University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla

Translation of the stationary phase sigma factor RpoS is stimulated by at least two small RNAs, DsrA and RprA. DsrA disrupts an inhibitory secondary structure in the rpoS leader mRNA by pairing with the upstream RNA. Mutations in rprA and compensating mutations in the rpoS leader demonstrate that RprA interacts with the same region of the RpoS leader as DsrA. This is the first example of two different small RNAs regulating a common target. Regulation of these RNAs differs. DsrA synthesis is increased at low temperature. We find that RprA synthesis is regulated by the RcsC/RcsB phosphorelay system, previously found to regulate capsule synthesis and promoters of ftsZ and osmC. An rcsB null mutation abolishes the basal level, whereas mutations in rcsC that activate capsule synthesis also activate expression of the rprA promoter. An essential site with similarity to other RcsB-regulated promoters was defined in the rprA promoter. Activation of the RcsC/RcsB system leads to increased RpoS synthesis, in an RprA-dependent fashion. This work suggests a new signal for RpoS translation and extends the global regulation effected by the RcsC/RcsB system to coregulation of RpoS with capsule and FtsZ.

The green algal genus Cladophora forms conspicuous nearshore populations in marine and freshwaters worldwide, commonly dominating peri-phyton communities. As the result of human activities, including the nutrient pollution of nearshore waters, Cladophora-dominated periphyton can form nuisance blooms. On the other hand, Cladophora has ecological functions that are beneficial, but less well appreciated. For example, Cladophora has previously been characterized as an ecological engineer because its complex structure fosters functional and taxonomic diversity of benthic microfauna. Here, we review classic and recent literature concerning taxonomy, cell biology, morphology, reproductive biology, and ecology of the genus Cladophora, to examine how this alga functions to modify habitats and influence littoral biogeochemistry. We review the evidence that Cladophora supports large, diverse populations of microalgal and bacterial epiphytes that influence the cycling of carbon and other key elements, and that the high production of cellulose and hydrocarbons by Cladophora-dominated periphyton has the potential for diverse technological applications, including wastewater remediation coupled to renewable biofuel production. We postulate that well-known aspects of Cladophora morphology, hydrodynamically stable and perennial holdfasts, distinctively branched architecture, unusually large cell and sporangial size and robust cell wall construction, are major factors contributing to the multiple roles of this organism as an ecological engineer.

This study investigates the relationship between ethnic identity, self‐esteem, value orientations, and perceived value congruence in 207 minority students. It also investigates within‐group concordance and cross‐cultural differences in value orientations. Dilemmas were used to measure value orientations and perceived congruence between personal and group values. A version of the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (Phinney, 1992) and Rosenberg's Self‐Esteem Scale (1965) were used to measure ethnic identity and self‐esteem, respectively. Ethnic identity was positively related to self‐esteem. The perception of value congruence was not related to ethnic identity or self‐esteem. There was within‐group concordance in the ranking of value solutions. In addition, the groups differed in the strength of ethnic identity, perceived value congruence, and the ranking of the value solutions.

On 2016 Feb 19, nine Rosetta instruments serendipitously observed an outburst of gas and dust from the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Among these instruments were cameras and spectrometers ranging from UV over visible to microwave wavelengths, in situ gas, dust and plasma instruments, and one dust collector. At 09:40 a dust cloud developed at the edge of an image in the shadowed region of the nucleus. Over the next two hours the instruments recorded a signature of the outburst that significantly exceeded the background. The enhancement ranged from 50 per cent of the neutral gas density at Rosetta to factors >100 of the brightness of the coma near the nucleus. Dust related phenomena (dust counts or brightness due to illuminated dust) showed the strongest enhancements (factors >10). However, even the electron density at Rosetta increased by a factor 3 and consequently the spacecraft potential changed from -16 V to -20 V during the outburst.

