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Genomic sequencing is essential to track the evolution and spread of SARS-CoV-2, optimize molecular tests, treatments, vaccines, and guide public health responses. To investigate the global SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance, we used sequences shared via GISAID to estimate the impact of sequencing intensity and turnaround times on variant detection in 189 countries. In the first two years of the pandemic, 78% of high-income countries sequenced >0.5% of their COVID-19 cases, while 42% of low- and middle-income countries reached that mark. Around 25% of the genomes from high income countries were submitted within 21 days, a pattern observed in 5% of the genomes from low- and middle-income countries. We found that sequencing around 0.5% of the cases, with a turnaround time

Abstract Forest ecosystems play an important role in mitigating the concentration increase of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere through carbon sequestration by plants and its storage in biomass and soil. The objective was to determine the aerial biomass carbon stock in a dry tropical forest in Brazil. It was developed between 2012 to 2015, in an area with an advanced regeneration stage (50 years) in the semi-arid region of Pernambuco and it was used 40 permanent plots (400 m²) distant 80 m apart, with 50 m from the border, totaling 1.6 ha of the area to sample the shrubby-arboreal component, where all individuals with circumference at breast height (1.30 m of the soil) equal or greater than 6 cm were identified, measured and labeled in 2012 and remeasured in 2015. It was calculated the biomass and carbon stocks through developed equations available in the literature. The results showed that the total biomass and carbon stock in the first year was 27.97 e 12.92 Mg.ha-1 while in 2015 it was 18.49 and 8.39 Mg.ha-1 respectively. The results showed a biomass and carbon stock reduction of more than 30% in the period evaluated, even this, the area manages to present values within the expected pattern for the region, assuring the importance of sustainable forest management of these native/natural vegetation areas.

In this study, the authors provide a global overview of SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing, and estimate the proportion of cases sequenced and time to genome upload. They identify disparities and highlight the need to strengthen surveillance in lower and middle income countries.

Different processing conditions to produce emulsions can modify the dispersion of ingredients, visual aspect, and viscosity, influencing the final product's effectiveness. In this study, a primary sunscreen emulsion was produced by the conventional stirring process and subsequently subjected separately to complementary processing methods. A Box-Behnken 23 factorial design was applied to each complementary processing method: the High-Shear Method (CP-HS) and the High-Pressure Homogenization Method (CP-HPH). The present study aimed to investigate the influence of these complementary processes on particle size distribution (PSD), Zeta potential, pH, rheological properties, in vitro SPF, and photostability. In the CP-HS factorial design, the factors explored at three levels were stirring speed and stirring time, while in the CP-HPH design, the factors varied at three levels of pressure and the number of cycles through the high-pressure homogenizer. Results indicated that both complementary processing methods significantly influenced (p < 0.05) the physicochemical characteristics of the primary sunscreen emulsion, which was applied as the starting point. In CP-HS, the sample subjected to 15,000 rpm for 15 min exhibited the highest in vitro SPF (p < 0.05), with an average value of 42 at T0, while the primary sunscreen emulsion had an SPF of 30. In CP-HPH, a more pronounced reduction and uniformity in PSD among the studied methods were observed (p < 0.05), and the range of data was 0.20–0.34 μm. These results emphasize how different processing methods can influence the final characteristics of an emulsion and where suitable choices can significantly benefit the product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Menopause occurs due to the depletion of the ovarian reserve, leading to a progressive decline in estrogen (E2) levels. This decrease in E2 levels increases the risk of developing several diseases and can coexist with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Arterial hypertension (AH) is another condition associated with menopause and may either contribute to or result from CKD. Ovariectomy (OVX) induces hypoestrogenism, which can lead to mitochondrial bioenergetic dysfunction in the kidneys. Previous studies have suggested that exercise training has beneficial effects on adults with CKD and AH. To investigate the effects of OVX and resistance training (RT) on hemodynamic parameters and mitochondrial bioenergetic function of the kidney, female Wistar rats were divided into ovariectomized (OVX) and intact (INT) groups. These rats were either kept sedentary (SED) or subjected to RT for thirteen weeks. The RT involved climbing a vertical ladder with a workload apparatus. Hemodynamic parameters were assessed via tail plethysmography. Mitochondrial respiratory function was evaluated with high-resolution respirometry. Gene expression related to the electron transport chain (ETC) and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) was evaluated by real-time qPCR. At week 13, key hemodynamic parameters (systolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure) were significantly elevated in the OVX-SED group. Compared with those in the other groups, mitochondrial bioenergetics were impaired in the OVX-SED group. In contrast, the trained groups presented improved mitochondrial bioenergetic function compared with the sedentary groups. OVX led to reduced gene expression related to the mitochondrial ETC and OXPHOS, whereas RT both prevented this reduction and increased gene expression in the trained groups. Our results indicate that hypoestrogenism significantly decreases OXPHOS and ETC capacity in the kidneys of sedentary animals. However, RT effectively increased the expression of genes related to mitochondrial ETC and OXPHOS, thereby counteracting the effects of OVX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Alpha and Iota SARS-CoV-2 variants exhibit up to 50% greater transmissibility compared to other circulating variants in Connecticut in early 2021.

