aetiologies, all linked to underlying vascular disease. Among these, VCI related to subcortical small vessel disease (SSVD) is emerging as a major homogeneous subtype. Its progressive course raises the need for biomarker identification and/or development for adequate therapeutic interventions to be tested. In order to shed light in the current status on biochemical markers for VCI-SSVD, experts in field reviewed the recent evidence and literature data. ----- METHOD: The group conducted a comprehensive search on Medline, PubMed and Embase databases for studies published until 15.01.2017. The proposal on current status of biochemical markers in VCI-SSVD was reviewed by all co-authors and the draft was repeatedly circulated and discussed before it was finalized. ----- RESULTS: This review identifies a large number of biochemical markers derived from CSF and blood. There is a considerable overlap of VCI-SSVD clinical symptoms with those of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although most of the published studies are small and their findings remain to be replicated in larger cohorts, several biomarkers have shown promise in separating VCI-SSVD from AD. These promising biomarkers are closely linked to underlying SSVD pathophysiology, namely disruption of blood-CSF and blood-brain barriers (BCB-BBB) and breakdown of white matter myelinated fibres and extracellular matrix, as well as blood and brain inflammation. The leading biomarker candidates are: elevated CSF/blood albumin ratio, which reflects BCB/BBB disruption; altered CSF matrix metalloproteinases, reflecting extracellular matrix breakdown; CSF neurofilment as a marker of axonal damage, and possibly blood inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules. The suggested SSVD biomarker deviations contrasts the characteristic CSF profile in AD, i.e. depletion of amyloid beta peptide and increased phosphorylated and total tau. ----- CONCLUSIONS: Combining SSVD and AD biomarkers may provide a powerful tool to identify with greater precision appropriate patients for clinical trials of more homogeneous dementia populations. Thereby, biomarkers might promote therapeutic progress not only in VCI-SSVD, but also in AD.

Introduction & Objectives: Memory loss and increased anxiety are clinical hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The serine protease kallikrein-8 (KLK8) is implicated in synaptic plasticity and memory acquisition as well as in anxiety-related behavior. KLK8 mRNA is further known to be up-regulated[for full text, please go to the a.m. URL], Joint-Meeting of the German Society for Neuropathology and Neuroanatomy (DGNN) and the Scandinavian Neuropathological Society (SNS)

International audience; Using a panel threshold model, we examine the heterogeneous effects of foreign aidon tax revenue due to government stability in the West African Economic andMonetary Union countries over the period 1986–2010. Panel Smooth ThresholdRegressions indicate the existence of strong threshold effects in the aid–tax relationshipdepending on the level of government stability. They also indicate that the effectof aid on tax revenue is gradual and varies across countries according to the level ofgovernment stability. We find that aid directly reduces tax revenues but for higherlevels of government stability it enhances tax performance. We provide estimatesof country time-varying coefficients of aid effect. We find on average a positiveimpact of aid. However, the size of this impact is very small, suggesting that thereis still much to do at the institutional level to improve the effectiveness of aid fortax performance in WAEMU countries.

Background Despite pleiotropic immunomodulatory effects of apolipoprotein E (apoE) in vitro, its effects on the clinical course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are still controversial. As sex hormones modify immunomodulatory apoE functions, they may explain contentious findings. This study aimed to investigate sex-specific effects of apoE on disease course of EAE and MS. Methods MOG35-55 induced EAE in female and male apoE-deficient mice was assessed clinically and histopathologically. apoE expression was investigated by qPCR. The association of the MS severity score (MSSS) and APOE rs429358 and rs7412 was assessed across 3237 MS patients using linear regression analyses. Results EAE disease course was slightly attenuated in male apoE-deficient (apoE−/−) mice compared to wildtype mice (cumulative median score: apoE−/− = 2 [IQR 0.0–4.5]; wildtype = 4 [IQR 1.0–5.0]; n = 10 each group, p = 0.0002). In contrast, EAE was more severe in female apoE−/− mice compared to wildtype mice (cumulative median score: apoE−/− = 3 [IQR 2.0–4.5]; wildtype = 3 [IQR 0.0–4.0]; n = 10, p = 0.003). In wildtype animals, apoE expression during the chronic EAE phase was increased in both females and males (in comparison to naïve animals; p

Interaction between di(1-alkynyl) sulfides (1) and sodium sulfide, selenide or telluride in mixtures of liquid ammonia and methanol or dimethylformamide and methanol gives 1,4-dithiins (2), 1,4-thiaselenins (3) and 1,4-thiatellurins (4).

