Genome Diversity, Recombination, and Virulence across the Major Lineages of Paracoccidioides

We thank Angela Restrepo, Rosana Puccia, Zoilo Pires de Camargo, and Maria Sueli Felipe for kindly providing the isolates for this study. This project has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under contract no. HHSN272200900018C. This work was partly supported by Colciencias via the grants “A Gene Atlas for Human Pathogenic Fungi” (122256934875) and “A Comprehensive Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of Dimorphic Human Pathogen Fungi and Its Relation with Virulence” (221365842971) and by the Universidad de Antioquia via a “Sostenibilidad 2015/2016” grant. Colciencias National Doctorate Program funding supported J.F.M.; Enlaza Mundos partly supported his fellowship. The Wellcome Trust supported R.A.F.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Foraging Behavior and Success of a Mesopelagic Predator in the Northeast Pacific Ocean: Insights from a Data-Rich Species, the Northern Elephant Seal

The mesopelagic zone of the northeast Pacific Ocean is an important foraging habitat for many predators, yet few studies have addressed the factors driving basin-scale predator distributions or inter-annual variability in foraging and breeding success. Understanding these processes is critical to reveal how conditions at sea cascade to population-level effects. To begin addressing these challenging questions, we collected diving, tracking, foraging success, and natality data for 297 adult female northern elephant seal migrations from 2004 to 2010. During the longer post-molting migration, individual energy gain rates were significant predictors of pregnancy. At sea, seals focused their foraging effort along a narrow band corresponding to the boundary between the sub-arctic and sub-tropical gyres. In contrast to shallow-diving predators, elephant seals target the gyre-gyre boundary throughout the year rather than follow the southward winter migration of surface features, such as the Transition Zone Chlorophyll Front. We also assessed the impact of added transit costs by studying seals at a colony near the southern extent of the species’ range, 1,150 km to the south. A much larger proportion of seals foraged locally, implying plasticity in foraging strategies and possibly prey type. While these findings are derived from a single species, the results may provide insight to the foraging patterns of many other meso-pelagic predators in the northeast Pacific Ocean

Evaluación genética en etapa de vivero de áreas productoras de semilla (APS) de Pino Ponderosa en Nordpatagonia

El Pino Ponderosa (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws) es la principal especie forestal implantada en secano en la Patagonia. Su potencialidad productiva y la disponibilidad de tierras para su cultivo permiten proyectar la continuidad de su uso en plantaciones comerciales, para lo que es indispensable asegurar la provisión de semillas de adecuada calidad genética. Las semillas utilizadas en la última década se produjeron en una serie de rodales mediante ensayos para evaluar su descendencia. El objetivo del presente trabajo es evaluar estos rodales ensayando su descendencia. En este primer reporte presentamos los resultados de una evaluación en etapa de vivero. Se ensayaron 31 procedencias locales seleccionadas (Áreas Productoras de Semillas, APS) en dos sitios, midiendo altura y diámetro a la altura del cuello en plantines de 2 años de edad. A través de análisis de la varianza se probó un claro efecto de interacción entre las APS y los sitios, y también diferencias entre las APS dentro de cada sitio. Seguidamente, se establecieron rankings de las APS por sitio y variable evaluada. A través de comparaciones de a pares se formaron grupos homogéneos. También se estimó la estabilidad genotípica de las APS por medio del cálculo de sus ecovalencias. Los resultados son aún preliminares, pero el haber probado diferencias en tan temprana edad nos alerta sobre la importancia de la procedencia de las semillas a utilizar para la producción comercial. Se espera que estas diferencias se acentúen en edades más avanzadas. Para probarlo, ya se han establecido ensayos de plantación.Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws) is the main forest tree species cultivated in Patagonia without irrigation. Its productive potentiality and the surface available for afforestation with it indicate the species will continue to be among the first forest tree alternatives in the region, what makes essential to assure the availability of seeds with adequate genetic quality. In the last decade, a set of commercial stands acted as seed sources although they have never been genetically tested. The aim of the present study is to evaluate those stands by testing their progeny. In this first report we present the results at the nursery stage. We assayed 31 local seed sources in two sites. Total height and stem diameter at the root collar were measured in two-year-old seedlings. Provenance X site interaction was shown by means of ANOVA, and also differences among seed sources within each site. Rankings were subsequently built for each trial and trait separately. Pair-wise comparisons were performed, and homogeneous groups were built. Genotypic stability of each seed source was estimated by calculating their ecovalence. Results are still preliminary, however, finding significant differences at such an early age alert us about the importance of the seed source for commercial production. We expect these differences will increase with age, and field trials have already been planted in order to test this expectation.Fil: Schinelli, Teresa. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional.patagonia Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; ArgentinaFil: Basil, Gustavo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Tejera, Luis E.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional.patagonia Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; ArgentinaFil: Honorato, Martín. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional.patagonia Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; ArgentinaFil: Gallo, Leonardo Ariel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche. Grupo de Genética Forestal; ArgentinaFil: Mondino, Victor Alejandro. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional.patagonia Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chubut; ArgentinaFil: Martinez Meier, Alejandro Gabriel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Pastorino, Mario Juan. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche. Grupo de Genética Forestal; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentin

Efficacy of high-intensity, low-volume interval training compared to continuous aerobic training on insulin resistance, skeletal muscle structure and function in adults with metabolic syndrome: study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial (Intraining-MET)

ABSTRACT: Evidence of the efficacy of high-intensity, low-volume interval training (HIIT-low volume) in treating insulin resistance (IR) in patients with metabolic disorders is contradictory. In addition, it is unknown whether this effect is mediated through muscle endocrine function, which in turn depends on muscle mass and fiber type composition. Our aims were to assess the efficacy of HIIT-low volume compared to continuous aerobic exercise (CAE) in treating IR in adults with metabolic syndrome (MS) and to establish whether musclin, apelin, muscle mass and muscle composition are mediators of the effect. Methods: This is a controlled, randomized, clinical trial using the minimization method, with blinding of those who will evaluate the outcomes and two parallel groups for the purpose of showing superiority. Sixty patients with MS and IR with ages between 40 and 60 years will be included. A clinical evaluation will be carried out, along with laboratory tests to evaluate IR (homeostatic model assessment (HOMA)), muscle endocrine function (serum levels of musclin and apelin), thigh muscle mass (by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and thigh muscle composition (by carnosine measurement with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H–MRS)), before and after 12 weeks of a treadmill exercise program three times a week. Participants assigned to the intervention (n = 30) will receive HIIT-low volume in 22-min sessions that will include six intervals at a load of 90% of maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max) for 1 min followed by 2 min at 50% of VO2 max. The control group (n = 30) will receive CAE at an intensity of 60% of VO2 max for 36 min. A theoretical model based on structural equations will be proposed to estimate the total, direct and indirect effects of training on IR and the proportion explained by the mediators. Discussion: Compared with CAE, HIIT-low volume can be effective and efficient at improving physical capacity and decreasing cardiovascular risk factors, such as IR, in patients with metabolic disorders. Studies that evaluate mediating variables of the effect of HIIT-low volume on IR, such as endocrine function and skeletal muscle structure, are necessary to understand the role of skeletal muscle in the pathophysiology of MS and their regulation by exercise. Trial registration: NCT03087721. High-intensity Interval, Low Volume Training in Metabolic Syndrome (Intraining-MET). Registered on 22 March 2017, retrospectively registered

Manual and automated tissue segmentation confirm the impact of thalamus atrophy on cognition in multiple sclerosis : A multicenter study

