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Background: Cocaine-use disorder (CUD) has been associated with early life adversity and activated cellular immune responses. Women are most vulnerable to complications from chronic substance disorders, generally presenting an intense feeling of abstinence and consuming significant drug amounts. Here, we investigated neutrophil functional activities in CUD, including the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and related intracellular signalling. We also investigated the role of early life stress in inflammatory profiles. Methods: Blood samples, clinical data, and history of childhood abuse or neglect were collected at the onset of detoxification treatment of 41 female individuals with CUD and 31 healthy controls (HCs). Plasma cytokines, neutrophil phagocytosis, NETs, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and phosphorylated protein kinase B (Akt) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK)s were assessed by flow cytometry. Results: CUD subjects had higher scores of childhood trauma than controls. Increased plasma cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, and IL-10), neutrophil phagocytosis, and production of NETs were reported in CUD subjects as compared to HC. Neutrophils of CUD subjects also produced high levels of intracellular ROS and had more activated Akt and MAPKs (p38/ERK), which are essential signalling pathways involved in cell survival and NETs production. Childhood trauma scores were significantly associated with neutrophil activation and peripheral inflammation. Conclusion: Our study reinforces that smoked cocaine and early life stress activate neutrophils in an inflammatory environment.

11 p.-6 fig., Identification of genomic alterations that influence the immune response within the tumor microenvironment is mandatory in order to identify druggable vulnerabilities. In this article, by interrogating public genomic datasets we describe copy number variations (CNV) present in breast cancer (BC) tumors and corresponding subtypes, associated with different immune populations. We identified regulatory T-cells associated with the Basal-like subtype, and type 2 T-helper cells with HER2 positive and the luminal subtype. Using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) for the Type 2 T-helper cells, the most relevant processes included the ERBB2 signaling pathway and the Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor (FGFR) signaling pathway, and for CD8+ T-cells, cellular response to growth hormone stimulus or the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Amplification of ERBB2, GRB2, GRB7, and FGF receptor genes strongly correlated with the presence of type 2 T helper cells. Finally, only 8 genes were highly upregulated and present in the cellular membrane: MILR1, ACE, DCSTAMP, SLAMF8, CD160, IL2RA, ICAM2, and SLAMF6. In summary, we described immune populations associated with genomic alterations with different BC subtypes. We observed a clear presence of inhibitory cells, like Tregs or Th2 when specific chromosomic regions were amplified in basal-like or HER2 and luminal groups. Our data support further evaluation of specific therapeutic strategies in specific BC subtypes, like those targeting Tregs in the basal-like subtype., AO’s lab is supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III(ISCIII, PI19/00808). ACEPAIN. CRIS Cancer Foundation and Diputación de Albacete. This research is also supported by PI18/01020from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and co-financed by the European Development Regional Fund (FEDER) “A way to achieve Europe” (ERDF). EM is supported by a “Juan de la Cierva Incorporación” contract of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation with Ref. IJC2019-041728-I.

Genome editing requires precision to broadly move on to industrial and clinical applications. For this reason, homologous directed repair (HDR) is one of the preferred methods for small edits, other than knock-outs. However, HDR has low efficiency. Current investigations to enhance HDR have mainly gone in the direction of finding non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) inhibitors. NHEJ is crucial for cellular integrity, then the inhibition of this pathway is detrimental for the correct survival of living entities. In other studies, a second opportunity is given to HDR by targeting the byproducts of NHEJ, using an extra gRNA. In this study, we propose the use of a meiotic factor, PRDM9, to directly enhance homology recombination. Through the exploration of combinatorial factors and donor design, we have established an optimized protocol for HDR. PRDM9-Cas9 fusion combined with CtIP improves HDR/NHEJ ratio. In addition, we have validated this combinatorial approach for small edits through a traffic light reporter system, as well as for longer edits with a split-GFP reporter system.

Functional diversity measures help to understand the underlying mechanisms explaining the relationship between organisms and environment. This work examined the mesozooplankton community of an estuary under the hypothesis that the upper (< 25 psu) and lower (> 25 psu) zones are functionally different in terms of feeding strategies, trophic groups, camouflage, buoyancy, and defense against predators, due to the salinity gradient. We used the ‘community-weighted mean trait values’ (CWM) and a fuzzy correspondence analysis (FCA) in combination with three functional indices (FRic: functional richness, FEve: functional evenness, FDiv: functional divergence) to test our hypothesis. Zooplankton samples were taken in the tropical Sontecomapan estuary, southern Gulf of Mexico, in June 2018 and October 2019. A total of 21 zooplankton groups were recognized, all of them present in the lower estuary. Results showed significant differences (p< 0.05) in the FRic and FDiv values between the two zones, as well in the CWM metric. Results of the FCA showed that the lower estuary was characterized by herbivorous filter feeders that use watery bodies, flattened body forms, mucus houses, or ‘wings’ for buoyancy; highly transparent bodies (associated with gelatinous body structure) for camouflage and predators’ avoidance and, shells or carapaces as antipredator tactics. The upper estuary was characterized by omnivorous cruising predators that use their appendages or swim bladders for buoyancy, with ‘medium’ and ‘low’ levels of transparency, associated with chitinous and skin-protected body structures, which provide alternative ways for camouflage and spines or fast swimming behavior to protect from predators. These findings evidenced that the upper and lower zones of an estuary exhibit differences in the function of the zooplankton community and shed new light on the comprehension of estuaries’ ecological function.

Gene editing characterization with currently available tools does not always give precise relative proportions among the different types of gene edits present in an edited bulk of cells. We have developed CRISPR-Analytics, CRISPR-A, which is a comprehensive and versatile genome editing web application tool and a nextflow pipeline to give support to gene editing experimental design and analysis. CRISPR-A provides a robust gene editing analysis pipeline composed of data analysis tools and simulation. It achieves higher accuracy than current tools and expands the functionality. The analysis includes mock-based noise correction, spike-in calibrated amplification bias reduction, and advanced interactive graphics. This expanded robustness makes this tool ideal for analyzing highly sensitive cases such as clinical samples or experiments with low editing efficiencies. It also provides an assessment of experimental design through the simulation of gene editing results. Therefore, CRISPR-A is ideal to support multiple kinds of experiments such as double-stranded DNA break-based engineering, base editing (BE), primer editing (PE), and homology-directed repair (HDR), without the need of specifying the used experimental approach.

