Preliminary characterization of a Moroccan honey with a predominance of Bupleurum spinosum pollen

Honey with Bupleurum spinosum (zandaz) as a main pollen source has not been the subject of previous detailed study. Therefore, twelve Moroccan samples of this honey were subjected to melissopalynological, physicochemical and microbiological quality characterization, as well as antioxidant activity assessment. From a quality point of view, almost all samples were within the limits established by Codex Alimentarius, and/or the European legislation. All samples presented predominance of B. spinosum pollen (more than 48%). Relatively high levels of trehalose (1.3-4.0 g/100 g) and melezitose (1.5-2.8 g/100 g) were detected. Those sugars, not common in monofloral honeys, could be used as an important factor to discriminate zandaz honey. Flavonoid content correlated positively with the honey color, melanoidin and polyphenol content, and negatively with the IC50 values of scavenging ABTS (2,2' - azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) free radicals, while proline amount correlated negatively with IC50 values of nitric oxide scavenging activity and chelating power. This correlation supports the use of anti-oxidant activities as important variables for PCA (principal component analysis). Both components explained 70% from the given data, and showed certain homogeneity upon analyzed samples independent of the region, suggesting the importance of B. spinosum nectar in the resulting honey characteristics.Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia for Research Center [UID/BIM/04773/2013 CBMR 1334, UID/AGR/00239/2013, UID/BIA/04050/2013 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007569)]; ERDF through the COMPETE - Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalizacao (POCI

Operation and performance of the ATLAS semiconductor tracker

The semiconductor tracker is a silicon microstrip detector forming part of the inner tracking system of the ATLAS experiment at the LHC. The operation and performance of the semiconductor tracker during the first years of LHC running are described. More than 99% of the detector modules were operational during this period, with an average intrinsic hit efficiency of (99.74±0.04)%. The evolution of the noise occupancy is discussed, and measurements of the Lorentz angle, δ-ray production and energy loss presented. The alignment of the detector is found to be stable at the few-micron level over long periods of time. Radiation damage measurements, which include the evolution of detector leakage currents, are found to be consistent with predictions and are used in the verification of radiation background simulations

Geographical and temporal distribution of SARS-CoV-2 clades in the WHO European Region, January to June 2020

We show the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 genetic clades over time and between countries and outline potential genomic surveillance objectives. We applied three available genomic nomenclature systems for SARS-CoV-2 to all sequence data from the WHO European Region available during the COVID-19 pandemic until 10 July 2020. We highlight the importance of real-time sequencing and data dissemination in a pandemic situation. We provide a comparison of the nomenclatures and lay a foundation for future European genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2.Peer reviewe

Efeito do nível de óleo de milho adicionado à dieta de eqüinos sobre a digestibilidade dos nutrientes Effect of level of corn oil in the diet of horses on the nutrient digestibilities

Avaliou-se o efeito da adição de diferentes níveis de óleo de milho sobre a digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes da dieta de 28 eqüinos com idade e peso entre seis e 10 anos e 400 e 500kg, respectivamente. A dieta, composta de feno de coast cross(Cynodon dactylon) e ração comercial, foi oferecida na proporção de 2% do peso do animal e a quantidade oferecida foi calculada a cada pesagem, sendo 50% de concentrado e 50% de feno. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente ao acaso, com quatro tratamentos e sete repetições, sendo T1, T2, T3 e T4 correspondentes à adição de 0, 250, 500, 750ml de óleo no concentrado diário ou 0, 2,9, 5,7 e 8,3 % de óleo na dieta total, respectivamente, e as médias foram comparadas pelo teste t de Student. A adição de óleo na dieta dos eqüinos não alterou a digestibilidade da matéria seca, proteína bruta, fibra detergente neutra e fibra detergente ácida e aumentou a digestibilidade da energia bruta e do extrato etéreo, indicando que é possível adicionar até 750ml de óleo de milho no concentrado diário dos eqüinos (8,3% na dieta total) por um período de até 23 dias, visando aumentar o nível energético da dieta sem o correspondente aumento no fornecimento de matéria seca.A digestibility trial was carried out in a completely randomized design with five treatments and seven replicates to compare the effects of different levels of dietary corn oil (0, 250, 500, 750ml) on nutrient apparent digestibility in horses. Twenty eight animals with age between six and 10 years and weight between 400kg and 500kg were used. The diet composition was based on coast cross hay (Cynodon dactylon) and commercial concentrate. The feed dry matter was based on 2% of body weight and 1:1 forage concentrate ratio. The treatment means were compared by Student's test, at 5% level. Increasing corn oil level in the diet did not affect dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber apparent digestibility, however increased the ether extract and crude energy apparent digestibility. The results showed that 750ml of corn oil can be added to the daily concentrate of equine (8.3% in the total diet) until 23 days to increase the energetic level of the diet without a corresponding increase in the dry matter

Asthma and rhinitis have different genetic profiles for IL13, IL17A and GSTP1 polymorphisms

