Life-History traits of Hollandichthys multifasciatus (Eigenmann & Norris, 1900) (Characiformes: Characidae) in coastal Atlantic Forest blackwater streams from Southeastern Brazil

Ecological and life history traits have been used to understand the basic ecology of fishes. This study aimed to examine the existence of plasticity in life history traits of populations of Hollandichthys multifasciatus in ten blackwater streams. This is an inseminating Characidae, endemic to the Atlantic coastal drainages of Brazil. Different aspects of the life-history of the species, such as mean length, sex ratio, absolute and relative fecundity, gonadosomatic index, condition factor, length-weight relationship and the growth parameter (b) of 185 specimens were studied during the period of low precipitation (June-September). Fish samples were obtained along a 100 m stretch of each stream, and some habitat variables recorded. ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests indicated a similarity in most of the analyzed traits, with exception of the mean length of immatures, Gonadosomatic Index of mature males and condition factor of immatures and mature adults. Also, slope tests of the length-weight relationship were significantly different for immatures. The observed differences were attributed to heterogeneity in food availability and/or other site-specific factors, which may influence growth and/or breeding aspects among the studied localities. The approach used herein may improve understanding of trait plasticity under natural conditions, helping to understand fish-community responses to anthropogenic changes

LEVANTAMIENTO DE PARASITOS GASTROINTESTINALES EN OVINOS CRIADOS Y COMERCIALIZADOS EN LA MICROREGACIÓN DE CRUCERO DEL SUR, PARANÁ, BRAZIL

The sheep farming mainly in the southern region of Brazil. In Paraná State the production is mainly performed in small areas with large capacity of animals, favoring the contamination of pastures and the infection of animals by gastrointestinal parasites that mostly present quickly spread. The small breeding, mostly found in this region, do not follow standards of breeding sheep, however, it was observed a higher prevalence of sheep breeding woolless, probably due to the weather favorable to the creation of these animals. In this study performed in the northwest of Paraná State, samples were randomly collected in 87 animals from five different properties. In each property was collected 30% of each category stipulated in the flock: one to three months, three to six months, six months dose, and animals over one year of age. After collecttion the feces were sent to the Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of UNINGA, applying method of OPG. We calculated the prevalence of identified parasites. The results demonstrated a higher prevalence (68,96%) of eggs of nematodas Strongylida type, being 60/87 parasitized animals; Strongyloides (Bavay, 1876) 25/87 samples (28,73%); Nematodiros sp. (Ransom, 1907) 6/87 (6,98%), Tricuris sp. (Ransom, 1911) 3/87 (3,44%); toxocara vitulorum (Stiles, 1905) 2/87 (2,29%); there were eggs of trematodes digenetics Dicrocolium sp. (Loos, 1907) 2/87 (2.29%), and oocysts of protozoa of the genus Eimeria sp. (Schneider, 1875) appearing on 39/87 samples (44,82%), and Cryptosporidium sp. (Tyzzer, 1907) 1/87 (1,14%). In a property was performed the autopsy of an animal, and found Oesophagostomum columbianum (Railliet & Henry, 1913), where probably the eggs Strongylidae found are due to infection by this parasite

Serious games assisted by playware as a way to improve socio-emotional skills in children with autism spectrum disorder

This paper presents a project developed with the aim of promoting emotional skills in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The project involves a serious game and a playware object, which is a physical component that allows the user to interactively play the serious game. The playware object has six buttons, each one showing an emoji with a specific facial expression and communicates via Bluetooth with the serious game app installed in an Android device. The facial expressions used are: happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise and neutral/normal. They were applied to the three game activities (imitation, recognition and storytelling). The chain of tests started with an online questionnaire to validate the avatars created to represent the previously mentioned facial expressions in the game, which was followed by a usability test of the application (serious game and playware object) with six typically developing children. Finally, the three game activities were tested with six children with ASD in three/four sessions. Due to the small test group and reduced number of sessions, the primary objective was to assess if the target group accepted the application. In fact, it had a high level of approval regarding both the serious game and the playware object. had a high level of approval regarding both the serious game and the playware object.COMPETE: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007043 and FCT –Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2013. Vinicius Silva also thanks FCT for the PhD scholarship SFRH/BD/SFRH/BD/133314/2017. The authors thank the teachers and students of the Elementary School of Gualtar (EB1/JI Gualtar) in Braga for the participation in the testsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Hybrid approach to promote social interaction with children with autism spectrum disorder

