Shedding of host autophagic proteins from the parasitophorous vacuolar membrane of Plasmodium berghei

The hepatic stage of the malaria parasite Plasmodium is accompanied by an autophagy-mediated host response directly targeting the parasitophorous vacuolar membrane (PVM) harbouring the parasite. Removal of the PVM-associated autophagic proteins such as ubiquitin, p62, and LC3 correlates with parasite survival. Yet, it is unclear how Plasmodium avoids the deleterious effects of selective autophagy. Here we show that parasites trap host autophagic factors in the tubovesicular network (TVN), an expansion of the PVM into the host cytoplasm. In proliferating parasites, PVM-associated LC3 becomes immediately redirected into the TVN, where it accumulates distally from the parasite's replicative centre. Finally, the host factors are shed as vesicles into the host cytoplasm. This strategy may enable the parasite to balance the benefits of the enhanced host catabolic activity with the risk of being eliminated by the cell's cytosolic immune defence

Revision of the genus Megalastrum (Dryopteridaceae) for Argentina

So far the information about the genus Megalastrum (Dryopteridaceae) for Argentina is fragmented and incomplete. A revision of Megalastrum in Argentina is here presented; it is represented by six species: M. adenopteris, M. ciliatum, M. connexum, M. crenulans, M. fugaceum, and M. spectabile. A key to the species is provided, plus descriptions, notes on distribution and habitat, as well as illustrations of diagnostic characters for each taxon. Megalastrum crenulans and M. spectabile are lectotypified. The species occur primarily in the Argentinean forests, with a disjunct distribution, three species grow in the north-western Yungas, two species grow in the Parana forest, and one species grows in the Valdivian temperate rain forest. Megalastrum pulverulentum and M. subincisum are excluded from the Argentinean flora.La información referente al género Megalastrum (Dryopteridaceae) para la Argentina es hasta ahora fragmentaria e incompleta. Se presenta aquí una revisión de Megalastrum en Argentina, el cual está representado por seis especies: M. adenopteris, M. ciliatum, M. connexum, M. crenulans, M. fugaceum y M. spectabile. Se provee una clave para las especies, junto con descripciones, notas sobre la distribución y el hábitat, y se incluyen ilustraciones de los caracteres diagnósticos para cada taxón. Se lectotipifican Megalastrum crenulans y M. spectabile. Las especies habitan primariamente en las selvas de Argentina, con una distribución disyunta, tres especies crecen en las Yungas del noroeste, dos especies crecen en la selva Paranaense y una especie crece en la selva Valdiviana templada. Megalastrum pulverulentum y M. subincisum son excluidas de la flora Argentina.Fil: Arana, Marcelo Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Prado, Jefferson. Jardim Botânico de São Paulo. Instituto de Botânica; BrasilFil: Ponce, Marta Monica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. Academia Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion; Argentin

Understanding and Preventing Falls: Perspectives of First Responders and Older Adults

OBJECTIVE. The objectives of this study were to identify characteristics of older adult fallers in a local community in Marin County, California, examine the perceptions of older adults who contacted a local fire district after a fall, examine the perceptions of first responders from a local fire district regarding falls and fall prevention, explore the degree of depression in older adult fallers, and identify strategies to prevent falls in older adults. METHODS. This research study was an exploratory and retrospective descriptive study that utilized a mixed-method design. The researchers coded narratives from Patient Care Report (PCRs) provided by the fire district and also quantitatively analyzed PCRs to identify characteristics of older adult fallers. Researchers also qualitatively analyzed data gathered from focus groups with older adults and first responders and from phone interviews with community-dwelling older adults to understand their experiences regarding falls and fall prevention. RESULTS. Findings revealed that the majority of fallers were female, at an average age of 81 years old, living at home and alone during the fall. Older adult participants associated falls with negative emotions and expressed a strong desire to maintain their independence despite experiencing falls and fall injuries. First responder participants experienced challenges when communicating with older adult fallers due to cognitive and psychosocial factors. The lack of coordination of services with care facility staff also posed a challenge for first responder participants. CONCLUSION. As the older adult population increases, more older adults will fall and require emergency care from first responders. A collaboration between first responders and occupational therapists to develop and implement effective fall prevention programs for the community can potentially reduce falls and fall-related injuries and costs and improve the health and well-being of older adults

Maintenance Energy Requirements, Postpartum Reproduction, and Ruminal Temperature at Parturition and Estrus of Beef Cows