Lack of knowledge of morphological variations during growth of amphipod crustaceans can result in misidentification of species. In this study, we advance the knowledge of morphological variations of juveniles of the monotypic genus Phrosina Risso, 1822 collected in the oceanic province of the southern Gulf of Mexico. The juveniles differed from the adults mainly in the morphology of pereopods 3 & 4 in that the carpal process is parallel to the propodus, also the rami of the pleopoda consist of only four segments, uropoda 3 are more lanceolate, and the uropoda bear a large prominent spine terminally. These morphological variations have not been described for the species previously. Therefore, the current observations enrich the description of P. semilunata in the early stages of growth and support the need for further taxonomical studiest that could help identify species at different stages of development.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of an educational intervention on patient adoption and attitudes toward selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) as first-line treatment for glaucoma. Methods: This study is a randomized controlled trial. Subjects include 33 patients within 1-year diagnosis of either primary open-angle glaucoma, ocular hypertension, or pseudoexfoliation syndrome. After informed consent, subjects were randomly assigned to a Usual Care or Educational Intervention group. All subjects completed a pre-intervention questionnaire. The Educational Intervention group was shown a slideshow presentation and a 3-min video and given a post-intervention questionnaire. Follow-up examinations were reviewed for 6 months to determine subject completion of SLT, the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes include assessment of attitude toward SLT before and after intervention. Results: Age, gender, and baseline characteristics between the groups did not differ. The Usual Care group had a higher proportion of African Americans (77% vs 31%, p = 0.04). At 6 months following the intervention, 63% of subjects underwent SLT compared to 35% of Usual Care subjects ( p = 0.12). Older age was associated with decreased SLT uptake (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82–0.99, p = 0.03). Prior to the intervention, there were no differences in attitudes of both groups regarding SLT therapy. Nineteen percent of Educational Intervention subjects changed positively toward SLT ( p = 0.08) and 50% scheduled an SLT appointment after intervention ( p = 0.005). Conclusions: A slideshow and video-based educational intervention may positively enhance patient adoption of SLT. Clinical trial registration name, number, URL: Educational Intervention to Adopt SLT as First-Line Glaucoma Treatment, NCT03365778, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03365778

Existen numerosas publicaciones sobre resección endoscópica de lesiones de la papila mayor, pero solo se han presentado series de casos individuales de resección de lesiones de la papila menor. En el presente artículo describimos el éxito técnico y la seguridad de la resección endoscópica de dos lesiones adenomatosas de la papila menor.

PurposeTo assess the prevalence and risk factors of blindness among patients newly diagnosed with primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) in the United States (US).DesignRetrospective cross-sectional study of patients from the American Academy of Ophthalmology IRIS® (Intelligent Research in Sight) Registry.ParticipantsPatients in the IRIS® Registry between the years 2015 to 2019 with a new diagnosis of PACG and visual acuity (VA) data on or within 90 days prior to the date of diagnosis.MethodsEligible patients were aged 18 years and older and: (1) were observable in the database at least 24 months prior to the index date of PACG diagnosis; (2) had no history of intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering drops, laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI), cataract surgery, or a diagnosis of pseudophakia unless preceded by a diagnosis of anatomical narrow angle (ANA); and (3) had no history of glaucoma surgery. Multivariable logistic regression models were developed to assess risk factors of blindness.Main Outcome MeasuresAny (one or both eyes) or bilateral (both eyes) blindness (VA ≤ 20/200) at first diagnosis of PACG.Results43,901 patients with PACG in the IRIS® Registry met inclusion criteria. Overall prevalence of any and bilateral blindness were 11.5% and 1.8%, respectively. Black and Hispanic patients were at higher risk of any (OR=1.42 and 1.21, respectively; p80 years, male sex, Medicaid or Medicare insurance category, and Southern or Western practice region (ORs>1.28; p≤0.01). Diagnosis of ANA prior to diagnosis of PACG was protective against any (OR=0.56; pConclusionsBlindness affects 1 out of 9 patients with newly diagnosed PACG in the IRIS® Registry; Black and Hispanic patients and Medicaid and Medicare recipients are significantly more vulnerable. These findings highlight the severe ocular morbidity associated with PACG and the need for increased disease awareness and improved detection methods.

Habitat loss and subsistence hunting are two of the main activities that affect wildlife in frontier areas. We compared subsistence hunting patterns in four villages with different ethnic composition and degree of habitat disturbance in the vicinity of Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Campeche, Mexico. We also compared differences between some of these villages in harvest composition and prey availability to determine hunting preferences. We used a Landsat TM satellite image to analyze the degree of disturbance around the villages. We conducted periodic surveys of subsistence hunting and prey availability. Wildlife availability was assessed monthly on nine transects (3000 m) established in the vicinity of three villages. The relative amount of disturbed habitat was smaller in an indigenous Maya village ( IV ) and larger in a mestizo village ( MV ). The two mixed-composition villages ( MCVs) had intermediate levels of disturbance. Ten species, four large and six small, of birds and mammals accounted for 97% of the hunting records. Hunting was more intense in IV and less intense in MCV1. The three village types had different hunting preferences. The habitat-mosaic composition in the vicinity of the villages influenced prey availability and subsistence-hunting preferences. Changes in the habitat mosaic were caused by the size of the holding and by ethnic composition. In spite of longer settlement time, the habitat mosaic in the vicinity of IV was less transformed than that of the other sites. Their larger holding size and greater diversity of economic activities may explain why the Mayas at IV have transformed the landscape less than the other groups and can hunt more and larger prey. Resumen: La perdida de habitat y la caceria de subsistencia son dos de las principales actividades humanas que tienen un efecto negativo sobre la fauna en las fronteras de la colonizacion. En el presente estudio comparamos los patrones de caceria de subsistencia en cuatro poblados con diferente composicion etnica y diferente grado de perturbacion del habitat en los alrededores de la Reserva de la Biosfera de Calakmul en Campeche, Mexico. Entre algunos de estos poblados, tambien comparamos las diferencias en la composicion de la caza y la disponibilidad de presas para determinar preferencias. Utilizamos imagenes de satelite Landsat TM para analizar el grado de perturbacion alrededor de los poblados. Llevamos a cabo registros de la caceria de subsistencia y de la disponibilidad de las presas. La disponibilidad de las presas se evaluo mensualmente en nueve transectos de 3000 m cada uno, establecidos en la cercania de tres poblados. Comparativamente, el area de habitat perturbado fue menor en la comunidad con poblacion indigena maya ( IV ) y mayor en la comunidad con poblacion mestiza ( MV ). Los dos poblados con composicion poblacional mixta ( MVC1 y MVC2) presentaron niveles intermedios de perturbacion. Diez especies (4 grandes y 6 pequenas) de aves y mamiferos representaron el 97% de los registros de caceria. La caceria fue mas intensa en IV y menos intensa en MCV1. Se registraron diferencias en las preferencias de caceria en los tres tipos de comunidad. La composicion del mosaico de habitat en los alrededores de los poblados influencio la disponibilidad de presas y las preferencias de caceria de subsistencia. Los cambios en el mosaico de habitat se deben al tamano de las propiedades y a la composicion etnica. A pesar de que el poblado IV tiene mas tiempo asentado en el area, el mosaico de habitat a sus alrededores esta menos transformado que el de los otros sitios. Los mayas tienen una propiedad de mayor tamano y actividades economicas muy diversificadas, lo cual ha evitado la transformacion del habitat, proporcionandoles mayor disponibilidad de presas grandes.

