Seven new species of Chernyshev, 1992 (Monostilifera, Hoplonemertea, Nemertea) from the Caribbean Sea, western Pacific, and Arabian Sea, and revision of the genus.

The marine ribbon worm genus Chernyshev, 1992 currently includes three species: the type species (Quatrefages, 1846) from the Mediterranean Sea, (Kirsteuer, 1965) from Madagascar, and (Gibson, 1982) from Australia. Seven new species are described: , , , and from the Caribbean Sea (Panamá), and three species, , , and , from the Indo-West Pacific (Japan and Oman). As a result, an amended morphological diagnosis of the genus is offered.

Discovery of the Nicotinic Receptor Toxin Anabaseine in a Nemertean.

Nemerteans (also called Nemertines) are a phylum of predominantly marine worms that use toxins to capture prey and to defend themselves against predators. Hoplonemerteans have a proboscis armed with one or more stylets used in prey capture and are taxonomically divided into Order Monostilifera, whose members possess a single large proboscis stylet, and Order Polystilifera, whose members have multiple small stylets. Many monostiliferans contain alkaloidal toxins, including anabaseine, that stimulate and then desensitize nicotinic acetylcholine receptors that are present in all animals.

Parasitism of the isopod Artystone trysibia in the fish Chaetostoma dermorhynchum from the Tena River (Amazonian region, Ecuador).

The isopod Artystone trysibia Schioedte, 1866 is described by using a collection of specimens that were found parasitizing loricariid fish Chaetostoma dermorhynchum Boulenger, 1887 in the Tena River (Napo province, Ecuador, Amazonian region). Additionally to freshly collected specimens, complementary data of the parasite was obtained from preserved fishes at Ecuadorian museums. This is the first record of A.

Disentangling ribbon worm relationships: multi-locus analysis supports traditional classification of the phylum Nemertea.

The phylogenetic relationships of selected members of the phylum Nemertea are explored by means of six markers amplified from the genomic DNA of freshly collected specimens (the nuclear 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA genes, histones H3 and H4, and the mitochondrial genes 16S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I). These include all previous markers and regions used in earlier phylogenetic analyses of nemerteans, therefore acting as a scaffold to which one could pinpoint any previously published study. Our results, based on analyses of static and dynamic homology concepts under probabilistic and parsimony frameworks, agree in the non-monophyly of Palaeonemertea and in the monophyly of Heteronemerta and Hoplonemertea.

Allocation of initial modality for renal replacement therapy in Brazil.

Background And Objectives: The use of dialysis modalities for ESRD varies around the world. There is no consensus in literature regarding the most appropriate choice of dialysis method. The aim of this study was to analyze the initial modality for ESRD in Brazil and evaluate the factors determining patients' allocation to either hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD).

The macroinfauna of the Galician sandy beaches (NW Spain) affected by the Prestige oil-spill.

Eighteen sandy beaches were sampled along the 1659 km of the Galician coast (NW Spain) six months after the Prestige oil-spill to study the impact of the fuel and the clean-up activities on the macroinfauna community. A transect was extended at each beach, from above the drift line to below the swash line at five sampled levels; at each level six 0.05 m2 replicates were taken to a depth of 30 cm and sieved through a 1mm mesh, and the organisms collected and preserved.

Measuring technical efficiency of output quality in intensive care units.

Presents some examples of the implications derived from imposing the objective of maximizing social welfare, subject to limited resources, on ethical care patients management in respect of quality performance of health services. Conventional knowledge of health economics points out that critically ill patients are responsible for increased use of technological resources and that they receive a high proportion of health care resources. Attempts to answer, from the point of view of microeconomics, the question: how do we measure comparative efficiency in the management of intensive care units? Analyses this question through data from an international empirical study using micro-economic measures of productive efficiency in public services (data envelopment analysis).

Ultrastructural study of sensory cells of the proboscidial glandular epithelium of Riseriellus occultus (Nemertea, Heteronemertea).

Only one sensory cell type has been observed within the glandular epithelium of the proboscis in the heteronemertine Riseriellus occultus. These bipolar cells are abundant and scattered singly throughout the proboscis length. The apical surface of each dendrite bears a single cilium enclosed by a ring of six to eight prominent microvilli.