Environmental stressor assessment of hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria biofilms from a marine oil spill.

The environmental and economic impact of an oil spill can be significant. Biotechnologies applied during a marine oil spill involve bioaugmentation with immobilised or encapsulated indigenous hydrocarbonoclastic species selected under laboratory conditions to improve degradation rates. The environmental factors that act as stressors and impact the effectiveness of hydrocarbon removal are one of the challenges associated with these applications. Understanding how native microbes react to environmental stresses is necessary for effective bioaugmentation. Herein, Micrococcus luteus and M. yunnanensis isolated from a marine oil spill mooring system showed hydrocarbonoclastic activity on Maya crude oil in a short time by means of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) at 144 h: M. luteus up to 98.79 % and M. yunnanensis 97.77 % removal. The assessment of Micrococcus biofilms at different temperature (30 °C and 50 °C), pH (5, 6, 7, 8, 9), salinity (30, 50, 60, 70, 80 g/L), and crude oil concentration (1, 5, 15, 25, 35 %) showed different response to the stressors depending on the strain. According to response surface analysis, the main effect was temperature > salinity > hydrocarbon concentration. The hydrocarbonoclastic biofilm architecture was characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Subtle but significant differences were observed: pili in M. luteus by SEM and the topographical differences measured by AFM Power Spectral Density (PSD) analysis, roughness was higher in M. luteus than in M. yunnanensis. In all three domains of life, the Universal Stress Protein (Usp) is crucial for stress adaptation. Herein, the uspA gene expression was analysed in Micrococcus biofilm under environmental stressors. The uspA expression increased up to 2.5-fold in M. luteus biofilms at 30 °C, and 1.3-fold at 50 °C. The highest uspA expression was recorded in M. yunnanensis biofilms at 50 °C with 2.5 and 3-fold with salinities of 50, 60, and 80 g/L at hydrocarbon concentrations of 15, 25, and 35 %. M. yunnanensis biofilms showed greater resilience than M. luteus biofilms when exposed to harsh environmental stressors. M. yunnanensis biofilms were thicker than M. luteus biofilms. Both biofilm responses to environmental stressors through uspA gene expression were consistent with the behaviours observed in the response surface analyses. The uspA gene is a suitable biomarker for assessing environmental stressors of potential microorganisms for bioremediation of marine oil spills and for biosensing the ecophysiological status of native microbiota in a marine petroleum environment.

Trypanosoma cruzi heparin-binding proteins present a flagellar membrane localization and serine proteinase activity.

Heparin-binding proteins (HBPs) play a key role in Trypanosoma cruzi-host cell interactions. HBPs recognize heparan sulfate (HS) at the host cell surface and are able to induce the cytoadherence and invasion of this parasite. Herein, we analysed the biochemical properties of the HBPs and also evaluated the expression and subcellular localization of HBPs in T. cruzi trypomastigotes. A flow cytometry analysis revealed that HBPs are highly expressed at the surface of trypomastigotes, and their peculiar localization mainly at the flagellar membrane, which is known as an important signalling domain, may enhance their binding to HS and elicit the parasite invasion. The plasmon surface resonance results demonstrated the stability of HBPs and their affinity to HS and heparin. Additionally, gelatinolytic activities of 70 kDa, 65·8 kDa and 59 kDa HBPs over a broad pH range (5·5-8·0) were revealed using a zymography assay. These proteolytic activities were sensitive to serine proteinase inhibitors, such as aprotinin and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, suggesting that HBPs have the properties of trypsin-like proteinases.

Nest and nest-site reuse within and between breeding seasons by three neotropical flycatchers (Tyrannidae).

Nest and or nest site reuse within and between breeding seasons was reported by the Euler's Flycatcher (Lathrotriccus euleri), the Sepia-capped Flycatcher (Leptopogon amaurocephalus) and the Gray-hooded Flycatcher (Mionectes -rufiventris) in forest fragments from southeastern Brazil. Nest and or nest site reuse between some years was frequent within a single breeding season by the Sepia-capped Flycatcher. Nest reuse, however, was not related to nesting success in the previous breeding attempt. Nest turnover rates (movement to a new site between years) were low for L. amaurocephalus, intermediate for L. euleri and high for M. rufiventris.

Nest and nest-site reuse within and between breeding seasons by three neotropical flycatchers (Tyrannidae)

Nest and or nest site reuse within and between breeding seasons was reported by the Euler's Flycatcher (Lathrotriccus euleri), the Sepia-capped Flycatcher (Leptopogon amaurocephalus) and the Gray-hooded Flycatcher (Mionectes -rufiventris) in forest fragments from southeastern Brazil. Nest and or nest site reuse between some years was frequent within a single breeding season by the Sepia-capped Flycatcher. Nest reuse, however, was not related to nesting success in the previous breeding attempt. Nest turnover rates (movement to a new site between years) were low for L. amaurocephalus, intermediate for L. euleri and high for M. rufiventris.

Foram registrados vários eventos de reutilização de ninho ou do sítio de nidificação dentro e entre estações reprodutivas por Lathrotriccus euleri, Leptopogon amaurocephalus e Mionectes rufiventris em fragmentos de floresta do sudeste do Brasil. A reutilização do ninho ou do sítio de nidificação ocorreu entre estes tiranídeos e foi freqüente dentro de uma única estação reprodutiva para L. amaurocephalus. A reutilização do ninho, contudo, não foi relacionada ao sucesso das tentativas anteriores. As taxas de retorno ao ninho foram baixas para L. amaurocephalus, intermediárias para L. euleri e altas para M. rufiventris.

The differential effect of haloperidol and repetitive induction on four immobility responses in mouse and guinea pig.

