Scientific Publications ABOUT Puerto Rico (Science Direct)

Periodontitis and oral human papillomavirus infection among Hispanic adults

Publication date: Available online 16 March 2018
Source:Papillomavirus Research

Author(s): Ana Patricia Ortiz, Daisy González, José Vivaldi-Oliver, Maira Castañeda, Vivian Rivera, Elba Díaz, Hilmaris Centeno, Cristina Muñoz, Joel Palefsky, Kaumudi Joshipura, Cynthia M. Pérez

Introduction Research on the association between periodontitis and oral human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is inconsistent. The cross-sectional association of severe periodontitis with oral HPV infection was investigated in a sample of Hispanic adults. Methods Data from the 2014–2016 San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study (n=740) was analyzed. Periodontitis assessment and self-collection of oral HPV samples followed the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey methodology. Periodontitis was defined using the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention/American Academy of Periodontology definition. HPV typing was performed using polymerase chain reaction. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results 5.7% of participants had oral HPV infection and 20.3% had severe periodontitis. Adults with severe periodontitis had higher odds of oral HPV infection than those with none/mild disease (OR=2.9, 95% CI: 1.0–8.4, p<0.05) in multivariable analysis. Adults with clinical attachment loss≥7mm and pocket depth PD≥6mm had 2- to 3-fold higher odds of HPV infection. Conclusions Severe periodontitis was positively associated to oral HPV infection. Longitudinal evaluation of periodontal inflammation's role in acquisition and persistence of oral HPV infection is needed, as periodontitis screening could identify individuals at increased risk of HPV-related oral malignancies.





Puerto Rico: After María

Publication date: 15 March 2018
Source:International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, Volume 100, Issue 4

Author(s): Angélica Pérez-Andújar







Nematode communities in sediments of the Kermadec Trench, Southwest Pacific Ocean

Publication date: Available online 9 March 2018
Source:Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers

Author(s): Daniel Leduc, Ashley A. Rowden

Hadal trenches are characterized by environmental conditions not found in any other deep-sea environment, such as steep topography and periodic disturbance by turbidity flows, which are likely responsible for the distinct nature of benthic communities of hadal trenches relative to those of the abyssal plain. Nematodes are the most abundant metazoans in the deep-sea benthos, but it is not yet clear if different trenches host distinct nematode communities, and no data are yet available on the communities of most trenches, including the Kermadec Trench in the Southwest Pacific. Quantitative core samples from the seafloor of the Kermadec Trench were recently obtained from four sites at 6000–9000 m depth which allowed for analyses of meiofauna, and nematodes in particular, for the first time. Nematode community and trophic structure was also compared with other trenches using published data. There was a bathymetric gradient in meiofauna abundance, biomass, and community structure within the Kermadec Trench, but patterns for species richness were ambiguous depending on which metric was used. There was a change in community structure from shallow to deep sites, as well as a consistent change in community structure from the upper sediment layers to the deeper sediment layers across the four sites. These patterns are most likely explained by variation in food availability within the trench, and related to trench topography. Together, deposit and microbial feeders represented 48–92% of total nematode abundance in the samples, which suggests that fine organic detritus and bacteria are major food sources. The relatively high abundance of epigrowth feeders at the 6000 and 9000 m sites (38% and 31%, respectively) indicates that relatively freshly settled microalgal cells represent another important food source at these sites. We found a significant difference in species community structure between the Kermadec and Tonga trenches, which was due to both the presence/absence of species as well as differences in relative abundances of shared species. The cluster and SIMPROF analyses of nematode genus community data across Pacific and Atlantic trenches identified two statistically significant natural groupings: the first group comprised all three Puerto Rico Trench samples, and the second comprised all remaining trenches (South Sandwich, Atacama, Tonga, and Kermadec). Our analyses show that differences in nematode between the adjacent Kermadec and Tonga trenches are observable when analyses are conducted with species-level identifications, but genera-based and trophic structure analyses revealed only limited heterogeneity among trenches. The present study contributes to the growing amount of information on hadal trench environments, which ultimately will build a greater understanding of these rarely sampled deep-sea habitats.





