Compilation, revision, and annotation of DNA barcodes of marine invertebrate Non-Indigenous Species (NIS) occurring in european coastal regions

The script developed to create the DNA sequence reference library is available at https://github.com/tadeu95/Curated-BINs-Reference-Library (accessed on 25 January 2023). Metabarcoding datasets will be made available upon request since they belong to a study that is not published yet.The introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS) is one of the major threats to the integrity of European coastal ecosystems. DNA-based assessments have been increasingly adopted for monitoring NIS. However, the accuracy of DNA-based taxonomic assignments is largely dependent on the completion and reliability of DNA barcode reference libraries. As such, we aimed to compile and audit a DNA barcode reference library for marine invertebrate NIS occurring in Europe. To do so, we compiled a list of NIS using three databases: the European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN), the Information System on Aquatic Non-indigenous and Cryptogenic Species (AquaNIS), and the World Register of Introduced Marine Species (WRiMS). For each species, we retrieved the available cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) mitochondrial gene sequences from the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) and used the Barcode, Audit & Grade System (BAGS) to check congruence between morphospecies names and Barcode Index Numbers (BINs). From the 1249 species compiled, approximately 42% had records on BOLD, among which 56% were discordant. We further analyzed these cases to determine the causes of the discordances and attributed additional annotation tags. Of the 622 discordant BINs, after revision, 35% were successfully solved, which increased the number of NIS detected in metabarcoding datasets from 12 to 16. However, a fair number of BINs remained discordant. Reliability of reference barcode records is particularly critical in the case of NIS, where erroneous identification may trigger action or inaction when not required.This research was funded by national funds through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT I.P.), grant number PTDC/BIA-BMA/29754/2017 (NIS-DNA: Early detection and monitoring of non-indigenous species (NIS) in coastal ecosystems based on high-throughput sequencing tools) and by the “Contrato-Programa” UIDB/04050/2020. Financial support granted by the FCT I.P. to S.D. (CEECIND/00667/2017) is also acknowledged. A.S.L. (UI/BD/150871/2021) and J.T.F. (UI/BD/150910/2021) are supported by the Collaboration Protocol for Financing the Multiannual Research Grants Plan for Doctoral Students with financial support from FCT I.P. and the European Social Fund under the Northern Regional Operational Program—Norte2020

Typical Weather Conditions of Large Wildfires in Portugal (1980–2018)

UIDB/04209/2020 UIDP/04209/2020publishersversionpublishe

Impact of Gender in Predictive Value for Heart Transplantation Listing

BACKGROUND: Exercise testing is key in the risk stratification of patients with heart failure (HF). There are scarce data on its prognostic power in women. Our aim was to assess the predictive value of the heart transplantation (HTx) thresholds in HF in women and in men. METHODS: Prospective evaluation of HF patients who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) from 2009 to 2018 for the composite endpoint of cardiovascular mortality and urgent HTx. RESULTS: A total of 458 patients underwent CPET, with a composite endpoint frequency of 10.5% in females vs. 16.0% in males in 36-month follow-up. Peak VO2 (pVO2), VE/VCO2 slope and percent of predicted pVO2 were independent discriminators of the composite endpoint, particularly in women. The International Society for Heart Lung Transplantation recommended values of pVO2 ≤ 12 mL/kg/min or ≤14 if the patient is intolerant to β-blockers, VE/VCO2 slope > 35, and percent of predicted pVO2 ≤ 50% showed a higher diagnostic effectiveness in women. Specific pVO2, VE/VCO2 slope and percent of predicted pVO2 cut-offs in each sex group presented a higher prognostic power than the recommended thresholds. CONCLUSION: Individualized sex-specific thresholds may improve patient selection for HTx. More evidence is needed to address sex differences in HF risk stratification.publishersversionpublishe

Still a Powerful Tool?

Background: New therapies with prognostic benefits have been recently introduced in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) management. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic power of current listing criteria for heart transplantation (HT) in an HFrEF cohort submitted to cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) between 2009 and 2014 (group A) and between 2015 and 2018 (group B). Methods: Consecutive patients with HFrEF who underwent CPET were followed-up for cardiac death and urgent HT. Results: CPET was performed in 487 patients. The composite endpoint occurred in 19.4% of group A vs. 7.4% of group B in a 36-month follow-up. Peak VO2 (pVO2) and VE/VCO2 slope were the strongest independent predictors of mortality. International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) thresholds of pVO2 ≤ 12 mL/kg/min (≤14 if intolerant to β-blockers) and VE/VCO2 slope > 35 presented a similar and lower Youden index, respectively, in group B compared to group A, and a lower positive predictive value. pVO2 ≤ 10 mL/kg/min and VE/VCO2 slope > 40 outperformed the traditional cut-offs. An ischemic etiology subanalysis showed similar results. Conclusion: ISHLT thresholds showed a lower overall prognostic effectiveness in a contemporary HFrEF population. Novel parameters may be needed to improve risk stratification.publishersversionpublishe

insights from an echo and cardiovascular magnetic resonance study of patients referred for surgical aortic valve replacement

