Plasmodium knowlesi: a superb in vivo nonhuman primate model of antigenic variation in malaria.

Antigenic variation in malaria was discovered in Plasmodium knowlesi studies involving longitudinal infections of rhesus macaques (M. mulatta). The variant proteins, known as the P. knowlesi Schizont Infected Cell Agglutination (SICA) antigens and the P. falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1 (PfEMP1) antigens, expressed by the SICAvar and var multigene families, respectively, have been studied for over 30 years. Expression of the SICA antigens in P. knowlesi requires a splenic component, and specific antibodies are necessary for variant antigen switch events in vivo. Outstanding questions revolve around the role of the spleen and the mechanisms by which the expression of these variant antigen families are regulated. Importantly, the longitudinal dynamics and molecular mechanisms that govern variant antigen expression can be studied with P. knowlesi infection of its mammalian and vector hosts. Synchronous infections can be initiated with established clones and studied at multi-omic levels, with the benefit of computational tools from systems biology that permit the integration of datasets and the design of explanatory, predictive mathematical models. Here we provide an historical account of this topic, while highlighting the potential for maximizing the use of P. knowlesi - macaque model systems and summarizing exciting new progress in this area of research

Establishing comprehensive oral assessments for children with safeguarding concerns.

The dental profession is well placed to contribute important information in child protection cases but no previous research has been reported that assesses the volume or impact of this information. Comprehensive oral assessment clinics were introduced and established as an integral part of comprehensive medical assessments for children with welfare concerns in Greater Glasgow and Clyde. An assessment protocol and standardised paperwork for comprehensive oral assessments were developed to enhance information sharing and patient access to appropriate care. Two cases are presented and discussed to demonstrate the value of dental input

ARTE E ABORDAGENS CLÍNICAS DO TRABALHO UMA REVISÃO BIBLIOGRÁFICA: INTRODUÇÃO AO PARADOXO DA ATIVIDADE MUSICAL

O presente trabalho é um esforço de interlocução entre as Abordagens Clínicas do Trabalho, em especial a Clínica da Atividade proposta por Yves Clot e um campo de trabalho ainda relativamente pouco explorado por teóricos da área: a música. O ártico consta inicialmente de uma breve revisão bibliográfica que buscou por trabalhos que envolvessem a temática Psicologia do trabalho/Abordagens Clíncias do Trabalho (ACT) arte/música e alienação. A escassez de referencial teórico encontrado nos conduziu a reflexões iniciais que articulasse estes campos fazendo algumas proposições: primeiro a operacionalidade do conceito de “atividade” no mundo da música suas implicações; segundo os atravessamentos da indústria fonográfica nas produções musicais da atualidade; e terceiro o paradoxo que envolve a criação musical submetida a uma lógica mercadológica

Aspectos da cadeia produtiva da castanha-do-brasil no estado do Acre, Brasil.

No estado do Acre, poucas cadeias produtivas apresentaram tantas mudanças quanto a da castanha-do-brasil nos últimos anos. Estas mudanças foram motivadas por uma sequência de políticas públicas direcionadas ao setor e pela estruturação de uma cooperativa central de produtores extrativistas. Esta nota de pesquisa analisa, com base em dados secundários e relatos de pessoas envolvidas nos diferentes elos da cadeia produtiva, aspectos econômicos referentes ao beneficiamento e à comercialização da castanha-do-brasil, com o objetivo de registrar e entender as principais mudanças estruturantes ocorridas nesta cadeia produtiva nos últimos dez anos

Evidence for a nuclear compartment of transcription and splicing located at chromosome domain boundaries

The nuclear topography of splicing snRNPs, mRNA transcripts and chromosome domains in various mammalian cell types are described. The visualization of splicing snRNPs, defined by the Sm antigen, and coiled bodies, revealed distinctly different distribution patterns in these cell types. Heat shock experiments confirmed that the distribution patterns also depend on physiological parameters. Using a combination of fluorescencein situ hybridization and immunodetection protocols, individual chromosome domains were visualized simultaneously with the Sm antigen or the transcript of an integrated human papilloma virus genome. Three-dimensional analysis of fluorescence-stained target regions was performed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. RNA transcripts and components of the splicing machinery were found to be generally excluded from the interior of the territories occupied by the individual chromosomes. Based on these findings we present a model for the functional compartmentalization of the cell nucleus. According to this model the space between chromosome domains, including the surface areas of these domains, defines a three-dimensional network-like compartment, termed the interchromosome domain (ICD) compartment, in which transcription and splicing of mRNA occurs

Avaliação ambiental, social e econômica da recomendação das boas práticas na produção da castanha-do-brasil em florestas naturais do Acre.