The comprehension of the emotional state of others is paramount for a successful human interaction. Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have impairments in social communication and, consequently, they have difficulties to interpret others’ state of mind. In order to tackle this issue, researchers have been proposing the use of technological solutions to assist children with ASD, particularly in imitation and emotion recognition tasks. Social robots and Objects with Playware Technology (OPT) have been employed as intervention tools with children with ASD. This work presents an approach combining both technologies (robots and OPT), in a hybrid way, with the goal of promoting social interaction with children with ASD. Moreover, a new OPT device was developed to be used as an add-on to the human-robot interaction with children with ASD in two emotion recognition tasks – recognize and storytelling. A pilot study was conducted with children with ASD to evaluate the proposed method. All children successfully participated in the activities. Moreover, children significantly gazed longer towards the OPT during the storytelling scenario as the OPT device displayed visual cues, supporting that using a visual cue may be fundamental in helping children with ASD understand requests and tasks.FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia(SFRH/BD/133314/2017

Avaliação da dose resposta sobre massa fresca e massa seca, aérea e radicular, de milho inoculado com Azospirillum brasilense

Zea mays (corn) is one of the leading crops focused on producing food and feed for humans and animals. The use of diazotrophic bacteria such as Azospirillum brasilense demonstrates a positive effect on nitrogen availability, a primordial element for the development of this plant. This study aimed to evaluate the gain of the fresh and dry matter of shoots and roots in a corn cultivar inoculated with A. brasilense at different doses. The experiment was carried out in pots containing soil. The corn seeds, cultivar Agroceres® 5055, were inoculated with A. brasilense at doses between 100 to 250 mL 20 kg-1. It was observed that inoculation with A. brasilense positively affected fresh and dry matter gain of both shoot and roots between doses of 100-200 mL 20 kg-1 compared to the control. As for plant height in two stages, V6 and V8, there was no positive effect with the inoculant compared to the control. Azospirillum brasilense significantly affected shoot and root matter gain in the corn cultivar Agroceres® 5055, thus ensuring better development of corn plants.Zea mays (milho) é uma das principais culturas agrícolas, voltada à produção de alimentos para humanos e de rações para animais. O uso de bactérias diazotróficas como Azospirillum brasilense demonstra efeito positivo na disponibilidade do Nitrogênio, elemento essencial para o desenvolvimento dessa cultura. Esse estudo teve por objetivo avaliar o cultivo de milho inoculado com A. brasilense em diferentes doses e o ganho de massa fresca e seca da parte aérea e radicular. O experimento foi realizado em vasos contendo solo e sementes do cultivar  Agroceres® 5055 com inoculante A. brasilense nas doses entre 100 a 250 mL 20 kg-1. Foi observado que a inoculação com A. brasilense apresentou efeito positivo sobre ganho de massa fresca e seca tanto da parte aérea quanto radicular entre as doses 100-200 mL 20 kg-1 quando comparado ao controle. Já para altura de plantas em dois estádios V6 e V8 não foi verificado efeito positivo com o inoculante comparado ao controle. Azospirillum brasilense demonstrou efeito significativo quanto ao ganho de massa da parte aérea e radicular no cultivar Agroceres® 5055, com isso garantindo melhor desenvolvimento de plantas de milho