Dopo una breve panoramica sulla trasformazione sociale della figura paterna e un accenno alla normativa vigente in Italia sulla situazione dei genitori separati e/o divorziati, l'articolo presenta un'indagine esplorativa che si avvale di una intervista qualitativa a cui è stato sottoposto un campione rappresentativo di padri coinvolti nell'evento separativo; si riportano poi degli approfondimenti sulla paternità relativi a contesti non clinici, campo di esperienza di alcuni degli autori, volti a gettare un primo sguardo allargato sul tema. Centrali nella riflessione gli esiti delle ferite del divorzio e le possibilità che, una volta sanate, le stesse possano offrire ai tanti padri disposti a rimettersi in gioco.

This paper tells the history of Brazilian stock market returns since the creation of the Ibovespa (the main Brazilian stock market index). From 1968 to 2019, the arithmetic mean return of the Brazilian stock market is 21.3% per year. The equity premium is 20.1% per year, with a huge standard deviation of 67% . Surprisingly, such numbers are compatible with investors’ risk aversions that accommodate the very different U.S. market evidence, reinforcing the belief that national investors are similar in nature. The equity premium has been higher in Brazil than in the U.S., but the much higher Brazilian volatility discourages heavier investments in stocks.

Genome-wide studies provide increasing evidence of association of genetic variants with different behaviors. However, there is a growing need for replication and subsequent characterization of specific findings. In this sense, the CHRNA5 gene has been associated with nicotine (with genome-wide significance), alcohol and cocaine addictions. So far, this gene has not been evaluated in smoked (crack) cocaine. We aimed to analyze the influence of CHRNA5 variants in crack addiction susceptibility and severity. The sample includes 300 crack-addicted patients and 769 non-addicted individuals. The CHRNA5 SNPs evaluated were rs588765, rs16969968, and rs514743. Homozygosity for rs16969968 and rs588765 major alleles was nominally associated with a risk to crack addiction (GG, P = 0.032; CC, P = 0.036, respectively). Haplotype analyses reveal significant associations (rs588765|rs16969968|rs514743 pglobal-corrected = 7.66 × 10–5) and suggest a substantial role for rs16969968. These findings corroborate previous reports in cocaine addiction—in line with the expected effects of cocaine in the cholinergic system—and in the opposite direction of significant GWAS findings for nicotine addiction susceptibility. These results are strengthened by the first report of an association of rs588765 with crack addiction and by the haplotype findings. In summary, our study highlights the relevance of the α5 subunit on crack cocaine addiction, replicating previous results relating CHRNA5 with the genetics and pathophysiology of addiction of different drugs.

Patients with chronic diarrhea often undergo colonoscopy evaluation, however, the performance of biopsies or ileoscopy remains controversial.To evaluate the usefulness of colonoscopy plus biopsies in the study of patients with chronic diarrhea.We retrospectively reviewed patients with chronic diarrhea who underwent colonoscopy between 2015 and 2019. Patients with incomplete data, HIV infection, abnormal endoscopic findings, colonoscopy without blind assessment, being on empiric treatment for diarrhea, and poor diagnosis were excluded. preparation. A descriptive analysis of the characteristics of the patients, histopathological findings and comparison of signs and symptoms according to histopathological finding was performed.535 patients with chronic diarrhea were evaluated, of these, 283 (52.8%) underwent biopsies. In 55.1% (n=156) of the biopsies some final histopathological diagnosis was obtained. Histopathological diagnoses corresponded to ulcerative colitis (n=3), Crohn's disease (n=5), lymphocytic colitis (n=6), collagenous colitis (n=12), eosinophilic colitis (n=13), infectious colitis (n=13), Melanosis coli (n=15), nonspecific colitis (n=57) and other histological changes (n=32). Crohn's disease was only documented in biopsies of the ileum (p0.001), ulcerative colitis was only diagnosed in biopsies of the sigmoid rectum (p=0.007), infectious colitis in its highest proportion (30.7%) was documented in biopsies of the right colon (p=0.028).Colonoscopy and biopsies are useful in the investigation of patients with chronic diarrhea, obtaining a histological diagnosis in 55% of patients. Ileoscopy complemented colonoscopy findings to a lesser extent.

There are significant sex differences in the clinical characteristics of cocaine use disorder (CUD). As this is a brain disorder that involves changes in functional connectivity, we investigated the existence of sex differences among people with CUD and controls. We used a data-driven method comparing males (n = 20, CK-M) and females with CUD (n = 20, CK-F) and healthy controls (20 males, HC-M and 20 females, HC-F). The participants undertook a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging exam. Regional homogeneity (ReHo) was performed to identify group and sex differences. Persons with CUD of both sexes presented lower ReHo parameters than controls, especially within the parietal lobule. Males with CUD showed higher ReHo than females in three right-side brain areas: postcentral gyrus, putamen and fusiform gyrus. It was found that abstinence symptoms severity was associated with lower ReHo values in the right postcentral gyrus and the right fusiform gyrus. Participants with CUD exhibited altered ReHo parameters compared to controls, similar to what is found in ageing-related disorders. Our data also indicate that cocaine has sex-specific effects on brain functioning when analysing ReHo.

Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) is a gram-positive bacterium and a member of the human skin microbiome. Despite being the most abundant skin commensal, certain members have been associated with common inflammatory disorders such as acne vulgaris. The availability of the complete genome sequences from various C. acnes clades have enabled the identification of putative methyltransferases, some of them potentially belonging to restriction-modification (R-M) systems which protect the host of invading DNA. However, little is known on whether these systems are functional in the different C. acnes strains. To investigate the activity of these putative R-M and their relevance in host protective mechanisms, we analyzed the methylome of six representative C. acnes strains by Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) sequencing. We detected the presence of a 6-methyladenine modification at a defined DNA consensus sequence in strain KPA171202 and recombinant expression of this R-M system confirmed its methylation activity. Additionally, a R-M knockout mutant verified the loss of methylation properties of the strain. We studied the potential of one C. acnes bacteriophage (PAD20) in killing various C. acnes strains and linked an increase in its specificity to phage DNA methylation acquired upon infection of a methylation competent strain. We demonstrate a therapeutic application of this mechanism where phages propagated in R-M deficient strains selectively kill R-M deficient acne-prone clades while probiotic ones remain resistant to phage infection.

