236 research outputs found
Development and characterization of 35 single nucleotide polymorphism markers for the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus
We characterized 35 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus. Based on existing
Fucus Expressed Sequence Tag libraries for heat and desiccation-stressed tissue, SNPs were developed and confirmed by
re-sequencing cDNA from a diverse panel of individuals. SNP loci were genotyped using the SEQUENOM single base
extension iPLEXTM system for multiplex assays on the MassARRAY platform, which uses matrix-assisted laser desorption/
ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to discriminate allele-specific products. The SNP markers
showed a wide range of variability among 16 populations from the south-west of the UK, northern Portugal and Morocco.
The analysis of the information provided by these markers will be useful for studying population structure, historical
demography and phylogeography of F. vesiculosus. They can also be used for the identification of genes and/or linked genomic
regions potentially subject to selection in response to abiotic stressors like temperature extremes and desiccation intensity that
vary across habitats and geographical range.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologi
Marine forests of the Mediterranean-Atlantic Cystoseira tamariscifolia complex show a southern Iberian genetic hotspot and no reproductive isolation in parapatry
Climate-driven range-shifts create evolutionary opportunities for allopatric divergence and subsequent contact, leading to genetic structuration and hybrid zones. We investigate how these processes influenced the evolution of a complex of three closely related Cystoseira spp., which are a key component of the Mediterranean-Atlantic seaweed forests that are undergoing population declines. The C. tamariscifolia complex, composed of C. tamariscifolia s.s., C. amentacea and C. mediterranea, have indistinct boundaries and natural hybridization is suspected. Our aims are to (1) infer the genetic structure and diversity of these species throughout their distribution ranges using microsatellite markers to identify ancient versus recent geographical populations, contact zones and reproductive barriers, and (2) hindcast past distributions using niche models to investigate the influence of past range shifts on genetic divergence at multiple spatial scales. Results supported a single, morphologically plastic species the genetic structure of which was incongruent with a priori species assignments. The low diversity and low singularity in northern European populations suggest recent colonization after the LGM. The southern Iberian genetic hotspot most likely results from the role of this area as a climatic refugium or a secondary contact zone between differentiated populations or both. We hypothesize that life-history traits (selfing, low dispersal) and prior colonization effects, rather than reproductive barriers, might explain the observed genetic discontinuities.Pew Charitable Trusts (USA); MARINERA, Spain [CTM2008-04183-E/MAR]; FCT (Portugal) [FCT-BIODIVERSA/004/2015, CCMAR/Multi/04326/2013, SFRH/BPD/107878/2015, SFRH/BPD/85040/2012]; FPU fellowship of the Spanish Ministry of Education; European Community ASSEMBLE visiting grant [00399/2012]; University of Cadi
HCV Genotypes, Characterization of Mutations Conferring Drug Resistance to Protease Inhibitors, and Risk Factors among Blood Donors in São Paulo, Brazil
Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health problem estimated to affect almost 200 million people worldwide. the aim of this study is to analyze the subtypes and existence of variants resistant to protease inhibitors and their association with potential HCV risk factors among blood donors in Brazil.Methods: Repeat anti-HCV reactive blood donors are systematically asked to return for retest, notification, and counseling in which they are interviewed for risk factors for transfusion-transmitted diseases. We analyzed 202 donors who returned for counseling from 2007 to 2010 and presented enzyme immunoassay-and immunoblot-reactive results. the HCV genotypes and resistance mutation analyses were determined by the direct sequencing of the NS5b and NS3 regions, respectively. the HCV viral load was determined using an in-house real-time PCR assay targeting the 5'-NCR.Results: HCV subtypes 1b, 1a, and 3a were found in 45.5%, 32.0%, and 18.0% of the donors, respectively. the mean viral load of genotype 1 was significantly higher than that of the genotype 3 isolates. Subtype 1a was more frequent among young donors and 3a was more frequent among older donors. Protease inhibitor-resistant variants were detected in 12.8% of the sequenced samples belonging to genotype 1, and a higher frequency was observed among subtype 1a (20%) in comparison to 1b (8%). There was no difference in the prevalence of HCV risk factors among the genotypes or drug-resistant variants.Conclusions: We found a predominance of subtype 1b, with an increase in the frequency of subtype 1a, in young subjects. Mutations conferring resistance to NS3 inhibitors were frequent in treatment-naive blood donors, particularly those infected with subtype 1a. These variants were detected in the major viral population of HCV quasispecies, have replicative capacities comparable to nonresistant strains, and could be important for predicting the response to antiviral triple therapy.