Maternal predator-exposure affects offspring size at birth but not telomere length in a live-bearing fish

The perception of predation risk could affect prey phenotype both within and between generations (via parental effects). The response to predation risk could involve modifications in physiology, morphology, and behavior and can ultimately affect long-term fitness. Among the possible modifications mediated by the exposure to predation risk, telomere length could be a proxy for investigating the response to predation risk both within and between generations, as telomeres can be significantly affected by environmental stress. Maternal exposure to the perception of predation risk can affect a variety of offspring traits but the effect on offspring telomere length has never been experimentally tested. Using a live-bearing fish, the guppy (Poecilia reticulata), we tested if the perceived risk of predation could affect the telomere length of adult females directly and that of their offspring with a balanced experimental setup that allowed us to control for both maternal and paternal contribution. We exposed female guppies to the perception of predation risk during gestation using a combination of both visual and chemical cues and we then measured female telomere length after the exposure period. Maternal effects mediated by the exposure to predation risk were measured on offspring telomere length and body size at birth. Contrary to our predictions, we did not find a significant effect of predation-exposure neither on female nor on offspring telomere length, but females exposed to predation risk produced smaller offspring at birth. We discuss the possible explanations for our findings and advocate for further research on telomere dynamics in ectotherms

Quality of Life and psychopathology in adults who underwent Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) in childhood: a qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Background: Patients who undergo pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) may experience long-term psychological sequelae and poor Quality of Life (QoL) in adulthood. This study aimed to investigate subjective illness experience, QoL, and psychopathology in young adults who have survived pediatric HSCT. Method: The study involved patients treated with HSCT in the Hematology-Oncology Department between 1984 and 2007. Psychopathology and QoL were investigated using the SCL-90-R and SF-36. Socio-demographic and medical information was also collected. Finally, participants were asked to write a brief composition about their experiences of illness and care. Qualitative analysis of the texts was performed using T-LAB, an instrument for text analysis that allows the user to highlight the occurrences and co-occurrences of lemma. Quantitative analyses were performed using non-parametric tests (Spearman correlations, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests). Results: Twenty-one patients (9 males) participated in the study. No significant distress was found on the SCL-90 Global Severity Index, but it was found on specific scales. On the SF-36, lower scores were reported on scales referring to bodily pain, general health, and physical and social functioning. All the measures were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with specific socio-demographic and medical variables (gender, type of pathology, type of HSCT, time elapsed between communication of the need to transplant and effective transplantation, and days of hospitalization). With regard to the narrative analyses, males focused on expressions related to the body and medical therapies, while females focused on people they met during treatment, family members, and donors. Low general health and treatment with autologous HSCT were associated with memories about chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and the body parts involved, while high general health was associated with expressions focused on gratitude (V-Test \ub1 1.96). Conclusion: Pediatric HSCT survivors are more likely to experience psychological distress and low QoL in adulthood compared with the general population. These aspects, along with survivors' subjective illness experience, show differences according to specific medical and socio-demographic variables. Studies are needed in order to improve the care and long-term follow-up of these families

Seleção de bactérias promotoras para produção orgânica de soja e trigo.

Errata/Autoria: BETTI, L. A

Experimental Studies of Electron Affinity and Work Function from Aluminium on Oxidized Diamond (100) and (111) Surfaces

none6Three different procedures are used to deposit aluminium onto O-terminated (100) and (111) boron-doped diamond, with the aim of producing a thermally stable surface with low work function and negative electron affinity. The methods are 1) deposition of a > 20 nm film of Al by high-vacuum evaporation followed by HCl acid wash to remove excess metallic Al, 2) deposition of <3 Å of Al by atomic layer deposition, and 3) thin-film deposition of Al by electron beam evaporation. The surface structure, work function, and electron affinity are investigated after annealing at temperatures of 300, 600, and 800 °C. Except for loss of excess O upon first heating, the Al + O surfaces remain stable up to 800 °C. The electron affinity values are generally between 0.0 and −1.0 eV, and the work function is generally 4.5 ± 0.5 eV, depending upon the deposition method, coverage, and annealing temperature. The values are in broad agreement with those predicted by computer simulations of Al + O (sub)monolayers on a diamond surface.openM. C. James, M. Cattelan, N. A. Fox, R. F. Silva, R. M. Silva, P. W. MayJames, M. C.; Cattelan, M.; Fox, N. A.; Silva, R. F.; Silva, R. M.; May, P. W

Alginate Formulations: Current Developments in the Race for Hydrogel-Based Cardiac Regeneration

Cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction (MI), represent the main worldwide cause of mortality and morbidity. In this scenario, to contrast the irreversible damages following MI, cardiac regeneration has emerged as a novel and promising solution for in situ cellular regeneration, preserving cell behavior and tissue cytoarchitecture. Among the huge variety of natural, synthetic, and hybrid compounds used for tissue regeneration, alginate emerged as a good candidate for cellular preservation and delivery, becoming one of the first biomaterial tested in pre-clinical research and clinical trials concerning cardiovascular diseases. Although promising results have been obtained, recellularization and revascularization of the infarcted area present still major limitations. Therefore, the demand is rising for alginate functionalization and its combination with molecules, factors, and drugs capable to boost the regenerative potential of the cardiac tissue. The focus of this review is to elucidate the promising properties of alginate and to highlight its benefits in clinical trials in relation to cardiac regeneration. The definition of hydrogels, the alginate characteristics, and recent biomedical applications are herewith described. Afterward, the review examines in depth the ongoing developments to refine the material relevance in cardiac recovery and regeneration after MI and presents current clinical trials based on alginate

Competitividade nodular de estirpes de Bradyrhizobium spp. em cultivares de soja sob diferentes disponibilidades hídricas.