O PAPEL DA FOTO-DEGRADAÇÃO DO CARBONO ORGÂNICO DISSOLVIDO (COD) NOS ECOSSISTEMAS AQUÁTICOS

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is major and dynamic carbon pool in the biosphere, with great influence on the global carbon cycle. Besides being consumed by aquatic bacteria, DOC is also degraded by sunlight. This process of photodegradation, or photo-oxidation, transforms DOC, changing its bioavailability, or even oxidizes DOC directly into CO2. In this paper, we review the main biogeochemical motivations for the research on this process in aquatic ecosystems. First, we discuss general aspects of DOC, its degradation by bacteria and light and the relationship between these two processes. We mention the role of photo-bleaching in regulating the light penetration in the water column and its effects on aquatic organisms. The potential of sunlight for the photo-degradation of toxic compounds is also shown. We shortly mention some methods for the study of photodegradation. We also point out the main regulating factors of photo-degradation and how they may affect the seasonal variation of photo-oxidation rates. In a global analysis, we show that photo-oxidation rates are significantly higher in tropical ecosystems, what is partially explained by higher DOC concentrations. Photo-oxidation rates is positively related to DOC, although the relation is not quite strong (r2 = 0.42), due to factors such as seasonal variation of DOC photo-reactivity. We propose that the high solar incidence throughout the year and seasonal inputs of photo-reactivity interact to produce high photo-oxidation rates in tropical ecosystems. O carbono orgânico dissolvido (COD) é um dos maiores e mais dinâmicos reservatórios de carbono da biosfera, tendo grande influência sobre o ciclo global do carbono. Além de ser consumido pelas bactérias aquáticas, o COD também é degradado pela luz solar. Este processo de foto-degradação, ou foto-oxidação, transforma o COD, alterando sua disponibilidade para as bactérias, podendo também oxidá-lo direto a CO2. Neste artigo, revemos as principais motivações biogeoquímicas para o estudo deste processo nos ecossistemas aquáticos, bem como as suas principais implicações ecológicas. Inicialmente, discutimos aspectos gerais do COD nos ecossistemas aquáticos, sua degradação pelas bactérias e pela luz e a relação entre estes dois processos. É mencionado o papel do foto-branqueamento do COD na regulação da penetração de luz na coluna d'água e dos efeitos desta sobre os organismos. É também abordado o potencial de foto-degradação de compostos tóxicos pela luz solar. São brevemente abordadas algumas metodologias utilizadas nos estudos de foto-degradação. Apontamos os principais fatores reguladores da foto-degradação e como estes fatores podem influenciar a variação sazonal das taxas de foto-oxidação. Numa análise em escala global, mostramos que as taxas de fotooxidação são significativamente maiores em ecossistemas tropicais, o que é parcialmente explicado por maiores concentrações de COD. As taxas de foto-oxidação estão positivamente relacionadas ao COD embora a relação não seja muito forte (r2 = 0,42), devido a fatores como a variação sazonal da foto-reatividade do COD. Propomos que a alta incidência solar durante todo o ano e aumentos sazonais da foto-reatividade do COD também interagem para produzir valores altos de foto-oxidação nos ecossistemas tropicais

Exosomes from patients with septic shock convey miRNAs related to inflammation and cell cycle regulation: new signaling pathways in sepsis?

