Prevalence and persistence of gymnodimines in clams from the Gulf of Gabes (Tunisia) studied by mouse bioassay and LC-MS/MS

In this work we studied the toxicity in clams from the Gulf of Gabes, Tunisia (Southern Mediterranean). Samples from two stations (M2 and S6) were collected monthly from January 2009 to September 2010, and analyzed by the official control method of mousse bioassay (MBA) for lipophilic toxins. All samples were also analyzed with the LC-MS/MS method for the determination of lipophilic toxins, namely: okadaic acid group, pectenotoxins, yessotoxins and azaspiracids, spirolides and gymnodimines (GYMs). The results showed prevalence of GYMs since it was the only toxin group identified in these samples with a maximum of 2,136 ��g GYM -A kg-1 (February 2009 at M2). Furthermore, GYMs showed persistence in the area, with only one blank sample below the limit of detection. Interestingly, this blank sample was found in June 2009 after an important toxic episode which supports the recent findings regarding the high detoxification capability of clams, much faster than that reported for oysters. In comparison, good agreement was found among MBA, the LD50 value of 80-100 ��g kg-1 reported for GYM- A, and quantitative results provided by LC-MS/MS. On the contrary to that previously reported for Tunisian clams, we unambiguously identified and quantified by LC-MS/MS the isomers GYM- B/C in most samples. Phytoplankton identification and enumeration of Karenia selliformis usually showed higher densities at site M2 than S6 as expected bearing in mind toxin results, although additional results would be required to improve the correlation between K. selliformis densities and quantitative results of toxins. The prevalence and persistence of GYMs in this area at high levels strongly encourages the evaluation of the chronic toxic effects of GYMs. This is especially important taking into account that relatively large quantities of GYMs can be released into the market due to the replacement of the official control method from mouse bioassay to the LC-MS/MS for lipophilic toxins (Regulation (EU) No 15/2011), and the lack of Regulation for this group of toxins.

Eliminaci�� autotr��fica de nitrogen en una pila biol��gica (microbial fuel cells )

L���aigua i l���energia formen un binomi indissociable. En relaci�� al cicle de l���aigua, des de fa varies d��cades s���han desenvolupat diferents formes per recuperar part de l���energia relacionada amb l���aigua, per exemple a partir de centrals hidroel��ctriques. No obstant, l�����s d���aquesta aigua tamb�� porta associat un gran consum energ��tic, relacionat sobretot amb el transport, la distribuci��, la depuraci��, etc... La depuraci�� d���aig��es residuals porta associada una elevada demanda energ��tica (Obis et al.,2009). En termes energ��tics, tot i que la despesa el��ctrica d���una EDAR varia en funci�� de diferents par��metres com la configuraci�� i la capacitat de la planta, la c��rrega a tractar, etc... es podria considerar que el rati mig seria d��� aproximadament 0.5 KWh���m-3.Els principals costos d���explotaci�� estan relacionats tant amb la gesti�� de fangs (28%) com amb el consum el��ctric (25%) (50% tractament biol��gic). Tot i que moltes investigacions relacionades amb el tractament d���aigua residual estan encaminades en disminuir els costos d���operaci��, des de fa poques d��cades s���est�� investigant la viabilitat de que l���aigua residual fins i tot sigui una font d���energia, canviant la perspectiva, i comen��ant a veure l���aigua residual no com a una problem��tica sin�� com a un recurs. Concretament s���estima que l���aigua dom��stica cont�� 9.3 vegades m��s energia que la necess��ria per el seu tractament mitjan��ant processos aerobis (Shizas et al., 2004). Un dels processos m��s desenvolupats relacionats amb el tractament d���aig��es residuals i la producci�� energ��tica ��s la digesti�� anaer��bia. No obstant, aquesta tecnologia permet el tractament d���altes c��rregues de mat��ria org��nica generant un efluent ric en nitrogen que s���haur�� de tractar amb altres tecnologies. Per altre banda, recentment s���est�� investigant una nova tecnologia relacionada amb el tractament d���aig��es residuals i la producci�� energ��tica: les piles biol��giques (microbial fuel cells, MFC). Aquesta tecnologia permet obtenir directament energia el��ctrica a partir de la degradaci�� de substrats biodegradables (Rabaey et al., 2005). Les piles biol��giques, m��s conegudes com a Microbial Fuel Cells (acr��nim en angl��s, MFC), s��n una emergent tecnologia que est�� centrant moltes mirades en el camp de l��� investigaci��, i que es basa en la producci�� d���energia el��ctrica a partir de substrats biodegradables presents en l���aigua residual (Logan., 2008). Els fonaments de les piles biol��giques ��s molt semblant al funcionament d���una pila Daniell, en la qual es separa en dos compartiments la reacci�� d���oxidaci�� (compartiment an��dic) i la de reducci�� (compartiment cat��dic) amb l���objectiu de generar un determinat corrent el��ctric. En aquest estudi, b��sicament es mostra la posada en marxa d'una pila biol��gica per a l'eliminaci�� de mat��ria org��nica i nitrogen de les aig��es residuals.

