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Background: Tramadol is one of the most commonly abused substances in the Middle East. Furthermore, smoking is extremely common among the population. Methods: An experimental study was performed on Sprague–Dawley rats to explore the effects of both nicotine and tramadol on the liver and testes. The tramadol was administered at 10 and 20 mg/kg, respectively, while the nicotine was administered at 125 mg/kg. Histological examination and androgen receptor ELISA assay showed mild effects on the liver and proofed safety on the testis. Western blot analysis of BIP (immunoglobulin heavy-chain binding protein) and CHOP (CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein) revealed that fewer problems were induced by adding nicotine to tramadol. Autophagy marker LCIII and apoptosis marker caspase-8 showed similar effects to CHOP and BIP on liver samples. The real-time PCR of BIP expression showed similar but not identical results. Conclusions: The results showed mild endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy, and apoptosis in the liver samples. Histological examination revealed stable spermatogenesis with average androgen receptor blood levels in the different groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis: Higher maternal BMI during pregnancy is associated with higher offspring birthweight, but it is not known whether this is solely the result of adverse metabolic consequences of higher maternal adiposity, such as maternal insulin resistance and fetal exposure to higher glucose levels, or whether there is any effect of raised adiposity through non-metabolic (e.g. mechanical) factors. We aimed to use genetic variants known to predispose to higher adiposity, coupled with a favourable metabolic profile, in a Mendelian randomisation (MR) study comparing the effect of maternal 'metabolically favourable adiposity' on offspring birthweight with the effect of maternal general adiposity (as indexed by BMI). Methods: To test the causal effects of maternal metabolically favourable adiposity or general adiposity on offspring birthweight, we performed two-sample MR. We used variants identified in large, published genetic-association studies as being associated with either higher adiposity and a favourable metabolic profile, or higher BMI (n = 442,278 and n = 322,154 for metabolically favourable adiposity and BMI, respectively). We then extracted data on the metabolically favourable adiposity and BMI variants from a large, published genetic-association study of maternal genotype and offspring birthweight controlling for fetal genetic effects (n = 406,063 with maternal and/or fetal genotype effect estimates). We used several sensitivity analyses to test the reliability of the results. As secondary analyses, we used data from four cohorts (total n = 9323 mother–child pairs) to test the effects of maternal metabolically favourable adiposity or BMI on maternal gestational glucose, anthropometric components of birthweight and cord-blood biomarkers. Results: Higher maternal adiposity with a favourable metabolic profile was associated with lower offspring birthweight (−94 [95% CI −150, −38] g per 1 SD [6.5%] higher maternal metabolically favourable adiposity, p = 0.001). By contrast, higher maternal BMI was associated with higher offspring birthweight (35 [95% CI 16, 53] g per 1 SD [4 kg/m2] higher maternal BMI, p = 0.0002). Sensitivity analyses were broadly consistent with the main results. There was evidence of outlier SNPs for both exposures; their removal slightly strengthened the metabolically favourable adiposity estimate and made no difference to the BMI estimate. Our secondary analyses found evidence to suggest that a higher maternal metabolically favourable adiposity decreases pregnancy fasting glucose levels while a higher maternal BMI increases them. The effects on neonatal anthropometric traits were consistent with the overall effect on birthweight but the smaller sample sizes for these analyses meant that the effects were imprecisely estimated. We also found evidence to suggest that higher maternal metabolically favourable adiposity decreases cord-blood leptin while higher maternal BMI increases it. Conclusions/interpretation: Our results show that higher adiposity in mothers does not necessarily lead to higher offspring birthweight. Higher maternal adiposity can lead to lower offspring birthweight if accompanied by a favourable metabolic profile. Data availability: The data for