Background: Exosomes isolated from plasma of patients with sepsis may induce vascular apoptosis and myocardial dysfunction by mechanisms related to inflammation and oxidative stress. Despite previous studies demonstrating that these vesicles contain genetic material related to cellular communication, their molecular cargo during sepsis is relatively unknown. In this study, we evaluated the presence of microRNAs (miRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) related to inflammatory response and redox metabolism in exosomes of patients with septic shock. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 24 patients with septic shock at ICU admission and after 7 days of treatment. Twelve healthy volunteers were used as control subjects. Exosomes were isolated by ultracentrifugation, and their miRNA and mRNA content was evaluated by qRT-PCR array. Results: As compared with healthy volunteers, exosomes from patients with sepsis had significant changes in 65 exosomal miRNAs. Twenty-eight miRNAs were differentially expressed, both at enrollment and after 7 days, with similar kinetics (18 miRNAs upregulated and 10 downregulated). At enrollment, 35 differentially expressed miRNAs clustered patients with sepsis according to survival. The pathways enriched by the miRNAs of patients with sepsis compared with control subjects were related mostly to inflammatory response. The comparison of miRNAs from patients with sepsis according to hospital survival demonstrated pathways related mostly to cell cycle regulation. At enrollment, sepsis was associated with significant increases in the expression of mRNAs related to redox metabolism (myeloperoxidase, 64-foldPRDX3, 2.6-foldSOD2, 2.2-fold) and redox-responsive genes (FOXM1, 21-foldSELS, 16-foldGLRX2, 3.4-fold). The expression of myeloperoxidase mRNA remained elevated after 7 days (65-fold). Conclusions: Exosomes from patients with septic shock convey miRNAs and mRNAs related to pathogenic pathways, including inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and cell cycle regulation. Exosomes may represent a novel mechanism for intercellular communication during sepsis.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Research and Education Institute, Hospital Sirio-LibanesHosp Sirio Libanes, Res & Educ Inst, Rua Prof Daher Cutait 69, BR-01539001 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo State Canc Inst, Sao Paulo, BrazilHosp Serv Publ Estadual Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Minas Gerais, Inst Ciencias Biol, Morphol Dept, Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Heart Inst, Lab Immunol, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Estadual Paraiba, Ctr Ciencias & Tecnol, Campina Grande, BrazilLudwig Inst Canc Res, Sao Paulo, BrazilAC Camargo Canc Ctr, Int Res Ctr, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Div Clin Immunol & Allergy, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Emergency Med, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 10/52554-1Web of Scienc

AVALIAÇÃO DE CONSERVAÇÃO DA VIABILIDADE DE STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS E ESCHERICHIA COLI SOB INFLUÊNCIA DE FLUÍDOS BIOLÓGICOS EM SUPERFÍCIES SECAS

As bactérias podem constituir a microbiota de diversos seres, incluindo o homem. Com o avanço tecnológico, o estresse causado aos seres, levou a necessidade de adaptação dos mesmos. No caso das bactérias, essa adaptação é perceptível em pouco tempo, uma vez que seu ciclo biológico é curto. Um desequilíbrio nas relações entre homens e bactérias, pode levar a problemas na integridade da saúde do hospedeiro, como infecções ambientais e hospitalares causadas por bactérias multiresistentes com índices crescentes nos últimos anos, manifestando-se com alta morbidade e mortalidade. Pesquisas recentes evidenciam que as bactérias demonstram um perfil de sobrevivência, não cultivo, em superfícies secas de modo a manter a sua virulência quando expostas a fluidos biológicos. O objetivo desse estudo foi documentar através de análises laboratoriais a capacidade de sobrevivência das principais bactérias de interesse médico em superfícies abióticas. Tendo o fluído biológico sangue permitido viabilidade por maior tempo

Leucine levels in low protein diets for pigs in the initial phase

The objective of this study was to evaluate the standardized ileal digestible (SID) leucine levels in low crude protein diets on Performance, backfat thickness, longissimus dorsi depth and biochemical blood parameters of starting pigs. A total of 50 pigs, with initial weight of 11.14±0.24 kg; were distributed in a randomized blocks design with five treatments (1.10; 1.25; 1.40; 1.55 and 1.70% SID leucine), five replicates and two animals per experimental unit, comprised for a barrow and a gilt. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) reduced (P=0.018) due to the increasing SID leucine levels, without affecting other growth performance parameters (final weight, average daily feed intake, average daily gain, backfat thickness, longissimus dorsi depth and lean meat percentage). There was a quadratic effect for plasma triglyceride (P=0.049) and plasma urea (P=0.001). The optimal SID leucine levels obtained for triglycerides and urea were 1.16% and 1.24%, respectively, by associating the quadratic model with the Linear Response Plateu. Low crude protein diets with SID leucine levels up to 1.70% improved the feed conversion with desired urea and triglycerides concentration in blood plasmas achieved at 1.16% and 1.24%, respectively