Evidence of human occupation in Mexico around the Last Glacial Maximum.

The initial colonization of the Americas remains a highly debated topic1, and the exact timing of the first arrivals is unknown. The earliest archaeological record of Mexico-which holds a key geographical position in the Americas-is poorly known and understudied. Historically, the region has remained on the periphery of research focused on the first American populations2. However, recent investigations provide reliable evidence of a human presence in the northwest region of Mexico3,4, the Chiapas Highlands5, Central Mexico6 and the Caribbean coast7-9 during the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene epochs. Here we present results of recent excavations at Chiquihuite Cave-a high-altitude site in central-northern Mexico-that corroborate previous findings in the Americas10-17of cultural evidence that dates to the Last Glacial Maximum (26,500-19,000 years ago)18, and which push back dates for human dispersal to the region possibly as early as 33,000-31,000 years ago. The site yielded about 1,900 stone artefacts within a 3-m-deep stratified sequence, revealing a previously unknown lithic industry that underwent only minor changes over millennia. More than 50 radiocarbon and luminescence dates provide chronological control, and genetic, palaeoenvironmental and chemical data document the changing environments in which the occupants lived. Our results provide new evidence for the antiquity of humans in the Americas, illustrate the cultural diversity of the earliest dispersal groups (which predate those of the Clovis culture) and open new directions of research.

Sonocatalytic Activity of Porous Carbonaceous Materials for the Selective Oxidation of 4-Hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzyl Alcohol.

Selective oxidation, which is crucial in diverse chemical industries, transforms harmful chemicals into valuable compounds. Heterogeneous sonocatalysis, an emerging sustainable approach, urges in-depth exploration. In this work, we investigated N-doped or non-doped carbonaceous materials as alternatives to scarce, economically sensitive metal-based catalysts. Having synthesized diverse carbons using a hard-template technique, we subjected them to sonication at frequencies of 22, 100, 500, and 800 kHz with a 50% amplitude. Sonochemical reaction catalytic tests considerably increased the catalytic activity of C-meso (non-doped mesoporous carbon material). The scavenger test showed a radical formation when this catalyst was used. N-doped carbons did not show adequate and consistent sonoactivity for the selective oxidation of 4-Hydroxy-3,5 dimethoxybenzyl alcohol in comparison with control conditions without sonication, which might be associated with an acid-base interaction between the catalysts and the substrate and sonoactivity prohibition by piridinic nitrogen in N-doped catalysts.

Scale of population synchrony confirms macroecological estimates of minimum viable range size.

Global ecosystems are facing a deepening biodiversity crisis, necessitating robust approaches to quantifying species extinction risk. The lower limit of the macroecological relationship between species range and body size has long been hypothesized as an estimate of the relationship between the minimum viable range size (MVRS) needed for species persistence and the organismal traits that affect space and resource requirements. Here, we perform the first explicit test of this assumption by confronting the MVRS predicted by the range-body size relationship with an independent estimate based on the scale of synchrony in abundance among spatially separated populations of riverine fish. We provide clear evidence of a positive relationship between the scale of synchrony and species body size, and strong support for the MVRS set by the lower limit of the range-body size macroecological relationship. This MVRS may help prioritize first evaluations for unassessed or data-deficient taxa in global conservation assessments.

Same process, different patterns: pervasive effect of evolutionary time on species richness in freshwater fishes.

Tropical lands harbour the highest number of species, resulting in the ubiquitous latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG). However, exceptions to this pattern have been observed in some taxa, explained by the interaction between the evolutionary histories and environmental factors that constrain species' physiological and ecological requirements. Here, we applied a deconstruction approach to map the detailed species richness patterns of Actinopterygian freshwater fishes at the class and order levels and to disentangle their drivers using geographical ranges and a phylogeny, comprising 77% (12 557) of all described species. We jointly evaluated seven evolutionary and ecological hypotheses posited to explain the LDG: diversification rate, time for speciation, species-area relationship, environmental heterogeneity, energy, temperature seasonality and past temperature stability. We found distinct diversity gradients across orders, including expected, bimodal and inverse LDGs. Despite these differences, the positive effect of evolutionary time explained patterns for all orders, where species-rich regions are inhabited by older species compared to species-poor regions. Overall, the LDG of each order has been shaped by a unique combination of factors, highlighting the importance of performing a joint evaluation of evolutionary, historical and ecological factors at different taxonomic levels to reach a comprehensive understanding on the causes driving global species richness patterns.

