Characterization of ftsZ Mutations that Render Bacillus subtilis Resistant to MinC

Background: Cell division in Bacillus subtilis occurs precisely at midcell. Positional control of cell division is exerted by two mechanisms: nucleoid occlusion, through Noc, which prevents division through nucleoids, and the Min system, where the combined action of the MinC, D and J proteins prevents formation of the FtsZ ring at cell poles or recently completed division sites. Methodology/Principal Findings: We used a genetic screen to identify mutations in ftsZ that confer resistance to the lethal overexpression of the MinC/MinD division inhibitor. The FtsZ mutants were purified and found to polymerize to a similar or lesser extent as wild type FtsZ, and all mutants displayed reduced GTP hydrolysis activity indicative of a reduced polymerization turnover. We found that even though the mutations conferred in vivo resistance to MinC/D, the purified FtsZ mutants did not display strong resistance to MinC in vitro. Conclusions/Significance: Our results show that in B. subtilis, overproduction of MinC can be countered by mutations that alter FtsZ polymerization dynamics. Even though it would be very likely that the FtsZ mutants found depend on other Z-ring stabilizing proteins such as ZapA, FtsA or SepF, we found this not to be the case. This indicates that the cell division process in B. subtilis is extremely robust.

Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid Improves Motor Symptoms in a Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by severe motor symptoms, and currently there is no treatment that retards disease progression or reverses damage prior to the time of clinical diagnosis. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) is neuroprotective in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of PD; however, its effect in PD motor symptoms has never been addressed. In the present work, an extensive behavior analysis was performed to better characterize the MPTP model of PD and to evaluate the effects of TUDCA in the prevention/improvement of mice phenotype. MPTP induced significant alterations in general motor performance paradigms, including increased latency in the motor swimming, adhesive removal and pole tests, as well as altered gait, foot dragging, and tremors. TUDCA administration, either before or after MPTP, significantly reduced the swimming latency, improved gait quality, and decreased foot dragging. Importantly, TUDCA was also effective in the prevention of typical parkinsonian symptoms such as spontaneous activity, ability to initiate movement and tremors. Accordingly, TUDCA prevented MPTP-induced decrease of dopaminergic fibers and ATP levels, mitochondrial dysfunction and neuroinflammation. Overall, MPTP-injected mice presented motor symptoms that are aggravated throughout time, resembling human parkinsonism, whereas PD motor symptoms were absent or mild in TUDCA-treated animals, and no aggravation was observed in any parameter. The thorough demonstration of improvement of PD symptoms together with the demonstration of the pathways triggered by TUDCA supports a subsequent clinical trial in humans and future validation of the application of this bile acid in PD.National funds, through the Foundation for Science and Technology (Portugal) (FCT), under the scope of the projects PTDC/NEU-NMC/0248/2012, UID/DTP/04138/2013 and POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007038, and post-doctoral grants SFRH/BPD72891/2010 (to A.I.R.), SFRH/BPD/95855/2013 (to M.J.N.), SFRH/BPD/98023/2013 (to A.N.C.), SFRH/BPD/91562/2012 (to A.S.F.) and UMINHO/BI/248/2016 (to S.D.S.). This work has also been developed under the scope of the project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000013, supported by the Northern Portugal Regional Operational Program (NORTE 2020), under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), and by FEDER funds, through the Competitiveness Factors Operational Program (COMPETE)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pain, pain intensity and pain disability in high school students are differently associated with physical activity, screening hours and sleep

