Designing a shipboard line transect survey to estimate cetacean abundance off the Azores archipelago

Management schemes dedicated to the conservation of wildlife populations rely on the effective monitoring of population size, and this may require the accurate and precise estimation of this parameter. Line transect distance sampling can be an effective approach for estimating abundance. Little information is available regarding cetacean abundance in the Azores. This paper had two aims: 1) to design a line transect shipboard survey to estimate the absolute abundance of the most common cetaceans off the Azores; and 2) to provide a set of potential survey effort scenarios to policy makers and environmental managers. Three survey scenarios are assessed, and one detailed survey design is presented. A total of 8,800 km of survey effort is recommended; at this level the expected coefficient of variation of estimates is less than 0.3 for most species. However, if logistic constraints prevent this, at least 5,000 km of survey effort should be used to achieve minimum sample size requirements; this is estimated to take 36 days of effort. It is also recommended to conduct a pilot survey. This would provide more detailed information that could be used to improve the survey design of what would be the first survey of this magnitude ever to be implemented in the Azores

In situ modification of nanostructure configuration through the manipulation of hydrogen bonded amphiphile self-association

Herein, we report the synthesis of a novel amphiphilic salt containing a number of hydrogen bond donating (HBD) and accepting (HBA) functionalities. This amphiphile has been shown to self-associate via hydrogen bond formation in a DMSO solution, confirmed through a combination of NMR, UV-Vis and dynamic light scattering and supported by X-ray diffraction studies. The combination of different HBD and HBA functionalities within the amphiphile structure gives rise to a variety of competitive, self-associative hydrogen bonding modes that result in the formation of ‘frustrated’ hydrogen bonded nanostructures. These nanostructures can be altered through the addition of competitive HBD arrays and/or HBA anionic guests. The addition of these competitive species modifies the type of self-associative hydrogen bonding modes present between the amphiphilic molecules, triggering the in situ formation of novel hydrogen bonded nanostructures

In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-Schistosomal Activity of the Alkylphospholipid Analog Edelfosine

BACKGROUND: Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by trematodes of the genus Schistosoma. Five species of Schistosoma are known to infect humans, out of which S. haematobium is the most prevalent, causing the chronic parasitic disease schistosomiasis that still represents a major problem of public health in many regions of the world and especially in tropical areas, leading to serious manifestations and mortality in developing countries. Since the 1970s, praziquantel (PZQ) is the drug of choice for the treatment of schistosomiasis, but concerns about relying on a single drug to treat millions of people, and the potential appearance of drug resistance, make identification of alternative schistosomiasis chemotherapies a high priority. Alkylphospholipid analogs (APLs), together with their prototypic molecule edelfosine (EDLF), are a family of synthetic antineoplastic compounds that show additional pharmacological actions, including antiparasitic activities against several protozoan parasites. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We found APLs ranked edelfosine> perifosine> erucylphosphocholine> miltefosine for their in vitro schistosomicidal activity against adult S. mansoni worms. Edelfosine accumulated mainly in the worm tegument, and led to tegumental alterations, membrane permeabilization, motility impairment, blockade of male-female pairing as well as induction of apoptosis-like processes in cells in the close vicinity to the tegument. Edelfosine oral treatment also showed in vivo schistosomicidal activity and decreased significantly the egg burden in the liver, a key event in schistosomiasis. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our data show that edelfosine is the most potent APL in killing S. mansoni adult worms in vitro. Edelfosine schistosomicidal activity seems to depend on its action on the tegumental structure, leading to tegumental damage, membrane permeabilization and apoptosis-like cell death. Oral administration of edelfosine diminished worm and egg burdens in S. mansoni-infected CD1 mice. Here we report that edelfosine showed promising antischistosomal properties in vitro and in vivo

Synthesis of bioconjugate sesterterpenoids with phospholipids and polyunsaturated fatty acids

