An outsider on the Antarctic Peninsula: A new record of the non-native moth Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

We report the first record of the microlepidopteran Plodia interpunctella beyond the South Shetland Islands at the Chilean Yelcho scientific station (64°52'33.1428″ S; 63°35'1.9572″ W), Doumer Island, close to the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. It is notable that P. interpunctella, a globally distributed stored product pest species, exhibits a remarkable capacity for prolonged viability within food storage facilities. The dual challenges of food transportation and storage in the context of Antarctica's challenging operational conditions may have facilitated P. interpunctella's initial arrival to the Antarctic region. Non-perishable food items, such as grains, flour and rice, provide practical options for the bulk food transportation and storage required in the long-term operation of Antarctic research stations. The presence of P. interpunctella in Antarctica, even if restricted to synanthropic environments within buildings, is a clear threat to Antarctic biodiversity, not only through being an invasive species itself but also as a potential vector for other non-native species (bacteria, acari, between others.), which could carry diseases to the native species.

Subclinical hearing loss associated with aging.

Objective: Contribute to clarifying the existence of subclinical hearing deficits associated with aging. Design: In this work, we study and compare the auditory perceptual and electrophysiological performance of normal-hearing young and adult subjects (tonal audiometry, high-frequency tone threshold, a triplet of digits in noise, and click-evoked auditory brainstem response). Study sample: 45 normal hearing volunteers were evaluated and divided into two groups according to age. 27 subjects were included in the "young group" (mean 22.1 years), and 18 subjects (mean 42.22 years) were included in the "adult group." Results: In the perceptual tests, the adult group presented significantly worse tonal thresholds in the high frequencies (12 and 16 kHz) and worse performance in the digit triplet tests in noise. In the electrophysiological test using the auditory brainstem response technique, the adult group presented significantly lower I and V wave amplitudes and higher V wave latencies at the supra-threshold level. At the threshold level, we observed a significantly higher latency in wave V in the adult group. In addition, in the partial correlation analysis, controlling for the hearing level, we observed a relationship (negative) between age and speech in noise performance and high-frequency thresholds. No significant association was observed between age and the auditory brainstem response. Conclusion: The results are compatible with subclinical hearing loss associated with aging.

Revealing the hidden biodiversity of Antarctic and the Magellanic Sub-Antarctic Ecoregion: A comprehensive study of aquatic invertebrates from the BASE Project.

Background: Antarctica, its outlying archipelagoes and the Magellanic Subantarctic (MSA) ecoregion are amongst the last true wilderness areas remaining on the planet. Therefore, the publication, citation and peer review of their biodiversity data are essential. The new Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), a Chilean scientific initiative funded by the National Agency of Research and Innovation, contributes 770 new records of aquatic invertebrates as a point of reference for present-day biodiversity research at these latitudes. New information: The occurrence dataset presented here has never been released before and is the result of the systematic recording of occurrences of several taxa across the Antarctic, Subantarctic and Magellanic Subantarctic ecoregions. We collected data from marine and freshwater invertebrates across numerous samplings from 2008 to 2023. From the 770 occurrences, we identified 160 taxa, 125 at species level and 35 at the genus level. The database has been registered in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). The publication of this data paper was funded by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO, contract n°FR/36/AN1/AntaBIS) in the Framework of EU-Lifewatch as a contribution to the SCAR Antarctic biodiversity portal (biodiversity.aq).

Laevilacunaria (Mollusca, Gastropoda) in the Southern Ocean: A comprehensive occurrence dataset.

Background: The present dataset is a compilation of georeferenced occurrences of the littorinid genus Laevilacunaria Powell, 1951 (Mollusca, Gastropoda) in the Southern Ocean. Occurrence data were obtained from field expeditions (Antarctic and sub-Antarctic sampling) between 2015 and 2022, together with a review of published literature including records from 1887 to 2022. Three Laevilacunaria species have been recorded from the Southern Ocean: Laevilacunariabennetti, L.antarctica and L.pumilio. New information: The present dataset includes 75 occurrences, representing the most exhaustive database of this Antarctic and sub-Antarctic littorinid genus. The publication of this data paper was funded by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO, contract n°FR/36/AN1/AntaBIS) in the Framework of EU-Lifewatch as a contribution to the SCAR Antarctic biodiversity portal (biodiversity.aq).