A 62-Year-Old Woman With Refractory Wheezing

Publication date: March 2018
Source:Chest, Volume 153, Issue 3

Author(s): Abhishek Biswas, Hiren J. Mehta, Michael A. Jantz

Case Presentation A 62-year-old Hispanic woman, a resident of Puerto Rico, presented with symptoms of chronic cough and shortness of breath for the past 2 years that were slowly and progressively getting worse. She received a diagnosis of asthma on the basis of her history of symptomatic “wheezing” and had been on treatment with inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids with minimal symptomatic improvement. The peculiarity of her symptoms was that her dyspnea was worse when she was reclining in bed and she would often hear a “whistling” noise in her throat during those times. Additionally, she reported difficulty swallowing and would often drink water to aid in swallowing food. There was no prior history of endotracheal intubations or surgeries. She denied any history of joint pain, skin rashes, eye pain, hair loss, mouth ulcers, photosensitivity, diarrhea, blood-mixed stool, or blood in the urine.





Emigration From Puerto Rico to Florida: Multivariate Analysis of Factors That Condition Attitudes of the Puerto Rican Population Toward Organ Donation for Transplant

Publication date: March 2018
Source:Transplantation Proceedings, Volume 50, Issue 2

Author(s): A. Ríos, A.I. López-Navas, Á. Sánchez, L. Martínez-Alarcón, M.A. Ayala, G. Garrido, M.J. Sebastián, G. Ramis, A.M. Hernández, P. Ramírez, P. Parrilla

Background The Puerto Rican population represents one of the largest immigration groups in Florida, and this has an impact on the organ transplant donation process. Our aim was to analyze attitudes toward organ donation among Puerto Ricans who currently reside in the state of Florida (USA). Methods The population screened consisted of individuals >15 years old, who were born in Puerto Rico, living in Florida, and awaiting organs for transplant. All participants completed the “PCID-DTO Rios” questionnaire. Random selection was done according to stratification. Support from immigration associations in Spain was needed for advice on the locations of potential respondents. Study participation was anonymized and self-administered. Results There were 259 respondents, 37% (n = 95) were in favor of donation, 36% (n = 93) were against donation, and 27% (n = 71) were undecided. The variables associated with these attitudes were: age (P = .017); civil status (P = .021); level of education (P < .001); previous experience with donation and transplant (P < .001); attitude toward organ donation of a relative (P < .001); carrying out pro-social activities (P < .001); discussing the issue of transplant with the family (P < .001) or couple (P < .001); attitude toward incineration (P < .001), burial (P < .001), and autopsy (P < .001); fear of mutilation after donation (P < .001); and religious beliefs (P < .001). In the multivariate study, it remained an independent variable to have discussed the issue at the family level (odds ratio = 11.627; P = .009). Conclusion The Puerto Rican study population residing in Florida has an unfavorable attitude toward organ donation.





Vema-TRANSIT – An interdisciplinary study on the bathymetry of the Vema‐Fracture Zone and Puerto Rico Trench as well as abyssal Atlantic biodiversity

Publication date: Available online 22 February 2018
Source:Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

