Search

Asperococcus J.V. Lamouroux is a genus of brown algae in the Chordariaceae family (Order Ectocarpales). This concise review compiles the published literature on Asperococcus taxonomy, morphology, geographical distribution, ecology, life cycles, cultivation, biochemical composition and bioactive properties, emphasizing its commercial potential. This genus, which is mainly distributed in temperate-cold latitudes, is represented by six species of which A. fistulosus, A. ensiformis and A. bullosus have been the most studied. Species of this genus have membranous saccate or filiform thalli with prominent sori protruding from the surface. The life cycle is heteromorphic, alternating between a macroscopic sporophyte and a microscopic branched gametophyte. They inhabit tidal pools or different depths in the subtidal zone. Some species have been reported as epiphytic and epizoic organisms. Although there is no record of the commercialization of Asperococcus species, the cultivation of A. ensiformis from the Argentine Patagonian coasts was recently assessed and the biochemical composition of some species was studied, revealing a commercial potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetization transfer imaging (MTI) evaluates the exchange of magnetization between protons in free water molecules and protons bound to macromolecules, including lipids. Widely used in the study of central nervous system diseases, its application in the neuromuscular field has been previously explored only in a Spanish cohort of patients with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD). To investigate the potential role of MTR as an early biomarker of muscle involvement, we here evaluate magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) and fat fraction (FF) in patients with LOPD in various stages of disease compared to healthy controls (HCs). Quantitative muscle MRI (qMRI) was performed on 31 LOPD patients (21 with mild and 10 with moderate/severe clinical involvement) and 31 matched HCs using 3T MRI. FF and MTR were measured in 11 thigh muscles. Correlations between FF and MTR were assessed. Additionally, FF and MTR were compared between groups of HCs vs. early vs. moderate/severe LOPD. We also explored whether MTR can detect muscle involvement in not yet fat-infiltrated muscles (FF ≤ 10%) in early LOPD. MTR of thigh muscles with FF ≤ 10% was significantly lower in LOPD compared to HCs. Changes in MTR could be detected even in mildly symptomatic patients, particularly in the medial and posterior compartments (Mann-Whitney U: p < 0.05). MTR and FF were inversely correlated in all subjects groups. We found significant differences in MTR and FF changes at the group level between mild and moderate/severe vs HCs. We conclude that MTI has potentially high sensitivity to detect mild muscle fiber damage, even before fat replacement has occurred, making it a useful biomarker to monitor early signs of disease, disease progression, and the efficacy of treatment approaches (Sanofi company provided support for this study, but had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the abstract). (The first and second authors contributed equally to this work) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A one-year-old French Bulldog was referred for the management of a severe form of pulmonary valve stenosis (PS) complicated by right-sided congestive heart failure. Echocardiography showed severe valvular PS with right ventricular concentric hypertrophy, dilatation and severe right atrial enlargement. A pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty (PBV) was performed with a balloon-to-pulmonary annulus ratio of 1.36. Echocardiography immediately after PBV showed a significant reduction in right atrial and ventricular size, improved opening and mobility of the pulmonary valve leaflets, and a 75% reduction in the pulmonary pressure gradient from 158 mmHg pre-operative to 40 mmHg post-operative. The dog recovered well from anesthesia, but 2 h later, it suddenly showed severe respiratory distress. Focus cardiac ultrasound showed increased left cardiac size with echocardiographic signs of high left ventricular filling pressure. Bedside lung ultrasound showed diffuse numerous-to-confluent B lines, compatible with a severe alveolar-interstitial syndrome. The dog was treated with furosemide, helmet continuous positive airway pressure, and then mechanical ventilation but without success. At post-mortem evaluation, histological examination of the lung showed diffuse, severe broncho-alveolar edema with mixed leukocyte, fibrin, and red blood cell infiltrate. Moreover, severe congestion and multifocal alveolar hemorrhages were evident. All findings were compatible with fatal acute lung injury after PBV secondary to pulmonary reperfusion-ischemia injury and increased pulmonary capillary hydrostatic pressure. Based on the present case, acute lung injury should be considered as a rare but serious complication of PBV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the life cycle of Leathesia marina through molecular analyses, culture