Abstract A major barrier to advancing ornithology is the systemic exclusion of professionals from the Global South. A recent special feature, Advances in Neotropical Ornithology, and a shortfalls analysis therein, unintentionally followed a long-standing pattern of highlighting individuals, knowledge, and views from the Global North, while largely omitting the perspectives of people based within the Neotropics. Here, we review current strengths and opportunities in the practice of Neotropical ornithology. Further, we discuss problems with assessing the state of Neotropical ornithology through a northern lens, including discovery narratives, incomplete (and biased) understanding of history and advances, and the promotion of agendas that, while currently popular in the north, may not fit the needs and realities of Neotropical research. We argue that future advances in Neotropical ornithology will critically depend on identifying and addressing the systemic barriers that hold back ornithologists who live and work in the Neotropics: unreliable and limited funding, exclusion from international research leadership, restricted dissemination of knowledge (e.g., through language hegemony and citation bias), and logistical barriers. Moving forward, we must examine and acknowledge the colonial roots of our discipline, and explicitly promote anti-colonial agendas for research, training, and conservation. We invite our colleagues within and beyond the Neotropics to join us in creating new models of governance that establish research priorities with vigorous participation of ornithologists and communities within the Neotropical region. To include a diversity of perspectives, we must systemically address discrimination and bias rooted in the socioeconomic class system, anti-Blackness, anti-Brownness, anti-Indigeneity, misogyny, homophobia, tokenism, and ableism. Instead of seeking individual excellence and rewarding top-down leadership, institutions in the North and South can promote collective leadership. In adopting these approaches, we, ornithologists, will join a community of researchers across academia building new paradigms that can reconcile our relationships and transform science. Spanish and Portuguese translations are available in the Supplementary Material.

The very latest authoritative names for the beetles of Puerto Rico are included in the "Checklist of Coleopterous Insects of Mexico, Central America, the "West Indies and South America", compiled by Dr. Richard E. Blackwelder. This is Bulletin No. 185 of the United States National Museum, of which two parts appeared in 1944, the third in 1945, the fourth in 1946, while the fifth and concluding part was received late in 1947. As indications of generic transfers are not given in this list, none is included in the following pages. His changes in the gender of specific names are followed in the first citation even of economic insects, but often not subsequently.

OBJECTIVES: Over the past decade, U.S. Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs audiologists have reported large numbers of relatively young adult patients who have normal to near-normal audiometric thresholds but who report difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments. Many of these service members also reported having experienced exposure to explosive blasts as part of their military service. Recent studies suggest that some blast-exposed patients with normal to near-normal-hearing thresholds not only have an awareness of increased hearing difficulties, but also poor performance on various auditory tasks (sound source localization, speech recognition in noise, binaural integration, gap detection in noise, etc.). The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of functional hearing and communication deficits (FHCD) among healthy Active-Duty service men and women with normal to near-normal audiometric thresholds. DESIGN: To estimate the prevalence of such FHCD in the overall military population, performance of roughly 3400 Active-Duty service members with hearing thresholds mostly within the normal range were measured on 4 hearing tests and a brief 6-question survey to assess FHCD. Subjects were subdivided into 6 groups depending on the severity of the blast exposure (3 levels: none, far away, or close enough to feel heat or pressure) and hearing thresholds (2 levels: audiometric thresholds of 20 dB HL or better, slight elevation in 1 or more thresholds between 500 and 4000 Hz in either ear). RESULTS: While the probability of having hearing difficulty was low (≈4.2%) for the overall population tested, that probability increased by 2 to 3 times if the service member was blast-exposed from a close distance or had slightly elevated hearing thresholds (>20 dB HL). Service members having both blast exposure and mildly elevated hearing thresholds exhibited up to 4 times higher risk for performing abnormally on auditory tasks and more than 5 times higher risk for reporting abnormally low ratings on the subjective questionnaire, compared with service members with no history of blast exposure and audiometric thresholds ≤20 dB HL. Blast-exposed listeners were roughly 2.5 times more likely to experience subjective or objective hearing deficits than those with no-blast history. CONCLUSIONS: These elevated rates of abnormal performance suggest that roughly 33.6% of Active-Duty service members (or approximately 423,000) with normal to near-normal-hearing thresholds (i.e., H1 profile) are at some risk for FHCD, and about 5.7% (approximately 72,000) are at high risk, but are currently untested and undetected within the current fitness-for-duty standards. Service members identified as "at risk" for FHCD according to the metrics used in the present study, in spite of their excellent hearing thresholds, require further testing to determine whether they have sustained damage to peripheral and early-stage auditory processing (bottom-up processing), damage to cognitive processes for speech (top-down processing), or both. Understanding the extent of damage due to noise and blast exposures and the balance between bottom-up processing deficits and top-down deficits will likely lead to better therapeutic strategies.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects millions of people each year, causing impairment of physical, cognitive, and behavioral functions and death. Studies using Drosophila have contributed important breakthroughs in understanding neurological processes. Thus, with the goal of understanding the cellular and molecular basis of TBI pathologies in humans, we developed the High Impact Trauma (HIT) device to inflict closed head TBI in flies. Flies subjected to the HIT device display phenotypes consistent with human TBI such as temporary incapacitation and progressive neurodegeneration. The HIT device uses a spring-based mechanism to propel flies against the wall of a vial, causing mechanical damage to the fly brain. The device is inexpensive and easy to construct, its operation is simple and rapid, and it produces reproducible results. Consequently, the HIT device can be combined with existing experimental tools and techniques for flies to address fundamental questions about TBI that can lead to the development of diagnostics and treatments for TBI. In particular, the HIT device can be used to perform large-scale genetic screens to understand the genetic basis of TBI pathologies.

