Conformational Isomerization Involving Conserved Proline Residues Modulates Oligomerization of the NS1 Interferon Response Inhibitor from the Syncytial Respiratory Virus

Interferon response suppression by the respiratory syncytial virus relies on two unique nonstructural proteins, NS1 and NS2, that interact with cellular partners through high-order complexes. We hypothesized that two conserved proline residues, P81 and P67, participate in the conformational change leading to oligomerization. We found that the molecular dynamics of NS1 show a highly mobile C-terminal helix, which becomes rigid upon in silico replacement of P81. A soluble oligomerization pathway into regular spherical structures at low ionic strengths competes with an aggregation pathway at high ionic strengths with an increase in temperature. P81A requires higher temperatures to oligomerize and has a small positive effect on aggregation, while P67A is largely prone to aggregation. Chemical denaturation shows a first transition, involving a high fluorescence and ellipticity change corresponding to both a conformational change and substantial effects on the environment of its single tryptophan, that is strongly destabilized by P67A but stabilized by P81A. The subsequent global cooperative unfolding corresponding to the main β-sheet core is not affected by the proline mutations. Thus, a clear link exists between the effect of P81 and P67 on the stability of the first transition and oligomerization/aggregation. Interestingly, both P67 and P81 are located far away in space and sequence from the C-terminal helix, indicating a marked global structural dynamics. This provides a mechanism for modulating the oligomerization of NS1 by unfolding of a weak helix that exposes hydrophobic surfaces, linked to the participation of NS1 in multiprotein complexes.Fil: Conci, Julieta. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Álvarez Paggi, Damián Jorge. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: de Oliveira, Guilherme A. P.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Pagani, Talita Duarte. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Esperante, Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Borkosky, Silvina Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Aran, Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Alonso, Leonardo Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Mohana Borges, Ronaldo. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: de Prat Gay, Gonzalo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; Argentin

Does IQ influence association between working memory and adhd symptoms in young adults?

Objective: This study examined the association between WM and ADHD symptoms in young adults and whether IQ-score influenced this association. Method: Data from the 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study were analyzed (N = 2,845). Working memory and ADHD symptoms were collected at 22 years. IQ was examined at age 18. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to assess the associations between working memory and ADHD symptoms. We also evaluated whether IQ modified associations between working memory and ADHD symptoms. Results: Working memory was negatively associated with Inattention symptoms of ADHD. The association between working memory and hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms of ADHD varied by IQ. Conclusions: This study provides new insights to theories about the relationship between WM and ADHD symptoms as well as the development of interventions aimed at improving the performance of WM in ADHD

Natural variation of arsenic fractions in soils of the Brazilian Amazon

Arsenic (As) in native soils of the Amazon rainforest is a concern due to its likely origin from the Andean rivers, which transport loads of sediments containing substantial amounts of trace elements coming from the cordilleras. Yet, unveiling soil As baseline concentrations in the Amazon basin is still a need because most studies in Brazil have been performed in areas with predominantly high concentrations and cannot express a real baseline value for the region. In this study, 414 soil samples (0–20, 20–40 and 40–60 cm layers) were collected from different sites throughout the Amazon basin - including native Amazon rainforest and minimally disturbed areas - and used to determine total and extractable (soluble + available) As concentrations along with relevant soil physicochemical properties. Descriptive statistics of the data was performed and Pearson correlation supported by a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) provided an improved understanding of where and how As concentrations are influenced by soil attributes. Total As concentration ranged from 0.98 to 41.71 mg kg−1 with values usually increasing from the topsoil (0–20 cm) to the deepest layer (40–60 cm) in all sites studied. Considering the proportional contribution given by each fraction (soluble and available) on extractable As concentration, it is noticeable that KH2PO4-extractable As represents the most important fraction, with >70% of the As extracted on average in all the sites studied. Still, the extractable fractions (soluble + available) correspond to ~0.24% of the total As, on average. Total, available, and soluble As fractions were strongly and positively correlated with soil Al3+. The PCA indicated that soil pH in combination with CEC might be the key factors controlling soil As concentrations and the occurrence of each arsenic fraction in the soil layers