the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of BMI are available at https://portals.broadinstitute.org/collaboration/giant/index.php/GIANT%5fconsortium%5fdata%5ffiles. The data for the GWAS of body fat percentage are available at https://walker05.u.hpc.mssm.edu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article follows a study of a collection of baby clothes assumed to be of late seventeenth-century date to ascertain whether or not that assumption might be correct. The collection is unusual in containing caps, rare in themselves but also decorated with lace frills in the adult frelange style; a rare pair of sleeves with paned oversleeves; and christening and other items for wear by a swaddled infant which are more common in known collections but here, more unusually, trimmed with Flemish bobbin lace. The article discusses the items in terms of their relationships with each other, their construction, their fabrics and how they were worn. Comparisons with similar and related articles in other collections and in seventeenth-century portraits of adults and children enable the author to conclude that the articles probably do date from the late seventeenth century but from slightly different decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of aquaporins (AQPs) in the transport of water and solutes through cell membranes is well recognized despite being relatively new. To date, despite their abundance, diversity, and presence in disparate environments, amphipods have only been mentioned in studies about the AQPs of other animals and have never been further investigated. In this work, we aimed to recover from public data available AQPs of these crustaceans and reconstruct phylogenetic affinities. We first performed BLAST searches with several queries of diverse taxa against different NCBI databases. Then, we selected the clades of AQPs retrieving the amphipod superfamily Gammaroidea as monophyletic and ran phylogenetic analyses to assess their performances. Our results show how most of the AQPs of amphipods are similar to those of other crustaceans, despite the Prip-like displayed different paralogs, and report for the first time a putative Aqp8-like for arthropods. We also found that the candidate genes of Prip-like, Bib-like, Aqp12-like, and Glp-like help solve deeper relationships in phylogenies of amphipods while leaving uncertainties in shallower parts. With our findings, we hope to increase attention to the study of amphipods as models for AQP functioning and evolution.

Background and Purpose: Intragastric balloons are used as a treatment for obesity. Much of the data collected on balloons had been in the context of clinical trials in academic medical centers or as a bridge to bariatric surgery in obesity centers. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of balloon treatment in private practice. Study Design: This is an interventional study. Subjects: The study included 1600 patients. Place: The study was conducted at the ElKatib Hospital. Method: This was a retrospective analysis of 6-month weight loss data and balloon-related complications of patients referred to a private center for obesity treatment. Assessment: The assessment was carried out by obtaining full patients' history (personal history, present illness, and previous drug history and operations). Laboratory work was done in the form of CBC, blood sugar, and viral markers. Bioenterics Intragastric Balloon (BIB) silicone balloon was used, filled with saline plus methylene blue dye with a volume ranging from 400 to 700 ml. The gained measures were analyzed by using SPSS program, and paired t test and chi-square test were used to compare between groups. Results: A total of 1600 patients were included (368 male (23%) and 1232 female (77%)) with mean age 34.1 ± 10.354, mean body weight 112.45 ± 26.24, and mean body mass index (BMI) 40.32 ± 8.17. There were 46 patients younger than 18 years and 12 patients older than 60 years. There were 109 patients with a BMI ranging from 25 to < 35 and 737 patients with a BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2. A total of 1567 patients who attended weight consultation had a mean weight loss 17.35 ± 11.07 from intragastric balloon implantation. Thirty-three patients from the total sample were not weighted after the removal of the balloon (dropped out). Percentage excess weight loss (% EWL) = 100% × (baseline absolute weight (AW)−last weight)/(baseline AW−initial body weight (IBW)) was found, and weight loss of more than 10% was considered significant. About 49.3% of patients showed significant weight loss > 10%, 24.7% of patients showed weight loss > 20%, while 26% of patients showed no significant weight loss < 10%. Conclusion: Intragastric balloons on their own, with an intensive lifestyle program and supportive consultations, resulted in safe and short-term substantial weight loss, and may fill the therapeutic gap between pharmacotherapy and surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the effectiveness, tolerability and safety of Bioenteric Intragastric Balloon (BIB) for treatment of obesity in Iranian population. 