In the past few years, new bacterial-cell-free transcription-translation systems have emerged as potent and quick platforms for protein production as well as for prototyping of DNA regulatory elements, genetic circuits, and metabolic pathways. The Gram-positive commensal

Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) is a gram-positive bacterium and a member of the human skin microbiome. Despite being the most abundant skin commensal, certain members have been associated with common inflammatory disorders such as acne vulgaris. The availability of the complete genome sequences from various C. acnes clades have enabled the identification of putative methyltransferases, some of them potentially belonging to restriction-modification (R-M) systems which protect the host of invading DNA. However, little is known on whether these systems are functional in the different C. acnes strains. To investigate the activity of these putative R-M and their relevance in host protective mechanisms, we analyzed the methylome of seven representative C. acnes strains by Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) sequencing. We detected the presence of a 6-methyladenine modification at a defined DNA consensus sequence in strain KPA171202 and recombinant expression of this R-M system confirmed its methylation activity. Additionally, a R-M knockout mutant verified the loss of methylation properties of the strain. We studied the potential of one C. acnes bacteriophage (PAD20) in killing various C. acnes strains and linked an increase in its specificity to phage DNA methylation acquired upon infection of a methylation competent strain. We demonstrate a therapeutic application of this mechanism where phages propagated in R-M deficient strains selectively kill R-M deficient acne-prone clades while probiotic ones remain resistant to phage infection.Graphical abstract

Chihuahua State, in northwestern Mexico, has had strong growth in its irrigated agriculture, going from 2010 – 2018 of 461,099 to 597,222 ha. Although the total area planted has decreased due to of...

El estudio analizó los sistemas de producción de cerdos domésticos en vida libre y pecaríes silvestres para determinar los beneficios sociales, económicos y ambientales en comunidades ubicadas en la zona de transición de la Reserva de la Biósfera Calakmul, México. La información se obtuvo de 169 campesinos criadores de suinos, de un censo realizado en 13 comunidades. La información de la unidad de producción, los criadores, la piara de cerdos, la alimentación, los parámetros productivos y reproductivos, la comercialización, los costos e ingresos se registraron en un cuestionario. Los datos se analizaron con frecuencias, análisis de varianza, clúster, factorial y componentes principales con el paquete estadístico SAS. Se identificaron tres sistemas de crianza de cerdos domésticos en vida libre: traspatio (23,1%), itinerancia estacional (21,9%) e itinerante (55%). Los tres sistemas tuvieron pecarí de collar (Pecarí tajacu) como una forma de reproducción en cautiverio de esta especie silvestre. El sistema de crianza en traspatio fue el más intensivo en uso de mano de obra, forraje de corte, grano de maíz y la compra de alimento. El sistema de itinerancia estacional fue intermedio en el uso de recursos e insumos. La crianza itinerante tuvo mayor convivencia con el pecarí en cautiverio, con el uso de los ecosistemas naturales y una menor orientación al mercado. La crianza en traspatio y la itinerancia estacional se clasificaron como de transición a la producción en confinamiento, con una disminución de la crianza en libertad y se incrementó el uso de insumos para la alimentación.

This research focuses on the comparison of different control strategies for coordinated operation of distributed energy resources (DERs), such as photovoltaic (PV), wind, battery energy storage system (BESS) and load demand management, especially in the case of flexible loads and electric vehicles (EVs), by means of a holistic control implemented on a smart distribution transformer with on-load tap changer (OLTC). The aim of the work is to increase low-voltage (LV) grid hosting capacity (HC), minimise power losses and improve equipment health index (HI). This study presents the results of the DISCOVERER (Distributed and Intelligent System for Coordination and Optimisation of Voltage to Empower Renewables and Electric Resources) and the HOLISTICA (Holistic Optimisation of Losses using an Improved Synergy of Technologies under an Innovative Coordination Algorithm) research, carried out through Transnational Access in the ERIGrid consortium. Both projects experimentally assessed the performance of different voltage control strategies in two leading European Smart Grid Laboratories: Test Centre for Smart Grids and Electromobility (SysTec) of the Fraunhofer IEE, and the Energy System Integration Lab (SYSLAB) of the Denmark Technical University (DTU).

We used functional magnetic resonance to investigate the effects of exposure to violence on early adolescent brain function in an inhibitory control task. We investigated the association among scores on self-reported exposure to violence, performance and brain activation. Thirty-seven early adolescents (ages 10–14) from a Latin-American urban region participated in the study. Results showed that recent and chronic exposure to violence was associated with less activation of a network of frontal regions, including the anterior cingulate gyrus and the superior frontal cortex; recent exposure to violence was also associated with less activation of the superior parietal lobe. Results also showed that less activation correlated with more prominent deterioration in the performance in the inhibitory control task (increased latency with time). The findings suggest that early adolescence exposure to violence is associated with differences in activation of a neural network commonly associated with executive function and control. The results underscore the urgency of addressing exposure to violence in adolescence, a period of high susceptibility to the environment, and are discussed in the light of the evidence of the effects of violence on adolescent brain function. Executive function training may be a candidate for targeted cognitive interventions aimed at mitigating these effects.

To assess the effects of surgeon-related factors on laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) outcomes by comparing residents and glaucoma specialists, and to look for demographic and clinical predictive factors associated with LPI complications.Retrospective cohort study.Patients who underwent LPI performed by a resident physician were included as cases, and patients who underwent LPI performed by a glaucoma specialist were included as controls. In patients who underwent multiple sessions of laser therapy, only the information from the first session of each eye was included in the study.Demographic and clinical information were gathered from the pre-LPI, 1-week, 1-month, and 3-month follow-up visits. The following information was recorded from the LPI session: total laser energy, presence of bleeding, and post-laser intraocular pressure (IOP). Information gathered from the follow-up visits included visual acuity (VA), IOP, hyphema, and need to repeat LPI. A logistic regression analysis with modification for rare events was used to examine the relationship between the dependent variables and the group, adjusted for the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients.The LPI procedure parameters (total energy), postoperative VA and IOP, risk for complications, and need for re-treatment were compared between groups using odds ratio (OR) measurements.A total of 333 eyes were included in the study. The residents used statistically significant higher total energy compared with the glaucoma specialists' group (P0.001). After adjusting for demographic characteristics, antiplatelet/anticoagulant use, and laser energy parameters, we found that the patients of the residents group had a significantly increased likelihood for re-treatment within 3 months (OR, 3.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-8.73) and anterior chamber bleeding (OR, 7.48; 95% CI, 1.07-52.02).Although LPI is an effective and minimally invasive procedure, evidence shows that a higher level of experience leads to clinically and statistically significant better outcomes.

