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plasmodium relictum (lineages psgs1 and pgrw11): complete synchronous sporogony in mosquitoes culex pipiens pipiens.plasmodium relictum is a widespread invasive agent of avian malaria, responsible for acute, chronic and debilitating diseases in many species of birds. recent pcr-based studies revealed astonishing genetic diversity of avian malaria parasites (genus plasmodium), with numerous genetic lineages deposited in genbank. many studies addressed distribution and evolutionary relationships of avian plasmodium lineages, but information about patterns of development of different lineages in mosquito vectors ...201323337824
heterospecific exposure affects the development of secondary sexual traits in male zebra finches (taeniopygia guttata).in many animal species, social signals can affect the reproductive physiology and behaviour of conspecifics. in a few species that exhibit vocal learning, exposure to conspecific and sometimes heterospecific sounds can also influence their vocal development. here we show that heterospecific exposure can affect the development of secondary sexual traits of male zebra finches (taeniopygia guttata). in a first experiment, we trained young males with a passive playback of domesticated canary (serinu ...201323298888
hvc lesions modify immediate early gene expression in auditory forebrain regions of female songbirds.it is well established that auditory forebrain regions of oscine birds are essential for the encoding of species-typical songs and are, therefore, vital for recognition of song during sociosexual interactions. regions such as the caudal medial nidopallium (ncm) and the caudal medial mesopallium (cmm) are involved in perceptual processing of song and the formation of auditory memories. there is an additional telencephalic nucleus, however, that has also been implicated in species recognition. thi ...201323076815
identification of shiga toxin and intimin genes in escherichia coli detected from canary (serinus canaria domestica).the pathogenicity of enterohemorrhagic escherichia coli (ehec) strains is, in large part, due to shiga toxin (stx) genes (stx1 and stx2) and/or intimin (eae) gene. the purpose of this study was to analyze the role of domestic canaries (serinus canaria domestica) as a reservoir of stx and intimin producing strains of e. coli. for this study, a total of 50 cloacal swabs were collected from 50 healthy domestic canaries. cloacal swabs were cultured and tested using standard methods of microbiology. ...201423047613
a species-specific view of song representation in a sensorimotor nucleus.songbirds constitute a powerful model system for the investigation of how complex vocal communication sounds are represented and generated, offering a neural system in which the brain areas involved in auditory, motor and auditory-motor integration are well known. one brain area of considerable interest is the nucleus hvc. neurons in the hvc respond vigorously to the presentation of the bird's own song and display song-related motor activity. in the present paper, we present a synthesis of neuro ...201322960663
bilateral coordination and the motor basis of female preference for sexual signals in canary song.the preference of female songbirds for particular traits in the songs of courting males has received considerable attention, but the relationship of preferred traits to male quality is poorly understood. female domestic canaries (serinus canaria, linnaeus) preferentially solicit copulation with males that sing special high repetition rate, wide-band, multi-note syllables, called 'sexy' or a-syllables. syllables are separated by minibreaths but each note is produced by pulsatile expiration, allow ...201222875764
amplitude modulation of sexy phrases is salient for song attractiveness in female canaries (serinus canaria).song discrimination and recognition in songbird species have usually been studied by measuring responses to song playbacks. in female canaries, serinus canaria, copulation solicitation displays (csds) are used as an index of female preferences, which are related to song recognition. despite the fact that many studies underline the role of song syntax in this species, we observed that short segments of songs (a few seconds long) are enough for females to discriminate between conspecific and heter ...201222476242
cloacal fibrosarcoma in a canary (serinus canaria).a 1-year-old, male canary (serinus canaria) with a history of an enlarged abdomen of several days duration died acutely and was submitted for necropsy. results revealed a yellow to tan hard mass, 2 cm in diameter, adherent to the cloacal wall. histologically, the mass was composed of interlacing bundles of pleomorphic spindle cells with numerous and bizarre mitotic figures. neoplastic cells were positive for vimentin and negative for desmin and actin and showed ultrastructural features (dilated ...201122458183
food conditions affect yolk testosterone deposition but not incubation attendance.in many bird species with hatching asynchrony, yolk androgens increase across the laying sequence. this has been hypothesized to represent a compensatory mechanism for disadvantages of later-hatching chicks - via positive effects of yolk androgens on early competitiveness and growth. however, the costs and benefits of this compensatory strategy probably depend on environmental factors determining the survival chances of the chicks such as the food conditions, which should, therefore, influence m ...201222265816
the zebra finch paradox: song is little changed, but number of neurons doubles.new neurons are added to the high vocal center (hvc) of adult males in seasonally breeding songbirds such as the canary (serinus canaria) that learns new songs in adulthood, and the song sparrow (melospiza melodia) that does not. in both cases, the new neurons numerically replace others that have died, resulting in a seasonal fluctuation in hvc volume and neuron number. peaks in neuronal replacement in both species occur in the fall when breeding is over and song is variable. new neurons are add ...201222262875
cocaine use during pregnancy assessed by hair analysis in a canary islands cohort.abstract: background: drug use during pregnancy is difficult to ascertain, and maternal reports are likely to be inaccurate. the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of illicit drug use among pregnant women by using maternal hair analysis. methods: a toxicological analysis of hair was used to detect chronic recreational drug use during pregnancy. in 2007, 347 mother-infant dyads were included from the hospital la candelaria, santa cruz de tenerife, canary islands (spain). data on so ...201222230295
[comparing the perspectives of primary care doctors in the canary islands and alberta (canada).]objective: to examine the advantages and disadvantages of two different health care systems from the perspective of primary care (pc) physicians. design: qualitative research based on the analysis of documents written as diaries for the study. setting: primary care in the canary islands (spain) and alberta (canada) context and participants: intentional sample to identify different profiles of physicians. method: participants were asked to write a document describing their work activities, includ ...201222221963
