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Abstract Symphysodon discus is known in the world of aquariums for its market value, beauty, and behavior. However, more substantial information about its physiology and biology must be available, which can hinder its development and maintenance in breeding systems. The study evaluated the blood biochemistry and erythrogram of 20 specimens of S. discus captured in the municipality of Barcelos, Amazonas, with an average weight of 89.80 ± 7.13 g and an average length of 13.48 ± 0.55 cm. The erythrogram evaluated variables such as hematocrit (Ht), hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell count (RBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Blood biochemistry was analyzed, including cholesterol levels, total proteins, triglycerides, glucose, urea, and chlorides. Intra-specific variations were observed between the surveyed individuals about the Hb, MCV, and MCH values. The values of triglycerides, cholesterol, and chlorides were elevated compared to other cichlids. This study may be useful to serve as a parameter to indicate the normal health conditions of this Amazonian cichlid. It can be applied in studies for ornamental fish farming and actions for managing and conserving the species.

The consumer fishing operation can be engaged in fishing problems in consumer health, so the present work as structural conditions and manipulation of the municipal fair of Manaus. Observations were made at three Centro, Santo Antônio and Betânia district fairs. Note that the hygienic and sanitary conditions of the workers are precarious; in one of the fairs, it was possible to verify the protective equipment such as gloves, caps, the presence of animals near the window where the fish is exposed for sale, styrofoam boxes used for the storage in an inappropriate state, dirty and the company of parcels with fish on the floor without any secondary packaging for protection. Therefore, it is concluded that it is necessary to train users on the dangers that can affect the lack of adequate handling of the consumer's health, which may interfere directly with the local fishing sector.

Abstract Fish processing provides waste of around 50.0% to 70.0% of the animal's initial weight, especially the skin. Thus, this residue contains the by-product that allows biopolymers to be obtained, highlighting collagen, which can be widely used in different areas. The present study aimed to evaluate the yield of collagen extracted from peacock bass Cichla monoculus skin and to characterize them physicochemically. Twenty-five peacock bass with an average weight of 646 ± 175 g were used. The skin samples were removed by manual filleting and weighed, with an average yield of 3.7%. Subsequently, such models were analyzed for chemical composition, showing 61.8% for moisture, 29.3% for crude protein, 1.5% for ash, 6.3% for total lipids, and 1.2% for non-nitrogenous extract (NNE). Acid-soluble collagen (ASC) presented an average yield of 8.2%, presenting in its analysis of centesimal composition 12.5% of moisture, 82.6% of crude protein, 1.1% of ash, 2.6% of total lipids, and 1.2% NNE. The skin and collagen extracted from the tucunaré skin have technological potential for use in the preparation of products, adding value to these by-products from fish processing.

Abstract The environmental impacts caused by fish farming can lead to changes in aquatic ecosystems, especially in fish communities. In this study, we investigated possible changes in water quality, in the number of species and individuals of the same species caused by the construction of fish nurseries in dammed Amazonian streams. For this purpose, four streams located in the municipalities of Novo Airão and Presidente Figueiredo were selected. Samples were collected in streams without fish farming and in streams with stretches used for fish farming, where collections took place both downstream and upstream. The fish were captured, identified, quantified and the water was collected for physical and chemical analyses, in addition to the environmental characterization that was carried out. Comparisons were made using fish richness and abundance indices between the sampled points and correspondence analysis of the species identified at the collection sites, using the Mantel test and principal component analysis (PCA) for the environmental characteristics of the water and variables physical and chemical, and permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) to verify the possible effects of species composition on the sampled conditions and on the analyzed environmental variables. In total, 2,302 fish belonging to 53 species, 15 families and six orders were found. We conclude that the Amazonian streams dammed for fish farming, under the analyzed conditions, can be characterized as environments with different and specific levels of richness and abundance, however, the data set analyzed in this study did not show that these characteristics are directly related to productive activity. We recommend that further studies be carried out following the current research.

Abstract The tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) is a fish of primary importance in South American aquaculture, principally in the Amazon region and has a particularly unique diet in the wild. Oryza spp, or Wild rice as it is commonly known, is native to the floodplains of muddy rivers in the Amazon region. The aim of this study was to analyze the physical performance and the effects of dietary levels of Oryza spp. via the hematological parameters, total food intake, conversion efficiency, growth ratio and swimming performance of this fish. Diets containing 45% Oryza spp. induced the best performance in tambaqui. Diets containing 15% and 30% did not affect these indices, thus indicating that this amount of Oryza can be used as an alternative energy source for this important species within Brazilian aquaculture.

Abstract The Negro river basin is considered the largest area of extractive of ornamental fish in Brazil. This area has fundamental importance for the populations from the Amazon. The present study aimed to describe socioeconomic profile of ornamental fishermen known as “piabeiros” in the Municipality of Barcelos, as well as the ornamental fishery, fisheries area, target species, environments, fishing techniques, equipment, capture techniques and main difficulties faced by the current activity. This study was carried out in municipality of Barcelos, through semi - structured interviews, with artisanal ornamental fishermen (N= 89). The main families of ornamental fish caught and traded were: Characidae, Lebiasinidae, Gasteropelecidae, Cichilidae, Anostomidae, Loricaridae, Potamotrygonidae and Gymnotidae. The main catchment areas were igarapés, lakes, flooded fields, beaches, river banks and igapó forest. Rapiché was the most used equipment in the fisheries both by the fishermen of the urban areas (43.81%) and rural (41.89%). Most of the fishermen are associated with the colony of fishermen of Barcelos (Z33). The data showed that the dynamics of ornamental fishing have changed in a short time and directly affected fishermen, in addition to the low age renewal with the participation of younger fishermen, threatening the transmission of ecological knowledge to future generations. As a result, the increase of the problems related to the productive chain and absence of public power to the activity, since ornamental fishing has already been treated as one of the main economic activities more important for the local communities and for the State of Amazonas.

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the properties of garlic as a growth promoter in larvae of angelfish Pterophyllum scalare and its benefits during transport of juveniles of this species. The experiment was conducted in recirculation aquaculture system, consisting of 20 tanks of 40 L equipped with independent water input and output. We used 1,400 larvae distributed among five treatments, with four repetitions, which totaled 20 experimental units. The treatments were 0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg of garlic extract per kilo of feed. The results showed that the inclusion of levels of garlic extract in the feed did not significantly effect the fish’s development or their transport. Neither did the inclusion of levels of garlic extract affect the survival of the larvae during the trial period. New research with extracts of higher dosages should be performed to elucidate the effect of garlic extract as a growth promoter.

Abstract The present study objectified to evaluate the trophic relationships and the possible aggressive mimicry involving Carnegiella strigata, Carnegiella marthae and Gnathocharax steindachneri, in lowland forest streams. Samplings occurred in November 2002, March and August 2003 in Amanã Sustainable Development Reserve (ASDR). The total of 943 fish was caught, being 79.43% of C. marthae, 3.18% of C. strigata and 17.39% of G. steindachneri. Stomach contents, degree of stomach repletion, relative volume and frequency of occurrence of food items were evaluated. Thirteen food items were identified, and the presence of terrestrial and aquatic insects indicates the high dependence of these species and the flooded forest. Low feeding overlap was observed between Carnegiella strigata and C. marthae compared to Gnathocharax steindachneri. However, the overlap between the two Carnegiella species was relatively high, which could explain the low frequency of syntopic occurrence among these species, suggesting a possible case of competitive exclusion.

Abstract Three experiments were done with different particle sizes of corn feed on its zootechnical performance, passing rate and apparent digestibility of juvenile tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum). In the first, 200 juveniles were used and distributed in 20 tanks (220 L), 10 fish per unit (four replicates). The experimental system used to record passage time was composed of five incubators with 200 L. In the second, 75 juveniles were used per 55 days (three replications). In the third, 75 juveniles were used and distributed in five incubators of 200 L. All experiments were performed randomly. Different linear behavior treatments were observed for apparent digestibility of crude protein; and the smaller particle size (150 μm) had better results digestibility. smaller particle size of the corn had better results, affected the growth performance of tambaqui and the apparent digestibility of crude protein and ether extract. Thus, is recommended that a particle size of 150 μm of corn be used for tambaqui.

Abstract The physiological responses of juvenile tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) fed commercial feed supplemented with different concentrations of camu camu (Myrciaria dubia) were evaluated. The design was completely randomized, with treatments arranged in a factorial design with three proportions of camu camu (15%, 30% and 45%) and a control treatment (100% commercial diet), with four replicates per treatment. A total of 96 tambaqui specimens were used, with a mean initial weight of 11.69 ± 2.68 g and a mean length of 7.06 ± 0.44 cm. After 30 days, hematological parameters, metabolic variables, growth and fish swimming performance were evaluated. The different proportions of camu camu in the diet did not cause significant changes to the tambaqui's hematological parameters during the feeding period, except for hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) after the 30th day, and hematocrit (Ht) after the swimming stress test, which increased significantly (p < 0.05). The significant increases in metabolic variables, such as cortisol, glucose, proteins and triglycerides, and in hematologic variables after the Ucrit test reflect, respectively, biochemical adaptations for maintenance of the energy mobilization process and a regulatory necessity in tissue oxygen demand during intense exercise. Fish fed 15% and 30% camu camu gained the most weight and achieved the best swimming performance, respectively. The results for camu camu concentrations above 30% suggest a saturation of its intrinsic properties in the diet at this level and a loss of nutrients from the commercial feed replaced by the fruit, reducing productive performance and nutritional assimilation.

Abstract The objective of this study was to characterize and compare the hematological variables (erythrogram, thrombogram, leukogram and plasma metabolites) of three cichlid species: Cichla monoculus, Cichla temensis and Cichla vazzoleri. A total of 45 specimens were captured in Balbina lake, Presidente Figueiredo, Amazonas, Brazil, with the aid of a rod and reel or hand line, with natural or artificial bait: 15 C. monoculus, 15 C. temensis and 15 C. vazzoleri. Their blood was removed by means of caudal puncture of the dorsal aorta, and hematological data were determined in accordance with methodology previously described in the literature. The erythrogram showed similarities between the species, while the thrombogram showed differences between C. vazzoleri and the other species studied (C. monoculus and C. temensis). The total leukocyte counts for C. temensis and C. vazzoleri were higher than those of C. monoculus. The predominant leukocyte in C. temensis and C. vazzoleri was lymphocytes, whereas it was monocytes in C. monoculus. The plasma metabolites showed differences between the three cichlid species, regarding their glucose, cholesterol, urea and potassium levels. It is concluded that these three species present hematological differentiation, thus indicating that they have differentiated blood-cell immune responses and plasma metabolite physiology.

Abstract The objective of this study was to compare and correlate the ecology of neonates and young individuals of Potamotrygon wallacei, Potamotrygon motoro and Paratrygon aiereba with regard to their hematological profile and the physicochemical parameters of the water that they inhabit. Principal component analysis (PCA) on the complete blood count revealed total variation of 72.92%, thus demonstrating a differentiation system for oxygen demand. On the other hand, P. motoro was considered to be an intermediate species, given that its complete blood count characteristics interacted with both P. wallacei and with P. aiereba. The interaction among the biochemical variables was shown to total 64.67% of the factors. This allowed differentiation of P. wallacei from P. aiereba, while P. motoro maintained an intermediate position. These characteristics of differentiation within the preferred environment corroborate the PCA of the present study and confirm that these species can be differentiated through considering the complete blood count and biochemical parameters. The PCA on water properties showed 68.57% differentiation, mainly comprising the x axis (49.44%). It can be affirmed that P. motoro has the capacity to inhabit the preferential areas of P. wallacei and P. aiereba, as well as occupying localities in which other stingrays are not found. In conclusion, P. wallacei presents patterns differentiating it from P. aiereba, while P. motoro is a species that presents intermediate characteristics. The latter can be considered to be a more broadly distributed species regarding its ecophysiological characteristics.

Abstract Intraerythrocytic parasites are frequently found in fish, including elasmobranchs. The Amazonian rivers present well defined annual hydrological cycles that results in drastic modifications of the environmental conditions with deep implications in the life cycle of the whole associated biota in those fluvial systems. The freshwater stingray Potamotrygon wallacei (stingray cururu) is a new species restricted to the Middle Rio Negro basin and it is subject to strong alterations in their natural habitats (igapós) a result of the constant variations in the water level of Rio Negro. This work demonstrates the occurrence of intraerythrocytic parasite Cyrilia sp. in this stingray species. Additionally, the prevalence and quantification of hemoparasites in different phases of Rio Negro were also established. Field sampling was carried in the Archipelago of Mariuá, Middle Rio Negro, involving different stages of the water cycle. The intraerythrocytic parasites were quantified by direct counting in blood smears using a total counting of 2000 erythrocytes in each blood smear. The presence of parasites intraerythrocytic generates changes in the morphology of blood cell. The largest amount of the hemoparasites was recorded in the drought period. We observed a decreasing tendency in the number of parasites in the blood between the drought periods and inundation. We concluded that the level of Negro River influences the incidence of intraerythrocytic parasites in the cururu stingray and the drought represents the period of larger susceptibility to the infestation.

This study investigated the pattern distribution of fires in the Brazilian Amazon and their relationship with deforested areas from 2003 to 2022. The primary objective was to analyze fire spots’ spatial and temporal variation. First, we examine whether open vegetation (non-forest areas) in the Amazon exhibit a higher density of fire spots than forested areas. Second, we analyze how the density of fire spots in deforested areas varies with the time elapsed since deforestation. Using recent fire monitoring data and satellite imagery, the study employed statistical techniques to reveal significant patterns and trends. Our findings indicate that fire spot density is associated with deforestation in forested lands; however, this relationship does not hold for non-forest ecosystems. Fire spots are more frequent in years with higher deforestation rates, exhibiting similar trends in both forested and non-forested areas. Nevertheless, fire spot density is generally higher in originally forested lands subjected to anthropogenic activities compared to non-forest areas experiencing similar disturbances. In contrast, fires are more common in non-forest ecosystems with minimal or no disturbance compared to forested areas. Additionally, we observe variations in fire spot density over time in deforested areas, with higher densities occurring in the year the forest was cleared. In non-forest vegetation, the frequency of fires is similar in natural and anthropized areas, but both are lower compared to areas where vegetation has been recently suppressed. This study enhances our understanding of the environmental impacts of deforestation and provides valuable insights for formulating management and conservation policies in the Amazon.

Abstract The World Health Organization (WHO) declared an international state of emergency in order to contain the rapid spread of COVID-19. To ensure that there is adherence to preventive measures by the population aimed at controlling the pandemic in Alagoas, it is expected that knowledge, behavior and practices play an important role in preventing and controlling the disease. In this sense, it becomes relevant to understand the knowledge of the population about the disease. To evaluate the knowledge, behavior and practices of social media users during social isolation to prevent the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 in the state of Alagoas, Northeast, Brazil. A probabilistic sample was carried out across the entire territory of the state of Alagoas with those who have access to a device that accesses the internet and a cross-sectional study was carried out using an online questionnaire applied to a convenience sample, recruited between August 2021 and July 2022 by snowball sampling. The questionnaire consisted of seven sessions, the first collecting data on the socioeconomic and sociodemographic profile of the participants, and the other sessions involving knowledge, attitudes and practices, including topics related to the vaccination that had to be administered at that time. High popular knowledge about signs and symptoms, means of transmission and risk groups. Low knowledge about seeking health services. Based on the results obtained, information from official channels became relevant to better teach the population in order to reduce the impact of COVID-19.

Objective: Breast cancer is an important topic worldwide, posing morbidity and mortality to women. Considerable efforts have been put in the early recognition of malignancy through different screening methods, such as mammography and ultrasound. The precise localization of infraclinical malignant lesions is key in surgical management and magnetic seeds gather particular interest for this purpose. As with other systems, a need for reintervention may be needed to obtain adequate surgical margins. This work evaluated the relation between the need for surgical reintervention in order to obtain negative margins and geodimensional and histological parameters. The main objective was the identification of parameters significantly associated with reintervention for margin widening. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 198 patients from a single centre was performed. The association between pre-defined geodimensional and histological parameters and the need for margin widening in infraclinical lesions marked with magnetic seed was evaluated. Results: Results showed that reintervention to widen margins was significantly higher in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in the pre-operative biopsy when compared with invasive carcinoma (p = 0.03) in the bivariate analysis. No statistically significant differences were observed between the need for reintervention and lesion size (p = 0.197), breast quadrant location (p = 0.626) and distance of skin to lesion (p = 0.356). Conclusion: This work suggests that a more invasive margin clearance in lesions with a pre-operative DCIS diagnosis might obviate the need for reintervention to obtain negative margins. On the other hand, it is not necessary to be surgically more invasive in larger lesions, deeply located or that are present in a certain quadrant, since there are no significant differences regarding the need for reintervention.

Abstract Here we studied the entire Atlantic Forest hotspot to investigate whether the effect of different environmental predictors depends on the phylogenetic extension and the biogeographical history of different Atlantic Forest sectors. We used occurrence data of 3,183 plant species with arboreal or arborescent habits. We reconstructed climatic stability across 120,000 years using the Random Forest method. Then, we compared the effect of biogeographical history, topographic, and climatic variables on species richness and phylogenetic diversity using Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) models. Niche conservatism drives the strength and direction of environmental correlates with tree diversity, interacting with the biogeographical and phylogenetic extension considered. Low current climate seasonalities were the main drivers of species richness and phylogenetic diversity variation across the Atlantic Forest. Whereas in higher phylogenetic extension, topographic heterogeneity increased the number of tree species independent of the sector, deep-past climate stability favored phylogenetic diversity by increasing relict lineages of distant clades in all forests, but with anomalies in the southern sector. This investigation yields substantial evidence that the response of the northern and southern sectors of the Atlantic Forest to identical environmental conditions diverges significantly, providing compelling support for the imprint of phylogenetic heritage in generating non-linear diversity patterns.

Herpesviruses are significant pathogens of ruminants. In water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis), however, herpesviruses have not been thoroughly studied. Although bubaline alphaherpesvirus 1 (BuAHV1) and bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoAHV1) have already been recovered from water buffaloes, to date, no reports on the occurrence of bovine alphaherpesvirus 5 (BoAHV5) in these animals have been published. Therefore, the aim of this study was to search for BuAHV1, BoAHV1, and BoAHV5 in palatine tonsils of apparently healthy water buffaloes from the Pará state, Northern Brazil. Tissue samples of tonsils (n = 293) were screened by a nested PCR (nPCR) targeting a region of UL44 (gC coding gene), followed by sequencing, to detect and differentiate between the viral types. Viral genome segments were detected in 18 out of 293 (6.1%) of the palatine tonsil samples. Two animals carried genomes of BoAHV1 only, eleven animals carried BoAHV5 genomes only, and four animals carried BuAHV1 only. Another animal had both BoAHV1 and BoAHV5 genomes in its tonsils. No infectious virus could be recovered from any of the samples. The BuAHV1 sequences identified here were more closely related to BuAHV1 genomes identified in India. Phylogenetic analyses suggested a closer relationship between the recovered BoAHV5 and BuAHV1 genomes. Therefore, evidence is provided here to confirm that not only BoAHV1 and BuAHV1, but also BoAHV5, can infect water buffaloes. This report highlights (i) the first detection of BoAHV5 in water buffaloes and (ii) the occurrence of coinfections with BoAHV1 and BoAHV5 in that species. Such findings and the similarity of BoAHV5 to Indian herpesvirus genomes suggest that the origin of type 5 may be linked to recombinations between bovine and bubaline herpesviruses within bubalines, since the scenario for generation of recombinants in buffaloes is potentially present.

Abstract Drosophila melanogaster is undoubtedly one of the most useful model organisms in biology. Initially used in solidifying the principles of heredity, and establishing the basic concepts of population genetics and of the synthetic theory of evolution, it can currently offer scientists much more: the possibility of investigating a plethora of cellular and biological mechanisms, from development and function of the immune system to animal neurogenesis, tumorigenesis and beyond. Extensive resources are available for the community of Drosophila researchers worldwide, including an ever-growing number of mutant, transgenic and genomically-edited lines currently carried by stock centers in North America, Europe and Asia. Here, we provide evidence for the importance of stock centers in sustaining the substantial increase in the output of Drosophila research worldwide in recent decades. We also discuss the challenges that Brazilian Drosophila scientists face to keep their research projects internationally competitive, and argue that difficulties in importing fly lines from international stock centers have significantly stalled the progression of all Drosophila research areas in the country. Establishing a local stock center might be the first step towards building a strong local Drosophila community that will likely contribute to all areas of life sciences research.

Online judges (OJ) are a popular tool to support programming learning. However, one major issue with OJs is that problems are often put together without any associated meta-information that could, for example, be used to help classify problems. This meta-information could be extremely valuable to help users quickly find what types of problems they need most. To face this problem, several OJ administrators have recently begun manually annotating the topics of problems based on computer science-related subjects, such as dynamic programming, graphs, and data structures. Initially, these topics were used to support programming competitions and experienced learners. However, with OJs being increasingly used to support CS1 classes, such topic annotation needs to be extended to suit CS1 learners and instructors. In this work, for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, we propose and validate a predictive model that can automatically detect fine-grained topics of problems based on the CS1 syllabus. After experimenting with many shallow and deep learning models with different word representations based on cutting-edge NLP techniques, our best model is a CNN, achieving an F1-score of 88.9%. We then present how our model can be used for various applications, including (i) facilitating the search process of problems for CS1 learners and instructors and (ii) how it can be integrated into a system to recommend problems in OJs.

Abstract There are many claims that gamification (i.e., using game elements outside games) impact decreases over time (i.e., the novelty effect). Most studies analyzing this effect focused on extrinsic game elements, while fictional and collaborative competition have been recently recommended. Additionally, to the best of our knowledge, no long-term research has been carried out with STEM learners from introductory programming courses (CS1), a context that demands encouraging practice and mitigating motivation throughout the semester. Therefore, the main goal of this work is to better understand how the impact of a gamification design, featuring fictional and competitive-collaborative elements, changes over a 14-week period of time, when applied to CS1 courses taken by STEM students (N = 756). In an ecological setting, we followed a 2x7 quasi-experimental design, where Brazilian STEM students completed assignments in either a gamified or non-gamified version of the same system, which provided the measures (number of attempts, usage time, and system access) to assess user behavior at seven points in time. Results indicate changes in gamification’s impact that appear to follow a U-shaped pattern. Supporting the novelty effect, the gamification’s effect started to decrease after four weeks, decrease that lasted between two to six weeks. Interestingly, the gamification’s impact shifted to an uptrend between six and 10 weeks after the start of the intervention, partially recovering its contribution naturally. Thus, we found empirical evidence supporting that gamification likely suffers from the novelty effect, but also benefits from the familiarization effect, which contributes to an overall positive impact on students. These findings may provide some guidelines to inform practitioners about how long the initial contributions of gamification last, and how long they take to recover after some reduction in benefits. It can also help researchers to realize when to apply/evaluate interventions that use gamification by taking into consideration the novelty effect and, thereby, better understand the real impact of gamification on students’ behavior in the long run.

Abstract This paper presents a compact and planar reconfigurable filtenna for application in Wireless systems. The filtenna is composed of a UWB circular antenna and a filter with two trapezoidal resonators. The filter is integrated on the antenna feed line and has a band-pass frequency response. The filtenna frequency response reconfiguration is achieved by changing the capacitance of a varactor diode, placed between filter resonators; the capacitance varies continuously from 1.32 pF to 4.09 pF according to an applied bias voltage. The varactor capacitance analog variation defines the filtenna frequency of operation, which can be varied from 2.2 GHz to 3.4 GHz with an average bandwidth of 200 MHz, while maintaining the radiation characteristics of the UWB antenna. Simulated and measured filtenna results are shown according to varactor diode bias, demonstrating multiband operation using a compact planar design.

Abstract We assembled new plastomes of 19 species of Mikania and of Ageratina fastigiata, Litothamnus nitidus, and Stevia collina, all belonging to tribe Eupatorieae (Asteraceae). We analyzed the structure and content of the assembled plastomes and used the newly generated sequences to infer phylogenetic relationships and study the effects of different data partitions and inference methods on the topologies. Most phylogenetic studies with plastomes ignore that processes like recombination and biparental inheritance can occur in this organelle, using the whole genome as a single locus. Our study sought to compare this approach with multispecies coalescent methods that assume that different parts of the genome evolve at different rates. We found that the overall gene content, structure, and orientation are very conserved in all plastomes of the studied species. As observed in other Asteraceae, the 22 plastomes assembled here contain two nested inversions in the LSC region. The plastomes show similar length and the same gene content. The two most variable regions within Mikania are rpl32-ndhF and rpl16-rps3, while the three genes with the highest percentage of variable sites are ycf1, rpoA, and psbT. We generated six phylogenetic trees using concatenated maximum likelihood and multispecies coalescent methods and three data partitions: coding and non-coding sequences and both combined. All trees strongly support that the sampled Mikania species form a monophyletic group, which is further subdivided into three clades. The internal relationships within each clade are sensitive to the data partitioning and inference methods employed. The trees resulting from concatenated analysis are more similar among each other than to the correspondent tree generated with the same data partition but a different method. The multispecies coalescent analysis indicate a high level of incongruence between species and gene trees. The lack of resolution and congruence among trees can be explained by the sparse sampling (~ 0.45% of the currently accepted species) and by the low number of informative characters present in the sequences. Our study sheds light into the impact of data partitioning and methods over phylogenetic resolution and brings relevant information for the study of Mikania diversity and evolution, as well as for the Asteraceae family as a whole.

Abstract Background The aims of this study were to determine intra (ILVD) and peritumoral (PLVD) lymphatic vessel density (LVD), and to investigate the relationship of LVD with occult metastasis and prognosis. Methods Eighty-seven oral squamous cell carcinomas, in clinical stages I or II, arising in the tongue or floor of the mouth were stained with podoplanin. Lymphatic vessels were quantified in intra and peritumoral areas by sequential analysis and hot spot evaluation. Associations of the ILVD and PLVD with clinicopathologic parameters were determined by Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test. The 5 and 10-year survival rates were calculated by the Kaplan–Meier and compared using the log-rank test. Results No significant association was observed between ILVD or PLDV and clinicopathologic variables including occult lymph node metastasis, or clinical follow-up. However, ILVD showed a significant association with regional recurrence (p = 0.040). The perineural invasion was associated with PLVD (p = 0.041). Disease-specific (p = 0.044) and disease-free survivals (p = 0.016) had significant association with PLVD. Conclusions The intra or peritumoral lymphatic vessel density had no predictive value for occult lymph node metastasis in the early stages of oral cancer arising in the tongue or floor of mouth.

Predicting student performance as early as possible and analysing to which extent initial student behaviour could lead to failure or success is critical in introductory programming (CS1) courses, for allowing prompt intervention in a move towards alleviating their high failure rate. However, in CS1 performance prediction, there is a serious lack of studies that interpret the predictive model’s decisions. In this sense, we designed a long-term study using very fine-grained log-data of 2056 students, collected from the first two weeks of CS1 courses. We extract features that measure how students deal with deadlines, how they fix errors, how much time they spend programming, and so forth. Subsequently, we construct a predictive model that achieved cutting-edge results with area under the curve (AUC) of.89, and an average accuracy of 81.3%. To allow an effective intervention and to facilitate human-AI collaboration towards prescriptive analytics, we, for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, go a step further than the prediction itself and leverage this field by proposing an approach to explaining our predictive model decisions individually and collectively using a game-theory based framework (SHAP), (Lundberg et al., 2020) that allows interpreting our black-box non-linear model linearly. In other words, we explain the feature effects, clearly by visualising and analysing individual predictions, the overall importance of features, and identification of typical prediction paths. This method can be further applied to other emerging competitive models, as the CS1 prediction field progresses, ensuring transparency of the process for key stakeholders: administrators, teachers, and students.

Thiophenes are heterocyclic compounds containing a five-membered ring with sulphur as the heteroatom. This class of substances has been shown to have several biological activities, including specific anti-proliferative effects against some cancer cell lines. The aim of the present study was to evaluate in vitro possible cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic properties of synthetic thiophenes using cell lines derived from human solid tumours. Different methodologies were employed to assess the cytotoxic effects of the compounds here named SB44, SB83, and SB200 (a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide [MTT] assay, clonogenic assay, and annexin V staining) and to elucidate the chromosomal damage possibly involved in the triggered cell death (micronucleus, comet, and γ-H2AX assays). All tested thiophenes reduced cell survival regardless of the dose and duration of treatment. By contrast, compound SB200 manifested an attractive selectivity index towards the tumour cell lines under study. All the evaluated compounds caused chromosomal damage in vitro in the same way. The results imply that these compounds induce cell death by apoptosis as a consequence of chromosomal damage. Taken together, the data suggest that the thiophenes tested herein are useful prototypes for the development of anti-cancer drugs.

Leishmaniasis is one of the most neglected diseases in modern times, mainly affecting people from developing countries of the tropics, subtropics and the Mediterranean basin, with approximately 350 million people considered at risk of developing this disease. The incidence of human leishmaniasis has increased over the past decades due to failing prevention and therapeutic measures—there are no vaccines and chemotherapy, which is problematic. Acridine derivatives constitute an interesting group of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds associated with numerous bioactivities, with emphasis to their antileishmanial potential. The present work builds on computational studies focusing on a specific enzyme of the parasite, S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMet DC), with several 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-acridines emerging as potential inhibitors, evidencing this scaffold as a promising building block for novel antileishmanial pharmaceuticals. Thus, several 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine derivatives have been synthesized, their activity against Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum promastigotes evaluated and a structure–activity relationship (SAR) study was developed based on the results obtained. Even though the majority of the 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridines evaluated presented high levels of toxicity, the structural information gathered in this work allowed its application with another scaffold (quinoline), leading to the obtention of N1,N12-bis(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)dodecane-1,12-diamine (12) as a promising novel antileishmanial agent (IC50 = 0.60 ± 0.11 μM, EC50 = 11.69 ± 3.96 μM and TI = 19.48).

