Biomimetic Design of Turbine Blades for Ocean Current Power Generation.

The enhancement of energy technology and innovation play a crucial role in order to meet the challenges related to global warming in the coming decades. Inspired by bird wings, the performance of a bio-inspired blade assembled to a marine turbine model, is examined. Following a biomimetic pathway, the aerodynamic performance of the bird wings of the species Common Guillemot (Uria aalge) was tested in a wind tunnel laboratory. Based on our results, we derived a bio-inspired blade model by following a laser scanning method. Lastly, the bio-inspired blades were assembled to a marine turbine model and tested in a large flow tank facility. We found efficiencies (Cp) up to 0.3 which is around 53% of the maximum power that can be expected from the turbine model according to the Betz approach. Our findings are analyzed in the discussion section as well as considerations for future research.

Multisystemic eosinophilia resembling hypereosinophilic syndrome in a colony-bred owl monkey (Aotus vociferans).

In animals, multisystemic eosinophilic disease is a rare condition characterized by eosinophilic and lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates in various organs. This disorder resembles the human disease known as hypereosinophilic syndrome, a condition defined by prolonged peripheral eosinophilia in the absence of recognizable etiology and associated with end-organ damage. In this report we describe a research-naïve, colony-born, juvenile female owl monkey (Aotus vociferans) who presented clinically with severe respiratory distress and histologically with multiple end-organ infiltration with phenotypically mature eosinophils, plasma cells, and lymphocytes. No tumors or infectious agents were noted either macroscopically or microscopically. Cultures from lung samples revealed no bacteria or fungi. Histologic examination of lung, heart, thymus, liver, spleen, kidney, adrenal, pancreas, stomach, small intestine, and colon revealed no migrating nematode larvae, other parasites, or foreign material that might trigger eosinophilia, nor was there any evidence of or history consistent with an allergic etiology. Given that we ruled out most exogenous and endogenous triggers of eosinophilia, the signs, symptoms, and pathologic findings support the diagnosis of multisystemic eosinophilic disease. To our knowledge, this report is the first description of presumptive hypereosinophilic syndrome in a nonhuman primate.

Dyscoria associated with herpesvirus infection in owl monkeys (Aotus nancymae).

"Dyscoria was noted in a female owl monkey and 2 of her offspring. The third offspring was found dead with necrohemorrhagic encephalitis. Two male monkeys paired with the female died, 1 of which showed oral ulcers at necropsy. Histologic examination of the oral ulcers revealed syncytia and eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies in epithelial cells. Ocular examination revealed posterior synechia associated with the dyscoria in all 3 animals. Serum samples from the female and her offspring were positive for Herpesvirus simplex antibodies by ELISA. The clinical history, gross and microscopic lesions, and serology results suggests a herpesviral etiology, possibly H. simplex or H. saimiri 1. This report underscores the risks associated with introducing into breeding or research colonies animals that previously were kept as pets or those from unknown origin that could carry asymptomatic pathogenic Herpesvirus infections. In addition, herpesviral infection should be considered among the differential diagnoses if dyscoria is noted in nonhuman primates."

Relationship of creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and proteinuria to cardiomyopathy in the owl monkey (Aotus vociferans).

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine serum reference values for creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in captive-born and wild-caught owl monkeys to assess their usefulness for diagnosing myocardial disease. METHODS: Blood samples were collected for CK, AST and LDH determinations. In addition, urine samples were collected and semiquantitative tests performed. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between CK, AST and LDH when comparing both groups. However, when comparing monkeys with proteinuria to those without proteinuria, a statistically significant difference in CK value was observed (P = 0.021). In addition the CK/AST ratio revealed that 29% of the animals included in this study had values suggesting cardiac infarction. Grossly, cardiac concentric hypertrophy of the left ventricle and small, pitted kidneys were the most common findings. Microscopically, myocardial fibrosis, contraction band necrosis, hypertrophy and hyperplasia of coronary arteries, medium-sized renal arteries and afferent glomerular arteriolae were the most significant lesions, along with increased mesangial matrix and hypercellularity of glomeruli, Bowman's capsule and peritubular space fibroplasia. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that CK, AST and LDH along with urinalysis provide a reliable method for diagnosing cardiomyopathies in the owl monkey. In addition, CK/AST ratio, proteinuria and the observed histological and ultrastructural changes suggest that Aotus vociferans suffer from arterial hypertension and chronic myocardial infarction.

