Behavioral alterations and Fos protein immunoreactivity in brain regions of bile duct-ligated cirrhotic rats

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) encompasses a variety of neuropsychiatric symptoms, including anxiety and psychomotor dysfunction. Although HE is a frequent complication of liver cirrhosis, the neurobiological substrates responsible for its clinical manifestations are largely unclear. In the present study, male Wistar rats were bile duct-ligated (BDL), a procedure which induces liver cirrhosis, and on the 21st day after surgery tested in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) and in an open field for anxiety and locomotor activity measurements. Analysis of Fos protein immunoreactivity (Fos-ir) was used to better understand the neurobiological alterations present in BDL animals. Plasma levels of ammonia were quantified and histopathological analysis of the livers was performed. BDL rats showed a significant decrease in the percentage of entries and time spent in the open arms of the EPM, an anxiogenic effect. These animals also presented significant decreases in Fos-ir in the lateral septal nucleus and medial amygdalar nucleus. Their ammonia plasma levels were significantly higher when compared to the sham group and the diagnosis of cirrhosis was confirmed by histopathological analysis. These results indicate that the BDL model induces anxiogenic results, possibly related to changes in the activation of anxiety-mediating circuitries and to increases in ammonia plasma levels.A Encefalopatia hepática (HE) engloba uma variedade de sintomas neuropsiquiátricos, incluindo ansiedade e disfunção psicomotora. Embora seja uma complicação frequente da cirrose hepática, os substratos neurobiológicos responsáveis por suas manifestações clínicas são em grande parte desconhecidos. No presente estudo, ratos Wistar machos foram submetidos ao procedimento cirúrgico de ligação e secção do ducto biliar (BDL; bile-duct ligation), para indução da cirrose hepática e, no 21º dia após a cirurgia, submetidos aos testes comportamentais no labirinto em cruz elevado (LCE) e campo aberto para avaliação da ansiedade e atividade locomotora. A análise da imunorreatividade à proteína Fos (Fos-ir) foi utilizada para melhor compreender as alterações neurobiológicas presentes nos animais do grupo BDL. Foi realizada a quantificação da concentração de amônia plasmática e análise histopatológica dos fígados. Os ratos do grupo BDL mostraram diminuição significativa na porcentagem de entradas e tempo gasto nos braços abertos do LCE, caracterizando efeito ansiogênico. Estes animais também apresentaram redução significativa na Fos-ir no núcleo septal lateral e núcleo medial da amígdala. A concentração plasmática de amônia foi significativamente mais elevada que a do grupo sham e o diagnóstico de cirrose foi confirmado por análise histopatológica. Estes resultados indicam que o modelo de HE induzido por BDL induz efeito ansiogênico possivelmente relacionado à ativação de circuitos mediadores da ansiedade e à hiperamonemia.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de BiociênciasUniversidade de São Paulo Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Departamento de AnatomiaUNIFESP, Depto. de BiociênciasSciEL

Systematics, biogeography, and diversification of Scytalopus tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae), an enigmatic radiation of Neotropical montane birds

Copyright © American Ornithological Society 2020. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: [email protected]. We studied the phylogeny, biogeography, and diversification of suboscine passerines in the genus Scytalopus (Rhinocryptidae), a widespread, species-rich, and taxonomically challenging group of Neotropical birds. We analyzed nuclear (exons, regions flanking ultraconserved elements) and mitochondrial (ND2) DNA sequence data for a taxonomically and geographically comprehensive sample of specimens collected from Costa Rica to Patagonia and Brazil. We found that Scytalopus is a monophyletic group sister to Eugralla and consists of 3 main clades roughly distributed in (1) the Southern Andes, (2) eastern Brazil, and (3) the Tropical Andes and Central America. The clades from the Southern Andes and eastern Brazil are sister to each other. Despite their confusing uniformity in plumage coloration, body shape, and overall appearance, rates of species accumulation through time in Scytalopus since the origin of the clade in the Late Miocene are unusually high compared with those of other birds, suggesting rapid non-adaptive diversification in the group. We attribute this to their limited dispersal abilities making them speciation-prone and their occurrence in a complex landscape with numerous barriers promoting allopatric differentiation. Divergence times among species and downturns in species accumulation rates in recent times suggest that most speciation events in Scytalopus predate climatic oscillations of the Pleistocene. Our analyses identified various cases of strong genetic structure within species and lack of monophyly of taxa, flagging populations which likely merit additional study to clarify their taxonomic status. In particular, detailed analyses of species limits are due in S. parvirostris, S. latrans, S. speluncae, the S. atratus complex, and the Southern Andes clade

Autoantibodies against type I IFNs in patients with critical influenza pneumonia

In an international cohort of 279 patients with hypoxemic influenza pneumonia, we identified 13 patients (4.6%) with autoantibodies neutralizing IFN-alpha and/or -omega, which were previously reported to underlie 15% cases of life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia and one third of severe adverse reactions to live-attenuated yellow fever vaccine. Autoantibodies neutralizing type I interferons (IFNs) can underlie critical COVID-19 pneumonia and yellow fever vaccine disease. We report here on 13 patients harboring autoantibodies neutralizing IFN-alpha 2 alone (five patients) or with IFN-omega (eight patients) from a cohort of 279 patients (4.7%) aged 6-73 yr with critical influenza pneumonia. Nine and four patients had antibodies neutralizing high and low concentrations, respectively, of IFN-alpha 2, and six and two patients had antibodies neutralizing high and low concentrations, respectively, of IFN-omega. The patients' autoantibodies increased influenza A virus replication in both A549 cells and reconstituted human airway epithelia. The prevalence of these antibodies was significantly higher than that in the general population for patients 70 yr of age (3.1 vs. 4.4%, P = 0.68). The risk of critical influenza was highest in patients with antibodies neutralizing high concentrations of both IFN-alpha 2 and IFN-omega (OR = 11.7, P = 1.3 x 10(-5)), especially those <70 yr old (OR = 139.9, P = 3.1 x 10(-10)). We also identified 10 patients in additional influenza patient cohorts. Autoantibodies neutralizing type I IFNs account for similar to 5% of cases of life-threatening influenza pneumonia in patients <70 yr old

Myioborus chrysops

&lt;i&gt;Myioborus chrysops&lt;/i&gt; (Salvin, 1878), subspecies elevated to species rank &lt;p&gt; Proposed English name: Colombian Redstart. Protonym: &lt;i&gt;Setophaga chrysops&lt;/i&gt;. Type: NHMUK 1885.3.8.804 (Fig. 7). Type locality: Santa Elena, Antioquia, Colombia. Range of the species: Western and Central Andes, and the southern end of the Eastern Andes of Colombia (P&aacute;ramo de Miraflores between Huila and Caquet&aacute;) south to the Colombian Massif in southern Cauca. Monotypic. &lt;i&gt;Myioborus chrysops&lt;/i&gt; is the species hybridizing with &lt;i&gt;M. bairdi&lt;/i&gt; in extreme southern Colombia and northern Ecuador.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; A specimen (NML-VZ D1932, Fig. 6C) with a red label and marked as &ldquo; type &rdquo; for &lt;i&gt;flaveola&lt;/i&gt; (not of Lafresnaye 1844, but one cited by Kaup, 1851) is not a proper name-bearing type. It corresponds to an adult &lt;i&gt;M. chrysops&lt;/i&gt; that was identified by Kaup (1851) as &lt;i&gt;flaveola&lt;/i&gt;, and collected by De Lattre at Purac&eacute; (Cauca, Colombia).&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Cuervo, Andrés M. &amp; Céspedes Arias, Laura N., 2023, The type of Setophaga ruficoronata (Kaup 1851) is a hybrid: implications for the taxonomy of Myioborus warblers (Passeriformes: Parulidae), pp. 476-490 in Zootaxa 5383 (4)&lt;/i&gt; on pages 484-486, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5383.4.3, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10369909"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/10369909&lt;/a&gt

Myioborus albifrons

&lt;i&gt;Myioborus albifrons&lt;/i&gt; (Sclater &amp; Salvin, 1871) &lt;p&gt; English name: White-fronted Redstart (unchanged). Protonym: &lt;i&gt;Setophaga albifrons&lt;/i&gt;. Type: NHMUK 1884.5.15.497. Type locality: Sierra Nevada of M&eacute;rida. Range of the species: M&eacute;rida Andes of Venezuela. Monotypic.&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Cuervo, Andrés M. &amp; Céspedes Arias, Laura N., 2023, The type of Setophaga ruficoronata (Kaup 1851) is a hybrid: implications for the taxonomy of Myioborus warblers (Passeriformes: Parulidae), pp. 476-490 in Zootaxa 5383 (4)&lt;/i&gt; on page 484, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5383.4.3, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10369909"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/10369909&lt;/a&gt