Reaction of RCCSCH2CH2Cl (1, R = alkyl) compounds with dilithium disulfide (Li2S2) in ethanol gives 3-alkyl-5,6-dihydro-1,4-dithiins (2, n = 2, X = S). With the alkali mono-sulfide, M2S, dehydrochlorination to (vinylthio)alkynes RCCSCHCH2 (3) predominates. Interaction between 1, n = 2, and M2Se or M2Te (M = Li or Na) in liquid ammonia gives rise to dehydrochlorination as well as to attack on chlorine with intermediate formation of alkynethiolates RCCS− (4); if this reaction is carried out in ammonia-free ethanol, the desired 5,6-dihydro-1,4-thiaselenins and -thiatellurins (2, n = 2, X = Se or Te) are, in some cases, obtained. The chloro sulfides RCCS(CH2)3Cl (1, R = alkyl or phenyl) with alkali metal sulfide, selenide and telluride yield respectively 3-alkyl- or 3-aryl-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4-dithiepins, the corresponding 6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4-thiaselenepins and 6,7-dihydro-5H-thiatellurepins (2, n = 3). When R in the starting compounds 2 is a Me3Si group, the unsubstituted compounds 2 (n = 3, R = H) are formed.

The direct dimetallation of vinylacetylene (1-buten-3-yne) at the 2- and 4-positions can be achieved by the butyllithium-potassium tert-butoxide reagent, but not when butyllithium is used alone or in the presence of TMEDA. Supporting experimental and calculational (ab initio and MNDO) results suggest that the potassium acetylide, KC≡C-CH = CH2, is formed first. Further metallation occurs at the activated C-2 vinyl position. Preferential substitution at the C-2 position in t-BuC≡CCH = CHt-Bu also was demonstrated. Neither dianion nor dilithium models account for the dimetallation results; in both cases, 1,4-arrangements are indicated to be better than 2,4. The 2,4-dimetallated vinylacetylene is a useful intermediate allowing the synthesis of derivatives inaccessible otherwise.

Metallation of N-vinylpyrrole under presumed kinetic conditions, using n-butyllithium in THF/hexane mixtures, n-butyllithium/N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethanediamine in hexane, or n-butyllithium/potassium tert-butoxide (1:1 molar ratio) in THF/hexane mixtures gives almost equal amounts of derivatives metallated at the α-vinyl or 2-pyrrole position. In the presence of 7–10 mol% diisopropylamine the α-vinyl-lithiated compound is transformed relatively slowly into the pyrrole-lithiated derivative at ∼ +30°c. The combined use of catalytic amounts of diisopropylamine and equivalent amounts of n-butyllithium and potassium tert-butoxide gives rise to a fast and almost complete conversion into the pyrrole-metallated derivative at temperatures in the range -60 to –80°c. A number of 2-substituted N-vinylpyrroles have been obtained in good yields by reaction with various electrophilic reagents, in most cases preceded by the addition of anhydrous lithium bromide. N-Deprotection is successful only in the case of N-vinyl-2-pyrrole-carboxaldehyde.

Occurrence of the mecochirid decapod Meyeria magna M’Coy 1849 is documented based on numerous articulated specimens collected from upper Aptian strata of Colombia. This report represents the fi rst record in America for the species, previously reported from Aptian deposits of Europe. The numerous specimens of a relatively uniform size found in a single stratigraphic level suggests a mass mortality event, favorable conditions for the development of the community, or both. The stratigraphic range for the genus Meyeria is confi rmed to be Lower to Upper Cretaceous.