52 patients (46 female (88.5%), mean age: 35.5 ±10, mean body weight: 107.6±25.4 kg) referred to two major training hospitals in Tehran, Iran, after evaluation by a multidisciplinary team, underwent endoscopic BIB placement under unconscious sedation. BIB was removed after 6 months and patients were discharged with drug therapy and 1000 kcal diet. Weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) were assessed at baseline, 6 months and 1 year after BIB insertion. The mean weight and BMI at baseline were 107.6±25.4 kg and 39.4±7.9 kg/m2; 6 months after balloon placement, they were 88.7±21.9 kg and 32.5±7.4 kg and 6 months after balloon removal, they were 93.4±21.9kg and 34.85±8.2 kg/m2 respectively. The weight decline was statistically significant throughout the study and follow up with p value

Background: The BioEnterics Intragastric Balloon [BIB] is a reliable, non-invasive technique to manage obesity for subjects who refuse or are unsuitable for bariatric surgery. In a prior study, BIB placed in the antrum [A] was found to have significantly better results on weight loss in relation to that in fundus [F], but many balloons initially placed in the F were eventually found in the A. The aim of the present analysis was to evaluate whether the balloon position [firmly in F, firmly in A, or transient from F to A [FA]] influences the 3- and 6-month weight loss.Material: Six hundred sixty-eight patients that underwent successful BIB treatment were assigned into three groups: group F [n = 354], group A [n = 159], and group AF [n = 155]. Weight loss parameters were recorded and analyzed at 3 and 6 months.Results: In all three groups, there was a significant, progressive reduction of BMI at 3 and 6 months. At 6 months, BMI reduction between groups F and A, and F and FA [p = 0.001] and groups A and FA [p = 0.018] was prominent.Conclusion: The position of the BIB affects its effectiveness: better results when antrum is involved. This observation seems to give a great perspective to newly established gastric space-occupying devices, which aim to have a compartment constantly present in the antrum. However, further studies have to be performed in order to validate the results and more importantly to clarify the mechanisms implied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the effectiveness, tolerability and safety of Bioenteric Intragastric Balloon (BIB) for treatment of obesity in Iranian population. 52 patients (46 female (88.5%), mean age: 35.5 ±10, mean body weight: 107.6±25.4 kg) referred to two major training hospitals in Tehran, Iran, after evaluation by a multidisciplinary team, underwent endoscopic BIB placement under unconscious sedation. BIB was removed after 6 months and patients were discharged with drug therapy and 1000 kcal diet. Weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) were assessed at baseline, 6 months and 1 year after BIB insertion. The mean weight and BMI at baseline were 107.6±25.4 kg and 39.4±7.9 kg/m2; 6 months after balloon placement, they were 88.7±21.9 kg and 32.5±7.4 kg and 6 months after balloon removal, they were 93.4±21.9kg and 34.85±8.2 kg/m2 respectively. The weight decline was statistically significant throughout the study and follow up with p value <0.001. The most frequent side effects were nausea and vomiting which were resolved in the majority of cases by one week. No major complications, such as death, gastric obstruction, gastric or esophageal perforation, or balloon displacement occurred in our study. BIB is a safe, effective and well-tolerated treatment of obesity, but its effects are temporary, so it should be accompanied and followed by other methods to achieve sustained weight reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Architectonics & Architecture / Építés - Építészettudomány is the property of Akademiai Kiado 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.)