Author(s): Torben Riehl, Stefanie Kaiser, Angelika Brandt

The seafloor below 3500 m remains largely unexplored. The paucity of knowledge of abyssal and hadal environments encompasses a wide spectrum of geological and biological patterns and processes as well as their interactions. Historically most marine research has been conducted in the North Atlantic. However, the high proportion of undescribed taxa frequently discovered at greater depth there underline the need to fill in these knowledge gaps. The Vema-TRANSIT campaign in northern winter 2014–2015 surveyed and sampled along almost the entire extent of one of the major offsets of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR), the Vema Fracture Zone (VFZ), as well as the deepest trench in the Atlantic, the Puerto Rico Trench (PRT). The discoveries that were made include new data on deep-sea habitats showing geologically complex features across all crust ages from 110 Ma until present. Moreover, some new species and genera of the abyssal and hadal benthos were described herein. Not only the taxa themselves, but also their distributions and genetic structure were elucidated. In this context, significant differences in abundances, community composition, and species distribution were detected that were affected by the MAR as well as by the depth transition between hadal PRT and the adjacent abyss. Despite significant differences between eastern and western communities, the MAR does not represent an absolute barrier. Instead, the VFZ, and especially the VTF may serve as a connecting feature between east and west and this may be exemplary for fracture zones across the whole Atlantic. Nevertheless, the MAR as well as the 3000-m-depth gradient between abyss and hadal appear to restrict gene flow for poor dispersers and thus contribute to speciation processes in the deep sea.





An assessment of the impacts of climate change on Puerto Rico's Cultural Heritage with a case study on sea-level rise

Publication date: Available online 21 February 2018
Source:Journal of Cultural Heritage

Author(s): Paula Ezcurra, Isabel C. Rivera-Collazo

In this paper, we summarize how current and projected climate changes are expected to impact material cultural heritage in Puerto Rico. As case study, we also conducted a spatial analysis vulnerability assessment of coastal heritage sites below 20 meters in elevation. Results from the analysis show that of the 1185 known cultural heritage sites below 20m in elevation in Puerto Rico, 27 sites are inundated at today's highest high tide, 56 will be inundated by mid-century when assuming a 0.6m rise in sea-level, and 140 sites will be inundated by end-of-century when assuming a 1.8m rise in sea-level. Spatial analysis of sites adjacent to the high tide line demonstrate that these values are likely conservative, as there are many sites located within 1m of the highest high tide line that should also be considered vulnerable. Finally, we present and introductory proposal that addresses the need for vulnerability assessments to aid cultural heritage managers in developing adaptive strategies for climate change impacts to material heritage.





Habitat characterization of the Vema Fracture Zone and Puerto Rico Trench

Publication date: Available online 8 February 2018
Source:Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

Author(s): C.W. Devey, N. Augustin, A. Brandt, N. Brenke, J. Köhler, L. Lins, C. Schmidt, I.A. Yeo

Although many of the regions on and close to the mid-ocean ridges have been extensively mapped and sampled, the abyssal intraplate regions remain essentially unsampled and unmapped, leaving huge gaps in our understanding of their geologic history and present activity. Prominent bathymetric features in these intraplate regions are fracture zones. Here we present bathymetric and sampling information from a transatlantic transect along the Vema Fracture Zone (ca. 11°N), covering crustal ages from 109 − 0 Ma on the African plate and 0–62 Ma on the South American plate. The Vema Fracture Zone is the intraplate trace of the active Vema Transform plate boundary, which offsets the present-day Mid-Atlantic Ridge by ca. 300 km left-laterally, juxtaposing zero-age crust with crust of 20 million years age. Our results show clear evidence of tectonic activity along most of the Fracture Zone, in most places likely associated with active fluid flow. Within the active Vema Transform at crustal ages of ca. 10 Ma we found clear indications of fluid flow both in the sediments and the overlying water column. This region is > 120 km from the nearest spreading axis and increases by almost an order of magnitude the maximum off-axis distance that active hydrothermal discharge has been found on the oceanic crust. Sampling of the igneous seafloor was possible at all crustal ages and the accretionary fabric imprinted on the plate during its production was prominent everywhere. Seafloor sediments show signs of extensive bioturbation. In one area, high concentrations of spherical Mn-nodules were also found and sampled. At the end of the transect we also mapped and sampled the Puerto Rico Trough, a > 8000 m-deep basin north of the Caribbean arc. Here the seafloor morphology is more complicated and strongly influenced by transpressive tectonics.





