HYDRODYNAMICS OF FLUVIAL STRATA WITHIN THE WILLIAMS FORK FORMATION

Fluvial sandstones within the middle part of the Late Cretaceous Williams Fork Formation were interpreted to gain insights to hydrodynamics of the ancient fluvial system. Emphasis is placed on a thick (~75 m), laterally extensive (up to 10 km) amalgamated fluvial sandstone. An empirical approach is used to allow comparison of interpreted data with data from modern systems collected from the literature. Hydrodynamic data is then applied to interpretations of the Williams Fork Formation fluvial systems to determine planform morphologies (e.g. braided vs. meandering), morphological styles (e.g. contributive vs. distributive), size (flow depth and drainage area) and characteristics (slope). Individual channel-belts within an amalgamated sandstone are interpreted to represent a ~7 m bankfull flow depth, low gradient (~10-4) and low sinuosity fluvial system with an average grain size of medium lower sand. By comparison to modern fluvial systems within a compiled database (n430), planform morphology is interpreted as either irregularly sinuous, irregularly sinuous with meandering floodplain topography or split with bars. These findings challenge previous interpretations of fluvial planform morphology in the Williams Fork Formation. Interpretations from this study based on a paleo-hydrodynamic approach favor deposition from fluvial systems in a low gradient coastal plain that had more meandering-like qualities than braided. Fluvial scaling relationships of modern systems assist in development of improved analogs for the stratigraphic record. Features such as channel depth are used to propose slope, and in turn, interpretations of fluvial planform morphology. Based on the analysis of the compiled modern fluvial database, planform morphologies of rivers are characterized by certain values and ranges of bankfull flow depth, slope and average bed sediment grain size. Detrital zircon U-Pb dating of the Williams Fork Formation provides maximum depositional ages for the top and bottom of the formation, 70.1 ± 1.8 Ma and 74.09 ± 0.48 Ma, respectively

Efeito da Hipertensão Renovascular 2r1c Sobre As Células Tronco da Medula Óssea de Camundongos

studos mostram que o número de algumas populações de células de medula óssea se encontra alterado em diferentes doenças cardiovasculares. A angiotensina II, além de um poente vasoconstritor, regula o crescimento e proliferação celular, atua como imunomodulador indutor de respostas inflamatórias e é capaz e aumentar a produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio, levando ao estresse oxidativo. Apesar de alguns estudos relatarem que algumas doenças cardiovasculares afetam diferentes populações de células da medula óssea, pouco se sabe a respeito dos efeitos da hipertensão renovascular induzida por clipagem de um dos rins, a qual é angiotensina-II dependente, sobre estas células. Por isso, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos da hipertensão renovascular 2R1C sobre o número e a genotoxicidade das células tronco de medula óssea de camundongos in vivo. Para isso, camundongos C57 machos (21-24g) foram aleatoriamente separados em dois grupos Sham (n=10) e 2R1C (n=10). A hipertensão foi induzida no grupo 2R1C pela colocação de um clipe de aço ao redor da artéria renal esquerda. O grupo Sham foi submetido ao mesmo procedimento cirúrgico, porém sem a colocação do clipe. Após 14 dias, os animais tiveram sua artéria carótida cateterizadas para medidas da pressão arterial e freqüência cardíaca. Em seguida, os animais foram eutanasiados, a medula óssea removida dos fêmures e tíbias e as células mononucleares isoladas, contadas em câmara de Neubauer e a viabilidade celular verificada. A identificação e quantificação das duas populações de células tronco da medula óssea foi realizada por imunofenotipagem. Uma alíquota das células mononucleares foi incubada com os anticorpos CD117-FITC e CD90.2-PE (5?l/106células) e com seus controles isotípicos. Em seguida as células tronco hematopoiéticas e mesenquimais foram quantificadas por citometria de fluxo. Para o estudo da genotoxicidade, as células mononucleares (2x104 células) foram misturadas com low melting point agarose e espalhadas sobre lâminas previamente cobertas com normal melting point agarose que foram colocadas em solução de lise. Em seguida, as lâminas foram dispostas na cuba, cobertas com tampão de desenrolamento alcalino e, posteriormente, submetidas à eletroforese, neutralizadas, fixadas e coradas com brometo de etídio para análise em microscópio de fluorescência. Os dados estão expressos como média ± EPM e variações percentuais em relação ao grupo controle. A análise estatística foi realizada por meio de teste t de Student. Como esperado os animais 2R1C apresentaram níveis maiores de pressão arterial sistólica (182±13 mmHg) quando comparados com os respectivos controles (133±2 mmHg). A viabilidade celular (Sham: 97%±0.54 vs. 2R1C: 96,75%±0.54) e o número de monócitos (Sham: 2.81±0.46 vs. 2R1C: 3.32±0.34 células/ml x 106) não foram diferentes entre os dois grupos. Entretanto, os animais 2R1C apresentaram diminuição do número de células indiferenciadas (2.26±0.13 células/ml x107) e simultâneo aumento do número de linfócitos (1.98±0.15 células/ml x 106) quando comparados com os animais Sham (Células indiferenciadas: 2,66±0,11 células/ml x107; Linfócitos: 1.22±0.25 células/ml x106). Além disso, o grupo hipertenso (0,41±0,16%) apresentou diminuição significante da população células tronco hematopoiética quando comparado com os animais Sham (1,75±0,18%). O número de células tronco mesenquimais não apresentou diferença entre os grupos (Sham: 2,36±0,61% vs. 2R1C: 1,48±0,22%). A análise de genotoxicidade revelou aumento da fragmentação do DNA dos camundongos hipertensos. Nossos resultados sugerem que a hipertensão renovascular 2R1C reduz o número de células tronco ao estimular a divisão assimétrica destas células, levando a sua diferenciação, o que pode ser confirmado pelo aumento do número de células inflamatórias produzidas na medula óssea. Além disso, neste modelo de hipertensão experimental ocorre aumento da produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio que são capazes de interagir com o DNA das células, fragmentando-o. Palavras-chave: Hipertensão renovascular. 2R1C. Angiotensina II. Célula tronco. Genotoxicidade. Espécies reativas de oxigênio

