Does predation exacerbate the risk of endosymbiont loss in heat stressed hermatypic corals? molecular cues provide insights into species-specific health outcomes in a multi-stressor ocean

Ocean warming has been a major driver of coral reef bleaching and mass mortality. Coupled to other biotic pressures, corals' ability for acclimatization and adaptation may become compromised. Here, we tested the combined effects of warming scenarios (26, 30, and 32 degrees C) and predation (wound vs. no wound) in coral health condition (paleness, bleaching, and mortality), cellular stress responses (heat shock protein 70 kDa Hsp70, total ubiquitin Ub, and total antioxidant capacity TAC), and physiological state (integrated biomarker response index, IBR) of seven Scleractinian coral species, after being exposed for 60 days. Results show that although temperature was the main factor driving coral health condition, thermotolerant species (Galaxea fascicularis, Psammocora contigua, and Turbinaria reniformis) displayed increased paleness, bleaching, and mortality in predation treatments at high temperature, whereas thermosensitive species (Acropora tenuis, Echinopora lamellosa, and Montipora capricornis brown and green morphotypes) all died at 32 degrees C, regardless of predation condition. At the molecular level, results show that there were significant main and interactive effects of species, temperature, and predation in the biomarkers assessed. Temperature affected Hsp70, Ub, and TAC, evidencing the role of protein folding and turnover, as well as reactive oxygen species scavenging in heat stress management. Predation increased Hsp70 and Ub, suggesting the activation of the pro-phenoloxidase system and cytokine activity, whereas the combination of both stressors mainly affected TAC during moderate stress and Ub under severe stress, suggesting that redox balance and defense of homeostasis are crucial in tissue repair at high temperature. IBR levels showed an increasing trend at 32 degrees C in predated coral fragments (although non-significant). We conclude that coral responses to the combination of high temperature and predation pressure display high inter-species variability, but these stressors may pose a higher risk of endosymbiont loss, depending on species physiology and stress intensity.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Death ideation in cancer patients: contributing factors

Advances in cancer research and therapy have improved prognosis and the quality of life of many patients. However, previous epidemiological studies in oncologic patients have shown an increased risk of suicide. Suicidal thoughts, relatively well known in those terminally ill, may be just as important for cancer patients who are survivors or are living with the disease. Nonetheless, there is a relative paucity of data about suicidality in this setting. The authors conducted a prospective observational study to identify death thoughts and to explore the factors associated with suicidal ideation in cancer patients. A sample of 130 patients referred for psychiatric consultation was obtained following informed consent and authorization from the local ethics committee. A semistructured interview assessed sociodemographic data, psychosocial support, and information regarding the cancer process and its treatment. Psychometric instruments were used to evaluate psychopathology, namely the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, and the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation. Psychiatric diagnoses were obtained through the application of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Death ideation was identified in 34.6% of patients, yet only 10% had active suicidal thoughts. Risk of suicide was associated with female gender, a psychiatric diagnosis (major depressive disorder, panic disorder, or dysthymia), difficult interpersonal relationships, associated pain, high hopelessness, and depressive and anxiety symptoms. Although suicidal thoughts are frequent in cancer patients at different stages of disease, most are transitory. Risk factors for suicidal ideation have been identified, such as depression, hopelessness, uncontrolled pain, and difficult interpersonal relationships. Further assessment is necessary to identify those at higher risk of attempting suicide, and underlying psychiatric disorders should be vigorously treated

Fifth European Dirofilaria and Angiostrongylus Days (FiEDAD) 2016

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The construction process of pedagogical knowledge among nursing professors

Didactic knowledge about contents is constructed through an idiosyncratic synthesis between knowledge about the subject area, students' general pedagogical knowledge and the teacher's biography. This study aimed to understand the construction process and the sources of Pedagogical Content Knowledge, as well as to analyze its manifestations and variations in interactive teaching by teachers whom the students considered competent. Data collection involved teachers from an undergraduate nursing program in the South of Brazil, through non-participant observation and semistructured interviews. Data analysis was submitted to the constant comparison method. The results disclose the need for initial education to cover pedagogical aspects for nurses; to assume permanent education as fundamental in view of the complexity of contents and teaching; to use mentoring/monitoring and the value learning with experienced teachers with a view to the development of quality teaching

