Brain transcriptomic response to social eavesdropping in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Public information is widely available at low cost to animals living in social groups. For instance, bystanders may eavesdrop on signaling interactions between conspecifics and use it to adapt their subsequent behavior towards the observed individuals. This social eavesdropping ability is expected to require specialized mechanisms such as social attention, which selects social information available for learning. To begin exploring the genetic basis of social eavesdropping, we used a previously established attention paradigm in the lab to study the brain gene expression profile of male zebrafish (Danio rerio) in relation to the attention they paid towards conspecifics involved or not involved in agonistic interactions. Microarray gene chips were used to characterize their brain transcriptomes based on differential expression of single genes and gene sets. These analyses were complemented by promoter regionbased techniques. Using data from both approaches, we further drafted protein interaction networks. Our results suggest that attentiveness towards conspecifics, whether interacting or not, activates pathways linked to neuronal plasticity and memory formation. The network analyses suggested that fos and jun are key players on this response, and that npas4a, nr4a1 and egr4 may also play an important role. Furthermore, specifically observing fighting interactions further triggered pathways associated to a change in the alertness status (dnajb5) and to other genes related to memory formation (btg2, npas4b), which suggests that the acquisition of eavesdropped information about social relationships activates specific processes on top of those already activated just by observing conspecifics.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

STATIC BENDING STRENGTH AND STIFFNESS IN JUVENILE AND ADULT WOOD OF FAST-GROWING Pinus taeda L.

Due to the high growth rates of the forests planted in Brazil and the variations of the mechanical properties within a tree, this study aimed to evaluate the strength (MOR) and stiffness (MOE) in static bending according to the juvenile and adult wood, and the grown-rings inclination at the transversal area of clean specimens of Pinus taeda. Subsequently, the woods were classified in its structural gradings. Pinus taeda logs with 30 years old had the growth rings delimited at every six years on the transversal area.  The juvenile wood was represented by the zone of 0 to 6 years of growth (marked with red), and 6.1-12 years (blue). The zone of 12.1-18 (orange) was considered as transition wood and from 18.1-24 (green) and 24.1-30 years (yellow), adult wood. After the sawing, 25 boards were selected to the sawing of the specimens (n = 104) for the static bending test. Growth-ring inclination was measured as a function of the direction of the load applied at the bending test.  Statistical tests were performed in a factorial scheme with the MOR and MOE to static bending. Factors were independent (mechanical properties and growth-rings inclination). The 0-6-year-old wood was not indicated for structural use. Woods between 12-30 years old showed a minimum compatible result to be classified for structural use. The inclination did not influence at the modulus of elasticity and strength at bending

Is urinary density an adequate predictor of urinary osmolality?

Urinary density (UD) has been routinely used for decades as a surrogate marker for urine osmolality (U-osm). We asked if UD can accurately estimate U-osm both in healthy subjects and in different clinical scenarios of kidney disease. UD was assessed by refractometry. U-osm was measured by freezing point depression in spot urines obtained from healthy volunteers (N = 97) and in 319 inpatients with acute kidney injury (N = 95), primary glomerulophaties (N = 118) or chronic kidney disease (N = 106). UD and U-osm correlated in all groups (p < 0.05). However, a wide range of U-osm values was associated with each UD value. When UD was <= 1.010, 28.4% of samples had U-osm above 350 mOsm/kg. Conversely, in 61.6% of samples with UD above 1.020, U-osm was below 600 mOsm/kg. As expected, U-osm exhibited a strong relationship with serum creatinine (S-creat), whereas a much weaker correlation was found between UD and Screat. We found that UD is not a substitute for U-osm. Although UD was significantly correlated with U-osm, the wide dispersion makes it impossible to use UD as a dependable clinical estimate of U-osm. Evaluation of the renal concentrating ability should be based on direct determination of U-osm1

Simple polystyrene Microfluidic Device for Sensitive and Accurate SERS-Based Detection of Infection By Malaria Parasites

Early and accurate detection of infection by pathogenic microorganisms, such as Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria, is critical for clinical diagnosis and ultimately determines the patient’s outcome. We have combined a polystyrene-based microfluidic device with an immunoassay which utilises Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) to detect malaria. The method can be easily translated to a point-of-care testing format and shows excellent sensitivity and specificity, when compared to the gold standard for laboratorial detection of Plasmodium infections. The device can be fabricated in less than 30 min by direct patterning on shrinkable polystyrene sheets of adaptable three-dimensional microfluidic chips. To validate the microfluidic system, samples of P. falciparum-infected red blood cell cultures were used. The SERS-based immunoassay enabled the detection of 0.0012 ± 0.0001 % parasitaemia in a P. falciparum-infected red blood cell culture supernatant, an ~7-fold higher sensitivity than that attained by most rapid diagnostic tests. Our approach successfully overcomes the main challenges of the current Plasmodium detection methods, including increased reproducibility, sensitivity, and specificity. Furthermore, our system can be easily adapted for detection of other pathogens and has excellent properties for early diagnosis of infectious diseases, a decisive step towards lowering their high burden on healthcare systems worldwide

Effects of a Supraseasonal Drought on the Ecological Attributes of Plagioscion squamosissimus (Heckel, 1840) (Pisces, Sciaenidae) in a Brazilian Reservoir

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a supraseasonal drought on the ecological attributes of Plagioscion squamosissimus. The fish were caught quarterly from February 2010 to November 2014 using gill nets in the reservoir of Santa Cruz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The abundance of the species was evaluated with the catch per unit effort (CPUE) metric and then correlated with the accumulated rainfall and water volume of the reservoir. The diet of the fish was evaluated using the feeding index (IAi). The proportional similarity index (PS i ) was used to evaluate the variation in the niches of the fish. The body condition was inferred through the relative condition factor, and its variation was assessed with ANOVA. A reduction in the abundance of the species that were positively correlated with the reservoir water volume was observed. The diet of the fish comprised shrimp, gastropods, fish, insects, shrimp larvae, and vegetable matter, with shrimp being the major component. PS i showed the occurrence of individual specialization during November 2013 and November 2014. The relative condition factor was not correlated with a reduction in the water volume of the reservoir. The supraseasonal drought did not affect the relative condition factor, diet, and the trophic niche, but it did affect the species abundance

In vitro antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal activities of flavanones from Baccharis retusa DC. (Asteraceae)

Leishmaniasis and Chagas' are parasitic protozoan diseases that affect the poorest population in the world, causing a high mortality and morbidity. As a result of highly toxic and long-term treatments, novel, safe and more efficacious drugs are essential. in this work, the CH2Cl2 phase from MeOH extract from the leaves of Baccharis retusa DC. (Asteraceae) was fractioned to afford two flavonoids: naringenin (1) and sakuranetin (2). These compounds were in vitro tested against Leishmania spp. promastigotes and amastigotes and Ttypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes and amastigotes. Compound 2 presented activity against Leishmania (L) amazonensis, Leishmania (V.) braziliensis, Leishmania (L) major, and Leishmania (L) chagasi with IC50 values in the range between 43 and 52 mu g/mL and against T. cruzi trypomastigotes (IC50= 20.17 mu g/mL). Despite of the chemical similarity, compound 1 did not show antiparasitic activity. Additionally, compound 2 was subjected to a methylation procedure to give sakuranetin-4'-methyl ether (3), which resulted in an inactive compound against both Leishmania spp. and T. cnizi. the obtained results indicated that the presence of one hydroxyl group at C-4' associated to one methoxyl group at C-7 is important to the antiparasitic activity. Further drug design studies aiming derivatives could be a promising tool for the development of new therapeutic agents for Leishmaniasis and Chagas' disease. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e DesenvolvimentoUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Inst Ciencias Ambientais Quim & Farmaceut, Diadema, SP, BrazilInst Adolfo Lutz Registro, Dept Parasitol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed ABC, Ctr Ciencias Nat & Humanas, Santo Andre, SP, BrazilUniv Presbiteriana Mackenzie, Ctr Ciencias & Humanidades, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Inst Ciencias Ambientais Quim & Farmaceut, Diadema, SP, BrazilFAPESP: 06/57626-5FAPESP: 08/11496-9Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento: 473405/2008-3Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento: 477422/2009-8Web of Scienc

