Micronuclei in embryos of eight seabird species in northwestern Mexico: A biomarker of exposure to coastal pollution?

The micronucleus (MN) test may be used to evaluate genome instability in birds and the potential of different species to function as biomarkers of genotoxicity. However, little is known regarding genome instability in seabird embryos or the instability present among embryonic development stages. Therefore, the present study aimed to describe the frequencies of micronucleated erythrocytes (MNE) and micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE) in blood samples collected from the embryos of eight seabird species nesting on the coast of Sinaloa, Mexico.

The Neandertal nature of the Atapuerca Sima de los Huesos mandibles.

The recovery of additional mandibular fossils from the Atapuerca Sima de los Huesos (SH) site provides new insights into the evolutionary significance of this sample. In particular, morphological descriptions of the new adult specimens are provided, along with standardized metric data and phylogenetically relevant morphological features for the expanded adult sample. The new and more complete specimens extend the known range of variation in the Atapuerca (SH) mandibles in some metric and morphological details.

In Vitro versus in Mice: Efficacy and Safety of Decoquinate and Quinoline--Carbamate Derivatives against Experimental Infection with Tachyzoites.

The effects of decoquinate (DCQ) and three -quinoline-carbamate-derivatives were investigated using human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF) infected with tachyzoites. These compounds exhibited half-maximal proliferation inhibition (ICs) from 1.7 (RMB060) to 60 nM (RMB055).

Dynamic Association of ESCRT-II Proteins with ESCRT-I and ESCRT-III Complexes during Phagocytosis of .

By their active movement and voraux phagocytosis, the trophozoites of constitute an excellent system to investigate the dynamics of the Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport (ESCRT) protein interactions through phagocytosis. Here, we studied the proteins forming the ESCRT-II complex and their relationship with other phagocytosis-involved molecules. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that EhVps22, EhVps25, and EhVps36 are orthologues of the ESCRT-II protein families.

Probing the effect of the capping polyelectrolyte on the internal structure of Layer-by-Layer decorated nanoliposomes.

Hypothesis: The internal organization of polyelectrolyte layers deposited on colloidal templates plays a very important role for the potential applications of these systems as capsules for drug delivery purposes.

Experiments: The mutual arrangement of oppositely charged polyelectrolyte layers upon their deposition on positively charged liposomes has been studied by combining up three different scattering techniques and Electronic Spin Resonance, which has provided information about the inter-layer interactions and their effect on the final structure of the capsules.

Findings: The sequential deposition of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes on the external leaflet of positively charged liposomes allows modulating the organization of the obtained supramolecular structures, impacting the packing and rigidity of the obtained capsules due to the change of the ionic cross-linking of the multi-layered film as a result of the specific charge of the last deposited layer.

Polar ammoniostyryls easily converting a clickable lipophilic BODIPY in an advanced plasma membrane probe.

A very simple, small and symmetric, but highly bright, photostable and functionalizable molecular probe for plasma membrane (PM) has been developed from an accessible, lipophilic and clickable organic dye based on BODIPY. To this aim, two lateral polar ammoniostyryl groups were easily linked to increase the amphiphilicity of the probe and thus its lipid membrane partitioning. Compared to the BODIPY precursor, the transversal diffusion across lipid bilayers of the ammoniostyryled BODIPY probe was highly reduced, as evidenced by fluorescence confocal microscopy on model membranes built up as giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs).

Phytochemical Characterization and In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory Evaluation in RAW 264.7 Cells of Bark Extracts.

The inflammatory process, although beneficial, can produce tissue damage and systemic damage when uncontrolled. Effective therapeutic alternatives with little or no side effects are of great therapeutic interest. This study aimed to determine the phytochemical composition of bark extracts from , an endemic plant from México, and evaluate their in vitro anti-inflammatory activity.

Nocturnal Transpiration May Be Associated with Foliar Nutrient Uptake.

Aerosols can contribute to plant nutrition via foliar uptake. The conditions for this are best at night because the humidity is high and hygroscopic, saline deposits can deliquesce as a result. Still, stomata tend to be closed at night to avoid unproductive water loss.

Cultivation Using Coir Substrate and P or K Enriched Fertilizer Provides Higher Resistance to Drought in Ecologically Diverse Species.

Nursery cultivation practices can be modified to increase resistance to water stress in forest seedlings following field establishment, which may be increasingly important under climate change. We evaluated the morphological (survival, growth) and physiological (chlorophyll fluorescence, leaf water potential) responses to water stress for three ecologically diverse species (, , and ) with varying traits resulting from the combination of growing media (peat, coir) and fertilization (standard, P-enriched, K-enriched). For all species under water stress, seedlings grown in coir had generally higher growth than those grown in peat.

Anomalous Concentration Dependence of Surface Tension and Concentration-Concentration Correlation Functions of Binary Non-Electrolyte Solutions.

The concentration dependence of the surface tension of several binary mixtures of non-electrolytes has been measured at 298.15 K. The mixtures have been chosen since they presented a so-called "W-shape" concentration dependence of the excess constant pressure heat capacity and high values of the concentration-concentration correlation function.

Structural Model for Socially Sustainable Public Housing Decision-Making in Chile.

Normally the social approaches addressed in public housing policies are unclear in the implementation processes. Indeed, public agencies do not have systems that integrate clear social criteria to consider the social assessment of public housing projects. Therefore, the inclusion of social sustainability in planning and early decision-making is limited.

Occurrence and molecular characterization of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in wild and domestic animal species in Portugal.