Complete distribution of the genus Laevilitorina (Littorinimorpha, Littorinidae) in the Southern Hemisphere: remarks and natural history.

Littorinid snails are present in most coastal areas globally, playing a significant role in the ecology of intertidal communities. Laevilitorina is a marine gastropod genus distributed exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere, with 21 species reported from South America, the sub-Antarctic islands, Antarctica, New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania. Here, an updated database of 21 species generated from a combination of sources is presented: 1) new field sampling data; 2) published records; 3) the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and The Atlas of Living Australia (ALA), to provide a comprehensive description of the known geographic distribution of the genus and detailed occurrences for each of the 21 species. The database includes 813 records (occurrences), 53 from field sampling, 174 from the literature, 128 from GBIF, and 458 from ALA. West Antarctica had the highest species richness (8 species), followed by sub-Antarctic islands of New Zealand (4 species) and the south-east shelf of Australia (4 species). The provinces of Magellan, New Zealand South Island, and sub-Antarctic Islands of the Indian Ocean include two species each. This study specifically highlights reports of L.pygmaea and L.venusta, species that have been almost unrecorded since their description. Recent advances in molecular studies of L.caliginosa showed that this species does not correspond to a widely distributed taxon, but to multiple divergent lineages distributed throughout the Southern Ocean. Ongoing molecular and taxonomic studies are necessary for a better understanding of the diversity and biogeography of this genus.

Unveiling the unknown phylogenetic position of the scallop Austrochlamys natans and its implications for marine stewardship in the Magallanes Province.

Two species of scallop, Austrochlamys natans ("Ostión del Sur") and Zygochlamys patagonica ("Ostión patagonico") are presently exploited in the southern part of the Magallanes Province (MP). The lack of clarity in taxonomic identification and ecological aspects is generating both erroneous extraction statistics and an unperceived harvesting pressure on A. natans and Z. patagonica. We aim to discriminate these Magallanes scallops accurately, improve our understanding of their complex natural history and discuss possible implications for their management and conservation status, given the current fisheries statistics. To achieve these goals, we present a complete review of the historical identification of the Magallanes scallop and a multi-locus molecular phylogeny which allowed us to recover the phylogenetic position of A. natans. We sampled 54 individuals from five localities across the southern Pacific coast of the MP. We calculated the depth of the byssal notch (BND) and shell height (VH) ratio from morphological characters and conducted phylogenetic reconstructions with mitochondrial (12S and 16S) and nuclear markers (28S) using Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses. Both morphology and molecular phylogeny identified two distinct entities, Z. patagonica and a distinct, highly divergent lineage that corresponds to A. natans. Our study provides integrative evidence to alert the current fishery management and the need for further conservation studies.

Publisher Correction: Spatial distribution of freshwater crustaceans in Antarctic and Subantarctic lakes.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Distribution of the genus Boeckella (Crustacea, Copepoda, Calanoida, Centropagidae) at high latitudes in South America and the main Antarctic biogeographic regions.

Copepods are present in numerous aquatic environments, playing key roles in food webs, and are thought to be useful indicators of environmental change. Boeckella is a calanoid copepod genus distributed mainly in the Southern Hemisphere, with 14 species reported at higher southern latitudes in South America and Antarctica. We present an updated database of these 14 species of Boeckella generated from a combination of three sources: 1) new field sampling data, 2) published records, and 3) Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), to provide a comprehensive description of the geographic distribution of the genus south of latitude 40°S in southern South America and the three main terrestrial biogeographic regions of Antarctica. The database includes 380 records, 62 from field sampling, 278 from the literature and 40 from GBIF. Southern South America, including the Falkland/Malvinas Islands, had the highest species richness and number of records (14 and 297, respectively), followed by the sub-Antarctic islands (5 and 34), South Orkney Islands (2 and 14), South Shetland Islands (1 and 23), Antarctic Peninsula (1 and 10) and finally continental Antarctica (1 and 2). Boeckellapoppei Mrázek, 1901 is the only representative of the genus, and more widely the only terrestrial/freshwater invertebrate, currently reported from all three main biogeographic regions in Antarctica (sub-Antarctic islands, maritime and continental Antarctic). Future development of molecular systematic studies in this group should contribute to assessing the correspondence between morphological taxonomy and molecular evolutionary radiation.