Background: Studies exploring the association between physical activity, screen time and sleep and pain usually focus on a limited number of painful body sites. Nevertheless, pain at different body sites is likely to be of different nature. Therefore, this study aims to explore and compare the association between time spent in self-reported physical activity, in screen based activities and sleeping and i) pain presence in the last 7-days for 9 different body sites; ii) pain intensity at 9 different body sites and iii) global disability. Methods: Nine hundred sixty nine students completed a questionnaire on pain, time spent in moderate and vigorous physical activity, screen based time watching TV/DVD, playing, using mobile phones and computers and sleeping hours. Univariate and multivariate associations between pain presence, pain intensity and disability and physical activity, screen based time and sleeping hours were investigated. Results: Pain presence: sleeping remained in the multivariable model for the neck, mid back, wrists, knees and ankles/feet (OR 1.17 to 2.11); moderate physical activity remained in the multivariate model for the neck, shoulders, wrists, hips and ankles/feet (OR 1.06 to 1.08); vigorous physical activity remained in the multivariate model for mid back, knees and ankles/feet (OR 1.05 to 1.09) and screen time remained in the multivariate model for the low back (OR = 2.34. Pain intensity: screen time and moderate physical activity remained in the multivariable model for pain intensity at the neck, mid back, low back, shoulder, knees and ankles/feet (Rp2 0.02 to 0.04) and at the wrists (Rp2 = 0.04), respectively. Disability showed no association with sleeping, screen time or physical activity. Conclusions: This study suggests both similarities and differences in the patterns of association between time spent in physical activity, sleeping and in screen based activities and pain presence at 8 different body sites. In addition, they also suggest that the factors associated with the presence of pain, pain intensity and pain associated disability are different

Nivel de ansiedad de las pacientes antes de someterse a una histerectom?a programada

La histerectom?a es un procedimiento quir?rgico utilizado para tratar problemas, que afectan al ?tero. Es considerada una cirug?a mayor. El objetivo general es determinar el nivel de ansiedad de las pacientes antes de someterse a una histerectom?a programada. Sabemos que, el ?tero es un s?mbolo de identidad femenina, por lo que existen diferencias individuales de afrontamiento ante la cirug?a, ya que causan alteraciones emocionales y sexuales. Metodolog?a. Es un trabajo, que se fundamenta en una investigaci?n es de tipo documental, descriptiva, exploratorio, en donde, se realiz? una b?squeda de informaci?n; en formato digital sobre el tema de ansiedad y la histerectom?a programada. Se realiz? una b?squeda bibliogr?fica en PubMed, Google acad?mico, scielo, Dialnet, repositorio institucional, utilizando los t?rminos de histerectom?a, ansiedad, paciente, cirug?a programada, vida sexual, mujer y depresi?n. Se revisaron principalmente, los art?culos publicados en los ?ltimos 7 a?os haciendo una preselecci?n de 60 art?culos de los cuales se seleccionan alrededor de 50 de los mismos, bas?ndonos en aquellos m?s citados y publicados en las mejores revistas afines al tema. No se tomaron en cuenta aquellos art?culos, que hac?an referencia a diagn?stico de c?ncer, histerectom?a de urgencias, pacientes con trastornos psiqui?tricos y aquellos art?culos que no mencionan ning?n nexo entre la histerectom?a y la ansiedad. Conclusiones: Es necesario que, el personal de salud asuma un rol de intervenci?n psicoeducativa en la pareja que permita enfrentar dificultades tanto en mitos y creencias previa cirug?a para minimizar trastornos emocionales, de ansiedad y disfunciones sexuales.Hysterectomy is a surgical procedure used to treat problems that affect the uterus. It is considered a major surgery. The general objective is to determine the anxiety level of the patients before undergoing a programmed hysterectomy. We know that the uterus is a symbol of female identity, so there are individual differences in coping with surgery that cause emotional and sexual disturbances. Methodology. It is a work that is based on a documentary, descriptive, exploratory research, where a search was carried out information in digital format on the subject of anxiety and programmed hysterectomy. A bibliographic search was made in PubMed, academic Google, scielo, Dialnet, institutional repository, using the terms of hysterectomy, anxiety, patient, programmed surgery, sexual life. Articles published in the last 7 years were mainly reviewed. A pre- selection of 60 articles is made, of which around 50 of them are selected, based on those most cited articles in the magazines related to the subject. Those articles that made reference to diagnosis of cancer, emergency hysterectomy, patients with psychiatric disorders and those articles that did not mention any link between hysterectomy and anxiety were not taken into account. Conclusions. It is necessary that health personnel assume a role of psychoeducational intervention in the couple that allows facing difficulties both in myths and beliefs after surgery to minimize emotional disorders and sexual dysfunctions in addition to anxiety disorders.Maestr?aMag?ster en Gerencia de Servicios de Salud con esp. En Sistemas de Informaci?