Electrowetting-Induced Coalescence of Sessile Droplets in Viscous Medium.

Manipulating the coalescence of microdroplets has recently gained enormous attention in digital microfluidics and biological and chemical industries. Here, coalescence between two sessile droplets is induced by spreading them due to electrowetting. The electrocoalescence dynamics is investigated for a wide range of operating parameters such as electrowetting number, Ohnesorge number, driving frequency, and drop to surrounding medium viscosity ratio. Here, the characteristic time scale from the classical lubrication theory is modified with an additional driving and resisting force due to the electrostatic pressure force and liquid-liquid viscous dissipation, respectively. With the revised characteristic time scale, a universal bridge growth is shown between the two merging droplets following a 1/3 power law during early coalescence followed by a long-range linear variation. To ensure precise control on droplet coalescence, a geometric analysis is also performed to define the initial separation distance.

Droplet-on-chip electro-spectroscopy detects the ultra-short relaxation time of a dilute polymer solution.

We report an electrode-embedded on-chip platform technology for the precise determination of ultra-short (of the order of a few nanoseconds) relaxation times of dilute polymer solutions, by deploying time-alternating electrical voltages. Our methodology delves into the sensitive dependence of the contact line dynamics of a droplet of the polymer solution atop a hydrophobic interface in response to the actuation voltage, resulting in a non-trivial interplay between the time-evolving electrical, capillary, and viscous forces. This culminates into a time-decaying dynamic response that mimics the features of a damped oscillator having its 'stiffness' mapped with the polymeric content of the droplet. The observed electro-spreading characteristics of the droplet are thus shown to correlate explicitly with the relaxation time of the polymer solution, drawing analogies with a damped electro-mechanical oscillator. By corroborating well with the reported values of the relaxation times as obtained from more elaborate and sophisticated laboratory set-ups. Our findings provide perspectives for a unique and simple approach towards electrically-modulated on-chip-spectroscopy for deriving ultra-short relaxation times of a broad class of viscoelastic fluids that could not be realized thus far.

Lefort I Osteotomy With and Without Osteogenic Distraction in Cleft Lip and Palate Patients: Experience at Hospital Universitario Infantil De San José.

INTRODUCTION: Cleft lip and cleft palate (CLP) are congenital diseases that lead to several secondary craniofacial anomalies, such as hypoplasia of the middle third of the face, which can be treated with different surgical techniques to help improve functional and esthetic alterations associated with the maxilla. This article reports the results of patients managed with LeFort I osteotomy in the same craniofacial surgery center for 10 years. OBJECTIVE: To determine the postoperative results regarding recurrence rates, malocclusion, and speech status after surgical treatment, in patients with retrusion of the midface with CLP, who underwent LeFort I osteotomy with or without osteogenic distraction (OD). METHODS: A descriptive cohort study was performed at the Hospital Infantil Universitario de San José in Bogotá, Colombia, between 2010 and 2020, evaluating 38 patients with CLP who met the inclusion criteria, all managed by LeFort I osteotomy with and without OD. The authors reported the sociodemographic information, as well as data related to speech before and after surgery, recurrence, complications, and cephalometric characteristics. The recurrence of the patients was described at 6 and 12 months after the surgical procedure. RESULTS: A total of 43 patients met the inclusion criteria, of which 20 patients were managed with conventional LeFort I osteotomy, and 23 with LeFort I osteotomy with OD; 5 patients were excluded due to lack of data in the medical records, with a final sample of 38 patients. The distribution based on sex was: 57.8% men and 42.1% women. Regarding laterality, we have 7 patients with right CLP (18.42%), 11 patients with left CLP (28.9%), and 20 patients with bilateral CLP (52.63%), 100% of patients with a class III bite in Angle's classification. In group 1 (OD), 55% of the patients did not present changes in speech before surgery, 30% presented improvement in speech, and 15% worsened it. In group 2 (conventional advancement), 66% of the patients did not present changes in speech, 5.5% presented improvement, and 27.7% presented worsening of speech based on the preoperative condition, with a clinical recurrence at 6 months of 15% for group 1 and of 33% for group 2, and at 1 year of 20% for group 1 and 16% for group 2. CONCLUSIONS: Osteogenic distraction is a safe method that can be applied in patients with CLP depending on the clinical characteristics. According to what is described in the literature, those patients who require advancement of up to 6 mm treated without OD have obtained good results, showing esthetic improvement by increasing the projection of the middle third of the face, without worsening of velopharyngeal insufficiency and achieving an adequate occlusal class (Angle I) in the immediate postoperative period or after the postoperative orthodontic management. However, in patients who require advances ≥7 mm, it is clear that OD is the best option, given its association with a lower recurrence rate, minimal changes in the speech, achieving occlusion edge-to-edge at the end of the distraction or Angle's class I, which is corroborated by the results obtained in this study.

