Alternative oxidase (AOX) constitutes a small family of proteins in Citrus clementina and Citrus sinensis L. Osb

The alternative oxidase (AOX) protein is present in plants, fungi, protozoa and some invertebrates. It is involved in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, providing an alternative route for the transport of electrons, leading to the reduction of oxygen to form water. The present study aimed to characterize the family of AOX genes in mandarin (Citrus clementina) and sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) at nucleotide and protein levels, including promoter analysis, phylogenetic analysis and C. sinensis gene expression. This study also aimed to do the homology modeling of one AOX isoform (CcAOXd). Moreover, the molecular docking of the CcAOXd protein with the ubiquinone (UQ) was performed. Four AOX genes were identified in each citrus species. These genes have an open reading frame (ORF) ranging from 852 bp to 1150 bp and a number of exons ranging from 4 to 9. The 1500 bp-upstream region of each AOX gene contained regulatory cis-elements related to internal and external response factors. CsAOX genes showed a differential expression in citrus tissues. All AOX proteins were predicted to be located in mitochondria. They contained the conserved motifs LET, NERMHL, LEEEA and RADE-H as well as several putative post-translational modification sites. The CcAOXd protein was modeled by homology to the AOX of Trypanosona brucei (45% of identity). The 3-D structure of CcAOXd showed the presence of two hydrophobic helices that could be involved in the anchoring of the protein in the inner mitochondrial membrane. The active site of the protein is located in a hydrophobic environment deep inside the AOX structure and contains a diiron center. The molecular docking of CcAOXd with UQ showed that the binding site is a recessed pocket formed by the helices and submerged in the membrane. These data are important for future functional studies of citrus AOX genes and/or proteins, as well as for biotechnological approaches leading to AOX inhibition using UQ homologs. (Résumé d'auteur

Vitamin d sufficiency in hemodialysis patients and its association with nutritional and clinical parameters

Renal failure is a complicating factor in the maintenance of vitamin D adequate levels, which can interfere in the patients’ nutritional status. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] with clinical and nutritional parameters. Prevalent hemodialysis (HD) patients were submitted to a single evaluation about demographic characteristics, clinical data and laboratory measurements. Anthropometric measurements and electrical bioimpedance were performed to obtain BMI, percentage of standard MAMC (%MAMC), fat percentage (%Fat) and phase angle (PA). Deficiency was defined as a 25(OH)D level<15ng/mL, insufficiency as 15-30 ng/mL and sufficiency as>30ng/mL. Univariate models were constructed and the variables associated with 25(OH)D sufficiency were included subsequently in the multiple regression model. Statistical significance was p<0.05.One hundred twelve patients (59 male, 53 female) were included. Twenty seven (24.1%) were 25(OH)D deficient, 43 (38.4%) insufficient and 42 (37.5%) sufficient. In univariate regression, creatinin, albumin and PA were positively associated with serum 25(OH)D, while age, glucose, BMI and %MAMC were negatively associated. In multivariate regression, age and %MAMC were negatively associated with sufficiency. Most studied sample showed inadequate 25(OH)D levels. In our study, the result to be highlighted was the negative associations of 25(OH)D sufficiency with age and %MAMC, but all the findings suggest that fat interferes with vitamin D stores in HD patients

El impacto de las expectativas sobre la adaptación académica de los estudiantes en la Educación Superior

Os desafios enfrentados pelos jovens, decorrentes do ingresso no Ensino Superior, têm sido alvo de inúmeras pesquisas, destacando a confluência de variáveis pessoais e contextuais nesse processo de transição e adaptação ao Ensino Superior. O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar como as expectativas afetam a qualidade das vivências adaptativas dos acadêmicos que iniciam o Ensino Superior. Participaram deste estudo 182 estudantes brasileiros (M=26,2; DP=8,76), sendo 146 mulheres e 36 homens, que responderam a dois questionários reportados às expectativas e vivências acadêmicas. Os resultados indicaram que as expectativas iniciais dos ingressantes foram correlacionadas com a qualidade das suas vivências acadêmicas. Em particular, as expectativas de envolvimento nas relações com os colegas, no projeto vocacional de carreira e nas atividades curriculares do seu curso foram associadas à adaptação acadêmica dos estudantes.Many studies have addressed the challenges faced by students when they access higher education, describing the influence of personal and contextual factors on the transition and adaptation to Higher Education. The present study aimed to investigate how expectations impact the quality of first-year students’ experiences. Participants included 182 Brazilian students (M=26,2; DP=8,76), 146 women and 36 men, who answered two questionnaires focusing on academic expectations and experiences. Results suggest that initial expectations of first-year students are correlated with the quality of their academic experiences. Specifically, expectations about students’ engagement with colleagues, career project, and curricular activities in their undergraduate program, seem to be related with students’ academic adaptation.Los desafíos que enfrentan los jóvenes que resultan del ingreso a la educación superior han sido objeto de numerosas investigaciones, destacando la convergencia de variables personales y contextuales en este proceso de transición y adaptación a la educación superior. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar cómo las expectativas afectan la calidad de las experiencias de adaptación de los estudiantes que inician la educación superior. Participaron 182 estudiantes brasileños (M=26,2; DP=8,76), siendo 146 mujeres y 36 hombres, que respondieron dos cuestionarios direccionados a las expectativas y experiencias académicas. Los resultados indicaron que las expectativas iniciales de los estudiantes ingresantes se correlacionaron con la calidad de sus experiencias académicas. En particular, las expectativas de participación en las relaciones con los compañeros, en el proyecto de la carrera y en las actividades curriculares del curso fueron relacionadas con la adaptación académica de los estudiantes.Universidade do MinhoUniversidade Salgado de Oliveir

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

A cultura indígena nas escolas: decolonialidade na perspectiva SULear

A organização das populações indígenas em prol do direito de serem reconhecidos em sua diversidade produziram mudanças sociais e ocasionaram a criação de ações e políticas públicas mais específicas de proteção e reconhecimento das diferenças. No entanto, as consequências de séculos de invisibilidade e omissões por parte do poder público e da sociedade de maneira geral, respaldadas por uma historiografia oficial que inferiorizou e oprimiu os indígenas, ainda repercutem na sociedade brasileira. Assim, este artigo surge com a proposta de refletir sobre as escolas enquanto um espaço de aprendizado e reflexão, onde o ensino da cultura indígena, impulsionado pela Lei 11.645/08 em instituições escolares, torna-se um ponto diferenciado para a formação de sujeitos mais conscientes, compreensivos e cientes de sua cidadania. Discute-se, ainda, o papel dos materiais didáticos neste processo

HVA22 from citrus: A small gene family whose some members are involved in plant response to abiotic stress

International audienceThe HVA22 gene has been isolated for the first time from the aleurone layer of barley (Hordeum vulgare). Here, we characterized the HVA22 family from citrus (C. clementina and C. sinensis). Twelve genes, 6 in each species, were identified as well as duplication events for some of them. The ORF size ranged from 235 to 804 bp and the protein molecular weight from 94 to 267 kDa. All the citrus HVA22 protein presented transmembrane location and conserved TB2/DP1/HVA22 region. Phylogenetic and gene expression analyses suggested that some citrus HVA22 play a role in flower and fruit development, and that gene expression may be regulated by hormone or environmental conditions. Other regulation levels were also predicted, such as alternative splicing and post translational modifications. The overall data indicated that citrus HVA22 may be involved in vesicular traffic in stressed cells, and that CcHVA22d could be involved in dehydration tolerance