Myioborus melanocephalus Cuervo & Arias, 2023, sensu stricto

&lt;i&gt;Myioborus melanocephalus sensu stricto&lt;/i&gt; (von Tschudi, 1844) &lt;p&gt; Proposed English name: Black-crowned Redstart. The name reflects the etymology of the specific epithet, and highlights that its three subspecies are distinguish from all the above taxa in having a black center of crown. Protonym: &lt;i&gt;Setophaga melanocephalus&lt;/i&gt;. Type: MHNN 92.9187 (Fig. 8). Type locality: Maraynioc, Jun&iacute;n, Peru (Zimmer 1949). Range of the species: Restricted the eastern slope of the Andes from south and east of the Mara&ntilde;&oacute;n river valley in northern Peru to central Bolivia. The taxa &lt;i&gt;griseonuchus&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;bairdi&lt;/i&gt; (and individuals formerly treated as &lt;i&gt;M. m. ruficoronatus&lt;/i&gt;) are excluded from this redefined &lt;i&gt;M. melanocephalus&lt;/i&gt;. Although the diagnosability and range limits between the three taxa included in &lt;i&gt;M. melanocephalus&lt;/i&gt; are not clearly established (see photos of type, Figs. 8&ndash;10), we provisionally recommend maintaining those names at the subspecies level. Polytypic, with three subspecies:&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Myioborus melanocephalus melanocephalus&lt;/i&gt; (Tschudi, 1844). The nominate subspecies occurs along the eastern slope of the Andes in central Peru. Its northern and southern range limits are not well known, but it might extend as far north as to the Huallaga valley in Hu&aacute;nuco, and as far south to the Apurimac valley, or even the Marcapata valley in Department of Cusco.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Myioborus melanocephalus malaris&lt;/i&gt; Zimmer, 1949. Type: AMNH 235067 (Fig. 9). Type locality: La Lej&iacute;a, north of Chachapoyas, Department of Amazonas, Peru. Range of subspecies: south and east of the Mara&ntilde;&oacute;n river valley in northern Peru in departments Amazonas and San Mart&iacute;n, Peru. Its southern range limit is unknown but may reach the Huallaga valley.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Myioborus melanocephalus bolivianus&lt;/i&gt; Chapman, 1919. Type: AMNH 137927 (Fig. 10). Type locality: Incachaca, Department of Cochabamba, Bolivia. Range of subspecies: the Yungas of the eastern Andean slope in southern Peru, probably from the Apurimac valley south through departments of Cusco and Puno to the Bolivian Department of Santa Cruz.&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Cuervo, Andrés M. &amp; Céspedes Arias, Laura N., 2023, The type of Setophaga ruficoronata (Kaup 1851) is a hybrid: implications for the taxonomy of Myioborus warblers (Passeriformes: Parulidae), pp. 476-490 in Zootaxa 5383 (4)&lt;/i&gt; on page 486, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5383.4.3, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10369909"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/10369909&lt;/a&gt

Myioborus bairdi

&lt;i&gt;Myioborus bairdi&lt;/i&gt; (Salvin, 1878), name resurrected, and elevated to species rank &lt;p&gt; Proposed English name: Ecuadorian Redstart. The name highlights that the distribution range of this species is mostly confined to the Andes of Ecuador. Protonym: &lt;i&gt;Setophaga bairdi&lt;/i&gt;. Type: NHMUK 1885.3.8.801 (Fig. 3). Type locality: Sical = Sicalpa Viejo, Province of Chimborazo, Ecuador. Range of the species: western slope of the Andes in extreme southwestern Nari&ntilde;o, Colombia, south through both slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes to departments of Piura and Cajamarca, north of the Mara&ntilde;&oacute;n river valley, Peru. Polytypic, with two subspecies:&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Myioborus bairdi bairdi&lt;/i&gt; (Salvin, 1878). The nominate form occurs from southwestern Nari&ntilde;o, Colombia south to extreme southern Ecuador. (Chapman 1927; Zimmer 1949; C&eacute;spedes-Arias &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; 2021).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Myioborus bairdi griseonuchus&lt;/i&gt; Chapman, 1927. Type: AMNH 229332 (Fig. 3). Type locality: Taulis [Playa], Pacific slope NE Pascamayo, Department of Cajamarca, Peru. Range of subspecies: both slopes of the Andes west and north of the Mara&ntilde;&oacute;n river valley in northern Peru to possibly extreme southern Ecuador. The range limits between &lt;i&gt;M. b. bairdi&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;M. b. griseonuchus&lt;/i&gt; are not well known. This is complicated by variation observed in extreme southern Ecuador, where specimens have less black on hind crown (i.e., grayer nape) as in &lt;i&gt;griseonuchus,&lt;/i&gt; but otherwise more closely resemble &lt;i&gt;bairdi&lt;/i&gt; (Chapman 1927; Zimmer 1949; C&eacute;spedes-Arias &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; 2021). As in the case of &lt;i&gt;M. ornatus&lt;/i&gt;, under the three-species alternative both subspecies included in &lt;i&gt;M. bairdi&lt;/i&gt; would be subsumed under a polytypic &lt;i&gt;M. ornatus&lt;/i&gt;. In the future, &lt;i&gt;griseonuchus&lt;/i&gt; may prove to merit elevation to species rank, when nuclear genomic data are fully analyzed.&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Cuervo, Andrés M. &amp; Céspedes Arias, Laura N., 2023, The type of Setophaga ruficoronata (Kaup 1851) is a hybrid: implications for the taxonomy of Myioborus warblers (Passeriformes: Parulidae), pp. 476-490 in Zootaxa 5383 (4)&lt;/i&gt; on page 486, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5383.4.3, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10369909"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/10369909&lt;/a&gt