RESUMO: O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a competitividade nodular de estirpes de Bradyrhizobium spp. em cultivares de soja sob diferentes disponibilidades hídricas a campo. Foi realizada análise conjunta dos dados de duas safras (2006/07 e 2007/08), com dez cultivares de soja (BR 16, Embrapa 48, BRS 133, BRS 134, BRS 245 RR, BRS 247 RR, BRS 183, BRS 184, BRS 214, e BRS 232), que foram submetidas a três disponibilidades hídricas (1 - DHER, déficit hídrico nos estádios reprodutivos; 2 - CNC, condições normais de campo e 3 - IRR, irrigado) em delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, em parcelas subdivididas, com quatro repetições. Os nódulos foram tipificados pelo método de ELISA, com antissoros das estirpes SEMIA 5079, SEMIA 5080, SEMIA 587 e SEMIA 5019. As estirpes inoculadas (SEMIA 587 e SEMIA 5019) foram mais competitivas para nodulação em relação às estirpes naturalizadas no solo. A estirpe SEMIA 587 foi a de maior ocupação nodular, inclusive quando houve limitação hídrica nos estádios reprodutivos. A SEMIA 5080 (não inoculada) foi a que apresentou a menor ocupação nodular entre as estirpes analisadas. ABSTRACT: The aim of this work was to evaluate the competitive nodulation of Bradyrhizobium spp. strains in soybean cultivars under different water availability. It was perfomed a joint analysis of pooled data from two crop seasons (2006/07 and 2007/08) with variations in rain precipitation. Ten soybean cultivars (BR 16, Embrapa 48, BRS 133, BRS 134, BRS 245 RR, BRS 247 RR, BRS 183, BRS 184, BRS 214 and BRS 232), were submitted to three water availability conditions (1 - DHER , water stress during the reproductive stages; 2 - CNC, field condition and 3 - IRR, irrigated) in a randomized complete block design in split plots with four replications. The nodules were classified by ELISA with antiserum of SEMIA 5079, SEMIA 5080, SEMIA 587 and SEMIA 5019. The inoculated strains (SEMIA 587 and SEMIA 5019) were more competitive for nodulation against the naturalized strains in soil. The SEMIA 587 have the highest nodule occupation, even when there was water stress conditions in reproductive stages. The SEMIA 5080 (not inoculated) was the one with the smallest nodule occupation among the strains analyzed

Ocupação nodular com estirpes de Bradyrhizobium spp. em cultivares de soja sob diferentes disponibilidades hídricas a campo.

A ocupação nodular com estirpes de Bradyrhizobium spp. em cultivares de soja sob diferentes disponibilidades hídricas foi analisada na safra 2007/08 em Londrina-PR. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso com parcelas sub-divididas, com quatro repetições. As parcelas principais receberam três tratamentos (1- déficit hídrico nos estádios reprodutivos - DHER, 2- condições normais de campo - CNC e 3- condições ótimas de umidade - IRR); e as sub-parcelas, dez cultivares de soja. Os nódulos foram tipificados pelo método de ELISA, com anti-soros das estirpes SEMIA 5079, SEMIA 5080, SEMIA 587 e SEMIA 5019. Não houve diferença significativa para a ocupação nodular em relação à disponibilidade hídrica, porém, estes resultados podem estar relacionados ao fato da indução de déficit hídrico ter ocorrido na fase reprodutiva, quando a nodulação já estava estabelecida. As estirpes inoculadas, quando consideradas em conjunto, foram mais competitivas na nodulação do que as estirpes naturalizadas no solo, sendo a SEMIA 587 a que apresentou maior ocupação nodular. Não foi possível identificar uma estirpe mais tolerante ao déficit hídrico

Sexism Interacts with Patient–Physician Gender Concordance in Influencing Patient Control Preferences: Findings from a Vignette Experimental Design

Background: Patient preferences regarding their involvement in shared treatments decisions is fundamental in clinical practice. Previous evidences demonstrated a large heterogeneity in these preferences. However, only few studies have analysed the influence of patients’ individual differences, contextual and situational qualities, and their complex interaction in explaining this variability. Methods: We assessed the role of the interaction of patient’s sociodemographic and psychological factors with a physician’s gender. Specifically, we focused on patient gender and attitudes toward male or female physicians. One hundred fifty-three people participated in this randomised controlled study and were randomly assigned to one of two experimental conditions in which they were asked to imagine discussing their treatment with a male and a female doctor. Results: Analyses showed an interplay between attitude towards women and the gender of patients and doctors, explaining interindividual variability in patient preferences. Conclusions: In conclusion, patients’ attitudes toward the physicians’ gender constitutes a relevant characteristic that may influence the degree of control patients want to have and the overall patient-physician relationship