Spatial and seasonal distribution of the tuna catch on floating objects in the eastern pacific ocean during 1992–1993

An analysis of the catch associated with floating objects by the Mexican tuna purse‐seine fleet in the eastern Pacific Ocean during 1992–1993 was made to determine the spatial and seasonal distribution. The information used was generated by observers of the Programa Nacional de Aprovechamiento del Atun y Protección a los Delfines (PNAAPD). There was no clear seasonal and spatial distribution of floating objects examined in this study, however there were areas where floating objects were more common; the mouth of the Gulf of California, waters offshore Peru, and in oceanic waters. The largest catch of yellowfin tuna was offshore of Peru in winter. Two areas with largest (length) yellowfin tuna were the mouth of the Gulf of California and offshore Peru. For skipjack tuna, the largest catch was offshore Peru in winter, but the largest skipjack were caught between 120° and 130°W along 10°N in spring. The largest yellowfin tuna were captured by sets on bamboo, fish aggregating devices (FADs), planks and boards, and logs (trees or parts). The largest skipjack were captured by sets on dead whales, kelp paddies, planks and boards, and pallets and crates. Most of the sets were made during the early hours of the day but an important number of log sets were made in the early afternoon. For the period analyzed, floating objects were more frequent during fall and winter with the area offshore of Peru the most important.     

Divergent host phenotypes create opportunities and constraints on the distribution of two wing‐dwelling feather mites

The diversity of symbionts (commensals, mutualists or parasites) that share the same host species may depend on opportunities and constraints on host exploitation associated with host phenotype or environment. Various host traits may differently influence host accessibility and within‐host population growth of each symbiont species, or they may determine the outcome of within‐host interactions among coexisting species. In turn, phenotypic diversity of a host species may promote divergent exploitation strategies among its symbiotic organisms. We studied the distribution of two feather mite species, Proctophyllodes sylviae and Trouessartia bifurcata, among blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla wintering in southern Spain during six winters. The host population included migratory and sedentary individuals, which were unequally distributed between two habitat types (forests and shrublands). Visual mite counts showed that both mite species often coexisted on sedentary blackcaps, but were seldom found together on migratory blackcaps. Regardless of host habitat, Proctophyllodes were highly abundant and Trouessartia were scarce on migratory blackcaps, but the abundance of both mite species converged in intermediate levels on sedentary blackcaps. Coexistence may come at a cost for Proctophyllodes, whose load decreased when Trouessartia was present on the host (the opposite was not true). Proctophyllodes load was positively correlated with host wing length (wings were longer in migratory blackcaps), while Trouessartia load was positively correlated to uropygial gland size (sedentary blackcaps had bigger glands), which might render migratory and sedentary blackcaps better hosts for Proctophyllodes and Trouessartia, respectively. Our results draw a complex scenario for mite co‐existence in the same host species, where different mite species apparently take advantage of, or are constrained by, divergent host phenotypic traits. This expands our understanding of bird–mite interactions, which are usually viewed as less dynamic in relation to variation in host phenotype, and emphasizes the role of host phenotypic divergence in the diversification of symbiotic organisms.     

The Netrin-4/Laminin γ1/Neogenin-1 complex mediates migration in SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common pediatric extracranial solid tumor. It arises during development of the sympathetic nervous system. Netrin-4 (NTN4), a laminin-related protein, has been proposed as a key factor to target NB metastasis, although there is controversy about its function. Here, we show that NTN4 is broadly expressed in tumor, stroma and blood vessels of NB patient samples. Furthermore, NTN4 was shown to act as a cell adhesion molecule required for the migration induced by Neogenin-1 (NEO1) in SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells. Therefore, we propose that NTN4, by forming a ternary complex with Laminin γ1 (LMγ1) and NEO1, acts as an essential extracellular matrix component, which induces the migration of SK-N-SH cells.     

Host genetic requirements for DNA release of lactococcal phage TP901-1

The first step in phage infection is the recognition of, and adsorption to, a receptor located on the host cell surface. This reversible host adsorption step is commonly followed by an irreversible event, which involves phage DNA delivery or release into the bacterial cytoplasm. The molecular components that trigger this latter event are unknown for most phages of Gram-positive bacteria. In the current study, we present a comparative genome analysis of three mutants of Lactococcus cremoris 3107, which are resistant to the P335 group phage TP901-1 due to mutations that affect TP901-1 DNA release. Through genetic complementation and phage infection assays, a predicted lactococcal three-component glycosylation system (TGS) was shown to be required for TP901-1 infection. Major cell wall saccharidic components were analysed, but no differences were found. However, heterologous gene expression experiments indicate that this TGS is involved in the glucosylation of a cell envelope-associated component that triggers TP901-1 DNA release. To date, a saccharide modification has not been implicated in the DNA delivery process of a Gram-positive infecting phage.     