studies, morphological observations, and ploidy measurements. Macroscopic sporophytes were collected from two localities in Atlantic Patagonia and were cultured under long‐day (LD) and short‐day (SD) conditions. Molecular identification of the microscopic and macroscopic phases was performed through the cox3 and rbcL genes and the phylogeny was assessed on the basis of single gene and concatenated datasets. Nuclear ploidy of each phase was estimated from the DNA contents of individual nuclei through epifluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Molecular results confirmed the identity of the Argentinian specimens as L. marina and revealed their conspecificity with L. marina from New Zealand, Germany, and Japan. The sporophytic macrothalli (2n) released mitospores from plurilocular sporangia, which developed into globular microthalli (2n), morphologically similar to the sporophytes but not in size, constituting a generation of small diploid thalli, with a mean fluorescent nuclei cross‐sectional area of 3.21 ± 0.7 μm2. The unilocular sporangia released meiospores that developed two morphologically different types of microthalli: erect branched microthalli (n) with a nuclear area of 1.48 ± 0.07 µm2 that reproduces asexually, and prostrate branched microthalli (n) with a nuclear area of 1.24 ± 0.10 µm2 that reproduces sexually. The prostrate microthalli released gametes in LD conditions, which merged and produced macroscopic thalli with a nuclear cross‐sectional area of 3.45 ± 0.09 µm2. Flow cytometry confirmed that the erect and prostrate microthalli were haploid and that the globular microthalli and macrothalli were diploid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of Teoría en tránsito by Max Hidalgo Nácher is to recompose the last half a century of Spanish Literary Theory and Criticism by scrutinizing the available archives. Based on this task, accomplished within the framework of the Argentine collection that investigates the same issues for the Río de la Plata, the author seeks to refute the hypothesis about the continuity of Francoism in the peninsular theoretical production. The vindication of the essay is another of the strategies used to disrupt the predominance of the treaty that, protected by an alleged rigor, led to affirm preconceptions and false continuities.

We characterize the equilibrium of a complete markets economy with multiple agents featuring a preference for the timing of the resolution of uncertainty. Utilities are defined over an aggregate of two goods. We provide conditions under which the solution of the planner's problem exists, and it features a nondegenerate invariant distribution of Pareto weights. We also show that perturbation methods replicate the salient features of our recursive risk‐sharing scheme, provided that higher‐order terms are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widely distributed genus Codium is a major component of the marine macroalgal flora and has its largest species diversity in warm-temperate regions. Along the South coast of Australia, Codium is a diverse group, but the species diversity in the easternmost region of Victoria is not well-documented. In this study, we characterized the species diversity of Codium from Croajingolong National Park, Gabo Island Lighthouse Reserve and Cape Howe Marine National Park. The specimens were collected from a wide range of microhabitats during an expedition of the Bush Blitz program, and Codium species were delimited through a combination of molecular analyses of the chloroplast markers tufA and rbcL, and morphological observations. Six species-level clusters were found, corresponding to the native C. australicum, C. harveyi, C. lucasii.1 and C. fragile subsp. novae-zelandiae; and the exotic C. fragile subsp. fragile and C. tenue. The specimens of C. australicum showed variability in the architecture of the thallus that was attributed to the different habitats where they were collected. The utricles of C. harveyi were unusual in having a thick apical cell wall that protruded inwards and had internal projections. The species found in eastern Victoria are typical of the Flindersian and Peronian biogeographic provinces, and the low diversity of Codium species in this region is comparable to that of New South Wales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El artículo propone una revisión de la ‘generación crítica’ o ‘generación del 45’ uruguaya, la que se define por una insatisfacción frente a las condiciones nacionales y una voluntad de producir un cambio en el orden cultural de la comarca rioplatense. La brotherhood de historiadores, narradores, dramaturgos, poetas y críticos culturales se define tanto en relación con la ciudad vecina, Buenos Aires, como en función de la inserción latinoamericana promovida por el semanario Marcha en el que colabora la mayoría de los intelectuales involucrados. La figura sobresaliente convocada a los fines de la reconstrucción crítica es la de Ángel Rama, con cuyo recorrido cumplido en «La generación crítica (1939-1969)» se entabla un contrapunto en pos de un comparatismo intraamericano.

