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This paper presents a study of different types of parametric signals with application to submarine acoustic telecommunications. In all of them, the carrier frequency is 200 kHz, which corresponds to that resonation of the transducer under study, while they differ by the different modulations they present. In this sense, we study modulations with sweeps (4 to 40 kHz), in which represent binary codes (zeros and ones), getting closer to the application in acoustic telecommunications. The different properties of the transmitting signals in terms of communication speed, directivity, efficiency and power needed are discussed as well.

A mastocitose é caracterizada pelo acúmulo patológico e ativação de mastócitos nos tecidos e órgãos. Embora a classificação da mastocitose e seus critérios diagnósticos sejam bem aceitos, há necessidade de estabelecer parâmetros para aplicação de testes diagnósticos, avaliação clínica e respostas aos tratamentos. O objetivo deste trabalho é fazer uma revisão extensa da literatura, oferecendo conhecimento global sobre os mecanismos etiopatológicos e isiopatológicos, dando especial ênfase à diagnose, classificação e tratamento da mastocitose, promovendo a educação médica continuada.Mastocytosis is characterized by pathologic accumulation and activation of mast cells in tissues and organs. Although the classification for mastocytosis and diagnostic criteria are well accepted, there remains a need to define standards for the application of diagnostic tests, clinical evaluations, and responses to treatment. The objective of this article was to make an extensive literature review, providing comprehensive knowledge about the etiopathological and pathophysiological mechanisms, with a special emphasis on diagnosis, classification and treatment of mastocytosis, promoting continued medical education.

En el presente artículo se evalúan las propiedades de osteoconducción y osteointegración de una hidroxiapatita reabsorbible (OseoU), procesada a dos temperaturas diferentes de calcinación (Tipo A y Tipo B), con el propósito de compararlas con un preparado comercial de hidroxiapatita (Osteogen®), utilizado para múltiples procedimientos quirúrgicos en los cuales se involucra la pérdida de tejido óseo. La síntesis se realizó en los laboratorios de la Universidad de Antioquia por el método de precipitación acuosa de la mezcla de nitrato de calcio y de fosfato de amonio. Los productos obtenidos y la hidroxiapatita comercial fueron caracterizados por microscopia electrónica de barrido (SEM), difracción de rayos X (DRX), espectroscopia de infrarrojo transformada de Fourier (FTIR) y espectrometría por energía dispersiva (EDS). Las características de osteoconducción y osteointegración fueron medidas de acuerdo a la capacidad de los productos para inducir la diferenciación de células locales a células formadoras de hueso. Dichas características, se evaluaron en implantes de hidroxiapatita realizados en 70 conejos de la raza Nueva Zelanda distribuidos en siete grupos de 10 animales cada uno, evaluados a los 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 60 y 90 días de efectuado el procedimiento quirúrgico. Los resultados obtenidos demostraron que el OseoU y el Osteogen®, presentaron características similares en cuanto a la estructura cristalina, la composición química y la adsorción, con apreciables diferencias morfológicas con respecto a la forma de las partículas. Al realizar el análisis de varianza no se encontraron diferencias estadísticas significativas para las variables histopatológicas evaluadas en las dos hidroxiapatitas (p>0.05), indicando que las hidroxiapatitas sintetizadas en la Universidad de Antioquia (OseoU) tuvieron el mismo resultado que la hidroxiapatita comercial (Osteogen®) en la osteoconducción y la osteointegración del tejido óseo.No presente estudo foram avaliadas as propriedades de ostecondução e osteointegração de uma hidroxiapatita reabsorvivel (OseoU), processada a duas temperaturas de calcinaçao (Tipo A e B), como propósito de serem comparadas com um produto comercial (Osteogen®), utilizado para múltiples procedimentos cirúrgicos nos quais se envolve a perda do tecido osso. Asíntese foi realizada nos laboratórios da Universidad de Antioquia pelo método de precipitação aquosa da mistura de nitrato de cálcio e fosfato de amônio. Os produtos obtidos e a hidroxiapatita comercial foram caracterizados por microscopia eletrônica de barrido (SEM), difração raios X (DRX), espectroscopia de infravermelho transformada de Fourier (FTIR) e espectrometria por energia dispersiva (EDS). As características de osteocondução e osteointegração foram mensuradas de acordo à capacidade dos produtos para induzir a diferenciação das células locais formadoras do osso. Estas características foram avaliadas em implantações de hidroxiapatita realizadas em 70 coelhos da raça Nova Zelândia distribuídos em sete grupos de 10 animais cada um, avaliados aos 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 60 e 90 dias de efetuado o procedimento cirúrgico. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que o OseoU e o Osteogen® apresentaram características similares em quanto à estrutura cristalina, a comparação química e à absorção, com apreciáveis diferenças morfológicas com respeito à forma das partículas. Ao realizar as análises de variâncias não foram encontradas diferencias estatísticas significativas para as variáveis histopatológicas avaliadas nas duas hidroxiapatitas (p>0.05), indicando que as hidroxiapatitas sintetizadas na Universidad de Antioquia (OseoU) tiveram o mesmo resultado que a hidroxiapatita comercial (Osteogen®) em osteocondução e osteointegração do tecido ósseo.In the following article the effects of two types of hydroxiapatites on bone synthesis and properties were evaluated. One of them (OseoU) was synthesized at two different temperatures to compare it to a commercial mixture of hydroxiapatite (Osteogen®) commonly used in several surgical procedures in which loss of bone tissue is present. The synthesis was carried out in the laboratories of the Universidad de Antioquia by precipitating the mixture of calcium nitrate and ammonium phosphate. The final products and the commercial hydroxiapatite were characterized by sweeper electronic microscopy (SEM), X ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and energy dispersed spectrometry (EDS). The properties of osteoconduction and osteointegration were measured according to the capacity of the products to induce the differentiation of local cells into bone forming cells. Such characteristics were evaluated in hydroxiapatite implants in 70 New Zealand breed rabbits distributed in seven groups, ten rabbits in each group, which were evaluated at days 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 60 and 90 after the surgical procedure. The results demonstrated that the hydroxiapatites synthesized in the laboratories of the Universidad de Antioquia and the commercial hydroxiapatite showed similar characteristics in terms of the crystal structure, chemical composition and absorption properties with slight morphological differences in particle shape and size. Using variance analysis, no meaningful statistical differences were found between the histopathological variables evaluated in the several hydroxiapatite groups (p>0.05), indicating that results obtained with both the OseoU and the commercial hydroxiapatite equally affected bone synthesis and properties.

