Structure, Function, and Evolution of the Thiomonas spp. Genome

Bacteria of the Thiomonas genus are ubiquitous in extreme environments, such as arsenic-rich acid mine drainage (AMD). The genome of one of these strains, Thiomonas sp. 3As, was sequenced, annotated, and examined, revealing specific adaptations allowing this bacterium to survive and grow in its highly toxic environment. In order to explore genomic diversity as well as genetic evolution in Thiomonas spp., a comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) approach was used on eight different strains of the Thiomonas genus, including five strains of the same species. Our results suggest that the Thiomonas genome has evolved through the gain or loss of genomic islands and that this evolution is influenced by the specific environmental conditions in which the strains live

Concentrations of potentially toxic elements and soil environmental quality evaluation of a typical Prosecco vineyard of the Veneto region (NE Italy)

Purpose The aim of this work was to assess the concentrations of potentially toxic elements and to evaluate the soil quality of a typical Prosecco Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin vineyard of the Veneto region, NE Italy. Materials and methods Soil samples and leaves of Taraxacum officinale and Vitis vinifera were collected during spring–summer 2014. Element determination (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, V, and Zn) were performed with ICP-OES after microwave digestion of samples. Soil quality was assessed via the biological soil quality (BSQ-ar) index. Lipid peroxidation test was performed to evaluate the vegetation oxidative stress, based on malondialdehyde (MDA) content via spectrophotometer. Results and discussion High concentrations of Al,Mg, and P were identified in soil, while high contents of Al, Cu, Fe, and Zn were found in V. vinifera leaves. The high concentrations in soil are probably due to agricultural activities, whereas those in leaves are probably due to atmospheric deposition and repeated use of foliar sprays in viticulture. The bioconcentration factor showed an effective transport of Cu, P, and Zn, from soil to leaf. The BSQ-ar values registered were similar to those obtained in preserved soils; hence, the biological class (VI) of these soils is high. The MDA content in T. officinale and V. vinifera leaves was below the reference value for T. officinale (2.9 ± 0.2 μM), suggesting that the metal content did not stress the vegetation in the investigated site. Conclusions The MDA value for V. vinifera (1.1 ± 0.7 μM) could be adopted as another control value for soil quality, which in our case is of Bgood quality.^ Moreover, our results suggest that high concentrations of elements detected in the analyzed samples do not influence negatively the quality of soil, but a better agronomic management could improve soil quality in the studied area

Primary Productivity and Water Balance of Grassland Vegetation on Three Soils in a Continuous CO2 Gradient: Initial Results from the Lysimeter CO2 Gradient Experiment

Field studies of atmospheric CO2 effects on ecosystems usually include few levels of CO2 and a single soil type, making it difficult to ascertain the shape of responses to increasing CO2 or to generalize across soil types. The Lysimeter CO2 Gradient (LYCOG) chambers were constructed to maintain a linear gradient of atmospheric CO2 (~250 to 500 µ 1-1) on grassland vegetation established on intact soil monoliths from three soil series. The chambers maintained a linear daytime CO2 gradient from 263 µ 1-1 at the subambient end of the gradient to 502 µ 1-1 at the superambient end, as well as a linear nighttime CO2 gradient. Temperature variation within the chambers affected aboveground biomass and evapotranspiration, but the effects of temperature were small compared to the expected effects of CO2. Aboveground biomass on Austin soils was 40% less than on Bastrop and Houston soils. Biomass differences between soils resulted from variation in biomass of Sorghastrum nutans, Bouteloua curtipendula, Schizachyrium scoparium (C4 grasses), and Solidago canadensis (C3 forb), suggesting the CO2 sensitivity of these species may differ among soils. Evapotranspiration did not differ among the soils, but the CO2 sensitivity of leaf-level photosynthesis and water use efficiency in S. canadensis was greater on Houston and Bastrop than on Austin soils, whereas the CO2 sensitivity of soil CO2 efflux was greater on Bastrop soils than on Austin or Houston soils. The effects of soil type on CO2 sensitivitymay be smaller for some processes that are tightly coupled to microclimate. LYCOG is useful for discerning the effects of soil type on the CO2 sensitivity of ecosystem function in grasslands

