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Copyright of Fonseca: Journal of Communication is the property of Revista Fonseca Journal of Communication and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Smartphones have irrupted in every facets of modern life for most of the humankind, including professional and scientific activities. Many apps exist to help in guiding experimental protocols, literature management and wireless connection to other equipment. But the wide range of miniaturized integrated sensors, of high accuracy that act in hidden aspect of cellphone functioning, has not yet been fully explored. Modern smartphones contain powerful digital cameras, microphones, GPS/GNSS receivers, accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetism sensor, light sensors, barometers, thermometers, moisture sensors, biometric sensors and many others with the potential of became important allied for researcher´s data collect during his work. Based on them, had emerge compasses, altimeters, scanners, barcode or QR readers, face, sounds or species identification apps, metal detectors, movement and vibration detectors, pedometers, colorimeter, spectrophotometer and many others. All this tools are producing a high impact in many scientific fields such as medicine, social sciences, environmental monitoring, transportation and industry. The advantages and possibilities of these sensors for biological investigations are still unknown. For this reason, the present paper is a review of the potentials associated to common modern smartphones sensors and its applications in biological researches. In conditions were technical equipment is limited, smartphones, its sensors and corresponding apps can be reasonably efficient alternatives to overcome the technological breach and to increase quality of researches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Crónica Tributaria is the property of Instituto de Estudios Fiscales, Ministerio de Hacienda y Funcion Publica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The goal of this research was to design, develop and implement a remote monitoring system for research biobanks using internet of things and analog and digital sensors, as well as micro controllers with wireless connection. Biobanks are non-profit establishments, that manage collections of biological samples for diagnostic or biomedical research purposes. Given the relevance of the stored material, not only the safety, but also the integrity and correct storage of this biological material are critical factors to guarantee the accuracy of all the investigations based on biobanks. Our challenge was to successfully couple sensors for measuring temperature, humidity, voltage, strength and sound into a single unit and implement both a software with a web viewer and a real-time alarm module. This remote system allows to monitor a biobank to assure the quality of the stored biological material without substantially increasing implementation and operation cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented on the need for research and development (R&D) in the biomedical area. Topics include development of the long-awaited vaccines highlighting antibody treatments, cell therapies, and antivirals; randomized clinical trials (RCTs) relating to the coronavirus being registered in the U.S; and global implementation allowing humanity for facing with hope and strength of potential biological threats.

Introduction. Bibliometric studies have become an essential tool of support the management of scientific policy of different countries, their bibliometric indicators form part of the evaluation process of scientific activity implemented by organizations of Science and Technology, as Colciencias, in the case Colombian. Objective. Present some bibliometric techniques: indicators of production, circulation, and collaboration, analyzing the production scientific of research groups; referencing a case study. Materials and Methods. The information of articles analyzed, was obtained of the GrupLAC (platform Red-ScienTI of Colciencias), for research groups belonging area of biology, linked to Uptc. Present results of the production of the groups, and circulation and impact of publications, as well as the collaborations visualized through the coauthorship. Results. were found 162 articles (11.57 articles on average per year, and 1.45 articles on average per group), 37.7 % were in national coauthorship, and 62.3 %, international; 24.7 % were published in journals categorized (or homologated) in A2. Of concern is the high percentage of transiency index (72.15 %), indicating little production by the members of the research groups. Presents a high number of publications in journals which not have factor SJR. Conclusion. Exists low production of article per group, and the publishing strategy with more of one author, increasing over the years, low percentage of article with impact factor SJR and high percentage of authors with only one publication in 2001-2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antarctic bioprospection is an activity that becomes more and more important with each passing day due to its geopolitical implications. Also, because should it be successful, it could generate massive profits for those performing it. In this context, the purpose of this article is to make a review of how the legal regulation of the Antarctic bioprospection has been performed and also about the beginning of a certain emerging institutionality for its regulation. The methodology used is based on a document review of the main academic proposals and the documents of the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), as well as of the databases that record the antarctic bioprospection activities. From the review performed we conclude that certain proposals to regulate