AIMS: This study aims to assess the prevalence of relative apical sparing pattern (RASP) in patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS), referred for surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR), to evaluate its significance, possible relation to amyloid deposition, and persistence after surgery. METHODS AND RESULTS: Prospective study of 150 consecutive patients [age 73 (interquartile range: 68-77), 51% women], with severe symptomatic AS referred to surgical AVR. All patients underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) before surgery. RASP was defined by [average apical longitudinal strain (LS)/(average basal LS + average mid LS)] > 1 by echocardiography. AVR was performed in 119 (79.3%) patients. Both Congo red and sodium sulphate-Alcian blue (SAB) stain were used to exclude amyloid on septal myocardial biopsy. LV remodelling and tissue characterization parameters were compared in patients with and without RASP. Deformation pattern was re-assessed at 3-6 months after AVR.RASP was present in 23 patients (15.3%). There was no suspicion of amyloid at pre-operative CMR [native T1 value 1053 ms (1025-1076 ms); extracellular volume (ECV) 28% (25-30%)]. None of the patients had amyloid deposition at histopathology. Patients with RASP had significantly higher pre-operative LV mass and increased septal wall thickness. They also had higher N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels [1564 (766-3318) vs. 548 (221-1440) pg/mL, P = 0.010], lower LV ejection fraction (53.7 ± 10.5 vs. 60.5 ± 10.2%, P = 0.005), and higher absolute late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) mass [9.7 (5.4-14.1) vs. 4.8 (1.9-8.6) g, P = 0.016] at CMR. Follow-up evaluation after AVR revealed RASP disappearance in all except two of the patients. CONCLUSION: RASP is not specific of cardiac amyloidosis. It may also be found in severe symptomatic AS without amyloidosis, reflecting advanced LV disease, being mostly reversible after surgery.publishersversionepub_ahead_of_prin

Multivariate robust modelling and optimization of cutting forces of the helical milling process of the aluminum alloy Al 7075

Helical milling is an advanced hole-making process and different approaches considering controllable variables have been presented addressing modelling and optimization of machining forces in helical milling. None of them considers the importance of the noise variables and the fact that machining forces components are usually correlated. Exploring this issue, this paper presents a multivariate robust modelling and optimization of cutting forces of the helical milling of the aluminum alloy Al 7075. For the study, the tool overhang length was defined as noise variable since in cavities machining there are specific workpiece geometries that constrain this variable; the controllable variables were axial feed per tooth, tangential feed per tooth and cutting speed. The cutting forces in the workpiece coordinate system were measured and the components in the tool coordinate system, i.e., the axial and radial forces, were evaluated. Since these two outcomes are correlated, the weighted principal component analysis was performed together with the robust parameter design to allow the multivariate robust modelling of the mean and variance equations. The normal boundary intersection method was used to obtain a set of Pareto robust optimal solutions related to the mean and variance equations of the weighted principal component. The optimization of the weighted principal component through the normal boundary intersection method was performed and the results evaluated in the axial and radial cutting forces components. Confirmation runs were carried out and it was possible to conclude that the models presented good fit with experimental data and that the Pareto optimal point chosen for performing the confirmation runs is robust to the tool overhang length variation. Finally, the cutting force models were also presented for mean and variance in the workpiece coordinate system in the time domain, presenting low error regarding the experimental test, endorsing the results.publishe

Knowledge and behaviors of oral health in children: a cross-sectional and correlational study

Background: Due to their high prevalence and incidence, oral diseases represent one of the main health problems of children and adolescents. The early diagnosis of oral diseases and the identification of risk factors are essential to establish preventive measures, and nursing community intervention programs can reduce the negative impact of complications. Purpose: Understanding the influence of knowledge of oral health on the behaviors of 235 children attending the first cycle of basic education in a group of schools in a municipality in the Central Region of Portugal. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional, and correlational study was carried out, integrated in the community intervention project “Smiles at School”. Data collection was carried out using a questionnaire built for the purpose, and all inherent ethical requirements were met. In the data analysis, descriptive statistics were used for categorical variables and inferential statistics for the analysis of the association between two categorical variables. Results: Children of older age and with a higher level of education and adequate oral hygiene habits have more knowledge. Children with knowledge of oral health report that the intake of cariogenic foods is sporadic and once or twice a week, with a statistically significant association. Boys have the most deficient hygiene habits. Regarding the ingestion of cariostatic foods, the pattern of consumption is found mostly at meals and at mealtimes. Conclusions/Implications to Practice: Children with knowledge of oral health have a lower number of decayed teeth and a greater number of treated teeth, have better oral hygiene behaviors, regularly carry out oral health surveillance and have correct eating habits. This confirms that knowledge of children/adolescents influences their behavior in the context of oral health. Projects in the field of oral health must be developed to empower and improve the knowledge and behavior of children/adolescents.publishe

EDITORIAL

É com grande satisfação que a Revista Kínesis – Revista de Estudos dos PósGraduandos em Filosofia da Unesp/Marília vem a público anunciar mais um número. Em seu volume 9, número 21, a Kínesis conta com 9 artigos e 1 resenha correspondendo às mais variadas temáticas de investigação filosófica