Developmental outcomes of early adverse care on amygdala functional connectivity in nonhuman primates

Despite the strong link between childhood maltreatment and psychopathology, the underlying neurodevelopmental mechanisms are poorly understood and difficult to disentangle from heritable and prenatal factors. This study used a translational macaque model of infant maltreatment in which the adverse experience occurs in the first months of life, during intense maturation of amygdala circuits important for stress and emotional regulation. Thus, we examined the developmental impact of maltreatment on amygdala functional connectivity (FC) longitudinally, from infancy through the juvenile period. Using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) we performed amygdala-prefrontal cortex (PFC) region-of-interest and exploratory whole-brain amygdala FC analyses. The latter showed (a) developmental increases in amygdala FC with many regions, likely supporting increased processing of socioemotional-relevant stimuli with age; and (b) maltreatment effects on amygdala coupling with arousal and stress brain regions (locus coeruleus, laterodorsal tegmental area) that emerged with age. Maltreated juveniles showed weaker FC than controls, which was negatively associated with infant hair cortisol concentrations. Findings from the region-of-interest analysis also showed weaker amygdala FC with PFC regions in maltreated animals than controls since infancy, whereas bilateral amygdala FC was stronger in maltreated animals. These effects on amygdala FC development may underlie the poor behavioral outcomes associated with this adverse experience

A 15.7-minAM CVn binary discovered in K2

We present the discovery of SDSS J135154.46−064309.0, a short-period variable observed using 30-mincadence photometry in K2 Campaign 6. Follow-up spectroscopy and high-speed photometry support a classification as a new member of the rare class of ultracompact accreting binaries known as AM CVn stars. The spectroscopic orbital period of 15.65 ± 0.12 min makes this system the fourth-shortest-period AM CVn known, and the second system of this type to be discovered by the Kepler spacecraft. The K2 data show photometric periods at 15.7306 ± 0.0003 min, 16.1121 ± 0.0004 min, and 664.82 ± 0.06 min, which we identify as the orbital period, superhump period, and disc precession period, respectively. From the superhump and orbital periods we estimate the binary mass ratio q = M2/M1= 0.111 ± 0.005, though this method of mass ratio determination may not be well calibrated for helium-dominated binaries. This system is likely to be a bright foreground source of gravitational waves in the frequency range detectable by Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, and may be of use as a calibration source if future studies are able to constrain the masses of its stellar components

Contaminação fúngica do amendoim em função das doses de calcário e épocas de amostragem Fungus contamination on peanut as affected by liming and sampling time

A população de fungos no solo varia de acordo com os fatores abióticos e bióticos, e, no caso do amendoim, podem contaminar as sementes, comprometendo sua qualidade. O objetivo do trabalho foi o de avaliar o efeito da calagem e da época de amostragem do solo e das vagens do amendoim na população de fungos, visando analisar a contaminação por Aspergillus spp., Rhizopus spp. e Penicillium spp. O experimento foi efetuado em Planassolo, no período das águas (outubro de 2001 a fevereiro de 2002), empregando o amendoim, cv. Botutatu. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso em parcela subdividida, com quatro repetições. As doses de calcário dolomítico (0,0 e 1,8 t.ha-1) foram aplicadas nas parcelas, em dezembro de 2000 e, as subparcelas, em quatro épocas de amostragem, com intervalos de 10 dias, a partir de 104.º dia após a semeadura (DAS). Nas amostras, foram realizadas a avaliação da população de fungos no solo e sua incidência nos pericarpos das vagens e nas sementes. Os resultados permitiram concluir que nas condições deste experimento, a época de amostragem e a aplicação de calcário não interferiram na população de Aspergillus spp. nas amostras de solo e sua incidência nos pericarpos das vagens. Nas amostras efetuadas aos 104 e 114 DAS, período com menores teores de água no solo, houve maior número de isolados pertencentes ao grupo Aspergillus flavus no solo e maiores incidências desses fungos nas vagens e sementes.<br>Diversity of fungus populations in soil could vary according to abiotic and biotic factors. On peanut cultivated soils, these can contaminate seeds, affecting their quality. This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of liming and sampling time, both of soil and peanut pods, fungus populations in the soil, specially in respect to possible contamination with Aspergillus , Rhizopus and Penicillium species. The experiment was installed in Planassol that was cultivated with peanut cv. Botutatu, during the raining season (October of 2001 to February of 2002). The experimental design was a subplot with four replications, in completely randomized blocks. Lime levels (0,0 and 1,8 t.ha-1) were applied to the plots in December of 2000, and the subplots were harvested during four intervals of 10 days, starting at 104 days after planting (DAP). Samples were evaluated regarding fungus population in the soil and their incidence in pods and seeds. The results allowed to conclude at these experimental conditions, the sampling time and application of lime do not interfere in the soil population of Aspergillus species. In samples collected at 104 and 114 DAP, period with lower water contents in the soil, there was an increase of Aspergillus flavus group isolates in the soil and more intense incidence of this fungus in pods and seeds