A series of sesterterpenoid bioconjugates with phospholipids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been synthesized for biological activity testing as antiproliferative agents in several cancer cell lines. Different substitution analogues of the original lipidic ether edelfosine (1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine) are obtained varying the sesterterpenoid in position 1 or 2 of the glycerol or a phosphocholine or PUFA unit in position 3. Simple bioconjugates of sesterterpenoids and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) have been obtained too. All synthetic derivatives were tested against the human tumour cell lines HeLa (cervix) and MCF-7 (breast). Some compounds showed good IC50 (0.3 and 0.2 μM) values against these cell lines.This work was supported by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (SAF2011-30518 and SAF2014-59716-R). Junta de Castilla y León BIO/SA59/15.Peer reviewe

Inhibition of granulomatous inflammation and prophylactic treatment of schistosomiasis with a combination of edelfosine and Praziquantel

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.[Background]: Schistosomiasis is the third most devastating tropical disease worldwide caused by blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma. This parasitic disease is due to immunologic reactions to Schistosoma eggs trapped in tissues. Egg-released antigens stimulate tissue-destructive inflammatory and granulomatous reactions, involving different immune cell populations, including T cells and granulocytes. Granulomas lead to collagen fibers deposition and fibrosis, resulting in organ damage. Praziquantel (PZQ) is the drug of choice for treating all species of schistosomes. However, PZQ kills only adult Schistosoma worms, not immature stages. The inability of PZQ to abort early infection or prevent re-infection, and the lack of prophylactic effect prompt the need for novel drugs and strategies for the prevention of schistosomiasis. [Methodology/Principal Findings]: Using in vitro and in vivo approaches, we have found that the alkylphospholipid analog edelfosine kills schistosomula, and displays anti-inflammatory activity. The combined treatment of PZQ and edelfosine during a few days before and after cercariae infection in a schistosomiasis mouse model, simulating a prophylactic treatment, led to seven major effects: a) killing of Schistosoma parasites at early and late development stages; b) reduction of hepatomegaly; c) granuloma size reduction; d) down-regulation of Th1, Th2 and Th17 responses at late post-infection times, thus inhibiting granuloma formation; e) upregulation of IL-10 at early post-infection times, thus potentiating anti-inflammatory actions; f) down-regulation of IL-10 at late post-infection times, thus favoring resistance to re-infection; g) reduction in the number of blood granulocytes in late post-infection times as compared to infected untreated animals. [Conclusions/Significance]: Taken together, these data suggest that the combined treatment of PZQ and edelfosine promotes a high decrease in granuloma formation, as well as in the cellular immune response that underlies granuloma development, with changes in the cytokine patterns, and may provide a promising and effective strategy for a prophylactic treatment of schistosomiasis.This work was supported by grants from the Junta de Castilla y León (SA342U13, CSI052A11-2, and CSI221A12-2), Real Federación Española de Fútbol-Sociedad Española de Medicina Tropical y Salud Internacional (RFEF-SEMTSI 2013), Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (SAF2011-30518, SAF2014-59716-R, and RD12/0036/0065 from Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Cáncer, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, cofunded by the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional of the European Union), and European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme FP7-2007-2013 (grant HEALTH-F2-2011-256986, PANACREAS).Peer Reviewe

Long-Term Maraviroc Use As Salvage Therapy in HIV-2 Infection

publishersversionpublishe

Visualization and measurement of the cell-free layer (CFL) in a microchannel network