Digital Footprint of Neurological Surgeons

Publication date: Available online 7 February 2018
Source:World Neurosurgery

Author(s): Christopher Kim, Raghav Gupta, Aakash Shah, Evan Madill, Arpan V. Prabhu, Nitin Agarwal

Background Patients are increasingly turning to online resources to inquire about individual physicians and to gather health information. However, little research exists studying the online presence of neurosurgeons across the country. This study aimed to characterize these online profiles and assess the scope of neurosurgeons' digital identities. Methods Medicare-participating neurologic surgeons from the United States and Puerto Rico were identified using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Physician Comparable Downloadable File. Each physician was characterized by his or her medical education, graduation year, city of practice, gender, and affiliation with an academic institution. Using a Google-based custom search tool, the top 10 search results for each physician were extracted and categorized as 1 of the following: 1) physician, hospital, or healthcare system controlled, 2) third-party or government controlled, 3) social media–based, 4) primary journal article, or 5) other. Results Among the physicians within the CMS database, 4751 self-identified as being neurosurgeons, yielding a total of 45,875 uniform resource locator search results pertinent to these physicians. Of the 4751 neurosurgeons, 2317 (48.8%) and 2434 (51.2%) were classified as academic and nonacademic neurosurgeons, respectively. At least 1 search result was obtained for every physician. Hospital, healthcare system, or physician-controlled websites (18,206; 39.7%) and third-party websites (17,122; 37.3%) were the 2 most commonly observed domain types. Websites belonging to social media platforms accounted for 4843 (10.6%) search results, and websites belonging to peer-reviewed academic journals accounted for 1888 (4.1%) search results. The frequency with which a third-party domain appeared as the first search result was higher for nonacademic neurosurgeons than for academic neurosurgeons. Conclusions In general, neurosurgeons lacked a controllable online presence within their first page of Google Search results. Third-party physician rating websites constituted about half of the search results, and a relative lack of social media websites was apparent. Still, numerous opportunities exist for neurosurgeons to address this disparity.





The Zika Contraception Access Network: a feasibility programme to increase access to contraception in Puerto Rico during the 2016–17 Zika virus outbreak

Publication date: February 2018
Source:The Lancet Public Health, Volume 3, Issue 2

Author(s): Eva Lathrop, Lisa Romero, Stacey Hurst, Nabal Bracero, Lauren B Zapata, Meghan T Frey, Maria I Rivera, Erin N Berry-Bibee, Margaret A Honein, Judith Monroe, Denise J Jamieson

Background Prevention of unintended pregnancy is a primary strategy to reduce adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes related to Zika virus infection. The Zika Contraception Access Network (Z-CAN) aimed to build a network of health-care providers offering client-centred contraceptive counselling and the full range of reversible contraception at no cost to women in Puerto Rico who chose to prevent pregnancy during the 2016–17 Zika virus outbreak. Here, we describe the Z-CAN programme design, implementation activities, and baseline characteristics of the first 21 124 participants. Methods Z-CAN was developed by establishing partnerships between federal agencies, territorial health agencies, private corporations, and domestic philanthropic and non-profit organisations in the continental USA and Puerto Rico. Private donations to the National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCF) secured a supply of reversible contraceptive methods (including long-acting reversible contraception), made available to non-sterilised women of reproductive age at no cost through provider reimbursements and infrastructure supported by the CDCF. To build capacity in contraception service provision, doctors and clinic staff from all public health regions and nearly all municipalities in Puerto Rico were recruited into the programme. All providers completed 1 day of comprehensive training in contraception knowledge, counselling, and initiation and management, including the insertion and removal of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs). Z-CAN was announced through health-care providers, word of mouth, and a health education campaign. Descriptive characteristics of programme providers and participants were recorded, and we estimated the factors associated with choosing and receiving a LARC method. As part of a Z-CAN programme monitoring plan, participants were invited to complete a patient satisfaction survey about whether they had obtained free, same-day access to their chosen contraceptive method after receiving comprehensive counselling, their perception of the quality of care they had received, and their satisfaction with their chosen method and services. Findings Between May 4, 2016, and Aug 15, 2017, 153 providers in the Z-CAN programme provided services to 21 124 women. 20 110 (95%) women received same-day provision of a reversible contraceptive method. Whereas only 767 (4%) women had used a LARC method before Z-CAN, 14 259 (68%) chose and received a LARC method at their initial visit. Of the women who received a LARC method, 10 808 (76%) women had used no method or a least effective method of contraception (ie, condoms or withdrawal) before their Z-CAN visit. Of the 3489 women who participated in a patient satisfaction survey, 3068 (93%) of 3294 women were very satisfied with the services received, and 3216 (93%) of 3478 women reported receiving the method that they were most interested in after receiving counselling. 2382 (78%) of 3040 women rated their care as excellent or very good. Interpretation Z-CAN was designed as a short-term response for rapid implementation of reversible contraceptive services in a complex emergency setting in Puerto Rico and has served more than 21 000 women. This model could be replicated or adapted as part of future emergency preparedness and response efforts. Funding National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.