Moduli of smoothness and growth properties of Fourier transforms: two-sided estimates

We prove two-sided inequalities between the integral moduli of smoothness of a function on R d[superscript] / T d[superscript] and the weighted tail-type integrals of its Fourier transform/series. Sharpness of obtained results in particular is given by the equivalence results for functions satisfying certain regular conditions. Applications include a quantitative form of the Riemann-Lebesgue lemma as well as several other questions in approximation theory and the theory of function spaces.

Biomphalaria tenagophila potencial vector of Schistosoma mansoni in the Paran�� River basin (Argentina and Paraguay)

Susceptibility and compatibility experiments were carried out with 700 Biomphalaria tenagophila from the Paran�� River basin exposed to infection with Schistosoma mansoni. Individual infection was performed with 10 miracidia of SJ2 strain from the Paraiba valley (Brazil) originally infective to B. tenagophila. These snails were laboratory-breed progeny of B. tenagophila collected from six localities of Argentina and one from Paraguay. From Argentina: Rinc��n de Vences (7%) and Posadas (11%) became infected with S. mansoni and the calculation of Frandsen's index (TCP/100) shows that they were Class II poorly compatible. Those snails from Goya (22%), Maloyas (5%), and Ber��n de Astrada (3%) were Class III compatible to the S. mansoni. None of the 100 snails exposed from Ca��-Cat�� became infected (Class 0 incompatible). Tested samples from Paraguay (Encarnaci��n) were infected (20%) and compatible (Class III). It was also studied the persistence of the infection in 244 snails of the first generation (F1) of those that were susceptible from three places. It was demonstrated an increment of the susceptibility in the F1 from Maloyas (chi2 = 27.22; p = 0.0001) and Posadas (chi2 = 4.24; p = 0.04). The results point out the possibility that schistosomiasis might be able to spread into the Paran�� River basin where B. tenagophila exists.

Caracterizaci��n funcional de las HERC ubiquitina ligasas en modelos in vivo

La fam��lia de prote��nes HERC contenen dos dominis caracter��stics: HECT i RLD (RCC1-like). Prote��nes amb dominis HECT funcionen com ubiquitina ligasas i prote��nes amb dominis RLD actuen com a reguladors de GTPases. En humans, la fam��lia HERC est�� formada per sis membres: les gegants (HERC1-2) i les petites (HERC3-6). HERC1 va ser la primera a identificar-se, cont�� dos dominis RLD (RLD1 i RLD2) i ha estat implicada en tr��fic de membrana, proliferaci�� i creixement cel.lular per les seves interaccions amb clatrina, M2-piruvat quinasa i tuberina (TSC2). Aqu�� es descriu la caracteritzaci�� del ratol�� "rescat" d'una mutaci�� espont��nia i recessiva anomenada tambaleante, que causa una degeneraci�� progressiva de les c��l.lules de Purkinje amb at��xia severa, un creixement redu��t i una menor superviv��ncia. Aquest rescat va ser realitzat amb un transg��n de cDNA de HERC1 hum�� i demostra que HERC1 ��s el responsable del fenotip oscil.lant. Hem generats animals knock-outs de HERC1 que no expressen el extremo ubiquitina ligasa de la prote��na, i que no mimetitzen el fenotip tambaleante. La resposta de MEFs de tambaleante a insulina tampoc mimetitza l'activaci�� redu��da dels substrats de mTOR, ni l'autof��gia observats en l'animal tambaleante. Els nostres resultats suggereixen que HERC1 podria estar implicada en la regulaci�� de la biog��nesi ribosomal. Aquestes observacions contribueixen a la caracteritzaci�� funcional de la ubiquitina ligasa HERC1 i demostren un paper fins ara desconegut de HERC1 en creixement i neurodegeneraci��.