LocalEnergy: Local Resources for Multifunctional Tetrahedrite-based Energy: Harvesting Applications

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

When Is the Best Moment to Assess the Ankle Brachial Index: Pre- or Post-Hemodialysis?

Background: Cardiovascular disease is an important cause of death in patients on dialysis. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a prognostic factor for cardiovascular disease. The ankle brachial index (ABI) is a noninvasive method used for the diagnosis of PAD. The difference between ABI pre- and post-dialysis had not yet been formally tested, and it was the main objective of this study. Methods:The ABI was assessed using an automated oscillometric device in incident patients on hemodialysis. All blood pressure readings were taken in triplicate pre- and post-dialysis in three consecutive dialysis sessions (times 1, 2, and 3). Results: One hundred and twenty-three patients (85 men) aged 53 +/- 19 years were enrolled. We found no difference in ABI pre- and post-dialysis on the right or left side, and there was no difference in times 1, 2, and 3. In patients with a history of PAD, the ABI pre- versus post-dialysis were of borderline significance on the right side (p = 0.088). Conclusion: ABI measured pre- and post-dialysis presented low variability. The ABI in patients with a history of PAD should be evaluated with caution. The applicability of the current method in predicting mortality among patients on hemodialysis therefore needs further investigation. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base

EXTRATO DE MAMONA COMO MANIPULADOR DA FERMENTAÇÃO RUMINAL

Objetivou-se investigar os efeitos da adição do extrato de farelo de mamona (EFM) sobre o perfil da fermentação ruminal in vitro em dietas com alto e baixo teor de forragem. Utilizou-se ensaio de incubação ruminal in vitro com dois controles, um negativo (sem aditivo) e um positivo (monensina sódica) e EFM liofilizado (20, 40 e 60 mg/frasco). Em condições de alto teor de forragem na dieta, a adição do EFM aumentou o pH do meio e a concentração de acetato, reduziu a produção de gás, mas não afetou a produção de gás por unidade de matéria seca (MS) digerida em relação ao tratamento controle. Em comparação com monensina sódica, o EFM reduziu as concentrações de propionato e amônia e aumentou a produção de gás por unidade de MS digerida. Em condições de baixo teor de forragem, a adição do EFM reduziu o pH e potencial redox do meio em relação ao tratamento controle. Em comparação com a monensina sódica, o EFM reduziu o pH do meio e a produção total de gás, mas não afetou a produção de gás por unidade de MS digerida. O extrato de farelo de mamona destoxificado não apresenta potencial como manipulador da fermentação ruminal.Palavras-chave: amônia; digestibilidade; eficiência; metano. CASTOR BEAN EXTRACT AS A MANIPULATOR OF RUMINAL FERMENTATION ABSTRACT: Effects of the castorbean meal extract (CME) on ruminal in vitro were investigate in high and low forage diet conditions. For each dietary condition, one in vitro ruminal incubation experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, with nine repetitions per treatment (three animal inoculum donators and three 48 hors-incubations). In high forage diet, CME increased ruminal pH acetate concentration, reduced gas production, but it did not affect the gas production per unit of digested dry matter (DM), in relation to control treatment. Compare to monensin sodium, CME reduced propionate and ammonia concentrations and increased gas production per unit of digested DM, indicating that CME reduces ruminal energetic efficiency. In low forage diet, CME reduced pH and redox potential compare to control. Compare to monensin sodium, CME reduced pH and gas production, but it did not affect gas production per unit of digested DM. Castorbean meal extract does not present potential as manipulator of the ruminal fermentation.Keywords: ammonia; digestibility; efficiency; methane