Lutzomyia longipalpis and the eco-epidemiology of American visceral leishmaniasis, with particular reference to Brazil: a review

An historical review is given of American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL), with particular reference to the eco-epidemiology of the disease in Brazil. Following the first records of AVL in this country, in 1934, the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz and Neiva, 1912) was incriminated as the principal vector. It is now generally accepted, however, that there exist a number of cryptic species under the name of Lu. longipalpis s.l. and that variations in the quantity of the vasodilatory peptide maxadilan in the saliva of flies from different populations of Lu. longipalpis s.l., may account for the variable clinical manifestations of AVL seen in different geographic regions. Distribution of AVL has been shown to extend throughout most of South and Central America, with the domestic dog serving as the principal reservoir of infection for man. However, while one hypothesis suggests that the causative parasite is Leishmania infantum, imported from Europe with the Portuguese and Spanish colonists, the demonstration of a high rate of benign, inapparent infection in foxes in Amazonian Brazil raised an opposing suggestion that the parasite is indigenous to the Americas. Recent reports of similar infections in native marsupials, and possibly rodents, tend to support this view, particularly as Lu. longipalpis is primordially a silvatic sandfly. Although effective control measures in foci of the disease will diminish the number of canine and human infections, the presence of such an enzootic in a variety of native animals will render the total eradication of AVL unlikely.

Molecular approaches for eco-epidemiological studies of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Medical mycology has greatly benefited from the introduction of molecular techniques. New knowledge on molecular genetics has provided both theoretical and practical frameworks, permitting important advances in our understanding of several aspects of pathogenic fungi. Considering Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in particular, important eco-epidemiological aspects, such as environmental distribution and new hosts were clarified through molecular approaches. These methodologies also contributed to a better understanding about the genetic variability of this pathogen; thus, P. brasiliensis is now assumed to represent a species complex. The present review focuses on some recent findings about the current taxonomic status of P. brasiliensis, its phylogenetic and speciation processes, as well as on some practical applications for the molecular detection of this pathogen in environmental and clinical materials.

Statistical Analysis of Eco-Toxicologic Data of Mammals from a Polluted Area

Several eco-toxicological studies have shown that insectivorous mammals, due to theirfeeding habits, easily accumulate high amounts of pollutants in relation to other mammal species. To assess the bio-accumulation levels of toxic metals and their in°uenceon essential metals, we quantified the concentration of 19 elements (Ca, K, Fe, B, P,S, Na, Al, Zn, Ba, Rb, Sr, Cu, Mn, Hg, Cd, Mo, Cr and Pb) in bones of 105 greaterwhite-toothed shrews (Crocidura russula) from a polluted (Ebro Delta) and a control(Medas Islands) area. Since chemical contents of a bio-indicator are mainly compositional data, conventional statistical analyses currently used in eco-toxicology can givemisleading results. Therefore, to improve the interpretation of the data obtained, weused statistical techniques for compositional data analysis to define groups of metalsand to evaluate the relationships between them, from an inter-population viewpoint.Hypothesis testing on the adequate balance-coordinates allow us to confirm intuitionbased hypothesis and some previous results. The main statistical goal was to test equalmeans of balance-coordinates for the two defined populations. After checking normality,one-way ANOVA or Mann-Whitney tests were carried out for the inter-group balances

Prototip culata del vehicle de baix consum (equip EPS-UdG Shell Eco)

Aquest projecte s’ha portat a terme per tal de millorar en diferentsaspectes el motor Honda Gx35 , del vehicle de baix consum de la Universitat deGirona (Udg). Aquest és un motor de combustió interna de gasolina (cicle Otto).L’objectiu és el disseny d’una culata per poder minimitzar el consum de gasolina, la qual s’ha de poder acoblar amb el motor Honda Gx35. Aquest motor,prèviament s’haurà de modificar per poder-hi instal•lari la nova culata

Particularités de la prise en charge des infections chez le patient neutropénique [Special feature in the handling of infectious in neutropenic patients]

Les progrès continus des connaissances réalisés dans le domaine de l'oncohématologie depuis quelques décennies ont permis une amélioration considérable du pronostic de la plupart des formes de cancer. Toutefois, la morbidité et la mortalité attribuables aux infections apparaissent actuellement comme les principaux facteurs limitant l'agressivité des traitements de la maladie cancéreuse, et un meilleur contrôle de ces dernières est devenu l'un des éléments essentiels de la prise en charge de ce type de patients. Une recherche clinique intense a permis d'en identifier les grands principes qui sont exposés dans cet article. Un algorithme thérapeutique susceptible de guider le clinicien face au développement d'un état fébrile, toujours suspect d'infection chez le patient cancéreux neutropénique, est ensuite proposé.

A genetic algorithm to ensemble feature selection

We are going to implement the "GA-SEFS" by Tsymbal and analyse experimentally its performance depending on the classifier algorithms used in the fitness function (NB, MNge, SMO). We are also going to study the effect of adding to the fitness function a measure to control complexity of the base classifiers.

A survey on transfer-based approaches to MT using feature structures

Aquest treball és una revisió d'alguns sistemes de Traducció Automàtica que segueixen l'estratègia de Transfer i fan servir estructures de trets com a eina de representació. El treball s'integra dins el projecte MLAP-9315, projecte que investiga la reutilització de les especificacions lingüístiques del projecte EUROTRA per estàndards industrials.

Eco rastreos durante abril de 1966

Describe las operaciones Eureka III y IV en los días de abril 17 y 24 del 1966, cubriendo las zonas entre Punta Chao y Bahía Independencia. El rastreo con sonar y ecosonda fue completado con observaciones bio oceanológicas básica, especialmente de temperatura.

Eco rastreos durante julio de 1966

Describe las operaciones exploratorias Eureka, durante el periodo de pesca de la anchoveta con muestreos semanales y estudios de composición por tamaño de la población de anchoveta, edad y crecimiento.

Eco rastreos durante agosto de 1966

Describe la operación Eureka VI que se realizó del 16 al 18 de agosto de 1966, cubrió la zona comprendida entre Salaverry y Punta Olleros, hasta 90 millas de la costa.

Eco rastreos durante marzo de 1967

Describe la operación Eureka VII que realizó del 9 al 11 de marzo de 1967, cubrió la zona entre Salaverry y Punta Olleros. Participaron 8 lanchas de los puertos de Chimbote, Culebras, Callao y Pisco.

Eco rastreo durante agosto de 1967

Describe la operación Eureka VIII que se realizó el 24 de agosto de 1967, investigando las zonas de Lobos de Afuera – San Juan y, Camaná Punta Quiaca. Participaron 16 embarcaciones perecientes a 9 compañías pesqueras de los puertos de Chicama, Chimbote, Callao, Tambo de Mora, Pisco e Ilo.

Desarrollo de los principales programas de eco rastreo.Pesca exploratoria y experimental

El presente informe contiene las normas y/o las instrucciones para realizar eco-rastreos relámpago( Operaciones Eureka) , rastreos especiales con el BAP Unanue y las tareas normales de la flota anchovetera. Contempla los principalesrequerimientos técnicos,como los presupuestos de las exploraciones de eco-sondaje durante un período vigente de cuatro años,los cuales tendrán por objetivo, determinar la distribución y concentración de cardúmenes de anchoveta desde Lobos de Afuera( Norte del litoral peruano) a Ilo ( Sur del litoral peruano).

Estimación cuantitativa de peces pelagicos frente a huarmey - Salaverry en noviembre 1977 con el método de eco - integración

Analiza los métodos usados por IMARPE para la evaluación acústica de peces pelagicos del proyecto ICANE