Background: Asthma and rhinitis have a complex etiology, depending on multiple genetic and environmental risk factors. An increasing number of susceptibility genes are currently being identified, but the majority of reported associations have not been consistently replicated across populations of different genetic backgrounds. Purpose: To evaluate whether polymorphisms of IL4R (rs1805015), IL13 (rs20541), IL17A (rs2275913) and GSTP1 (rs1695) genes are associated with rhinitis and/or asthma in adults of Portuguese ancestry. Methods: 192 unrelated healthy individuals and 232 patients, 83 with rhinitis and 149 with asthma, were studied. All polymorphisms were detected by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using TaqMan assays. Results: Comparing to controls, significant association with asthma was observed for GSTP1 rs1695 AA genotype (odds ratio (OR) â 1.96; 95% CI â 1.18 to 3.25; p = 0.010). The association sustains for allergic asthma (OR â 2.17; 95% CI â 1.23 to 3.80; p = 0.007). IL13 rs20541 GG genotype was associated with less susceptibility to asthma (OR â 0.55, 95% CI â 0.33 to 0.94, p = 0.028). Among patients, IL17A rs2275913 AA genotype was less associated with asthma than with rhinitis (OR â 0.20; 95% CI of 0.07 to 0.56; p = 0.002). A similar association was found for IL13 rs20541 GG genotype (OR â 0.48; 95% CI of 0.25 to 0.93; p = 0.031). There were no significant differences in the distribution of allelic and genotypic frequencies between patients and controls for the IL4R polymorphismâ analyzed. Conclusion: These results support the existence of a significant association between GSTP1 rs1695 and IL13 rs20541 SNPs, with susceptibility to asthma, in the population studied. Different genotype profiles of IL17A and IL13 genes seem to influence the clinical pattern of disease expression mainly confined to the upper airways, as rhinitis, or including the lower airways, as asthma. Keywords: Asthma, Rhinitis, Allergy, IL4R, IL13, IL17A, GSTP1, Genetic polymorphism, Genetic profil

Alien Fishes In Lakes Of The Doce River Basin (brazil): Range, New Occurrences And Conservation Of Native Communities