Cancer Stem Cells and Androgen Receptor Signaling: Partners in Disease Progression.

Cancer stem cells exhibit self-renewal, tumorigenesis, and a high differentiation potential. These cells have been detected in every type of cancer, and different signaling pathways can regulate their maintenance and proliferation. Androgen receptor signaling plays a relevant role in the pathophysiology of prostate cancer, promoting cell growth and differentiation processes. However, in the case of prostate cancer stem cells, the androgen receptor negatively regulates their maintenance and self-renewal. On the other hand, there is evidence that androgen receptor activity positively regulates the generation of cancer stem cells in other types of neoplasia, such as breast cancer or glioblastoma. Thus, the androgen receptor role in cancer stem cells depends on the cellular context. We aimed to analyze androgen receptor signaling in the maintenance and self-renewal of different types of cancer stem cells and its action on the expression of transcription factors and surface markers associated with stemness.

Rehabilitation of eroded trails and gullies on quartzite rock outcrops with native species in a high-altitude grassland.

The quartzite rock outcrops and the native vegetation of grasslands located at the Serra da Calçada Mountain in Minas Gerais State (Brazil) have been severely degraded by extreme sports activities such as motocross and off-road vehicles, greatly damaging the abundant headwaters. The main consequences thereof were hilly and gully erosion processes with soil loss and the deviation of the water from its original paths. However, currently, there is no report of successful restoration efforts in severely eroded outcrops in Brazilian high-altitude grasslands (campo rupestre). Through the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), we found a high general erosion rate in the study site (669.91 t·ha-1·year-1), and the specific soil loss provoked by off-road vehicles on trails was significantly greater (49 m3 per 100 m2) than that caused by mountain bikes and trekking (5.8 m3 per 100 m2). We performed the physical reconstruction of eroded outcrops and surface water flow paths by allocating locally available quartzite rocks. These rocks were inoculated with different species of bryophytes and planted with native species under two treatments: un-inoculated and inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) spores of the Rhizophagus irregularis species. After 2 years, the bryophyte communities showed a similar pattern to the preserved site, and the AMF inoculation favoured plant establishment of most species, especially of the Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Fabaceae, Malpighiaceae, Orchidaceae and Poaceae families. The AMF also improved the soil fertility, highlighting soil P, SOM, CEC, NH4+-N as well as soil water content and water retention capacity. Poaceae family species showed an outstanding occupation, which was considered a functional indicator of rehabilitation success, functioning as a "hydraulic carpet" for water exportation, conduction and drainage across the outcrops. This study provides an eco-technology to restore severely eroded outcrops over headwaters using native species in the Brazilian high-altitude grasslands.

BRAF/MEK Dual Inhibitors Therapy in Progressive and Anaplastic Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma: Case Series and Literature Review.