This paper presents a low power read-out front-end for 3-axis MEMS capacitive accelerometer. The front-end includes the analog preamplifier (to sense the signal coming from the MEMS) and a Successive-Approximation 10b A/D Converter, for digitalization and off-chip digital-signal-processing. Power minimization is achieved by using a continuous-time sensing preamplifier (i.e. constant-charge capacitance-to-voltage conversion) and SAR-ADC with bridge capacitive reduction. Preamplifier programmable in-band gain allows to accommodate different MEMS sensitivities. A very high-impedance MOS transistor is used for MEMS biasing, thus providing very low frequency (<1 Hz) AC coupling. In a 0.13 μm CMOS technology, the full channel consumes 90 μW from a single 1.2 V supply voltage, and achieves an equivalent 67.9 dB@SNR in [1 Hz-4 kHz] bandwidth by exploiting oversampling ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A population of Polysiphonia morrowii , recently introduced in the South West Atlantic Ocean, was studied to determine the degree of its establishment. Monthly variations of: thallus size, proportion of life history phases, and tetrasporangia production, were evaluated from June to October 2010. The erect thalli appeared in autumn, and decayed in spring when they became overgrown by epiphytic diatoms. Vegetative thalli were usually smaller than fertile thalli. In spring, the thalli had the maximum mean values of length (199.5 mm), thickness (52 mm) and dried weight (4 g). Although tetrasporophytes represented between 73% and 90% of the thalli collected each month, a few cystocarpic thalli were also found. Variations of thallus size and proportion of life history phases were also studied between 2010 and 2014. The inter-annual increase in the proportion of the tetrasporophytic phase and the progressive increase of the size of P. morrowii thalli indicated an ongoing establishment of the population in this habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lília Moritz Schwarcz (São Paulo, 1957) é talvez a mais destacada figura feminina na produção intelectual brasileira, dentro e fora de seu país. Brasil Uma biografia, publicada em 2015 e traducida ao espanhol no ano seguinte, é um exemplo específico de sua difusão na América Latina. A preocupação pela biografia retorna em Lima Barreto. Triste visionário (2017). A reconstrução da vida do escritor carioca registra várias particularidades que implicam uma renovação do gênero para a crítica literária. A proposta de Schwarcz visa abordar a biografia como uma literaturização da vida do biografiado e um auto-exame do próprio trabalho. O desenvolvimento da biografia como método crítico, bem como um roteiro da própria carreira, requer uma avaliação do sujeito crítico que funda uma tendência enquanto cumpre uma tarefa de introspecção pessoal e profissional

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic was characterized by difficult communication challenges due also to scientific uncertainty regarding the nature and management of the new coronavirus. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of media information on the population’s COVID-19-related knowledge, behavior and emotional state. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, data from July to September 2020 was collected via survey posted on social media (SM). It included also an analysis of participants’ e-health literacy (e-HEALS), and depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms using DASS-21 tool. Results: Of the 2,140 subjects, as a main source of information, 69% indicated institutional websites and 26% SM. Fifty-four percent believed expert information to be crucial in changing their behavior. However 30% of health professionals (HP) and 37% of non-HP found expert (scientists) communication hard to understand. Despite high education level (44.3% graduates), 19% denied knowing of the virus origin. Others believed the human manipulation theory (33% of the total and 29% of HP). The e-HEALS score in these subjects was lower than those reporting the natural origin of virus (28.4 ± 6.2 vs 30.5 ± 6.1, p<.001). Young people aged <35 y reported signs of depression (41%), anxiety (28%) and stress (36%) more than older participants (p=.0001). As for infection concern, it was higher in females (58% p<.001), those not living alone (56% p<.01), those living with a senior (62% p<.01) or with those at high risk of COVID-19 (64%p<.001). Greater worry meant stricter guideline adherence (hand washing 56% p<.0001; surface sanitation 42% p<.0001; social distancing 77% p<.0001) and mask usage before mandate (45% p<.0001). Conclusions: Although the sample was overall well informed and followed preventive measures, institutional communication was found to be confusing especially by experts. The findings highlighted the strong psychological impact on the community, young people especially. Key messages: The study confirms the importance of putting effort on population health literacy and more effective institutional communication strategies. Proactive and timely psychological interventions should be provided to address the mental health needs of the population resulting from the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coasts located between 39°S and 41°S in the Argentinean biogeographic province have been described by impoverished seaweed assemblages, however the floristic information about this region is sparse. The aim of this study was to survey the intertidal seaweeds inhabiting three sites in the oceanographic system "El Rincon" (Buenos Aires, Argentina). A total of 42 taxa were identified with a dominance of Rhodophyta species. The sandstone outcrops (SO) had 29 taxa, whereas both the tidal flat (TF) and oyster reefs (OR) had 11 taxa. The estuarial species Ulva intestinalis and Ulva prolifera were recorded in TF, whereas calcified macroalgae were only found in SO. The differences in richness and composition of seaweed assemblages were associated with substrate type, wave exposure, incident light and salinity. These differences were also evidenced by a dissimilar number of functional groups, which was higher in SO with a dominance of filamentous macroalgae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