Harpacticoida (Crustacea, Copepoda) across a longitudinal transect of the Vema Fracture Zone and along a depth gradient in the Puerto Rico trench

Publication date: Available online 3 January 2018
Source:Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

Author(s): Christina Schmidt, Lidia Lins, Angelika Brandt

The aim of this study was the investigation of abundance, composition and biodiversity of benthic deep-sea Harpacticoida (Crustacea, Copepoda) in the Vema Fracture Zone (VFZ) and Puerto Rico trench. The study revealed a clear East-West gradient in total abundance of Harpacticoida with a westward decrease in abundances in the VFZ and significant differences in the community composition in the Eastern (East Vema) and Western Atlantic basin (West Vema) on family and genus level. The Puerto Rico trench and its upper slope did not only differ in abundance, but were distinct with respect to community composition on family and genus level. Thus, the upper slope might be considered as an ecotone, a transition zone where a rapid distinction of species composition occurs. In our study area, 837 adult harpacticoid specimens could be assigned to 16 families and 1 subfamily. The most abundant families found were Ameiridae Boeck, 1865, Pseudotachidiidae Lang, 1936 and Ectinosomatidae Sars, 1903. Genera and species were investigated within selected families (Argestidae Por, 1986, Cletodidae T. Scott, 1904, Canthocamptidae Brady, 1880 and Zosimeidae Seifried, 2003) where 11 genera, and 73 species could be discriminated. Within the selected families, the genera Zosime Boeck, 1873 and Mesocletodes Sars, 1909 were dominant. In the study area, a high number of singletons was detected, which might be endemic to the respective region. Furthermore, a low total number of species in the trench was observed which was attributed to frequent disturbances in the dynamic environment of the Puerto Rico trench (e.g. turbidites or seismic activity) and high adaptability of specialists and opportunists to these disturbances.





The Prevalence and Correlates of Frailty in Urban and Rural Populations in Latin America, China, and India: A 10/66 Population-Based Survey

Publication date: Available online 3 January 2018
Source:Journal of the American Medical Directors Association

Author(s): Juan J. Llibre Rodriguez, A. Matthew Prina, Daisy Acosta, Mariella Guerra, Yueqin Huang, K.S. Jacob, Ivonne Z. Jimenez-Velasquez, Aquiles Salas, Ana Luisa Sosa, Joseph D. Williams, A.T. Jotheeswaran, Isaac Acosta, Zhaorui Liu, Martin J. Prince