Development of current and future pollutant emissions for Portugal

Air pollutant emissions are a fundamental input for accurate air quality simulations. Therefore, a detailed estimation of current emissions should be performed, mainly for the activity sectors that have higher contributions to emission totals. In order to estimate air quality under climate change at regional scale, it is extremely important to provide the most accurate emission inventories based on the emission scenarios used as input for the global climate models. The Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) are the most recent developed emission scenarios. Emission inventories used in air quality simulations at regional scale for future periods should be based on these recent developments. In this sense, an Emission Projections under RCP scenarios (EmiPro–RCP) model was developed to assist the estimation of future emission inventories for GHG and common air pollutants. This paper describes the methodology developed under EmiPro–RCP model and presents the estimation of current and projected emissions for Portugal for CO, PM2.5, PM10, SOx, NOx, NMVOC and NH3, which will be used as input in air quality modeling systems. A comparison between the inventories was performed and the results indicated that all the RCPs scenarios predict a decrease in most of the air pollutant emissions until 2100, with the exception of NH3 that increases. The main decreases are found in the coastal zone of Portugal, mainly in Porto and Lisbon urban areas, while the NH3 increases are located not only in the coastal zone but also in the southern inland of Portugal

Meteorological driven changes on air quality over Portugal: a KZ filter application

The KolmogoroveZurbenko (KZ) filter method is a tool to improve air quality management, since it determines meteorological effects on air quality concentrations and separates out those effects in order to examine underlying trends. Air quality in Portugal is exceeding the legislated particulate matter (PM10), nitrogen oxides (NO2) and ozone (O3) levels; accordingly, measures to reduce pollutant emissions have been designed. The primary objective of this work is to investigate the influence of meteorology on O3, NO2 and PM10 levels and the long-term air quality trends. Air quality and meteorological datasets were explored for the period 2002e2012 through the decomposition of time-series using the KolmogoroveZurbenko (KZ) filter. To determine the best meteorological predictors for the air quality data, a stepwise regression analysis of the filtered time-series was applied. The KZ filter application revealed that the short-term component has the highest contribution to the total variance of the original air quality data (z64%ePM10; z52%eO3; z54%eNO2) followed by the seasonal component. The longterm component exhibits the influence of the emission control regulations implemented in each study region. The statistical analysis of the air quality and the meteorological data indicated that O3 has a statistically significant relationship with temperature in most of the components. The results also indicate that emission control strategies are primary regulators for NO2 and PM10 levels. Therefore, to establish an accurate strategy to improve air quality further, it will be essential to include meteorological effects. This study highlights that the KZ filter is a useful tool to support the design and implementation of adequate air quality strategies and for the investigation of the interactions between the emissions, the meteorological conditions and the air quality levels, to improve air quality management in these two urban areas

Ultraviolet reflectance influences female preference for colourful males in the European serin

Avian plumage colouration is one of the most impressive displays in nature and is frequently used as sexual signal. There is now considerable evidence that females consistently prefer males with the most elaborated colour displays. Bird colour vision expands into the ultraviolet (UV) range, which prompted several studies to test the importance of UV in mate choice, revealing that females are affected by the UV light component. These studies were mostly performed on structural plumage, whereas carotenoid-based plumage was rarely considered, although it also has a typical reflection peak in the UV. Our study tested the female choice over male yellow colouration, and whether it is influenced by UVremoval, in the European serin (Serinus serinus ), a sexually dichromatic cardueline finch, with males showing a conspicuous carotenoid-based yellow plumage. We shows that females preferred yellower males and that male attractiveness was lost when the UV colouration was blocked, with either of the UVblocking techniques used. The results of our study indicate that the UV component of carotenoid colouration is important in the female mate assessment in serins and highlights the importance of considering colour perception in avian mate choice.This research was supported by the project PTDC/BIA-BEC/ 105325/2008 to PGM from the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia