On the occurrence of Mesophyllum expansum (Philippi) Cabioch et Mendoza (Melobesioideae, Corallinales, Rhodophyta) in the Mediterranean, the Canary Isles and the Azores.

Copyright © 2010 by Walter de Gruyter.We reviewed literature records, examined herbarium specimens and studied new collections referred to as Mesophyllum lichenoides from the Mediterranean and the North Atlantic, and report for the first time the presence of Mesophyllum expansum in the Canaries and the Azores. Both gametophytes and tetrasporophytes of M. expansum occur in the Canaries, while we found only tetrasporophytes (and sterile thalli) of the species in all other regions. We further consider the presence of M. lichenoides further south than Atlantic France in need of confirmation. A comparative study between these two species points to the number of rosette cells as the most reliable and easily diagnosed character, M. expansum most often having 911 and M. lichenoides 68 cells

Ticks infesting humans in Italy and associated pathogens

Background: Ticks may transmit a large variety of pathogens, which cause illnesses in animals and humans, commonly referred to as to tick-borne diseases (TBDs). The incidence of human TBDs in Italy is underestimated because of poor surveillance and the scant amount of studies available. Methods. Samples (n = 561) were collected from humans in four main geographical areas of Italy (i.e., northwestern, northeastern, southern Italy, and Sicily), which represent a variety of environments. After being morphologically identified, ticks were molecularly tested with selected protocols for the presence of pathogens of the genera Rickettsia, Babesia, Theileria, Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Borrelia and Anaplasma. Results: Ticks belonged to 16 species of the genera Argas, Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, Ixodes and Rhipicephalus, with Ixodes ricinus (59.5%) being the species most frequently retrieved, followed by Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (21.4%). Nymphs were the life stage most frequently retrieved (41%), followed by adult females (34.6%). The overall positivity to any pathogen detected was 18%. Detected microorganisms were Rickettsia spp. (17.0%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (0.8%), Borrelia afzelii (0.5%), Borrelia valaisiana (0.3%), C. N. mikurensis (0.5%) and Babesia venatorum (0.6%). Conclusions: Results indicate that people living in the Italian peninsula are at risk of being bitten by different tick species, which may transmit a plethora of TBD causing pathogens and that co-infections may also occur. © 2014 Otranto et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Insulin resistance and carotid intima-media thickness mediate the association between resting-state heart rate variability and executive function: A path modelling study

Background: Research has linked high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) to cognitive function. The present study adopts a modern path modelling approach to understand potential causal pathways that may underpin this relationship. Methods: Here we examine the association between resting-state HF-HRV and executive function in a large sample of civil servants from Brazil (N = 8114) recruited for the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). HF-HRV was calculated from 10-min resting-state electrocardiograms. Executive function was assessed using the trail-making test (version B). Results and conclusions: Insulin resistance (a marker of type 2 diabetes mellitus) and carotid intima-media thickness (subclinical atherosclerosis) mediated the relationship between HRV and executive function in seriatim. A limitation of the present study is its cross-sectional design; therefore, conclusions must be confirmed in longitudinal study. Nevertheless, findings support that possibility that HRV provides a 'spark' that initiates a cascade of adverse downstream effects that subsequently leads to cognitive impairment.Fil: Kemp, Andrew H.. University of Sydney; Australia. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Rodríguez López, Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad; Argentina. University of Sydney; Australia. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Passos, Valeria M. A.. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Bittencourt, Marcio S.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Dantas, Eduardo M.. University of Vale do São Francisco; BrasilFil: Mill, José G.. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; BrasilFil: Ribeiro, Antonio L. P.. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Thayer, Julian F.. Ohio State University; Estados UnidosFil: Bensenor, Isabela M.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Lotufo, Paulo A.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasi

Seleção de genótipos de Manihot glaziovii tolerantes ao estresse salino por meio de avaliação da germinação e crescimento inicial de acessos.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a tolerância de acessos de M. glaziovii ao estresse salino durante a germinação de sementes

Release of Lungworm Larvae from Snails in the Environment: Potential for Alternative Transmission Pathways

Background: Gastropod-borne parasites may cause debilitating clinical conditions in animals and humans following the consumption of infected intermediate or paratenic hosts. However, the ingestion of fresh vegetables contaminated by snail mucus and/or water has also been proposed as a source of the infection for some zoonotic metastrongyloids (e.g., Angiostrongylus cantonensis). In the meantime, the feline lungworms Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and Troglostrongylus brevior are increasingly spreading among cat populations, along with their gastropod intermediate hosts. The aim of this study was to assess the potential of alternative transmission pathways for A. abstrusus and T. brevior L3 via the mucus of infected Helix aspersa snails and the water where gastropods died. In addition, the histological examination of snail specimens provided information on the larval localization and inflammatory reactions in the intermediate host. Methodology/Principal Findings: Twenty-four specimens of H. aspersa received ~500 L1 of A. abstrusus and T. brevior, and were assigned to six study groups. Snails were subjected to different mechanical and chemical stimuli throughout 20 days in order to elicit the production of mucus. At the end of the study, gastropods were submerged in tap water and the sediment was observed for lungworm larvae for three consecutive days. Finally, snails were artificially digested and recovered larvae were counted and morphologically and molecularly identified. The anatomical localization of A. abstrusus and T. brevior larvae within snail tissues was investigated by histology. L3 were detected in the snail mucus (i.e., 37 A. abstrusus and 19 T. brevior) and in the sediment of submerged specimens (172 A. abstrusus and 39 T. brevior). Following the artificial digestion of H. aspersa snails, a mean number of 127.8 A. abstrusus and 60.3 T. brevior larvae were recovered. The number of snail sections positive for A. abstrusus was higher than those for T. brevior. Conclusions: Results of this study indicate that A. abstrusus and T. brevior infective L3 are shed in the mucus of H. aspersa or in water where infected gastropods had died submerged. Both elimination pathways may represent alternative route(s) of environmental contamination and source of the infection for these nematodes under field conditions and may significantly affect the epidemiology of feline lungworms. Considering that snails may act as intermediate hosts for other metastrongyloid species, the environmental contamination by mucus-released larvae is discussed in a broader context

Superação de dormência e germinação de sementes de Macroptilium (Fabaceae).

Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a influência da dormência na porcentagem de germinação de sementes de acessos de Macroptilium, assim como observar a necessidade e efi ciência da escarifi cação mecânica na superação da dormência

The geomorphic dimension global change : risks and opportunities

Fil: Hurtado, Martín Adolfo. Instituto de Geomorfología y Suelos (IGS). Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Forte, Luis M.. Instituto de Geomorfología y Suelos (IGS). Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Bruschi, Viola María. Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra y Física de la Materia Condensada. Universidad de Cantabria; EspañaFil: Bonachea, Jaime. Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra y Física de la Materia Condensada. Universidad de Cantabria; EspañaFil: Rivas, Victoria. DGUOT. Universidad de Cantabria. Santander; EspañaFil: Gómez Arozamena, José. DCMQ. Universidad de Cantabria. Santander; EspañaFil: Dantas Ferreira, Marcilene. Departamento de Engenharia Civil. Universidade Federal de SÆo Carlos. SÆo Paulo; BrasilFil: Remondo, Juan. Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra y Física de la Materia Condensada. Universidad de Cantabria; EspañaFil: González, A.. Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra y Física de la Materia Condensada. Universidad de Cantabria; EspañaFil: Díaz de Terán, J.R.. Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra y Física de la Materia Condensada. Universidad de Cantabria; EspañaFil: Salas, L.. Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra y Física de la Materia Condensada. Universidad de Cantabria; EspañaFil: Cendrero, Antonio. Instituto de Geomorfología y Suelos (IGS). Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentin

Genetic control of quality melon traits.

This research studied the genetic control of the traits related to melon fruit quality. The F1, F2, BC1, BC2 generations from the OL x A-16 and OL x PV crossings were evaluated in two separate trials conducted in randomized blocks with three replications. The evaluated traits were: average fruit weight, shape index, pulp thickness, pulp firmness, soluble solids content and cracking rate. The analyses were accomplished through a classic study of generations involving mixed models. The parameters on heritability and number of loci controlling the traits were evaluated in a broad and narrow sense. The inheritance of the evaluated traits is complex, presenting one gene of greater effect and polygenes with additive and dominant effects

Propagação e manejo fitossanitário de mudas de maniçoba.

Neste trabalho são apresentadas as principais recomendações para alcançar sucesso na propagação de mudas de maniçoba por meio de sementes ou por meio de estaquia em condições de viveiro, bem como o manejo fitossanitário, com o objetivo de direcionar de forma adequada as práticas adotadas por viveiristas e agricultores na condução desta etapa inicial do desenvolvimento das plantas.O principal fator para quebra de dormência em sementes de maniçoba é o tempo de armazenamento de no mínimo 1 ano. Se utilizado em conjunto com a escarificação mecânica com lixa e imersão em água, por 2 horas, não haverá grandes dificuldades para a produção de mudas por este método. Para fixação das qualidades genéticas de boas matrizes de maniçoba (produção de clones), a propagação de mudas por estaquia é a escolha correta. No caso da maniçoba, este método é mais rápido e fácil para a produção por pequenos produtores. Neste caso, a escolha da matriz é o principal fator a ser observado na produção de mudas de maniçoba.bitstream/item/219143/1/COMUNICADO-TECNICO-179.pd