Angus x Hereford cows were used to determine the effects of postpartum weight gain (WG) and treatment with bovine somatotropin (bST) on concentrations of hormones in plasma and calf growth. Cows were assigned to a 2 x 2 factorial: WG, to gain either 0.4 kg/d until d 59 post partum. Cows were injected with bST (250 mg) or saline on d 31 and 45 after calving. Variation in maintenance energy requirement (MR) was determined in nonlactating, pregnant Angus x Hereford cows in feeding trials in each of 3 yr. Cows were classified based on MR as low (> 0.5 SD less than mean, L), moderate (± 0.5 SD of mean) or high (> 0.5 SD more than mean, H). Relationships among MR and calf performance, plasma concentrations of IGF-I, T4, glucose, insulin and ruminal temperature were determined in yr 2; description of the proteome and evaluation of protein abundance in Longissimus dorsi (LM) of cows with different MR were evaluated in yr 2 and 3; and the relationship of ruminal temperature with parturition and estrus was evaluated. Proteins from LM were separated separate by 2D-DIGE and abundance was quantified and compared. Rumen boluses were placed in the rumen of the cows to measure ruminal temperature (every 15 min) around parturition and estrus.Findings and Conclusions: Weight gain influenced plasma concentrations of IGF-I and glucose after treatment of cows with bST. However, treatment did not influence reproduction of the cows. Weight gain and bST treatment of the dam increases calf growth. The greatest differences in MR within year for all cows ranged from 24 to 29%. Birth and weaning weights of calves, postpartum BW and BCS of cows, resumption of luteal activity, plasma concentrations of hormones, and ruminal temperature of cows were not influenced by MR. However, concentrations of IGF-I in plasma were negatively correlated with MR at 2 mo post partum. Protein abundance tended to be greater in H for cofilin-2 compared with L cows. Ruminal temperature decreased 1 d before parturition and increased during estrus. Increase efficiency in the cow-calf segment of the beef industry is feasible. These results, the novel description of the proteome of LM in beef cows and the protocol developed to separate the proteins, provide important information for future research. Weaning heavier calves using similar resources, or weaning similar weight calves using less feed, will improve efficiency of beef cattle production and enhance sustainability of the environment.Department of Animal Scienc

Reconstruindo a cidadania: Módulo Pintura Imobiliária e Moveleira

Anais do 35º Seminário de Extensão Universitária da Região Sul - Área temática: Tecnologia e ProduçãoUma das características do segmento da construção civil é empregar pessoas com baixo nível de escolaridade e de capacitação, possibilitando um rápido acesso ao trabalho de mão de obra, muitas vezes não qualificada. O objetivo do Projeto Reconstruindo a Cidadania é promover preparação e a capacitação, para as pessoas em vulnerabilidade social e/ou trabalhadores na construção civil, nas categorias profissionais pertinentes às equipes de obras, proporcionando oportunidades de integração e compreensão do ambiente de trabalho, para melhor inserção no meio social e do trabalho. O Módulo, intitulado Pintura Imobiliária e Moveleira, promove a capacitação para as atividades de pintura imobiliária e moveleir

Congruencia del pensamiento complejo de Edgar Morín en la metodología de la educación a distancia

El filósofo francés Edgar Morín propone estudiar la verdad a través del pensamiento complejo. Este es un abordaje al conocimiento que apoya el uso de múltiples perspectivas o enfoques y niega la fragmentación del objeto durante su estudio. Por ello, este documento escribe desde la visión filosófica como el pensamiento complejo es especialmente útil en la educación a distancia porque fomenta convivir con la incertidumbre y la inestabilidad del mundo de hoy

Striatal Acetylcholine Helps to Preserve Functional Outcomes in a Mouse Model of Stroke

Acetylcholine (ACh) has been suggested to facilitate plasticity and improve functional recovery after different types of brain lesions. Interestingly, numerous studies have shown that striatal cholinergic interneurons are relatively resistant to acute ischemic insults, but whether ACh released by these neurons enhances functional recovery after stroke is unknown. We investigated the role of endogenous striatal ACh in stroke lesion volume and functional outcomes following middle cerebral artery occlusion to induce focal ischemia in striatum-selective vesicular acetylcholine transporter-deficient mice (stVAChT-KO). As transporter expression is almost completely eliminated in the striatum of stVAChT-KO mice, ACh release is nearly abolished in this area. Conversely, in other brain areas, VAChT expression and ACh release are preserved. Our results demonstrate a larger infarct size after ischemic insult in stVAChT-KO mice, with more pronounced functional impairments and increased mortality than in littermate controls. These changes are associated with increased activation of GSK-3, decreased levels of β-catenin, and a higher permeability of the blood–brain barrier in mice with loss of VAChT in striatum neurons. These results support a framework in which endogenous ACh secretion originating from cholinergic interneurons in the striatum helps to protect brain tissue against ischemia-induced damage and facilitates brain recovery by supporting blood–brain barrier function