granulomatous myocarditis caused by candida albicans in a canary (serinus canaria).candida albicans is among the major agents of mucous membrane mycosis in humans and animals, with systemic and deep infections observed in immunocompromised hosts. we describe a case of fatal granulomatous myocarditis caused by c albicans in a 20-day-old canary (serinus canaria). the etiologic diagnosis was confirmed by identifying characteristic morphologic features of the organism, combined with histochemical staining, and followed by the use of ad hoc biomolecular analysis.201122216721
factors associated with knowledge and control of arterial hypertension in the canary islands.introduction and objectives: to analyze the factors associated with knowledge and control of hypertension in the adult population of the canary islands (18-75 years). methods: we recruited a random sample of the general population aged ≥18 years. hypertension was defined as systolic/diastolic blood pressure ≥140/90 mmhg or known hypertension (self-declared, or controlled hypertension <140/90 mmhg). the bivariate association of known and controlled hypertension with age, sex, anthropometry, serum ...201122209706
avoidable costs of physical treatments for chronic back, neck and shoulder pain within the spanish national health service: a cross-sectional study.abstract: background: back, neck and shoulder pain are the most common causes of occupational disability. they reduce health-related quality of life and have a significant economic impact. many different forms of physical treatment are routinely used. the objective of this study was to estimate the cost of physical treatments which, despite the absence of evidence supporting their effectiveness, were used between 2004 and 2007 for chronic and non-specific neck pain (np), back pain (bp) and shou ...201122188790
[Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: validation of the EDAH scale in a primary school population in the Canary Islands].AIM. To validate the rating (assessment) scale for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (EDAH) in Canarian population of primary education. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. From a sample of 2,500 children, you get a subsample with those participants who have a higher scores at 75 percentile in each of the factors that make up the test (n = 614), of which 222 are girls (36.2 %) and 392 boys (63.8 %). With regard to the age, the rank ranges between 6 and 12 years. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS. Factorial analy ...201222187207
molecular survey of apicomplexa in podarcis wall lizards detects hepatozoon, sarcocystis and eimeria species.abstract the occurrence of apicomplexan parasites in podarcis wall lizards from the iberian peninsula and balearic islands was studied by amplification and sequencing of the 18s rrna gene. species from three genera, hepatozoon, sarcocystis and eimeria were detected. the phylogenetic analysis of the 18s rrna gene provides unexpected insights into the evolutionary history of these parasites. all hepatozoon specimens were recovered as part of a clade already identified in lizards from north afric ...201122176558
the genetic ghost of an invasion past: colonization and extinction revealed by historical hybridization in senecio.hybridization is an important evolutionary factor in the diversification of many plant and animal species. of particular interest is that historical hybridization resulting in the origin of new species or introgressants has occurred between species now geographically separated by great distances. here, we report that senecio massaicus, a tetraploid species native to morocco and the canary islands, contains genetic material of two distinct, geographically separated lineages: a mediterranean linea ...201122171696
Next generation DNA sequencing technology delivers valuable genetic markers for the genomic orphan legume species, Bituminaria bituminosa.ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Bituminaria bituminosa is a perennial legume species from the Canary Islands and Mediterranean region that has potential as a drought-tolerant pasture species and as a source of pharmaceutical compounds. Three botanical varieties have previously been identified in this species: albomarginata, bituminosa and crassiuscula. B. bituminosa can be considered a genomic 'orphan' species with very few genomic resources available. New DNA sequencing technologies provide an opportuni ...201122171578
prevalence of general and abdominal obesity in the adult population of spain, 2008-2010: the enrica study.this is the first study to report the prevalence of general obesity and abdominal obesity (ao) in the adult population of spain based on measurements of weight, height and waist circumference. the data are taken from the enrica study, a cross-sectional study carried out between june 2008 and october 2010 in 12,883 individuals representative of the non-institutionalized population on spain aged 18 years and older. anthropometry was performed under standardized conditions in the households by trai ...201122151906
molecular survey of apicomplexa in podarcis wall lizards detects hepatozoon, sarcocystis and eimeria species.abstract the occurrence of apicomplexan parasites in podarcis wall lizards from the iberian peninsula and balearic islands was studied by amplification and sequencing of the 18s rrna gene. species from three genera, hepatozoon, sarcocystis and eimeria were detected. the phylogenetic analysis of the 18s rrna gene provides unexpected insights into the evolutionary history of these parasites. all hepatozoon specimens were recovered as part of a clade already identified in lizards from north afric ...201122128850
Lipolysis and proteolysis profiles of fresh artisanal goat cheese made with raw milk with 3 different fat contents.The objective of this study was to describe the proteolysis and lipolysis profiles in goat cheese made in the Canary Islands (Spain) using raw milk with 3 different fat contents (0.5, 1.5, and 5%) and ripened for 1, 7, 14, and 28 d. ß-Casein was the most abundant protein in all cheeses and at all ripening times. Quantitative analysis showed a general decrease in caseins as ripening progressed, and degradation rates were higher for a(S1)-casein than for ß-casein and a(S2)-casein. Furthermore, the ...201122118069
seroprevalence of angiostrongylus cantonensis in wild rodents from the canary islands.angiostrongylus cantonensis is a lungworm of rats (muridae) that is the causative agent of human cerebral angiostrongyliasis. the life cycle of a. cantonensis involves rats and mollusks as the definitive and intermediate hosts, respectively. this study was designed to increase the knowledge about the occurrence and distribution of a. cantonensis in its definitive host in the canary islands, using parasitological and serological analysis in different areas and age groups.201122110752
high-resolution record of the matuyama-brunhes transition constrains the age of javanese homo erectus in the sangiran dome, indonesia.a detailed paleomagnetic study conducted in the sangiran area, java, has provided a reliable age constraint on hominid fossil-bearing formations. a reverse-to-normal polarity transition marks a 7-m thick section across the upper tuff in the bapang formation. the transition has three short reversal episodes and is overlain by a thick normal polarity magnetozone that was fission-track dated to the brunhes chron. this pattern closely resembles another high-resolution matuyama-brunhes (mb) transitio ...201122106291