Background: Neurological and other systemic complications occur in adults with severe COVID-19. Here we describe SARS-CoV-2 infection complicated by neuroinvasion in the post-mortem tissues of a child. Methods: We performed a complete autopsy of a 14-month-old child who died of COVID-19 pneumonitis. Histological sections of multiple organs were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Luxol fast blue staining for myelin and immunohistochemistry were performed in selected areas of the brain. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 was investigated by immunostaining with anti-spike protein antibody and by RT-qPCR. Findings: Lesions included microthrombosis, pulmonary congestion, interstitial oedema, lymphocytic infiltrates, bronchiolar injury, collapsed alveolar spaces, cortical atrophy, and severe neuronal loss. SARS-CoV-2 staining was observed along the apical region of the choroid plexus (ChP) epithelium and in ependymal cells of the lateral ventricle, but was restricted to ChP capillaries and vessels in some regions. SARS-CoV-2 infection of brain tissue was confirmed by RT-qPCR in fragments of the ChP, lateral ventricle, and cortex. Interpretation: Our results show multisystemic histopathological alterations caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection and contribute to knowledge regarding the course of fatal COVID-19 in children. Furthermore, our findings of ChP infection and viral neurotropism suggest that SARS-CoV-2 may invade the central nervous system by blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier disruption. Funding: Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Supporting Research in the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ); the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), in addition to intramural grants from D'Or Institute for Research and Education. Editor's Note: This translation in Portuguese was submitted by the authors and we reproduce it as supplied. It has not been peer reviewed. Our editorial processes have only been applied to the original abstract in English, which should serve as reference for this manuscript. Resumo: Complicações sistêmicas e neurológicas foram descritas em adultos com COVID-19 grave. Neste trabalho, descrevemos a infecção por SARS-CoV-2, incluindo sua neuroinvasão, nos tecidos post-mortem de uma criança. Métodos: Realizamos a autópsia completa de uma criança de 14 meses que morreu de pneumonite por COVID-19. Cortes histológicos de múltiplos órgãos foram corados com Hematoxilina e Eosina. A coloração de Luxol Fast Blue para mielina e imuno-histoquímica foram realizadas em áreas selecionadas do cérebro. A presença de SARS-CoV-2 foi investigada por imunomarcação com anticorpo anti-proteína spike e por RT-qPCR. Achados: As lesões incluíram microtrombose, congestão pulmonar, edema intersticial, infiltrados linfocíticos, lesão bronquiolar, colapso dos espaços alveolares, atrofia cortical e perda neuronal grave. A presença de SARS-CoV-2 foi observada ao longo da região apical do epitélio do plexo coróide (PC) e nas células ependimárias do ventrículo lateral, mas ficou restrita aos capilares e vasos do PC em outras regiões. A infecção do tecido cerebral por SARS-CoV-2 foi confirmada por RT-qPCR em fragmentos do PC, ventrículo lateral e cortex cerebral. Interpretação: Nossos resultados mostram alterações histopatológicas multissistêmicas causadas pela infecção por SARS-CoV-2 e contribuem para ampliar o conhecimento sobre a evolução da COVID-19 fatal em crianças. Além disso, nossos achados sobre a infecção no PC e neurotropismo viral sugerem que o SARS-CoV-2 pode invadir o sistema nervoso central pela ruptura da barreira sangue-líquido cefalorraquidiano. Financiamento: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ); Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPQ) e Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), além de financiamento intramural do Instituto D'Or de Pesquisa e Educação.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which can infect several organs, especially impacting respiratory capacity. Among the extrapulmonary manifestations of COVID-19 is myocardial injury, which is associated with a high risk of mortality. Myocardial injury, caused directly or indirectly by SARS-CoV-2 infection, can be triggered by inflammatory processes that lead to damage to the heart tissue. Since one of the hallmarks of severe COVID-19 is the “cytokine storm”, strategies to control inflammation caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection have been considered. Cannabinoids are known to have anti-inflammatory properties by negatively modulating the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Herein, we investigated the effects of the cannabinoid agonist WIN 55,212-2 (WIN) in human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) infected with SARS-CoV-2. WIN did not modify angiotensin-converting enzyme II protein levels, nor reduced viral infection and replication in hiPSC-CMs. On the other hand, WIN reduced the levels of interleukins six, eight, 18 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) released by infected cells, and attenuated cytotoxic damage measured by the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Our findings suggest that cannabinoids should be further explored as a complementary therapeutic tool for reducing inflammation in COVID-19 patients.

Palisaded encapsulated (solitary circumscribed) neuromas are benign neural tumors, rarely found in oral mucosa. This case reports a 24-year-old man that presented a unique soft nodule at the left side of the tongue. An excisional biopsy was performed under local anesthesia and histopathological examination of the surgical specimen revealed a well circumscribed mass composed of spindled Schwann cells, often aligned and fasciculated, forming occasional nodules embedded in a fibrous stroma. Histopathological analysis showed the presence of positive cells for S-100, EMA, CD57, and collagen IV. Based on clinical and microscopical features, the diagnosis established was of palisaded encapsulated neuroma. This case report aims to discuss the differential diagnosis among palisaded encapsulated neuroma and the other neural tumors that affect the oral mucosa.

Climate change affects the global water cycle and has the potential to alter water availability for food–energy–water production, and for ecosystems services, on regional and local scales. An understanding of these effects is crucial for assessing future water availability, and for the development of sustainable management plans. Here, we investigate the influence of anticipated climate change on water security in the Jaguari Basin, which is the main source of freshwater for 9 million people in the São Paulo metropolitan region (SPMR). First, we calibrate and evaluate a hydrological model using daily observed data, obtaining satisfactory coefficient of determination and Kling–Gupta efficiency values for both periods. To represent possible climate change scenarios up to 2095, we consider two International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) and use an ensemble of future projections generated by 17 general circulation models (GCMs). These data were used to drive the hydrological model to generate projected scenarios of streamflow. We then used indicators of water scarcity and vulnerability to carry out a quantitative analysis of provision probability. Our results indicate that streamflow can be expected to exhibit increased interannual variability, significant increases in flow rate between January and March, and a 2-month extension of the hydrological dry season (currently June to September) until November. The latter includes a more than a 35 % reduction in streamflow during September through November (with a > 50 % reduction in October). Our findings indicate an increased risk of floods and droughts accompanied by an expansion of the basin critical period, and our analysis of the water security indices identifies October and November as the most vulnerable months. Overall, our analysis exposes the fragility of water security in the São Paulo metropolitan region, and provides valuable technical and scientific information that can be used to guide regional plans and strategies to cope with potential future water scarcity.

O uso do bagaço de uva, um coproduto da indústria da viticultura se apresenta como uma alternativa de reduzir custos com alimentação dos ruminantes, auxiliando também o meio ambiente, pois além de dar um destino a este material que é descartado pela indústria, ainda auxilia na redução da produção de metano pelos ruminantes. O objetivo neste trabalho teve por finalidade apresentar resultados físico-químicos de silagens de bagaço de uva, com diferentes variedades de uvas tintas e brancas. O processo de ensilagem foi realizado em microsilos de pvc, o delineamento experimental foi em parcelas subdivididas inteiramente casualizado, onde os silos foram distribuídos em dois tratamentos (uvas brancas e tintas) com três variedades de uvas cada, contendo três repetições, totalizando 18 silos. Avaliou-se a composição bromatológica das silagens de uvas brancas e tintas separadamente. Nas variedades de uvas brancas estudadas, a uva Chardonnay apresentou maiores teores de MS (23,23 %), MO (92,10 %), PB (12,60 %) FDA (43,47 %) e EE (7,02 %) em relação às variedades Gewurztramine e Sauvignon Blanc. No que se refere às variedades tintas, não houve diferença (P