[Tuberculous pericarditis. Ten years experience]. / Pericarditis tuberculosa. Experiencia de 10 años.

We review the clinical files of patients who entered the Regional General Hospital No. 20 IMSS in the City of Tijuana Mexico between May 1994 and May 2004 with diagnosis of primary acute pericardial disease. Patients diagnosed as having active tuberculous pericardial effusion were eligible for the study. Twenty-one were included in the study (14 men and 7 women). The aged ranged from 16 to 48 years (mean 36 years). The diagnosis was made by the following studies: identification of tubercle bacilli in the pericardial fluid or tissue (n = 4), identification of caseating granulomas in the pericardium or elsewhere (n = 2), positive culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in pericardial fluid (n = 8), in pleural fluid (n = 1), sputum culture (n = 3), gastric aspirate samples (n = 1), lymph node biopsy (n = 1), and pericardial effusion without obvious cause, responding to antituberculous therapy (n = 5). The clinical, laboratory, electrocardiography, radiographic, and echocardiography features were analyzed. We review in each patient follow-up, pericardial fluid cytology, and pericardial biopsy, if available. All patients had pericardial effusion; nine (42.8%) patients had cardiac tamponade. Pericardiocentesis was performed in 16 patients, "therapeutic" pericardiocentesis was performed in 43.7%, and "diagnostic" pericardiocentesis was performed in 56.2% all cases. Constrictive pericarditis developed in two patients, all required partial pericardiectomy. All patients received triple antituberculous chemotherapy. No patient died.

Pericarditis tuberculosa: experiencia de 10 años / Tuberculous pericarditis: ten years experience

We review the clinical files of patients who entered the Regional General Hospital No. 20 IMSS in the City of Tijuana Mexico between May 1994 and May 2004 with diagnosis of primary acute pericardial disease. Patients diagnosed as having active tuberculous pericardial effusion were eligible for the study. Twenty-one were included in the study (14 men and 7 women). The aged ranged from 16 to 48 years (mean 36 years). The diagnosis was made by the following studies: identification of tubercle bacilli in the pericardial fluid or tissue (n = 4), identification of caseating granulomas in the pericardium or elsewhere (n = 2), positive culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in pericardial fluid (n = 8), in pleural fluid (n = 1), sputum culture (n = 3), gastric aspirate samples (n = 1), lymph node biopsy (n = 1), and pericardial effusion without obvious cause, responding to antituberculous therapy (n = 5). The clinical, laboratory, electrocardiography, radiographic, and echocardiography features were analyzed. We review in each patient follow-up, pericardial fluid cytology, and pericardial biopsy, if available. All patients had pericardial effusion; nine (42.8%) patients had cardiac tamponade. Pericardiocentesis was performed in 16 patients, [quot ]therapeutic[quot ] pericardiocentesis was performed in 43.7%, and [quot ]diagnostic[quot ] pericardiocentesis was performed in 56.2% all cases. Constrictive pericarditis developed in two patients, all required partial pericardiectomy. All patients received triple antituberculous chemotherapy. No patient died.