The common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus), is the hematophagous bat with the broadest distribution and the only one that preys on wild mammals. However, when the abundance of domestic species increases, D. rotundus tends to feed on horses, domestic pigs, and poultry. The presence of Wild pigs in Laguna de Terminos, Campeche, represents an increase in prey availability, a factor that fosters the growth of bat populations in the region. Records were obtained with camera traps in the area of influence of the Laguna de Terminos Flora and Fauna Protection Area, Campeche. Camera traps were placed on trees at the edge of trails for the recording of Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) and collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu). The photo trapping period ranged from January 25 to August 16, 2018 with a sampling effort of 1,428 trap days. We recorded 18 species of mammals in the five locations studied. Predation of the common vampire bat on Wild pigs was recorded in a single camera trap located in an oil palm plantation (Elaeis guineensis) surrounded by livestock areas and secondary forest fragments. Wild pigs were the only species recorded as being attacked by the common vampire bat. Of all separate records of Wild pigs, 11.7 % (n = 22) corresponded to photographs and videos of interactions between Wild pigs and bats. Vampire bat attacks were recorded between 20:00 and 5:00 h, with a peak of activity around 23:21 h. The increased availability of Wild pigs, together with changes in land use, seemingly foster the growth and expansion of vampire bat populations and, therefore, contribute to a higher incidence of attacks on domestic species. In addition to the negative ecological effects, the presence of Wild pigs involves increasingly important epidemiological implications. Studies on the interaction between common vampire bats and Wild pigs are necessary to assess the risk of disease transmission in the region.

The distribution and abundance of hippoid zoeal stages offshore Veracruz, southern Gulf of Mexico, and the migration routes of these larvae in the western Atlantic, were analysed. Samples were collected with a Bongo net and larval dispersal was analysed applying the HYCOM hydrodynamical model; particles (virtual larvae) originating from 35 sites were tracked for 77 days. Larvae of Albunea paretii Guérin-Méneville, 1853 were the most abundant, and dispersal simulations indicated that older larvae occurring off Veracruz might originate from Texas. However, a substantial proportion of self-recruitment (7.8%) can occur, mainly due to the seasonal changes in direction of currents over the shelf as well as the high variability in weather conditions. Results also suggest that several generations of A. paretii are needed for the species to reach Veracruz from South America. A hypothetical model regarding the migration routes of A. paretii larvae in the western Atlantic is proposed.

To evaluate the impact of defense mechanisms at baseline on depressive symptoms after brief psychotherapies and after 6-months of follow-up among depressed patients with and without cluster B personality disorders (PDs).This quasi-experimental study nested within a randomized clinical trial included a clinical sample of adults (18-60 years) diagnosed with major depressive disorder using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III was applied to assess PD, the Defense Style Questionnaire 40 was used to analyze defense mechanisms, and the Beck Depression Inventory was used to measure the severity of depressive symptoms. Adjusted analysis was performed by linear regression.The final sample consisted of 177 patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder, of whom 39.5% had cluster B PDs. Immature defenses at baseline significantly predicted the persistence of depressive symptoms at post-intervention and at 6-months of follow-up only in patients with PDs.In depressed patients with cluster B PDs, immature defenses predicted a poor response to brief therapies. The assessment of immature defenses at baseline can help identify patients at greater risk of poor therapeutic results and enable more appropriate treatment choices.

Phrosina semilunata Risso, 1822 (Figs. 2���3) Phrosina semilunata Risso 1822: 245. Dactylocera nicaeensis Milne-Edwards 1830: 393. Phrosina longispina Bate 1862: 320���321, pl 51, fig. 7. Phrosina pacifica Stebbing 1888: 1430. Phrosina australis Stebbing 1888: 1431. Megallecto thirioti Gotto 1986: 185���189, figs. 1���8. Misidentified as parasitic copepod from two heads of P. semilunata females (Huys 2001). Material examined. 1 specimen &female; 2 mm (ICML-LESP 0044) from station 2, level 1; 2 specimens: 1 &male; 2 mm and 1 &female; 1 mm (ICML-LESP 0045) from station 5, level 1; 2 specimens &female; Diagnosis. Head with rostrum ending in two sharp, triangular points. Eyes grouped in two fields on each side of head. Pereonites 1 & 2 fused. Pereopods 3 & 4 subchelate, carpus with the distal margin dentate, and one large tooth-like process. Pereopod 5 broader than other pereopods; anterodistal margin of carpus with large tooth-like processes, forming folding hand with the propodus, longer than carpus; dactylus absent or fused with propodus. Pereopod 6 similar to pereopod 5, but smaller. Pereopod 7 reduced to basis, sometimes with an additional small article. Uropoda rounded, broadened distally (adapted from Vinogradov et al. 1996; Zeidler 2004). Description of juveniles from the Gulf of Mexico. Total body length ��� 2 mm, head and pereon broader than pleon which is relatively slender. Head rounded and equal in length to pereonites 1���5 combined. Rostrum small with two acute horns (or points) dorsally, more prominent in males than in females. Eyes occupying most of head surface and ommatidia clearly grouped in two fields on each side. Antennae 1 attached under the rostrum and divided into three segments, the third segment longer than the first two; length of antennae 1 of males more than twice the rostrum, with some setae at the outer proximal margin; length of antennae 1 of females shorter than rostrum, with setae at the tip. Antennae 2 of males, attached at the lower margin of head, as long as antennae 1; absent in females. Pereon shorter (about 0.65x) than pleon and urosome combined. Pereonites 1 & 2 fused. Pereonites 5���7 dorsally wider than remainder. Gnathopods 1 & 2 simple and similar in shape; gnathopod 2 longer and more slender than gnathopod 1. Pereopods 3 & 4 subchelate, similar in shape; pereopod 4 longer than pereopod 3; distal margin of carpus smooth, armed with a large smooth (non-dentated) conical process, parallel to propodus; rest of segments are very similar to adults. Pereopod 5 wider and longer than any other pereopod; distal margin of carpus armed with several wide irregular teeth, forming a folding hand with the propodus; propodus longer than carpus, merus and ischium combined; dactylus absent. Pereopod 6 similar to but smaller than pereopod 5. Pereopod 7 reduced to broad basis, without additional articles. Rami of pleopoda consist of only four segments; each segment with two plumose setae at the distal margin. Uropods 1���3 lanceolate with serrated margins from the half-length to the tip (distal margin), armed with one prominent spine distally. Telson small and rounded, twice as wide as long, width at the base shorter than the width of the distal margin of the last urosomite. Remarks. The juvenile individuals observed here have most of the diagnostic characters of the species observed in the adult state, mainly in the shape of antennae 1 & 2, gnathopods 1 & 2 and pereopods 5���7, but some structures were different: in pereopods 3 & 4 the distal margin of the carpus is smooth with a large process parallel to the propodus, the rami of the pleopoda consist of only four segments (these increase with growth), uropods 1���3 are more lanceolate with one large distal spine, and the telson is rounded (Figs. 2���3). Recently, Bano & Kazmi (2008) observed similar differences in the shape of the uropoda and telson of small (around 3.2 mm) individuals., Published as part of Violante-Huerta, Marco, Sanvicente-A��orve, Laura, Hermoso-Salazar, Margarita & Marr��n-Becerra, Aurora, 2021, Morphological variations of Phrosina semilunata Risso, 1822 juveniles (Crustacea Amphipoda: Hyperiidea), new evidence from the Gulf of Mexico, pp. 594-600 in Zootaxa 4995 (3) on pages 596-597, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4995.3.13, http://zenodo.org/record/5057211, {"references":["Risso, A. (1822) Memoire sur quelques nouveaux crustaces observes dans la mer de Nice. Journal de Physique, de Chimie et d'Histoire Naturelle, 95, 241 - 248.","Milne-Edwards, H. (1830) Extrait de recherches pour servir a l'histoire naturelle des crustaces amphipodes. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, 20, 353 - 399. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. part. 12300","Bate, C. S. (1862) Catalogue of the specimens of Amphipodous Crustacea in the Collection of the British Museum. Order of the Trustees, London, 399 pp.","Stebbing, T. R. R. (1888) Report on the Amphipoda collected by H. M. S. Challenger during the years 1873 - 1876. Report on the scientific results of the Voyage of H. M. S. Challenger during the years 1873 - 76. Zoology, 29, 1 - 1737.","Gotto, R. V. (1986) A new parasitic copepod crustacean of uncertain affinities: Megallectothirioti n. gen., n. sp. Bulletin Zoologisch Museum Universiteit van Amsterdam, 10 (21), 185 - 189.","Huys, R. (2001) Splanchnotrophid systematics: a case of polyphyly and taxonomic myopia. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 21 (1), 106 - 156. https: // doi. org / 10.1163 / 20021975 - 99990113","Vinogradov, M. E., Volkov, A. F. & Semenova, T. N. (1996) Hyperiid amphipods (Amphipoda, Hyperiidea) of the world oceans. Smithsonian Institution Libraries, Washington, D. C., 632 pp. [translated from the Russian (1982); D. Siegel-Causey, Scientific Editor]","Zeidler, W. (2004) A review of the families and genera of the hyperiidean amphipod superfamily Phronimoidea Bowman & Gruner, 1973 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Hyperiidae). Zootaxa, 567 (1), 1 - 66. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 567.1.1","Bano, H. & Kazmi, Q. B. (2008) New record of Phrosina semilunata Risso, 1822 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Phrosinidae) from Sindh territorial waters (northern Arabian Sea). Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, 17 (1), 55 - 57."]}

