USE OF SPECIES OF URBAN TREES IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION BIOMONITORING

O biomonitoramento consiste na utiliza\ue7\ue3o de organismos vivos para apontar poss\uedveis polui\ue7\uf5es ambientais. Objetivou-se neste estudo avaliar a influ\ueancia da intensidade do tr\ue1fego urbano na disponibilidade de elementos e s\uf3lidos em suspens\ue3o, bem como identificar a potencialidade no ac\ufamulo e reten\ue7\ue3o das subst\ue2ncias em diferentes esp\ue9cies arb\uf3reas, utilizando suas folhas como biomonitores passivos e de acumula\ue7\ue3o. Como amostras utilizaram-se folhas de \ue1rvores coletadas em duas \ue1reas no munic\uedpio de Vit\uf3ria da Conquista - BA: com tr\ue2nsito de ve\uedculos e atividades antr\uf3picas moderadas; e em uma zona de maior tr\ue1fego e com atividades intensas. Foram determinados o material particulado (MP) depositado nas folhas pelo m\ue9todo gravim\ue9trico e os elementos Fe, Cu, Ni, Co e Cd por espectrometria de absor\ue7\ue3o at\uf4mica em forno de grafite (EAA FG). O Fe se distinguiu significativamente das demais vari\ue1veis, com concentra\ue7\uf5es superiores aos outros metais. Utilizaram-se an\ue1lises estat\uedsticas multivariadas para a interpreta\ue7\ue3o dos dados. A an\ue1lise de agrupamento hier\ue1rquico separou dois grupos de acordo com a espacialidade e a an\ue1lise de componentes principais permitiu a explica\ue7\ue3o desta tend\ueancia amostral. Um grupo foi constitu\ueddo por MP, Fe e Cd, pelo fato de serem originados do desgaste dos ve\uedculos e queima de combust\uedveis f\uf3sseis. As esp\ue9cies da fam\uedlia Fabaceae apresentaram uma maior similaridade em rela\ue7\ue3o ao elemento Cu, isto, porque a atividade metab\uf3lica do Cu tem comportamento inversamente proporcional \ue0 concentra\ue7\ue3o de nitrog\ueanio. O tr\ue2nsito de ve\uedculos influiu diretamente na disponibilidade de alguns elementos t\uf3xicos e na concentra\ue7\ue3o de part\uedculas s\uf3lidas depositadas. Conclui-se que a esp\ue9cie influi no ac\ufamulo dos elementos qu\uedmicos e apresentam diferentes potenciais de capta\ue7\ue3o. A arboriza\ue7\ue3o pode ser utilizada como biomonitora passiva de acumula\ue7\ue3o.Biomonitoring is the use of living organisms to identify possible environmental pollution. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of intensity of urban traffic in the availability of elements and suspended solids as well as identify the potential in the accumulation and retention of substances in different tree species using its leaves as passive biomonitors and for accumulation. As samples we used tree leaves collected from two areas in the municipality of Vitoria da Conquista (BA state), with transit vehicles and moderate human activities, and in a zone of increased traffic and intense activities. We determined the particulate matter (MP) deposited in the leaves by the gravimetric method and the elements Fe, Cu, Ni, Co and Cd by atomic absorption spectrometry with graphite furnace (GF AAS). Fe was significantly distinguished from other variables, with higher concentrations than other metals. The data was interpreted by multivariate analysis. Cluster analysis separated two groups, one consisting of MP, Fe and Cd, because they are originated from the wear and tear of vehicles and burning fossil fuels. The species of the family Fabaceae showed greater similarity to Cu element, namely, because the Cu metabolic activity is inversely proportional to the concentration of nitrogen behavior. The vehicle traffic directly influenced the availability of some toxic elements and the concentration of the deposited solid particles. It is concluded that the species influences the accumulation of chemical elements and have different catchment potentials. The trees can be utilized as biomonitors which are passive of accumulation

Human Ageing Genomic Resources:updates on key databases in ageing research

Ageing is a complex and multifactorial process. For two decades, the Human Ageing Genomic Resources (HAGR) have aided researchers in the study of various aspects of ageing and its manipulation. Here, we present the key features and recent enhancements of these resources, focusing on its six main databases. One database, GenAge, focuses on genes related to ageing, featuring 307 genes linked to human ageing and 2205 genes associated with longevity and ageing in model organisms. AnAge focuses on ageing, longevity, and life-history across animal species, containing data on 4645 species. DrugAge includes information about 1097 longevity drugs and compounds in model organisms such as mice, rats, flies, worms and yeast. GenDR provides a list of 214 genes associated with the life-extending benefits of dietary restriction in model organisms. CellAge contains a catalogue of 866 genes associated with cellular senescence. The LongevityMap serves as a repository for genetic variants associated with human longevity, encompassing 3144 variants pertaining to 884 genes. Additionally, HAGR provides various tools as well as gene expression signatures of ageing, dietary restriction, and replicative senescence based on meta-analyses. Our databases are integrated, regularly updated, and manually curated by experts. HAGR is freely available online (https://genomics.senescence.info/).</p