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior (CAPES)Fundacao Pro-Sangue/Hemocentro de São PauloFundacao Prosangue Hemoctr São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Infect Dis Div DIPA, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Fac Med, Discipline Med Sci, São Paulo, BrazilHCFMUSP, Dept Pathol, LIM Lab Medice Lab 03, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Sao Joao del Rei, Divinopolis, MG, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Fac Med, Dept Infect Dis, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Infect Dis Div DIPA, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc
Subacute and chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis: Histopathological patterns and survival
Background: in hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), survival can be predicted on the basis of the severity of fibrosis in surgical lung biopsy, but few data are available on the influence of clinical, functional, tomographic and histologic findings on prognosis. Objectives: To describe the impact on survival. of clinical data, histological patterns, and HRCT findings in subacute/chronic HP.Methods: A retrospective analysis of 103 patients diagnosed with HP submitted to surgical lung biopsy. Chronic HP was characterized by HRCT findings indicative of fibrosis (n = 76).Results: the most relevant exposures were to molds and birds. Lung biopsies revealed typical HP with granulomas in 46 patients, bronchiolocentric interstitial pneumonia in 27, and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) in 16. By univariate analysis, several findings were predictors of mortality: older age, mate sex, velcro crackles, higher FEV(1)/FVC ratio, lower oxygen saturation during exercise, and absence of mosaic pattern/air trapping and presence of fibrosis on HRCT. By multivariate analysis, remained significant: age (p = 0.007), oxygen saturation during exercise (p = 0.003), and mosaic pattern/air trapping on HRCT (p = 0.004). Patients with NSIP had a greater survival than did those with typical histology and those with bronchiolocentric pneumonia (p = 0.033).Conclusions: A wide range of histological features are found in FIR Typical findings are seen in 45% of cases, Other common patterns are NSIP and centriacinar lesions. Survival is better in patients with NSIP and worse in those with older age, desaturation during exercise, and absence of mosaic pattern/air trapping on HRCT. (c) 2009 Etsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Resp Dis, Dept Med, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilHosp Servidor Publ Estadual, Div Resp Dis, Dept Med, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Resp Dis, Dept Med, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc
Seagrass connectivity on the west coast of Africa supports the hypothesis of grazer-mediated seed dispersal
Population connectivity influences the distribution of genetic diversity and divergence
along a species range, as the likelihood of extinction or differentiation increases in isolated
populations. However, there is still poor understanding of the processes mediating interpopulation dispersal in marine species that are sessile and lack planktonic life stages. One
such case is the seagrass species Halodule wrightii, which produces basal seeds,
although detached plants can drift. Along the tropical western coast of Africa, this
species occurs in distant discontinuous habitats, raising the question of how
interpopulation dispersal is mediated. The species is a key source of ecosystem
functions including feeding large migratory grazers. This study aims to infer whether
genetic differentiation of the seagrass H. wrightii along the western coast of Africa
supports a hypothesis of predominant transportation of rafting seagrass by ocean
currents, versus the hypothesis of biotic vectors of dispersal. Additional hypotheses
were addressed concerning range-wide clonality and genetic diversity, assessed with
microsatellite markers on populations of the west coast of Africa from Mauritania to
Angola. Population genetic diversity and structure were compared with predictions from
biophysical models of dispersal by oceanographic currents. The genetic data revealed low
divergence among most populations, in strong contrast with predictions of very low
probability of connectivity mediated by currents along the western African coastline.