Volcanoes, evolving landscapes, and biodiversity in Neotropical mountains

The longstanding view of Neotropical mountain uplift as a promoter of species diversification has become commonplace in the last decades and could benefit from more specific Earth-Life evolution associations. We now know that mountain formation has contributed to the outstanding levels of richness and endemism of Neotropical mountains. Nonetheless, we are lacking conceptual and empirical frameworks where geological and biological processes are causally linked through testable hypotheses. In this perspective, we present volcanic activity in the Neotropics, not as phenomena occurring “on top of” mountain uplift, the latter being the phenomena of biogeographical interest, but rather as geological processes that directly impact biodiversity and are themselves the phenomenon of biogeographical interest. Volcanoes deserve biogeographical attention because their effects on landscape evolution generate predictable biodiversity process counterparts that can be integrated into biogeographical models enabling hypothesis testing. We review examples in the literature emphasizing the spatio-temporal scale of volcanism’s predicted and recorded effects on biodiversity. We illustrate our perspective by two recent study cases, focusing on wax palms and passerine birds. In the first one, wax palm genomic sampling was used to test 2 hypotheses: that the northern Andes have been disconnected in the past and connected by rapid but repeated eruptions of caldera-forming eruptions in the Colombian Massif fostering episodic dispersal, or alternatively, that they have always been continuous and have gradually uplifted hosting continuous diversification and dispersal through time. In broadly this same area, genetic and phenotypic data revealed the existence of a hybrid zone between species in the warbler genus Myioborus. Because hybridization is likely younger than volcanic activity, topographic connection spurred by volcanism could have also enabled secondary contact between previously isolated species, a hypothesis that merits formal testing. Altogether, we emphasize the pertinence of the volcanic record in offering opportunities for the evaluation of biogeographical hypotheses in the context of Neotropical mountains and their singularly outsized biodiversity

Evaluation of two microcosm systems for co-treatment of LDPEoxo and lignocellulosic biomass for biochar production

Abstract Background The co-transformation of solid waste of natural and anthropogenic origin can be carried out through solid-state-fermentation systems to obtain bio-products with higher added value and lower environmental impact. Methods To evaluate the effect of Pleurotus ostreatus on co-transformation of oxo-degradable low-density polyethylene (LDPEoxo) sheets and lignocellulosic biomass (LCB), were assembled two 0.75 L microcosm systems in vertical (VMS) and horizontal (HMS) position. The pre-treated sheets with luminescent O2 plasma discharges were mixed with pine bark, hydrolyzed brewer’s yeast and paper napkin fragments and incubated for 135 days at 20 ± 1.0 °C in the presence of the fungus. With the co-transformation residues, biochar (BC) was produced at 300 ± 1.0 °C (BC300) for 1 h, then used to carry out adsorption studies, using the malachite green dye (MG) at pH 4.0, 7.0 and 9.0 ± 0.2. Finally, the biochar was the substrate for the germination of carnation seeds (Dianthus caryophyllus) and Ray-grass (Lolium sp.) in vitro. Results For HMS, the decrease in static contact angle (SCA) was 63.63% (p = 0.00824) and for VMS 74.45% (p = 0.00219), concerning the pristine. Plastic roughness in VMS was higher (26%) concerning the control. Throughout the 135 days, there were fungal growth and consequently laccase (Lac), manganese peroxidase (MnP) and lignin peroxidase (LiP) activities. During the first 75 days, CO2 production increased to 4.78 ± 0.01 and 4.98 ± 0.01 mg g-1 for HMS and VMS, respectively. In MG adsorption studies, the highest amount of the colourant adsorbed at both pH 4.0 and 7.0 ± 0.2. Conclusions Finally, the biochar or the biochar enriched with low concentrations of plant growth-promoting microorganisms and inorganic fertilizer favours the germination of Dianthus caryophyllus and Lolium sp., seeds