Protein Synthesis Attenuation by Phosphorylation of eIF2α Is Required for the Differentiation of Trypanosoma cruzi into Infective Forms

Chagas' disease is a potentially life-threatening illness caused by the unicellular protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. It is transmitted to humans by triatomine bugs where T. cruzi multiplies and differentiates in the digestive tract. The differentiation of proliferative and non-infective epimastigotes into infective metacyclic trypomastigotes (metacyclogenesis) can be correlated to nutrient exhaustion in the gut of the insect vector. In vitro, metacyclic-trypomastigotes can be obtained when epimastigotes are submitted to nutritional stress suggesting that metacyclogenesis is triggered by nutrient starvation. The molecular mechanism underlying such event is not understood. Here, we investigated the role of one of the key signaling responses elicited by nutritional stress in all other eukaryotes, the inhibition of translation initiation by the phosphorylation of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), during the in vitro differentiation of T. cruzi. Monospecific antibodies that recognize the phosphorylated Tc-eIF2α form were generated and used to demonstrate that parasites subjected to nutritional stress show increased levels of Tc-eIF2α phosphorylation. This was accompanied by a drastic inhibition of global translation initiation, as determined by polysomal profiles. A strain of T. cruzi overexpressing a mutant Tc-eIF2α, incapable of being phosphorylated, showed a block on translation initiation, indicating that such a nutritional stress in trypanosomatids induces the conserved translation inhibition response. In addition, Tc-eIF2α phosphorylation is critical for parasite differentiation since the overexpression of the mutant eIF2α in epimastigotes abolished metacyclogenesis. This work defines the role of eIF2α phosphorylation as a key step in T. cruzi differentiation

Intra and inter-rater reliability study of pelvic floor muscle dynamometric measurements

The aim of this study was to evaluate the intra and inter-rater reliability of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) dynamometric measurements for maximum and average strengths, as well as endurance. A convenience sample of 18 nulliparous women, without any urogynecological complaints, aged between 19 and 31 (mean age of 25.4±3.9) participated in this study. They were evaluated using a pelvic floor dynamometer based on load cell technology. The dynamometric evaluations were repeated in three successive sessions: two on the same day with a rest period of 30 minutes between them, and the third on the following day. All participants were evaluated twice in each session; first by examiner 1 followed by examiner 2. The vaginal dynamometry data were analyzed using three parameters: maximum strength, average strength, and endurance. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was applied to estimate the PFM dynamometric measurement reliability, considering a good level as being above 0.75. The intra and inter-raters' analyses showed good reliability for maximum strength (ICCintra-rater1=0.96, ICCintra-rater2=0.95, and ICCinter-rater=0.96), average strength (ICCintra-rater1=0.96, ICCintra-rater2=0.94, and ICCinter-rater=0.97), and endurance (ICCintra-rater1=0.88, ICCintra-rater2=0.86, and ICCinter-rater=0.92) dynamometric measurements. The PFM dynamometric measurements showed good intra- and inter-rater reliability for maximum strength, average strength and endurance, which demonstrates that this is a reliable device that can be used in clinical practice.1929710

Genetics and telemetry indicate unexpected movements among structured populations for Brachyplatystoma platynemum in the Amazon

The genetic analysis of Brachyplatystoma platynemum individuals sampled from the lower Madeira River reinforces the existence of two structured populations in the Amazon Basin (Madeira and Amazon populations). However, the recapture of an individual from the Amazon population in the Solimões River, which was telemetry‐tagged in the Madeira River after the damming, indicates that fish from the Amazon population move between the two river systems. This has not been observed, however, in the Madeira River population, which is currently divided and isolated in the lower and upper Madeira River by the construction of two dams

Cleaning activity among Labridae in the Azores: the rainbow wrasse Coris julis and the Azorean blue wrasse Centrolabrus caeruleus

Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009.Cleaning interactions among the rainbow wrasse Coris julis and the azorean blue wrasse Centrolabrus caeruleus are presented with photographic registers, as well as the first record of the latter cleaning conspecifics from Azorean shallow rocky reefs

Improving land cover classification using genetic programming for feature construction