Introduction In this systematic review and meta-analysis of propensity score-matched cohort studies, we quantitatively summarize whether venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) used as extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR), compared with conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CCPR), is associated with improved rates of 30-day and long-term favorable neurological outcomes and survival in patients resuscitated from in- and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Methods We searched MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar for eligible studies on January 14, 2019. All searches were limited to studies published between January 2000 and January 2019. Two investigators independently evaluated the quality (or certainty) of evidence according to GRADE guidelines. Pooled results are presented as relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Six cohort studies using propensity score-matched analysis were included, totaling 1108 matched patients. Pooled analyses showed that ECPR was likely associated with improved 30-day and long-term favorable neurological outcome in adults compared to CCPR for in- and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (RR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.29–3.16; I2 = 20%, P = 0.002; very low-quality evidence) and (RR = 2.86, 95% CI = 1.64–5.01; I2 = 0%, P = 0.0002; moderate-quality evidence), respectively. When we analyzed in- and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest separately, ECPR was likely associated with improved 30-day favorable neurological outcome compared to CCPR for in-hospital cardiac arrest (RR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.24–3.81; I2 = 9%, P = 0.006; very low-quality evidence), but not for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (RR = 2.61, 95% CI = 0.56–12.20; I2 = 59%, P = 0.22; very low-quality evidence). ECPR was also likely associated with improved long-term favorable neurological outcome compared to CCPR for in-hospital cardiac arrest (RR = 2.50, 95% CI = 1.33–4.71; I2 = 0%, P = 0.005; moderate-quality evidence) and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (RR = 4.64, 95% CI = 1.41–15.25; I2 = 0%, P = 0.01; moderate-quality evidence). Conclusions Our analysis suggests that VA-ECMO used as ECPR may improve long-term favorable neurological outcomes and survival when compared to the best standard of care in a selected patient population. Therefore, it is imperative for well-designed randomized clinical trials to obtain a higher level of scientific evidence to ensure optimal outcomes for cardiac arrest patients.

The COVID-19 pandemic shut down undergraduate research programs across the United States. A group of 23 colleges, universities, and research institutes hosted remote undergraduate research programs in the life sciences during Summer 2020. Given the unprecedented offering of remote programs, we carried out a study to describe and evaluate them. Using structured templates, we documented how programs were designed and implemented, including who participated. Through focus groups and surveys, we identified programmatic strengths and shortcomings as well as recommendations for improvements from students' perspectives. Strengths included the quality of mentorship, opportunities for learning and professional development, and a feeling of connection with a larger community. Weaknesses included limited cohort building, challenges with insufficient structure, and issues with technology. Although all programs had one or more activities related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, these topics were largely absent from student reports even though programs coincided with a peak in national consciousness about racial inequities and structural racism. Our results provide evidence for designing remote Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) that are experienced favorably by students. Our results also indicate that remote REUs are sufficiently positive to further investigate their affordances and constraints, including the potential to scale up offerings, with minimal concern about disenfranchising students.

Genetic basis of phenotypic differences in individuals is an important area in biology and personalized medicine. Analysis of divergent Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains grown under different conditions revealed extensive variation in response to both drugs (e.g., 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide [4NQO]) and different carbon sources. Differences in 4NQO resistance were due to amino acid variation in the transcription factor Yrr1. Yrr1(YJM789) conferred 4NQO resistance but caused slower growth on glycerol, and vice versa with Yrr1(S96), indicating that alleles of Yrr1 confer distinct phenotypes. The binding targets of Yrr1 alleles from diverse yeast strains varied considerably among different strains grown under the same conditions as well as for the same strain under different conditions, indicating that distinct molecular programs are conferred by the different Yrr1 alleles. Our results demonstrate that genetic variations in one important control gene (YRR1), lead to distinct regulatory programs and phenotypes in individuals. We term these polymorphic control genes "master variators."