A retículo-histiocitose multicêntrica é doença sistêmica rara e de etiologia desconhecida. Caracterizase por poliartrite simétrica, que pode evoluir para artrite mutilante, e por lesões papulonodulares na pele e nas mucosas. O diagnóstico definitivo é histopatológico. Em aproximadamente um terço dos casos de retículo-histiocitose multicêntrica em adultos, observa-se associação com malignidade. Ainda não foi estabelecida uma terapia-padrão. Descreve-se o caso de mulher de 46 anos com quadro clínico característico de retículo-histiocitose multicêntrica. Realizou-se tratamento inovador à base de infliximabe, obtendo-se ótimos resultados.Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis is an extremely rare systemic disorder of unknown etiology. It is characterized by a severe symmetric polyarthritis which can progresses to a mutilant arthritis and papulonodular skin and mucosal lesions. The diagnostic of multicentric reticulo histiocytosis is histopathologic. Approximately one-third of the adults patients have association with malignancies. There is no uniform treatment regimen for multicentric reticulohistiocytosis. We present a case of a 46-year woman with a classical clinical picture of multicentric reticulohistiocytosis. The patient received treatment with biological immunemodulators with marked results.

We evaluated risk factors for sporadic Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection among children in Argentina. We conducted a prospective case–control study in 2 sites and enrolled 150 case-patients and 299 controls. The median age of case-patients was 1.8 years; 58% were girls. Serotype O157:H7 was the most commonly isolated STEC. Exposures associated with infection included eating undercooked beef, living in or visiting a place with farm animals, and contact with a child

En este trabajo, se presentan los resultados obtenidos luego del desarrollo de un simulador de problemas de flujo de fluidos en régimen laminar, estado estable, usando el método de volúmenes finitos basado en elementos, para dominios bidimensionales, llamado MEFVOC. De la revisión de referencias se observa con reiteración el uso de problemas típicos que permiten comprobar el buen funcionamiento del programa de cálculo, en dominios discretizados de forma estructurada. Por lo tanto, el aporte de este trabajo consiste en implementar computacionalmente el método, con la capacidad de reproducir la misma solución, pero al emplear una malla no estructurada, lo que facilita la extensión hacia geometrías complejas. Por el hecho de que los resultados obtenidos son congruentes con trabajos de otros autores en el área, al usar programas semejantes, está claro que el programa resuelve exitosamente los problemas planteados bajo las condiciones descritas.The results obtained in the development of the computational program “MEFVOC”, to simulate laminar incompressible and steady flows, using Element based Finite Volume Methods on unstructured and bidimensional grids, is presented in this paper. There are references to problems for testing and evaluating numerical techniques related with this method, but it is not common to find results on unstructured grids like the ones reached in this work. The implementacion makes easier the extention to complex geometries. The problems resolved demonstrate concordance with other authors, using structured grid. In fact, it can be concluded that the computational program developed, succesfully resolves the problems proposed under the described conditions.

FUNDAMENTOS: Há escassa literatura sobre a avaliação dos resultados cirúrgicos e do impacto da cirurgia de blefaroplastia superior na qualidade de vida dos pacientes. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o impacto na qualidade de vida dos pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de blefaroplastia superior. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo com questionário padronizado, em mulheres adultas submetidas à blefaroplastia superior e avaliadas após 90 dias para estimativa do impacto cirúrgico na qualidade de vida e de complicações. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliadas 41 mulheres adultas saudáveis (idade mediana 53 anos) no período de junho de 2005 a março de 2006. O questionário apresentou alta consistência interna. O elemento de qualidade de vida de maior impacto na primeira semana foi relacionado à percepção da aparência física, e o de menor impacto foi relacionadoà convivência com as pessoas próximas. A cicatrização hipertrófica foi a principal complicação tardia. O grau de satisfação com a cirurgia relacionou-se significativamente com a ausência de efeitos indesejados (pBACKGROUND: There is scarce literature on assessing surgical results and the impact of upper blepharoplasty on quality of life of patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact on quality of life of patients submitted to upper blepharoplasty. METHODS: A prospective study using a standardized questionnaire applied to adult women submitted to upper blepharoplasty and evaluated 90 days later to estimate the surgical impact on quality of life and complications. RESULTS: Forty-one healthy adult females (median age of 53 years) were evaluated from June 2005 to March 2006. The questionnaire showed high internal consistency. The quality of life element with greater impact on the first postoperative week was related to physical appearance perception and that of lesser impact was associated to relationship with relatives and close friends. Hypertrophic scar was the main late complication. Satisfaction levels with the surgery were significantly related with absence of undesirable effects (p

This study describes the effect of novel 6-Arylbenzimidazo [1,2-c] quinazoline derivatives as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-á) production inhibitors. The newly synthesized compounds were tested for their in vitro ability to inhibit the lipolysaccharide (LPS) induced TNF-á secretion in the human promyelocytic cell line HL-60. The compound 6-Phenyl-benzimidazo [1,2-c] quinazoline, coded as Gl, resulted as the most potent inhibitor and with no significant cytotoxic activity. Thus, 6-Arylbenzimidazo [1,2-c] quinazoline derivatives may have a potential as anti-inflammatory agents

OBJETIVO: Describir los cambios en los patrones de transmisión de rubeola en México. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se analizó la incidencia durante el periodo 1990 a 2005 y se calcularon la tendencia por regresión lineal simple y el corredor endémico por transformación logarítmica de la media geométrica de las tasas de incidencia mensual y recorridos superior e inferior por IC95%. RESULTADOS: La morbilidad mostró una tendencia estable de 1990 a 1998 y descendente de 1999 a 2005 (r=-0.88, r²=0.77), con disminución acumulada de 97.1%. Además, se observaron la atenuación de la variación estacional, la interrupción transitoria de transmisión en 13 estados y el aumento de la proporción de casos en personas de 15 a 44 años y menores de un año, después del inicio de la vacunación antes de los siete años y de la estrategia combinada de inmunización (niños y adultos), respectivamente, con reducción de la incidencia en ambos grupos. CONCLUSIONES: El reforzamiento de la vigilancia y la vacunación sistemática y suplementaria favorecerá la interrupción endémica y la propuesta de su eliminación continental para 2010.OBJECTIVE: To describe changes in the transmission patterns of rubella in Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An analysis of rubella incidence during 1990-2005 was performed to estimate the morbidity trend through a simple linear regression model. Endemic mapping was carried out by logarithmic transformation of the geometric mean of monthly incidence rates and 95% CI to estimate high and low endemic ranges. RESULTS: A stable trend was observed in morbidity during 1990-1998 ,descending during 1999-2005 (r=-0.88, r²=0.77), with a 97.1% cumulative decrease. Attenuation during seasonal variation, temporary interruption of transmission in 13 states and increase in the proportion of cases in 15-44 year-olds as well as in children less than one year of age, have been observed respectively after starting vaccination of children less than seven years of age and the implementation of combined strategy (children and adults) for rubella immunization, with incidence decrease in both groups. CONCLUSION: Reinforcement of surveillance and routine-supplemental immunization activities would favor the interruption of endemic rubella and contribute to the continent-wide elimination proposal for 2010.