Toxicidade de óleos essenciais de alho e casca de canela contra fungos do grupo Aspergillus flavus Evaluation of essential oils from Allium sativum and Cinnamomum zeilanicum and their toxicity against fungi of the Aspergillus flavus group

Diante da propriedade inibitória de óleos essenciais vegetais sobre o desenvolvimento micelial de fungos e da importância das espécies do grupo Aspergillus flavus, que apresentam potencial para síntese de aflatoxina, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar in vitro a toxicidade de óleos essenciais vegetais contra fungos do grupo A. flavus, isolados a partir da cultura do amendoim. Inicialmente, foi avaliada a toxicidade de oito óleos essenciais vegetais no desenvolvimento micelial de dois isolados do grupo A. flavus, em comparação ao fungicida sintético benomyl. Em seguida, foi avaliada a toxicidade dos óleos de casca de canela (Cinnamomum zeilanicum Breym.) e de bulbilho de alho (Allium sativum L.) contra 37 isolados do grupo A. flavus, durante 12 meses. A maior inibição do desenvolvimento micelial de A. flavus foi obtida com o emprego dos óleos essenciais de casca de canela e de bulbilho de alho, e o efeito inibitório variou com o isolado testado.<br>Considering the inhibitory property of essential plant oils on the mycelial development of fungi, and the importance of Aspergillus flavus-like fungi which may produce aflatoxins, this research was designed to evaluate the toxicity of essential oils against fungi belonging to the group A. flavus isolated from peanut crops. The toxicity of eight essential oils against two isolates of A. Flavuslike fungi was evaluated in comparison to the synthetic fungicide benomyl. The toxicity of Cinnamomum zeilanicum Breym. and Allium sativum L. essential oils was also evaluated against 37 fungal isolates for a period of 12 months. The highest inhibition of the mycelial development of A. flavus was obtained with cinnamon and garlic essential oils. The inhibitory effect on growth was variable according to the fungal isolate

Influência da calagem, da época de colheita e da secagem na incidência de fungos e aflatoxinas em grãos de amendoim armazenados Storage peanut kernels fungal contamination and aflatoxin as affected by liming, harvest time and drying

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a contaminação e o potencial para síntese de aflatoxinas pelos isolados do grupo Aspergillus flavus em grãos armazenados de amendoim (Arachis hypogaea L.), que foram produzidos com distintos procedimentos de calagem, de colheita e de secagem. Para isto, foram avaliadas doze amostras de grãos de amendoim, cv. Botutatu, provenientes de plantas cultivadas em área que recebeu ou não a aplicação de calcário, colhidas aos 104, 114 e 124 dias após a semeadura e secas em condições ambientais e em estufa. Aos 12 e 18 meses de armazenamento, os grãos foram tratados com hipoclorito de sódio e incubados em BDA, a 20&deg;C, por cinco dias. As espécies do grupo Aspergillus flavus foram identificadas após incubação em meio ADM. Posteriormente, o potencial toxígeno foi avaliado pelo método da cromatografia de camada delgada. A análise da freqüência de fungos revelou que os grãos de amendoim armazenados estavam contaminados por Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp. e Fusarium spp. Os grãos de amendoim, provenientes da colheita antecipada, apresentaram maior contaminação pelo grupo Aspergillus flavus, sendo menor a proporção destes com potencial toxígeno.<br>The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the storage on the potential of aflatoxin production by isolates from Aspergillus flavus group in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). These kernels were obtained from a field experiment with two areas (with or without lime), three times of harvest (104, 114 and 124 days after planting) and two types of dryer conditions (ambient and chamber with forced air). After 12 and 18 months of storage, the kernels were treated with sodium hypochloride and incubated in a PDA at 20&deg;C during five days. The isolates from Aspergillus flavus group were identified after incubation in ADM culture medium. The toxigenic potential was analyzed by thin layer chromatography. The genera detected were Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium. The kernels from the first harvest, showed higher contamination by the Aspergillus flavus group, but the small proportion with toxigen potential