Characterization of Culex Flavivirus (Flaviviridae) strains isolated from mosquitoes in the United States and Trinidad

AbstractRecent reports indicate that flaviviruses similar to the cell fusing agent virus (CFAV) naturally infect a wide variety of mosquito species. These newly recognized insect-specific viruses comprise a distinct CFAV complex within the genus Flavivirus. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of nine strains of Culex flavivirus (Cx FV), a member of the CFAV complex, from mosquitoes collected in the United States (East Texas) and Trinidad. Phylogenetic analyses of the envelope protein gene sequences of these nine mosquito isolates with those of other CFAV complex flaviviruses in GenBank indicate that the U.S. isolates group with CxFV isolates from Asia (Japan and Indonesia), while the Trinidad isolates are more similar to CxFV isolates from Central America. A discussion follows on the possible biological significance of the CFAV complex flaviviruses

Genetic Stasis of Dominant West Nile Virus Genotype, Houston, Texas

The accumulation and fixation of mutations in West Nile virus (WNV) led to the emergence of a dominant genotype throughout North America. Subsequent analysis of 44 isolates, including 19 new sequences, from Houston, Texas, suggests that WNV has reached relative genetic stasis at the local level in recent years

Towards a more energy efficient stormwater management in smart Mediterranean cities

Escuder Bueno, I.; Andrés Doménech, I.; Perales Monparler, S.; Morales Torres, A.; Rossetto, R.; Bonari, E.; Ciabatti, S.... (2014). Verso una gestione più efficiente delle acque meteoriche nelle città del Mediterraneo. Acque Sotterranee. 3(2):59-60. doi:10.7343/AS-075-14-0101S59603

Is there a direct and temporary relationship between fire persistence and hospitalization due to respiratory diseases? : analysis of the scenario of Palmas and the Lajeado’s APA, Tocantins, between the years of 2012 and 2018

A poluição do ar é uma das consequências das queimadas, em razão da quantidade do material particulado e compostos químicos que são liberados para a atmosfera, durante o processo de combustão. Em atenção a isto, morbidades respiratórias são rotineiras, associadas à intensidade e à persistência do incêndio. De 2008 a 2018, o DATASUS registrou, em média, 9450 internações por doenças respiratórias no Tocantins, pouco sabido, entretanto, se existe uma relação entre o total de internações e a persistência de queimadas. Desta forma, o objetivo do trabalho foi correlacionar mensalmente os registros de internação por doenças respiratórias com a persistência de queimadas no município de Palmas e na APA do Lajeado, Tocantins, durante o período de estiagem entre os anos de 2012 e 2018. A análise compreendeu as médias e anomalias de cada variável, resultando em valores de internação díspar ao esperado. Concluiu-se que é preferível considerar estudos do particulado emitido, da circulação atmosférica e de procedimentos em unidades básicas de saúde para explicar a relação de doenças respiratórias por consequência das queimadas.Air pollution is one of the consequences of fires, because of the amount of particulate matter and chemical compounds that are released into the atmosphere during the combustion process. In this regard, respiratory morbidities are routine, associated with the intensity and persistence of the fire. From 2008 to 2018, DATASUS registered, on average, 9450 hospitalizations for respiratory diseases in Tocantins, although it isn't known, however, whether there is a relation between the total admissions and the persistence of fires. Thus, the objective of this study was to correlate the monthly hospitalization records for respiratory diseases with the persistence of burnings in the municipality of Palmas and in the environmental protection area of Lajeado, Tocantins, during the drought period between 2012 and 2018. The analysis comprised the averages and anomalies of each variable, resulting in hospitalization values different from those expected. It was concluded that it's preferable to consider studies of emitted particles, atmospheric circulation and procedures in basic health units to explain the relation of respiratory diseases due to fires

Percepção do idoso frente a prática de atividade física

O presente estudo teve por objetivo analisar a percepção do idoso frente a importância da prática de atividade física. Trata-se de um estudo quantitativo e descritivo. Os dados foram coletados por meio de uma entrevista elaborada pelos pesquisadores, contendo 16 perguntas abertas e fechadas, respondida individualmente por 51 idosos do sexo feminino e masculino, com idade média de 71±5,9 anos. Dos entrevistados 64% residem na zona rural, sendo a maioria deles e 90%dos idosos são do sexo feminino. A atividade física, todos participantes do estudo compreendem ser importante, e 88% praticam a mesma, sendo que a maioria pratica a caminhada e gostariam de praticar hidroginástica, demonstrando que o idoso apresenta um posicionamento positivo, frente a prática de atividade física regular

Dorsal hippocampal involvement in conditioned-response timing and maintenance of temporal information in the absence of the CS

Involvement of the dorsal hippocampus (DHPC) in conditioned-response timing and maintaining temporal information across time gaps was examined in an appetitive Pavlovian conditioning task, in which rats with sham and DHPC lesions were first conditioned to a 15-s visual cue. After acquisition, the subjects received a series of non-reinforced test trials, on which the visual cue was extended (45 s) and gaps of different duration, 0.5, 2.5, and 7.5 s, interrupted the early portion of the cue. Dorsal hippocampal-lesioned subjects underestimated the target duration of 15 s and showed broader response distributions than the control subjects on the no-gap trials in the first few blocks of test, but the accuracy and precision of their timing reached the level of that of the control subjects by the last block. On the gap trials, the DHPC-lesioned subjects showed greater rightward shifts in response distributions than the control subjects. We discussed these lesion effects in terms of temporal versus non-temporal processing (response inhibition, generalisation decrement, and inhibitory conditioning)