Natural variation of arsenic fractions in soils of the Brazilian Amazon

Arsenic (As) in native soils of the Amazon rainforest is a concern due to its likely origin from the Andean rivers, which transport loads of sediments containing substantial amounts of trace elements coming from the cordilleras. Yet, unveiling soil As baseline concentrations in the Amazon basin is still a need because most studies in Brazil have been performed in areas with predominantly high concentrations and cannot express a real baseline value for the region. In this study, 414 soil samples (0–20, 20–40 and 40–60 cm layers) were collected from different sites throughout the Amazon basin - including native Amazon rainforest and minimally disturbed areas - and used to determine total and extractable (soluble + available) As concentrations along with relevant soil physicochemical properties. Descriptive statistics of the data was performed and Pearson correlation supported by a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) provided an improved understanding of where and how As concentrations are influenced by soil attributes. Total As concentration ranged from 0.98 to 41.71 mg kg−1 with values usually increasing from the topsoil (0–20 cm) to the deepest layer (40–60 cm) in all sites studied. Considering the proportional contribution given by each fraction (soluble and available) on extractable As concentration, it is noticeable that KH2PO4-extractable As represents the most important fraction, with >70% of the As extracted on average in all the sites studied. Still, the extractable fractions (soluble + available) correspond to ~0.24% of the total As, on average. Total, available, and soluble As fractions were strongly and positively correlated with soil Al3+. The PCA indicated that soil pH in combination with CEC might be the key factors controlling soil As concentrations and the occurrence of each arsenic fraction in the soil layers

Solar rotary kiln for continuous treatment of particle material: Chemical experiments from micro to milli meter particle size

Rotary kilns are very robust and versatile reactors and can be used on solar towers to perform high-temperature endothermic thermal decomposition reactions of solid materials with the aid of concentrated solar irradiation. Their easy functioning system allows flexibility with respect to a wide range of operating conditions, such as particle size, residence time, operating temperature, furnace atmosphere etc. In the present study, two different solid materials with different particle sizes are successfully treated to demonstrate the versatility of this reactor: redox oxide granules of mm size are thermally reduced for high temperature thermochemical storage and micrometric particles of CaCO3 are calcined to produce lime (as the main ingredient of cement). Preliminary tests for using the rotary kiln in thermochemical storage were carried out in a closed-chamber configuration, where the reactor atmosphere is separated from the environment. The increase in the oxygen concentration in the outlet gas could clearly indicate the onset and progress of chemical reaction. The increase in residence time has been identified as the key point for increasing the conversion of the solid material. Calcination of CaCO3 was demonstrated in 13 chemical experiments. The heat losses mechanisms have been studied and pointed out that the suction of gas should be optimized to increase the efficiency of the reactor. It has also been shown that the reactor efficiency can be increased by reducing the material conversion. Optimal operation therefore depends on the final target application

Fatores Condicionantes Para Acometimento De Depressão E Outros Transtornos Mentais Em Professores Da Rede Pública De Educação, Assistidos No Caps – Ad Do Município De Augustinópolis-TO / Conditioning Factors For Depression And Other Mental Disorders In Public Education Network Teachers, Assisted In Caps - Ad Of The Municipality Of Augustinópolis-TO