determinants of blood lead levels in children: a cross-sectional study in the canary islands (spain).the adverse effects of lead exposure on children are well known. low blood lead levels (bll) produce neurodevelopmental delay and cognitive disorders. however, since bll thresholds for adverse effects on children's health are not known, the children population at risk of excessive lead exposure still has to be identified. this study was aimed at evaluating bll in a children population of gran canaria (canary islands, spain). up to our knowledge, this is the first study to report on bll in this p ...201122104625
characterizing mortality effects of particulate matter size fractions in the two capital cities of the canary islands.most of the studies differentiating the effect of size-classified particulate matter (pm) exposure have been carried out in cities where the average levels of fine particles (pm(2.5)) were higher than those of coarse particles (pm(10-2.5)). these studies have suggested that pm(2.5) is associated with daily mortality, but there is only limited evidence that pm(10-2.5) is independently associated with mortality. the citizens of the canary islands are exposed to pm which is highly influenced by min ...201122099912
Oceanic islands are not sinks of biodiversity in spore-producing plants.Islands have traditionally been considered as migratory and evolutionary dead ends for two main reasons: island colonizers are typically assumed to lose their dispersal power, and continental back colonization has been regarded as unlikely because of niche preemption. The hypothesis that islands might actually represent dynamic refugia and migratory stepping stones for species that are effective dispersers, and in particular, for spore-producing plants, is formally tested here, using the archipe ...201122084108
a study of nutrient digestibility and growth performance of broiler chicks fed hairy and hairless canary seed (phalaris canariensis l.) products.a nutrient retention study and a growth study were conducted with broiler chickens to evaluate the nutritive value and potential toxicity of 2 hairless canary seed products-hulled seed and groats (cultivar cdc maria), and one hairy hulled canary seed (cultivar keet). each treatment was replicated 6 times (6 groups of 4 birds each). the hairless canary seed groat, hairless hulled canary seed, and the hairy hulled canary seed contained 24.5, 21.8, and 16.3% cp; 7.1, 5.8, and 6.6% ether extract; 1. ...201122080017
Sweepoviruses cause disease in sweet potato and related Ipomoea spp.: fulfilling Koch's postulates for a divergent group in the genus begomovirus.Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and related Ipomoea species are frequently infected by monopartite begomoviruses (genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae), known as sweepoviruses. Unlike other geminiviruses, the genomes of sweepoviruses have been recalcitrant to rendering infectious clones to date. Thus, Koch's postulates have not been fullfilled for any of the viruses in this group. Three novel species of sweepoviruses have recently been described in Spain: Sweet potato leaf curl Lanzarote virus ...201122073314
Growth differentiation factor 15: a canary in a coal mine? 201222065154
a fast method using a new hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced sorbent in combination with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography for quantification of significant bioactive metabolites in wines.this manuscript describes the development and validation of an ultra-fast, efficient, and high throughput analytical method based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (uhplc) equipped with a photodiode array (pda) detection system, for the simultaneous analysis of fifteen bioactive metabolites: gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, (-)-catechin, gentisic acid, (-)-epicatechin, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, m-coumaric acid, rutin, trans-resveratrol, myricetin, quercetin, ci ...201122063514
salmonellosis and charter tourism: epidemiology and trends of imported human cases to norway from the canary islands and thailand, 1994-2008.summarymore than 70% of reported human salmonella infections in norway are infected abroad. the canary islands and thailand are two of the most popular charter tourist destinations for norwegians. using surveillance data for the years 1994-2008, and denominator data on travel to the canary islands 2000-2008 and to thailand 1997-2008, we present the epidemiology and trends of salmonella infections in norwegian tourists to these destinations. we found a declining trend in risk of salmonellosis in ...201122051449
gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection assisted by a new traction method: the clip-band technique. a feasibility study in a porcine model (with video).endoscopic submucosal dissection (esd) is the standard of care for treating gastric intramucosal neoplasias in japan. however, it is seldom performed in western countries, mainly because it is technically very challenging. several traction methods have been proposed to facilitate submucosal dissection, but they are usually not widely available or are difficult to apply.201122032320
insects, birds and lizards as pollinators of the largest-flowered scrophularia of europe and macaronesia.it has traditionally been considered that the flowers of scrophularia are mainly pollinated by wasps. we studied the pollination system of four species which stand out for their large and showy flowers: s. sambucifolia and s. grandiflora (endemics of the western mediterranean region), s. trifoliata (an endemic of the tyrrhenian islands) and s. calliantha (an endemic of the canary islands). our principal aim was to test whether these species were pollinated by birds or showed a mixed pollination ...201222021816
the origin of bird pollination in macaronesian lotus (loteae, leguminosae).the four red-flowered, apparently bird-pollinated lotus species from the canary islands have previously been classified in their own genus, rhyncholotus. currently, they are considered as a separate section within genus lotus, distinct from other herbaceous canarian congeners which are yellow-flowered and bee-pollinated. a combined analysis of four nuclear regions (including its and three homologues of cycloidea) and three plastid regions (cyb6, matk and trnh-psba) nests the four bird-pollinated ...201222019928
Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in Aleurodicus dispersus (Hemiptera, Aleyrodidae).Ten microsatellite markers were isolated and characterized from Aleurodicus dispersus, the spiraling whitefly, an exotic pest species that is considered to be one of the most serious agricultural pests on Hainan Island, China. The polymorphism of these loci was examined in individual whiteflies from Hainan Island and from the Canary Islands. All loci were polymorphic, with two to four alleles per locus. Mean observed and expected heterozygosity values were 0.773 and 0.585, respectively. T ...201122009865
A comparison of antibody responses to commercial equine influenza vaccines following primary vaccination of Thoroughbred weanlings--a randomised blind study.Many racing authorities, sales companies and equestrian bodies have mandatory vaccination policies for equine influenza (EI). The consequences of lack of vaccine efficacy include clinical disease, disruption to training programmes, the cancellation of equestrian events and the introduction of virus to susceptible populations. The correlation between antibody against the virus haemagglutinin and protection against influenza has been well established. The objective of this study was to compare the ...201121983355
