EXOGENOUS APPLICATION OF VITAMINS IN UPLAND RICE

Vitamin application can optimize plant growth and grain yield of rice crop due to its beneficial effect on many plant physiological characteristics. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of niacin and thiamin applied as seed soaking or foliar spray on the morphological and productive characteristics of upland rice crop (Oryza sativa L., cv. Primavera), grown under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme, with four replicates. The treatments consisted of the application of vitamins (control; 200 mg L-1 thiamin; 200 mg L-1 niacin; and 100 mg L-1 thiamin + 100 mg L-1 niacin) and two application methods (seed soaking and foliar spraying). Morphological and productive characteristics of the rice plants were evaluated. The exogenous application of thiamin and niacin, regardless of the application method, has a beneficial effect on the growth of upland rice plants, but does not increase the grain yield of the crop

Amphibians of Santa Teresa, Brazil: The Hotspot Further Evaluated

A checklist of the amphibians of Santa Teresa municipality, in southeastern Brazil is presented based on fieldwork, examination of specimens in collections, and a literature review. This new amphibian list of Santa Teresa includes 108 species, of which 106 (~98%) belong to Anura and two (~2%) to Gymnophiona. Hylidae was the most represented family with 47 species (43%). Compared to the previous amphibian lists for Santa Teresa, 14 species were added, 17 previously reported species were removed, and 13 species were re-identified based on recent taxonomic rearrangements. Of the 14 species added, 11 (79%) were first recorded during our fieldwork and specimen examination. It is also the first list of caecilians for Santa Teresa. This list suggests that Santa Teresa has 0.16 species per km2 (i.e., 108 species/683 km2), one of the highest densities of amphibian species in the world at a regional scale. This richness represents 78% of the 136 anurans from Espírito Santo state and 10% of the 1,080 amphibians from Brazil. We highlight the need for long-term monitoring to understand population trends and develop effective conservation plans to safeguard this remarkable amphibian richness

Conductividad y evaluación microestructural de Electrolitos sólidos SGDC sintetizados por Pechini y precipitación controlada

In this work, controlled precipitation synthesis methods and polymeric precursors (Pechini) were used to obtain gadolinium-doped cerium oxide solid electrolytes (Ce0.8Gd0.2O1.9) and double-doped cerium oxide with gadolinium and samarium (Ce0.8Gd0.2−xSmxO1.9 x = 0.01; 0.03 and 0.05). The main results indicate that the synthesized powders by the Pechini method present better microstructural characteristics such as larger specific surface area and smaller particle size. Test specimens were compacted (187 MPa) and sintered (1500 °C/6 h) and subsequently characterized. Through the impedance spectroscopy analysis, an increase in the percentage of the samaria caused an increase in the grain boundary and grain conductivity in all the samples under study. In the grain interior, samples without samaria showed heterogeneous regions, where the cation-vacancy pairs are tightly bound, precluding these vacancies from participating in ion conduction. In the samples with samaria, these defect groups are smaller, indicating structural homogeneity, resulting in greater ionic conductivity. Grain boundary specific conductivities show slight increase for samples codoped with samarium oxide. This effect suggests that Sm3+ additions change the charge equilibrium in space-charge layer favoring better dopant distribution.En este trabajo se utilizaron los métodos de síntesis precipitación controlada y precursores poliméricos (Pechini) para obtener electrolitos sólidos de ceria dopada con gadolinio (Ce0.8Gd0.2O1.9) y óxido de ceria doblemente dopada con gadolinio y samario (Ce0.8Gd0.2−xSmxO1.9 x = 0.01; 0.03 and 0.05). Los principales resultados indicaron que los polvos sintetizados por el método Pechini presentaron mejores características microestructurales: mayor área de superficie específica y menor tamaño de partícula. Los polvos fueron compactados (187 MPa), sinterizados (1500 °C/6 h) y, por fin, caracterizados. Con análisis de los espectros de impedancia se observó que el aumento del porcentaje de samario provocó aumento de la conductividad del grano y del contorno de grano en todas las muestras en estudio. En el interior del grano las muestras sin samaria mostraron regiones heterogéneas (grupos de defectos) donde pares catión-vacancia están estrechamente unidos, lo que impide su participación en la conducción iónica. En las muestras con samaria, estos grupos de defectos son más pequeños, indicando homogeneidad estructural, obteniendo una conductividad iónica mas alta. La conductividad específica del límite de grano muestra un ligero aumento para las muestras codopadas con óxido de samario. Este efecto sugiere que las adiciones de Sm3+ cambian el equilibrio de carga en la capa de carga espacial favoreciendo una mejor distribución del dopante

Novel temperatures are already widespread beneath the world’s tropical forest canopies

Tropical forest biodiversity is potentially at high risk from climate change, but most species reside within or below the canopy, where they are buffered from extreme temperatures. Here, by modelling the hourly below-canopy climate conditions of 300,000 tropical forest locations globally between 1990 and 2019, we show that recent small increases in below-canopy temperature (<1 °C) have led to highly novel temperature regimes across most of the tropics. This is the case even within contiguous forest, suggesting that tropical forests are sensitive to climate change. However, across the globe, some forest areas have experienced relatively non-novel temperature regimes and thus serve as important climate refugia that require urgent protection and restoration. This pantropical analysis of changes in below-canopy climatic conditions challenges the prevailing notion that tropical forest canopies reduce the severity of climate change impacts

One health approach to toxocariasis in Brazilian indigenous populations, their dogs, and soil contamination