Moderate to high genotypic diversity showed important seed recruitment, but genetic and
genotypic diversities were lower at range edges. Populations north and south of the
equator were differentiated, and remarkably, so were neighboring equatorial populations despite their proximity. These results reveal independent sources of colonization of
meadows in these islands, which are major habitat for migratory grazing green turtles,
also supporting the hypothesis of biotically mediated seed transport. The importance of
seagrass for conservation of endangered macrofauna has been widely reported; here we
report evidence supporting the reciprocal role, that macrofauna protection can also plays
a role in long-term survival and reproductive success of seagrass.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
On exact solutions for quintessential (inflationary) cosmological models with exponential potentials
We first study dark energy models with a minimally-coupled scalar field and
exponential potentials, admitting exact solutions for the cosmological
equations: actually, it turns out that for this class of potentials the
Einstein field equations exhibit alternative Lagrangians, and are completely
integrable and separable (i.e. it is possible to integrate the system
analytically, at least by quadratures). We analyze such solutions, especially
discussing when they are compatible with a late time quintessential expansion
of the universe. As a further issue, we discuss how such quintessential scalar
fields can be connected to the inflationary phase, building up, for this class
of potentials, a quintessential inflationary scenario: actually, it turns out
that the transition from inflation toward late-time exponential quintessential
tail admits a kination period, which is an indispensable ingredient of this
kind of theoretical models. All such considerations have also been done by
including radiation into the model.Comment: Revtex4, 10 figure
A Patient Perception as a Nursing Care in Emergency Sector
The work process by nurses in the emergency sector is comprised of two complementary dimensions, managing and caring. Therefore,the aim of this study was Know the perception of patients to the support of the nursing assistance in Emergency sector. This is a field research, exploratory, descriptive qualitative approach. The survey was conducted in Dr. Luiz Milton Arêa Leão Hospital - Satélite, located in the city of Teresina - PI, Brazil, which caters exclusively by the Unified Health System, and reference in its coverage area.We interviewed thirteen (13) patients who remained in observation in the emergency sector in that hospital. For this study was used as a criterion for inclusion of service users who entered the emergency sector in the periodMarch-April 2014 and who remained in the sector at the time of the interview.  A pilot test was conducted with the instrument to validate and suitability for the target audience, which is excluded from the sample. Ethical aspects were respected, as provided for in Resolution 466/2012 of the National Health Council, Brazil (2013). In this sense, we observed through the reports of the participants carrying out a qualified nursing care, where it identified a good conduct of professionals to provide the necessary assistance. A nursing care and systematic termination  during the stay of patients in hospital was evidenced. It is perceived  that there is a satisfaction from patients and the care of thenursing team, which is performed through actions inherent to these professionals, such as goodwill, the act of providing a welcoming atmosphere, with technical scientific background, and ability in dealing with conflict situations and ethical
Consumption, nicotine dependence and motivation for smoke cessation during early stages of COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil: A cross-sectional study
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic may have changed smoking habits. For the smoking population, information regarding smoking habits and the pandemic could potentially aid COVID-19 prevention and control measures. Our study aimed to analyze the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on tobacco consumption, nicotine dependence levels, and motivation for smoking cessation. We also collected information from smokers regarding their awareness of the consequences of tobacco use and the increased risks smokers have for severe complications from COVID-19.
Methods: In the survey for this observational cross-sectional study, 122 smokers responded to an online form. The participants provided general data about their smoking history, their smoking habits in the months of April and May 2020, and the effect of the pandemic on their smoking habits. They also completed a Fagerström test and were measured by the Wisconsin Smoking Withdrawal Scale.
Results:When compared to pre-pandemic levels, the majority of smokers reported increased tobacco consumption of between 1 and 10 cigarettes per day (37.7%). Their motivation to quit smoking (59.8%) and desire to smoke (53.2%) were unchanged by the pandemic. Most participants demonstrated an awareness of the increased risks smokers have for severe COVID-19-related complications (p
Conclusions: Most smokers are well aware of their increased risks for severe COVID- 19-related complications. In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, most smokers reported increased cigarette consumption. In addition, motivation to quit and desire to smoke were unchanged for the majority of smokers
Exponential Potentials for Tracker Fields
We show that a general, exact cosmological solution, where dynamics of scalar
field is assigned by an exponential potential, fulfils all the issues of dark
energy approach, both from a theoretical point of view and in comparison with
available observational data. Moreover, tracking conditions are discussed, with
a new treatment of the well known condition . We prove that the
currently used expression for is wrong.Comment: 29 pages,12 figures; contact [email protected]; revised version, to
appear in Physical Review
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