determinants of specific food consumption in the canary islands (spain).the consumption of specific functional foods (ff) and some determinants of ff item selection were assessed using a questionnaire administered to 1112 individuals in the canary islands (spain). food items considered were milk products: easily digestible milk (or milk low in lactose), milk enriched with vitamins and/or minerals, skimmed milk with soluble fiber, milk with royal jelly, milk with modified fatty acids (omega 3), milk products low in fat, pro-biotic foods (yoghurt and fermented milk) a ...201121959777
Carotenoid accumulation in orange-pigmented Capsicum annuum fruit, regulated at multiple levels.The pericarp of Capsicum fruit is a rich dietary source of carotenoids. Accumulation of these compounds may be controlled, in part, by gene transcription of biosynthetic enzymes. The carotenoid composition in a number of orange-coloured C. annuum cultivars was determined using HPLC and compared with transcript abundances for four carotenogenic enzymes, Psy, LcyB, CrtZ-2, and Ccs determined by qRT-PCR. There were unique carotenoid profiles as well as distinct patterns of transcription of caroteno ...201221948863
distribution and genetic variation of hymenolepidid cestodes in murid rodents on the canary islands (spain).in the canary islands there are no previous data about tapeworms (cestoda) of rodents. in order to identify the hymenolepidid species present in these hosts, a survey of 1,017 murine (349 rattus rattus, 13 rattus norvegicus and 655 mus musculus domesticus) was carried out in the whole archipelago. molecular studies based on nuclear its1 and mitochondrial coi loci were performed to confirm the identifications and to analyse the levels of genetic variation and differentiation.201121943096
a new species of spauligodon (nematoda: oxyurida: pharyngodonidae) in geckos from s?o nicolau island (cape verde) and its phylogenetic assessment.abstract a new nematode species of spauligodon, spauligodon nicolauensis n. sp. from geckos tarentola bocagei and tarentola nicolauensis on the island of s?o nicolau, cape verde, is described. the new nematode was found in the pellets obtained directly from the geckos in a non-invasive fashion and its identity was assessed both at morphologic and genetic levels. the new species has morphological similarities with spauligodon tarentolae spaul, 1926, also parasitizing geckos from the canary isla ...201121942458
j. m. despréaux' lichens from the canary islands and west africa: an account of a 19th century collection found in an english archive.this is an historical and descriptive account of 28 herbarium specimens, 27 lichens and an alga, found in the archives of charles chalcraft, a descendant of the bedford family, who were dye manufacturers in leeds, england, in the 19th century. the lichens comprise 13 different morphotypes collected in the canary islands and west africa by the french botanist j. m. despréaux between 1833 and 1839. the collections include samples of "roccella fuciformis", "r. phycopsis" and "r. tinctoria" (includi ...201121941694
Neoparamoeba branchiphila infections in moribund sea urchins Diadema aff. antillarum in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.A total of 109 sea urchins from 3 species collected in 2 localities off the coast of Tenerife Island, Spain, were examined for the presence of free-living amoebae in their coelomic fluid. Amoeba trophozoites were isolated exclusively from moribund individuals of long-spined sea urchins Diadema aff. antillarum (Philippi) (Echinoidea, Echinodermata) that manifested lesions related to sea urchin bald disease on their tests (16 out of 56 examined). No amoebae were detected in Arbacia lixula (L.) and ...201121932534
Cryptosporidium spp. parasitize exotic birds that are commercialized in markets, commercial aviaries, and pet shops.The purpose of this study was to genetically characterize and phylogenetically analyze the Cryptosporidium spp. isolated from exotic birds commercialized in popular markets, commercial aviaries, and pet shops located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Fecal samples from individually housed birds were collected and subjected to centrifuge-flotation technique using saturated sugar solution. DNA was isolated from Cryptosporidium positive samples, and 18S subunit rDNA was amplified and processed using neste ...201121922240
multisensory non-photoperiodic cue advances the onset of seasonal breeding in island canaries (serinus canaria).in most temperate zone vertebrates, photoperiodic change plays the major role in the timing of seasonal breeding. however, direct environmental stimuli such as temperature, rainfall, or availability of food are thought to be important for fine-tuning breeding activities. building on evidence from wild island canaries (serinus canaria), the authors had shown advancing effects of green vegetation on breeding under captive, short-day conditions. so far, the precise, sensory modalities of this stimu ...201121921297
spiropyran-amidine: a molecular canary for visual detection of carbon dioxide gas. 201121905137
diversity of acetic acid bacteria present in healthy grapes from the canary islands.the identification of acetic acid bacteria (aab) from sound grapes from the canary islands is reported in the present study. no direct recovery of bacteria was possible in the most commonly used medium, so microvinifications were performed on grapes from tenerife, la palma and lanzarote islands. up to 396 aab were isolated from those microvinifications and identified by 16s rrna gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. with this method, acetobacter pasteurianus, acetobacter tropicalis, glucono ...201121903289
Consequences of plant-pollinator and floral-herbivore interactions on the reproductive success of the Canary Islands endemic Canarina canariensis (Campanulaceae).• Premise of the study: Pollination is a critical phase for plant reproduction, but ecological and evolutionary outcomes by pollinators may be counteracted by floral herbivores. These interacting assemblages may also be altered (directly or indirectly) by introduced species, especially on oceanic islands. In this study, we analyzed the effects of opportunistic nectar-feeding passerine birds and native (semi-slugs) and introduced (rats) floral herbivores on the reproductive success of Canarina ca ...201121900611
Negative effects of yolk testosterone and ticks on growth in canaries.Maternal yolk hormones in bird eggs are thought to adjust the offspring to the post-hatching environment. This implies that the effects of maternal yolk hormones should vary with the post-hatching environment, but to date such context-dependency has largely been ignored. We experimentally increased yolk testosterone concentrations in canary eggs and simultaneously manipulated the post-hatching context via an experimental tick-infestation of the chicks. This allows us to evaluate the context-depe ...201121898851
pathogenic leptospira spp. in wild rodents, canary islands, spain. 201121888829