Drosophila melanogaster, like most animal species, displays considerable genetic variation in both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Here we tested whether any of four natural mtDNA variants was able to modify the effect of the phenotypically mild, nuclear tko25t mutation, affecting mitochondrial protein synthesis. When combined with tko25t, the mtDNA from wild strain KSA2 produced pupal lethality, accompanied by the presence of melanotic nodules in L3 larvae. KSA2 mtDNA, which carries a substitution at a conserved residue of cytochrome b that is predicted to be involved in subunit interactions within respiratory complex III, conferred drastically decreased respiratory capacity and complex III activity in the tko25t but not a wild-type nuclear background. The complex III inhibitor antimycin A was able to phenocopy effects of the tko25t mutation in the KSA2 mtDNA background. This is the first report of a lethal, nuclear-mitochondrial interaction within a metazoan species, representing a paradigm for understanding genetic interactions between nuclear and mitochondrial genotype relevant to human health and disease.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for causing Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19), a heterogeneous clinical condition that manifests varying symptom severity according to the demographic profile of the studied population. While many studies have focused on the spread of COVID-19 in large urban centers in Brazil, few have evaluated medium or small cities in the Northeast region. The aims of this study were: (i) to identify risk factors for mortality from SARS-CoV-2 infection, (ii) to evaluate the gene expression patterns of key immune response pathways using nasopharyngeal swabs of COVID-19 patients, and (iii) to identify the circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants in the residents of a medium-sized city in Northeast Brazil. A total of 783 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 between May 2020 and August 2021 were included in this study. Clinical-epidemiological data from patients who died and those who survived were compared. Patients were also retrospectively divided into three groups based on disease severity: asymptomatic, mild, and moderate/severe. Samples were added to a qPCR array for analyses of 84 genes involved with immune response pathways and sequenced using the Oxford Nanopore MinION technology. Having pre-existing comorbidity; being male; having cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values under 22 were identified as risk factors for mortality. Analysis of the expression profiles of inflammatory pathway genes showed that the greater the infection severity, the greater the activation of inflammatory pathways, triggering the cytokine storm and downregulating anti-inflammatory pathways. Viral genome analysis revealed the circulation of multiple lineages, such as B.1, B.1.1.28, Alpha, and Gamma, suggesting that multiple introduction events had occurred over time. This study’s findings help identify the specific strains and increase our understanding of the true state of local health. In addition, our data demonstrate that epidemiological and genomic surveillance together can help formulate public health strategies to guide governmental actions.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was initially described as a viral infection of the respiratory tract. It is now known, however, that several other organs are affected, including the brain. Neurological manifestations such as stroke, encephalitis, and psychiatric conditions have been reported in COVID-19 patients, but the neurotropic potential of the virus is still debated. Herein, we sought to investigate SARS-CoV-2 infection in human neural cells. We demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 infection of neural tissue is non-permissive, however, it can elicit inflammatory response and cell damage. These findings add to the hypothesis that most of the neural damage caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection is due to a systemic inflammation leading to indirect harmful effects on the central nervous system despite the absence of local viral replication.

Introduction COVID-19 is a respiratory disease and its main symptoms are fever, dry cough and difficulty breathing. It spread to several countries, which led the World Health Organization to decree, on March 11, 2020, a pandemic state that deeply affected Brazil. Due to the impossibility of leaving the house, the routine of children with autism was changed. Children in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have a qualitative deficit in social interaction. Clinical and daily observations reinforce several scientific studies that defend the importance of maintaining a routine as stable as possible for people with ASD, without this stability they may become emotionally disorganized, feel discomfort or even irritability. Objectives Investigate the impact caused by social distancing on the development of children and adolescents with autism. Methods An online questionnaire based on the DIR/Floortime basic map of emotional functional capacity development was distributed in Brazil from April to May, 2020. The results were analyzed using SPSS software. Results Results obtained from 122 questionnaires showed that after 30 days of quarantine 20% of children no longer had the characteristic of being able to remain calm and organized for at least 2 minutes; 11% no longer initiates interactions with their parents; 27% demonstrated more protests and anger than before the social distancing; 18% demonstrated more emotions such as anger, fear and intimacy, 28% began to understand their limits and 12% of the children are using greater facial expression during the social distancing. Conclusions This study brings results that can help to understand the processes in a child with autism.

Objective: To evaluate oxygen therapy prescriptions for patients under clinical care admitted to a teaching hospital in Sergipe. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, retrospective and quantitative study, in which the medical records and prescriptions of 28 patients using oxygen (O2) hospitalized between March and June 2021 were evaluated. to the indication of O2 and initial oxygen saturation (SatO2), and the prescriptions regarding the inclusion of O2 in the prescription, target saturation, O2 delivery device and initial flow or initial inspired O2 concentration. After data collection, a panel of experts was formed, composed of a pulmonologist, physical therapists and pharmacists to evaluate the findings and suggest interventions to be carried out. Results: Of the patients evaluated, 89.3% had an indication for oxygen therapy, but 72.4% of the medical records did not present information on initial SatO2. Of the sample analyzed, 53.6% did not have prescribed O2, 75.0% did not have a SatO2 target, 42.9% did not have an O2 delivery device, and 67.9% did not have the initial flow or inspired concentration of oxygen. initial O2. In addition, the nasal catheter was the most prescribed device (85.2%). The panel of experts suggested nine interventions to be carried out, which ranged from training professionals involved in the entire process of using medical oxygen, to modifying the current medical prescription model to meet the necessary requirements for a prescription of adequate oxygen, in order to promote the practice of rational use of oxygen and adjustments in the work process. Conclusion: The study showed that most of the items evaluated in the oxygen prescriptions presented non-compliance with international recommendations. These findings justify carrying out interventions with the care team.

There is increasing evidence that in humans the adaptive immunological system can influence cognitive functions of the brain. We have undertaken a comprehensive immunological analysis of lymphocyte and monocyte populations as well as of HLA molecules expression in a cohort of elderly volunteers (age range, 64–101) differing in their cognitive status. Hereby, we report on the identification of a novel signature in cognitively impaired elderly characterized by: (1) elevated percentages of CD8+ T effector-memory cells expressing high levels of the CD45RA phosphate receptor (Temrahi); (2) high percentages of CD8+ T cells expressing high levels of the CD8β chain (CD8βhi); (3) augmented production of IFNγ by in vitro activated CD4+ T cells. Noteworthy, CD3+CD8+ Temrahi and CD3+CD8βhi cells were associated with impaired cognition. Cytomegalovirus seroprevalence showed that all volunteers studied but one were CMV positive. Finally, we show that some of these phenotypic and functional features are associated with an increased frequency of the HLA-B8 serotype, which belongs to the ancestral haplotype HLA-A1, Cw7, B8, DR3, DQ2, among cognitively impaired volunteers. To our knowledge, this is the first proof in humans linking the amount of cell surface CD45RA and CD8β chain expressed by CD8+ Temra cells, and the amount of IFNγ produced by in vitro activated CD4+ T cells, with impaired cognitive function in the elderly.

α-Amylase has been considered an important therapeutic target for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), decreasing postprandial hyperglycaemia (PPHG). In the present work, a panel of 40 structurally related flavonoids was tested, concerning their ability to inhibit α-amylase activity, using a microanalysis screening system, an inhibitory kinetic analysis and molecular docking calculations. From the obtained results, it was possible to observe that the flavone with a -Cl ion at 3-position of C-ring, an –OH group at 3′- and 4′- positions of B-ring and at 5- and 7- positions of A-ring and the C2 = C3 double bond, was the most active tested flavonoid, through competitive inhibition. In conclusion, some of the tested flavonoids have shown promising inhibition of α-amylase and may be considered as possible alternatives to the modulation of T2DM.