In the past years, in vitro blood studies have revealed several significant hemodynamic phenomena that have played a key role in recent developments of biomedical microdevices for cells separation, sorting and analysis. However, the blood flow phenomena happening in complex geometries, such as microchannel networks, have not been fully understood. Thus, it is important to investigate in detail the blood flow behavior occurring at microchannel networks. In the present study, by using a high-speed video microscopy system, we have used two working fluids with different haematocrit (1% Hct and 15% Hct) and we have investigated the cell-free layer (CFL) in a microchannel network composed by asymmetric bifurcations. By using the Z Project method from the image analysis software ImageJ, it was possible to conclude that the successive bifurcations and confluences influence the formation of the CFL not only along the upper and lower wall of the microchannel but also at the region immediately downstream of the confluence apex.The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by the project POCI-01-0145 FEDER-016861 (with associated reference PTDC/QEQ-FTT/4287/2014), UID/EMS/00532/2013 and UID/CEC/00319/2013 funded by FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology), through national funds (PIDDAC), and FEDER through COMPETE2020 - Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI). D. Bento acknowledges the PhD scholarship SFRH/BD/91192/2012 granted by FCT. The authors also acknowledge the financial support provided by the project Nos. UID/EMS/00532/2013 and UID/EMS/04077/2013 and the project Nos. UID/EMS/00532/2013, UID/EMS/04077/2013, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007043, UID/CEC/00319/2013info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Introductory clifford analysis

In this chapter an introduction is given to Clifford analysis and the underlying Clifford algebras. The functions under consideration are defined on Euclidean space and take values in the universal real or complex Clifford algebra, the structure and properties of which are also recalled in detail. The function theory is centered around the notion of a monogenic function, which is a null solution of a generalized Cauchy–Riemann operator, which is rotation invariant and factorizes the Laplace operator. In this way, Clifford analysis may be considered as both a generalization to higher dimension of the theory of holomorphic functions in the complex plane and a refinement of classical harmonic analysis. A notion of monogenicity may also be associated with the vectorial part of the Cauchy–Riemann operator, which is called the Dirac operator; some attention is paid to the intimate relation between both notions. Since a product of monogenic functions is, in general, no longer monogenic, it is crucial to possess some tools for generating monogenic functions: such tools are provided by Fueter’s theorem on one hand and the Cauchy–Kovalevskaya extension theorem on the other hand. A corner stone in this function theory is the Cauchy integral formula for representation of a monogenic function in the interior of its domain of monogenicity. Starting from this representation formula and related integral formulae, it is possible to consider integral transforms such as Cauchy, Hilbert, and Radon transforms, which are important both within the theoretical framework and in view of possible applications

Determinants of follow-up participation in the Internet-based European influenza surveillance platform Influenzanet.

BACKGROUND: "Influenzanet" is a network of Internet-based platforms aimed at collecting real-time data for influenza surveillance in several European countries. More than 30,000 European volunteers participate every year in the study, representing one of the largest existing Internet-based multicenter cohorts. Each week during the influenza season, participants are asked to report their symptoms (if any) along with a set of additional questions. OBJECTIVE: Focusing on the first influenza season of 2011-12, when the Influenzanet system was completely harmonized within a common framework in Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, and Portugal, we investigated the propensity of users to regularly come back to the platform to provide information about their health status. Our purpose was to investigate demographic and behavioral factors associated with participation in follow-up. METHODS: By means of a multilevel analysis, we evaluated the association between regular participation during the season and sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics as measured by a background questionnaire completed by participants on registration. RESULTS: We found that lower participation in follow-up was associated with lower educational status (odds ratio [OR] 0.80, 95% CI 0.75-0.85), smoking (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.59-0.70), younger age (OR ranging from 0.30, 95% CI 0.26-0.33 to 0.70, 95% CI 0.64-0.77), not being vaccinated against seasonal influenza (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.72-0.84), and living in a household with children (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.65-0.74). Most of these results hold when single countries are analyzed separately. CONCLUSIONS: Given the opportunistic enrollment of self-selected volunteers in the Influenzanet study, we have investigated how sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics may be associated with follow-up participation in the Influenzanet cohort. The study described in this paper shows that, overall, the most important determinants of participation are related to education and lifestyle: smoking, lower education level, younger age, people living with children, and people who have not been vaccinated against seasonal influenza tend to have a lower participation in follow-up. Despite the cross-country variation, the main findings are similar in the different national cohorts, and indeed the results are found to be valid also when performing a single-country analysis. Differences between countries do not seem to play a crucial role in determining the factors associated with participation in follow-up