Symbolic play connects to language through visual object recognition.Object substitutions in play (e.g. using a box as a car) are strongly linked to language learning and their absence is a diagnostic marker of language delay. Classic accounts posit a symbolic function that underlies both words and object substitutions. Here we show that object substitutions depend on developmental changes in visual object recognition: 18- to 30-month old children (n = 63) substitute objects in play after they have developed the adult-like ability to recognize common objects from ...201121884329
impaired fasting glucose, ancestry and waist-to-height ratio: main predictors of incident diagnosed diabetes in the canary islands.aims:  to estimate the incidence rate and risk factors for diabetes in the canary islands. methods:  a total of 5521 adults without diabetes were followed for a median of 3.5 years. incident cases of diabetes were self-declared and validated in medical records. the following factors were assessed by cox regression to estimate the hazard ratios for diabetes: impaired fasting glucose (5.6 mmol/l ≤ fasting glucose ≤ 6.9 mmol/l), bmi, waist-to-height ratio (≥ 0.55), insulin resistance (defined as tr ...201121883429
a multi-gene approach reveals a complex evolutionary history in the cyanistes species group.quaternary climatic oscillations have been considered decisive in shaping much of the phylogeographic structure around the mediterranean basin. within this paradigm, peripheral islands are usually considered as the endpoints of the colonization processes. here, we use nuclear and mitochondrial markers to investigate the phylogeography of the blue tit complex (blue tit cyanistes caeruleus, canary blue tit c. teneriffae and azure tit c. cyanus), and assess the role of the canary islands for the ge ...201121880092
heaven it's my wife! male canaries conceal extra-pair courtships but increase aggressions when their mate watches.many animals live in a communication network, an environment where individuals can obtain information about competitors or potential mates by observing interactions between conspecifics. in such an environment, interactants might benefit by changing their signalling behaviour in the presence of an audience. this audience effect seems widespread among species, has been observed during various types of interaction (e.g. intra-sexual vs. inter-sexual interaction) and varies according to the social ...201121857945
Is cystic fibrosis genetic medicine's canary?In 1989 the gene that causes cystic fibrosis (CF) was identified in a search accompanied by intense anticipation that the gene, once discovered, would lead rapidly to gene therapy. Many hoped that the disease would effectively disappear. Those affected were going to inhale vectors packed with functioning genes, which would go immediately to work in the lungs. It was a bewitching image, repeatedly invoked in both scientific and popular texts. Gene therapy clinical trials were carried out with a r ...201121857124
naturally occurring phytotoxins in allelopathic plants help reduce herbicide dose in wheat.field studies were carried out to evaluate the influence of allelopathic plant water extracts applied alone or tank-mixed with a reduced herbicide dose on the weeds of wheat. water extracts of sorghum (sorghum bicolor (l.) moench.) + sunflower (helianthus annuus l.) + mulberry (morus alba l.) were used alone (each at 20 l ha(-1)) or combined with iodo + mesosulfuron (3.6 and 7.2 g active ingredient (a.i.) ha(-1); 25 and 50% of the recommended dose, respectively). the recommended dose of herbicid ...201121854181
gnrh - a missing link between testosterone concentrations in yolk and plasma and its intergenerational effects.despite the strong interest in hormone-mediated maternal effects two key questions concerning their mechanisms are as yet unanswered: first, whether the deposition of hormones in the egg yolk is coupled with the levels of these hormones in the maternal circulation, and second, whether epigenetic changes as induced by embryonic exposure to maternal yolk hormones impinge on yolk hormone deposition at adulthood. we investigated the responsiveness to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (gnrh) in female c ...201121829476
occupational allergy to birds within the population of polish bird keepers employed in zoo gardens.objectives: to evaluate the risk factors for the development of occupational allergy to birds among polish zoo garden keepers. methods: a total of 200 bird zookeepers employed in the polish zoo gardens in lódz, warsaw, gdansk, chorzów and plock and exposed occupationally to bird allergens were examined using a questionnaire, skin prick tests (spts) to common allergens and bird allergens, spirometry and cytograms of nasal swab. the level of total ige in serum and serum-specific ige to parrot, can ...201121805139
lox-1 transcription.the importance of the lectin-like oxidized ldl receptor (lox-1) gene in cardiovascular and other diseases is slowly being revealed. lox-1 gene expression appears to be a "canary in a coal mine" for atherogenesis, being strongly up-regulated early on in a number of cell types when they are activated, and predicting the sites of future disease. from this early time point the lox-1 protein often participates in the disease process itself. while gene/protein expression can be regulated on a multipli ...201121796333
occurrence of contamination by controlled substances in euro banknotes from the spanish archipelago of the canary islands.the social problems of drug abuse are a matter of increasing global problem. nowadays, international agencies need fresh methods to monitor trends of the use of illicit drugs. in this sense, small amounts of drugs are transferred to banknotes and they could be detected and quantified. an analytical procedure based upon extraction with organic solvent, liquid chromatography separation, and mass spectrometric detection allowed the identification of 21 drugs and metabolites in 120 used euro banknot ...201121790602
herbaspirillum canariense sp. nov., herbaspirillum aurantiacum sp. nov. and herbaspirillum soli sp. nov., three new species isolated in tenerife (canary islands).three gram-negative, motile and slightly curved rod-shaped bacterial isolates, suemi03(t), suemi08(t) and suemi10(t), were isolated an old volcanic mountain soil in tenerife (canary islands). the three strains are able to produce siderophores in vitro and were phylogenetically related with species of genus herbaspirillum from which their close related species was h. seropedicae. the identity of 16s rrna gene sequences ranged from 99.2 and 99.6% among the strains suemi03(t), suemi08(t) and suemi1 ...201121788228
[evidence against the myth of adjustment problems of people with high intellectual abilities.]evidence against the myth of adjustment problems of people with high intellectual abilities. personal and social adjustment of high-ability children and adolescents is a very important issue in the specialized literature. the differences found between data for and against appropriate adjustment in gifted children and adolescents could be explained by conceptual or methodological biases. in this work, the relation between adjustment and high abilities are contrasted in a sample of teenagers from ...201121774886