IntroductionAlthough socioeconomic vulnerability and lifestyle factors may contribute to the transmission of Toxocara spp., no study has investigated indigenous populations in Brazil using the One Health approach.MethodsAccordingly, this study assessed anti-Toxocara spp. antibodies in Brazilian indigenous people and healthcare professionals by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Presence of Toxocara spp. eggs (feces and hair) in dogs as definitive hosts and in soil samples of the indigenous communities were also recovered and molecularly investigated.ResultsOverall, 342/463 (73.9%) indigenous individuals and 46/147 (31.3%) non-indigenous healthcare professionals were seropositive for Toxocara spp. In addition, T. canis eggs were retrieved from 9/194 (4.6%) dog fecal samples and 4/204 (2.0%) dog hair samples, mainly from the Paraná State communities (3/42; 7.1%). Soil contamination was observed only in the Paraná State communities (36/90; 40.0%), with the molecular detection of T. canis. River water consumption was also associated with indigenous seropositivity (Odds ratio, 11.4).DiscussionIndigenous individuals in Paraná State communities were 2.72-fold more likely to be seropositive than those in São Paulo State, likely due to a lack of sanitary infrastructure. In this scenario, a primarily soil-transmitted disease may also have become waterborne, with embryonated eggs probably spread to water supplies by rain. Full-time healthcare professionals in daily contact with indigenous communities were 9.2-fold more likely to be seropositive than professionals who visited sporadically, suggesting exposure to Toxocara spp. during their work and raising health concerns. In addition, the findings herein showed a significantly higher seroprevalence in indigenous people than in healthcare workers (χ2 = 85.5; p &lt; 0.0001), likely due to overtime exposure to Toxocara spp. In conclusion, Brazilian indigenous communities are highly exposed to toxocariasis, with poor infrastructure and contact with contaminated river water as associated risk factors and a higher risk of infection in healthcare professionals working full-time in these communities

Targeted sequencing identifies novel variants in common and rare MODY genes

Background: Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a form of monogenic diabetes with autosomal dominant inheritance. To date, mutations in 11 genes have been frequently associated with this phenotype. In Brazil, few cohorts have been screened for MODY, all using a candidate gene approach, with a high prevalence of undiagnosed cases (MODY-X). Methods: We conducted a next-generation sequencing target panel (tNGS) study to investigate, for the first time, a Brazilian cohort of MODY patients with a negative prior genetic analysis. One hundred and two patients were selected, of which 26 had an initial clinical suspicion of MODY-GCK and 76 were non-GCK MODY. Results: After excluding all benign and likely benign variants and variants of uncertain significance, we were able to assign a genetic cause for 12.7% (13/102) of the probands. Three rare MODY subtypes were identified (PDX1/NEUROD1/ABCC8), and eight variants had not been previously described/mapped in genomic databases. Important clinical findings were evidenced in some cases after genetic diagnosis, such as MODY-PDX1/HNF1B. Conclusion: A multiloci genetic approach allowed the identification of rare MODY subtypes, reducing the large percentage of MODY-X in Brazilian cases and contributing to a better clinical, therapeutic, and prognostic characterization of these rare phenotypes

The impact of SARS-CoV-2 in dementia across Latin America : A call for an urgent regional plan and coordinated response

The SARS-CoV-2 global pandemic will disproportionately impact countries with weak economies and vulnerable populations including people with dementia. Latin American and Caribbean countries (LACs) are burdened with unstable economic development, fragile health systems, massive economic disparities, and a high prevalence of dementia. Here, we underscore the selective impact of SARS-CoV-2 on dementia among LACs, the specific strain on health systems devoted to dementia, and the subsequent effect of increasing inequalities among those with dementia in the region. Implementation of best practices for mitigation and containment faces particularly steep challenges in LACs. Based upon our consideration of these issues, we urgently call for a coordinated action plan, including the development of inexpensive mass testing and multilevel regional coordination for dementia care and related actions. Brain health diplomacy should lead to a shared and escalated response across the region, coordinating leadership, and triangulation between governments and international multilateral networks

Search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu channel in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

A search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu decay channel, where l = e or mu, in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV is presented. The data were collected at the LHC, with the CMS detector, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 inverse femtobarns. No significant excess is observed above the background expectation, and upper limits are set on the Higgs boson production cross section. The presence of the standard model Higgs boson with a mass in the 270-440 GeV range is excluded at 95% confidence level.Comment: Submitted to JHE

Combined search for the quarks of a sequential fourth generation

Results are presented from a search for a fourth generation of quarks produced singly or in pairs in a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5 inverse femtobarns recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2011. A novel strategy has been developed for a combined search for quarks of the up and down type in decay channels with at least one isolated muon or electron. Limits on the mass of the fourth-generation quarks and the relevant Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix elements are derived in the context of a simple extension of the standard model with a sequential fourth generation of fermions. The existence of mass-degenerate fourth-generation quarks with masses below 685 GeV is excluded at 95% confidence level for minimal off-diagonal mixing between the third- and the fourth-generation quarks. With a mass difference of 25 GeV between the quark masses, the obtained limit on the masses of the fourth-generation quarks shifts by about +/- 20 GeV. These results significantly reduce the allowed parameter space for a fourth generation of fermions.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO

Search for new physics with same-sign isolated dilepton events with jets and missing transverse energy

A search for new physics is performed in events with two same-sign isolated leptons, hadronic jets, and missing transverse energy in the final state. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.98 inverse femtobarns produced in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. This constitutes a factor of 140 increase in integrated luminosity over previously published results. The observed yields agree with the standard model predictions and thus no evidence for new physics is found. The observations are used to set upper limits on possible new physics contributions and to constrain supersymmetric models. To facilitate the interpretation of the data in a broader range of new physics scenarios, information on the event selection, detector response, and efficiencies is provided.Comment: Published in Physical Review Letter