Background There have been few cross-national studies of the prevalence of the frailty phenotype conducted among low or middle income countries. We aimed to study the variation in prevalence and correlates of frailty in rural and urban sites in Latin America, India, and China. Methods Cross-sectional population-based catchment area surveys conducted in 8 urban and 4 rural catchment areas in 8 countries; Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Peru, Mexico, China, and India. We assessed weight loss, exhaustion, slow walking speed, and low energy consumption, but not hand grip strength. Therefore, frailty phenotype was defined on 2 or more of 4 of the usual 5 criteria. Results We surveyed 17,031 adults aged 65 years and over. Overall frailty prevalence was 15.2% (95% confidence inteval 14.6%–15.7%). Prevalence was low in rural (5.4%) and urban China (9.1%) and varied between 12.6% and 21.5% in other sites. A similar pattern of variation was apparent after direct standardization for age and sex. Cross-site variation in prevalence of frailty indicators varied across the 4 indicators. Controlling for age, sex, and education, frailty was positively associated with older age, female sex, lower socioeconomic status, physical impairments, stroke, depression, dementia, disability and dependence, and high healthcare costs. Discussion There was substantial variation in the prevalence of frailty and its indicators across sites in Latin America, India, and China. Culture and other contextual factors may impact significantly on the assessment of frailty using questionnaire and physical performance-based measures, and achieving cross-cultural measurement invariance remains a challenge. Conclusions A consistent pattern of correlates was identified, suggesting that in all sites, the frailty screen could identify older adults with multiple physical, mental, and cognitive morbidities, disability and needs for care, compounded by socioeconomic disadvantage and catastrophic healthcare spending.





A novel small molecule displays two different binding modes during inhibiting H1N1 influenza A virus neuraminidases

Publication date: Available online 28 December 2017
Source:Journal of Structural Biology

Author(s): Shanshan Guan, Yan Xu, Yongbo Qiao, Ziyu Kuai, Mengdan Qian, Xiaoyu Jiang, Song Wang, Hao Zhang, Wei Kong, Yaming Shan

Neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors can suppress NA activity to block the release of progeny virions and are effective against influenza viruses. As potential anti-flu drugs with unique functions, NA inhibitors are greatly concerned by the worldwide scientists. It has been reported recently that one of the novel quindoline derivatives named 7a, could inhibit both A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) NA (NAPR) and A/California/04/09 (H1N1) NA (NACA). However, potential structure differences in the active site could be easily detected between the NAPR and NACA according to the flexibilities of their 150-loops located catalytic site. And no obvious 150-cavity could be observed in NACA crystal structure. In order to explore whether 7a could trigger the inhibition against these two NAs in the same way, a serial molecular dynamics simulation approach were applied in this study. The results indicated that 7a could be adopted under a relatively extended pose in the active center of NAPR. While in NACA-7a complex, the derivate preferred to be recognized and located on the side of active center. Interestingly, the potential of 7a was also found to be able to change the flexibility of the 150-loop in NACA that is absent of 150-cavity. Furthermore, a 150-cavity-like architecture could be induced in the active site of NACA. The results of this study revealed two kinds of binding modes of this novel small molecule inhibitor against NAs that might provide a theoretical basis for proposing novel inhibition mechanism and developing future influenza A virus inhibitors.
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Meiofauna abundance and community patterns along a transatlantic transect in the Vema Fracture Zone and in the hadal zone of the Puerto Rico trench

Publication date: Available online 27 December 2017
Source:Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

Author(s): Christina Schmidt, Kaibil Escobar Wolf, Lidia Lins, Pedro Martínez Arbizu, Angelika Brandt