Central nervous system (CNS) infiltration must be ruled out in patients with known neoplastic diseases and neurological symptoms. It was done a retrospective analysis of 1,948 CSF samples from patients with suspected malignant infiltration in the CNS, in order to evaluate the positivity rate of malignant cells in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples and correlate with cytochemical characteristics. Sixty-two percent of subjects had acute lymphocytic leukemia. Malignant cells were found in 24% of all CSF samples. Subjects with positive malignant cells had predominance of increased levels of CSF total protein (TP), glucose and total cytology (pA infiltração neoplásica no SNC deve ser afastada em pacientes com neoplasia e sintomas neurológicos. Foi realizada uma análise retrospectiva de 1.948 amostras de LCR de pacientes com suspeita de infiltração neoplásica no SNC. Sessenta e dois por cento dos pacientes eram portadores de leucemia linfocitica aguda. Células neoplásicas foram encontradas em 24% de todas as amostras. Houve níveis aumentados no LCR da proteína total (PT), glicose e de citologia global (p

Domesticated Asian rice (Oryza sativa) is one of the oldest domesticated crop species in the world, having fed more people than any other plant in human history. We report the patterns of DNA sequence variation in rice and its wild ancestor, O. rufipogon, across 111 randomly chosen gene fragments, and use these to infer the evolutionary dynamics that led to the origins of rice. There is a genome-wide excess of high-frequency derived single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in O. sativa varieties, a pattern that has not been reported for other crop species. We developed several alternative models to explain contemporary patterns of polymorphisms in rice, including a (i) selectively neutral population bottleneck model, (ii) bottleneck plus migration model, (iii) multiple selective sweeps model, and (iv) bottleneck plus selective sweeps model. We find that a simple bottleneck model, which has been the dominant demographic model for domesticated species, cannot explain the derived nucleotide polymorphism site frequency spectrum in rice. Instead, a bottleneck model that incorporates selective sweeps, or a more complex demographic model that includes subdivision and gene flow, are more plausible explanations for patterns of variation in domesticated rice varieties. If selective sweeps are indeed the explanation for the observed nucleotide data of domesticated rice, it suggests that strong selection can leave its imprint on genome-wide polymorphism patterns, contrary to expectations that selection results only in a local signature of variation.

The prevalence of 25 dental traits in a simple of pre-hispanic mature skulls belonging to Museo de La Plata (Agentina) were analyzed. Both arches, upper and lower, and all of the permanent dentition with the exception of the third molars were studied. The main objective of this study was to establish the morphological dental pattern according to absolute and relative frequency of the traits that characterize the dentitions of araucanos. It can be concluded, from the frecuency of the traits analyzed, that the sample presents similarities with momgoloid synodonts and it moves away from the European and African populations.

The effects of the addition of whey protein concentrates and clarification by-products obtained from ovine cheese whey and deproteinized whey (Sorelho) on the yield and quality of the whey cheese (Requeijão) have been evaluated. Whey protein concentrates were obtained by ultrafiltration of skimmed whey and Sorelho. The clarification by-products were obtained after the treatment of the skimmed whey and Sorelho by thermocalcic precipitation and microfiltration with two membranes (0.20 and 0.65 μm pore size). Next, the liophilization of the corresponding retentates was carried out. Each powder was added in three different mass ratios: 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 %. The addition of the powders caused higher yields of the whey cheese – mainly the one with the additional whey powder – but it did not affect the strength of the products. The retention of water and other components of whey and milk in the whey cheese was influenced by the protein composition of the powders. In relation to colour parameters, the whey cheese manufactured with ultrafiltration and microfiltration retentate powders showed lower values of ligthness than the control whey cheese – mainly the whey cheese with 1.5 % of added powders. The microstructure constituted of small aggregates in the whey cheese manufactured with ultrafiltration and 0.20-μm microfiltration retentate powders and also by large, smooth structures in the other whey cheeses, especially in batches with added Sorelho powders.

We present a case of congenital diaphragmatic hernia that was successfully treated with spi-ral tacks using thoracoscopy. A newborn female was diagnosed with a diaphragmatic hernia at 20 weeks of gestation. The defect was surgically repaired by thoracoscopy and primary closure. On postoperative day 25, she developed respiratory distress. Chest x-ray showed a recurrence and was taken to the OR for surgical repair with spiral tacks.

Agro-food companies are aware that the technical and soft skills of their employees directly influence business performance and, consequently, improving those skills will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of their companies. This paper presents the main results of the AgriTraining project “Training requirements for the agro-food industry". Activities in pursuit of the objectives of this project involved: (1) analysis of the training needs in the agro-food industry in Portugal; (2) analysis of the training provision and the training organizations; (3) analysis of market trends; (4) definition of a training strategy; and (5) adjustment and development of training strategies for the agro-food sector. This last activity comprised the development of training curricula, suitable for the food sector as a whole and adjusted for the specific needs of some traditional industries, in order to promote the development and competitiveness of the agro-food industry in Portugal. Such training curricula aimed to promote the uptake of innovative technologies and methodologies, increase the ability of agro-food industries to invest and take risks, and enable adoption of European Community standards for production and marketing. Gaps in training supply were identified and the training provision was updated according to the needs of the agro-food companies. It was determined that companies need and demand knowledge and innovation to increase their competitive position for internationalization purposes. It was possible to define a training strategy based on market-orientation for agro-food differentiation.