Relative adrenal insufficiency and hemodynamic status in cardiopulmonary bypass surgery patients. A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this study were to determine the risk factors for relative adrenal insufficiency in cardiopulmonary bypass patients and the impact on postoperative vasopressor requirements. METHODS: Prospective cohort study on cardiopulmonary bypass patients who received etomidate or not during anesthetic induction. Relative adrenal insufficiency was defined as a rise in serum cortisol <or= 9 microg/dl after the administration of 250 microg of consyntropin. Plasma cortisol levels were measured preoperatively, immediately before, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after the administration of cosyntropin, and at 24 hours after surgery. RESULTS: 120 elective cardiopulmonary bypass patients were included. Relative adrenal insufficiency (Deltacortisol <or=9 microg/dl) incidence was 77.5%. 78 patients received etomidate and 69 (88%) of them developed relative adrenal insufficiency, (P < 0.001). Controlling for clinical characteristics with a propensity analysis, etomidate was the only independent risk factor associated with relative adrenal insufficiency (OR 6.55, CI 95%: 2.47-17.4; P < 0.001). Relative adrenal insufficiency patients showed more vasopressor requirements just after surgery (P = 0.04), and at 4 hours after surgery (P = 0.01). Pre and post-test plasma cortisol levels were inversely associated with maximum norepinephrine dose (rho = -0.22, P = 0.02; rho = -0.18, P = 0.05; rho = -0.21, P = 0.02; and rho = -0.22, P = 0.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Relative adrenal insufficiency in elective cardiopulmonary bypass patients may induce postoperative vasopressor dependency. Use of etomidate in these patients is a modifiable risk factor for the development of relative adrenal insufficiency that should be avoided.

Continuous monitoring of cerebrovascular pressure reactivity in patients with head injury.

OBJECT: Cerebrovascular pressure reactivity is the ability of cerebral vessels to respond to changes in transmural pressure. A cerebrovascular pressure reactivity index (PRx) can be determined as the moving correlation coefficient between mean intracranial pressure (ICP) and mean arterial blood pressure. METHODS: The authors analyzed a database consisting of 398 patients with head injuries who underwent continuous monitoring of cerebrovascular pressure reactivity. In 298 patients, the PRx was compared with a transcranial Doppler ultrasonography assessment of cerebrovascular autoregulation (the mean index [Mx]), in 17 patients with the PET-assessed static rate of autoregulation, and in 22 patients with the cerebral metabolic rate for O(2). Patient outcome was assessed 6 months after injury. RESULTS: There was a positive and significant association between the PRx and Mx (R(2) = 0.36, p &lt; 0.001) and with the static rate of autoregulation (R(2) = 0.31, p = 0.02). A PRx &gt; 0.35 was associated with a high mortality rate (&gt; 50%). The PRx showed significant deterioration in refractory intracranial hypertension, was correlated with outcome, and was able to differentiate patients with good outcome, moderate disability, severe disability, and death. The graph of PRx compared with cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) indicated a U-shaped curve, suggesting that too low and too high CPP was associated with a disturbance in pressure reactivity. Such an optimal CPP was confirmed in individual cases and a greater difference between current and optimal CPP was associated with worse outcome (for patients who, on average, were treated below optimal CPP [R(2) = 0.53, p &lt; 0.001] and for patients whose mean CPP was above optimal CPP [R(2) = -0.40, p &lt; 0.05]). Following decompressive craniectomy, pressure reactivity initially worsened (median -0.03 [interquartile range -0.13 to 0.06] to 0.14 [interquartile range 0.12-0.22]; p &lt; 0.01) and improved in the later postoperative course. After therapeutic hypothermia, in 17 (70.8%) of 24 patients in whom rewarming exceeded the brain temperature threshold of 37 degrees C, ICP remained stable, but the average PRx increased to 0.32 (p &lt; 0.0001), indicating significant derangement in cerebrovascular reactivity. CONCLUSIONS: The PRx is a secondary index derived from changes in ICP and arterial blood pressure and can be used as a surrogate marker of cerebrovascular impairment. In view of an autoregulation-guided CPP therapy, a continuous determination of a PRx is feasible, but its value has to be evaluated in a prospective controlled trial.