Human Ageing Genomic Resources:updates on key databases in ageing research

Ageing is a complex and multifactorial process. For two decades, the Human Ageing Genomic Resources (HAGR) have aided researchers in the study of various aspects of ageing and its manipulation. Here, we present the key features and recent enhancements of these resources, focusing on its six main databases. One database, GenAge, focuses on genes related to ageing, featuring 307 genes linked to human ageing and 2205 genes associated with longevity and ageing in model organisms. AnAge focuses on ageing, longevity, and life-history across animal species, containing data on 4645 species. DrugAge includes information about 1097 longevity drugs and compounds in model organisms such as mice, rats, flies, worms and yeast. GenDR provides a list of 214 genes associated with the life-extending benefits of dietary restriction in model organisms. CellAge contains a catalogue of 866 genes associated with cellular senescence. The LongevityMap serves as a repository for genetic variants associated with human longevity, encompassing 3144 variants pertaining to 884 genes. Additionally, HAGR provides various tools as well as gene expression signatures of ageing, dietary restriction, and replicative senescence based on meta-analyses. Our databases are integrated, regularly updated, and manually curated by experts. HAGR is freely available online (https://genomics.senescence.info/).</p

Exploring the Use of Cytochrome Oxidase c Subunit 1 (COI) for DNA Barcoding of Free-Living Marine Nematodes

BackgroundThe identification of free-living marine nematodes is difficult because of the paucity of easily scorable diagnostic morphological characters. Consequently, molecular identification tools could solve this problem. Unfortunately, hitherto most of these tools relied on 18S rDNA and 28S rDNA sequences, which often lack sufficient resolution at the species level. In contrast, only a few mitochondrial COI data are available for free-living marine nematodes. Therefore, we investigate the amplification and sequencing success of two partitions of the COI gene, the M1-M6 barcoding region and the I3-M11 partition.MethodologyBoth partitions were analysed in 41 nematode species from a wide phylogenetic range. The taxon specific primers for the I3-M11 partition outperformed the universal M1-M6 primers in terms of amplification success (87.8% vs. 65.8%, respectively) and produced a higher number of bidirectional COI sequences (65.8% vs 39.0%, respectively). A threshold value of 5% K2P genetic divergence marked a clear DNA barcoding gap separating intra- and interspecific distances: 99.3% of all interspecific comparisons were >0.05, while 99.5% of all intraspecific comparisons were <0.05 K2P distance.ConclusionThe I3-M11 partition reliably identifies a wide range of marine nematodes, and our data show the need for a strict scrutiny of the obtained sequences, since contamination, nuclear pseudogenes and endosymbionts may confuse nematode species identification by COI sequence

Biochemical Effects of Carbohydrate Supplementation in a Simulated Competition of Short Terrestrial Duathlon

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the biochemical effects of carbohydrate supplementation in a simulated competition of short terrestrial duathlon. Ten duathletes participated in a simulated competition of short terrestrial duathlon 30 minutes after the ingestion of a 6% (30 g/500 ml) maltodextrin solution (MALT) or a placebo (PLA). This solution was also ingested every 15 minutes during the competition (12 g/200 ml); and immediately after the competition (18 g/300 ml). Samples of blood were collected at 3 time points: 1) at rest 1 hour before the beginning of the competition; 2) during the competition (approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes after the 1st collection); 3) immediately after the competition. Blood was analyzed for blood glucose, lactate, insulin and cortisol. Significant differences were observed in relation to blood glucose levels between MALT and PLA in the post-competition phase. There was also a significant difference in the lactate levels observed between MALT and PLA during the competition phase. Similarly, a significant difference in the cortisol concentrations during and after the competition phases (MALT and PLA) were observed. We conclude that maltodextrin supplementation appears to be beneficial during short terrestrial duathlon competition as evidenced by biochemical markers

Catheter Related Bloodstream Infection (CR-BSI) in ICU Patients: Making the Decision to Remove or Not to Remove the Central Venous Catheter

Background Approximately 150 million central venous catheters (CVC) are used each year in the United States. Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSI) are one of the most important complications of the central venous catheters (CVCs). Our objective was to compare the in-hospital mortality when the catheter is removed or not removed in patients with CR-BSI. Methods We reviewed all episodes of CR-BSI that occurred in our intensive care unit (ICU) from January 2000 to December 2008. The standard method was defined as a patient with a CVC and at least one positive blood culture obtained from a peripheral vein and a positive semi quantitative (\u3e15 CFU) culture of a catheter segment from where the same organism was isolated. The conservative method was defined as a patient with a CVC and at least one positive blood culture obtained from a peripheral vein and one of the following: (1) differential time period of CVC culture versus peripheral culture positivity of more than 2 hours, or (2) simultaneous quantitative blood culture with 5:1 ratio (CVC versus peripheral). Results 53 CR-BSI (37 diagnosed by the standard method and 16 by the conservative method) were diagnosed during the study period. There was a no statistically significant difference in the in-hospital mortality for the standard versus the conservative method (57% vs. 75%, p = 0.208) in ICU patients. Conclusion In our study there was a no statistically significant difference between the standard and conservative methods in-hospital mortality