Numerous brain regions have been shown to have neural correlates of gradually accumulating evidence for decision-making, but the causal roles of these regions in decisions driven by accumulation of evidence have yet to be determined. Here, in rats performing an auditory evidence accumulation task, we inactivated the frontal orienting fields (FOF) and posterior parietal cortex (PPC), two rat cortical regions that have neural correlates of accumulating evidence and that have been proposed as central to decision-making. We used a detailed model of the decision process to analyze the effect of inactivations. Inactivation of the FOF induced substantial performance impairments that were quantitatively best described as an impairment in the output pathway of an evidence accumulator with a long integration time constant (>240 ms). In contrast, we found a minimal role for PPC in decisions guided by accumulating auditory evidence, even while finding a strong role for PPC in internally-guided decisions.

Neste artigo comparo a articulação que realizam Jean Price Mars y Gilberto Freyre entre a Geografia e a História e como dessa comparação nasce o argumento sobre a influência de africanismo nos processos históricos, tanto em Haiti como em Brasil. Concentro minha analise em duas obras chaves, Así habló el Tío, de Price Mars e Casa grande y senzala de Freyre para destacar a maneira em que ambos os autores desenvolvem suas poderosas conceições da geografia africana, seu clima e paisagem, assim como a determinação geográfica, por um lado, das expressões culturais dos negros em Haiti e, de outro, do sucesso dos colonos portugueses no Brasil. Identifico e analiso o manejo das premissas teóricas sobre a relação geografia, paisagem e ser humano desde o qual os autores articulam suas visões. Parto da premissa de que as imagens geográficas e as paisagens que ambos os autores elaboraram podem ser entendidos como maneiras particulares de ver. Portanto, as descrições por eles construídas se relacionam com as práticas de apropriação tanto do geográfico como do tempo, e, à vez, com as formas em que se manifestam os desejos de controle e dominação sobre o espaço e sua transformação em propriedade simbólica e material, individual y coletiva. Palavras-chave: Price Mars. Gilberto Freyre. Geografia. História Resumen En este trabajo comparo la articulación que realizan Jean Price Mars y Gilberto Freyre entre la geografía y la historia y cómo de la misma se desprende el argumento sobre la influencia de la africanidad em los procesos históricos tanto de Haití como de Brasil. Concentro mi análisis en dos obras claves, Así habló el Tío, de Price Mars y Casa grande y senzala de Freyre para destacar la manera en que ambos autores desarrollan poderosas concepciones de la geografía africana, de su clima y paisaje, así como de su determinación geográfi ca en la conformación de lo que fueron, por un lado, las expresiones culturales de los negros en Haití y, del otro, el éxito de los colonos portugueses em Brasil. Además, identifi co y analizo el manejo de sus premisas teóricas sobre la relación Geografía, paisaje y ser humano desde las que articulan sus miradas. Parto de la premisa de que las imágenes geográfi cas y los paisajes que ambos autores elaboran pueden ser entendidos como maneras particulares de ver. Por lo tanto, las descripciones por ellos construidas se relacionan con prácticas de apropiación tanto de lo geográfico como del tiempo, y, a su vez, con las formas en que se manifiestan los deseos de control y dominación sobre el espacio y su transformación en propiedad simbólica y material, individual y colectiva. Palavras claves: Price Mars. Gilberto Freyre. Geografía. Historia Abstract In his work I compare the joint conducted by Jean Price Mars and Gilberto Freyre between the geography and history and how the influences of the Africanness in the historical processes of Haiti as well as Brazil are inferred from their arguments. I focuses my analysis in two main publications: Así habló en Tío, from Price Mars and Casa Grande y Senzala of Freyre to emphasize deeply the approach used by both authors, especially when developing powerful conceptions about the African geography, its climate and landscape, as well as of its determination in the conformation of based on the cultural expressions associated with black in Haiti but also the success of the Portuguese “colonos” in Brazil. In addition, I analyze the handling of its theoretical premises related to geography, landscape and human being from whom they articulate its glances. Moreover, my work starts from a perspective in which the geographical images and the landscapes, that both authors elaborate, can be understood like particular ways to see. Therefore, the descriptions constructed by Mars and Freyre are related to practices of that demonstrate geographic as well as time appropriation while at the same time refl ects the desires of taking control and domination over space and its transformation from a symbolic, material, individual and collective perspective. Keywords: Price Mars. Gilberto Freyre. Geography. History

Estudios arqueológicos sobre poblaciones prehispánicas del sur occidente colombiano sugieren que existe una continuidad cultural expresada en los patrones de cultura material. La biología de la población que perteneció a la tradición cultural Sonso aún no se conoce. Por esta razón, no se han formulado aún hipótesis sobre la condición biológica y genética de este grupo humano prehispánico y sus orígenes asociados a patrones de poblamiento y adaptación en esta región de Colombia. Se describe la variación morfológica y el patrón dental intragrupal de la población prehispánica excavada en el Municipio de Yumbo, Departamento del Valle del Cauca en Colombia y portadora de la tradición cultural Sonso ubicada en el durante los siglos XI y XII d.C. Mediante la observación de la prevalencia de 51 rasgos en la morfología coronal de dientes temporales y permanentes se determinan las relaciones biológicas entre los miembros de los grupos funerarios y se infieren relaciones genéticas e históricas entre los integrantes de esta población. Se encontró que el patrón morfológico de algunos rasgos cambia a entre los siglos X y XII d.C. Esto es explicado como resultado de posible contacto con otros grupos provenientes del sur.

Finite element method (FEM) and boundary element method (BEM) are methods usually applied on lowfrequency coupled fluid-structure analysis. On the other hand, statistical energy analysis (SEA) is a technique applied on small wavelength bandwidth predictions. However, in the midfrequency, where deterministic calculations are costly and confidence intervals of SEA are not satisfied, hybrid FEM/SEA models can be used. This work presents a coupled vibro-acoustic analysis methodology of the Brazilian Satellite Launcher Vehicle payload fairing. FEM/FEM model accounts for the low-frequency internal responses. The high-frequency responses are computed by a SEA coupled elasto-acoustic model, and a hybrid FEM/SEA model calculates the payload fairing mid-frequency behavior.

Population scale sequencing of whole human genomes is becoming economically feasible; however, data management and analysis remains a formidable challenge for many research groups. Large sequencing studies, like the 1000 Genomes Project, have improved our understanding of human demography and the effect of rare genetic variation in disease. Variant calling on datasets of hundreds or thousands of genomes is time-consuming, expensive, and not easily reproducible given the myriad components of a variant calling pipeline. Here, we describe a cloud-based pipeline for joint variant calling in large samples using the Real Time Genomics population caller. We deployed the population caller on the Amazon cloud with the DNAnexus platform in order to achieve low-cost variant calling. Using our pipeline, we were able to identify 68.3 million variants in 2,535 samples from Phase 3 of the 1000 Genomes Project. By performing the variant calling in a parallel manner, the data was processed within 5 days at a compute cost of $7.33 per sample (a total cost of $18,590 for completed jobs and $21,805 for all jobs). Analysis of cost dependence and running time on the data size suggests that, given near linear scalability, cloud computing can be a cheap and efficient platform for analyzing even larger sequencing studies in the future.

