Infection of the muscle tissue of the filter-feeding cichlid, Chaetobranchopsis orbicularis Steindachner, 1875, by Kudoa orbicularis (Myxozoa: Multivalvulidae) on Marajó Island in the Brazilian Amazon region / Infecção por Kudoa orbicularis (Myxozoa: Multivalvulidae) na musculatura de Chaetobranchopsis orbicularis Steindachner, 1875, oriundo da Ilha de Marajó na região Amazônica do Brasil

This study describes aspects of infections caused by the myxosporidian Kudoa orbicularis in filter-feeding cichlids, Chaetobranchopsis orbicularis, caught in the Arari River in the municipality of Cachoeira do Arari, on Marajó Island, Pará, Brazil. The parasite forms pseudocysts scattered throughout the striated epaxial and hypaxial muscles. Samples embedded in paraffin were analyzed histologically using hematoxylin-eosin, Gömöri, Ziehl-Neelsen, and Giemsa staining. Necropsy of the C. orbicularis specimens revealed that 100% (50/50) were infected with K. orbicularis. The specimens presented grossly abnormal muscle texture, resulting in extensive inconsistencies and weakness. Progressive softening of the muscles was observed during necropsy, indicating the rapid enzymatic autolysis of the tissue. The parasite found in the muscle tissue of C. orbicularis was identified as K. orbicularis, with clinical signs of disease being observed in the fish. The necropsy revealed extensive damage to the host organism, with well-established fibrocystic infections in the muscle fibers, associated with post mortem myoliquefaction.(AU)

O presente estudo descreve os aspectos histopatológicos de infecção causada por mixosporídio da espécie Kudoa orbicularis, o qual forma pseudocistos dispersos em toda a musculatura estriada esquelética, epi e hipoaxial, de Chaetobranchopsis orbicularis, capturados no Rio Arari, município de Cachoeira do Arari, Ilha do Marajó, Pará. Foram realizadas as técnicas histológicas de impregnação em parafina, utilizando-se as colorações de hematoxilina-eosina, Gomori, Ziehl-Neelsen e Giemsa. As análises necroscópicas dos espécimes de C. orbicularis revelaram 100% (50/50) de infecção por K. orbicularis. Os espécimes apresentavam macroscopicamente musculatura com características anormais de textura, se mostrava inconsistente e frágil. Durante a necropsia, pôde ser observado um progressivo amolecimento da musculatura, o que demonstra um rápido processo enzimático autolítico. Com base nos achados descritos neste trabalho, caracterizou-se uma infecção da musculatura de C. orbicularis por K.orbicularis, com demonstração de sinais clínicos de doença no peixe; os achados necroscópicos mostraram danos ao organismo hospedeiro, com instalação de infecção fibrosística nas fibras musculares, associada com uma mioliquefação post mortem.(AU)

Highly efficient enzymatic preparation of isomalto-oligosaccharides from starch using an enzyme cocktail

Background: Current commercial production of isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMOs) commonly involves a lengthy multistage process with low yields. Results: To improve the process efficiency for production of IMOs, we developed a simple and efficient method by using enzyme cocktails composed of the recombinant Bacillus naganoensis pullulanase produced by Bacillus licheniformis, α-amylase from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, barley bran ß-amylase, and α-transglucosidase from Aspergillus niger to perform simultaneous saccharification and transglycosylation to process the liquefied starch. After 13 h of reacting time, 49.09% IMOs (calculated from the total amount of isomaltose, isomaltotriose, and panose) were produced. Conclusions: Our method of using an enzyme cocktail for the efficient production of IMOs offers an attractive alternative to the process presently in use.

Efecto de la cámara de recuento utilizada sobre los parámetros espermáticos, analizados con el ISASv1® / Effect of counting chamber on seminal parameters, analyzing with the ISASv1®