a new endogean, anophthalmous species of parazuphium jeannel from northern morocco (coleoptera, carabidae), with new molecular data for the tribe zuphiini.a new species of the genus parazuphium (coleoptera, carabidae, zuphiini), parazuphium aguileraisp. n., is described from the tingitan peninsula in north morocco. the only known specimen was found under a large deeply buried boulder, and belongs to an anophthalmous, depigmented and flattened species. this is the second species of blind parazuphium known so far, the other being parazuphium feloi machado 1998 from a lava tube in the canary islands. molecular data of the only known parazuphium aguil ...201121747680
diagnosis of imported canine filarial infections in germany 2008 - 2010.filarial infections of dogs are attracting attention across europe because of the risk of spread into previously non-endemic areas (e.g. dirofilaria repens with culicidae as vectors) and as emerging zoonotic agents. the occurrence of filarial infections in german dogs has been analysed based on 8,545 samples collected either from imported animals or following travel into endemic regions. all samples were tested by means of modified knott's test and heartworm antigen assay within the period 2008 ...201121739376
patients treated with plasmapheresis: a case review from university hospital of the canary islands.plasmapheresis (pp) is a therapeutic apheresis technique used in the treatment of various renal and systemic diseases with varying degrees of proven clinical efficacy.201121738245
use of ionic liquid aggregates of 1-hexadecyl-3-butyl imidazolium bromide in a focused-microwave assisted extraction method followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet and fluorescence detection to determine the 15+1 eu priority pahs in toasted cereals ("gofios").a focused-microwave assisted extraction method using aggregates of the ionic liquid (il) 1-hexadecyl-3-butylimidazolium bromide (hdbim-br) followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (hplc) with ultraviolet (uv) detection and single-channel fluorescence detection (fld) has been developed for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (pahs) in toasted cereals ("gofios") of different nature (wheat, barley, rye, and maize corn) from the canary islands, spain. the optimized hplc-u ...201121726759
validation of a gc-ms/ms method for simultaneous determination of 86 persistent organic pollutants in marine sediments by pressurized liquid extraction followed by stir bar sorptive extraction.a multiresidue method for the analysis of 86 persistent pollutants in marine sediments at ultra-trace level has been developed and validated using pressurized liquid extraction (ple) and stir-bar sorptive extraction (sbse) coupled with thermal desorption and gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (td-gc-ms/ms qqq). the compounds analyzed belong to various families such as polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polybrominated diphenylethers, organophosphorus ...201121723584
hemodynamics and metabolism at low versus moderate altitudes.despite the higher prevalence of diabetes and hypertension in populations residing at moderate altitudes, mortality in these populations is lower than in populations residing at low altitudes. to examine whether metabolic and hemodynamic differences can explain this apparent paradox, we performed a cross-sectional study of a general population sample recruited in the canary islands, spain (n=6729). we recorded altitude of residence, age, heart rate, blood pressure, body mass index, social class, ...201121718166
experimental infection of domestic canaries (serinus canaria domestica) with mycoplasma gallisepticum: a new model system for a wildlife disease.the ethical and logistical challenges inherent in experimental infections of wild-caught animals present a key limitation to the study of wildlife diseases. here we characterize a potentially useful domestic model for a wildlife disease that has been of particular interest in recent decades; that is, infection of north american house finches (carpodacus mexicanus) with mycoplasma gallisepticum, more commonly known as a worldwide poultry pathogen. seven domestic canaries (serinus canaria domestic ...201121711192
the cat that caught the canary: what to do with single-molecule trapping.it has recently become possible to trap individual fluorescent biomolecules in aqueous solution by using real-time tracking and active feedback to suppress brownian motion. we propose areas of investigation in which anti-brownian electrokinetic (abel) trapping of single molecules is likely to lead to significant new insights into biomolecular dynamics.201121710977
the potential impact of reproducibility of gleason grading in men with early stage prostate cancer managed by active surveillance: a multi-institutional study.we evaluated the reproducibility of gleason grading as relevant to the clinical treatment of men on active surveillance.201121679996
allozyme diversity in three endemic species of cistus (cistaceae) from the canary islands: intraspecific and interspecific comparisons and implications for genetic conservation.patterns of variation at 13 isozyme loci were examined in 11 populations in three cistus species strictly endemic to the canary islands. cistus osbaeckiaefolius and c. chinamadensis display low levels of isozyme variation associated with moderate to high interpopulation differentiation, which probably arose through historical bottlenecks in a landscape of habitat fragmentation, grazing, and human influence. by contrast, c. symphytifolius ranks among the subset of narrow endemics with high levels ...200121669691
different fates of island brooms: contrasting evolution in adenocarpus, genista, and teline (genisteae, fabaceae) in the canary islands and madeira.analysis of sequence data from the internal transcribed spacers (its) and 5.8s region of nuclear ribosomal dna show that canarian and madeiran brooms (genisteae) of the genera teline, adenocarpus, and genista are related to mediterranean species and not to species from adjacent parts of morocco. each separate colonization of the islands has resulted in contrasting patterns of adaptation and radiation. the genus teline is polyphyletic, with both groups (the "t. monspessulana group" and the "t. li ...200221665686
chloroplast dna evidence for the roles of island colonization and extinction in tolpis (asteraceae: lactuceae).tolpis consists of ôê+13 species native to africa, europe, and macaronesia, with at least one species endemic to each of the four major archipelagos of the azores, madeira islands, canary islands, and cape verde islands. all but two of these species develop woody stems by maturity. chloroplast dna restriction site variation was analyzed for all species of tolpis and four outgroups in order to understand the patterns of island colonization and evolution of woodiness in this genus. parsimony analy ...200221665651
phylogeny of the macaronesian endemic crambe section dendrocrambe (brassicaceae) based on internal transcribed spacer sequences of nuclear ribosomal dna.the 14 species of crambe l. sect. dendrocrambe dc. (brassicaceae) form a monophyletic group endemic to the canary and madeira archipelagos. both parsimony and maximum likelihood analyses of sequence data from the two internal transcribed spacer regions of nuclear ribosomal dna were used to estimate phylogenetic relationships within this section. these analyses support the monophyly of three major clades. no clade is restricted to a single island, and therefore it appears that inter-island coloni ...200221665627
atrial fibrillation: new-onset af in women-an independent risk factor or a 'canary in a coal mine'? 201121647182