Descripción de las características epidemiológicas en 1.000 pacientes con enfermedad coronaria

En Colombia las enfermedades cardiovasculares son la primera causa natural de morbi-mortalidad en la población adulta. Sin embargo, aun no conocemos el comportamiento epidemiológico de nuestros pacientes con enfermedad coronaria y los esfuerzos en prevención primaria y secundaria están apenas comenzando. El presente estudio analiza en forma descriptiva las características epidemiológicas de un grupo de 1.000 pacientes que ingresaron al Centro de Prevención de la Enfermedad Cardiovascular de la Clínica A. Shaio luego de presentar algún evento coronario. Se analiza edad, sexo, tipo de evento coronario, tipo de procedimiento de revascularización, función ventricular y la frecuencia de los factores de riesgo coronarios. Se concluye que las características epidemiológicas de nuestros pacientes concuerdan con las reportadas en la literatura internacional, predominando en frecuncia la diSlipidemia y específicamente los niveles altos de colesterol de baja densidad como factor de riesgo más frecuente. Del grupo analizado 340 pacientes tenían más de 4 factores de riesgo, 312 dos a cuatro factores asociados, 322 tuvieron dos factores solamente y 26 pacientes tuvieron un solo factor de riesgo concomitante con la enfermedad coronaria demostrada por arteriografìa en 978 pacientes (97,8 porciento)

Utilización de hematies de primates sudamericanos en la prueba inhibición de hemaglutinación para el diagnóstico del virus del sarampión / Utilization of hematies

La utilización del empleo de hematies de especies sudamericanas de primates no humanos durante pruebas de hemaglutinación e inhibición de la hemaglutinación con virus sarampión ha sido evaluada. El estudio se llevó a cabo en 18 meses, habiéndose iniciado a fines de 1995 y terminado a comienzos de 1997. Se obtuvo muestras de sangre de primates en solución citratada, en la sede del Instituto de Investigaciones Tropicales y de Altura en Iquitos (IVITA) y en el Parque de las Leyendas en Lima; el procesamiento se realizó en el laboratorio de Virología del instituto Nacional de Salud. Se analizaron muestras de 22 primates de 8 especies de la Amazonía peruana, probándolos en paralelo con hematíes patrón de monos. Rhesus y Cercophitecus, por hemaglutinación con antígeno purificado de virus sarampión. Las especies Saimiri boliviensis peruvianus y Sanguinus mystax exhibieron afinidad hemaglutinante con el virus, siendo ésta parcial o imcompleta y no persistente, con elusión espontánea a los 30 minutos. Se hizo ensayos de inhibición de hemaglutinación con sueros pareados de personas que estuvieron con infección sarampionosa 10 a 15 días de obtener la segunda muestra. No se recomienda su empleo rutinario durante encuestas serológicas por IHA, dados los sesgos en lecturas e interpretación que podrían presentarse

Comparative study of lactate dehydrogenase in fifteen genera of New World monkeys

Electrophoretic variation of LDH was investigated in 3,200 specimens belonging to 28 species and 15 genera of New World monkeys. A small sample of (Old World) Cercopithecus aethiops was also tested for comparison. Variation was observed in seven species, five alleles being detected for both LDHA and LDHB loci. The frequency of the variant alleles was low in almost all species, the exceptions being Callithrix kuhli and Callithrix jacchus penicillata, in which the LDHA*5 allele showed frequencies of 47 per cent and 60 per cent, respectively. In the monomorphic patterns the B4 and A4 bands were the same in all fifteen genera, but differences were observed in the B3A1, B2A2 and BlA3 hybrid bands. Furthermore, only the B4 band was shared by humans, Old World and New World monkeys. An important marker was found in the genus Cebus, which clearly distinguishes the "tufted" and "untufted" groups.

Variaciones circadianas de la tensión arterial y eventos isquémicos silenciosos del miocardio, en pacientes tratados con amlodipino o verapamilo-SR 240 de liberación retardada

