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Invasive plant species (IPS) are often considered weeds that cause high yield losses in crops, negatively affect the environment, and disrupt certain ecosystem services. The negative impact of IPS on biodiversity is increasing and disturbing native vegetation. The management of plant invasions can be divided in two phases (before and after invasion). Prior to introduction it is crucial to develop the knowledge base (biology, ecology, distribution, impact, management) on IPS, prevention measures and risk assessment. After introduction if eradication fails, the monitoring and the integrated management of IPS are imperative to prevent the naturalization and further dispersal. This review uses two major invasive weed species (Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats. and Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav.) as case studies to propose a framework for early detection, rapid herbicide resistance screening, and integrated management. The holistic framework that is presented exploits recent: (i) novel detection tools, (ii) rapid tests and assays for herbicide resistance, and (iii) biology, ecology, distribution traits, and management tools for the IPS. Farmers, advisors, researchers, and policymakers need briefing on IPS growth dynamics, adaptability rates, and response to conventional and novel treatments to prevent new invasions, eradicate isolated stands, and mitigate the impact of invasive weed species in the long term. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

To evaluate the accuracy and repeatability of the Tono-Pen XL™, TonoVet® and TonoVet Plus® tonometers by manometric evaluation, and to establish adjustment equations for intraocular pressure (IOP) estimates in rabbits.Rabbits.A postmortem study was conducted on seven rabbit eyes to verify the correlation between manometry and tonometry with an artificial incremental increase in IOP from 5 and 60 mmHg. A clinical study was conducted to evaluate accuracy and to establish reference values for the species, with measurement of IOP in 17 animals, for 2 consecutive days, with the same tonometers and calibrations used in the postmortem evaluations.There were strong linear trends for all evaluated tonometers. In the in-vivo evaluation, the mean IOP values were: 14.23 ± 1.75 (Tono-Pen XL™); 13.89 ± 2.07 (TonoVet® calibration mode 'd'); 8.88 ± 1.24 (TonoVet calibration mode 'p'); 18.59 ± 1.94 (Tonovet Plus®). There was a significant difference in the two evaluation times for the two TonoVet® calibration modes. The adjustment equations generated from the manometry for the evaluated tonometers were: Y = 0.2570X + 2.219 (Tono-Pen XL™), Y = 0.2289X + 2.389 (TonoVet® 'd'), Y = 0.4043X + 4.062 (TonoVet® 'p'), Y = 0.1233X + 0.3644 (TonoVet Plus®) (X is device-estimated IOP).All evaluated tonometers were well correlated with the manometry, with an underestimation of IOP by all devices. Applying adjustment formulas may compensate for systematic errors. TonoVet Plus® was well tolerated, and showed better repeatability and reliability in successive evaluations.

Hydrogels are very promising human cartilage replacement materials since they are able to mimic its structure and properties. Besides, they can be used as platforms for drug delivery to reduce inflammatory postsurgical reactions. Polycarbonate urethane (PCU) has been used in orthopedic applications due to its long-term biocompatibility and bio-durability. In this work, PCU-based hydrogels with the ability to release an anti-inflammatory (diclofenac) were developed, for the first time, for such purpose. The materials were reinforced with different amounts of cellulose acetate (CA, 10%, 15%, and 25% w/w) or carbon nanotubes (CNT, 1% and 2% w/w) in order to improve their mechanical properties. Samples were characterized in terms of compressive and tensile mechanical behavior. It was found that 15% CA and 2% CNT reinforcement led to the best mechanical properties. Thus, these materials were further characterized in terms of morphology, wettability, and friction coefficient (CoF). Contrarily to CNTs, the addition of CA significantly increased the material's porosity. Both materials became more hydrophilic, and the CoF slightly increased for PCU + 15%CA. The materials were loaded by soaking with diclofenac, and drug release experiments were conducted. PCU, PCU + 15%CA and PCU + 2%CNT presented similar release profiles, being able to ensure a controlled release of DFN for at least 4 days. Finally, in vitro cytotoxicity tests using human chondrocytes were also performed and confirmed a high biocompatibility for the three studied materials.