The cornerstone of the recovery plan for the critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot (Amazona vitatta) is an actively managed, long-term reintroduction program. One captive population distributed across two aviaries in Puerto Rico is the sole source for release but its ability to persist as a managed resource has not been evaluated since 1989. We conducted an assessment for sustainable management of the aviary population while harvesting for release. To assess demographic rates such as population growth, vital rates, and age/sex structure, we compiled a studbook database on all living, dead, and released individuals in the aviary population. Using an individual-based risk assessment model we applied population specific data based on the management period from 1993 to 2012 to simulate future aviary population dynamics and evaluate future potential production. We modeled four potential management strategies to harvest parrots for proposed releases; these scenarios vary the number of parrots and the life stage. Our simulations revealed that the aviary population can be simultaneously managed for sustainability and harvesting of parrots for release. However, without cautious management, overharvesting can jeopardize sustainability of the aviary population. Our analysis of the aviary breeding program provides a rare opportunity to review progress relative to conservation program objectives after four decades of active management. The successful growth of the aviary population and its ability to serve as a sustainable source for reintroductions supports the 1973 decision to build a breeding program from a small population of 13 parrots.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) occurs in ~1:2,000 pregnancies and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Fetal tracheal occlusion (TO) is an emerging therapy that improves lung growth and reduces mortality, although substantial respiratory compromise persists in survivors. In this study, we used tracheal fluid in a fetal sheep model of CDH with TO for proteomic analysis with subsequent validation of findings in sheep lung tissue. We found that the proteomic profiles of CDH tracheal fluid was most similar to control lung and CDH/TO lung most similar to TO lung. Among 118 proteins altered in CDH, only 11 were reciprocally regulated in CDH/TO. The most significantly altered pathways and processes were cell proliferation, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling, inflammation, and microtubule dynamics. CDH suppressed and TO promoted cell proliferation and AKT-related signaling cascades. By Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry, epithelial PCNA and phosphorylated AKT were decreased in CDH and increased in TO and CDH/TO lungs. The Wnt target Axin2 was decreased threefold in CDH lung compared with control without a significant increase in CDH/TO lung. Cilia-related pathways were among the most dysregulated with CDH lung having a nearly twofold increase in acetylated α-tubulin and a relative increase in the number of ciliated cells. While TO improves lung growth and patient survival in CDH, the procedure substantially alters many processes important in lung development and cell differentiation. Further elucidation of these changes will be critical to improving lung health in infants with CDH treated with TO.

Previous studies have confirmed a genetic basis for susceptibility of mosquitoes to Plasmodium parasites. Here we describe our efforts to characterize a bacterial artificial chromosome genomic library for the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, and to identify BAC clones containing genetic markers that define quantitative trait loci (QTL) for Plasmodium gallinaceum susceptibility. This library (NDL) was prepared from the Ae. aegypti Liverpool strain and consists of 50 304 clones arrayed in 384-well microplates. We used PCR analysis with oligonucleotide primer pairs specific to 106 genetic markers (as sequence-tagged sites or STS) to screen the NDL library. Each STS identified between one and thirteen independent clones with an average of 3.3 clones. The average insert size was 122 kb and therefore the NDL library provides approximately 7.87-fold genome coverage. The availability of the NDL library should greatly facilitate physical mapping efforts, including positional cloning of QTL for traits of interest such as Plasmodium susceptibility and for whole genome sequence determination and assembly.

The B. cereus group comprises numerous closely related lineages with various degrees of pathogenic potential and industrial relevance. Species-level taxonomic classification of B. cereus group strains is important for risk evaluation and communication but remains challenging. Biochemical and phenotypic assays are often used to assign B. cereus group strains to species but are insufficient for accurate taxonomic classification on a genomic scale. Here, we show that antibiotic-producing ATCC 21929 represents a novel lineage within the B. cereus group that, by all metrics used to delineate prokaryotic species, exemplifies a novel effective species. Furthermore, we show that ATCC 21929 is incapable of producing enterotoxins Hbl and Nhe or exhibiting cytotoxic effects on HeLa cells at human body temperature in vitro . These results provide greater insight into the genomic and phenotypic diversity of the B. cereus group and may be leveraged to inform future public health and food safety efforts.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the oral health status and dental needs of the athletes with intellectual disabilities from Latin-American and Caribbean countries who were participating in the II Latin-American Special Olympics games held in Puerto Rico, February 2010. METHODS: There were 930 athletes who participated in the games, of whom 445 received a dental examination, including 367 from Latin-American and 78 from Caribbean countries. Forty-four trained and standardized dental professionals performed dental screenings of athletes with intellectual disabilities, following Special Olympic Special Smiles and CDC protocols. These criteria were used to record untreated caries, missing and filled teeth, and gingival status. Socio-demographics, existence, and severity of pain and oral hygiene habits were assessed by questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using EPI-INFO and SPSS Statistical Program to produce descriptive statistics and chi-square test. RESULTS: Untreated dental caries was recorded for more than half of the examined athletes. Missing teeth were noted in more than one-third of the athletes. More than half of the participants had signs of gingival disease and half needed preventive mouth guards. Statistics for each Latin-American country suggests a dissimilar trend of dental decay and treatment needs among nations. CONCLUSIONS: While the Special Olympic athletes may not be representative of the entire population of individuals with intellectual disabilities in their specific country, the general consistency of the oral health status of these athletes from the 31 countries supports the certainty of the need for increased dental services for individuals with intellectual disability in the respective countries.