Recurrent and anaplastic pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (r&aPXA) is a rare primary brain tumor that is challenging to treat. Two-thirds of PXA tumors harbor a BRAF gene mutation. BRAF inhibitors have been shown to improve tumor control. However, resistance to BRAF inhibition develops in most cases. Concurrent therapy with MEK inhibitors may improve tumor control and patient survival. In this study, we identified 5 patients diagnosed with BRAF-mutated PXA who received BRAF and MEK inhibitors over a 10-year interval at our institution. Patient records were evaluated, including treatments, adverse effects (AEs), outcomes, pathology, next-generation sequencing, and MRI. The median age was 22 years (range, 14-66 years), 60% male, and 60% anaplastic PXA. Median overall survival was 72 months (range, 19-112 months); 1 patient died of tumor-related hemorrhage while off therapy, and the other 4 experienced long-term disease control (21, 72, 98, and 112 months, respectively). Dual BRAF/MEK inhibitors were well tolerated, with only grade 1-2 AEs, including rash, neutropenia, fatigue, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea. No grade 3-5 AEs were detected. A literature review was also performed of patients diagnosed with BRAF-mutated PXA and treated with BRAF and/or MEK inhibitors through August 2021, with a total of 32 cases identified. The median age was 29 years (range, 8-57 years) and the median PFS and OS were 8.5 months (range, 2-35 months) and 35 months (range, 10-80 months), respectively. The most common AEs were grade 1-2 fatigue and skin rash. Results of this case series and literature review indicate that dual-drug therapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitors for r&aPXA with BRAF V600E mutation may delay tumor progression without unexpected AEs.

Drainage network position and historical connectivity explain global patterns in freshwater fishes' range size.

Identifying the drivers and processes that determine globally the geographic range size of species is crucial to understanding the geographic distribution of biodiversity and further predicting the response of species to current global changes. However, these drivers and processes are still poorly understood, and no ecological explanation has emerged yet as preponderant in explaining the extent of species' geographical range. Here, we identify the main drivers of the geographic range size variation in freshwater fishes at global and biogeographic scales and determine how these drivers affect range size both directly and indirectly. We tested the main hypotheses already proposed to explain range size variation, using geographic ranges of 8,147 strictly freshwater fish species (i.e., 63% of all known species). We found that, contrary to terrestrial organisms, for which climate and topography seem preponderant in determining species' range size, the geographic range sizes of freshwater fishes are mostly explained by the species' position within the river network, and by the historical connection among river basins during Quaternary low-sea-level periods. Large-ranged fish species inhabit preferentially lowland areas of river basins, where hydrological connectivity is the highest, and also are found in river basins that were historically connected. The disproportionately high explanatory power of these two drivers suggests that connectivity is the key component of riverine fish geographic range sizes, independent of any other potential driver, and indicates that the accelerated rates in river fragmentation might strongly affect fish species distribution and freshwater biodiversity.

An unusual umbilical venous connection to a left posterior intercostal vein.

A foetal echocardiogram, in a 27-week foetus referred for cardiomegaly, demonstrated dextrocardia, absence of the ductus venosus, and an unrestricted unusual umbilical venous drainage to a left posterior intercostal vein, which continued to left hemiazygos vein and drained into the coronary sinus. Progressive cardiomegaly led to early delivery. To the best of our knowledge, no case with similar umbilical venous drainage has been previously reported.

Natural gene therapy by reverse mosaicism leads to improved hematology in Fanconi anemia patients.