Spatial distribution of freshwater crustaceans in Antarctic and Subantarctic lakes.

Antarctic and Subantarctic lakes are unique ecosystems with relatively simple food webs, which are likely to be strongly affected by climate warming. While Antarctic freshwater invertebrates are adapted to extreme environmental conditions, little is known about the factors determining their current distribution and to what extent this is explained by biogeography or climate. We explored the distribution of freshwater crustaceans (one of the most abundant and diverse group of organisms in Antarctic and Subantarctic lakes) across four biogeographic provinces (Continental Antarctic, CA; Maritime Antarctic, MA; Subantarctic islands, SA; and Southern Cool Temperate, SCT) based on the literature, predicting that species distribution would be determined by biogeography, spatial autocorrelation among regions (in relation to dispersal) and climate. We found that variation in species composition was largely explained by the joint effect of spatial autocorrelation and climate, with little effect of biogeography - only regions within the SA province had a clearly distinct species composition. This highlights a plausible main influence of crustacean dispersal - mainly through migratory seabirds - and suggests that some regions will be more affected by climate warming than others, possibly in relation to the existence of nearby sources of colonists.

Genetic structure and demographic inference of the regular sea urchin Sterechinus neumayeri (Meissner, 1900) in the Southern Ocean: The role of the last glaciation.

One of the most relevant characteristics of the extant Southern Ocean fauna is its resiliency to survive glacial processes of the Quaternary. These climatic events produced catastrophic habitat reductions and forced some marine benthic species to move, adapt or go extinct. The marine benthic species inhabiting the Antarctic upper continental shelf faced the Quaternary glaciations with different strategies that drastically modified population sizes and thus affected the amount and distribution of intraspecific genetic variation. Here we present new genetic information for the most conspicuous regular sea urchin of the Antarctic continental shelf, Sterechinus neumayeri. We studied the patterns of genetic diversity and structure in this broadcast-spawner across three Antarctic regions: Antarctic Peninsula, the Weddell Sea and Adélie Land in East Antarctica. Genetic analyses based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers suggested that S. neumayeri is a single genetic unit around the Antarctic continent. The species is characterized by low levels of genetic diversity and exhibits a typical star-like haplotype genealogy that supports the hypothesis of a single in situ refugium. Based on two mutation rates standardized for this genus, the Bayesian Skyline plot analyses detected a rapid demographic expansion after the Last Glacial Maximum. We propose a scenario of rapid postglacial expansion and recolonization of Antarctic shallow areas from a less ice-impacted refugium where the species survived the LGM. Considering the patterns of genetic diversity and structure recorded in the species, this refugium was probably located in East Antarctica.

O significado das limitações dos idosos para estudantes de Fisioterapia / The significance of elderly people’s limitations to physical therapy students

Esta pesquisa teve, como objetivo, investigar o significado das limitações físicas e sensoriais dos idosos para os estudantes do curso de Fisioterapia. Trata-se de pesquisa qualitativa realizada com 32 alunos com o procedimento de simulações das dificuldades físicas e sensoriais dos idosos num ambiente com obstáculos. Para a coleta de dados, aplicou-se uma entrevista não estruturada com análise pelo método hermenêutico-dialético. Foram constatados nove significados: valorização das pessoas idosas com atitudes positivas, angústia de ter limitações, conhecimento das limitações para um tratamento fisioterapêutico mais adequado, efeitos das limitações na realização das atividades cotidianas dos idosos, percepção do preconceito existente na sociedade, as pessoas não percebem que estão a envelhecer, obstáculos do ambiente para os idosos, superação das dificuldades cotidianas e percepção das dificuldades dos avós.(AU)