Despite the increasing sampling effort that occurred in the deep-sea environment during the last decades, knowledge about meiofauna ecology in trenches and Fracture Zones is still scarce. Based on the lack of this information, a longitudinal transect across the Vema Fracture Zone in the North Atlantic was sampled to test whether meiofauna abundances differ between Northeast and Northwest Atlantic basins, separated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Also, for examination of meiofauna depth pattern, the Puerto Rico trench floor, its upper trench slope and the Western North Atlantic abyssal were investigated. In this study, meiofauna communities were dominated by Nematoda (93%) and Copepoda (4%). The highest total abundance of meiofauna was found in the Puerto Rico trench and the lowest in the Western basin. We found significant differences between the Eastern and Western Atlantic basins, which were potentially caused by differences in current regimes. Stronger currents observed in the Western basin possibly led to the coarser sediment grain size observed in this region, and consequently to the lower abundances of the major groups found there. Besides grain size, the total abundance of meiofauna was significantly correlated with total nitrogen, total organic carbon, and water depth. Moreover, our study reveals a trend of increasing abundance of total meiofauna with increasing water depth in the Puerto Rico trench. Also, significant differences between the Western abyssal and the Puerto Rico trench were discovered. Generally, the meiofauna abundance in the investigated area decreased from East to West but increased with increasing water depth in the Puerto Rico trench. Due to funnelling of organic sediments increased food availability towards deeper regions in trenches could occur and promote higher abundance.





Contaminants in tropical island streams and their biota

Publication date: February 2018
Source:Environmental Research, Volume 161

Author(s): Elissa N. Buttermore, W. Gregory Cope, Thomas J. Kwak, Patrick B. Cooney, Damian Shea, Peter R. Lazaro

Environmental contamination is problematic for tropical islands due to their typically dense human populations and competing land and water uses. The Caribbean island of Puerto Rico (USA) has a long history of anthropogenic chemical use, and its human population density is among the highest globally, providing a model environment to study contaminant impacts on tropical island stream ecosystems. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, historic-use chlorinated pesticides, current-use pesticides, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), and metals (mercury, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, zinc, and selenium) were quantified in the habitat and biota of Puerto Rico streams and assessed in relation to land-use patterns and toxicological thresholds. Water, sediment, and native fish and shrimp species were sampled in 13 rivers spanning broad watershed land-use characteristics during 2009–2010. Contrary to expectations, freshwater stream ecosystems in Puerto Rico were not severely polluted, likely due to frequent flushing flows and reduced deposition associated with recurring flood events. Notable exceptions of contamination were nickel in sediment within three agricultural watersheds (range 123–336ppm dry weight) and organic contaminants (PCBs, organochlorine pesticides) and mercury in urban landscapes. At an urban site, PCBs in several fish species (Mountain Mullet Agonostomus monticola [range 0.019–0.030ppm wet weight] and American Eel Anguilla rostrata [0.019–0.031ppm wet weight]) may pose human health hazards, with concentrations exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) consumption limit for 1 meal/month. American Eel at the urban site also contained dieldrin (range < detection-0.024ppm wet weight) that exceeded the EPA maximum allowable consumption limit. The Bigmouth Sleeper Gobiomorous dormitor, an important piscivorus sport fish, accumulated low levels of organic contaminants in edible muscle tissue (due to its low lipid content) and may be most suitable for human consumption island-wide; only mercury at one site (an urban location) exceeded EPA's consumption limit of 3 meals/month for this species. These results comprise the first comprehensive island-wide contaminant assessment of Puerto Rico streams and biota and provide natural resource and public health agencies here and in similar tropical islands elsewhere with information needed to guide ecosystem and fisheries conservation and management and human health risk assessment.
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Complete mitogenomes of ancient Caribbean Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)

Publication date: February 2018
Source:Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Volume 17

Author(s): Edana Lord, Catherine Collins, Susan deFrance, Michelle J. LeFebvre, Elizabeth Matisoo-Smith

The domestic guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) was translocated from South America to several Caribbean islands sometime after 500 CE. Identifying the timing and routes of guinea pig translocation can provide a proxy for human interaction in the region. A recent investigation of aDNA of Caribbean guinea pig remains, based on sequences from short regions of the mitochondrial D-loop and cytochrome B regions, suggested a Colombian origin and single introduction of guinea pigs to the Caribbean. Here, we present the first complete mitogenome sequences for three ancient guinea pigs from Puerto Rico, Antigua and Carriacou, as well as for a modern Puerto Rican specimen, which allow us to clarify and expand upon the results of the earlier study. Complete mitogenome sequences indicate that there are at least two different mitochondrial DNA haplotypes in the ancient Caribbean guinea pigs, suggesting two distinct ancient introductions and a modern reintroduction of guinea pigs to Puerto Rico. Our results demonstrate the value of Next Generation Sequencing and the analysis of complete mitogenome sequences to investigate genetic variation and translocation of guinea pigs into the Caribbean.