Thalamus atrophy has been linked to cognitive decline in multiple sclerosis (MS) using various segmentation methods. We investigated the consistency of the association between thalamus volume and cognition in MS for two common automated segmentation approaches, as well as fully manual outlining. Standardized neuropsychological assessment and 3-Tesla 3D-T1-weighted brain MRI were collected (multi-center) from 57 MS patients and 17 healthy controls. Thalamus segmentations were generated manually and using five automated methods. Agreement between the algorithms and manual outlines was assessed with Bland-Altman plots; linear regression assessed the presence of proportional bias. The effect of segmentation method on the separation of cognitively impaired (CI) and preserved (CP) patients was investigated through Generalized Estimating Equations; associations with cognitive measures were investigated using linear mixed models, for each method and vendor. In smaller thalami, automated methods systematically overestimated volumes compared to manual segmentations [ ρ =(-0.42)-(-0.76); p- values < 0.001). All methods significantly distinguished CI from CP MS patients, except manual outlines of the left thalamus (p = 0.23). Poorer global neuropsychological test performance was significantly associated with smaller thalamus volumes bilaterally using all methods. Vendor significantly affected the findings. Automated and manual thalamus segmentation consistently demonstrated an association between thalamus atrophy and cognitive impairment in MS. However, a proportional bias in smaller thalami and choice of MRI acquisition system might impact the effect size of these findings

Optimal Analysis for the Enhancement in the Thermal Variables Measurement by Smart and Modular Solid State Sensors

The proposed research aims to analyze and optimize the measurement of thermal physical variables during the operation of a hydrogen combustion engine. The optimal measurement of the flow, temperature, pressure, and volume is given over the hydrogen, which is the main fuel of the studied combustion motor. Hence, the success of the measurement is based on the polynomial analysis of the combustion motor operation, which needs nonlinear algorithms to get the optimal correlation of the measured physical variables as well as a high robustness and short response time during the transduction of the measured physical variable, which is achieved as a consequence of the anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) amorphous nanostructures properties that are modular solid state integration of the designed smart sensor. The short response time and high robustness is a good advantage for the designed smart sensor since it gives more time to execute sophisticated algorithms in order to get the optimal physical variables measurement. In fact, the proposed smart sensor keeps the possibility to be modular and solid state for the interaction with the hydrogen fuel as well as recognizing the presence of other molecules mixed in the fluid, which can alarm the user who is able to recognize whether it is joined oxygen or carbon residues. Therefore, the proposed research work toward a good compromise to care for the environment condition based on a cleaner combustion motor operation

Mendelian Randomization Analysis of the Relationship Between Native American Ancestry and Gallbladder Cancer Risk

Background A strong association between the proportion of Native American ancestry and the risk of gallbladder cancer (GBC) has been reported in observational studies. Chileans show the highest incidence of GBC worldwide, and the Mapuche are the largest Native American people in Chile. We set out to investigate the causal association between Native American Mapuche ancestry and GBC risk, and the possible mediating effects of gallstone disease and body mass index (BMI) on this association. Methods Markers of Mapuche ancestry were selected based on the informativeness for assignment measure and then used as instrumental variables in two-sample mendelian randomization (MR) analyses and complementary sensitivity analyses. Result We found evidence of a causal effect of Mapuche ancestry on GBC risk (inverse variance-weighted (IVW) risk increase of 0.8% for every 1% increase in Mapuche ancestry proportion, 95% CI 0.4% to 1.2%, p = 6.6×10-5). Mapuche ancestry was also causally linked to gallstone disease (IVW risk increase of 3.6% per 1% increase in Mapuche proportion, 95% CI 3.1% to 4.0%, p = 1.0×10-59), suggesting a mediating effect of gallstones in the relationship between Mapuche ancestry and GBC. In contrast, the proportion of Mapuche ancestry showed a negative causal effect on BMI (IVW estimate -0.006 kg/m2 per 1% increase in Mapuche proportion, 95% CI -0.009 to -0.003, p = 4.4×10-5). Conclusions The results presented here may have significant implications for GBC prevention and are important for future admixture mapping studies. Given that the association between Mapuche ancestry and GBC risk previously noted in observational studies appears to be causal, primary and secondary prevention strategies that take into account the individual proportion of Mapuche ancestry could be particularly efficient

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London