La selva tecnol��gica: sistemas socit��cnicos y antropolog��a sim��trica en comunidades ribere��as del Bajo Amazonas

El objetivo de esta tesis es reinterpretar la idea ���tecnolog��a��� partiendo del ejemplo etnogr��fico de varias comunidades ribere��as del Bajo Amazonas. La hip��tesis que va a defenderse es que si se trasciende la perspectiva t��cnica y se analiza la ���tecnolog��a��� desde un punto de vista antropol��gico, ��sta se revela como algo indisociable de otras dimensiones sociales como 1. el cuerpo, 2. el conocimiento local 3. la modernizaci��n, 4. la pol��tica agraria y 5. la espiritualidad. Los datos etnogr��ficos se han obtenido durante diez meses de trabajo de campo en diversas comunidades ribere��as formadas, principalmente, por poblaci��n mestiza. La situaci��n h��brida de estos ribere��os, que mantienen las t��cnicas tradicionales ind��genas y a la vez se acomodan al influjo de la modernidad, permite tender un puente anal��tico entre la tecnolog��a amaz��nica y la tecnolog��a ���occidental���. El objetivo te��rico que subyace a la propia etnograf��a es establecer un eje de simetr��a entre ambos sistemas sociot��cnicos, para lo cual se propone evitar la valoraci��n de la tecnolog��a en tanto que instrumento y einterpretarla como estrategia relacional. Partiendo de esa perspectiva anal��tica, a lo largo de este trabajo se ver�� c��mo la antropolog��a amaz��nica y la antropolog��a de la tecnolog��a, aparentemente disociadas, confluyen en un cuadro interpretativo seg��n el cual los ribere��os del Bajo Amazonas (y si la simetr��a es correcta, tambi��n la poblaci��n postindustrial), tienden a disolver la cl��sica distinci��n naturaleza/cultura en la continuidad relacional generada por sus sistemas tecnol��gicos.

A general continuous auction model with insiders

We analyse in a unified way how the presence of a trader with privilege information makes the market to be efficient when the release time is known. We establish a general relation between the problem of finding an equilibrium and the problem of enlargement of filtrations. We also consider the case where the time of announcement is random. In such a case the market is not fully efficient and there exists equilibrium if the sensitivity of prices with respect to the global demand is time decreasing according with the distribution of the random time.

Epigenetic regulation of human cancer/testis antigen gene, HAGE, in chronic myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Cancer testis antigens (CTA) provide attractive targets for cancer-specific immunotherapy. Although CTA genes are expressed in some normal tissues, such as the testis, this immunologically protected site lacks MHC I expression and as such, does not present self antigens to T cells. To date, CTA genes have been shown to be expressed in a range of solid tumors via demethylation of their promoter CpG islands, but rarely in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) or other hematologic malignancies. DESIGN AND METHODS In this study, the methylation status of the HAGE CTA gene promoter was analyzed by quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) and sequencing in four Philadelphia-positive cell lines (TCC-S, K562, KU812 and KYO-1) and in CML samples taken from patients in chronic phase (CP n=215) or blast crisis (BC n=47). HAGE expression was assessed by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS The TCC-S cell line showed demethylation of HAGE that was associated with over-expression of this gene. HAGE hypomethylation was significantly more frequent in BC (46%) than in CP (22%) (p=0.01) and was correlated with high expression levels of HAGE transcripts (p<0.0001). Of note, in CP-CML, extensive HAGE hypomethylation was associated with poorer prognosis in terms of cytogenetic response to interferon (p=0.01) or imatinib (p=0.01), molecular response to imatinib (p=0.003) and progression-free survival (p=0.05). INTERPRETATIONS AND CONCLUSION: The methylation status of the HAGE promoter directly correlates with its expression in both CML cell lines and patients and is associated with advanced disease and poor outcome.

