160 research outputs found
Tailings microbial community profile and prediction of its functionality in basins of tungsten mine
In a circular economy concept, where more than 300 million tons of mining and quarrying wastes are produced annually, those are valuable resources, supplying metals that are extracted today by other processes, if innovative methods and processes for efficient extraction of these elements are applied. This work aims to assess microbiological and chemical spatial distribution within two tailing basins from a tungsten mine, using a MiSeq approach targeting the 16S rRNA gene, to relate microbial composition and function with chemical variability, thus, providing information to enhance the efficiency of the exploitation of these secondary sources. The tailings sediments core microbiome comprised members of family Anaerolineacea and genera Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Cellulomonas, Pseudomonas, Streptococcus and Rothia, despite marked differences in tailings physicochemical properties. The higher contents of Al and K shaped the community of Basin 1, while As-S-Fe contents were correlated with the microbiome composition of Basin 2. The predicted metabolic functions of the microbiome were rich in genes related to metabolism pathways and environmental information processing pathways. An in-depth understanding of the tailings microbiome and its metabolic capabilities can provide a direction for the management of tailings disposal sites and maximize their potential as secondary resources
Exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells enhance radiotherapy-induced cell death in tumor and metastatic tumor foci
We have recently shown that radiotherapy may not only be a successful local and regional treatment
but, when combined with MSCs, may also be a novel systemic cancer therapy. This study aimed to investigate the
role of exosomes derived from irradiated MSCs in the delay of tumor growth and metastasis after treatment with
MSC + radiotherapy (RT). The tumor cell loss rates found after treatment with the combination of MSC and RT and for exclusive RT, were:
44.4% % and 12,1%, respectively. Concomitant and adjuvant use of RT and MSC, increased the mice surviving time 22,5%
in this group, with regard to the group of mice treated with exclusive RT and in a 45,3% respect control group. Moreover,
the number of metastatic foci found in the internal organs of the mice treated with MSC + RT was 60% less than the
mice group treated with RT alone. We reasoned that the exosome secreted by the MSC, could be implicated in tumor
growth delay and metastasis control after treatment. Our results show that exosomes derived form MSCs, combined with radiotherapy, are determinant in
the enhancement of radiation effects observed in the control of metastatic spread of melanoma cells and suggest that
exosome-derived factors could be involved in the bystander, and abscopal effects found after treatment of the tumors
with RT plus MSC. Radiotherapy itself may not be systemic, although it might contribute to a systemic effect when used
in combination with mesenchymal stem cells owing the ability of irradiated MSCs-derived exosomes to increase the
control of tumor growth and metastasis.This work was supported by CNPq, Conselho Nacional de
Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – Brasil, Junta de Andalucía,
project of Excellence from Junta de Andalucía P12-CTS-383 to FJO, Spanish
Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness SAF2015-70520-R to FJO and
JMRdA, RTICC RD12/0036/0026 and CIBER Cáncer ISCIII CB16/12/00421 to
FJO
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Rarity of monodominance in hyperdiverse Amazonian forests.
Tropical forests are known for their high diversity. Yet, forest patches do occur in the tropics where a single tree species is dominant. Such "monodominant" forests are known from all of the main tropical regions. For Amazonia, we sampled the occurrence of monodominance in a massive, basin-wide database of forest-inventory plots from the Amazon Tree Diversity Network (ATDN). Utilizing a simple defining metric of at least half of the trees ≥ 10 cm diameter belonging to one species, we found only a few occurrences of monodominance in Amazonia, and the phenomenon was not significantly linked to previously hypothesized life history traits such wood density, seed mass, ectomycorrhizal associations, or Rhizobium nodulation. In our analysis, coppicing (the formation of sprouts at the base of the tree or on roots) was the only trait significantly linked to monodominance. While at specific locales coppicing or ectomycorrhizal associations may confer a considerable advantage to a tree species and lead to its monodominance, very few species have these traits. Mining of the ATDN dataset suggests that monodominance is quite rare in Amazonia, and may be linked primarily to edaphic factors
Rehabilitation and release of confiscated songbirds into the wild: A pilot study
Songbirds are currently the most prevalent animals in illegal trafficking in Brazil and other countries, so they are often confiscated, and this poses legal, ethical, and conservation challenges. Returning them to nature requires complex and expensive management, a topic that is sparingly addressed in the literature. Here, we described the processes and costs associated with an attempt to rehabilitate and release confiscated songbirds into the wild. A total of 1,721 songbirds of several species were quarantined, rehabilitated, and released, primarily on two farms located within their typical geographical distribution. Health assessments were performed on samples from 370 birds. Serology revealed no antibodies against Newcastle disease, and Salmonella spp. cultures were negative. Real-time polymerase chain reactions detected M. gallisepticum in samples from seven birds. Atoxoplasma spp. and Acuaria spp. infections, sepsis, and trauma were the top causes of bird death. About 6% of the released birds were recaptured, within an average period of 249 days after release, and at a mean distance of 2,397 meters from the release sites. The majority of these birds were found with free-living mates within or close to fragments of transitional ecoregions with native or cultivated grasslands, and native groves/forests, and shrublands. However, eucalyptus plantations with rich understory regeneration provided a suitable environment for the released forest species to settle, since they were recaptured during the defense of these sites. Over half of the recaptured birds presented behavioral profiles with both dominant and tame traits. Birds with dominant traits are more likely to settle in habitats and face the live decoys during fieldwork, whereas birds with tame characteristics tend to accept close contact with humans. Ultramarine grosbeak (Cyanoloxia brissonii), the least common species among those released, at the release sites showed an almost 2-fold recapture rate in the shortest mean distances from the release sites. This suggests less territory competition, perhaps a major factor of bird re-establishment here. The total per-bird cost was USD 57. Our findings suggested suitable survival and re-establishment of confiscated songbirds in the wild, when managed as we describe
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