Extent and variation of sound enhancement inside burrows of the frog Eupsophus emiliopugini (Leptodactylidae)

Variation of the amplification effect of burrows of the leptodactylid frog Eupsophus emiliopugini on conspecific calls generated externally was investigated. Advertisement calls broadcast through a loudspeaker placed in the vicinity of a burrow were monitored with small microphones positioned inside and outside the cavity. For 150 presentations of calls of 15 individuals in 12 burrows, 134 were amplified and 16 were attenuated (range –6–13 dB). The fundamental resonant frequency of burrows, measured with broadcast noise and pure tones, averaged 814 Hz (range 302–1361 Hz) and covaried with burrow length. The dominant frequency of the calls of burrow occupants (average 1062 Hz, range 636–1459 Hz) was not correlated with the fundamental resonant frequency of these cavities. In burrows with low resonant frequencies, externally broadcast calls with high dominant frequencies were attenuated, or amplified to a lower extent than calls with lower dominant frequencies. The dominant frequencies of the calls experienced shifts towards the burrows’ fundamental resonant frequencies. The amplification of calls inside burrows of E. emiliopugini exhibits manifest variability, with considerable potential for facilitating acoustic interactions in this species. Received: 18 July 1999 / Received in revised form: 19 July 1999 / Accepted: 25 July 1999     

Pilot study for the neonatal screening of fragile X syndrome

An Erratum has been published for this article in Prenatal Diagnosis 23 (9), 2003, 771. Fragile X syndrome (SFX) is the commonest form of inherited mental retardation. Due to the highly variable phenotype clinical diagnosis is complicated. In nearly all cases, the disorder is caused by expansion of a CGG-repeat in the 5′-untranslated region of the FMR1 (fragile X mental retardation-1) gene. We have evaluated the feasibility, efficiency and costs of two methodologies in order to develop a simple test to screen large populations: PCR and fragile X mental retardation-1 protein (FMRP) immunodetection. We studied 100 newborn males using PCR and immunodetection (26.91 Euro). All but one amplified the CGG repeat of the FMR1 gene within the normal size range. The sample that failed to amplify showed only 28% of FMRP expression by immunodetection study; both results indicated an affected male. A further 100 males were studied only by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (7.8 Euro); all of them amplified within the normal size range. Both methodologies, PCR and immunodetection, are feasible for screening large populations, PCR being the most suitable, economical and less time-consuming. However, it is advisable to keep slides for immunodetection when PCR fails or the external control shows no amplification. Early detection of SFX-affected individuals would represent a great benefit for their maximum social integration, due to appropriate treatment and early stimulation and would permit a cascade screening in their pedigree. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sample preparation for GC analysis of selected pesticides in surface water.

A new isolation procedure for the determination of nitrogen/phosphorous containing pesticides and organochlorine pesticides in water was tested, and statistical evaluation of the recoveries was performed. The procedure, designed specifically for the analysis of semi-volatile compounds in water containing Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM), utilizes a specially designed filtration vessel coupled directly to an SPE cartridge. The studies were based on surface water samples (from the Vistula River) spiked with pesticides. SPM separation and analyte isolation/concentration were carried out in a special filtration vessel. Pesticides were sorbed both on the SPE cartridge and on the suspended matter. The cartridge and the filter with the suspended matter were extracted separately with a solvent, which enabled the determination of analyte distribution between the two. For organochlorine pesticides, between 3 and 60% of the initial amount was found on the filter, while the recoveries in the filtrate ranged from 30 to 98%. Total recoveries of organochlorine pesticides from surface water samples spiked with pesticides using the method described were high, ranging from 90 to 101%. The amounts of nitrogen/phosphorus containing pesticides recovered from the filter were lower than 2%, while those from the filtrate ranged from 69 to 92%. Total recoveries of nitrogen/phosphorus containing pesticides from surface water samples were high, ranging from 71 to 92%.     