Se compara el efecto de dos fármacos hipotensores, el amlodipino y el verapamilo en presentación de liberación retardada (SR), sobre el ritmo circadiano de la tensión arterial y la presencia de fenómenos isquémicos asintomáticos en hipertensos. Se estudiaron 43 pacientes, 22 que recibían amlodipino y 21 verapamilo, que cumplieron el criterio de inclusión de haber permanecido clínicamente controlados durante más de 3 semanas consecutivas, mientras recibían tratamiento. Al completar tres semanas de adecuado control clínico, se practicó monitoreo ambulatorio de la tensión arterial por 24 horas y prueba de Holter. El grupo que recibió amlodipino mostró mejor control tanto en las cifras sistólicas (38.5 por ciento vs 22.7 por ciento) como en las diastólicas (31.9 vs 26.1 por ciento). El área bajo la curva de las cifras tensionales fue menor en el grupo de amlodipino con diferencias estadísticamente significativas (Anova Random Block Test, p<0.001). Tres pacientes en el grupo de verapamilo, mostraon signos de isquemia silenciosa, los cuales fueron controlados al pasarlos a amlodipino. Uno del grupo de amlodipino mostró signos de isquemia silenciosa que mejoró al subir la dosis de 5 a 10 mg/día. Los resultados del estudio muestran que si bien los dos fármacos tienen buen efecto hipotensor, el grupo tratado con amlodipino tuvo un mejor control de la tensión arterial durante el monitoreo ambulatorio de 24 horas

Protein electrophoretic variability in Saimiri and the question of its species status.

An electrophoretic survey of 15 protein systems (22 loci) was employed to determine the genetic relationships among 9 populations (441 individuals) of South American squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus sciureus, S. sciureus boliviensis, and S. sciureus ustus). Genetic markers capable of differentiating the second from the two other taxa were observed mainly in the ADA and GPI systems. Heterogeneity for ADA and CA2 between populations from opposite banks of the Jamari river was verified in S. sciureus ustus. The average heterozygosities ranged from 3% to 5%, the lowest being in S. sciureus sciureus and the highest in S. sciureus boliviensis. Low genetic distances (D = 0.001-0.057) were observed between populations within taxa or between S. sciureus sciureus and S. sciureus ustus. But both differed to a larger extent from S. sciureus boliviensis (D = 0.11 in both comparisons). There is a positive correlation between the genetic and geographic distance matrices. The three taxa are more clearly separated (D = 0.76-0.77) from the outgroup used for comparison (Cebus apella). Our data suggest that there is only one large, polytypic species of squirrel monkeys in South America, S. sciureus, forming a contiguous ring of geographical races or subspecies. Two of the most differentiated forms meet at the Peruvian Amazonia where natural hybrids and secondary intergradation have been reported. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

ABO blood groups in two species of peruvian night monkeys (Aotus nancymai and Aotus vociferans)

Foram coletadas amostras de sangue e saliva de 93 animais da espécie Aotus nancymai e 20 de A. vociferans. As amostras de saliva foram testadas para a presença de antígenos ABH humanos, através do teste convencional de inibiçäo da hemaglutinaçäo, o qual nos permitiu classificar 21 A. nancymai e 10 A. vociferans como sendo do grupo B e 72 A. nancymai e 10 A. vociferans como pertencentes ao grupo O. Amostras de soro foram utilizadas para detectar aglutininas naturais do sistema ABO. Os resultados mostraram algumas discrepâncias entre os fenótipos séricos e salivares, como também sugeriram a existência de anticorpos anti-A1 nessas espécies

Reproduction of the owl monkey (Aotus nancymai) (primates:Cebidae) in captivity.

There are few reports and poorly documented field studies about the reproductive biology of the owl monkey (Aotus spp.). Reproductive data were collected from a breeding colony of owl monkeys (Aotus nancymai) held at the Center for Reproduction and Conservation of Non-Human Primates in Iquitos, Peru, for the past 10 years. Seventy nine breeding pairs have produced 180 offspring in a period of 3,619 months, representing an average of about one offspring for every 20 months that a pair was housed together. Neonatal mortality in the first week was 7.1%. Litter size was almost one (99.4%). The mean age at first birth in a group of nine females born in captivity was 40.56 ± 7.82 (S.D.) months. The mean age of a group of 12 males born in the colony when their female mates produced offspring was 42.17 ± 10.73 (S.D.) months. Gestation length did not exceed 141 days. Interbirth interval averaged 12.72 months. A birth peak was observed from October to January. Breeding Aotus nancymai on a large scale in captivity is feasible.