Genomic selection, enabled by whole genome prediction (WGP) methods, is revolutionizing plant breeding. Existing WGP methods have been shown to deliver accurate predictions in the most common settings, such as prediction of across environment performance for traits with additive gene effects. However, prediction of traits with non-additive gene effects and prediction of genotype by environment interaction (G×E), continues to be challenging. Previous attempts to increase prediction accuracy for these particularly difficult tasks employed prediction methods that are purely statistical in nature. Augmenting the statistical methods with biological knowledge has been largely overlooked thus far. Crop growth models (CGMs) attempt to represent the impact of functional relationships between plant physiology and the environment in the formation of yield and similar output traits of interest. Thus, they can explain the impact of G×E and certain types of non-additive gene effects on the expressed phenotype. Approximate Bayesian computation (ABC), a novel and powerful computational procedure, allows the incorporation of CGMs directly into the estimation of whole genome marker effects in WGP. Here we provide a proof of concept study for this novel approach and demonstrate its use with synthetic data sets. We show that this novel approach can be considerably more accurate than the benchmark WGP method GBLUP in predicting performance in environments represented in the estimation set as well as in previously unobserved environments for traits determined by non-additive gene effects. We conclude that this proof of concept demonstrates that using ABC for incorporating biological knowledge in the form of CGMs into WGP is a very promising and novel approach to improving prediction accuracy for some of the most challenging scenarios in plant breeding and applied genetics.

A través de este estudio, se buscó establecer el estado de SaludMental de las personas víctimas de violencia armada en el Departamentodel Chocó (Colombia). Específicamente se buscó comprenderel modo en que se ha subjetivado o ha sido integradapsíquicamente la experiencia violenta. La metodología es el deestudio de caso. El estudio es particularista y descriptivo se basó enel razonamiento inductivo a partir del manejo de datos que para elcaso provienen de entrevistas clínicas puesta al servicio de lainvestigación. La mirada cualitativa del problema indica que elnarcisismo protege al sujeto de la experiencia de muerte realimplicado en el trauma por violencia, la lógica paranoide se estableceen relación al Otro, y el repliegue sobre el núcleo familiar se dacomo consecuencia de estos dos aspectos.

En este trabajo se evaluaron los cambios en densidad y longitud del pelaje dorsal y ventral en el roedor subterráneo Ctenomys talarum, como posible mecanismo compensatorio frente a cambios de temperatura estacionales en el ambiente de la cueva, en especial durante la época estival, y durante el período de preñez en las hembras, ya que ambas etapas representan desafíos para la termorregulación en esta especie. Se observó que el pelaje ventral fue significativamente más corto y menos denso que el dorsal en machos, hembras preñadas y hembras no preñadas en las dos estaciones evaluadas. La longitud del pelaje tanto dorsal como ventral en los tres grupos fue significativamente menor durante la estación de temperaturas más cálidas. En la estación cálida, las hembras preñadas exhibieron un pelaje ventral significativamente más corto que el pelaje ventral de machos y de hembras no preñadas. Se discuten las posibles ventajas térmicas que podrían representar las modificaciones observadas en las características del pelaje de esta especie, con énfasis en las restricciones que impone el ambiente subterráneo en cuanto a los mecanismos disponibles de disipación del calor corporalIn this work, the changes in fur density and length in the subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum were evaluated as a possible compensatory mechanism during seasonal temperature changes in their burrow environment and during pregnancy in females, both situations being thermoregulatory challenging in this species. The ventral fur was shorter and less dense than the dorsal fur in the three groups (males, non-pregnant females and pregnant females) and in the two seasons evaluated. Ventral and dorsal furs were significantly shorter during the warm seasons in the three groups. In the warm season, pregnant females had a ventral fur significantly shorter than that of males and non-pregnant females. The possible thermal advantages that the observed fur changes might represent for the species are discussed, with emphasis on the constraints imposed by the subterranean environment on available ways of dissipating body heat

O enxerto cutâneo é um modo efetivo para restaurar feridas. O curativo compressivo é importante para a vitalidade do enxerto. Os autores observaram que o uso de esponja cirúrgica como curativo compressivo em enxertos cutâneos é factível e aconselhável.Cutaneous graft is an effective way to treat wounds. A pressure dressing is important for the vitality of such grafts. We have observed that the use of surgical sponge as a pressure dressing on cutaneous grafts is feasible and recommend its use.

Este trabajo consta de 3 etapas: a) Construcción: dispositivo de inmersión, b) Desarrollo: software de simulación con RV, c) Diseño: sistema electrónico de adquisición y envío de datos. El dispositivo de inmersión captura los movimientos del brazo del operario, por medio de sensores; las señales suministradas por esto, son procesadas por un PIC, y enviadas al PC, para ser leídas por el software, que simula con realidad virtual el movimiento del manipulador UMNG-1. Finalmente, teniendo en cuenta la(s) posición(es) final deseada del efector final, es entregado un código, que enviado al controlador YASKAWA-SMC 2000, posibilita el movimiento real del UMNG-1, para llevar a cabo tareas de difícil ejecución.

BackgroundAmong people with HIV (PWH), sex differences in presentations of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) may be influenced by differences in coronary plaque parameters, immune/inflammatory biomarkers, or relationships therein.MethodsREPRIEVE, a primary ASCVD prevention trial, enrolled antiretroviral therapy (ART)-treated PWH. At entry, a subset of US participants underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) and immune phenotyping (n = 755 CTA; n = 725 CTA + immune). We characterized sex differences in coronary plaque and immune/inflammatory biomarkers and compared immune-plaque relationships by sex. Unless noted otherwise, analyses adjust for ASCVD risk score.ResultsThe primary analysis cohort included 631 males and 124 females. ASCVD risk was higher among males (median: 4.9% vs 2.1%), while obesity rates were higher among females (48% vs 21%). Prevalence of any plaque and of plaque with either ≥1 visible noncalcified portion or vulnerable features (NC/V-P) was lower among females overall and controlling for relevant risk factors (RR [95% CI] for any plaque: .67 [.50, .92]; RR for NC/V-P: .71 [.51, 1.00] [adjusted for ASCVD risk score and body mass index]). Females showed higher levels of IL-6, hs-CRP, and D-dimer and lower levels of Lp-PLA2 (P < .001 for all). Higher levels of Lp-PLA2, MCP-1, and oxLDL were associated with higher plaque (P < .02) and NC/V-P prevalence, with no differences by sex. Among females but not males, D-dimer was associated with higher prevalence of NC/V-P (interaction P = .055).ConclusionsAmong US PWH, females had a lower prevalence of plaque and NC/V-P, as well as differences in key immune/inflammatory biomarkers. Immune-plaque relationships differed by sex for D-dimer but not other tested parameters. Clinical Trial Registration. ClinicalTrials.gov; identifier: NCT0234429 (date of initial registration: 22 January 2015).