allozyme diversity within and divergence among species oftolpis(asteraceae-lactuceae) in the canary islands: systematic, evolutionary, and biogeographical implications.plants endemic to oceanic islands represent some of the most unusual and rare taxa in the world. enzyme electrophoresis was used to assess genetic diversity within and divergence among all endemic species of a small genus of plants on the canary islands. our results show that the genus tolpis is similar to many other island groups in having generally low allozyme divergence among species, with the highest divergence found among four groups of endemics. the two rare and highly localized species t ...200621646225
molecular phylogenetics of limonium and related genera (plumbaginaceae): biogeographical and systematic implications.phylogenetic relationships within limonium (plumbaginaceae) are evaluated using sequence data from three plastid regions (rbcl, the trnl intron, and the trnl-trnf intergenic spacer). sixty-six species representing the major genera of staticoideae, including representatives of all sections and genera formerly included in limonium, have been analyzed using four species of plumbaginoideae as an outgroup. analyses of each separate and combined data set yield similar results. afrolimon is embedded in ...200521646141
reproductive biology of the dioecious canary islands endemic withania aristata (solanaceae).we confirmed functional dioecy of withania aristata via field and greenhouse studies. male flowers are significantly larger. female flowers bear stamens with no pollen; males bear 220?000 grains. stigmata of male flowers senesce in buds. anatomical observations confirm more ovules in females and an ovarian nectary in both sexes. we detected nectar in female flowers in the greenhouse but found no nectar in males. thus, males offer pollen and females nectar. females bear large numbers of fruits an ...200621642194
the utility of automated analysis of inter-simple sequence repeat (issr) loci for resolving relationships in the canary island species of tolpis (asteraceae).plants of oceanic islands, often remarkably divergent morphologically from continental relatives, are useful models for studying evolution and speciation because evolution is telescoped in time and space. prior studies revealed little dna sequence variation within the clade of ca. 10 canary island species of tolpis, which precluded resolving species relationships. the present study assessed the utility of automated analysis of inter-simple sequence repeat (issr) loci for resolving relationships ...200621642181
patterns of genetic divergence of three canarian endemic lotus (fabaceae): implications for the conservation of the endangered l. kunkelii.we examined data for 11 allozyme loci in 14 populations that represent the distribution of the endangered lotus kunkelii, the narrowly distributed l. arinagensis (both endemic to gran canaria), and the broad-ranging l. lancerottensis (endemic to the easternmost canary islands, fuerteventura and lanzarote) to explore and construe patterns of genetic variation and use this data to assess the controversial taxonomic status of l. kunkelii relative to l. lancerottensis. while l. kunkelii maintains lo ...200621642177
population divergence for heteroblasty in the canary island pine (pinus canariensis, pinaceae).a heteroblastic (or vegetative phase) change is an abrupt manifestation in the general heteroblastic development during the ontogeny of plants. the canary island pine undergoes an especially marked and delayed heteroblastic change, including both the formation of secondary needles on dwarf shoots and the onset of preformed growth. to assess genetic and environmental effects on the heteroblastic change in this species, we followed plants from 19 populations at a dry site and a wetter site. compar ...200621642146
transpiration of urban forests in the los angeles metropolitan area.despite its importance for urban planning, landscape management, and water management, there are very few in situ estimates of urban-forest transpiration. because urban forests contain an unusual and diverse mix of species from many regions worldwide, we hypothesized that species composition would be a more important driver of spatial variability in urban-forest transpiration than meteorological variables in the los angeles (california, usa) region. we used constant-heat sap-flow sensors to moni ...201121639035
characterization of six microsatellite loci in myrica faya (myricaceae) and cross amplification in the endangered endemic m. rivas-martinezii in canary islands, spain.six novel polymorphic microsatellite markers were isolated from enriched libraries in myrica faya ait., recently renamed morella faya, (fayatree, firetree, or firebush) in order to examine the genetic diversity in natural populations. also, test cross-specific amplification and genetic diversity in myrica rivas-martinezii, which is endemic on the canary islands. microsatellite loci were screened in 225 individuals of both species from different islands of the canarian archipelago. all markers we ...200921637655
does macaronesia exist? conflicting signal in the bryophyte and pteridophyte floras.macaronesia, which includes five mid-atlantic archipelagos (azores, madeira, selvagems, canaries, and cape verdes), has been traditionally recognized as a distinct biogeographic unit whose circumscription has been intimately associated with the hypothesis that the flora is a relict of a formerly broadly distributed subtropical tertiary flora. the concept of macaronesia is revisited here using parsimony and bayesian analyses of floristic data sets for the moss, liverwort, and pteridophyte floras. ...200721636431
dna from herbarium specimens settles a controversy about origins of the european potato.landrace potato cultivars are native to two areas in south america: the high andes from eastern venezuela to northern argentina and the lowlands of south-central chile. potato first appeared outside of south america in europe in 1567 and rapidly diffused worldwide. two competing hypotheses suggested the origin of the "european" potato from the andes or from lowland chile, but the andean origin has been widely accepted over the last 60 years. all modern potato cultivars predominantly have chilean ...200821632349
hybridization, polyploidy, and evolutionary transitions between monoecy and dioecy in bryonia (cucurbitaceae).correns's 1903 (berichte der deutschen botanischen gesellschaft 21: 133-147) crosses between a monoecious and a dioecious species of bryonia revealed the simple mendelian inheritance of dioecy and provided the first instance of an xy sex determination system in any organism. bryonia ranges from the canary islands to central asia and comprises seven dioecious and three monoecious species; its closest relative, ecballium elaterium, has dioecious and monoecious populations. we used chloroplast (cp) ...200821632334
opportunistic nectar-feeding birds are effective pollinators of bird-flowers from canary islands: experimental evidence from isoplexis canariensis (scrophulariaceae).insular floras, characterized by simple pollination networks, sometimes include novel mutualistic agents such as nonspecialist nectarivores. in this study we confirmed the effective pollination of isoplexis canariensis by opportunistic nectar-feeding birds in tenerife, canary islands, spain. this plant is among the ornithophilous species of the canarian flora that lack past and present specialist nectarivorous birds. experimental hand pollinations revealed self-compatibility, but cross-pollinate ...200821628148