Introducción: El uso de las cámaras de recuento condiciona los valores de concentración y movilidad espermática debido a su tipo de carga (capilaridad o desplazamiento de la gota) y a la altura que presenten. Recientemente, se han introducido nuevas cámaras, tanto desechables (ISAS®D4C) como reusables (Spermtrack®) con diversas alturas en cada caso. Objetivo: El objetivo del presente trabajo es validar su uso, analizando diversos parámetros espermáticos con un sistema CASA, el ISASv1®. Material y método: Se analizaron muestras de donantes voluntarios (10 para las desechables y 5 para las reusables), analizando el efecto del tipo de cámara, de la altura, del tiempo de carga y del tiempo de análisis. Resultados: Los resultados obtenidos no mostraron diferencias significativas con el tiempo de carga para las cámaras reusables ni con el tiempo de análisis en ninguna de las cámaras. Discusión: La cámara reusable de 10 μm y las desechables de 10, 16 y 20 μm no mostraron diferencias entre sí, mientras que la reusable de 20 μm presentó resultados significativamente diferentes con respecto a las demás, por lo que su uso (siguiendo la recomendación de la Organización Mundial de la Salud) debe hacerse teniendo en cuenta este hecho. Conclusión: Las nuevas cámaras ofrecen un resultado muy homogéneo, con independencia del tiempo de carga o de análisis (AU)

Introduction: The use of counting chambers conditions the sperm concentration and motility values by their type of filling (capillary or drop displacement) and chamber height. We have recently introduced new chambers, both disposable (ISAS®D4C) and reusable (Spermtrack®), with different heights in each case. Objective: This study has aimed to validate its use by analyzing different sperm parameters with a CASA system, that is, the ISASv1®. Material and method: Samples from volunteer donors (10 for the disposable and 5 for reusable), analyzing the effect of chamber type, height, filling and analysis time, were used. Results: The results obtained showed no differences within the filling time for the reusable chambers, or the analysis time in any cases. Discussion: The 10 microns reusable chamber and disposable, 10, 16 and 20 microns showed no differences between them. However, the reusable 20 microns showed significantly different results, so its use (as recommended by WHO) should be taking this into account. Conclusion: The new chambers offer very consistent results, independent of filling or time of analysis (AU)

Necrosis licuefactiva del anillo mitral / Liquefactive necrosis of the mitral ring

La necrosis licuefactiva del anillo valvular mitral se describe como una forma rara de calcificación perianular con un aspecto característico. Suele tratarse de un hallazgo ecográfico incidental que en la tomografía computarizada aparece típicamente como una masa semilunar hipodensa o hiperdensa con un margen de mayor densidad y situada en la zona posterior del anulus. El uso habitual de la TCMD hace que esta entidad se identifique cada vez con más frecuencia, y es importante familiarizarse con ella para evitar errores diagnósticos. Presentamos 3 casos de necrosis licuefactiva del anillo mitral, uno de ellos confirmado quirúrgicamente, y se discuten sus características de imagen y diagnóstico diferencial (AU)

Liquefactive necrosis of the mitral ring is a rare type of periannular calcification that has a characteristic appearance. It is usually discovered incidentally during echocardiography. On CT, it typically appears as a hypointense or hyperintense semilunar mass with margins of greater density that is situated in the area behind the annulus. The routine use of MDCT has led to increasing detection of this entity, and it is important for radiologists to be familiar with these findings to avoid diagnostic errors. We present three cases of liquefactive necrosis of the mitral ring, one of which was confirmed at surgery. We discuss the imaging characteristics and differential diagnosis of this entity (AU)

Presentación de un caso de paniculitis pancreática y revisión de la bibliografía / Pancreatic panniculitis. Report of a case and rewiev of literature

La paniculitis pancreática es una complicación poco común de ciertas enfermedades pancreáticas, resultado de la necrosis por licuefacción del tejido celular subcutáneo, y que en ocasiones puede constituir el primer indicio de una patología pancreática. Presentamos un caso en el que las lesiones de paniculitis pancreática precedieron en varios días a una reagudización de una paniculitis pancreática crónica ya conocida

Pancreatic panniculitis is an uncommon complication of pancreatic disease, which is characterized by liquefactive necrosis of the subcutaneous fat and may constitute the first evidence of a pancreatic illness. Herein, we report a case where cutaneous lesions of pancreatic disease were recognized prior to detection of an acute episode of a known chronic pancreatitis

3-=Tres Dimensional istinct element simulation of liquefaction phenoma

The mechanism of liquefaction pehnomenon at microscopic level is studied using 3-Dimensional Distinct Element Model (3D-DEM) in which the effects of pore-water are directly considered using a simple algorithm. In this method, the region of DE simulation model, which is composed of many particle elements, is considered as an assembly of cubic shaped blocks having virtual boundary. Behavoir of pore-water is calculated usign each block as a unit volume in order to make the calculation algorithm simple. We applied the method to the hollow cylindrical torsion test and san boiling due to liquefaction. The simulation results obtained showed that the proposed 3-Dimensional Distinct Element Method can simulate the mechanism of liquefaction and its associated phenomena. (AU)