The modification by haloperidol and repetitive induction on four immobility responses -- tonic immobility, cataleptic immobility, immobility by clamping the neck and dorsal immobility -- were compared in mice and guinea pigs. Without drug, three out of four responses (cataleptic, neck clamp and dorsal immobility) were induced in mice; guinea pigs displayed all four responses. Haloperidol (5 mg/kg i.p.) potentiated the three responses shown by mice, but did not potentiate the four responses in guinea pigs. In both undrugged and haloperidol-treated mice, only the cataleptic immobility response was potentiated by repetition. In guinea pigs, none of the four immobility responses was affected due to repetition, haloperidol or a combination of both. These data are discussed, considering that, although these immobility responses could be mediated by the same neurotransmitters (e.g. dopamine), they are possibly expressed in a differential manner as a function of the kind of stimulus used to trigger the response, characteristics of the species and, in some immobility responses such as cataleptic immobility, as a function of their interaction with habituation or another learning-like process.

Estado de avance de la descentralización en seis silais y propuestas para su implementación / Current of advance of the descentralitation in six SILAIS and proposals for their implementation

Presenta proyecto de PROSILAIS en los SILAIS de Chinandega, Estelí, León, Madríz, Nueva Segovia y la RAAS. Es un proyecto que se desarolla desde el año 1992, dirigido a la atención primaria de salud y ejecutado por los SILAIS y municipios en el primer nivel de atención , aborda en forma integral los problemas de salud del nivel local. Este estudio incluye un plan y medidas a implementar para la descentralización del PROSILAIS a partir de una evaluación previa del proceso de descentralización del MINSA y de la capacidad de los SILAIS y Municipios de Salud para asumir las responsabilidades que implica la descentralización

[A new species of Euphyllia (Scleractinia: Caryophylliidae) in the limestones of Barra Honda, Costa Rica]. / Una especie nueva de Euphyllia (Scleractinia: Caryophylliidae) en las calizas de Barra Honda (Paleógeno), Costa Rica.

A new species of scleractinian coral is described: Euphyllia donatoi. This is the first report of this genus from Central America. The outcrop is located on the north-west of Costa Rica. It consists of large colonies (1.2 m high by 0.5 m in diameter), from a patch reef which had a dendroid habit. They are part of a very distintive facies in a micritic limestones of the Barra Honda Formation (Paleogene). The finding is important because these are the only macrofossils found in Barra Honda Formation. The growth took place under unstable ecological conditions resulting in a low diversity autocthonous community. It probably developed in very shallow water with a high sedimentation rate.

Memoria tecnica firma constitutiva iniciativa Managua Municipio Saludables Managua, 27 de marzo de 1998 / Memory technical signature record constituent initiative Managua municipality healthy Managua 27 of March of 1998

En esta memoria se presenta brevemente la evoluación del movimiento de la salud de Managua, Nicaragua desde 1995, haciendo el mayor Únfasis en el evento de lanzamiento oficial del mismo el 27 de marzo de 1998. Presenta el momento de la firma del acta constitutiva por diferentes autoridades involucradas en el proyecto de ciudades saludable, este es financiado por el Gobierno de Holanda y ejecutado por la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Se dividio en dos etapas: La primera que es la sensibilización y concientización de las organismos participantes cuya función principal es la promoción, facilitación y conducción del proceso que lleve a Managua a ser un Municipio Saluble. La segunda etapa comprende la organización, tiene como principales tareas alcanzar la aprobación y compromiso de la AlcadÝa de Managua, la oficilización y la propuesta en funcionamiento del equipo local, la preparación de un Plan municipal de salud y la gestión financiera de los proyectos prioritarios. El progreso alcanzado en esta etapa fue la consolidación del Equipo Local, la incorporación oficial de la AlcaldÝa de Managua en el Equipo Local, la creación de la oficina de la IMMS. Fue realizado un diagnóstico de 6 aspectos de salud y ambiente de Managua, sobre el manejo y disposición final de los desechos sólidos, cobertura y calidad de los servicios agua y alcantarillado, contaminación ambiental creciente, ordenamiento urbano y territorial, legislación insuficiente, baja disponibilidad de recursos, los aspectos sociales pobreza, desempleo, desnutrición, violencia y otros y por último el bajo nivel de conciencia y educación sanitaria y ambiental

Studies in vivo on the methionine-sparing effect of cysteine in rats.

This investigation was conducted to clarify the role of cysteine on its methionine-sparing effect by studying in vivo the various parameters that are directly related to the metabolism of the methionine carbon, such as conversion to CO2, and incorporation of the methionine carbon into proteins, phospholipids and nucleic acids. At low (0.4%) dietary level of methionine, cysteine had a depressive effect on the oxidation of the methionine carbon to carbon dioxide, and with 0.51% cysteine in the diet the oxidation of the methyl or carboxyl carbon of methionine to CO2 was depressed by 29 and 20%, respectively. The amount of the label in urine samples was unaltered by the level of cysteine in the diet, and the body retention of either the methyl or carboxyl carbon of methionine was greater at low methionine intake when cysteine in the diet was increased. Under these conditions, rat growth was enhanced by feeding increasing amounts of cysteine. The incorporation of methionine methyl carbon into tissue nucleic acids and phospholipids was depressed by high (0.51%) levels of cysteine in the diet, at a low (0.4%) methionine intake. Under these conditions there was an increased incorporation of the methionine methyl or carboxyl carbon into tissue proteins. In addition, it appears that the resynthesis of methionine from homocysteine is enhanced by increasing the amounts of cysteine in the diet. All of these findings suggest that the addition of cysteine increases the avilability of methionine for protein synthesis and, hence, growth.