Background Assessment of changes in saccade velocity may be useful in the early detection of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). Two eye-tracking systems were used to measure the velocity of saccadic eye movements in patients with TAO. Method Fourteen patients with active TAO and 14 healthy controls were enrolled for recordings with two eye-tracking systems: the magnetic scleral search coil (MSC; Skalar Medical) and the infrared reflection systems (IR; Orbit XY-1000). The MSC is generally considered the "gold standard" method for tracking of rapid eye movements. The IR system uses novel computer technology and is based on sampling of reflected infrared light from the surface of the eyes. Main sequence plots constructed from the recorded saccadic peak velocity and amplitude were analyzed for differences between patients and healthy controls. Results There were no significant differences between patients with TAO and healthy controls in the constructed main sequence plots of maximum velocity (VMAX) and the slope constant (C). Conclusions Main sequence analysis of saccadic eye movements was not useful for detecting TAO in this experimental setting with either of the two eye-tracking methods. This is hypothesized to be due to compensation for the early orbital changes in TAO by neural adaptation of the saccades in the brain stem. The contradictory results between this and previous studies cannot be easily explained. We assume that there is a large heterogeneity in the saccadic eye movement performance in both the normal population and the TAO-population. Also, differences in the study design may cause dissimilar outcomes and hence incoherent conclusions. A non-invasive recording system that is able to generate a minimum amount of intra- and inter-individual variability and a study design where normal variability can be reduced to a minimum may be useful for future identification of early eye muscle changes in TAO.

24th European Stroke Conference -- MAY 13-15, 2015 -- Vienna, AUSTRIA WOS: 000376023400183 …

In dieser Studie werden die Einflussfaktoren auf die Abweichungen der Investitionsentscheidungen deutscher Schweinehalter vom optimalen Investitionsverhalten nach Realoptionsansatz (ROA) analysiert. Hierzu wird ein Experiment durchgeführt, in dem ökologische und konventionelle Schweinehalter die Möglichkeit haben, in einen konventionellen oder in einen ökologischen Maststall zu investieren. Normative Benchmarks gemäß ROA werden ermittelt und mit den beobachteten Investitionsentscheidungen der Schweinehalter verglichen. Zur Analyse der Faktoren, die die Abweichungen beeinflussen, wird ein multinomiales gemischtes Logit-Modell geschätzt. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen signifikante Einflüsse nicht-monetärer Variablen: Zum einen wird ein signifikanter Framingeffekt beobachtet. Das bedeutet, dass sich die Abweichungen vom ROA verändern, wenn die Schweinehalter in die praktizierte oder in die nicht-praktizierte Bewirtschaftungsweise investieren. Zum anderen wird ein Lerneffekt ausgemacht: Die steigende Erfahrung im Experiment führt zu späteren Investitionsentscheidungen. Außerdem wird der Einfluss betriebsspezifischer und soziodemografischer Variablen auf die Abweichungen festgestellt.

A decreasing drift of the counter-rolled eye position (OCR) during head tilt was recently described. The underlying mechanism is not known. OCR in eleven healthy subjects was recorded (Search coil, Skalar) during a head tilt paradigm in two test conditions. The head was tilted with a velocity below (test 1) and above (test 2) detection threshold for the semicircular canals (SC) and held static for eight minutes. A significant drift of OCR was revealed in test 2 (P = .0006, ANOVA) and close to significant in test 1 (P = .07). No statistical difference was found between the two test conditions. The results suggest that the OCR drift was not caused by the SC complex merely.

For many years, attempts have been made to find an easy, efficient and inexpensive method to screen children for amblyogenic ametropia. Wave-front analysis is a new way to determine the refractive state of the eye from a distance. This technique could be a useful tool for infant screening.The purpose of the study was the evaluation of the efficacy of a commercially available wave-front analyzing autorefractometer (SureSight, software version 2.0, Welch Allyn, Skaneateles Falls, NY 13153, U.S.A.) in detecting amblyogenic ametropia in patients with and without cycloplegia.256 eyes (-28.25 D to +7.88 D spherical equivalent) of 128 patients (1-81 years) were examined with the wave-front autorefractometer under cycloplegia. Prior to this investigation, 108 eyes (-21.38 D to 75 D) of 54 of these patients (1-76 years) were refracted without cycloplegia. The readings of the wave-front autorefractometer were compared with the results of retinoscopy under cycloplegia.Without cycloplegia, the sensitivity in detecting any amblyogenic ametropia such as anisometropia, astigmatism, myopia or hyperopia was 94%, while the specificity was 63%. Following cycloplegia, the sensitivity decreased to 87% and the specificity increased to 80%.Wave-front analyzing refractometry is highly applicable for infant screening. At the present state of development, the efficacy in detecting amblyogenic ametropia is similar to that of other screening techniques and instruments that operate from distance. Cycloplegia enhances the sensitivity in detecting hyperopia and decreases the sensitivity in detecting astigmatism.