Eliminação parasitária em ovinos da raça Merino Branco e dos cruzamentos entre as raças Serra da Estrela, Île de France e Romanov

Efectuou-se o estudo da eliminação parasitária em quatro grupos de ovelhas em pastoreio [raça pura Merino Branco e cruzamentos rotativos com as raças Serra da Estrela (SE), Île de France (IF) e Romanov (RO)], com o objectivo de determinar o tipo e o grau de parasitismo presentes. Durante o período de Fevereiro a Maio de 2002 realizaram-se quinzenalmente colheitas directas de fezes e as respectivas análises coprológicas qualitativas e quantitativas. Verificou-se a presença de estrongilídeos gastrintestinais (ovos), e pulmonares (larvas de 1º estadio - L1), assim como ovos de Strongyloides sp., Moniezia sp., Taenidae e de oocistos de Eimeria sp.A média de eliminação de ovos de estrongilídeos gastrintestinais, para a raça pura, variou entre ligeira e média, enquanto que, para os cruzamentos, considerados variou entre ligeira, média e importante, apresentando ainda o cruzamento RO x (RO x IF x SE), uma eliminação muito importante. Nas associações parasitárias verificou-se que 41,67% dos animais apresentaram infecção simples, apresentando os restantes: infecção dupla em dez animais (41,67%); infecções triplas em dois animais (8,33%) e infecções quádruplas igualmente em dois animais (8,33%). A raça pura Merino Branco evidenciou-se como a mais resistente ao parasitismo gastrintestinal. Nos cruzamentos, o que apresentou menor susceptibilidade foi o cruzamento SE x (RO x IF x SE) e o mais susceptível foi RO x (RO x IF x SE).Os resultados foram sujeitos a um estudo estatístico, pelo método de Mann-Whitney e de Wilcoxon. Parasitological egg out put was studied in four groups of grazing ewes [Merino Branco breed and the rotative crossbreed with Serra da Estrela (SE), Île de France (IF) and Romanov (RO)], to determinate the type and degree of gastrintestinal and pulmonary parasitism. Qualitative and quantitative analyses on faeces were performed from February to May 2002. Gastrintestinal, Strongyloides sp. Moniezia sp. and Taenidae sp. eggs, Eimeria sp. oocysts and lung worms larvae (1.st stage) were identified. The mean egg out put of gastrintestinal strongyles varied from light to medium infection at the pure breed, and from light to severe infection at the crossbred ewes. However the RO x (RO x IF x SE) ewes showed a very important egg out put. The presence of simple and double infection was detected on 41,6,7%, each and with three and four species was noticed on 8,33%, each

Distinct fatty acid composition of some edible by-products from bovines fed high or low silage diets

In the present study, it was hypothesized that the incorporation of fatty acids is distinct among ruminant tissues and that it could be modulated by diet composition. To test this hypothesis, fatty acid composition, including conjugated linoleic acid isomers, of the most relevant beef by-products (brain, heart, kidney, liver, pancreas and tongue) from young bulls those fed distinct silage levels was assessed. Data indicated a large variation in fatty acid profile and conjugated linoleic acid composition among edible by-products. The most abundant fatty acids were C16:0 (kidney), C18:0 (heart and liver) and C18:1c9 (brain, pancreas and tongue) followed by C20:4n-6, except in brain (C22:6n-3 predominates). Brain, as shown by principal component analysis, presents a distinct fatty acid composition compared to the other beef by-products analysed. In addition, high silage diet relative to low silage diet promoted an increase of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, t11,t13 and t11,c13 conjugated linoleic acid in heart, kidney, liver and pancreas. Overall, the data suggested that beef by-products had, in general, high contents of cholesterol, saturated fatty acid and trans fatty acid, as well as high levels of conjugated linoleic acid. Therefore, from a nutritional point of view they are recommended only in small amounts as part of a balanced diet.Individual fellowships to Susana Alves (SFRH/BPD/76836/2011) and Marta Madeira (SFRH/BPD/97432/2013) and financial support from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisboa, Portugal) grants (PTDC/CVT/2006/66114 and UID/CVT/00276/2013) are acknowledged.Peer reviewe