Guidelines for the monitoring of Lucanus cervus

Lucanus cervus is one of the most charismatic saproxylic beetles, widely distributed in Europe. The species is typical of mature deciduous forests, especially oak woodlands. Loss and fragmentation of suitable habitats is one of the major threats for this species which is included in Annex II of the Habitats Directive. Despite several studies carried out in the last years for the monitoring methods of the species, an analytical comparison between them is still lacking. The aims of this paper are (i) to review the current knowledge about systematics, ecology and conservation practices on L. cervus and (ii) to present the research carried out during the Life MIPP project, in order to define a standard monitoring method with a suitable protocol to be used for addressing the obligations of the Habitats Directive. Overall, five methods were tested during three years in two different study areas. Based on these results, a suitable standard method for L. cervus is proposed in this paper and, in order to assess the conservation status of populations and to compare them over time, a simple method for the calculation of a reference value is provided

AB0565 JAK INHIBITORS AND PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

Background:Despite the therapeutic armamentarium for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has considerably expanded over the last thirty years, there is a huge necessity of finding effective drugs for this disease. JAK inhibitors (JAKi) are small molecules able to interfere with the JAK/STAT pathway, involved in the pathogenesis of PsA (1). Up to now Tofacitinib is the only JAKi approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of PsA but in the next few years the number of approved JAKi is expected to rise significantly.Objectives:To assess the efficacy and safety of different JAKi for the treatment of PsA.Methods:A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs), by electronic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE database until October 2020. Studies were considered eligible if they met the following criteria: I) study was a RCT; II) only patients with PsA were included; III) JAKi was compared to placebo in addition to the standard of care. Two reviewers (FC and AZ) performed study selection, with disagreements solved by the opinion of an expert reviewer (AS). The outcomes were expressed as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Statistical heterogeneity was assessed with the I2 statistic.Results:We identified 557 potentially relevant studies. A total of 554 studies were excluded based on title and/or abstract screening. Three RCTs for a total of 947 PsA patients treated with JAKi were included (2,3,4). Two were phase III studies on the efficacy and safety of Tofacitinib (OPAL Beyond and OPAL Broaden) and one was a phase II study on Filgotinib (Equator). All three studies were judged at low risk of bias according to Cochrane criteria (5). The primary efficacy outcome in all the studies was the number of patients who achieved the response rate of the American College of Rheumatology 20 score (ACR20). The outcomes evaluation was performed at 12 week for the Filgotinib trial and at 16 week for the Tofacitinib trials. We used for the main analyses the group of patients randomized to Tofacitinib 5 mg because this is the only dosage approved by the EMA for the treatment of PsA. JAKi showed a significantly higher ACR20 response rate compared to placebo (OR 3.54, 95% CI 1.76 - 7.09, I^2 = 74%). JAKi also showed a significantly higher ACR50 response rate (OR 3.36, 95% CI 2.22 - 5.09, I^2 = 0%), ACR70 response rate (OR 2.82, 95% CI 1.67 - 4.76, I^2 = 20%), PsARC response rate (OR 2.67, 95% CI 1.26 - 5.65, I^2 = 79%), PASI75 response rate (OR 3.15, 95% CI 1.61 - 6.15, I^2 = 45%) compared to placebo. JAKi were also associated with significantly better HAQ-DI (mean difference -0.23 95% CI -0.31 - -0.14) and fatigue, measured with FACIT-F (mean difference 3.54 95% CI 2.13 - 4.94). JAKi compared to placebo were associated with a non-statistically significant different risk of serious adverse events (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.11 - 2.91, I^2 = 38%).Conclusion:This is the first published systematic review that performed a comprehensive and simultaneous evaluation of the efficacy and safety of JAKi for PsA in RCTs. Our analysis suggests a statistically significant benefit of JAKi, that appears to be effective and safe over placebo. The impact of these data on international clinical guidelines needs further investigation.References:[1]George E Fragoulis, et al. JAK-inhibitors. New players in the field of immune-mediated diseases, beyond rheumatoid arthritis, Rheumatology, Volume 58, Issue Supplement_1, February 2019, Pages i43–i54[2]Mease P, et al. Tofacitinib or adalimumab versus placebo for psoriatic arthritis. N Engl J Med 2017; 377: 1537-50.