On the anatomical definition of arterial networks in blood flow simulations: comparison of detailed and simplified models

Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology - The goal of this work is to assess the impact of vascular anatomy definition degree in the predictions of blood flow models of the arterial network. To...     

A methodological approach to assess the small mammal community diversity in the temperate rainforest of Patagonia

Assessing small mammal diversity is a common procedure, which usually employs widespread standard techniques, for gathering information for a wide range of studies. Traditional methods, however, may be biased against capturing arboreal marsupials, such as Dromiciops gliroides, an endemic marsupial currently considered a rare species in the Patagonian temperate rainforest due to the low abundances reported previously. I tested a new capturing methodology to assess the small mammal diversity of an old-growth forest in Patagonia, based on a randomized and balanced design, which incorporated a combination of different trap types, bait types, and placement heights. The proposed methodology included four trap types (two for live-capturing: wire-mesh and Sherman traps, and two sign-recording traps for tracks and hair), two types of bait (banana and rolled oats), and two trap placements (ground level and 1.5–2.5 m above the ground). Trap type, bait type, and height of placement all had significantly different effects on capturing and detecting rodents or marsupials; environmental variables at the trap location also affected the ability to detect rodents and marsupials. Traditional methods used for sampling small mammals performed well for rodents but are not effective for capturing marsupials and vice versa, showing species-specific sampling protocols. There is no single combination of trap-bait-height capable to assess the entire small mammal community, but the combination of the most effective protocol for rodents and the most effective protocol for marsupials guarantee better results.     

Reproductive ecology and growth of a population of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) in an aquifer-fed stream of Old Castile (Spain)

In the River Lobos-Ucero and its tributary the River Avión-Milanos (Duero basin, Old Castile, Central Spain), two limestone streams fed by aquifers, the population of brown trout, as compared with the populations of other European streams, shows a high growth rate, high condition coefficients, short life-span and early age at first maturity. Gonad cycle was also studied. Size distributions of unshed eggs exhibit a dynamic activity with a bi-modal distribution from June onwards, spawning occurred in the last days of November. Fecundity (F) can be predicted from trout length (L, mm) according to the equation: F= –646.47+5.6167 · L. Numbers and standing crop of trout range from 18 to 3903 ind. ha^–1 and 3.6 to 452.9 Kg ha^–1, reaching higher values in the sites close to the aquifers. Egg production had values of 22.4 and 18.0 eggs m^–2 in the Rivers Ucero and Avión-Milanos respectively. Some factors suggested as regulators of these demographical characteristics are discussed in the light of recent literature.     

A general,fast, and sensitive micromethod for DNA determination: Application to rat and mouse liver,rat hepatoma,human leukocytes,chicken fibroblasts,and yeast cells

A fluorometric method using 3,5-diaminobenzoic acid for DNA determination in tissues, cultured cells, nucleated blood cells, and yeast cells is described. The method is general, simple, and rapid, and does not require prior DNA extraction, since tissue is directly solubilized in Triton X-100 and ammonia. The procedure is highly sensitive, and is able to measure rather accurately as little as 10 ng of DNA. It is applicable to all types of DNA structure. The DNA content determined in various tissues and cells was: 2.50 mg/g fresh rat liver, 3.32 mg/g rat diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatoma, 2.49 mg/g fresh mouse liver, 8.76 μg/10⁶ human leukocytes, 3.37 μg/10⁶ chicken fibroblasts, 2.97 μg/10⁸ haploid yeast cells, and 2.84 μg/10⁸ haploid yeast protoplasts.     

Production of vanillic acid from vanillin by resting cells of Serratia marcescens.

Resting-cell suspensions of Serratia marcescens were able to convert, quantitatively, 0.3% vanillin to vanillic acid. The vanillic acid-producing activity reached a maximum after 28 h of incubation with 0.01% vanillin as an inducer.     

The functioning of cytochrome b in the electron transport to fumarate in Propionibacterium freudenreichii and Propionibacterium pentosaceum

Fumarase-free electron particles from Propionibacterium freudenreichii and P. pentosaceum were prepared by discontinuous sucrose gradient centrifugation, and the influence of 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxy-quinoline-N-oxide (HQNO) and ultraviolet irradiation on the reduction of menaquinone and cytochrome b with l-lactate or glycerol-3-phosphate and the reoxidation by fumarate was studied. In the presence of HQNO the steady state reduction level of menaquinone during fumarate reduction was increased whereas the steady state reduction level of cytochrome b was decreased as compared with the reduction levels measured in the absence of HQNO. The steady state reduction level of menaquinone during electron transport to fumarate was not influenced by ultraviolet irradiation and the steady state reduction level of cytochrome b was decreased at increasing irradiation times. The data indicate that cytochrome b is involved in the electron transport to fumarate.Abbreviations HQNO 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide - NQNO 2-n-nonyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide Visiting Professor at the Biological Laboratory     

Complete profiling of some eicosanoids using glass capillary gas chromatography with flame ionization detection: application to biological samples

The improvement of glass capillary preparation technology has allowed the development of high-resolution and very low-bleeding gas chromatographic columns. Using an all-glass injector and a flame ionization detector, it was possible to get a complete resolution of some of the principal stable oxygenated metabolites of arachidonic acid (cyclized and aliphatic, i.e., eicosanoids). Due to the low bleeding of the column, detector limits exceed those obtained with previously prepared columns. Total profiling studies have been obtained with small amounts of activated washed platelets after only an ether extraction, allowing for the first time a complete, simultaneous survey of cycloxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways. The application has been extended with success to other cell types.