Pimarane diterpene from Viguiera arenaria (Asteraceae) inhibit rat carotid contraction

ent-Pimara-8(14),15-dien-19-oic acid (PA) isolated from Viguiera arenaria (Asteraceae; Heliantheae) inhibited rat carotid rings contraction induced by phenylephrine (10(-8) mol/l) or potassium chloride (45 mmol/l) at concentration ranging from 5 to 20 microg/ml. This inhibitory effect was not reversible after the removal of this compound from the medium bath.     

A Bayesian Approach to Spatial Prediction With Flexible Variogram Models

A Bayesian approach to covariance estimation and spatial prediction based on flexible variogram models is introduced. In particular, we consider black-box kriging models. These variogram models do not require restrictive assumptions on the functional shape of the variogram; furthermore, they can handle quite naturally non isotropic random fields. The proposed Bayesian approach does not require the computation of an empirical variogram estimator, thus avoiding the arbitrariness implied in the construction of the empirical variogram itself. Moreover, it provides a complete assessment of the uncertainty in the variogram estimation. The advantages of this approach are illustrated via simulation studies and by application to a well known benchmark dataset.     

Accumulation and erosion of Mars' south polar layered deposits

Mars' polar regions are covered with ice-rich layered deposits that potentially contain a record of climate variations. The sounding radar SHARAD on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mapped detailed subsurface stratigraphy in the Promethei Lingula region of the south polar plateau, Planum Australe. Radar reflections interpreted as layers are correlated across adjacent orbits and are continuous for up to 150 kilometers along spacecraft orbital tracks. The reflectors are often separated into discrete reflector sequences, and strong echoes are seen as deep as 1 kilometer. In some cases, the sequences are dipping with respect to each other, suggesting an interdepositional period of erosion. In Australe Sulci, layers are exhumed, indicating recent erosion.     

Histochemical and supramolecular studies in determining quality of hemp fibres for textile applications

Summary The composition and supramolecular structure of hemp primary bast fibres have been assessed using microscopy, compositional analysis, wide-angle X-ray diffractometry and CP-MAS ¹³C-NMR, in order to unambiguously define some quality parameters. The main components of the fibre wall were detected by histochemical reactions and modifications occurring during the plant growth have been pointed out. Some differences in fibre lignification degree were recorded among cultivars and confirmed by means of compositional and structural analysis. As for flax and kenaf, X-ray patterns revealed semicrystalline structure of hemp cellulose. NMR spectra and their probabilistic elaboration by MaxEnt method gave further insight on the presence of paracrystalline and amorphous phases and provided an accurate evaluation of polymeric components.     

Urea tolerance as a molecular adaptation of elasmobranch hemoglobins

Urea is maintained at moderately high concentrations in the blood and tissues of marine elasmobranchs. Functional properties of the hemoglobins fromn several elasmobranch species are unaffected by urea concentrations as high as 5 molar. This in. sensitivity to urea, which is not observed with human hemoglobin, is accompanied by an increased sensitivity to sodium chloride.     

Impacts of tourism on anxiety and physiological stress levels in wild male Barbary macaques

Wildlife tourism is a burgeoning global industry with the potential to make a significant contribution to the conservation of endangered species. However, a number of studies have provided evidence that tourists’ presence and behaviour may impact negatively on the animals involved, with potentially harmful consequences for their health, reproduction and population viability. Here, we investigate impacts of tourism on wild male Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) in Morocco, quantifying a behavioural index of animals’ anxiety (self-scratching) and a measure of their physiological stress levels (faecal glucocorticoid concentrations – FGCs). Four measures of tourist presence, number or proximity were explored: maximum number, percentage of time present, mean number while present, and closest proximity to the macaques. In addition, rates of three types of interactions between tourists and macaques – neutral (e.g. photographing), feeding and aggressive – were quantified. Males’ rates of self-scratching were positively related to the mean number of tourists present and to rates of all three human-macaque interactions, but were unrelated to the other three measures of tourist pressure. FGCs were positively related to rates of aggressive interactions between humans and macaques, but unrelated to any of the other six measures of tourist pressure. These findings suggest that while tourist presence and interactions (even apparently innocuous ones) with the macaques elevate the study animals’ anxiety levels, only aggressive interactions are sufficient to elicit a detectable increase in our measure of physiological stress. These results can be used to inform management of tourism both at this site, and at other locations where tourists view and can interact with wild primates.     

Combined laparoscopic ovariectomy and laparoscopic-assisted gastropexy utilizing a 2-port technique in 10 dogs

A case series was selected retrospectively to evaluate the technique, outcome, and short-term complications associated with a combined laparoscopic ovariectomy (Lap OVX) and laparoscopic-assisted gastropexy (LAG) using a 2-port technique, and to compare it with previously published combined laparoscopic techniques for Lap OVX and LAG in dogs. Medical records of dogs undergoing elective, combined Lap OVX and LAG performed using a 2-port technique between 2017 and 2019 were reviewed. Total surgical time was compared to previously published combined Lap OVX and LAG techniques in dogs. Intraoperative and short-term complications were recorded. Ten dogs [median weight: 29.4 kg (range: 11.4 to 84.1 kg); mean: 37.4] met the inclusion criteria. Median surgical time to complete both the Lap OVX and LAG was 72.5 minutes (range: 47.0 to 120.0 minutes; mean: 77.4 minutes), which was not significantly different than that described in previous studies of combined Lap OVX and LAG (weighted mean average: 67.3 minutes; 95% confidence interval: 46.9 to 87.7, P = 0.3). No intraoperative or postoperative complications were reported. It is concluded that a 2-port technique for combined Lap OVX and LAG is feasible, has few complications, and requires similar time to perform compared to other previously published laparoscopic techniques.     

Assessing the efficiency of the Italian aquaculture firms

Abstract

The study investigates the efficiency of a sample of Italian aquaculture firms according to their legal status, size, and location. An efficiency analysis was conducted for a sample of 160 units using an output-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis. The average value of the efficiency scores reveals that it should be possible to significantly increase firm performance. The most inefficient farms are cooperatives, southern farms, and the smallest farms. The weight of efficient units is as follows: 34% of the cooperatives and 26% of the limited liability companies; 26% of units located in Northern-Central regions and 34% of those placed in Southern areas; 47% of the big and 23% of the small firms. Among subgroups of units, the only significant difference in the average efficiency score is related to the firm size. The sensitivity of the results to methodological choices reveals that the variable return to scale hypothesis fits the data better than the constant returns to scale and that bootstrapping while changing the value of the scores does not change findings in terms of size, location, and legal status. Actions which remove obstacles and increase firm size are the most obvious ways to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of the sector.