[3]Gladman D, et al. Tofacitinib for psoriatic arthritis in patients with an inadequate response to TNF inhibitors. N Engl J Med 2017; 377: 1525-36.[4]Mease P, et al. Efficacy and safety of filgotinib, a selective Janus kinase 1 inhibitor, in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (EQUATOR): results from a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial. Lancet 2018;392:2367–77.[5]Higgins JP, et Al. Measuring inconsistency in meta-analyses. BMJ 2003;327:557-560Figure 1.ACR20 response rate of Jaki over PlaceboDisclosure of Interests:None declared

Updated distribution of Osmoderma eremita in Abruzzo (Italy) and agro-pastoral practices affecting its conservation (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

New records of Osmoderma eremita (Scopoli, 1763) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) are reported for Abruzzo (Italy), together with a review of its distribution in this region. O. eremita is a saproxylic beetle dependent on the presence of hollow deciduous trees with abundant wood mould in their cavities. The major threats for the species are habitat loss and fragmentation. EU Habitats Directive requests to the member States its protection and the monitoring of its conservation status. Detection of its occurrence is the first step to protect the species. The surveys have been carried out in ten sites of Abruzzo by using black cross-windows traps baited with specific pheromone. The species has been recorded for the first time in the Sant'Antonio forest and its presence is confirmed in the Peligna Valley, after a decade. The populations seem to be confined to small patches of suitable habitats. At local level, the abandonment of the pollarding practice (willow and beech forests) and the use of pollarded trees as biomass for fuel are the major threats for this species. Indeed some key actions, such as the protection of old hollow trees and the continuation of pollarding practice in rural landscape, could be key factors for the conservation strategies of the species in the study area

Genomic comparison of lactobacillus helveticusstrains highlights probiotic potential

Lactobacillus helveticus belongs to the large group of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which are the major players in the fermentation of a wide range of foods. LAB are also present in the human gut, which has often been exploited as a reservoir of potential novel probiotic strains, but several parameters need to be assessed before establishing their safety and potential use for human consumption. In the present study, six L. helveticus strains isolated from natural whey cultures were analyzed for their phenotype and genotype in exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, low pH and bile salt tolerance, bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity, and antibiotic resistance profile. In addition, a comparative genomic investigation was performed between the six newly sequenced strains and the 51 publicly available genomes of L. helveticus to define the pangenome structure. The results indicate that the newly sequenced strain UC1267 and the deposited strain DSM 20075 can be considered good candidates for gut-adapted strains due to their ability to survive in the presence of 0.2% glycocholic acid (GCA) and 1% taurocholic and taurodeoxycholic acid (TDCA). Moreover, these strains had the highest bile salt deconjugation activity among the tested L. helveticus strains. Considering the safety profile, none of these strains presented antibiotic resistance phenotypically and/or at the genome level. The pangenome analysis revealed genes specific to the new isolates, such as enzymes related to folate biosynthesis in strains UC1266 and UC1267 and an integrated phage in strain UC1035. Finally, the presence of maltose-degrading enzymes and multiple copies of 6-phospho-beta-glucosidase genes in our strains indicates the capability to metabolize sugars other than lactose, which is related solely to dairy niches