Fanconi anemia (FA) is characterized by chromosome fragility, bone marrow failure (BMF) and predisposition to cancer. As reverse genetic mosaicism has been described as "natural gene therapy" in patients with FA, we sought to evaluate the clinical course of a cohort of FA mosaic patients followed at referral centers in Spain over a 30-year period. This cohort includes patients with a majority of T cells without chromosomal aberrations in the DEB-chromosomal breakage test. Relative to non-mosaic FA patients, we observed a higher proportion of adult patients in the cohort of mosaics, with a later age of hematologic onset and a milder evolution of (BMF). Consequently, the requirement for hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) was also lower. Additional studies allowed us to identify a sub-cohort of mosaic FA patients in whom the reversion was present in bone marrow (BM) progenitor cells leading to multilineage mosaicism. These multilineage mosaic patients are older, have a lower percentage of aberrant cells, have more stable hematology and none of them developed leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome when compared to non-mosaics. In conclusion, our data indicate that reverse mosaicism is a good prognostic factor in FA and is associated with more favorable long-term clinical outcomes.

The Morpho-Functional Three-Dimensional Analysis for Zygomatic Implants: A Clinical Tool With Surgical Implications.

ABSTRACT: Zygomatic implants (ZIs) have been used successfully for the rehabilitation of jaws with severe atrophy for the past 2 decades. The development of computed tomography, three-dimensional (3D) analysis software, and stereolithographic models has positively impacted the development of preoperative planning. This article describes the protocol developed by the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of El Bosque University, Bogotá, Colombia, through 10 years of experience, for the installation of ZIs, covering from the times when the implants were placed through intraoperative guidance, until now, in which drilling guides developed by computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing are used, without neglecting in their design multiple factors that must be considered. To date, this protocol for the treatment of patients with atrophic jaws through ZIs includes a detailed clinical examination, in which variables such as bone and dental relationship between the jaws, oral opening and dynamic interaction between soft cervicofacial tissues are considered. It also includes a 3D computed tomography planning for the design and preparation of surgical guides whose insertion patterns must be executable during surgery. Together, clinical and imaging analysis converge in what it has been called morpho-functional 3D planning.

From structure to function in mutualistic interaction networks: Topologically important frugivores have greater potential as seed dispersers.

Networks of mutualistic interactions between animals and plants are considered a pivotal part of ecological communities. However, mutualistic networks are rarely studied from the perspective of species-specific roles, and it remains to be established whether those animal species more relevant for network structure also contribute more to the ecological functions derived from interactions. Here, we relate the contribution to seed dispersal of vertebrate species with their topological role in frugivore-plant interaction networks. For one year in two localities with remnant patches of Colombian tropical dry forest, we sampled abundance, morphology, behaviour and fruit consumption from fleshy-fruited plants of various frugivore species. We assessed the network topological role of each frugivore species by integrating their degree of generalization in interactions with plants with their contributions to network nestedness and modularity. We estimated the potential contribution of each frugivore species to community-wide seed dispersal, on the basis of a set of frugivore ecological, morphological and behavioural characteristics important for seed dispersal, together with frugivore abundance and frugivory degree. The various frugivore species showed strong differences in their network structural roles, with generalist species contributing the most to network modularity and nestedness. Frugivores also showed strong variability in terms of potential contribution to seed dispersal, depending on the specific combinations of frugivore abundance, frugivory degree and the different traits and behaviours. For both localities, the seed dispersal potential of a frugivore species responded positively to its contribution to network structure, evidencing that the most important frugivore species in the network topology were also those making the strongest contribution as seed dispersers. Contribution to network structure was correlated with frugivore abundance, diet and behavioural characteristics. This suggests that the species-level link between structure and function is due to the fact that the occurrence of frugivore-plant interactions depends largely on the characteristics of the frugivore involved, which also condition its ultimate role in seed dispersal.