Percepção da gravidade da doença em pacientes adultos com fibrose cística Perception of disease severity in adult patients with cystic fibrosis

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a percepção da gravidade da doença em pacientes com fibrose cística (FC), investigando sua relação com escore clínico, escore radiológico, testes de função pulmonar, adesão ao tratamento e percepção de autocuidado. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, prospectivo, envolvendo pacientes com FC atendidos em um programa para adultos com FC. A percepção da gravidade da doença, a adesão ao tratamento e o relato de autocuidado foram avaliados por questionários. Foram obtidos de todos os pacientes dados clínicos, escore clínico de Shwachman-Kulczycki, escore radiológico de Brasfield e espirometria. RESULTADOS: De 38 pacientes estudados, 3 (7,9%) relataram percepção de sua saúde como muito abaixo da média; 5 (13,2%), como abaixo da média; 15 (39,5%), como na média; 10 (26.3%), como acima da média; e 5 (13,2%), como muito acima da média. A percepção da gravidade da doença correlacionou-se significativamente com o escore clínico (r = 0,43, p = 0,007), CVF (r = 0,34, p = 0,034), VEF1 (r = 0,38, p = 0,019) e com relato de autocuidado (r = 0,33, p = 0,044), mas não com o grau de adesão (r = -0,03, p = 0,842) e escore radiológico (r = 0,33, p = 0,51). CONCLUSÕES: A percepção da gravidade da doença se relacionou com medidas objetivas de gravidade da doença (escore clínico e testes de função pulmonar) e com relato de autocuidado, mas não com a adesão ao tratamento.<br>OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the perception of disease severity in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), investigating its relationship with clinical score, radiographic score, respiratory function tests, adherence to treatment and perception of self-care practices. METHODS: Prospective, cross-sectional study involving CF patients treated in a program for adults with CF. The perception of disease severity, adherence to treatment and reported self-care practices were evaluated by means of questionnaires. Clinical data, Shwachman-Kulczycki clinical score, Brasfield radiographic score and spirometry were obtained for all of the patients. RESULTS: Of the 38 patients studied, 3 (7.9%) patients rated their perception of health status as well below average; 5 (13.2%), as below average; 15 (39.5%), as average; 10 (26.3%), as above average; and 5 (13.2%), as well above average. The perception of disease severity correlated significantly with clinical score (r = 0.43, p = 0.007), FVC (r = 0.34, p = 0.034), FEV1 (r = 0.38, p = 0.019) and self-care practices (r = 0.33, p = 0.044), but not with degree of adherence (r = -0.03, p = 0.842) and radiographic score (r = 0.33, p = 0.51). CONCLUSIONS: The perception of disease severity correlated with objective measurements of disease severity (clinical score and respiratory function tests) and with reported self-care practices, but not with adherence to treatment

Mindfulness moderates the relationship between emotional eating and body mass index in a sample of people with cystic fibrosis.

PURPOSE Self-regulation in eating is significant for enhancing life expectancy of people with cystic fibrosis (CF), but research with this population is scarce. METHODS In a cross-sectional study, adults with CF completed a number of psychometric scales exploring typical eating behaviours that may increase calorific intake including motivations to eat palatable foods and scales that may be associated with decreased calorific intake: mindfulness, mindful eating and self-compassion. RESULTS Findings suggested that motivations to eat palatable foods and eating behaviours correlate with higher BMI, while mindfulness, mindful eating and self-compassion did not reach significance. Mindfulness and mindful eating moderated the relationship between emotional eating and BMI, while self-compassion did not moderate this relationship. CONCLUSIONS There is a need to develop healthy and effective means of enhancing calorific intake, where this is indicated, adapting mindful eating principles to focus on increasing both self-regulation and pleasure in eating while reducing emotional eating may be one means of doing this. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study