global biodiversity and phylogenetic evaluation of remipedia (crustacea).remipedia is one of the most recently discovered classes of crustaceans, first described in 1981 from anchialine caves in the bahamas archipelago. the class is divided into the order enantiopoda, represented by two fossil species, and nectiopoda, which contains all known extant remipedes. since their discovery, the number of nectiopodan species has increased to 24, half of which were described during the last decade. nectiopoda exhibit a disjunct global distribution pattern, with the highest abu ...201121625553
the link between erectile and cardiovascular health: the canary in the coal mine.lifestyle and nutrition have been increasingly recognized as central factors influencing vascular nitric oxide (no) production and erectile function. this review underscores the importance of no as the principal mediator influencing cardiovascular health and erectile function. erectile dysfunction (ed) is associated with smoking, excessive alcohol intake, physical inactivity, abdominal obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and decreased antioxidant defenses, all of which reduce no production. better ...201121624550
greater seasonal carbon gain across a broad temperature range contributes to the invasive potential of phalaris arundinacea (poaceae; reed canary grass) over the native sedge carex stricta (cyperaceae).• premise of the study: most invasive plants grow faster and produce more biomass than the species that they displace, but physiological mechanisms leading to invasive success are poorly understood. to foster novel control approaches, our goal was to determine whether the grass phalaris arundinacea possessed superior physiological strategies that contributed to its success over native sedges. • methods: data for spring, summer, and autumn diel gas-exchange, leaf morphology, and nitrogen content ...201121613081
seroprevalence of rickettsia typhi and rickettsia conorii infections in the canary islands (spain).objective: the aim of this work was to evaluate the prevalence of past infection due to rickettsia typhi and rickettsia conorii in the canary islands (spain). methods: a representative sample of the population of the seven islands, formed of 662 people aged between 5 and 75 years (368 females, 294 males), was analyzed. epidemiological data were obtained by direct survey. the detection of serum igg antibodies against both microorganisms was based on an indirect immunofluorescence test, considered ...201121612963
cnvassoc: association analysis of cnv data using r.abstract: background: copy number variants (cnv) are a potentially important component of the genetic contribution to risk of common complex diseases. analysis of the association between cnvs and disease requires that uncertainty in cnv copy-number calls, which can be substantial, be taken into account; failure to consider this uncertainty can lead to biased results. therefore, there is a need to develop and use appropriate statistical tools. to address this issue, we have developed cnvassoc, an ...201121609482
bark beetles and pinhole borers (curculionidae, scolytinae, platypodinae) alien to europe.invasive bark beetles are posing a major threat to forest resources around the world. daisie's web-based and printed databases of invasive species in europe provide an incomplete and misleading picture of the alien scolytines and platypodines. we present a review of the alien bark beetle fauna of europe based on primary literature through 2009. we find that there are 18 scolytinae and one platypodinae species apparently established in europe, from 14 different genera. seventeen species are natur ...201021594183
isolation and characterization of 21 microsatellite markers in the barn owl (tyto alba).we report 21 new polymorphic microsatellite markers in the european barn owl (tyto alba). the polymorphism of the reported markers was evaluated in a population situated in western switzerland and in another from tenerife, canary islands. the number of alleles per locus varies between two and 31, and expected heterozygosity per population ranges from 0.16 to 0.95. all loci are in hardy-weinberg equilibrium and no linkage disequilibrium was detected. two loci exhibit a null allele in the tenerife ...200821585946
a customizable 3-dimensional digital atlas of the canary brain in multiple modalities.songbirds are well known for their ability to learn their vocalizations by imitating conspecific adults. this uncommon skill has led to many studies examining the behavioral and neurobiological processes involved in vocal learning. canaries display a variable, seasonally dependent, vocal behavior throughout their lives. this trait makes this bird species particularly valuable to study the functional relationship between the continued plasticity in the singing behavior and alterations in the anat ...201121565273
microsatellite loci isolation in the canarian common chaffinch (fringilla coelebs) and their utility in other canarian finches.the taxonomic classification of the common chaffinch (fringilla coelebs) that inhabits the canary islands has been under debate for decades, mainly due to the absence of nuclear dna analyses. in this study we describe the isolation and characterization of ten microsatellite loci (aaag, aaat and gt) from a la palma specimen using an enrichment protocol. two loci were monomorphic in the populations analysed (la gomera and la palma), but the remaining ones presented 2 or more alleles, with an avera ...200921564863
animal sentinels for environmental and public health.studies of the effects of environmental exposures on domestic and wild animals can corroborate or inform epidemiologic studies in humans. animals may be sensitive indicators of environmental hazards and provide an early warning system for public health intervention, as exemplified by the iconic canary in the coal mine. this article illustrates the application of animal sentinel research to elucidate the effects of exposure to traditional and emerging contaminants on human health. focusing on env ...201121563712
non-human viruses developed as therapeutic agent for use in humans.viruses usually infect a restricted set of host species, and only in rare cases does productive infection occur outside the natural host range. infection of a new host species can manifest as a distinct disease. in this respect, the use of non-human viruses in clinical therapy may be a cause for concern. it could provide the opportunity for the viruses to adapt to the new host and be transferred to the recipient's relatives or medical caretakers, or even to the normal host species. such environm ...201121560181
high prevalence of hypovitaminosis d in medical students in gran canaria. canary islands (spain).background: vitamin d deficiency has been described in many diseases and indeed in the general population. however fewer reports have been published in young and healthy people. vitamin d deficiency should not be found in medical students of the canary islands, because they have all the resources to avoid it. objective: to estimate the prevalence of vitamin d deficiency in a population of medical students of both gender from the university of las palmas de gran canaria. methods: 103 medical stud ...201121555257
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