Background: Sirtuins (SIRTs), ubiquitous deacetylases, are main regulators of energy homeostasis and metabolism. SIRT1 has a positive impact on obesity, diabetes mellitus, liver steatosis, and other metabolic disorders. Lean subjects have higher expression of SIRT1 in the adipose tissue compared to obese. However, it is not known whether weight loss associates with changes in blood SIRT1. We evaluated the effect of weight loss on circulating SIRT1, metabolic parameters, and body composition. Methods: Thirty-two obese subjects were studied before and 6 months after BioEnterics® Intragastric Balloon (BIB®) [22 patients, BMI 41.82 ± 6.28 kg/m] or hypocaloric diet [10 patients, BMI 38.95 ± 6.90 kg/m]. Plasma SIRT1, body composition, measures of metabolic syndrome (waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose, blood pressure, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides), and inflammation markers (ESR, CRP, fibrinogen) were recorded. Results: SIRT1 levels showed a significant increase, together with a significant reduction of BMI, excess body weight, and total fat mass either after BIB or diet intervention. The percent excess body weight loss was 33.73 ± 19.06 and 22.08 ± 11.62 % after BIB and diet, respectively, a trend toward a metabolic and inflammatory amelioration was observed with both treatments. Negative correlation between SIRT1 and % fat mass (BIB, ρ = −0.537, p = 0.017; diet, ρ = −0.638, p = 0.047) was also seen. Conclusions: The reduction of fat mass associates with increased plasma SIRT1 indicating that, besides tissue levels, circulating SIRT1 is stimulated by a negative caloric balance. The rise of plasma SIRT1 may represent a parameter associating with fat loss rather than weight lowering regardless of the weight reduction system method used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity is a major risk factor for several chronic diseases. The BioEnterics Intragastric Balloon (BIB) is used worldwide as a short-term (6 months) treatment in morbid obese patients. However, removal of BIB past 6 months is a common occurrence in clinical practice often as a result of patient factors. The aim of the present Italian multicentre cohort study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the BIB left in situ for more than 6 months. Materials and methods: A total of eight Italian centres participated in the study. Participating centres received a standardised questionnaire designed to capture safety and efficacy data. Weight loss data, as well as date, and reason for removal of the BIB after 6 months were recorded. Adverse events, including mortality and complications, operators' subjective technical notes and findings, and difficulties during removal procedure were also collected. Results: Six hundred and eleven patients were included. In the majority of cases, patient extended BIB treatment due to satisfactory weight loss (44 %). At 6 months, all patients achieved a BMI statistically lower than the initial BMI ( p < 0.001). There was a non-significant trend towards greater BMIL % in patients who underwent removal up to 15 months versus the results achieved up to 6 months. No major complications were recorded. Conclusion: Extending the duration of BIB use up to 14 months safely maintains weight loss and satiety with greater results than that up to 6 months, without complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archives of Cardiovascular Diseases is the property of Elsevier B.V. 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.)

Currently, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery of the breast should be considered in terms of contouring, and hence in terms of dimensions. Based on experience performing more than 5,000 breast augmentations with highly cohesive anatomic implants, the authors explore the aesthetic anatomy of the (augmented) breast and explain the importance of the breast implantation base (BIB), the aesthetic proportions of the lower breast pole, and the patient's somatotype in the implant selection for a natural-appearing breast augmentation. A method is described for transferring all these concepts and proportions to the preoperative marking of the individual patient. Level of Evidence V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Morbid obesity is an increasing health problem. Dietary intervention often fails in the medium to long term, and surgery is the gold standard. Intragastric balloon is a valuable treatment in the short–term, and multiple balloon treatment has been shown to be effective in the medium term. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of multiple balloon treatment in the long-term (6 years) in terms of weight loss, influence on co-morbidities, and quality of life in patients refusing surgery. Methods: Eighty-three patients with body mass index (BMI)>40, good candidates for surgery but refusing it, were enrolled in a clinical treatment protocol involving multiple intragastric balloon placement. After removing the first balloon, a second balloon was placed when the patients had regained≥50% of the weight loss achieved with previous balloon. Weight, co-morbidities parameters, and quality of life test were recorded during a follow-up of 72 months. Results: All patients experienced a second balloon placement; 22.2% had a third device placed and 1 patient had a fourth device placed. At 76 months follow-up, mean BMI was 37.6 kg/m2 (P<.001); weight cycling periods were observed. Significant difference was recorded in the presence of co-morbidities at baseline (80% of the patients) and follow-up (30%) (P = .02). Quality of life test in the follow-up indicated better scores than those at baseline (P<. .001). Conclusion: Despite the weight cycling, in patients refusing surgery, multiple intragastric balloon is the recommended treatment, allowing the patients to achieve a good weight loss, better control of co-morbidities, and better quality of life than at baseline. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Intragastric balloon (BioEnterics Intragastric Balloon, BIB®) or pharmacotherapy are possible options for the treatment of obese patients when traditional approaches have failed. The aim of our study was to compare in obese patients the effect on weight loss and metabolic changes of lifestyle modifications associated with either BIB or pharmacotherapy or the two treatments in sequence as a maintenance strategy for weight loss. Methods: Fifty obese patients were recruited and randomly assigned to lifestyle modifications combined with either BIB for 6 months ( n = 30) or sibutramine (pharmacotherapy group) for 1 year ( n = 20). After BIB removal, patients were randomly assigned to either correct lifestyle (BIB/lifestyle) or lifestyle plus pharmacotherapy (BIB/pharmacotherapy). Results: At 6 months, patients treated with BIB lost significantly ( P < 0.05) more weight (percent of initial weight lost, %IWL = 14.5 ± 1.2; percent of excess BMI lost, %EBL = 37.7 ± 3.2) than patients who received pharmacological treatment (%IWL = 9.1 ± 1.5, %EBL = 25.3 ± 4.1). At 1 year, the weight lost was significantly ( P < 0.05) greater in patients treated with either BIB/pharmacotherapy (%IWL = 15.8 ± 2.3%, %EBL = 41.3 ± 6.7%) or BIB/lifestyle (%IWL = 14.3 ± 2.7, %EBL = 34.9 ± 6.5%) in respect to pharmacotherapy group (%IWL = 8.0 ± 1.4%, %EBL = 22.1 ± 3.9%). Moreover, patients treated sequentially with BIB/lifestyle or BIB/pharmacotherapy showed a significant ( P < 0.05) improvement in insulin sensitivity and triglycerides levels. Conclusions: BIB represents an efficacious long-term obesity treatment when supplemental strategies, as lifestyle modifications or pharmacotherapy, are established for weight maintenance after its removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Different anesthesiological techniques are currently used for intragastric balloon positioning and removal. The aim of this study is to compare different anesthesiological approaches for balloon positioning and removal in a large multicentric patient population. Methods: Retrospective multicenter study was conducted. From May 2000 to April 2008, 3,824 patients underwent BIB placement [1,022 male/2,802 female; mean age 39.5 ± 14.7 years, range 12-71 years; mean body mass index (BMI) 44.8 ± 9.7 kg/m, range 28.0-79.1 kg/m; excess weight (EW) 59.1 ± 29.8 kg, range 16-210 kg; %EW 89.3 ± 31.7, range 21.4-262]. Patients were allocated to three groups according to anesthesiological technique used: conscious sedation (group A), deep sedation (group B), and general anesthesia (group C). Intragastric balloon was placed after diagnostic endoscopy and removed after 6 months. Both positioning and removal were done under different protocols. Conscious sedation was obtained with topical lidocaine spray, adding diazepam (0.05-0.1 mg/kg iv) or midazolam (0.03-0.05 mg/kg iv). Deep sedation was obtained with propofol alone or adding other drugs such as midazolam, meperidine/fentanyl or meperidine/fentanyl + midazolam. General anesthesia was obtained with midazolam premedication (0.01-0.02 mg/kg iv) followed by induction with propofol (1-1.5 mg/kg iv) + Norcuron (80 mcg/kg iv) + fentanyl (0.5-1 mcg/kg iv), and maintenance with propofol (50-150 μg/kg/min) or sevorane. Oxygen saturation, hemodynamic stability, major anesthesiological complications and related mortality, patient satisfaction, time to return to autonomous walking, duration of procedure, and hospital stay were considered. Results: Sedation-related mortality was absent. A significant number of patients with bronchoinhalation during balloon removal was observed with general anesthesia ( P < 0.001). Conclusions: BIB positioning and removal should be performed under conscious sedation for patient safety and comfort, and technical success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Collegium Antropologicum is the property of Croatian Anthropological Society 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.)

Background: The intragastric balloon is a widely used method in the treatment of obesity indicated for those patients who have failed to achieve and maintain the weight loss with conventional measures or for preparation of patients who are candidates for bariatric surgery. Methods: From April 2007 to April 2009, 171 consecutive patients (111 females, 60 males; mean age 39.2 ± 10.5, mean weight 123.2 ± 27.1 kg) were evaluated before and 6 months after bioenteric intragastric balloon (BIB) placement by assessment of anthropometric and biochemical parameters. Results: The mean BMI during balloon treatment declined from 41.9 ± 7.3 to 36.0 ± 7.9 kg/m ( p < 0.001) with a percentage of excess weight loss of 39.7 ± 23.6 and percentage of excess body mass index loss of 39.5 ± 25.1. A significant improvement in blood pressure, glycemia, and triglyceride level but not in total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels was seen. Conclusion: Results of this large prospective single center study confirmed that intragastric balloon is useful and safe method for promoting weight loss. Due to improvement of metabolic parameters, treatment with BIB results in reduction of cardiovascular risk and provides a sustained benefit on liver function in obese patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Biociências is the property of EDIPUCRS - Editora Universitaria da PUCRS 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.)

Abstract: Current available techniques for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of tooth–biomaterial interfaces are mostly ineffective for brittle phases and impair integrated chemical and morphological characterization. Objectives: The aims of this study were (1) to determine the applicability of new focused ion beam (FIB) and broad ion beam (BIB) techniques for TEM preparation of tooth–biomaterial interfaces; (2) to characterize the interfacial interaction with enamel and dentin of a conventional glass-ionomer (Chemfil Superior, DeTrey Dentsply, Germany), a 2-step self-etch (Clearfil SE, Kuraray, Japan) and a 3-step etch-and-rinse (OptiBond FL, Kerr, USA) adhesives; and (3) to characterize clinically relevant interfaces obtained from actual Class-I cavities. Methods: After bonding to freshly extracted human third molars, non-demineralized and non-stained sections were obtained using the FIB/BIB techniques and examined under TEM. Results: The main structures generally disclosed in conventional ultramicrotomy samples were recognized in FIB/BIB-based ones. There were not any major differences between FIB and BIB concerning the resulting ultrastructural morphology. FIB/BIB-sections enabled to clearly resolve sub-micron hydroxyapatite crystals on top of hard tissues and the interface between matrix and filler in all materials, even at nano-scale. Some investigated interfaces disclosed areas with a distinct “fog” or “melted look”, which is probably an artifact due to surface damage caused by the high-energy beam. Interfaces with enamel clearly disclosed the distinct “keyhole” shape of enamel rods sectioned at 90°, delimited by a thin electron-lucent layer of inter-rod enamel. At regions where enamel crystals ran parallel with the interface, we observed a lack of interaction and some de-bonding along with interfacial void formation. Significance: The FIB/BIB methods are viable and reliable alternatives to conventional ultramicrotomy for preparation of thin sections of brittle and thus difficult to cut biomaterial–hard tissue interfaces. They disclose additional ultrastructural information about both substrates and are more suitable for advanced analytic procedures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the Australian painted dragon lizard ( Ctenophorus pictus), males occur in two different morphs with respect to gular color, with or without a yellow bib. Males without a bib lost within-clutch paternity significantly more often to rivals than bibbed males. Thus, it appears that bibs identify some phenotypic advantage linked to competitive ability. To test whether this could be related to whole-organism capacity to withstand an increased workload (due to better health and vigor, or evolved differences in self-maintenance), we implanted males with a lead pellet (loaded), Styrofoam pellet (controls), or sham-operated males without implants (shams), and compared male categories with respect to how they maintained body mass during the mating season. Somewhat unexpectedly, bibbed males consistently lost more body weight across all treatments and controls, although we could not verify that this translated into higher mortality in this short-lived animal (about 80% survive for one year only). However, bibbed males may invest more into “mating success” than nonbibbed males, which agrees with our experimental results and paternity data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of aquaporins (AQPs) in the transport of water and solutes through cell membranes is well recognized despite being relatively new. To date, despite their abundance, diversity, and presence in disparate environments, amphipods have only been mentioned in studies about the AQPs of other animals and have never been further investigated. In this work, we aimed to recover from public data available AQPs of these crustaceans and reconstruct phylogenetic affinities. We first performed BLAST searches with several queries of diverse taxa against different NCBI databases. Then, we selected the clades of AQPs retrieving the amphipod superfamily Gammaroidea as monophyletic and ran phylogenetic analyses to assess their performances. Our results show how most of the AQPs of amphipods are similar to those of other crustaceans, despite the Prip-like displayed different paralogs, and report for the first time a putative Aqp8-like for arthropods. We also found that the candidate genes of Prip-like, Bib-like, Aqp12-like, and Glp-like help solve deeper relationships in phylogenies of amphipods while leaving uncertainties in shallower parts. With our findings, we hope to increase attention to the study of amphipods as models for AQP functioning and evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Drosophila big brain (bib) encodes for a protein similar to members of the major intrinsic protein family, which includes the water- and ion-conducting aquaporin (AQP) channels. In mammals, AQP dysregulation has been implicated in a variety of diseases, including colorectal cancer and colonic injury. However, the regulatory mechanisms of AQP expression remain to be clearly elucidated. In this study, as we found a DREF binding site (DRE) in the 5′-flanking regions of both the Drosophila bib gene and the human AQP1 gene, we assessed the role of DREF in bib gene expression. DREF in Drosophila and humans has been demonstrated to function as a key transcriptional activator for cell proliferation-related genes. Herein, we demonstrate that the DRE is required for optimal promoter activity of Drosophila bib gene, particularly in the larval imaginal discs, which are actively proliferating tissues, as well as the adult hindgut. Our results may provide insight into the mechanisms inherent to the regulation of mammalian AQP genes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: GaAs blocked-impurity-band (BIB) photoconductor detectors have the potential to become the most sensitive, low noise detectors in the far-infrared below 45.5cm−1 (⩾220μm). We have studied the characteristics of liquid phase epitaxial GaAs films relevant to BIB detector production, including impurity band formation and the infrared absorption of the active section of the device. Knowledge of the far-infrared absorption spectrum as a function of donor concentration combined with variable temperature Hall effect and resistivity studies leads us to conclude that the optimal concentration for the absorbing layer of a GaAs BIB detector lies between 1×1015 and 6.7×1015 cm−3. At these concentrations there is significant wave function overlap which in turn leads to absorption beyond the 1s ground to 2p bound excited state transition of 35.5cm−1 (282μm). There still remains a gap between the upper edge of the donor band and the bottom of the conduction band, a necessity for proper BIB detector operation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Apresenta modelo de biblioteca jurídica que sugere a potencialização do sistema de informações, sem a necessidade de aumento físico considerável do acervo interno. Sua estrutura, apoiada na conexão com bancos e bases de dados, redes eletrônicas de comunicação e bibliotecas informatizadas situadas interna e externamente, permitirá acesso a um conjunto de fontes e acervos muito mais amplo e diversificado do que aquele que existe internamente na forma tradicional vindo completar esta estrutura.

Quantitative samples of the demersal fish fauna of the Oosterschelde were taken between May 1988 and July 1989. The instantaneous mortality rates of the 1988 year classes of whiting (Merlangius merlangus L.), sand goby (Pomatoschistus minutus Pallas) and bib (Trisopterus luscus L.) were estimated at 0.017 d−1, 0.014 d−1and 0.018 d−1, respectively. These three species were examined for the presence of mesoparasitic pennellid copepods. Combination of host population densities and parasite infection intensities allowed for estimation of parasite population densities. Whiting were infected with Lernaeocera branchialis shortly after their arrival (April–May) in the Oosterschelde. By the end of the year approximately 80% of the first year class whiting were infected. Spawning sand gobies were infected with Lernaeocera lusci in May and June. Though the prevalence of L. lusci on juvenile sand gobies in autumn was low, the parasite population density in this period was high. First year class bib were mainly infected by L. lusci after their transition from a pelagic to a demersal behaviour in August. It is suggested that L. branchialis has one generation each year, whereas L. lusci has two. A biological model of the life cycle of both parasite species is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]