Engaging with First Responders to Prevent Falls in Older Adults

In order to further explore the circumstances of falls in the City of Novato’s older adults age 60 and over Novato Fire Protection District (NFPD) partnered with Dominican University Occupational Therapy Department to conduct a study with the support of County of Marin Mental Health Services Act funds. The following were the goals of this study: Identify fall risk factors in community-dwelling older adults. Understand the experiences of older adults who have fallen. Determine whether there is a relationship between falls and depression in older adults. Examine first responder experiences with fall-related calls in older adults. Identify approaches to prevent falls in older adults. Data sources included Patient Care Reports (PCRs) completed by EMS first responders with narratives coded by the researchers, two focus groups conducted with older adults living in adult care facilities, telephone interviews with four older adults residing at home in the community and a focus group with NFPD first responders

Centro de formación y difusión de las Artes Escénicas en el distrito de Los Olivos, Lima

El rol de las artes escénicas en nuestro país ha permitido que muchas tradiciones culturales sigan vigentes hasta la actualidad, desarrollando actividades artísticas y culturales como carnavales, desfiles, etc. Sin embargo, algunos distritos de Lima Metropolitana poseen escasos equipamientos culturales y de formación artística; y es así que, en Lima Norte, muchas agrupaciones artísticas y jóvenes han tenido que optar por invadir espacios públicos importantes frente a la carencia de estos equipamientos. Por lo tanto, el proyecto arquitectónico tiene el objetivo de desarrollar un Centro de Formación y Difusión de Artes Escénicas en el distrito de Los Olivos, para cumplir con la necesidad del desarrollo de actividades culturales y artísticas en ambientes adecuados que la población del distrito busca realizar. Para ello, mediante las técnicas de la documentación y observación se analizó la zona de estudio, los aportes y deficiencias de los equipamientos nacionales del mismo carácter; por último, se estudiaron las normativas vigentes. Teniendo como resultado la necesidad de implementar un equipamiento de carácter cultural, artístico y educativo en un distrito donde los jóvenes son el mayor porcentaje de su población; y sirva como aporte a las futuras investigaciones frente a los pocos referentes nacionales sobre equipamientos de este carácter. Por lo tanto, el proyecto arquitectónico cumple condiciones adecuadas para el desarrollo de actividades culturales y de formación artística, diseñado bajo el concepto de la permeabilidad aplicada en la arquitectura y tomando en cuenta las reglamentos y requisitos exigidos para el diseño de equipamientos de este carácter

Forebrain Deletion of the Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter Results in Deficits in Executive Function, Metabolic, and RNA Splicing Abnormalities in the Prefrontal Cortex

One of the key brain regions in cognitive processing and executive function is the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which receives cholinergic input from basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. We evaluated the contribution of synaptically released acetylcholine (ACh) to executive function by genetically targeting the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) in the mouse forebrain. Executive function was assessed using a pairwise visual discrimination paradigm and the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRT). In the pairwise test, VAChT-deficient mice were able to learn, but were impaired in reversal learning, suggesting that these mice present cognitive inflexibility. Interestingly, VAChT-targeted mice took longer to reach criteria in the 5-CSRT. Although their performance was indistinguishable from that of control mice during low attentional demand, increased attentional demand revealed striking deficits in VAChT-deleted mice. Galantamine, a cholinesterase inhibitor used in Alzheimer\u27s disease, significantly improved the performance of control mice, but not of VAChT-deficient mice on the 5-CSRT. In vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed altered levels of two neurochemical markers of neuronal function, taurine and lactate, suggesting altered PFC metabolism in VAChT-deficient mice. The PFC of these mice displayed a drastic reduction in the splicing factor heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 (hnRNPA2/B1), whose cholinergic-mediated reduction was previously demonstrated in Alzheimer\u27s disease. Consequently, several key hnRNPA2/B1 target transcripts involved in neuronal function present changes in alternative splicing in VAChT-deficient mice, including pyruvate kinase M, a key enzyme involved in lactate metabolism. We propose that VAChT-targeted mice can be used to model and to dissect the neurochemical basis of executive abnormalities