María Rosa Lida (1910-1962) foi uma estudiosa e pesquisadora brilhante, autora de livros monumentais, que se tornaram uma referência incontornável. Porém, ela só conseguia trabalhar como professora esporadicamente, o que a impedia de formar discípulos. Essa circunstância se deveu, em parte, ao fato de seus professores – Amado Alonso e Américo Castro – acreditarem que a sabedoria da discípula correspondia antes ao silêncio das bibliotecas e arquivos (e à produção hiperespecializada para conhecedores) do que ao trabalho cotidiano de despertar o interesse nos alunos. Outra razão foi que as regras da Universidade de Berkeley, onde seu marido Yakov Malkiel trabalhava, a impediram de assumir o cargo. Cercada de homens que não podiam competir com seus dons e nem precisavam fazê-lo para obter benefícios imediatos, ela ficou ofuscada pela maneira como se relacionava com eles e se curvava às condições de um mundo intelectual e de uma cartilha doméstica que recomendou que ela fosse mantida em um ambiente discreto. A investigação da correspondência que manteve com Castro ao longo de quinze anos propõe um recorte específico sobre a condição acessória que ocupava uma mulher de tão extraordinária importância

Conspicuous tufts of the filamentous algae Polysiphonia Greville inhabit the reefs of Crassostrea gigas on the Atlantic Patagonian coast. The population was recorded for the first time in 1994 and identified as P. argentinica. This study exhaustively investigated the morphology and reproduction of specimens and the seasonality of the population. The results revealed the identity of the specimens as the invasive Japanese macroalga Polysiphonia morrowii Harvey, on the basis of several striking features: the setaceous and tufted thalli, the corymbose growing apices, the endogenous axillary branches, the urceolate cystocarps and the sharply pointed branches. Sexual reproduction was evidenced; however, fertile male gametophytes were absent in the samples. The population was found almost all year round, but its abundance became higher in autumn and winter. The present study constitutes the first record of this invasive macroalga on the South Atlantic Ocean; the fourth record of an exotic macroalgal species on the Atlantic Patagonian coast; and the first record of an invasive species related to the establishment of C. gigas in Atlantic Patagonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe for the first time the morphology of Gelidium crinale from its natural habitat in Atlantic Patagonia with special consideration of diagnostic characters. Observations and morphometric measurements were done on fresh specimens using scanning electron and inverted light microscopy. This report is a new record for Atlantic Patagonian coasts. The thalli comprise prostrate and erect axes; they are subterete at the base and compressed to flattened at the apices. The basal parts are scarcely and irregularly branched, while the apical parts are highly ramified and subdichotomously branched. The lengths of thalli and the ramification patterns differ from previous descriptions, and were variable between seasons and life history phases. 'Brush-like' haptera confirmed the identity of the algae as members of the Gelidiaceae. Internal rhizoidal filaments are abundant and distributed in groups throughout the medulla. The life history was of the ' Polysiphonia-type'; occurrences of carposporophytes and tetrasporophytes were variable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The total reaction energy (Q) of individual nuclear decays was measured using microcalorimeters with transition-edge-sensor (TES) thermometers. For alpha-decaying actinides (e.g., U-235, Pu-239, Np-237, Am-241), Q is in the 4–6 MeV range. Nearly all of this energy goes into the relatively light alpha particle, and approximately 100 keV is left over for the much heavier, recoiling daughter atom. Alpha-particle energy spectroscopy with TES-microcalorimeters has shown the ability to simultaneously resolve peaks that overlap in conventional alpha spectroscopy, with resolution now less than 1 keV full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM) at 5.3 MeV. For total reaction energy spectroscopy, we use the same TES design as our alpha detectors, but embed a small radioactive sample (of about 1 Bq) directly inside an absorber designed to capture all the emitted particles (alpha, recoil nucleus, electrons, X-rays) with near 100% efficiency. We have measured Q-spectra of alpha-decaying isotopes with spectral resolution of 2–3 keV FWHM. For some actinide analytical problems, the Q-spectrum is simpler than the alpha-spectrum: fewer peaks, further apart, and easier to quantify. We will discuss sensor design, methods for embedding radionuclides, and spectral data. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Intertidal pools represent restricted habitats for macroalgal assemblages, and their structure is determined by physical and biotic factors. The establishment of the exotic oyster Crassostrea gigas on the north Patagonian Atlantic coast led to the formation of intertidal pools; these provide habitats for macroalgal settlement. We aimed to determine the composition, distribution and abundance of the macroalgal assemblage inhabiting these pools, and to establish the structuring variables. Several biotic and abiotic variables were evaluated in 36 pools in winter and summer. Correlations were calculated and permutation analysis of variance and constrained redundancy analysis were conducted to determine the structuring variables. Unlike other Patagonian coasts, richness was low and pools were characterized by a dominance of red algae. Richness was higher in winter, while diversity was lower because of the dominance of Polysiphonia abscissa, which had the highest percentage of occurrence. Temperature was a putative factor determining seasonal richness and diversity. Elevation and surface area of the pools were structuring factors for assemblage biomass. We demonstrated distinct assemblage dynamics. Polysiphonia abscissa developed large populations in winter, which declined towards the summer, while Gelidium maggsiae and Gelidiella calcicola formed dense turfs during summer stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]