Trends in yearly prevalence of third-generation cephalosporin and fluoroquinolone resistant Enterobacteriaceae infections and antimicrobial use in Spanish hospitals, Spain, 1999 to 2010.

Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter spp. are a major cause of infections in hospitalised patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate rates and trends of resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones in infected patients, the trends in use for these antimicrobials, and to assess the potential correlation between both trends. The database of national point prevalence study series of infections and antimicrobial use among patients hospitalised in Spain over the period from 1999 to 2010 was analysed. On average 265 hospitals and 60,000 patients were surveyed per year yielding a total of 19,801 E. coli, 3,004 K. pneumoniae and 3,205 Enterobacter isolates. During the twelve years period, we observed significant increases for the use of fluoroquinolones (5.8%-10.2%, p<0.001), but not for third-generation cephalosporins (6.4%-5.9%, p=NS). Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins increased significantly for E. coli (5%-15%, p<0.01) and for K. pneumoniae infections (4%-21%, p<0.01) but not for Enterobacter spp. (24%). Resistance to fluoroquinolones increased significantly for E. coli (16%30%, p<0.01), for K. pneumoniae (5%-22%, p<0.01), and for Enterobacter spp. (6%-15%, p<0.01). We found strong correlations between the rate of fluoroquinolone use and the resistance to fluoroquinolones, third-generation cephalosporins, or co-resistance to both, for E. coli (R=0.97, p<0.01, R=0.94, p<0.01, and R=0.96, p<0.01, respectively), and for K. pneumoniae (R=0.92, p<0.01, R=0.91, p<0.01, and R=0.92, p<0.01, respectively). No correlation could be found between the use of third-generation cephalosporins and resistance to any of the latter antimicrobials. No significant correlations could be found for Enterobacter spp.. Knowledge of the trends in antimicrobial resistance and use of antimicrobials in the hospitalised population at the national level can help to develop prevention strategies.

Estimating Gross Value Added (GVA) across multiple scales: theoretical approach and empirical validation

This paper presents an application of the Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism (MuSIASEM) approach to the estimation of quantities of Gross Value Added (GVA) referring to economic entities defined at different scales of study. The method first estimates benchmark values of the pace of GVA generation per hour of labour across economic sectors. These values are estimated as intensive variables ���e.g. ���/hour��� by dividing the various sectorial GVA of the country (expressed in ��� per year) by the hours of paid work in that same sector per year. This assessment is obtained using data referring to national statistics (top down information referring to the national level). Then, the approach uses bottom-up information (the number of hours of paid work in the various economic sectors of an economic entity ���e.g. a city or a province��� operating within the country) to estimate the amount of GVA produced by that entity. This estimate is obtained by multiplying the number of hours of work in each sector in the economic entity by the benchmark value of GVA generation per hour of work of that particular sector (national average). This method is applied and tested on two different socio-economic systems: (i) Catalonia (considered level n) and Barcelona (considered level n-1); and (ii) the region of Lima (considered level n) and Lima Metropolitan Area (considered level n-1). In both cases, the GVA per year of the local economic entity ���Barcelona and Lima Metropolitan Area ��� is estimated and the resulting value is compared with GVA data provided by statistical offices. The empirical analysis seems to validate the approach, even though the case of Lima Metropolitan Area indicates a need for additional care when dealing with the estimate of GVA in primary sectors (agriculture and mining).