Abstract Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions are a common cause of human mitochondrial diseases. Mutations in the genes encoding components of the mitochondrial replisome, such as DNA polymerase gamma (Pol γ) and the mtDNA helicase Twinkle, have been associated with the accumulation of such deletions and the development of pathological conditions in humans. Recently, we demonstrated that changes in the level of wild-type Twinkle promote mtDNA deletions, which implies that not only mutations in, but also dysregulation of the stoichiometry between the replisome components is potentially pathogenic. The mechanism(s) by which alterations to the replisome function generate mtDNA deletions is(are) currently under debate. It is commonly accepted that stalling of the replication fork at sites likely to form secondary structures precedes the deletion formation. The secondary structural elements can be bypassed by the replication-slippage mechanism. Otherwise, stalling of the replication fork can generate single- and double-strand breaks, which can be repaired through recombination leading to the elimination of segments between the recombination sites. Here, we discuss aberrances of the replisome in the context of the two debated outcomes, and suggest new mechanistic explanations based on replication restart and template switching that could account for all the deletion types reported for patients.

Facial nerve schwannoma (FNS) is an uncommon benign tumor that arises from the Schwann cells of the facial nerve (FN). Although rare, this is the most frequent type of FN tumor, potentially affecting any segment of the nerve. Nevertheless, a higher incidence of intracranial lesions and a predilection for the geniculate ganglion has been reported. Hearing loss, facial paresis and tinnitus are the most frequent symptoms. Conversely, pain, is not among the most prominent complaints and when present, it can be misdiagnosed as an orofacial pain of other source, including pain due to a temporomandibular disorder (TMD). In this paper, we describe a rare case of a patient presenting a FNS located in the intratemporal part and geniculate ganglion of the FN, which was initially masked by the symptoms of a coexistent TMD. It highlights the importance of considering intracranial tumors in the differential diagnosis of orofacial pains. Keywords: Facial nerve schwannoma, Intracranial tumors, Facial paralysis, Orofacial pain, Temporomandibular disorder

Lupine is a legume with the high contents of protein and lipids unsaturated, vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber and thus its nutritional quality has properties beneficial to health. The aims of this study were to produce flours from white lupine grain using different thermal treatments, to chemically characterize them and to compare them to those of raw and pickled lupine grains, as well as to determine their chemical compositions, lipid profiles and contents of anti-nutritional factors. To preparation of lupine flours the heat treatment was applied at 100 °C for 60 min and 150 ºC per 30 min in an oven with circulating air. The moisture, protein, lipid, mineral and dietary-fiber contents of the four lupine products tested were determined. The trypsin-inhibitory activity levels were determined using casein as the substrate. The fatty acid composition were determined by gas chromatography. The results show us the samples had high levels of protein, unsaturated fatty acids, and dietary fiber. Heat treatment did not affect the nutrient content of the grain. However, pickled lupine grains had lower levels of nutrients and minerals and a higher sodium level than those of the other lupine products examined, compromising the nutritional quality of the grain. The analyses conducted in the present study indicate that Lupinus albus grains currently contain alkaloids but due its high nutritional value it is possible to incorporate this legume into the human diet.

Lupine is a legume with the high contents of protein and lipids unsaturated, vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber and thus its nutritional quality has properties beneficial to health. The aims of this study were to produce flours from white lupine grain using different thermal treatments, to chemically characterize them and to compare them to those of raw and pickled lupine grains, as well as to determine their chemical compositions, lipid profiles and contents of anti-nutritional factors. To preparation of lupine flours the heat treatment was applied at 100 °C for 60 min and 150 ºC per 30 min in an oven with circulating air. The moisture, protein, lipid, mineral and dietary-fiber contents of the four lupine products tested were determined. The trypsin-inhibitory activity levels were determined using casein as the substrate. The fatty acid composition were determined by gas chromatography. The results show us the samples had high levels of protein, unsaturated fatty acids, and dietary fiber. Heat treatment did not affect the nutrient content of the grain. However, pickled lupine grains had lower levels of nutrients and minerals and a higher sodium level than those of the other lupine products examined, compromising the nutritional quality of the grain. The analyses conducted in the present study indicate that Lupinus albus grains currently contain alkaloids but due its high nutritional value it is possible to incorporate this legume into the human diet.

Abstract The xenotopic expression of the alternative oxidase AOX from the tunicate Ciona intestinalis in diverse models of human disease partially alleviates the phenotypic effects of mitochondrial respiratory chain defects. AOX is a non-proton pumping, mitochondrial inner membrane-bound, single-subunit enzyme that can bypass electron transport through the cytochrome segment, providing an additional site for ubiquinone reoxidation and oxygen reduction upon respiratory chain overload. We set out to investigate whether AOX expression in Drosophila could counteract the effects of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication defects caused by disturbances in the mtDNA helicase or DNA polymerase γ. We observed that the developmental arrest imposed by either the expression of mutant forms of these enzymes or their knockdown was not rescued by AOX. Considering also the inability of AOX to ameliorate the phenotype of tko 25t , a fly mutant with mitochondrial translation deficiency, we infer that this alternative enzyme may not be applicable to cases of mitochondrial gene expression defects. Finding the limitations of AOX applicability will help establish the parameters for the future putative use of this enzyme in gene therapies for human mitochondrial diseases.

ABSTRACT Laugier-Hunziker syndrome (LHS) is a rare mucocutaneous disorder, of unknown etiology, characterized by multiple hyperpigmented macules, dispersed mostly on the oral mucosa, occasionally associated with longitudinal ridging of the nails. The diagnosis requires exclusion of other conditions, such as Addison's disease and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. We report a case of a 34-year-old male patient, presenting with hyperpigmented macules on the lips, buccal mucosa and palate, as well as mild dark striations on toenails. After careful clinical and laboratorial investigations, the diagnosis of LHS was established. Given the lack of aesthetic complaints and symptoms, no treatment was necessary.

ABSTRACT Actinomycosis is a rare infection caused by bacteria of Actinomyces genus that can affect both soft and bone tissues; it may be associated with trauma or previous infections. This paper aims to report a clinical case of actinomycosis on the lateral border of the tongue originating from a previous trauma with the use of sclerosing substance for treatment of vascular malformation. The patient underwent debridement of necrotic tissue in the region, and the material was sent for histopathological analysis, which confirmed the diagnosis of actinomycosis. After two years of follow-up, no recurrence was detected.