This research was objective investigate the significance of the physical and sensorial limitations of the elderly to Physical Therapy students. Qualitative research carried out with 32 students with simulation procedures of elderly people’s sensorial and physical limitations were used, in an environment with obstacles. Data were collected from non-structured interviews and analyzed by the hermeneutics-dialectical method. Nine significances were observed: the value of elderly people with positive attitudes, the agony of having limitations, awareness of the limitations and the need for more adequate physical therapeutic treatment, the effects of the limitations on the elderly people’s routine activities, perception of the existing prejudice in the society, not being aware that they are aging, environmental obstacles for the elderly, overcoming routine difficulties and perception of their grandparents’ difficulties.(AU)

O significado das limitações dos idosos para estudantes de Fisioterapia / The significance of elderly people’s limitations to physical therapy students

Esta pesquisa teve, como objetivo, investigar o significado das limitações físicas e sensoriais dos idosos para os estudantes do curso de Fisioterapia. Trata-se de pesquisa qualitativa realizada com 32 alunos com o procedimento de simulações das dificuldades físicas e sensoriais dos idosos num ambiente com obstáculos. Para a coleta de dados, aplicou-se uma entrevista não estruturada com análise pelo método hermenêutico-dialético. Foram constatados nove significados: valorização das pessoas idosas com atitudes positivas, angústia de ter limitações, conhecimento das limitações para um tratamento fisioterapêutico mais adequado, efeitos das limitações na realização das atividades cotidianas dos idosos, percepção do preconceito existente na sociedade, as pessoas não percebem que estão a envelhecer, obstáculos do ambiente para os idosos, superação das dificuldades cotidianas e percepção das dificuldades dos avós.

This research was objective investigate the significance of the physical and sensorial limitations of the elderly to Physical Therapy students. Qualitative research carried out with 32 students with simulation procedures of elderly people’s sensorial and physical limitations were used, in an environment with obstacles. Data were collected from non-structured interviews and analyzed by the hermeneutics-dialectical method. Nine significances were observed: the value of elderly people with positive attitudes, the agony of having limitations, awareness of the limitations and the need for more adequate physical therapeutic treatment, the effects of the limitations on the elderly people’s routine activities, perception of the existing prejudice in the society, not being aware that they are aging, environmental obstacles for the elderly, overcoming routine difficulties and perception of their grandparents’ difficulties.

Usos terapêuticos da toxina botulínica tipo A / Therapeutics uses of botulinum toxin A

O botulismo resulta quando os esporos do clostridium botulinum germinam, colonozam os intestinos onde produzem a toxina botulínica, a qual após absorçäo causa paralisia muscular flácida. O Clostridium botulinum é uma bactéria anaeróbica que produz sete cadeias imunológicamente distintas de neurotoxina, deniminadas A a G. Esta ativa e potencialmente letal toxina atua bloqueando a liberaçäo sináptica de acetilcolina dos terminais nervosos colinérgicos. A toxina exerce seus principais efeitos na junçäo neuromuscular, resultando na perda irreversível da placa motora terminal. O musculo é paralisado até que o nervo estabeleça o brotamento de novas junçöes. A toxina botulínica tipo A (TBA) é atualmente licenciada para uso no tratamento de ptose palpebral, espasmos faciais e torcicolo espasmódico. Contudo a TBAé mais amplamente utilizada clinicamente em adultos, particularmente no tratamento de distonias focais e espasticidade adquirida. A TBA tem também sido cada vez mais utilizada em crianças com paralisia cerebral. As paralisias cerebrais säo muito diferentes das distonias focais, particularmente em seu envolvimento com um amplo numero de grupo musculares. A hipertonia näo é freqüentemente o maior problema e a toxina botulínica pode exacerbar a perda do controle motor e a fraqueza que freqüentemente ocorre, a menos que o problema do controle motor seja a hipertonia focal. No entanto, existem numerosas questöes sem respostas: dosagens apropriadas e aspectos de segurança ainda requerem clareza. Novos trabalhos säo necessários para esclarecer as melhores respostas para a administraçäo de TBA, tanto em termos de grupos musculares quanto em subsistemas específicos dentro dos distúrbios motores da paralisia cerebral. A longo prazo permanece improvável se a estratégia atual de uso da TBA neste caminho é clínica e economicamente efetiva.(au)