Antarctic bioprospection have been accepted in some measure and have been implemented by entities related to the ATS, but not fully part of it, which creates a sui generis institutionality. This implies that the ATS as such still has to fully address the issues related to this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to promote a regulatory for biological materials in biomedical and genetic research. Biobank 's role as an institution responsible for the custody and security of the stored materials, safeguarding the interests of donors and control the use and disposal of samples and results are detailed. Also, the biobanks must respect the intimacy and the privacy of individuals, the identity of suppliers and consent that should give the hoarder institution for eventual storage or subsequent use. When you plan the storage of human biological samples for future research, researchers should clearly state the following: a) Justification as to the need and opportunity for future use; b) Consent subject donors of biological material, allowing storage c) Submission for approval of a research ethics committee. In the final reflections establishes the need for the presence of the State in regulating research with biological and genetic samples to ensure a technical, bioethical and legal standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In human communication and personal relations, there is the possibility of dissent and have a conflict related to the perception or acceptance of the content of a message. To reach an agreement, it is important that the communication between people is horizontal and bidirectional while the issue is being discussed, in order to bring together the interlocutors' expectations and interests. In the administration of services and goods, friendship and nepotism have been the most frequent forms of potential conflicts of interest. These behaviors arise when a person, like a civil servant or employee, feels influenced by personal considerations when he is doing his work and when he is making decisions. The conflict of perceived interested can be so harmful to the reputation and confidence of an organization, as the real existence of a conflict of interest. In some countries, the law obliges organisms to have codes of ethics that cover these aspects. Thus, it is desirable the incorporation of ethical principles and "moral competences" in the curricula of health professionals. Actually, in medicine and biomedical investigation, conflicts of interest are a condition related to clinicians and researchers, who distort their results and work to obtain personal or financial benefits. In the generation and transmission of knowledge, the circumstances determine if a conflict of interest exists, not the methodology, either the results of the investigation, not even the technology used on their diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Man is confronted daily with situations he needs to weigh on to determine what decisions to make. These crossroads define a conflict of interest where a situation, suit or action, which should be determined by a primary value established by professional or ethical reasons, can be influenced or appear biased to obtain a secondary benefit. In biomedical research it is becoming more and more feasible to deal with conflicts of interest that result from scientific and technological advances. It is preponderant to understand what they are, what types of conflicts can be generated, and how these can challenge the quality and accuracy of the results obtained in the eye of the public opinion, especially when economic or personal interest gained are being exposed by third parties. It is necessary to set up mechanisms to control any type of conflict of interest before executing a research protocol, should any exist. These mechanisms could include: public declarations, forms improved and adapted to the community, support units to research ethics committees, or the earnings report. In conclusion, we can say that although new mechanisms or ways of managing conflicts of interest for the biomedical research are being generated, the researcher's conscience will always be the virtue based on its own moral and ethical principles that should govern his /her actions throughout the time they live out their vocation, towards offering or providing a good service to other beings and the society in which they participate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The different stages leading to knowledge of the phenomenon of animal breathing are going from some writings in Corpus Hippocraticum to Aristoteles' and Galen's works, who considered the heart as the source of the animal heat. Later, Miguel Servet suggested that the inspired air can achieve other functions besides cooling the blood. After that, different explications of the animal heat were raised. About 1770, due to progress of knowledge in the chemistry field, first Mayow and later Black began to consider the animal respiration as a combustion. The important treatise Méthode de nomenclature chimique, published by Guyton de Morveau et al. in 1787 and soon after the Traité élémentaire de chimie de Lavoisier (1789) provided a solid support to Lavoisier's thought. This way on arrived to consider analogous the respiration and combustion phenomena. Studies on the animal respiration phenomenon continued in xix century and in the following century it was possible to apply thermodynamic principles to biology: ''generalized thermodynamics''. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexity of the causality phenomenon in clinical practice implies that the result of a maneuver is not solely caused by the maneuver, but by the interaction among the maneuver and other baseline factors or variables occurring during the maneuver. This requires methodological designs that allow the evaluation of these variables. When the outcome is a binary variable, we use the multiple logistic regression model (MLRM). This multivariate model is useful when we want to predict or explain, adjusting due to the effect of several risk factors, the effect of a maneuver or exposition over the outcome. In order to perform an MLRM, the outcome or dependent variable must be a binary variable and both categories must mutually exclude each other (i.e. live/death, healthy/ill); on the other hand, independent variables or risk factors may be either qualitative or quantitative. The effect measure obtained from this model is the odds ratio (OR) with 95 % confi dence intervals (CI), from which we can estimate the proportion of the outcome's variability explained through the risk factors. For these reasons, the MLRM is used in clinical research, since one of the main objectives in clinical practice comprises the ability to predict or explain an event where different risk or prognostic factors are taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic technology is recent in human history and its scopes and consequences cannot be foreseen either with certainty or scientific evidence. However, current human ability to do practically everything through biomedical experimentation raises a huge responsibility in legal terms: to identify new kinds of harms in reparation (for instance, genetic harm), which were never recognized by traditional positive law since when this was conceived, genetic techniques did not exist. This paper defines genetic harm as a new category of harm integrated into the intangible reparative item of health harm (with the purpose of including it into the Colombian legal order), points out key doctrinarian elements for it to be understood, and explores its epistemological and methodological relationships to biolaw, whose doctrine has been recently created at Georgetown University by one of this paper's authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the biological and productive outcome of Timed Artificial Insemination (IATF) based on pre-service selection intensity. It highlights that the incorporation of IATF has generated a significant increase in the number of inseminated females in Argentina in the last 20 years. Although the impact of AI on the increase in weaned calf weight has been studied, its contribution in situations of lower fertility has not been adequately assessed. Additionally, the variation in outcome based on selection intensity is shown, highlighting that more intense selection can improve conception rates but reduce pregnancy percentage. [Extracted from the article]

This work aims to describe the cognitive representation on the subject of the environment that two groups of students have: I ) 57 of biology and 2) 64 of psychology, through computer simulations using the method of Pathfinder Associative Networks. Students are asked that they define 7 concepts related to the subject, these are: environment, pollution, nature, city, ecology, deforestation and recycling: through the technique of natural semantic networks. The data obtained was used to carry out computer simulations. The findings demonstrate that the two groups have similar representations in concepts relating to their experiences, but there are also differences in concepts that have to do with their knowledge and preferences especially for the youth of biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Innotec is the property of Laboratorio Tecnologico del Uruguay and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this paper is to present a positive, ethical and practical view of traditional and recently developed clinical markers involved in the process of a human life. Several strategies for collaborative work are discussed, with a hopeful eye towards a promising future in which human life can be respected and defended, not only through a purely biological approach, but also with a human and interdisciplinary one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se estudiaron algunos cambios que se producen en Lablab purpureus (dólico) durante el proceso de germinado, encaminados a mejorar su composición química. Se realizaron tres experimentos en los que se pusieron a germinar los granos por un período de 96 h, en diferentes condiciones de iluminación: I (intervalos de iluminación de 12 h), II (iluminación total) y III (oscuridad total). En cada experimento se aplicó un diseño de clasificación simple, con cuatro repeticiones. Los tratamientos fueron: control (grano no procesado), II (grano remojado durante 6 h + 24 h de germinación), III (grano remojado + 48 h de germinación), IV (grano remojado + 72 h de germinación) y V (grano remojado + 96 h de germinación). Con el avance del proceso de germinación hubo incremento en el peso de los granos germinados, longitud de la radícula y porcentaje de los granos germinados en los diferentes ensayos de germinación. En todos los experimentos, el porcentaje de granos germinados se estabilizó a partir de las 72 h. La variante de efectuar el proceso de germinación en condiciones de oscuridad total presentó las biotransformaciones superiores, con incrementos con respecto al control sin germinar en PB (30.08 vs. 26.67 %), PV (21.37 vs. 19.76 %), FAD (16.37 vs. 14.42 %) y Celulosa (14.67 vs. 11.23 %). El perfil de elementos minerales mostró que la ceniza y el K se incrementaron con el tiempo de germinación en las tres variantes de germinación utilizadas. El resto de los minerales, con excepción del fósforo, que disminuyó en oscuridad e iluminación total, no varió significativamente. Los resultados obtenidos indicaron que el procedimiento aplicado en la germinación es factible para la obtención de nuevos productos en Lablab purpureus. Las modificaciones que se producen durante la germinación implican cambios en las propiedades físico-químicas de esta leguminosa, por lo que puede considerarse como un método efectivo y prometedor, al aumentar su funcionalidad y mejorar la calidad del producto. Aunque 72 h son suficientes para alcanzar porcentajes de germinación superiores a 80 %, en los ensayos efectuados se recomienda germinar en condiciones de oscuridad total y extender el proceso hasta las 96 h para garantizar la calidad bromatológica del producto. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se determinó el efecto de cuatro variedades de morera (Morus alba inn) en la población microbiana y productos fermentativos en condiciones in vitro, con líquido ruminal de búfalos de río (Bubalus bubalis). Se desarrolló una fermentación in vitro para evaluar cinco tratamientos: 1) 100 % de pasto estrella (PE) (Cynodon nlemfuensis) (control), 2) PE + 30 % variedad cubana, 3) PE + 30 % variedad acorazonada, 4) PE + 30 % variedad tigreada y 5) PE + 30 % variedad indonesia. Se realizó la siembra y conteo de bacterias viables totales, celulolíticas, proteolíticas, amilolíticas, metanogénicas y hongos. También se efectuó el conteo de protozoos, medición de pH y determinación de la concentración de amoníaco. Se aplicó un diseño completamente aleatorizado, con arreglo factorial 5 x 3 para los conteos de bacterias y hongos, y de 5 x 5 para los indicadores pH, concentración de amoníaco y conteo de protozoos. La inclusión de las diferentes variedades de morera no afectó las poblaciones de bacterias viables totales, proteolíticas, celulolíticas y hongos. A las ocho horas de fermentación, el tratamiento con la variedad acorazonada mostró los menores conteos de metanógenos (1.96 x 10^9 ufc⋅mL-1) con respecto a los que incluyeron las variedades cubana, tigreada e indonesia (3.75, 3.99 y 3.70 x 10^9 ufc⋅mL-1, respectivamente). Los conteos de protozoos fueron superiores para la variedad cubana (1.04 x 10^4 cel⋅mL-1). El pH disminuyó, independientemente del tratamiento, a medida que transcurrió el tiempo de fermentación, aunque siempre se mantuvo cercano a la neutralidad. La concentración de amoníaco fue similar para todos los tratamientos. Se concluye que la inclusión de 30 % de las variedades de morera: acorazonada, cubana, tigreada e indonesia no afectó las poblaciones que degradan la fibra, y tampoco los productos finales de la fermentación ruminal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se utilizaron registros, correspondientes al período entre 1980 y 2006, de hembras lecheras de la raza Mambí de Cuba (3/4 Holstein 1/4 Cebú), procedentes de cuatro ganaderías, con el propósito de estimar los parámetros y tendencias genéticas, para los rasgos del crecimiento hasta la incorporación a la reproducción (17 434 novillas), producción lechera (50 420 lactancias de 20 687 vacas), reproducción (16 526 eventos reproductivos de 5 881 vacas), longevidad (11 338 vacas), supervivencia y permanencia (12 865 vacas). Se utilizó un modelo animal univariado para estimar las heredabilidades, repetibilidades y valores genéticos. Se incluyeron como efectos fijos la combinación año-cuatrimestre-rebaño y la edad al parto, como covariable lineal y cuadrática. Como aleatorios se concibió el ambiente permanente y el error. Las heredabilidades presentaron valores de moderados a bajos, con mayores estimados para el peso por edad a la incorporación (PPE) (0.20), intervalo parto-parto (IPP) (0.06), producción de leche acumulada hasta los 244 d (L244) y 305 d (L305) (0.15), porcentaje de grasa acumulada (PG) (0.19), número de parto (NP) (0.06) y 18 meses de vida productiva (S18) (0.05). El mayor estimado de repetibilidad se obtuvo para L244 y L305, con 0.42. Las tendencias genéticas para PPE, IPP, L305, vida productiva (VP) y P36 fueron de 0.02 ± 0.01 g/d/año, -1.53 ± 0.16 d/año, -2.52 ± 1.10 kg/año, 0.05 ± 0.03 meses/año y 0.0004 ± 0.0002 meses/año, respectivamente. Se concluyó que no hubo cambio en las medias poblacionales, pues las tendencias genéticas presentaron valores bajos (entre 0.001 y 0.31 % de la media), debido a la inestabilidad en la ejecución de las pruebas de progenie y a la poca selección realizada por vía de las hembras. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se have una revisión actualizada de los conocimientos relacionados con el comportamiento de la materia orgánica en los suelos (MOS) de pastizales tropicales. Entre los principales factores que inciden en la cuantía y las características de la MOS en estos ecosistemas se identifican la hojarasca, intensidad de manejo, degradación del pastizal, sistema radicular de los pastos, población de lombrices, propiedades físicas del suelo, uso del mismo y naturaleza de la materia orgánica. Se realiza además, un análisis de cómo se comporta la captura de C en el suelo y las formas para incrementarla y disminuir la magnitud del efecto invernadero. Se valoran las principales tendencias a nivel internacional en las investigaciones acerca de la MOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A glossary is presented, despite being a non-exhaustive one, which includes a little more than one hundred terms frequently misused in entomological publications. They are organized in accordance to their degree of acceptance by the Real Academia Española. Each one is accompanied by its correct alternative (sometimes with a brief justification of the suggested term), and its proper use is illustrated with an example. Moreover, in addition to idiomatic mistakes themselves, a brief list of rather common conceptual mistakes is included, which correct use is explained. Rev. Biol. Trop. 59 (3): 999-1006. Epub 2011 September 01. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Las bibijaguas provocan intensos daños en los agroecosistemas agrícolas, forestales y ganaderos. Las colonias persisten y proliferan a pesar de las innumerables estrategias de control a las que son sometidas. De ahí, el interés de este trabajo en recopilar información y discutir aspectos distintivos de la anatomía, fisiología, estructura social y arquitectura de los nidos que ofrecen resistencia ante las medidas de control. La simbiosis entre las bibijaguas y su hongo dota a estos insectos de fuertes mecanismos defensivos. Las bibijaguas están provistas de espinas que le sirven de medio de protección ante sus enemigos naturales (control natural). Se aborda el polimorfismo, como una de las particularidades de las bibijaguas, y las ventajas de la especialización de tareas para la colonia. Cuando hay destrucción de los nidos (control físico), las obreras enfocan su trabajo en reestructurar las galerías y recámaras. Cuando se infecta el hongo simbionte (control biológico o natural), se desinfectan, se podan y se aíslan las partes contaminadas. Las glándulas exocrinas y las bacterias simbióticas constituyen la fuente principal de antisépticos en las bibijaguas, ya que mediante estas se eliminan los agentes biológicos que el hombre utiliza. Se concluye que las bibijaguas presentan defensas mecánicas y químicas que les ayudan a contrarrestar el efecto de las medidas de control y les permiten habitar en el suelo, un medio tan heterogéneo y abundante en microorganismos. Se recomienda estudiar los mecanismos adaptativos de las bibijaguas para lograr mayor efectividad en las estrategias para su manejo ecológico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to explore and update the relationship between bioethics and life sciences research in Argentina at national level. For this a descriptive, transversal, content analysis and bibliometric section study was carried out about observable public products of national character. Bioethical elements were found in national norms related to scientific research in this science field. It was evident that the ethical requirements asked in scientific research for the publication of studies in these sciences needs optimization. The contribution of Argentinean authors to bibliography production in the discipline was established since 1988. Results indicate situations that contribute to a consolidation of bioethics discipline in relation to life sciences in Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the bovine population over 24 months of age in Cuba was characterized. It is considered the one with the highest risk to contract bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The results of the disease active and passive surveillance program from 2001 to 2008 are also shown. The results showed that the 60.5 % of the total bovine population in Cuba is in the age of risk. Bovines brains cases belonging to both types of surveillance active and passive were researched, and 88,7% of the total corresponds to the total amount of reports notified to the Epidemiological Surveillance System at the Veterinary Medicine Institute under clinic suspicion of nervous disorders. It shows that a more effective surveillance towards the disease is being carried out in the country. Bovine subpopulation of risk in most of the cases researched was that under suspicion of nervous disorders (passive surveillance); thus, both types of surveillance are important and are carried out simultaneously. From the disease differential diagnostic; the 11 main causes were determined, being the main ones by hemoparasites, malnutrition and intoxications. All the cases researched, depending on the type of surveillance were negative to the disease, according to the absence of compatible injuries. Therefore, it is demonstrated that there is no evidence of the disease in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study emphasizes the importance of the use of patent information as a bibliographical source for all types of veterinary research projects. The criteria provided by patent information searches and other sources, are of great value to ponder its real possibilities of novelty, originality, relevance of research, definition of alternative technologies, companies, countries or groups in the sector, among others. In this paper, two examples of the criteria application of the CENSA Intellectual Property Internal System process (Rights Evaluation Process) are shown in connection with the assessment of patent information, which defines the strategies to follow in obtaining two veterinary vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La enfermedad de Wilson es un trastorno hereditario que se transmite con un patrón de herencia autosómico recesivo. Puede provocar lesiones irreversibles en el hígado y el cerebro, que pueden llevar a la muerte. Su causa molecular son las mutaciones en el gen atp7b con 379 variantes promotoras de la enfermedad. El diagnóstico molecular es complejo. En este estudio se empleó la técnica de polimorfismo conformacional de simple cadena para la determinación de cambios conformacionales en el exón 8 de ese gen. Se detectaron dos cambios distintos de la variante normal, denominados: b y c, los cuales correspondieron a las mutaciones L708P y 2304DupC en estado heterocigótico, respectivamente. Las frecuencias alélicas de tales mutaciones en 72 pacientes cubanos con la enfermedad de Wilson son de 2 y 0.7%, respectivamente. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work was carried out in Havana municipalities, with the objective of characterizing the situation of the leptospirosis in the Human and animal population. The files were revised in the Municipal and Provincial Addresses of the Institute of Municipal Veterinary Medicine and their diagnostic net, as well as the Services of Public Health of identical level. Were determined the reports of leptospirosis cases in the human and animal population from 1993 to 2006 in eight Havana municipalities. It was calculated the percentage value, the relative frequency and the prevalencia of the illness per reports numbers of cases for the population (human and animal), years, species, areas (rural and urban) and the Leptospira serovar involved. The biggest prevalencia in the illness presented it the animal population. The obtained results reveal their utility as a retrospective study that contributes to the knowledge of the indicators related with the analysis of necessary risks for the planning of reduction actions of only sanitary disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The estimation of biological attributes of natural enemies prior to its use in the field is an important tool in a biological control program. The objective of the present paper was to evaluate the main biological parameters of Eretmocerus mundus Mercet, a parasitoid of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), under controlled laboratory conditions. Parasitoid survival, female longevity, fecundity, sex rate, intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm), net reproductive rate (Ro) and generational time (T) were studied using life tables, with pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) as host plants. Results obtained on pepper and tomato, respectively, were: pupal survival: 86.86 ± 1.94 and 83,45 ± 2,13%; female longevity: 18,19 ± 1,61 and 17,00 ± 0,92 days; sex rate: 0,34 ± 0,06 and 0,47 ± 0,05 female/(male + female); 1x50: 21 and 18 days; rm: 0,226 ±0,061 and 0,228 ± 0,057 parasitized nymphs/female/day; Ro: 189,71 ± 24,25 and 154,65 ± 17,58 parasitized nymphs/female; T: 25,88 ± 0,42 and 24,03 ± 0,34 days. Results lead to a better understanding of the local population of this parasitoid and its potential role as a biological control agent of B. tabaci. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a review of the biological systematic research in Latin America during the twentieth century, applying a bibliometric analysis to the information contained in international databases with the largest number of biological records: Biosis (since 1969), CAB (since 1910) and Science Citation Index (since 1900), to recognize certain patterns and trends regarding the document production. We obtained 19 079 documents and 1 387 journals for Biosis, 14326 and 2537 for CAB, 3257 and 1636 for SCI. Of the documents, 54.6% related to new species, 15.3% dealt with morphology, 14.9% keys, 12.5% descriptions, 10.6% cases of synonymies, 6% new genera, 4.9% new geographical records, 23.6% geographical distribution, 4.2% redescriptions, and 3.6% with new nomenclatural combinations. The regions mentioned were South America with 11.9%, Central America with 4% and America (all) with 2.56%. Nineteen Latin American countries appear, whereas outside this region we found the United States of America with 12.6% of representation and Canada with 3%. Animals (65.6%) were the most studied taxa, which was 1.7 times higher than what was published for plants (37%), 11 times higher than fungi (6%) and nearly 30 times higher than microorganisms (2.3%). Out of the 155 journals that produced 66% of the papers, 76.5% were better represented in Biosis, 21.4% in CAB and 2% in SCI. Twenty-nine journals published 33% of the articles, the maximum number of records obtained was 69% for Biosis, CAB 24% and 6.9% for SCI, three (10.3%) are in biology, 11 (37.9%) in botany, 13 (44.8%) zoology, and two (6.9%) paleontology; eight of these journals (27.5%) were published in Latin America and twenty were indexed in the Science Citation Index. In the last two years more journals of the region that publish on taxonomy have been indexed, but their impact factor is still low. However, the impact factor of a number of Latin American journals that published biodiversity increased with time. Countries that are more interested in studying the Latin American biota from the taxonomic point of view are Brazil, the United States, Argentina and Mexico. The most active institutions in this discipline were the Universidade de São Paulo, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, and the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; together they produced 24% of the documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the histopathological changes caused by Dispharynx nasuta in a Cuban fine rooster, the animal was slaughtered by bleeding and cervical spinal section necropsied. The macroscopic detailed description of each organ and tissue was made. A piece of 1cm² of proventriculus was conserved in formalin solution 10%, and the rest of proventricular duct was collected in sterile Petri dish. It was evidenced, for the first time in our conditions, the microscopic morphological damage caused by a severe helminthiasis caused by D. nasuta on this type of host. The prevalence and intensity of parasitism were also calculated (100 and 4.0 %, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus is an important and frequent contaminant of raw milk. At present the studies of genetic typing gives important data for controling their dissemination; those are based on genetic variability of the bacterial specie. With the goal of detecting genetic polymorphism typing techniques based on the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of the genes coa and RNAr were applied in S. aureus isolates from bulk and mastitic milk in Havana. The genetic variability of S. aureus isolates from bovine milk was proven for first time in Cuba and the usefulness of the techniques employed on relatively distant and near geographical areas was demonstrated, as well as the distribution of certain genetic variants as contribution to the molecular epidemiology of this food pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agro Sur is the property of Universidad Austral de Chile, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In order to determine the morfometric