Batista, J. E., Cabral, A. I. R., Vasconcelos, M. J. P., Vanneschi, L., & Silva, S. (2021). Improving land cover classification using genetic programming for feature construction. Remote Sensing, 13(9), [1623]. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13091623Genetic programming (GP) is a powerful machine learning (ML) algorithm that can produce readable white-box models. Although successfully used for solving an array of problems in different scientific areas, GP is still not well known in the field of remote sensing. The M3GP algorithm, a variant of the standard GP algorithm, performs feature construction by evolving hyperfeatures from the original ones. In this work, we use the M3GP algorithm on several sets of satellite images over different countries to create hyperfeatures from satellite bands to improve the classification of land cover types. We add the evolved hyperfeatures to the reference datasets and observe a significant improvement of the performance of three state-of-the-art ML algorithms (decision trees, random forests, and XGBoost) on multiclass classifications and no significant effect on the binary classifications. We show that adding the M3GP hyperfeatures to the reference datasets brings better results than adding the well-known spectral indices NDVI, NDWI, and NBR. We also compare the performance of the M3GP hyperfeatures in the binary classification problems with those created by other feature construction methods such as FFX and EFS.publishersversionpublishe

Rocky reef fish community structure in two Azorean islands (Portugal) central North Atlantic

Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010.The community structure of shallow rocky reef fish fauna of the Azores Archipelago is described from underwater visual censuses carried out at eight areas (Terceira and Corvo Islands). A total of 52 fish species from 26 different families was observed, and the ten most abundant fish corresponded to 82.7% of all fish. Trophic categories are given for observed species with comments on distribution and densities along sampled depth strata. Mean densities along sampled strata were tested for significant differences. Sparidae, Labridae and Carangidae were the most speciose families being Diplodus sargus, Pagellus acarne, Coris julis, Thalassoma pavo and Tripterygion delaisi the most abundant species that consequently also accounted for the highest densities

Reparo de lesão periapical extensa após utilização de curativo de demora à base de hidróxido de cálcio: relato de caso

PURPOSE: The objective of this paper is to report the clinical case of a patient who presented a chronic apical periodontitis, arising from internal inflammatory resorption followed by pulp necrosis, and a long-term success of a root canal therapy using calcium hydroxide as root canal dressing. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 20-year-old male patient presented for routine dental treatment. By radiographic examination we noted an extensive radioluscent area, laterally to the permanent maxillary right lateral incisor, with possibility of communication with the lateral periodontium, suggestive of a chronic apical periodontitis. Due to external root resorption detection, we used a calcium hydroxide root canal dressing, changed every 15 days, for a period of 2 months. Root canal filling was performed using gutta-percha cones by lateral condensation technique Radiographic follow up held after 19 years of treatment indicated a periodontium in conditions of normality, with the presence of lamina dura. CONCLUSION: Calcium hydroxide is a suitable material to be used as root canal dressing in teeth with apical periodontitis. Long-term evaluation demonstrated the satisfactory clinical outcome following root canal treatment.OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste trabalho é relatar o caso clínico de um paciente que apresentava lesão periapical crônica decorrente de necrose de pulpar e o sucesso a longo prazo de uma terapia endodôntica utilizando o hidróxido de cálcio como curativo de demora. DESCRIÇÃO DO CASO: O paciente, do gênero masculino, com 20 anos de idade, compareceu à Clínica Odontológica para tratamento de rotina. Por meio de exames radiográficos observamos uma área radioluscente extensa, lateralmente ao incisivo lateral superior direito, com possibilidade de comunicação com o periodonto lateral, sugestivo de lesão periapical. Devido à presença de reabsorção radicular externa, foi utilizado um curativo de demora à base de hidróxido de cálcio (Calen®), trocado a cada 15 dias, por um período de 2 meses. A obturação do canal radicular foi realizada com cones de guta-percha pela técnica de condensação lateral ativa. O acompanhamento radiográfico realizado após 19 anos do tratamento endodôntico indicou um periodonto em condições de normalidade, com integridade da lamina dura. CONCLUSÃO: O hidróxido de cálcio é um material adequado para ser usado como curativo de demora em dentes com lesão periapical, uma vez que a avaliação a longo prazo demonstrou resultados clínicos satisfatórios após o tratamento endodôntico.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Cascade MIMO P-PID controllers applied in an over-actuated quadrotor Tilt-Rotor