Os docentes é um grupo de indivíduos submetidos a ambientes sociais e condições de trabalho onde estão muitas vezes sujeitos a uma grande carga de estresse, que por sua vez é fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de transtornos, tais como depressão e ansiedade. Além de estarem expostos a vários tipos de violências ocorridas nas salas de aula e em condições de sobre carga de trabalho, formando um conjunto de situações que exercem grande influência na qualidade de vida e no trabalho desses profissionais. A temática do estudo é: Depressão e outros transtornos mentais em professores da rede pública da educação, assistidos pelo CAPS- AD do município de Augustinópolis - TO. A presente pesquisa trata-se de um estudo exploratório-descritivo, de abordagem qualitativa e quantitativa. O público alvo da pesquisa foram os docentes acometidos por depressão e outros transtornos mentais assistidos no Centro de Atenção Psicossocial de Álcool e outras Drogas – CAPS-AD do município de Augustinópolis-TO. Os dados coletados foram através de um questionário com perguntas abertas e fechadas, aplicada a cada docente assistido no CAPS-AD que se comprometerem e aceitarem responder. Identificando assim, os possíveis fatores que causam esse sofrimento mental, além de contribuir com a comunidade acadêmica a respeito de tal problema que acomete esses profissionais. Além dos fatores socioeconômicos outro fator que foi persistente na amostragem foi a desvalorização dos profissionais, mostra-se que isso atinge diretamente na saúde mental destes profissionais, já que a pesquisa identificou alguns sintomas decorrentes de transtornos mentais diretamente ligados ao exercício da profissão

Fatores Condicionantes Para Acometimento De Depressão E Outros Transtornos Mentais Em Professores Da Rede Pública De Educação, Assistidos No Caps – Ad Do Município De Augustinópolis-TO / Conditioning Factors For Depression And Other Mental Disorders In Public Education Network Teachers, Assisted In Caps - Ad Of The Municipality Of Augustinópolis-TO

Os docentes é um grupo de indivíduos submetidos a ambientes sociais e condições de trabalho onde estão muitas vezes sujeitos a uma grande carga de estresse, que por sua vez é fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de transtornos, tais como depressão e ansiedade. Além de estarem expostos a vários tipos de violências ocorridas nas salas de aula e em condições de sobre carga de trabalho, formando um conjunto de situações que exercem grande influência na qualidade de vida e no trabalho desses profissionais. A temática do estudo é: Depressão e outros transtornos mentais em professores da rede pública da educação, assistidos pelo CAPS- AD do município de Augustinópolis - TO. A presente pesquisa trata-se de um estudo exploratório-descritivo, de abordagem qualitativa e quantitativa. O público alvo da pesquisa foram os docentes acometidos por depressão e outros transtornos mentais assistidos no Centro de Atenção Psicossocial de Álcool e outras Drogas – CAPS-AD do município de Augustinópolis-TO. Os dados coletados foram através de um questionário com perguntas abertas e fechadas, aplicada a cada docente assistido no CAPS-AD que se comprometerem e aceitarem responder. Identificando assim, os possíveis fatores que causam esse sofrimento mental, além de contribuir com a comunidade acadêmica a respeito de tal problema que acomete esses profissionais. Além dos fatores socioeconômicos outro fator que foi persistente na amostragem foi a desvalorização dos profissionais, mostra-se que isso atinge diretamente na saúde mental destes profissionais, já que a pesquisa identificou alguns sintomas decorrentes de transtornos mentais diretamente ligados ao exercício da profissão.

The Barretos Cancer Hospital Animal Facility: implementation and results of a dedicated platform for preclinical oncology models

The Barretos Cancer Hospital Animal Facility (BCHAF) is a unique facility in Brazil exclusively dedicated to working with animal models for cancer research. In this article, we briefly present our modern facility and the main experiments performed, focusing on mutant strains of mice (PTCH-knockout and ApcMin mice), xenograft models, and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). Our results show the progress and challenges in establishing these models and the need for having an appropriate representation of our cancer population to better understand tumor biology and to identify cancer biomarkers, which could be putatively targeted, allowing for personalized therapy.This study was funded by the Public Ministry of Labor Campinas (Research, Prevention and Education of Occupational Cancer) and by Pio XII Foundation, Barretos Cancer Hospital internal funds, Grant Number: 13/2021