We introduce a new version of $\psi$-Hilfer fractional derivative, on an arbitrary time scale. The fundamental properties of the new operator are investigated and, in particular, we prove an integration by parts formula. Using the Laplace transform and the obtained integration by parts formula, we then propose a $\psi$-Riemann-Liouville fractional integral on times scales. The applicability of the new operators is illustrated by considering a fractional initial value problem on an arbitrary time scale, for which we prove existence, uniqueness and controllability of solutions in a suitable Banach space. The obtained results are interesting and nontrivial even for particular choices: (i) of the time scale; (ii) of the order of differentiation; and/or (iii) function $\psi$; opening new directions of investigation., Comment: This is a 20 pages preprint of a paper whose final and definite form is published in 'Math. Meth. Appl. Sci.', Online ISSN: 1099-1476

Plant traits are increasingly being used to improve prediction of plant function, including plant demography. However, the capability of plant traits to predict demographic rates remains uncertain, particularly in the context of trees experiencing a changing climate. Here we present data combining 17 plant traits associated with plant structure, metabolism and hydraulic status, with measurements of long‐term mean, maximum and relative growth rates for 176 trees from the world?s longest running tropical forest drought experiment. We demonstrate that plant traits can predict mean annual tree growth rates with moderate explanatory power. However, only combinations of traits associated more directly with plant functional processes, rather than more commonly employed traits like wood density or leaf mass per area, yield the power to predict growth. Critically, we observe a shift from growth being controlled by traits related to carbon cycling (assimilation and respiration) in well‐watered trees, to traits relating to plant hydraulic stress in drought‐stressed trees. We also demonstrate that even with a very comprehensive set of plant traits and growth data on large numbers of tropical trees, considerable uncertainty remains in directly interpreting the mechanisms through which traits influence performance in tropical forests. Made available in DSpace on 2021-01-12T09:05:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 nph.16972-2021.pdf: 1264820 bytes, checksum: 64adf8c9966954ff58dceff8df2c98cf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2021 Publicado Online em 27 set. 2020.

Mortality in Norwegian salmonid aquaculture has a major influence on fish welfare and represents economic losses for producers. We reviewed the estimated monthly mortality for freshwater farms with Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout between 2011 and 2019. We built a regression model for mortality which included the variables year, weight group, season, region and farm. Additionally, we distributed questionnaires to farmers to gather information regarding potential causes of mortalities. The analysis of data for Atlantic salmon showed that median monthly mortality increased from 0.15% in 2011 (interquartile range [IQR]: 0.06-0.39) to 0.25% (IQR: 0.1-0.67) in 2019. Mortality was highest in the North (0.27%, IQR: 0.11-0.72) and lowest in the Southwest region (0.16%, IQR: 0.07-0.4). The season with highest mortality was summer (0.24%, IQR: 0.1-0.64), while winter had the lowest (0.12%, IQR: 0.05-0.35). The smallest fish (3-12 g) showed highest mortality (0.31%, IQR: 0.14-0.69) compared to heavier fish. Results from the questionnaire showed that infectious or non-infectious diseases were the most commonly reported causes of mortality. The mortality patterns described in this study identifies several important risk factors. Highlighting causal links is an important step to reducing mortality and improving welfare in the freshwater production phase of salmonids in Norway.

Background Convalescent plasma (CP) therapy for coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) provides virus‐neutralizing antibodies that may ameliorate the outcome of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infections. The effectiveness of CP likely depends on its antiviral neutralizing potency and is determined using in vitro neutralizing antibody assays. Study design and methods We evaluated abilities of three immunoassays for anti‐spike antibodies (EUROimmun, Ortho, Roche), a pseudotype‐based neutralization assay, and two assays that quantify ACE2 binding of spike protein (GenScript and hemagglutination test [HAT]‐based assay) to predict neutralizing antibody titers in 113 CP donations. Assay outputs were analyzed through linear regression and calculation of sensitivities and specificities by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results Median values of plasma samples containing neutralizing antibodies produced conversion factors for assay unitage of ×6.5 (pseudotype), ×19 (GenScript), ×3.4 (HAT assay), ×0.08 (EUROimmun), ×1.64 (Roche), and ×0.10 (Ortho). All selected assays were sufficient in identifying the high titer donations based on ROC analysis; area over curve ranged from 91.7% for HAT and GenScript assay to 95.6% for pseudotype assay. However, their ability to predict the actual neutralizing antibody levels varied substantially as shown by linear regression correlation values (from 0.27 for Ortho to 0.61 for pseudotype assay). Discussion Overall, the study data demonstrate that all selected assays were effective in identifying donations with high neutralizing antibody levels and are potentially suitable as surrogate assays for donation selection for CP therapy.