Los cazahuates y quiebraplatos son plantas importantes en el bosque tropical caducifolio del centro de México. Pertenecen a una familia denominada Convolvulaceae cuya característica distintiva es la presencia de células productoras de látex; éste contiene moléculas llamadas resinas glicosídicas a las cuales se le atribuyen diversas actividades ecológicas (por ejemplo, la defensa contra herbívoros) y usos etnobotánicos. Lo anterior evidencia que las especies englobadas en los nombres comunes de cazahuates y quiebraplatos son un elemento importante en el ecosistema y una fuente de compuestos con actividades insecticidas, herbicidas y etnofarmacológicas.

Tanto el actor como el órgano judicial tratan de encontrar, a través de la convergencia de distintas figuras jurídicas, una posible solución a los hechos planteados en la demanda y que han dado lugar al juicio verbal. El punto de partida de las obligaciones que se pretenden establecidas entre los litigantes no es otro que un contrato de adopción de un gato y, como soporte para el cumplimiento de las mismas, se recurre a la figura de la "donación modal" como acto semigratuito. Both the petitioner and the court are trying to find, through the convergence of different legal forms, a possible solution to the facts stated in the application and have resulted in the oral proceedings. The starting point of the obligations that are to be established between the litigants is none other than a contract to adopt a cat and as support for their fulfillment, we use the concept of "modal donation" as a semifree act.

[We examine the association between economic growth and financial development for the Brazilian economy from 1997 to 2018. Vector-autoregressive (VAR) models and Granger causality tests are employed, with financial development represented by two different variables, the first being the “banking channel” (total bank loans to the private sector as a percentage of GDP), and the second being the “stock market channel” (market value of the companies listed at B3 - Brazilian Stock Exchange - as a percentage of GDP). Economic growth is measured by the real growth of Gross Domestic Product. The empirical analysis adopts the procedures developed by Toda and Yamamoto (1995). The main conclusions are that there exists strong evidence of unidirectional Granger causality between economic growth and financial development (from the latter to the former), when measured by both the banking and stock market channels, contradicting several results available in the literature.

Data de publicació electrònica: 31-12-2021 In the past few years, new bacterial-cell-free transcription-translation systems have emerged as potent and quick platforms for protein production as well as for prototyping of DNA regulatory elements, genetic circuits, and metabolic pathways. The Gram-positive commensal Cutibacterium acnes is one of the most abundant bacteria present in the human skin microbiome. However, it has recently been reported that some C. acnes phylotypes can be associated with common inflammatory skin conditions, such as acne vulgaris, whereas others seem to play a protective role, acting as possible "skin probiotics". This fact has made C. acnes become a bacterial model of interest for the cosmetic industry. In the present study we report for the first time the development and optimization of a C. acnes-based cell-free system (CFS) that is able to produce 85 μg/mL firefly luciferase. We highlight the importance of harvesting the bacterial pellet in mid log phase and maintaining CFS reactions at 30 °C and physiological pH to obtain the optimal yield. Additionally, a C. acnes promoter library was engineered to compare coupled in vitro TX-TL activities, and a temperature biosensor was tested, demonstrating the wide range of applications of this toolkit in the synthetic biology field. This work was funded by the Office of Naval Research (Award N62909-18-1-2155). M.-J.F was funded by a Juan de la Cierva Fellowship (Spanish Government). N.K. was funded by a Maria Maetzu-UPF Fellowship (Catalan Government). G.N. was funded by an FI Fellowship (AGAUR-Catalan Govern- ment). This project received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement 882387 (to J.S.-M.).