To map the Virtual Control Actions (VCAs) into Real Control Actions (RCAs), over-actuated systems typically require nonlinear control allocation methods. On embedded robotic platforms, computational efforts are not always available. With this in mind, this work presents the design of a Quadrotor Tilt-Rotor (QTR) through a new concept of control allocation with uncoupled RCAs, where a nonlinear system is divided into partially dependent and linear subsystems with fast and robust convergence. The RCAs are divided into smaller and linearized sets and solved sequentially. Then, the cascade Multipe-Input-Multipe-Output (MIMO) Proportional (P)- Proportional, Integral and Derivative (PID) controllers tuning were presented with saturation constants and successive loop closure technique, where some open-field environment tests were conducted to validate the respective tuning. In the end, it showed to be reliable, robust, efficient, and applicable when VCAs are overlapped between the subsystems.The authors would like to thank CEFET-MG and Leuphana University of L¨uneburg for their financial support.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Space-time distribution of the ichthyofauna from Saco da Fazenda estuary, Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil

Copyright © 2009 Coastal Education and Research Foundation (CERF).A Ictiofauna do estuário Saco da Fazenda foi estudada mensalmente entre julho de 2003 e junho de 2004 em quatro áreas definidas em função das características fisiográficas e da representatividade do estuário nesta região. Foram capturados 4502 exemplares, distribuídos em 42 espécies, 35 gêneros e 21 famílias. Engraulidae foram os peixes mais abundantes, onde Cetengraulis edentulus dominou nas capturas. As espécies de ocorrência ocasional, representadas, principalmente por indivíduos juvenis, predominaram nas amostragens. As maiores abundâncias ocorreram durante os meses de verão e outono, em contraste com as elevadas biomassas na primavera-outono; sendo que a área IV diferenciou-se das demais, por contribuir com as maiores capturas. Os índices de riqueza, diversidade e equitabilidade, apresentaram padrões semelhantes de flutuação, com valores elevados nos meses de primavera e verão. O índice de Jaccard revelou uma maior similaridade na composição da ictiofauna entre as áreas II e IV, enquanto a menor ocorreu entre I e IV, provavelmente devido às diferentes áreas destes locais.ABSTRACT: From July 2003 to June 2004, the physiographic characteristics of the ichthyofauna of the estuary of Saco da Fazenda were studied in four defined areas representative of the estuary. A total of 4502 individuals were captured, with 42 species, 35 genera, and 21 families. Engraulidae were the most abundant fish, and Cetengraulis edentulus dominated the captures. The species of occasional occurrence prevailed in the samplings and were represented mainly by juvenile individuals. The highest abundances occurred during the months of summer and autumn, in contrast with high biomasses in the spring and autumn; area IV contributed the largest captures. The richness indexes, diversity, and equitability presented similar flotation patterns, with high values in spring and summer. The Jaccard index revealed a greater similarity in the composition of the ichthyofauna in areas II and IV, while the lowest happened between I and IV, which is probably due to the different sizes of these areas. This paper clearly shows the relevance of this estuary, albeit strongly impacted, for recruitment of small fish mainly during summer and autumn months

\u3cem\u3eTithonia diversifolia\u3c/em\u3e for Ruminant Nutrition

India and Brazil lead the world ranking of livestock enteric methane emissions (FAO 2006). According to FAO (2006), Brazil (9.6 Tg of CH4/year) is the highest emitter of methane from cattle, followed by India (8.6 Tg of CH4/year) and the USA (5.1 Tg of CH4/year). In livestock, methane (CH4) formed from enteric fermentation of carbohydrates is primarily responsible for the emissions in the sector. Regarding livestock methane emission, Delgado et al. (2012) evaluated 20 tree and shrub species using in vitro technique and demonstrated a reducing effect on the amount of methane when Tithonia diversifolia was compared with, for example, Cynodon nlemfuensis grass. Tithonia diversifolia belongs to the division - Sphermatophyta; class - Eudicotiledoneae; sub-class - Metaclamídeas; Order - Campanulate; Family - Asteraceae; Genre - Tithonia, and Species - Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.), Gray (Souza 2008). Tithonia diversifolia can be very useful in animal nutrition (Fig. 1) by increasing the protein content of animal diet at low cost (Murgueitio et al. 2010) as well as in the recovery of degraded soils for it grows in areas with low levels of fertility and has high ability to absorb phosphorus, even if it is unavailable to other forage species (Kwabiah et al. 2003). The objective of this study was to assess the nutritional qualities, including quantification of enteric methane generated during in vitro ruminal fermentation, of Tithonia diversifolia as an alternative forage for ruminant nutrition in the tropics