A surrogate-assisted genetic algorithm for the selection and design of highway safety and travel time improvement projects

Publication date: March 2018
Source:Safety Science, Volume 103

Author(s): Daniel Rodriguez-Roman

Measures to improve highway safety can affect travel times, just like measures to reduce travel times can affect highway safety. For this reason, the models used in the process of allocating funds across different highway improvement projects should simultaneously consider the safety and travel time effects of the project alternatives. In this paper, an optimization model is presented for the joint selection and design of highway safety and travel time improvement projects. The model is formulated as a bi-objective, mixed-integer optimization problem with constraints on project costs and on the types of improvement combinations admissible at project sites. By incorporating travel behavior models within the optimization process, the model accounts for the potential network-level effects of highway improvement schemes. Given that the model systems needed in this process are time-consuming, a genetic algorithm is proposed that utilizes surrogate models to accelerate the discovery of good solutions to the presented optimization model. In this algorithm, the surrogate models are used to generate computationally inexpensive approximations to computationally expensive functions that quantify a decision-maker’s safety and travel time objectives. Like the problem formulation, the proposed heuristic can be employed in conjunction with computer-based travel demand models commonly used by transportation planning agencies. An illustrative application of the model and its solution heuristic is presented using a hypothetical planning scenario in Southwest Puerto Rico. Besides illustrating the application of the model, the example was used to test the surrogates’ predictive accuracy and the impact of different parameter values on the algorithm’s performance.





An oligothiophene compound neutralized influenza A viruses by interfering with hemagglutinin

Publication date: Available online 8 December 2017
Source:Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes

Author(s): Xintian Shen, Zhibo Zhu, Yi Ding, Wenjiao Wu, Jie Yang, Shuwen Liu

Background and Objectives Recently influenza pandemic outbreaks were caused by emerging H5N1H7N9 and H1N1 viruses. However, virucidal disinfectants are mainly unspecific and toxic. It is tactical to discover specific virucidal compounds. Methods The inhibitory potency was determined in H5N1 pseudovirus system; Interactions of compounds with hemagglutinin(HA) were detected with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and further calculated with molecular docking. Virucidal effect was also estimated in influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34(H1N1). Prevention efficacy was further estimated in mice model. Results Oligothiophene compound 4sc was potently virucidal against H5N1 pseudovirus with selective index>1169 (IC50 =0.17±0.01 μM). Pseudovirus assay revealed 4sc may interact with HA. However, HA inhibition test indicated 4sc did not interact with receptor pocket in HA. SPR detection revealed 4sc interacted directly with HA and its HA2 subunits. Molecular docking analysis revealed that 4sc interacted with the cavity of HA2 stem region and HA1-HA2 interface which consist of 7 residues: L22, K262, G472 and F1102 in HA2; M241, E251 and N271 in HA1. 4sc also potently and irreversibly neutralized PR8 (H1N1) virus, causing 105.06±0.26 fold decrease of virus titer after exposure for 10 min. 4sc blocked PR8 transmission to MDCK cells. Amazingly, virucidal effect of 4sc was not significantly reduced even at 4 °C. Furthermore, 4sc blocked viral transmission to mice. Conclussion Oligothiophene compound 4sc is a novel selective virucide of influenza virus, which blocks entry by interfering viral hemagglutinin. Due to promising safety profile and stable virucidal effect at 4 °C, 4sc may be useful in disinfecting H5N1 and H1N1 influenza virus.
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