Skin lesions are often underestimated when patients are hospitalized in clinical or surgical areas. We made weekly visits to Mario Covas State Hospital of Sao Paulo, Brazil, for 35 weeks. Patients answered a questionnaire and underwent skin examination. The skin lesions were photographed. Of the 359 patients evaluated, a total of 1098 dermatological conditions were diagnosed. The most prevalent skin conditions included photodermatosis, neoplasms, vasculopathies and onychopathies. The growing number of dermatological diseases in hospitals justifies the active and constant presence of the dermatologist in a multidisciplinary team, thereby improving prognosis and patients' quality of life.As lesões dermatológicas costumam ser subestimadas quando da internação do paciente nas áreas clínica ou cirúrgica. Foram feitas visitas aos leitos do Hospital Estadual Mário Covas, do Estado de São Paulo - Brasil, durante 35 semanas. Os pacientes responderam um questionário e foram submetidos ao exame clínico dermatológico. As lesões cutâneas foram fotografadas. Nos 359 pacientes avaliados, foram encontrados 1098 diagnósticos dermatológicos. Os grupos mais prevalentes foram fotodermatoses, neoplasias, onicopatias e vasculopatias. O crescente número de afecções dermatológicas no ambiente hospitalar justificaria a presença mais ativa e constante do dermatologista na equipe multidisciplinar, melhorando o prognóstico e a qualidade de vida do doente.

BackgroundIncarceration is associated with increased risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among people who inject drugs (PWID). Mexico's previous attempt in implementing a public health-oriented drug law reform resulted in minimal impact on incarceration among PWID. However, implementation of reforms alongside Mexico's HCV elimination program has the potential to reshape the HCV epidemic among PWID in the next decade. We use data from a cohort of PWID in Tijuana, Mexico, to inform epidemic modeling to assess the contribution of incarceration and fully implemented drug reform on HCV transmission and elimination among PWID.MethodsWe developed a dynamic, deterministic model of incarceration, HCV transmission and disease progression among PWID. The model was calibrated to data from Tijuana, Mexico, with 90% HCV seroprevalence among 10,000 PWID. We estimated the 10-year population attributable fraction (PAF) of incarceration to HCV incidence among PWID and simulated, from 2022, the potential impact of the following scenarios: 1) decriminalization (80% reduction in incarceration rates); 2) fully implemented drug law reform (decriminalization and diversion to opiate agonist therapy [OAT]); 3) fully implemented drug law reform with HCV treatment (direct-acting antivirals [DAA]). We also assessed the number DAA needed to reach the 80% incidence reduction target by 2030 under these scenarios.ResultsProjections suggest a PAF of incarceration to HCV incidence of 5.4% (95% uncertainty interval [UI]:0.6-11.9%) among PWID in Tijuana between 2022-2032. Fully implemented drug reforms could reduce HCV incidence rate by 10.6% (95%UI:3.1-19.2%) across 10 years and reduce the number of DAA required to achieve Mexico's HCV incidence reduction goal by 14.3% (95%UI:5.3-17.1%).ConclusionsAmong PWID in Tijuana, Mexico, incarceration remains an important contributor to HCV transmission. Full implementation of public health-oriented drug law reform could play an important role in reducing HCV incidence and improve the feasibility of reaching the HCV incidence elimination target by 2030.

A análise da presença de auto-anticorpos feita por imunofluorescência indireta em células HEp-2 constitui-se em um método de triagem escolhido na maioria dos laboratórios clínicos. A ausência de uma nomenclatura definida para a descrição dos laudos tem trazido problemas na utilização clínica do teste, pelas dificuldades no controle de qualidade e na padronização dos resultados, que, por sua vez, embora similares, recebiam denominações diferentes. O I Consenso Brasileiro para Padronização dos Laudos de FAN HEp-2 reuniu em agosto de 2000, em Goiânia, diversos especialistas de todo o Brasil. Esses emitiram pareceres em consenso para os distintos padrões: nucleares, nucleolares, citoplasmáticos e aparelho mitótico. Foram feitas recomendações sobre os critérios para a leitura de uma lâmina, bem como para relação entre a diluição de triagem e o sistema óptico utilizado.

Large-scale sequencing efforts have documented extensive genetic variation within the human genome. However, our understanding of the origins, global distribution, and functional consequences of this variation is far from complete. While regulatory variation influencing gene expression has been studied within a handful of populations, the breadth of transcriptome differences across diverse human populations has not been systematically analyzed. To better understand the spectrum of gene expression variation, alternative splicing, and the population genetics of regulatory variation in humans, we have sequenced the genomes, exomes, and transcriptomes of EBV transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from 45 individuals in the Human Genome Diversity Panel (HGDP). The populations sampled span the geographic breadth of human migration history and include Namibian San, Mbuti Pygmies of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Algerian Mozabites, Pathan of Pakistan, Cambodians of East Asia, Yakut of Siberia, and Mayans of Mexico. We discover that approximately 25.0% of the variation in gene expression found amongst individuals can be attributed to population differences. However, we find few genes that are systematically differentially expressed among populations. Of this population-specific variation, 75.5% is due to expression rather than splicing variability, and we find few genes with strong evidence for differential splicing across populations. Allelic expression analyses indicate that previously mapped common regulatory variants identified in eight populations from the International Haplotype Map Phase 3 project have similar effects in our seven sampled HGDP populations, suggesting that the cellular effects of common variants are shared across diverse populations. Together, these results provide a resource for studies analyzing functional differences across populations by estimating the degree of shared gene expression, alternative splicing, and regulatory genetics across populations from the broadest points of human migration history yet sampled.