Avaluar periòdicament els serveis que ofereix la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona permet detectar els punts febles i fer les modificacions necessàries per a garantir la satisfacció i l'excel·lència dels serveis que ofereix. Tot i l'excepcional treball que es realitza per definir i incentivar la participació en les enquestes s'ha detectat una mancança a l'hora de difondre els resultats que s'obtenen de forma general en tot l'àmbit universitari. Per resoldre aquest problema, en aquest treball s'han creat una sèrie d'eines per gestionar les enquestes i posteriorment visualitzar els resultats amb les quals s'espera poder millorar els serveis que ofereix la universitat i aconseguir un increment d'aquests processos participatius. The periodic evaluation of the services offered by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona allows us to detect weak points and make changes to ensure the satisfaction and excellence of the services. Despite the exceptional work done to define and encourage participation in the surveys, there is a lack of dissemination of the results to individual members of the university. To solve this problem, in this work various tools have been created to manage the surveys and later display and visualize the results. With these tools, it is hoped to improve the services offered by the university and achieve an increase in participation. Evaluar periódicamente los servicios que ofrece la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona permite detectar los puntos débiles y hacer las modificaciones necesarias para garantizar la satisfacción y la excelencia de los servicios que ofrece. A pesar del excepcional trabajo que se realiza para definir e incentivar la participación en las encuestas se ha detectado una carencia a la hora de difundir los resultados que se obtienen de forma general en todo el ámbito universitario. Para resolver este problema, en este trabajo se han creado una serie de herramientas para gestionar las encuestas y posteriormente visualizar los resultados con las que se espera poder mejorar los servicios que ofrece la universidad y conseguir un incremento en los procesos participativos.

On December 15, 1976, a just-promulgated corporate law introduced, among other innovations, a minimum required dividend distribution on annual basis in Brazil. As a conceptual reference, this article refers to the so-called residual theory of dividend policy. According to this theory, dividends are determined from what is left after optimal investment and financing decisions are made by the firm. The introduction of a minimum required dividend represented the imposition of a constraint on that behavior by the firms. The hypothesis that this constraint affected the firms’ investment behavior is tested herein, and this is confirmed with the use of an interaction term with dividend payments. A “difference-in-differences” approach is adopted, with data for 233 publicly owned firms in the 1973-1980 period.

Tropical ophiuroid fauna belonging to the family Ophiolepididae are almost unknown. This study deals with the relative growth and morphometric traits of the ophiuroid Ophiolepis crassa from the Gulf of California, Mexico. Specimens examined in this study came from the Colección Nacional de Equinodermos, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, and were collected over soft bottoms off Punta Gorda. Thirteen anatomical features were measured in a total of 152 specimens, including disk diameter, arm length, as well as length and width of dorsal and ventral arm plates, and radial, oral, and adoral shields. Based on the range of values of the disk diameter, varying from 4 to 19 mm, we provided quantitative data on each anatomical measurement considering three size classes. Morphometric data were adjusted to a power equation to detect the degree of allometry in the growth of anatomical traits. Results indicated that all the ventral and dorsal plates, as well as the radial, oral, and adoral shields, suffer changes in shape during growth, but these changes are stronger in the plates. In addition, an analysis of symmetry applied to both right and left radial shields revealed that these structures remain nearly symmetrical during growth. The disk diameter vs arm/disk relationship indicated that the species is a surface dweller inhabitant of the seafloor. This study, based on a single sample collected in a restricted area of the eastern Pacific, provides useful quantitative information for further taxonomic, systematic, or biogeographic studies.

Mesoporous bioactive glass nanospheres (NanoMBGs) have high potential for clinical applications. However, the impact of these nanoparticles on the immune system needs to be addressed. In this study, the biocompatibility of SiO2-CaO NanoMBGs was evaluated on different mouse immune cells, including spleen cells subsets, bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs), or cell lines like SR.D10 Th2 CD4+ lymphocytes and DC2.4 dendritic cells. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy show that the nanoparticles were rapidly and efficiently taken up in vitro by T and B lymphocytes or by specialized antigen-presenting cells (APCs) like dendritic cells (DCs). Nanoparticles were not cytotoxic and had no effect on cell viability or proliferation under T-cell (anti-CD3) or B cell (LPS) stimuli. Besides, NanoMBGs did not affect the balance of spleen cell subsets, or the production of intracellular or secreted pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10) by activated T, B, and dendritic cells (DC), as determined by flow cytometry and ELISA. T cell activation surface markers (CD25, CD69 and Induced Costimulator, ICOS) were not altered by NanoMBGs. Maturation of BMDCs or DC2.4 cells in vitro was not altered by NanoMBGs, as shown by expression of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) and costimulatory molecules (CD40, CD80, CD86), or IL-6 secretion. The effect of wortmannin and chlorpromazine indicate a role for phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), actin and clathrin-dependent pathways in NanoMBG internalization. We thus demonstrate that these NanoMBGs are both non-toxic and non-inflammagenic for murine lymphoid cells and myeloid DCs despite their efficient intake by the cells.

Precis Targeted educational interventions for physicians may be useful in increasing adoption of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) as first line therapy for the treatment of glaucoma. Purpose SLT is a safe and effective first line treatment for glaucoma, however, it is underutilized. To evaluate barriers for the widespread adoption of this procedure, we assessed the beliefs and attitudes of ophthalmologists. We developed an educational intervention directed to physicians to increase the consideration of SLT earlier in the glaucoma treatment paradigm. Subjects and methods In this prospective study, an online survey and educational slide presentation was sent to a group of comprehensive ophthalmologists, ophthalmology residents, and glaucoma specialists. Subjects were asked to respond to questions regarding their beliefs and attitudes towards SLT before and after watching the educational slide presentation. Results A total of 53 subjects were enrolled. Before watching the slide presentation, 85% of subjects stated they offer SLT to newly diagnosed patients, although only 28% preferred it over medications. While 52% of physicians reported between 0% and 10% of their newly diagnosed patients receive laser therapy, 47% said they would use it as a first line therapy for all or most newly diagnosed glaucoma patients. Most subjects (94%) stated the educational slide presentation convinced them that SLT is appropriate as a first line therapy for treatment of open angle glaucoma. Conclusions A better understanding of the barriers for utilizing SLT as a first line therapy provides valuable information to help increase the adoption of this safe and effective procedure. A targeted educational intervention may improve acceptance of SLT as first line therapy for open angle glaucoma.