This study describes for the first time the purification and characterization of a glucoamylase from Aspergillus wentii (strain PG18), a species of the Aspergillus genus Cremei section. Maximum enzyme production (∼3.5 U/ml) was obtained in submerged culture (72 h) with starch as the carbon source, at 25°C, and with orbital agitation (100 rpm). The enzyme was purified with one-step molecular exclusion chromatography. The 86 kDa purified enzyme hydrolyzed starch in a zymogram and had activity against p-nitrophenyl α- d-glucopyranoside. The optimal enzyme pH and temperature were 5.0 and 60°C (at pH 5.0), respectively. The Tm of the purified enzyme was 60°C, at pH 7.0. The purified glucoamylase had a KM for starch of 1.4 mg/ml and a Vmax of 0.057 mg/min of hydrolyzed starch. Molybdenum activated the purified enzyme, and sodium dodecyl sulfate inhibited it. A thin layer chromatography analysis revealed glucose as the enzyme's main starch hydrolysis product. An enzyme's peptide sequence was obtained by mass spectrometry and used to retrieve a glucoamylase within the annotated genome of A. wentii v1.0. An in silico structural model revealed a N-terminal glycosyl hydrolases family 15 (GH15) domain, which is ligated by a linker to a C-terminal carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) from the CBM20 family.

Nutrient-poor ecosystems globally exhibit high plant diversity. One mechanism enabling the co-existence of species in such ecosystems is facilitation among plants with contrasting nutrient-acquisition strategies. The ecophysiological processes underlying these interactions remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that root positioning plays a role between sympatric species in nutrient-poor vegetation. We investigated how the growth traits of the focal mycorrhizal non-cluster-rooted Hibbertia racemosa change when grown in proximity of non-mycorrhizal Banksia attenuata, which produces cluster roots that increase nutrient availability, compared with growth with conspecifics. Focal plants were placed in the centre of rhizoboxes, and biomass allocation, root system architecture, specific root length (SRL), and leaf nutrient concentration were assessed. When grown with B. attenuata, focal plants decreased root investment, increased root growth towards B. attenuata, and positioned their roots near B. attenuata cluster roots. SRL was greater, and the degree of localized root investment correlated positively with B. attenuata cluster-root biomass. Total nutrient contents in the focal individuals were greater when grown with B. attenuata. Focal plants directed their root growth towards the putatively facilitating neighbour's cluster roots, modifying root traits and investment. Preferential root positioning and root morphological traits play important roles in positive plant-plant interactions.

Understanding how floral traits affect reproduction is key for understanding genetic diversity, speciation, and trait evolution in the face of global changes and pollinator decline. However, there has not yet been a unified framework to characterize the major trade-offs and axes of floral trait variation. Here, we propose the development of a floral economics spectrum (FES) that incorporates the multiple pathways by which floral traits can be shaped by multiple agents of selection acting on multiple flower functions. For example, while pollinator-mediated selection has been considered the primary factor affecting flower evolution, selection by nonpollinator agents can reinforce or oppose pollinator selection, and, therefore, affect floral trait variation. In addition to pollinators, the FES should consider nonpollinator biotic agents and floral physiological costs, broadening the drivers of floral traits beyond pollinators. We discuss how coordinated evolution and trade-offs among floral traits and between floral and vegetative traits may influence the distribution of floral traits across biomes and lineages, thereby influencing organismal evolution and community assembly.