Las redes de interacción mutualista entre animales y plantas son una parte esencial de las comunidades ecológicas. Sin embargo, este tipo de redes han sido poco estudiadas desde la perspectiva de los papeles específicos de las especies, y aún queda por discernir si los animales más relevantes en la estructura de las redes también contribuyen más a las funciones ecológicas derivadas de las interacciones. En este estudio, relacionamos la contribución de las especies de vertebrados como dispersores de semillas con su papel topológico en las redes frugívoro-planta. Durante un año, en dos localidades con remanentes de bosque tropical seco de Colombia, registramos la abundancia, morfología, comportamiento y el consumo de frutos carnosos de distintas especies de frugívoros. Evaluamos el papel que cada especie de frugívoro desempeña en la topología de la red, integrando su grado de generalización en las interacciones, con sus contribuciones al anidamiento y a la modularidad de la red. Estimamos la contribución potencial de cada especie de frugívoro como dispersor de semillas a nivel comunitario, a partir de un conjunto de características ecológicas, morfológicas y comportamentales influyentes en la dispersión de semillas, junto con la abundancia y su grado de frugivoría. Los frugívoros mostraron fuertes diferencias en sus papeles estructurales dentro de la red, donde las especies generalistas contribuyeron más al anidamiento y modularidad de la red. Los frugívoros también mostraron una gran variabilidad en su contribución potencial a la dispersión de semillas, dependiendo de las combinaciones específicas de abundancia, grado de frugivoría y diferentes rasgos y comportamientos. Para las dos localidades, el potencial de un frugívoro como dispersor de semillas dependió positivamente de su contribución a la estructura de la red, evidenciando que las especies frugívoras más importantes en la topología de la red fueron también las que mostraron mayor relevancia potencial como dispersores de semillas. La contribución a la estructura de la red se correlacionó con la abundancia, la dieta, los rasgos y el comportamiento. Esto sugiere que el vínculo entre estructura y función a nivel de especie se basa en que tanto la aparición de las interacciones frugívoro-planta, como el papel final de los animales como dispersores de semillas, dependen de las mismas características específicas de los frugívoros.

Fiber levels in laying quail diets.

The objective of this work was to determine the effect of inclusion levels of dietary fiber in the Japanese quail diets. 480 Japanese quail were distributed in a completely randomized design, with 5 treatments and 12 replicates composed of 8 birds each. The treatments were constituted by five increasing levels of fiber in the diet: 2.78; 3.08; 3.38; 3.68; 3.98%. The parameters of productive performance, water consumption, egg quality, total lipids in the egg, excreta humidity, weight of digestive organs and intestinal morphology were evaluated. There was no significant effect of the use of different fiber levels on feed intake, egg production, viability, live weight, relative and absolute weight of gizzard, small intestine and cecum, and in excreta moisture of Japanese quais. Higher dietary fiber levels resulted in improvements in feed conversion per mass and per dozen eggs and higher water consumption. There was no significant difference for egg quality, except fot the color of the yolk where it was observed higher pigmentation of this structure with higher levels of fiber inclusion, and the lipid concentration in the buds was influenced in a quadratic manner. The inclusion of fiber promoted improvement in the villi of the duodenum and cecum.

Anticancer molecular mechanisms of oleocanthal.

Cancer is among the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Current cancer therapies are associated with serious side effects, which further damage patients' health. Therefore, the search for new anticancer agents with no toxic effects on normal and healthy cells is of great interest. Recently, we and other groups have demonstrated that oleocanthal (OLC), a phenolic compound from extra virgin olive oil, exhibits antitumor activity in various tumor models. However, the underlying mechanisms and intracellular targets of OLC remain to be completely elucidated. This review summarizes the current advancers concerning the anticancer activity of OLC, with particular emphasis on the molecular signaling pathways modulated by this compound in different tumor cell types. The major mechanisms of action of OLC include modulation of the apoptotic pathway, the HGF/c-Met pathway, and the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathway, among others. Furthermore, OLC has synergistic effects with anticancer drugs in vitro. Also discussed are OLC bioavailability and its concentration in olive oil. Data summarized here will represent a database for more extensive studies aimed at providing information on molecular mechanisms against cancer induced by OLC.

Designing Microflowreactors for Photocatalysis Using Sonochemistry: A Systematic Review Article.