A cadeia produtiva da castanha-do-brasil é a segunda maior cadeia produtiva do segmento florestal acreano, no entanto, o sistema produtivo da castanha-do-brasil modal ocorrente é baseado em um modelo de extrativismo tradicional, com a ocorrência de problemas como, oxidação ou ranço, podridões por microrganismos nas castanhas e pela contaminação por micotoxinas que comprometem a qualidade do produto no momento de sua comercialização. A Embrapa Acre recomentou um conjunto de procedimento, denominado boas práticas no manejo da castanha-do-brasil, visando contribui para a melhoria da qualidade desse produto. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o impacto ambiental, social e econômico desta recomendação. Os resultados identificaram um índice e impacto social médio positivo com um valor de 1,36 e um índice de impacto ambiental médio de 0,11, de um máximo possível de 15 pontos. Além de um ganho em 20% na valorização do produto, em função do aumento do rendimento identificado na etapa do beneficiamento. Concluiu-se que a adoção da tecnologia é recomendável, uma vez que a mesma contribui para melhoria das condições de vida do extrativista com potencial para o aumento da renda e para a melhoria da qualidade do produto final com vista na segurança alimentar

Microglial Sirtuin 2 shapes long-term potentiation in hippocampal slices

Copyright © 2020 Sa de Almeida, Vargas, Fonseca-Gomes, Tanqueiro, Belo, Miranda-Lourenço, Sebastião, Diógenes and Pais. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.Microglial cells have emerged as crucial players in synaptic plasticity during development and adulthood, and also in neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory conditions. Here we found that decreased levels of Sirtuin 2 (Sirt2) deacetylase in microglia affects hippocampal synaptic plasticity under inflammatory conditions. The results show that long-term potentiation (LTP) magnitude recorded from hippocampal slices of wild type mice does not differ between those exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a pro-inflammatory stimulus, or BSA. However, LTP recorded from hippocampal slices of microglial-specific Sirt2 deficient (Sirt2-) mice was significantly impaired by LPS. Importantly, LTP values were restored by memantine, an antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. These results indicate that microglial Sirt2 prevents NMDA-mediated excitotoxicity in hippocampal slices in response to an inflammatory signal such as LPS. Overall, our data suggest a key-protective role for microglial Sirt2 in mnesic deficits associated with neuroinflammation.This study was supported by Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa (MB37-2017), GAPIC Research Program of the University of Lisbon Medical School (n° 2014002 and n° 2015028) and the following doctoral grants: PD/BD/128091/2016, SFRH/BD/118238/2016, PD/BD/114337/2016, and PD/BD/1144- 41/2016.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Environmental factors can influence dengue reported cases

Introduction: Global climate changes directly affect the natural environment and contribute to an increase in the transmission of diseases by vectors. Among these diseases, dengue is at the top of the list. The aim of our study was to understand the consequences of temporal variability of air temperature in the occurrence of dengue in an area comprising seven municipalities of the Greater Sao Paulo. Method: Characterization of a temporal trend of the disease in the region between 2010 and 2013 was performed through analysis of the notified number of dengue cases over this period. Our analysis was complemented with meteorological (temperature) and pollutant concentration data (PM10). Results: We observed that the months of January, February, March, April and May (from 2010 to 2013) were the ones with the highest number of notified cases. We also found that there is a statistical association of moisture and PM10 with the reported cases of dengue. Conclusion: Although the temperature does not statistically display an association with recorded cases of dengue, we were able to verify that temperature peaks coincide with dengue outbreak peaks. Future studies on environmental pollution and its influence on the development of Aedes aegypti mosquito during all stages of its life cycle, and the definition of strategies for better monitoring, including campaigns and surveillance, would be compelling.ABC, FM, Santo Andre, SP, BrazilCoimbra Hlth Sch, Environm Hlth IPC, EsTesC, Coimbra, PortugalEsTesC, Coimbra Hlth Sch, Dept Ciencias Complementares IPC, Coimbra, PortugalFMABC, Gestao Saude Ambiental, Santo Andre, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo Unifesp, Biol Sci Dept, Diadema, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo Unifesp, Biol Sci Dept, Diadema, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

A precision study of the fine tuning in the DiracNMSSM

Recently the DiracNMSSM has been proposed as a possible solution to reduce the fine tuning in supersymmetry. We determine the degree of fine tuning needed in the DiracNMSSM with and without non-universal gaugino masses and compare it with the fine tuning in the GNMSSM. To apply reasonable cuts on the allowed parameter regions we perform a precise calculation of the Higgs mass. In addition, we include the limits from direct SUSY searches and dark matter abundance. We find that both models are comparable in terms of fine tuning, with the minimal fine tuning in the GNMSSM slightly smaller.Comment: 20 pages + appendices, 10 figure