AIM This study evaluated medication poisoning in paediatric patients through a systematic review and a retrospective documentary analysis in a Brazilian toxicological centre. METHODS The data were systematically collected on PubMed, Scopus and SciELO databases following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. We included epidemiologic and prevalence studies that were published in English or Portuguese from 2013 to 2017 and covered paediatric patients. The retrospective incidence study was carried out in a Brazilian toxicological centre and was a documentary analysis of paediatric medication poisoning cases from 2005 to 2015. RESULTS The systematic review comprised 13 papers covering 895 206 poisoning cases from six different countries. The main agents of intoxication were analgesics and antihistamines. The eight papers that explored the reasons for the poisonings showed that 93% of those 762 863 cases were accidental. The Brazilian toxicological centre recorded 443 paediatric patients poisoned by medication such as benzodiazepines, analgesics and antibiotics and found that 63.2% were accidental. However, it agreed with the global findings in many other aspects. CONCLUSION The systematic review showed a sustained number of paediatric medication toxicity cases worldwide and the key findings were broadly reflected by the retrospective study carried out in the Brazilian toxicological centre.

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-12T01:38:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-09-01 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Background: The aim of this study was to apply texture analysis (TA) to cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of patients with grade C periodontitis for detection of non-visible changes in the image. Methods: TA was performed on CBCT scans of 34 patients with grade C periodontitis. Axial sections of CBCT were divided into three groups as follows: Group L (lesion) in which there is a furcal lesion with periodontal bone loss; Group I (intermediate) in which the border of the furcal lesion has normal characteristics; and Group C (control) in which the area is healthy. Eleven texture parameters were extracted from the region of interest. Mann-Whitney U test was used to assess the differences in the texture between the three groups as follows: L versus I; L versus C, and I versus C. Results: Statistically significant differences (P

Flagellin-induced NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis are critical events restricting Legionella pneumophila infection. However, the cellular and molecular dynamics of the in vivo responses against this bacterium are still unclear. We have found temporal coordination of two independent innate immunity pathways in controlling Legionella infection, the inflammasome activation and the CCR2-mediated Mo-DC recruitment. Inflammasome activation was an important player at the early stage of infection by lowering the numbers of bacteria for an efficient bacterial clearance conferred by the Mo-DC at the late stage of the infection. Mo-DC emergence highly depended on CCR2-signaling and dispensed inflammasome activation and pyroptosis. Also, Mo-DC compartment did not rely on the inflammasome machinery to deliver proper immune responses and was the most abundant cytokine-producing among the monocyte-derived cells in the infected lung. Importantly, when the CCR2- and NLRC4-dependent axes of response were simultaneously ablated, we observed an aggravated bacterial burden in the lung of infected mice. Taken together, we showed that inflammasome activation and CCR2-mediated immune response interplay in distinct pathways to restrict pulmonary bacterial infection. These findings extend our understanding of the in vivo integration and cooperation of different innate immunity arms in controlling infectious agents.

Plant growth on harsh substrates (habitat specialization) requires specific traits to cope with stressful conditions. We tested whether traits related to nutrient acquisition (root colonization by fungal symbionts, and plant morphological and physiological specializations), and nutrient use (leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations and N‐ and P‐remobilization efficiency), were related to habitat specialization for 27 species of Velloziaceae growing either in soil or on rocks in extremely P‐impoverished campos rupestres habitats. If habitat specialization were to drive trait sorting, then we expect traits to differ between those substrates. Both soil and rock‐dwelling species presented a very low proportion of root length colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark‐septate fungi. However, rhizosheaths were only observed in soil‐dwelling species, and vellozioid roots, a specialization that allows for mining P and dissolving quartzite rock, were mostly found in rock‐dwelling species. We did not observe differences in nutrient‐use traits between rock‐ and soil‐dwelling species. Root specializations are strongly correlated with microhabitats, and the presence of vellozioid roots seems to mediate bare rock specialization. There is an overall P limitation of plant productivity both on rock and in soil of campos rupestres, which does not drive the sorting of traits related to above‐ground nutrient use and symbiotic P acquisition. Therefore, nutrient impoverishment is indeed a very strong environmental filter in campos rupestres as a whole, but habitat specialization plays an important role in the spatial distribution of Velloziaceae between contrasting substrates.