Genetic variation of St. Louis encephalitis virus

St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) has been regularly isolated throughout the Americas since 1933. Previous phylogenetic studies involving 62 isolates have defined seven major lineages (I–VII), further divided into 14 clades. In this study, 28 strains isolated in Texas in 1991 and 2001–2003, and three older, previously unsequenced strains from Jamaica and California were sequenced over the envelope protein gene. The inclusion of these new sequences, and others published since 2001, has allowed better delineation of the previously published SLEV lineages, in particular the clades of lineage II. Phylogenetic analysis of 106 isolates identified 13 clades. All 1991 and 2001–2003 isolates from Nueces, Jefferson and Harris Counties (Texas Gulf Coast) group in clade IIB with other isolates from these counties isolated during the 1980s and 1990s. This lack of evidence for introduction of novel strains into the Texas Gulf Coast over a long period of time is consistent with overwintering of SLEV in this region. Two El Paso isolates, both from 2002, group in clade VA with recent Californian isolates from 1998–2001 and some South American strains with a broad temporal range. Overall, these data are consistent with multiple introductions of SLEV from South America into North America, and provide support for the hypothesis that in most situations, SLEV circulates within a locality, with occasional incursions from other areas. Finally, SLEV has much lower nucleotide (10.1 %) and amino acid variation (2.8 %) than other members of the Japanese encephalitis virus complex (maximum variation 24.6 % nucleotide and 11.8 % amino acid)

Calibration of ionic and cellular cardiac electrophysiology models

© 2020 The Authors. WIREs Systems Biology and Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Cardiac electrophysiology models are among the most mature and well-studied mathematical models of biological systems. This maturity is bringing new challenges as models are being used increasingly to make quantitative rather than qualitative predictions. As such, calibrating the parameters within ion current and action potential (AP) models to experimental data sets is a crucial step in constructing a predictive model. This review highlights some of the fundamental concepts in cardiac model calibration and is intended to be readily understood by computational and mathematical modelers working in other fields of biology. We discuss the classic and latest approaches to calibration in the electrophysiology field, at both the ion channel and cellular AP scales. We end with a discussion of the many challenges that work to date has raised and the need for reproducible descriptions of the calibration process to enable models to be recalibrated to new data sets and built upon for new studies. This article is categorized under: Analytical and Computational Methods > Computational Methods Physiology > Mammalian Physiology in Health and Disease Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Cellular Models

A survey for coccidia in migratory waterfowl along the central flyway, and, Cross-transmission experiments to the Pekin duck, Anas platyrhynchos domestica

Abstract not availabl

Bioclimatic effects on the production and storage of Aphelinus perpallidus (gahan) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), a primary parasite of the blackmargined aphid of pecans, Monellia Caryella (fitch) (Homoptera: Aphididae)

Vita.The feasibility of developing effective rearing and cold storage procedures for Aphelinus perpallidus (Gahan), a hymenopteran parasite of the blackmargined aphid of pecan, Monellia caryella (Fitch), was investigated. The optimum rearing temperatures for A. perpallidus were 240280C, with the females producing 1 1.1 and 12.7 mummies, respectively, during a 48 hr. period. At densities of 0.75-1.0 aphid/cm2, parasite fecundities were 9.8 and 8.6 mummies for 48 hr. The highest fecundity of unmated and mated females at 240 and 280C, respectively, was 14 mummies. Mated A. perpallidus females produced both male and female progeny while unmated females produced only male progeny. Maximum male emergence (55-64%) occurred at 200-280C and was significantly higher than maximum female emergence which occurred at 240 (21%) and 280C (29%). Male development time ranged from 13 days at 280C to 31 days at 160C while female development time ranged from 12 days at 280C to 28 days at 160C. Parasite emergence and development period was not affected aphid density. Cold storage studies revealed that emergence of A. perpallidus adults was significantly affected by acclimatization, mummy age, storage temperature, and storage period individually and interactively. The highest total emergence ranged between 61-72 % and occurred from thermal y acclimated older mummies exposed to 4.40, 7.20, and 1 OOC stored for 7 days and at 7.20C stored for 15 days. Female and male emergence under the same conditions ranged from 33-39% and 14-34%, respectively. Generally development time from younger mummies was longer when subjected to experimental conditions compared to their older counterparts. Storage conditions which yielded the highest emergence usually resulted in minimal retarded parasite development. Under optimum conditions for emergence, development time of A. perpallidus ranged from 18-22.5 days for females and males. The number of days required to emerge after removal from storage ranged from 3.5-11 days for females and males. This research enhances the possiblity for the augmentation of field parasite populations during peak M. caryella populations. The integration of this research with current aphid management practices could result in more effective control of M. caryella