The role of anthocyanins as antidiabetic agents: from molecular mechanisms to in vivo and human studies

Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry - Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by high blood glucose concentration. Nowadays, type 2 diabetes or insulin resistant diabetes...     

IL-10 Inhibits the NF-κB and ERK/MAPK-Mediated Production of Pro-Inflammatory Mediators by Up-Regulation of SOCS-3 in Trypanosoma cruzi-Infected Cardiomyocytes

Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) infection produces an intense inflammatory response which is critical for the control of the evolution of Chagas’ disease. Interleukin (IL)-10 is one of the most important anti-inflammatory cytokines identified as modulator of the inflammatory reaction. This work shows that exogenous addition of IL-10 inhibited ERK1/2 and NF-κB activation and reduced inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2), metalloprotease (MMP) -9 and MMP-2 expression and activities, as well as tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 expression, in T. cruzi-infected cardiomyocytes. We found that T. cruzi and IL-10 promote STAT3 phosphorylation and up-regulate the expression of suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS)-3 thereby preventing NF-κB nuclear translocation and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Specific knockdown of SOCS-3 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) impeded the IL-10-mediated inhibition of NF-κB and ERK1/2 activation. As a result, the levels of studied pro-inflammatory mediators were restored in infected cardiomyocytes. Our study reports the first evidence that T. cruzi up- regulates SOCS-3 expression and highlights the relevance of IL-10 in the modulation of pro-inflammatory response of cardiomyocytes in Chagas’ disease.     

iRASPA: GPU-accelerated visualization software for materials scientists

A new macOS software package, iRASPA, for visualisation and editing of materials is presented. iRASPA is a document-based app that manages multiple documents with each document containing a unique set of data that is stored in a file located either in the application sandbox or in iCloud drive. The latter allows collaboration on a shared document (on High Sierra). A document contains a gallery of projects that show off the main features, a CloudKit-based access to the CoRE MOF database (approximately 8000 structures), and local projects of the user. Each project contains a scene of one or more structures that can initially be read from CIF, PDB or XYZ-files, or made from scratch. Main features of iRASPA are: structure creation and editing, pictures and movies, ambient occlusion and high-dynamic range rendering, collage of structures, (transparent) adsorption surfaces, cell replicas and supercells, symmetry operations like space group and primitive cell detection, screening of structures using user-defined predicates, and GPU-computation of helium void fraction and surface areas in a matter of seconds. Leveraging the latest graphics technologies like Metal, iRASPA can render hundreds of thousands of atoms (including ambient occlusion) with stunning performance. The software is freely available from the Mac App Store.     

Dynamic properties of cat tenuissimus muscle

Some of the factors which influence the development of tension in cat tenuissimus muscle were studied quantitatively. Under isometric conditions, it was shown that the dynamic properties of the relationship between the tension of the muscle and its electrical stimulation depend on the mean rate of stimulation. This non-linear effect cannot be explained on the basis of the dependence of muscle tension on instantaneous rate of stimulation since the tension due to a stimulus following closely a previous stimulus is augmented, but the time course of the twitch response is unaltered. The interaction between the tension due to active contraction and that due to the viscoelastic properties of the muscle was investigated by independently varying muscle length and the rate of stimulation. Within the limits of resolution of the data, it was concluded that these two components of tension are additive and that muscle stiffness is related to the instantaneous tension of the muscle.     

Detection of Giardia duodenalis antigen in human fecal eluates by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using polyclonal antibodies

The present study developed and standardized an enzime-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect Giardia antigen in feces using rabbit polyclonal antibodies. Giardia cysts were purified from human fecal samples by sucrose and percoll gradients. Gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) were infected to obtain trophozoites. Rabbits were inoculated with either cyst or trophozoite antigens of 14 Colombian Giardia isolates to develop antibodies against the respective stages. The IgG anti-Giardia were purified by sequential caprylic acid and ammonium sulfate precipitation. A portion of these polyclonal antibodies was linked to alkaline phosphatase (conjugate). One hundred and ninety six samples of human feces, from different patients, were tested by parasitologic diagnosis: 69 were positive for Giardia cysts, 56 had no Giardia parasites, and 71 revealed parasites other than Giardia. The optimal concentration of polyclonal antibodies for antigen capture was 40 g/ml and the optimal conjugate dilution was 1:100. The absorbance cut-off value was 0.24. The parameters of the ELISA test for Giardia antigen detection were: sensitivity, 100% (95% CI: 93.4-100%); specificity, 95% (95% CI: 88.6-97.6%); positive predictive value, 91% (95% CI: 81.4-95.9%); and negative predictive value, 100% (95% CI: 96.1-100%). This ELISA will improve the diagnosis of Giardia infections in Colombia and will be useful in following patients after treatment.