The structure of the title compound, C16H14O2, features a dihedral angle of 54.4 (3)° between the aromatic rings. The allyl group is rotated by 37.4 (4)° relative to the adjacent benzene ring. The crystal packing is characterized by numerous C—H...O and C—H...π interactions. Most of these interactions occur in layers along (011). The layers are linked by C—H...π interactions along [100], forming a three-dimensional network.

A Hanseníase é uma doença causada pelo Mycobacterium leprae, com manifestações cutâneas acompanhadas de perda da sensibilidade e envolvimento de sistema nervoso periférico, podendo acometer vísceras e mucosas. O Brasil ocupa o 2° lugar no ranking de prevalência da doença. A classificação própria da hanseníase evidencia sua complexidade clínica e polimorfismo; e possibilita intersecções com patologias como o linfoma não Hodgkin. Este é uma neoplasia maligna de linfonodos, e pode manifestar-se primariamente na pele. Paciente masculino, 51 anos. Procurou o serviço com queixa de “pele rachada”, lesões em boca e língua, e emagrecimento. Ao exame físico, presença de placas em palato, formações esbranquiçadas em dorso de língua e infiltração em lóbulo de orelha. Identificaram-se ainda, alterações sensitivas em extremidades, rash cutâneo eritemato-descamativo generalizado, tumoração em cotovelo, e lesões eritemato-infiltradas com exulcerações em membros inferiores. As hipóteses diagnósticas foram: hanseníase, leishmaniose cutâneo-mucosa, SIDA, Sífilis secundária e linfoma não Hodgkin. Durante a investigação, obtiveram-se resultados negativos para todas as sorologias, exceto a pesquisa de BAAR e biópsia sugerindo Hanseníase Virchowiana. Iniciou-se tratamento poliquimioterápico e houve remissão completa das lesões. Na hanseníase virchowiana, notam-se lesões sólidas papulosas, nodulares, ou em placas com características variáveis. Além disso, é possível encontrar espessamento de pavilhão auricular, madarose e obstrução nasal. Lesões em cavidade oral, também são descritas nestes casos. Os linfomas não Hodgkin de apresentação cutânea primária, podem se assemelhar a formas difusas de Hanseníase virchowiana, pois são neoplasias linforreticulares que se manifestam durante a história natural da doença em tecidos extranodais, dentre eles, a pele.

Genome sequencing of the 5,300-year-old mummy of the Tyrolean Iceman, found in 1991 on a glacier near the border of Italy and Austria, has yielded new insights into his origin and relationship to modern European populations. A key finding of that study was an apparent recent common ancestry with individuals from Sardinia, based largely on the Y chromosome haplogroup and common autosomal SNP variation. Here, we compiled and analyzed genomic datasets from both modern and ancient Europeans, including genome sequence data from over 400 Sardinians and two ancient Thracians from Bulgaria, to investigate this result in greater detail and determine its implications for the genetic structure of Neolithic Europe. Using whole-genome sequencing data, we confirm that the Iceman is, indeed, most closely related to Sardinians. Furthermore, we show that this relationship extends to other individuals from cultural contexts associated with the spread of agriculture during the Neolithic transition, in contrast to individuals from a hunter-gatherer context. We hypothesize that this genetic affinity of ancient samples from different parts of Europe with Sardinians represents a common genetic component that was geographically widespread across Europe during the Neolithic, likely related to migrations and population expansions associated with the spread of agriculture.

We recently discovered that the antidepressant sertraline is an effective inhibitor of hippocampus presynaptic Na+ channel permeability in vitro and of tonic-clonic seizures in animals in vivo. Several studies indicate that the pro-inflammatory cytokines in the central nervous system are increased in epilepsy and depression. On the other hand inhibition of Na+ channels has been shown to decrease pro-inflammatory cytokines in microglia. Therefore, the possibility that sertraline could overcome the rise in pro-inflammatory cytokine expression induced by seizures has been investigated. For this purpose, IL-1β and TNF-α mRNA expression was determined by RT-PCR in the hippocampus of rats administered once, or for seven consecutive days with sertraline at a low dose (0.75 mg/kg). The effect of sertraline at doses within the range of 0.75 to 25 mg/kg on the increase in IL-1β and TNF-α mRNA expression accompanying generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and increase in the pro-inflammatory cytokines expression induced by lipopolysaccharide was also investigated. We found that under basal conditions, a single 0.75 mg/kg sertraline dose decreased IL-1β mRNA expression, and also TNF-α expression after repeated doses. The increase in IL-1β and TNF-α expression induced by the convulsive agents and by the inoculation of lipopolysaccharide in the hippocampus was markedly reduced by sertraline also. Present results indicate that a reduction of brain inflammatory processes may contribute to the anti-seizure sertraline action, and that sertraline can be safely and successfully used at low doses to treat depression in epileptic patients.

To identify genetic changes underlying dog domestication and reconstruct their early evolutionary history, we generated high-quality genome sequences from three gray wolves, one from each of the three putative centers of dog domestication, two basal dog lineages (Basenji and Dingo) and a golden jackal as an outgroup. Analysis of these sequences supports a demographic model in which dogs and wolves diverged through a dynamic process involving population bottlenecks in both lineages and post-divergence gene flow. In dogs, the domestication bottleneck involved at least a 16-fold reduction in population size, a much more severe bottleneck than estimated previously. A sharp bottleneck in wolves occurred soon after their divergence from dogs, implying that the pool of diversity from which dogs arose was substantially larger than represented by modern wolf populations. We narrow the plausible range for the date of initial dog domestication to an interval spanning 11-16 thousand years ago, predating the rise of agriculture. In light of this finding, we expand upon previous work regarding the increase in copy number of the amylase gene (AMY2B) in dogs, which is believed to have aided digestion of starch in agricultural refuse. We find standing variation for amylase copy number variation in wolves and little or no copy number increase in the Dingo and Husky lineages. In conjunction with the estimated timing of dog origins, these results provide additional support to archaeological finds, suggesting the earliest dogs arose alongside hunter-gathers rather than agriculturists. Regarding the geographic origin of dogs, we find that, surprisingly, none of the extant wolf lineages from putative domestication centers is more closely related to dogs, and, instead, the sampled wolves form a sister monophyletic clade. This result, in combination with dog-wolf admixture during the process of domestication, suggests that a re-evaluation of past hypotheses regarding dog origins is necessary.

Malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde adducts (MAA) have been implicated in atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of MAA in atherosclerotic disease. Serum samples from controls (n = 82) and patients with; non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), (n = 40), acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (n = 42), or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery due to obstructive multi-vessel CAD (n = 72), were collected and tested for antibody isotypes to MAA-modifed human serum albumin (MAA-HSA). CAD patients had elevated relative levels of IgG and IgA anti-MAA, compared to control patients (p

Objectives To examine the evidence derived from randomized controlled clinical trials on the efficacy and safety of omalizumab compared to placebo in controlling symptoms of chronic idiopathic urticaria/chronic spontaneous urticaria (CIU/CSU).Data source The electronic databases PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, Biomed Central, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Wiley, OVID, and HighwirePress were reviewed. The date limit was set to May 31th, but it was extended to September 30th of 2014 due to a new publication. No language restriction was used. The articles included were randomized trials controlled with placebo in individuals older than 12 years diagnosed with CIU/CSU refractory to conventional treatment, the intervention being, omalizumab at different doses, and the comparison, placebo. The primary outcome was symptom improvement according to the weekly score of urticaria severity (UAS7), the itch severity score (ISS), the weekly score of number of urticarial lesions, the dermatology life quality index, and the chronic urticaria quality of life questionnaire (CU-QoL). Databases were searched using the following Mesh or EMTREE key words including as intervention “omalizumab” or “humanized monoclonal antibody,” compared to placebo and the disease of interest “urticaria” or “angioedema”. The title, abstract and article were reviewed by two independent investigators, according to the selection criteria in each of the databases. An assessment of the quality of the articles was performed according to the bias tool from the studies of the Cochrane Collaboration. Information such as author data, date of study, number of participants, interventions, dose and frequency of administration, comparison, time of follow-up, measurements of weekly score of urticaria activity, pruritus severity score, weekly urticarial lesions, percentage of angioedema and post-treatment change were extracted. Frequency of adverse events and the ones suspected to be caused by the intervention drug were included.Results 770 records were identified in all databases described. 720 were eliminated for failing to meet the inclusion criteria in the first review or for duplicate records. 24 articles were reviewed by abstract, 18 additional articles were further removed, leaving 6 records for inclusion. An experimental study was excluded because it wasn’t randomized. Five studies were finally included, with 1117 patients, of these 831 received a dose of omalizumab of 75 mg (183 patients, 16.38%), 150 mg (163 patients, 14.59%), 300 mg (437 patients, 39.12%) or 600 mg (21 patients, 1.8%), as a single dose, or every 4 weeks until 24 weeks maximum. The average age was 42.07 years, predominantly female gender and white ethnicity. It was observed that the use of omalizumab 300 mg lowered the weekly scores of urticarial activity in 19.9 vs. 6.9 on placebo (p

There is no comprehensive, systematic analysis of the vitamin D status of prisoners in the scientific literature.To investigate the vitamin D status and its determinants in US prison inmates.Given the uniformity of dietary intake amongst inmates, vitamin D status will be determined by non-dietary factors such as skin pigmentation, security level-, and the duration of incarceration.A retrospective study of 526 inmates (males, n=502, age 48.6 ± 12.5 years; females, n=24, age 44.1 ± 12.2) in Massachusetts prisons. Vitamin D sufficiency, insufficiency, and deficiency were respectively defined as a 25(OH)D concentration 75 nmol/L; 50 to 75 nmol/L; and

Objective To explore the advantages of using artificial neural networks (ANNs) to recognize patterns in colposcopy to classify images in colposcopy. PURPOSE: Transversal, descriptive, and analytical study of a quantitative approach with an emphasis on diagnosis. The training test e validation set was composed of images collected from patients who underwent colposcopy. These images were provided by a gynecology clinic located in the city of Criciúma (Brazil). The image database ( n = 170) was divided; 48 images were used for the training process, 58 images were used for the tests, and 64 images were used for the validation. A hybrid neural network based on Kohonen self-organizing maps and multilayer perceptron (MLP) networks was used. Results After 126 cycles, the validation was performed. The best results reached an accuracy of 72.15%, a sensibility of 69.78%, and a specificity of 68%. Conclusion Although the preliminary results still exhibit an average efficiency, the present approach is an innovative and promising technique that should be deeply explored in the context of the present study.

Organized flight of homing pigeons (Columba livia) was previously shown to rely on simple leadership rules between flock mates, yet the stability of this social structuring over time and across different contexts remains unclear. We quantified the repeatability of leadership-based flock structures within a flight and across multiple flights conducted with the same animals. We compared two contexts of flock composition: flocks of birds of the same age and flight experience; and, flocks of birds of different ages and flight experience. All flocks displayed consistent leadership-based structures over time, showing that individuals have stable roles in the navigational decisions of the flock. However, flocks of balanced age and flight experience exhibited reduced leadership stability, indicating that these factors promote flock structuring. Our study empirically demonstrates that leadership and followership are consistent behaviours in homing pigeon flocks, but such consistency is affected by the heterogeneity of individual flight experiences and/or age. Similar evidence from other species suggests leadership as an important mechanism for coordinated motion in small groups of animals with strong social bonds.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency is the most frequent inborn error of metabolism and accounts for 90-95% of CAH cases. In the present work, we analyzed the functional consequence of four novel previously reported point CYP21A2 mutations -p.R132C, p.R149C, p.M283V, p.E431K- found in Argentinean 21-hydroxylase deficient patients. In addition, we report an acceptor splice site novel point mutation, c.652-2A>G, found in a classical patient in compound heterozygosity with the rare p.R483Q mutation. We performed bioinformatic and functional assays to evaluate the biological implication of the novel mutation. Our analyses revealed that the residual enzymatic activity of the isolated mutants coding for CYP21A2 aminoacidic substitutions was reduced to a lesser than 50% of the wild type with both progesterone and 17-OH progesterone as substrates. Accordingly, all the variants would predict mild non-classical alleles. In one non-classical patient, the p.E431K mutation was found in cis with the p.D322G one. The highest decrease in enzyme activity was obtained when both mutations were assayed in the same construction, with a residual activity most likely related to the simple virilizing form of the disease. For the c.652-2A>G mutation, bioinformatic tools predicted the putative use of two different cryptic splicing sites. Nevertheless, functional analyses revealed the use of only one cryptic splice acceptor site located within exon 6, leading to the appearance of an mRNA with a 16 nt deletion. A severe allele is strongly suggested due to the presence of a premature stop codon in the protein only 12 nt downstream.