The present study shows the distribution of alien fish species in tropical lakes in the middle Doce river basin, southeastern Brazil, obtained from a rapid assessment program. The causes for their introductions were sport-fishing improvement in some specific lakes and aquaculture in the studied basin. Presently, these species have a wide distribution occurring in 41 of the 54 lakes studied, representing an actual threat to regional native fish community. The natural connection among lakes and streams during the rainy season and the dispersal mediated by local people are the main invasion agents for alien fishes. The success of these invaders is probably due to absence of pre-existing effective competitors or top-predators in the invaded communities. We consider that the eradication of alien fishes by means of the available management tools may be very difficult due to the large number of lakes invaded and to the wide spectrum of lake conditions and resources exploited by these alien species. We recommend the use of environmental education as a tool to stop the human-mediated dispersion of aliens and to improve conservation of native fish community in lakes where these alien species are not present yet. © 2004 Instituto de Ciências Biológicas - UFMG.52135142Agostinho, A.A., Júlio, H.F., Ameaça ecológica: Peixes de outras águas (1996) Ciência Hoje, 21, pp. 36-44Arthington, A.H., Mitchell, D.S., Aquatic invading species (1986) Ecology of Biological Invasions, pp. 34-53. , Groves, R. H. & Burdon, J. J. (Ed.) Melbourne, Cambridge University PressFerber, D., Will Black Carp Be the Next Zebra Mussel? (2001) Science, 13, pp. 292-293Froese, R., Pauly, D., (2004) Fishbase, , World Wide Web electronic publication, www. fishbase.org, version 04/2004Godinho, A.L., The ecology of predator fish introductions: The case of Rio Doce valley lakes (1994) Ecology and Human Impact on Lakes and Reservoirs in Minas Gerais With Special Reference to Future Development and Management Strategies, pp. 77-83. , PintoCoelho, R. M.Giani, A. & von Sperling, E. C. (Ed.) SEGRAC VL - ENGodinho, A.L., (1996) Peixes Do Parque Estadual Do Rio Doce, p. 32. , Belo Horizonte, Instituto Estadual de Florestas / Universidade Federal de Minas GeraisGodinho, A.L., Vieira, F., Ictiofauna (1998) Biodiversidade Em Minas Gerais: Um Atlas Para Sua Conservaçã o, pp. 44-46. , Costa, C. (Ed.) Belo Horizonte, Fundação BiodiversitasGuan, R., Wiles, P.R., Ecological Impact of Introduced Crayfish on Benthic Fishes in a British Lowland River (1997) Conservation Biology, 11, pp. 641-647Hall, S.R., Mills, E.L., Exotic species in large lakes of the world (2000) Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management, 3, pp. 105-135Howard, G.H., Control Options: Fresh-water Invasives (2000) "Best Management Practices for Preventing and Controlling Invasive Alien Species", pp. 1-8. , Paper presented to the Workshop on Cape Town, South AfricaHuckins, C.J.F., Osenberg, C.W., Ittelbach, G.G., Species introductions and their ecological consequences: An example with congeneric sunfish (2000) Ecological Applications, 10, pp. 612-625Jackson, D.A., Peres-Neto, P.R., Olden, J.D., What controls who is where in freshwater fish communities - The roles of biotic, abiotic and spatial factors (2001) Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatical Sciences, 58, pp. 157-170Katunzi, E.F.B., Zoutendijk, J., Goldschmidt, T., Wanink, J.H., Lost, W.F., Lost zooplanktivorous cichlid from Lake Victoria reappears with a new trade (2003) Ecology of Freshwater Fish, 12, pp. 237-240Kolar, C.S., Lodge, D.M., Progress in invasion biology: Predicting invaders (2001) Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 16, pp. 199-204Latini, A.O., Estado Atual e Perspectivas para a Ictiofauna da Região do Parque Estadual do Rio Doce, MG (2001) Plano de Manejo Do Parque Estadual Do Rio Doce, pp. 1-49. , Instituto Estadual de Florestas & Projeto Doces Matas (Ed.) Belo Horizonte, MGLatini, A.O., Por que nossos rios têm menos peixes? (2002) Ciência Hoje, 30, pp. 58-59Latini, A.O., Petrere, M., Reduction of a native fish fauna by alien species: An example from Brazilian freshwater tropical lakes (2004) Fisheries Management and Ecology, 11, pp. 71-79Lima, F.P., (2003) E Os Lagos... Como Vão? Percepção Ambiental E O Problema Da Invasão de Espécies Exóticas Na Bacia Do Médio Rio Doce, pp. 1-46. , Trabalho de conclusão do curso de Ciências Bioló gicas. Viçosa, Universidade Federal de ViçosaLowe-Mcconnell, R.H., (1999) Estudos Ecológicos de Comunidades de Peixes Tropicais, p. 535. , São Paulo, Editora da Universidade de São PauloMack, R.N., Simberloff, D., Lonsdale, W.M., Evans, H., Cout, M., Bazzaz, F.A., Biotic Invasions: Causes, Epidemiology, Global Consequences and Control (2000) Ecological Applications, 10, pp. 689-710Marchetti, M.P., Moyle, P.B., Levine, R., Alien fishes in California watersheds: Characteristics of successful and failed invaders (2004) Ecological Applications, 14, pp. 587-596Moyle, P.B., Light, T., Fish Invasions in California: Do Abiotic Factors Determine Success? (1996) Ecology, 77, pp. 1651-1670Myers, N., Mittermeier, R.A., Mittermeier, C.G., Fonseca, G.A.B., Kent, J., Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities (2000) Nature, 403, pp. 853-858Olden, J.D., Poff, L.N., Douglas, M.R., Douglas, M.E., Faush, K.D., Ecological and evolutionary consequences of biotic homogenization (2004) Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 19, pp. 18-24Ricciardi, A., Maclssac, H.J., Recent mass invasion of the North American Great Lakes by Ponto-Caspian species (2000) Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 15, pp. 62-65Sakai, A.K., Allendorf, F.W., Holt, J.S., Lodge, D.M., Molofsky, J., With, K.A., Baughman, S., Weller, S.G., The population biology of invasive species (2001) Annual Review in Ecology and Systematics, 32, pp. 302-332Sala, O.E., Chapin Iii, F.S., Armesto, J.J., Berlow, E., Bloomgield, J., Dirzo, R., Huber-Sanwald, E., Wall, D.H., Global Biodiversity Scenarios for the Year 2100 (2000) Science, 287, pp. 1770-1774Simberloff, D., Eradication of island invasives: Pratical actions and results achieved (2001) Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 16, pp. 273-274Thomas, M.H., Randall, A., Intentional introductions of nonindigenous species: A principal-agent model and protocol for revocable decisions (2000) Ecological Economics, 34, pp. 333-345Tundisi, J.G., De Meis, M.R.M., Geomorphology and limnological processes at the Middle Rio Doce Valley (1985) Limnological Studies in Rio Doce Valley Lakes and Pantanal Wetland, pp. 11-17. , Saijo, Y. & Tundisi, J. G. (Ed.) Nagoya, Nagoya University, BrazilStatistical Abstract of the United States 1996 (1998), USBC Washington, DC, U.S. Government Printing OfficeWanink, J.H., Goudswaard, K., Effects of Nile perch (Lates niloticus) introduction into Lake Victoria, East Africa, on the diet of Pied Kingfishers (Eryle Rudis) (1994) Hydrobiologia, 279, pp. 367-376Welcomme, R.L., International introductions of inland aquatic species (1988) FAO Fisheries Technical Papers, 294, pp. 1-318Woodward, G., Hildrew, A.G., Invasion of a stream food web by a new top predator (2001) Journal of Animal Ecology, 70, pp. 273-288Zalba, S.M., Sonaglioni, M.I., Compagnoni, C.A., Belenguer, C.J., Using a habitat model to assess the risk of invasion by an exotic plant (2000) Biological Conservation, 93, pp. 203-208Zaret, T.M., Paine, R.T., Species introductions in a tropical lake (1973) Science, 182, pp. 449-455. , Figure Legen

A software framework for fast prototyping of meta-heuristics hybridization

(Special Issue for 17th IFORS Triennial Conference