Section 3 : Geotechnical effects

The geotechnical aspects of the August 17, 1999 Marmara earthquake were investigated by a Geotechnical Reconnaissance Team supported by the National Science Foundation. A report on the results of this reconnaissance will appear in a special issue of Earthquake Spectra published by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute. Key geotechnical findings and conclusions from the forthcoming Earthquake Spectra report are presented in summary form here

Liquefaction, ground deformation and their related damage to structures

This paper introduces an outline of liquefaction, its induced ground deformation and damage to lifeline facilities and foundations of buildings and bridge piles during the 1995 Hyogoken-nambu (Kobe) earthquake. Characteristics of ground displacement andstrain measured by aerial survey are described. Some typical examples of large ground displacements are presented and a casual relationship of damage to buried pipes and foundation piles with the ground displacements is investigated. In addition, the present paper introduces several examples of foundations proved to have resited against the liquefaction and its induced ground displacements during the earthquake. (AU)

Earthquake response analysis of the Higashi-Kobe bridge

This paper presents results of observation and analysis fo the response of onte of the longest cable-stayed bridges in the world to the Hygoken-nambu (Kobe) eathquake of January 17, 1995. It is determined that intercation of the foundations of the bridge towers with the supporting soil plays a decisive role in the overall structural behavior. The key factor governing the changes of the soil properties at this site is pore water pressure builup, which results in liquefaction of the saturated surface soil layers unde large dynamic loads. Models of the soil and structure are created and initially validated by accurately simulating the system response to a small eathquake. Soil parameters reflecting the pore-water pressure builup in the strong eathquake are determied by advanced nonlinear effective stress analysis, combining the Ramberg-Osgood model of stress-strain dependence with a pore pressure model based on shear work concept. They are utilized to investigate and simulate the interaction of the foundation and the supporting soil using the program SASSI with the flexible volume substructuring approach. The results show a good agreement with the observations and have useful implications to the scientific and engineering practice. (AU)

Guide to remedial measures for liquefaction mitigation at existing highway bridge sites

This document deals with the methodologies that were developed to assess liquefaction risk at existing highway bridges, select appropriate ground and/or foundation improvement methods to reduce the risk of damage, design the improvements, and verify that these improvements had been achieved in the field. The report describes the methodologies developed, methodologies to assess liquefaction risks are presented in flowchart form, progressing from simple to more complex methods. A number of remediation methods are considered, including grouting compaction, vibro systems, surcharge and buttress fills, reinforcement and containment, vertical drains and underpinning. Relevant information is summarized from some numerical and laboratory (shaking table centrifuge tests) studies conducted by other researchers on the performance of liquefaction remediation

Site factors and site categories in seismic codes

The report discusses some of the evidence on amplification of earthquake motions due to local soils which culminated in the new definitions of site categories and site coefficients, Fa and Fv, incorporated, first in the 1994 NEHRP Recommended Provissions for Seismic Regulations for New Buildings, and more recently in the 1997 NEHRP and compared to previous code. These site categories and site coefficients are described and compared to previous code provisions. Preliminary results of recent studies are discussed including averages and ranges of site coefficients calculated from recordings of the 1994 Northridge earthquake, which generally validate the 1994 NEHRP values. The possibility of performing similar calculations of site coefficients from available recordings pf the 1995 Kobe, Japan earthquake is also discussed. Use of the low period site coefficient, Fa, in conjunction with de-aggreagated measures of the seismic codes. Areas needing further research are suggested. Finally, it is recommended that the seismic design provisions contained in the 1996 AASHTO Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges be updated to be consistent with the 1994 and 1997 NEHRP and 1997 UBC provisions for site categories and site coefficients

Informe final : Acueducto de Orosi : Sub-estudio de la vulnerabilidad sísmica de la conducción : El LLano a Tres Ríos, provincia de Cartago, Costa Rica

Este estudio esta dirigido a investigar la vulnerabilidad sísmica de la conducción del Acueducto Orosí del embalse El Llano plantel del tratamiento del agua en Tres Ríos, provincia de Cartago, Costa Rica. La vulnerabilidad estudiada en el informe incluyó el estudio de fallas sísmicas, estudio de licuefacción y estudio de taludes