Preventing Establishment: An Inventory of Introduced Plants in Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island, Galapagos

As part of an island-wide project to identify and eradicate potentially invasive plant species before they become established, a program of inventories is being carried out in the urban and agricultural zones of the four inhabited islands in Galapagos. This study reports the results of the inventory from Puerto Villamil, a coastal village representing the urban zone of Isabela Island. We visited all 1193 village properties to record the presence of the introduced plants. In addition, information was collected from half of the properties to determine evidence for potential invasiveness of the plant species. We recorded 261 vascular taxa, 13 of which were new records for Galapagos. Most of the species were intentionally grown (cultivated) (73.3%) and used principally as ornamentals. The most frequent taxa we encountered were Cocos nucifera (coconut tree) (22.1%) as a cultivated plant and Paspalum vaginatum (salt water couch) (13.2%) as a non cultivated plant. In addition 39 taxa were naturalized. On the basis of the invasiveness study, we recommend five species for eradication (Abutilon dianthum, Datura inoxia, Datura metel, Senna alata and Solanum capsicoides), one species for hybridization studies (Opuntia ficus-indica) and three species for control (Furcraea hexapetala, Leucaena leucocephala and Paspalum vaginatum)

Ouezdou, “Dynamic Simulation of a Humanoid Robot with Four DOFs Torso

Abstract-In this paper, we present the 3D dynamic simulation of walking gait of biped Robian I1 virtual manikin (25 kg weight, 1.10 m height). The biped has 16 degrees of freedom (dofs). Initially, a bio-mimetic approach is used t o model a humanoid biped having 25 dofs based on common European male (75 kg, 1.78 m). Using, human being motion recording, footjground contact model and inverse kinematics, a 3D dynamic simulation of this humanoid is carried out. Scale factorization is used in order t o reach Robian I1 weight and height. A 3D dynamic simulation of t h e Robian size humanoid gives t h e effort wrench exerted by t h e torso on t h e lower limbs. An analysis of t h e six components of this wrench shows t h e existence of two coupling relations. A study of four dofs mechanisms based on General State Equation (GSE) formalism leads us t o a n interesting result. Indeed, four dofs a r e necessary and sufficient t o emulate t h e dynamic effects. An R P P P mechanism is presented in order t o replace Robian upper part. Results of 3 D simulation of t h e 16 dofs resulting biped a r e presented. Z M P control algotithm is used t o ensure dynamic stability of t h e biped during walking gait

Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin from immune cells is mandatory for aldosterone-induced cardiac remodeling and inflammation

Immune system activation is involved in cardiovascular (CV) inflammation and fibrosis, following activation of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). We previously showed that Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) is a novel target of MR signaling in CV tissue and plays a critical role in aldosterone/MR-dependent hypertension and fibrosis. We hypothesized that the production of NGAL by immune cells may play an important part in the mediation of these deleterious mineralocorticoid-induced effects. We analyzed the effect of aldosterone on immune cell recruitment and NGAL expression in vivo. We then studied the role of NGAL produced by immune cells in aldosterone-mediated cardiac inflammation and remodeling using mice depleted for NGAL in their immune cells by bone marrow transplantation and subjected to mineralocorticoid challenge NAS (Nephrectomy, Aldosterone 200 μg/kg/day, Salt 1%). NAS treatment induced the recruitment of various immune cell populations to lymph nodes (granulocytes, B lymphocytes, activated CD8 + T lymphocytes) and the induction of NGAL expression in macrophages, dendritic cells, and PBMCs. Mice depleted for NGAL in their immune cells were protected against NAS-induced cardiac remodeling and inflammation. We conclude that NGAL produced by immune cells plays a pivotal role in cardiac damage under mineralocorticoid excess. Our data further stressed a pathogenic role of NGAL in cardiac damages, besides its relevance as a biomarker of renal injury. © 2017Universidad Autónoma de Chil