Use of sonication for designing and fabricating reactors, especially the deposition of catalysts inside a microreactor, is a modern approach. There are many reports that prove that a microreactor is a better setup compared with batch reactors for carrying out catalytic reactions. Microreactors have better energy efficiency, reaction rate, safety, a much finer degree of process control, better molecular diffusion, and heat-transfer properties compared with the conventional batch reactor. The use of microreactors for photocatalytic reactions is also being considered to be the appropriate reactor configuration because of its improved irradiation profile, better light penetration through the entire reactor depth, and higher spatial illumination homogeneity. Ultrasound has been used efficiently for the synthesis of materials, degradation of organic compounds, and fuel production, among other applications. The recent increase in energy demands, as well as the stringent environmental stress due to pollution, have resulted in the need to develop green chemistry-based processes to generate and remove contaminants in a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective manner. It is possible to carry out the synthesis and deposition of catalysts inside the reactor using the ultrasound-promoted method in the microfluidic system. In addition, the synergistic effect generated by photocatalysis and sonochemistry in a microreactor can be used for the production of different chemicals, which have high value in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. The current review highlights the use of both photocatalysis and sonochemistry for developing microreactors and their applications.

[Spawning aggregations of Tylosurus pacificus (Beloniformes: Belonidae) and their fishery in Utría Park, Colombian Pacific]. / Las agregaciones de desove de Tylosurus pacificus (Beloniformes: Belonidae) y su pesca en el Parque Nacional Natural Utría (Pacífico colombiano).

Some species of marine fish have complex relationships with coastal ecosystems during their reproductive periods, as the needle fish Tylosurus pacificus that forms spawning aggregations in gravel beaches in Utría Park. We described fishery and some aspects of the reproductive biology of T. pacificus and proposed some strategies to mitigate the impact of this event and associated ecological processes. Fisheries monitoring were conducted between April 2008 and February 2009 in the Utría National Park, Colombian Pacific. Catch volumes, length structure, sex ratio and fecundity (n= 84) were analyzed. The total length ranged among 60.5 and 104 cm with a mean and standard deviation of 85.35 ± 9.09 cm. The average fertility of oocytes per gonad was 189 685.56, with a mode of 8 mm diameter and an asynchronous gonadal development. This species spawns collectively on the beach when the tide reaches the highest level during full and new moon, usually in the evening. Fishermen of a near town take advantage of the spawning aggregation of this species. The reproduction study of T. pacificus and ecological processes associated with their spawning, should be expanded to give adequate use, and ensure the sustainability of their fishery over the long term.

Bioinformatic analysis of genotype by sequencing (GBS) data with NGSEP.

BACKGROUND: Therecent development and availability of different genotype by sequencing (GBS) protocols provided a cost-effective approach to perform high-resolution genomic analysis of entire populations in different species. The central component of all these protocols is the digestion of the initial DNA with known restriction enzymes, to generate sequencing fragments at predictable and reproducible sites. This allows to genotype thousands of genetic markers on populations with hundreds of individuals. Because GBS protocols achieve parallel genotyping through high throughput sequencing (HTS), every GBS protocol must include a bioinformatics pipeline for analysis of HTS data. Our bioinformatics group recently developed the Next Generation Sequencing Eclipse Plugin (NGSEP) for accurate, efficient, and user-friendly analysis of HTS data. RESULTS: Here we present the latest functionalities implemented in NGSEP in the context of the analysis of GBS data. We implemented a one step wizard to perform parallel read alignment, variants identification and genotyping from HTS reads sequenced from entire populations. We added different filters for variants, samples and genotype calls as well as calculation of summary statistics overall and per sample, and diversity statistics per site. NGSEP includes a module to translate genotype calls to some of the most widely used input formats for integration with several tools to perform downstream analyses such as population structure analysis, construction of genetic maps, genetic mapping of complex traits and phenotype prediction for genomic selection. We assessed the accuracy of NGSEP on two highly heterozygous F1 cassava populations and on an inbred common bean population, and we showed that NGSEP provides similar or better accuracy compared to other widely used software packages for variants detection such as GATK, Samtools and Tassel. CONCLUSIONS: NGSEP is a powerful, accurate and efficient bioinformatics software tool for analysis of HTS data, and also one of the best bioinformatic packages to facilitate the analysis and to maximize the genomic variability information that can be obtained from GBS experiments for population genomics.