Epilepsy, characterized by recurrent seizures, affects 1% of the general population. Interestingly, 25% of diabetics develop seizures with a yet unknown mechanism. Hyperglycemia downregulates inwardly rectifying potassium channel 4.1 (Kir4.1) in cultured astrocytes. Therefore, the present study aims to determine if downregulation of functional astrocytic Kir4.1 channels occurs in brains of type 2 diabetic mice and could influence hippocampal neuronal hyperexcitability. Using whole-cell patch clamp recording in hippocampal brain slices from male mice, we determined the electrophysiological properties of stratum radiatum astrocytes and CA1 pyramidal neurons. In diabetic mice, astrocytic Kir4.1 channels were functionally downregulated as evidenced by multiple characteristics including depolarized membrane potential, reduced barium-sensitive Kir currents and impaired potassium uptake capabilities of hippocampal astrocytes. Furthermore, CA1 pyramidal neurons from diabetic mice displayed increased spontaneous activity: action potential frequency was ≈9 times higher in diabetic compared with non-diabetic mice and small EPSC event frequency was significantly higher in CA1 pyramidal cells of diabetics compared to non-diabetics. These differences were apparent in control conditions and largely pronounced in response to the pro-convulsant 4-aminopyridine. Our data suggest that astrocytic dysfunction due to downregulation of Kir4.1 channels may increase seizure susceptibility by impairing astrocytic ability to maintain proper extracellular homeostasis.

We report an efficient screening methodology based on the capillary counter-diffusion technique (CCD), which was evaluated using two different practical approaches. The first consisted of kits prepared with the most successful crystallizing agents (PEG and ammonium sulfate) buffered at different pHs ranging from 4 to 9 and tested on 14 samples, including commercial and research target proteins. The second approach was based on the previously identified and highly effective 24 crystallization cocktails adapted to the counter-diffusion setup. This screening was tested with two target proteins, HbII and HbII-III from the clam Lucina pectinate, and the results compared with those obtained with the vapor-diffusion experiment. The success rate was higher than 60% in both approaches. These results experimentally confirm the usefulness of the CCD technique for the screening of crystallization conditions of biomacromolecules beyond its well-known value for the growth of large and high-quality crystals. We describe a detailed protocol for the laboratory implementation of the capillary counter-diffusion technique.

This study investigated self and social categorization of Puerto Rican returning migrants. A sample of 121 returning migrants (“Nuyoricans”) and 121 non-migrant students evaluated adolescents described as raised in the mainland as more agitated, bolder and more independent than those raised in Puerto Rico. In-group favoritism was observed for intelligence and carefulness. The students also evaluated three target adolescents differing in saliency of Nuyorican attributes and presented through photos and audiotapes. It was found that language characteristics and physical appearance were sufficient for categorizing a target as a “Nuyorican”. The adolescent salient in Nuyorican attributes received a higher score on rejection than the adolescent low in Nuyorican attributes.

This paper describes a robotics summer camp that was held at the University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla Campus (UPR-Aguadilla) during the summer of 2015. This camp gave high school students the opportunity to collaborate with their peers, in a university setting, in the building and programing of robots. The main contribution of this paper is the evaluation of the camp's influence on student enrollment at the UPR-Aguadilla. The impact was evaluated by using pre- and post-test surveys that included content and interest questions. In addition, the pre- and the post-test surveys included questions on whether or not the camp influenced student enrollment at the UPR-Aguadilla. The camp survey results suggest that attendance to the camp had a significant effect on the enrollment of participating students at the UPR-Aguadilla.