A novel gas sensing mechanism exploiting lanthanide luminescence modulation upon NO

To compare the trabecular outflow by the response to topical pilocarpine administration in patients with and without prior glaucoma filtering surgery. Prospective, cross-sectional, randomized, double-blinded study. Open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients without any prior glaucoma surgery, and those with prior trabeculectomy or tube shunt surgery aged 18–90 years were included. Both groups were randomized into pilocarpine or artificial tears (ATs). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured before and 90 min after the instillation of eye drops. A total of 189 eyes of 189 patients were included: 92 eyes in the pilocarpine and 97 eyes in the ATs group. There was a mean ± standard deviation of − 0.81 ± 3.08 mmHg decrease in IOP with pilocarpine in those without prior surgery, significantly higher than the ATs group (0.55 ± 2.31 mmHg; p = 0.02). No significant change in IOP with pilocarpine was noted in the surgical group compared to the ATs group (p = 0.90). In the surgery group, greater IOP reduction was observed with pilocarpine in those who had undergone surgery within the last three years than those who had surgery three or more years prior (− 1.56 ± 2.64 versus 1.41 ± 2.77 mmHg; p = 0.001). Less IOP reduction was observed with pilocarpine in patients who had filtering surgery more than three years previously compared to those with more recent surgery.

To evaluate the test-retest repeatability of a computer-based contrast sensitivity (CS) test, the Spaeth/Richman contrast sensitivity (SPARCS) test, and to determine the effects of age and lens status on CS in normal eyes. Prospective cross-sectional study. The participants were assessed by use of the SPARCS test in each eye 3 times. The first 2 sessions were supervised, while the third was unsupervised. CS was determined for 5 areas of vision (central, superotemporal, superonasal, inferotemporal, and inferonasal) and combined to provide a total score. The test-retest repeatability was determined using Bland-Altman analysis and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The total SPARCS scores (maximum possible score = 100) ranged from 86.37 (±1.09) (for those aged 20 to 29 years) to 70.71 (±2.64) (for those aged 80 to 87 years). Individuals aged between 10 and 87 years with a normal eye examination (n = 205) were enrolled. When the SPARCS scores for the first 2 sessions were compared, the ICC was 0.79, and the repeated tests were fairly equivalent (mean difference = −0.29, P = .491). The test-retest 95% limits of agreement (95% LoA) ranged from −11.07 to +11.35. When the supervised sessions were compared with the unsupervised session, the ICC was 0.80, and there was slight improvement in the CS scores during the unsupervised session (mean difference = −1.15, P = .0001). The test-retest 95% LoA ranged from −9.18 to +10.60. The CS declined with advanced age and increased cataract severity (P

There is evidence that dopamine receptors D2 (DRD2) and D4 (DRD4) polymorphisms may influence substance use disorders (SUD) susceptibility both individually and through their influence in the formation of DRD2-DRD4 heteromers. The dopaminergic role on the vulnerability to addiction appears to be influenced by sex. A cross-sectional study with 307 crack cocaine addicts and 770 controls was conducted. The influence of DRD2 rs2283265 and DRD4 48 bp VNTR in exon 3 variants, as well as their interaction on crack cocaine addiction susceptibility and severity were evaluated in women and men separately. An association between the DRD2 T allele and crack cocaine addiction was found in women. In this same group, interaction analysis demonstrated that the presence of DRD2-T allele and concomitant absence of DRD4-7R allele were associated with risk for crack cocaine addiction. No influence of DRD2 and DRD4 variants was observed in men regarding addiction severity. This study reinforces the role of dopaminergic genes in externalizing behaviors, especially the influence of DRD2-DRD4 interaction on SUD. This is the fourth sample that independently associated the DRD2-DRD4 interaction with SUD itself or related disorders. In addition, our findings point out to a potential difference of dopaminergic neurotransmission across sex influencing addiction susceptibility.

Here, we report on an incomplete human skeleton, soot patches related to anthropogenic fireplaces, and cut marks on the mandible of an extinct peccary, from the submerged Muknal cave southwest of Tulum on the Mexican Yucatán peninsula. The human individual, here named ‘Muknal Grandfather’, was identified as a male based on cranial parameters. The age at the time of death was estimated to be between 40 and 45 years. We propose that the human bones have been brought to the cave during the latest Pleistocene or early Holocene, but not later than 8600 14C yr BP (ca. 9600 cal BP), as a secondary burial of a partial skeleton. The peccary mandible was placed close to the burial site, possibly as part of the same ritual. The Muknal cave therefore served as a place for funeral rituals.

espanolResumen: El zooplancton dominante de la laguna La Mancha, Veracruz, Mexico, fue analizado con el objetivo de evaluar su variabilidad estacional y nictimera, asi como la influencia que sobre el ejercen las principales variables ambientales. De mayo 2012 a abril 2013, cada mes se realizo un ciclo de 24 h, tomando muestras cada 4 h, en la boca de la laguna. Simultaneamente a la toma de muestras de zooplancton, se registraron parametros ambientales in situ como la temperatura, oxigeno disuelto, salinidad, clorofila a y numero de celulas fitoplanctonicas. Se capturaron 54 taxa (principalmente del holoplancton) y 10 de ellos fueron considerados dominantes (abundancia total > 0,5%). La comunidad estuvo dominada por dos especies de copepodos (Acartia tonsa y Pseudodiaptomus pelagicus), asi como por larvas zoea de braquiuros (~85%). La abundancia total del zooplancton mostro pulsos significativos a lo largo del ano, uno en febrero-marzo dominado por copepodos y otro en septiembre-octubre, dominado por larvas de decapodos. A pesar de que la abundancia total del zooplancton fue mayor en la noche, solo P. pelagicus, anfipodos, megalopas y otras larvas de decapodo fueron significativas durante este periodo. De acuerdo con un Analisis de Correspondencia Canonica, el estado de la boca (abierta/cerrada), numero de cianofitas y precipitacion fueron los factores ambientales mas importantes en la determinacion de la abundancia del zooplancton dominante. EnglishAbstract: The dominant zooplankton of the La Mancha lagoon, Veracruz, Mexico, was analyzed with the objective of evaluating its seasonal and diel variability, as well as the influence of the main environmental variables on this variability. From May 2012 to April 2013, every month a 24-h cycle was completed, taking samples every 4 h, at the mouth of the lagoon. Simultaneously with zooplankton sampling, in situ environmental parameters such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, chlorophyll a and number of phytoplankton cells were recorded. We collected 54 taxa (mainly holoplankton) and 10 of them were considered dominant (total abundance > 0.5%). The zooplankton community was dominated mainly by two species of copepods (Acartia tonsa and Pseudodiaptomus pelagicus), as well as zoea larvae of brachyura (~85%). At seasonal level, the total abundance of zooplankton showed significant pulses throughout the year, one in February-March dominated by copepods and another in September-October, dominated by decapod larvae. On a diel scale, although total zooplankton abundance was significantly higher at night, only P. pelagicus, amphipods, megalopae, and other decapod larvae showed significant differences at this level. According to a Canonical Correspondence Analysis, the mouth stage (open/close), the number of cyanophytes and precipitation were the most important environmental factors in determining the abundance of the dominant zooplankton.