The phylum Microsporidia encompasses a diverse group of obligate, intracellular, and spore-forming organisms able to infect a wide range of animal hosts. Among them, Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most frequently reported species in humans and animals. Little is known about the presence and epidemiology of E.

Large investment of stored nitrogen and phosphorus in female cones is consistent with infrequent reproduction events of , a high value woody oil crop in Northeast Asia.

is famous for its high-quality timber production all the way and is much more famous for its high value health-care nut oil production potential since 1990's, but the less understanding of its reproduction biology seriously hindered its nut productivity increase. Exploring the effects of reproduction on nutrient uptake, allocation and storage help to understand and modify reproduction patterns in masting species and high nut yield cultivar selection and breeding. Here, we compared seasonality in growth and in nitrogen ([N]) and phosphorus ([P]) concentrations in needles, branches and cones of reproductive (cone-bearing) and vegetative branches (having no cones) of during a masting year.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the serological diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection highlight the lack of a One Health integrative research.

Toxoplasma gondii is a globally distributed food-borne zoonotic parasite with numerous infection sources. The control of this zoonosis requires a One Health response that partially depends on serological monitoring in humans and animals. Herein, a systematic review and a meta-analysis were performed to analyse and compare the transdisciplinary and integrative research under the One Health approach.

Investigation on the relationship between lipid composition and structure in model membranes composed of extracted natural phospholipids.

Hypothesis: Unravelling the structural diversity of cellular membranes is a paramount challenge in life sciences. In particular, lipid composition affects the membrane collective behaviour, and its interactions with other biological molecules.

Experiments: Here, the relationship between membrane composition and resultant structural features was investigated by surface pressure-area isotherms, Brewster angle microscopy and neutron reflectometry on in vitro membrane models of the mammalian plasma and endoplasmic-reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment membranes in the form of Langmuir monolayers.

Antiparkinsonian Agents in Investigational Polymeric Micro- and Nano-Systems.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive destruction of dopaminergic tissue in the central nervous system (CNS). To date, there is no cure for the disease, with current pharmacological treatments aimed at controlling the symptoms. Therefore, there is an unmet need for new treatments for PD.

Dynamics of a dengue disease transmission model with two-stage structure in the human population.

Age as a risk factor is common in vector-borne infectious diseases. This is partly because children depend on adults to take preventative measures, and adults are less susceptible to mosquito bites because they generally spend less time outdoors than children. We propose a dengue disease model that considers the human population as divided into two subpopulations: children and adults.

A Self-Referenced Refractive Index Sensor Based on Gold Nanoislands.

We report on a self-referenced refractive index optical sensor based on Au nanoislands. The device consists of a random distribution of Au nanoislands formed by dewetting on a planar SiO/metal Fabry-Pérot cavity. Experimental and theoretical studies of the reflectance of this configuration reveal that its spectral response results from a combination of two resonances: a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) associated to the Au nanoislands and the lowest-order anti-symmetric resonance of the Fabry-Pérot cavity.

Erythroid SLC7A5/SLC3A2 amino acid carrier controls red blood cell size and maturation.

Inhibition of the heterodimeric amino acid carrier SLC7A5/SLC3A2 (LAT1/CD98) has been widely studied in tumor biology but its role in physiological conditions remains largely unknown. Here we show that the SLC7A5/SLC3A2 heterodimer is constitutively present at different stages of erythroid differentiation but absent in mature erythrocytes. Administration of erythropoietin (EPO) further induces SLC7A5/SLC3A2 expression in circulating reticulocytes, as it also occurs in anemic conditions.

Controlled Production of Carnosic Acid and Carnosol in Cell Suspensions of Lepechinia meyenii Treated with Different Elicitors and Biosynthetic Precursors.

Lepechinia meyenii is a medicinal plant specialized in the biosynthesis of different types of antioxidants including the diterpenes carnosic (CA) acid and carnosol (CS). Herein we present the results of plant tissue culture approaches performed in this medicinal plant with particular emphasis on the generation and evaluation of a cell suspension system for CA and CS production. The effect of sucrose concentration, temperature, pH, and UV-light exposure was explored.

Acute Toxicity Evaluation of Lindane-Waste Contaminated Soils Treated by Surfactant-Enhanced ISCO.

The discharge of lindane wastes in unlined landfills causes groundwater and soil pollution worldwide. The liquid waste generated (a mixture of 28 chlorinated organic compounds, COCs) constitutes a dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) that is highly persistent. Although in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) is effective for degrading organic pollutants, the low COCs solubility requires high reaction times.

Effects of Ovine Monocyte-Derived Macrophage Infection by Recently Isolated Strains Showing Different Phenotypic Traits.

Ovine toxoplasmosis is one the most relevant reproductive diseases in sheep. The genetic variability among different isolates is known to be related to different degrees of virulence in mice and humans, but little is known regarding its potential effects in sheep. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of genetic variability (types II (ToxoDB #1 and #3) and III (#2)) of six recently isolated strains that showed different phenotypic traits both in a normalized mouse model and in ovine trophoblasts, in ovine monocyte-derived macrophages and the subsequent transcript expression of cytokines and iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase).

Ovarian Response and Fertility after Short-Term Progestagen/eCG Treatments Are Compromised in Nulliparous Sheep during Non-Breeding Season.

The objective of this investigation was to determine the ovarian response, fertility, and prolificacy of nulliparous sheep when compared to multiparous sheep after a short-term (7 days) CIDR/eCG treatment which was administered during the non-breeding season. All the multiparous sheep, whereas only 54% of the nulliparous ewes, showed signs of estrus. However, 81.