Asistencia técnica para el fortalecimiento de pequeñas unidades productivas para la habilitación de lugares de elaboración de alimentos y comercialización de los productos en ferias municipales

El proyecto tiene como objetivo que los pequeños productores de alimentos puedan habilitar un lugar de elaboración para sus productos, reciban asesoramiento técnico y el control necesario para asegurar la inocuidad de los alimentos. Además, que los productos elaborados tengan un lugar de comercialización controlado y común a los emprendedores que se encuentren dentro de esta metodología de trabajo. Esto lo lograremos trabajando en la generación de dos ordenanzas comunes a los municipios que integren el grupo de trabajo. La primera tiene como objetivo fijar las condiciones mínimas para habilitar, desde la municipalidad, los sectores de elaboración de estos pequeños productores, y la otra ordenanza tendrá como finalidad la creación de una feria en cada municipio donde puedan comercializar sus productos no sólo en el municipio al que pertenecen sino también en los municipios que adhieran al proyecto.Eje: Territorio y estrategias de intervenciónUniversidad Nacional de La Plat

A first assessment of genetic variability in the longhorn beetle Rosalia alpina (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from the Italian Apennines

The Rosalia longicorn (Rosalia alpina) is a strictly protected saproxylic beetle, widely distributed in Central and Southern Europe and mainly associated with ancient beech forests. To improve knowledge about the conservation status of R. alpina in Italy, available molecular markers (microsatellites and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I(COI)) were tested for the first time on Italian populations. The study was performed in four sampling sites distributed in two areas placed in Northern (“Foreste Casentinesi” National Park) and Central Apennines (“Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise” National Park) where populational data about Rosalia longicorn were collected in the framework of the European LIFE MIPP Project. The genetic relationship among Apennine and Central/South-eastern European populations was explored by a comparison with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) data from literature. Microsatellite markers were only partially informative when applied to R. alpina Italian individuals, although providing some preliminary indication on an extensive gene flow among populations from the Apennines and local ongoing processes of genetic erosion. Genetic data are consistent with previous ecological data suggesting that the maintenance of variability in this species could be related to both habitat continuity and preservation of large senescent or standing dead trees in forests. Finally, a peculiar origin of the Apennine populations of R. alpina from a putative “Glacial Refugium” in Italy was inferred through COI data. The high genetic distance scored among the analysed populations and those from Central and South-eastern Europe indicates that the R. alpina deme from Apennine Mountains might represent a relevant conservation unit in Europe. Further genetic analyses will allow assessing other possible conservation units of R. alpina and, thus, defining large-scale conservation strategies to protect this endangered longhorn beetle in Europe

Empoderamento e feminismo negro: decolonizando epistemologias e mentalidades

Joice Berth Entrevista por Naira Pinheiro dos Santos, Nilza Menezes e Priscila Kikuchi Campanaro

Genomic analysis and immune response in a murine mastitis model of vB_EcoM-UFV13, a potential biocontrol agent for use in dairy cows

Bovine mastitis remains the main cause of economic losses for dairy farmers. Mammary pathogenic Escherichia coli (MPEC) is related to an acute mastitis and its treatment is still based on the use of antibiotics. In the era of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), bacterial viruses (bacteriophages) present as an efficient treatment or prophylactic option. However, this makes it essential that its genetic structure, stability and interaction with the host immune system be thoroughly characterized. The present study analyzed a novel, broad host-range anti-mastitis agent, the T4virus vB-EcoM-UFV13 in genomic terms, and its activity against a MPEC strain in an experimental E. coli-induced mastitis mouse model. 4,975 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) were assigned between vB-EcoM-UFV13 and E. coli phage T4 genomes with high impact on coding sequences (CDS) (37.60%) for virion proteins. Phylogenetic trees and genome analysis supported a recent infection mix between vB-EcoM-UFV13 and Shigella phage Shfl2. After a viral stability evaluation (e.g pH and temperature), intramammary administration (MOI 10) resulted in a 10-fold reduction in bacterial load. Furthermore, pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and TNF-\u3b1, were observed after viral treatment. This work brings the whole characterization and immune response to vB-EcoM-UFV13, a biocontrol candidate for bovine mastitis