characteristics of the genus Demodex on affecting dogs from a Cuban region, 571 animals affected by demodectic mange were examined. The classification of specimens was based on morphometric studies of adults and its eggs obtained from animals naturally infested. This paper is the firts report of the presence of one phenotypic variety of Demodex different to D. canis, in Cuba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bacterium Helicobacter pylori is the main agent causing gastroduodenal pathologies in humans. The infection with this microorganism is efficaciously treated with a combination of two antibiotics and one anti-acid, although, the appearance of strains resisting the antibiotics used in therapies, is the principal factor conducting to therapeutic failures. By the way of the metronidazole resistance analyzes and after to be analyzed the rdxA gene, in this study, PCR amplifications and sequence analysis of the entire frxA gene with the objective to detect the mutations that tribute to the metronidazole resistance. H. pylori strains isolated from gastric biopsies of thirty seven Cuban dyspeptic patient belonging to CIMEQ hospital were analyzed. The frxA sequencing analysis rendered 11 strains (27.9 %) with mutations producing stop codons that increase the levels of minimal inhibitory concentrations, 18 strains (48.6 %) with mutations of a less contribution to metronidazole resistance, and 6 strains (16.2%) with new stop codons, not described before, that should have the same impact of the first group. The results obtained here with the frxA gene, in combination with the previous data obtained with rdxA gene, should add 3 new resistant isolates, for a total metronidazol resistance value of 56.8% that is really hight and reaffirm the necessary evaluation of the efficacy of this antibiotic in the H. pylori therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Colombiana de Biotecnología is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the present article we describe and analyze the advantages of measuring the cloacal gland of male Japanese quail as a strategy to indirectly evaluate the production of hormones related to sexual behavior in this bird species. The use of animal models in general, and birds in particular, for the study of the relationship between hormones and behavior is first introduced. Arguments for the advantage of using indirect measures of hormone production are presented. Research that shows the correlation between area and volume of cloacal gland with other measures of androgen production is described, and some relevant research that has made use of indirect measures is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of an article on the principle contained in the Biomedical Research Law is presented.

Hypoglycemia is the most common metabolic problem in the neonate, however, in most cases is transient, and only a small percentage is refractory to high concentrations of glucose. We describe the case of a neonate with clinically characterized by hypoglycemia during the first hours of life merit contribution of glucose by intravenous route at high doses. Begins a diagnostic investigation concludes that, when considering the combination of symptoms with alterations analytical, inborn error of metabolism rate of partial biotinidase deficiency, which is a disorder belonging to the group of organic acidurias, inherited as an autosomal recessive rare that depends on a deficit in the activity of the enzyme biotinidase. Improvement is evident when you start providing exogenous biotin with sustained correction of hypoglycemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Teología is the property of Pontificia Universidad Catolica Argentina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

It is common place to find young researchers with serious problems regarding experimental design, data analysis and correct interpretation of results. These limitations are a serious handicap for their future scientific endeavour. This is specially the case nowadays because we are living a substantial revolution within the field of techniques for data analysis and even statistical inference procedures (the mathematical jump from sample data to the unknown population parameters), which affects not only ecology but other scientific disciplines such as medicine, psychology or sociology. We recall here that the old idea of having just one tool available to answer ecological questions (the testing of biologically non-informed null hypothesis) has now been substituted by the paradigm of the "tool box", where we can find several tools available depending on the complexity of the problem we are dealing with. Since gathering information on each tool requires an important searching effort, our purpose here is to offer an updated guideline of the main tools available to solve biologically-informed contrasts in ecology in the 21st century, and to correctly interpret our results, identifying the weaknesses and strengths of each tool. We also present, with practical purposes, a selection of relevant publications which can be consulted to master the tools in the box. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Developmental Evolutionary Biology and the Theory of Natural Selection obey different ideals of natural order that allows us to consider them as two different and autonomous, but not contradictory, theories. The Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium can be considered as a particular formulation of the Theory of Natural Selection's ideal of natural order. The postulation of a virtual morphospace, regularly and homogeneously occupied, could define the Developmental Evolutionary Biology's ideal of natural order. That is why, such as the Theory of Natural Selection provides the resources to explain the detours that happen in relation to this force zero state defined by the Principle of Hardy-Weinberg, the Developmental Evolutionary Biology tries to establish the factors that, independently of natural selection, explain a biased occupation of the morphospace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In late autumn 2004 we studied the effect of water surface condition, wind speed, and tidal status on the hunting patterns (flapping, gliding, hovering) and hunting success of the osprey population at Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Through focal sightings we obtained the number of hunting dives, hunting length, and the proportion of hunting length invested in each pattern. Hunting success was 61%. Ospreys required an average of 2.4 dives to catch a prey. Hunting lasted 450 seconds on average, with about 50% of this time invested in flapping, 41% in gliding, and 7% in hovering. The average number of dives to catch a prey varied according to the different water surface conditions, wind speed, and tidal status. The probability of catching a prey decreased when wind speed increased and the condition of the water surface deteriorated; however, hunting length was similar in both cases. Ospreys at Magdalena Bay decrease the proportion of flapping and increase gliding when wind speed increases and the condition of the water surface changes from calm to choppy. The change from low to high tide favored an increase in the probability of catching a prey and in the number of dives, but hunting length was not affected. We compared our results with studies from other regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The imposex phenomenon is a superimposition of male characters on gastropod females due to exposure to tributyltin (TBT). There have been no previous reports of this phenomenon in the southern Caribbean, which is inhabited by some edible and commercially exploited gastropod populations. To determine whether imposex is affecting some of these local gastropod populations, surveys were conducted at several sites with different levels of boating activity around Margarita Island and on the continental coast of Venezuela. The species affected were Chicoreus brevifrons, Chicoreus (Phylonotus) margaritensis and Leucozonia nasa; however, no females with obstructed vagina were observed. Imposex was observed in a coastal lagoon and on the coast at sites characterized by medium to high boat concentrations, but was not detected in open waters with low marine traffic. A survey of local boat operators indicated that the use of TBT had stopped 2-3 years prior to this study and had been replaced by regular application of other antifouling paints. This is the first report of imposex in Venezuela, but further studies incorporating the bioindicators identified here are needed in order to determine the full extent of TBT contamination and the biological implications in zones with marine traffic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The principal components technique was used in research evaluating four hatchings with different kinds of eggs according to their weight and shape. To this end, a factorial experiment (3 x 2) with a completely randomized design was carried out to determine hatching development through biological control. Main results from Kaiser- Mayer- Olkin's and Bartlett's tests showed that evaluated indexes were associated; hence, a number of transformations are required to guarantee the analyzed variables independence. Throughout the suggested methodology, four independent final variables were obtained. The variance analysis showed no interaction between egg weight and shape. In conclusion, the original variables transformation guaranteed their independence, thus confirming the preliminary hypotheses concerning variance analysis and simplifying result interpretation. The canonical variables assessment will be easier therefore when using terms such as efficiency and proportion in relation to the most significant reported value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This presentation is aimed at highlighting some contributions of entomological studies,to the development and state of the art of three relevant issues within the field of ecology and evolutionary biology. Hence, several considerations have been included referred to biological diversity among species and within species,animal populations growth and regulation, with regards to particular aspects of ecological topics widely regarded as "population theories", as well as biological peculiarities of social insects related to altruist behavior and the possible occurrence of differential extinctions above individual level (i.e., kin selection). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cuban Stomatopod Crustacean are very poor studied, up today. They are only one recent published paper on this subject, is that of Gómez and Ortiz (1985), which brings a check list of this common crustacean species, remaining from then, the necessity to prepare a guide, to help to those interested in this subject, including the fishermen, with a previous training. The keys for the identification of the 8 genera, and 16 species of Cuban Stomatopod Crustaceans recorded up today, are presented. A figure for each species, is also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of diagnostic laboratories for mycoplasmas from the Tropical Medicine Institute Pedro Kouri and MYCOLAB from CENSA was proved an annual program of proficiency assays testing by interlab comparisons for mycoplasmas detection in biological fluids. During two consecutive years both laboratories, correctly identified six blind negative reference samples and nine blind positive reference samples. The ability to obtain reliable results in detecting mycoplasmas by culture and PCR was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]