Pulmonary stenosis and reactive right ventricular hypertrophy in the recipient fetus as a consequence of twin-to-twin transfusion

The present study describes an association between adverse outcome in the twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) and pulmonary stenosis or reactive right ventricular hypertrophy. Six discordant monozygotic twin pregnancies with TTTS are described. Ventricular hypertrophy and atrioventricular valvular regurgitation occurred in all the recipient twins with pulmonary valvular stenosis in three cases and infundibular stenosis in one case. The recipient twin in one pair and both twins in another pregnancy died as a consequence of immaturity but the remaining twins all survived. Surgical intervention was required in one baby for valvular pulmonary stenosis. Our observations suggest that elevated blood pressure in the transfusion recipient may play an important role in pathogenesis. We hypothesise that both pulmonary stenosis and right chamber hypertrophy are secondary to hemodynamic changes. Although we have found valvular pulmonary stenosis in three recipients and infundibular stenosis in only one, this (obstruction to outflow) could be due to right chamber hypertrophy. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Trisomy 2 due to a 3:1 segregation in an abortion studied by QF-PCR and CGH

Balanced reciprocal translocation is one of the known causes of recurrent spontaneous abortions. Cytogenetic studies of unbalanced miscarriages are difficult due to the growth failure of early loss and usually macerated abortions. We present a molecular study of an abortion in which the father carries a balanced reciprocal translocation t(2;17)(q32.1;q24.3) using QF-PCR and CGH techniques. DNA analysis showed the presence of a trisomy 2 due to a 3:1 interchange segregation. Recombinant events could also be investigated by comparing DNA samples from the family. We propose QF-PCR in addition to CGH as an efficient diagnostic method to improve our knowledge of unbalanced offspring in balanced translocation carriers. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Neanderthal medics? Evidence for food, cooking, and medicinal plants entrapped in dental calculus

Neanderthals disappeared sometime between 30,000 and 24,000?years ago. Until recently, Neanderthals were understood to have been predominantly meat-eaters; however, a growing body of evidence suggests their diet also included plants. We present the results of a study, in which sequential thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS) and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) were combined with morphological analysis of plant microfossils, to identify material entrapped in dental calculus from five Neanderthal individuals from the north Spanish site of El Sidrón. Our results provide the first molecular evidence for inhalation of wood-fire smoke and bitumen or oil shale and ingestion of a range of cooked plant foods. We also offer the first evidence for the use of medicinal plants by a Neanderthal individual. The varied use of plants that we have identified suggests that the Neanderthal occupants of El Sidrón had a sophisticated knowledge of their natural surroundings which included the ability to select and use certain plants.     

Effects of gene flow from IMI resistant sunflower crop to wild Helianthus annuus populations

Wild sunflower, H. annuus ssp. annuus, is an invasive species widely distributed in several regions of the world, including central Argentina where it shares a large area with domesticated sunflower. The discovery of imidazolinone resistance in a wild sunflower population allowed the development of Clearfield^® technology in cultivated sunflower. This technology was rapidly adopted in Argentina but the trait could possibly be transferred to the naturalized wild populations through natural hybridization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the transfer of IMI resistance to wild sunflower populations and its effect on wild plants’ fitness. Plants of five wild populations and their progenies of crosses with an IMI-resistant hybrid were evaluated through a dormancy, herbicide resistance, and SSR markers study. Relative fitness was compared in the five populations, F1s and backcrosses with wild and crop parental plants. Hybridization with an IMI-resistant hybrid did not alter seed dormancy. F1 individuals were more resistant to imazapyr than their wild ancestors but less tolerant than the commercial variety. SSR markers confirmed the transfer of resistance and identified resistant plants within the wild populations. Fitness was reduced in the first generation after crossing but was recovered in the following generations. Thus, to ensure durability and efficiency of Clearfield^® technology, management practices like crop rotation and herbicide usage with different modes of action should be considered.     

Sustainable cities: do political factors determine the quality of life?

The implementation of urban sustainability practices is affected by political obstacles, and diverse political ideologies may defend different city models. Sustainable policy design could also be affected by several factors that cause the deflection of resources initially allocated to other groups that are contrary to the concerns pursued and have the power to veto sustainable plans by exerting pressure on the party in power.In this sense, the aim of this paper is to show the impact that political factors have on cities’ sustainability, and the effect of both on cities’ economic development. To do so, we used the 78 Spanish cities with a population over 100,000 studied by MERCO (Spanish Corporate Reputation Monitor) as regards their levels of sustainability for the fiscal years 2008 and 2009. Both relationships have been tested empirically through two dependence models using linear regression techniques.The results obtained show that political competition improves cities’ sustainability, while a leftist ideology has an inverse impact. On the other hand, a significant direct relationship has been observed between urban sustainability and municipal economic activity.