Natural methyl chloride (CH3Cl) and methyl bromide (CH3Br) emissions from coastal marsh ecosystems may constitute a significant proportion of stratospheric chlorine and bromine, which catalyze ozone depletion. Current inventories involve substantial uncertainties associated with upscaling plot-scale footprints (i.e., ≤1 m2). Here we present net ecosystem flux measurements of methyl halides from a brackish tidal marsh on the west coast of the United States between April 2016 and June 2017 using the relaxed eddy accumulation method. The measurement footprint encompasses a large part of the studied tidal marsh, including roughly 20 vascular plant species, open water, and soil surfaces. On the annual scale, ecosystem methyl halide emissions showed the strongest relationships to temperature and the growth cycle of halophyte vegetation, whereas on diurnal time scales, fluxes correlated the most with evapotranspiration. The maximum seasonal emissions occurred during the flowering season of Lepidium latifolium (perennial pepperweed), one of the most abundant halophytes on site. The maximum hourly emissions of 111 μg CH3Cl · m−2 s· hr−1 and 38 μg CH3Br · m−2 · hr−1 were observed during a heat wave in early June. Annually integrated emissions were 135 mg/m2 for CH3Cl and 21 mg/m2 for CH3Br, scaling up to 621 and 96 kg over the entire marsh. We provide a global salt marsh emission inventory that takes into account the spatial distribution of salt marshes in different climate zones, yielding a global salt marsh source of 31 Gg/year CH3Cl (range: 10 to 77) and 3 Gg/year CH3Br (range: 1 to 8).

Despite the considerable advances in the last years, the health information systems for health surveillance still need to overcome some critical issues so that epidemic detection can be performed in real time. For instance, despite the efforts of the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MoH) to make COVID-19 data available during the pandemic, delays due to data entry and data availability posed an additional threat to disease monitoring. Here, we propose a complementary approach by using electronic medical records (EMRs) data collected in real time to generate a system to enable insights from the local health surveillance system personnel. As a proof of concept, we assessed data from São Caetano do Sul City (SCS), São Paulo, Brazil. We used the “fever” term as a sentinel event. Regular expression techniques were applied to detect febrile diseases. Other specific terms such as “malaria,” “dengue,” “Zika,” or any infectious disease were included in the dictionary and mapped to “fever.” Additionally, after “tokenizing,” we assessed the frequencies of most mentioned terms when fever was also mentioned in the patient complaint. The findings allowed us to detect the overlapping outbreaks of both COVID-19 Omicron BA.1 subvariant and Influenza A virus, which were confirmed by our team by analyzing data from private laboratories and another COVID-19 public monitoring system. Timely information generated from EMRs will be a very important tool to the decision-making process as well as research in epidemiology. Quality and security on the data produced is of paramount importance to allow the use by health surveillance systems.

During widespread community transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), transmission chains are sometimes unclear. Although often unavailable, viral genome sequencing can complement epidemiologic investigations. In fall 2020, [...]

Colorectal cancer CRC remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with chronic intestinal inflammation identified as a major risk factor. Notably, the tumor suppressor TP53 undergoes mutation at higher rates and earlier stages during human inflammation-driven colon tumorigenesis than in sporadic cases. We investigated whether deleting Trp53 affects inflammation-induced tumor growth and the expression of Lgr5+ cancer stem cells in mice. We examined azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colon tumorigenesis in wild-type Trp53 (+/+), heterozygous (+/−), and knockout (−/−) mice. Trp53−/− mice showed increased sensitivity to DSS colitis and earlier accelerated tumorigenesis with 100% incidence. All groups could develop invasive tumors, but knockouts displayed the most aggressive features. Unlike wild-type CRC, knockouts selectively showed increased populations of Lgr5+ colon cancer stem-like cells. Trp53 loss also boosted laminin, possibly facilitating the disruption of the tumor border. This study highlights how Trp53 deletion promotes the perfect storm of inflammation and stemness, driving colon cancer progression. Trp53 deletion dramatically shortened AOM/DSS latency and improved tumor induction efficiency, offering an excellent inflammation-driven CRC model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract COVID-19 has engulfed the world and it will accompany us all for some time to come. Here, we review the current state at the milestone of 1 year into the pandemic, as declared by the WHO (World Health Organization). We review several aspects of the on-going pandemic, focusing first on two major topics: viral variants and the human genetic susceptibility to disease severity. We then consider recent and exciting new developments in therapeutics, such as monoclonal antibodies, and in prevention strategies, such as vaccines. We also briefly discuss how advances in basic science and in biotechnology, under the threat of a worldwide emergency, have accelerated to an unprecedented degree of the transition from the laboratory to clinical applications. While every day we acquire more and more tools to deal with the on-going pandemic, we are aware that the path will be arduous and it will require all of us being community-minded. In this respect, we lament past delays in timely full investigations, and we call for bypassing local politics in the interest of humankind on all continents.

Abstract Background The use of thermotolerant yeast strains can improve the efficiency of ethanol fermentation, allowing fermentation to occur at temperatures higher than 40 °C. This characteristic could benefit traditional bio-ethanol production and allow simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of starch or lignocellulosic biomass. Results We identified and characterized the physiology of a new thermotolerant strain (LBGA-01) able to ferment at 40 °C, which is more resistant to stressors as sucrose, furfural and ethanol than CAT-1 industrial strain. Furthermore, this strain showed similar CAT-1 resistance to acetic acid and lactic acid, and it was also able to change the pattern of genes involved in sucrose assimilation (SUC2 and AGT1). Genes related to the production of proteins involved in secondary products of fermentation were also differentially regulated at 40 °C, with reduced expression of genes involved in the formation of glycerol (GPD2), acetate (ALD6 and ALD4), and acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase 2 (ACS2). Fermentation tests using chemostats showed that LBGA-01 had an excellent performance in ethanol production in high temperature. Conclusion The thermotolerant LBGA-01 strain modulates the production of key genes, changing metabolic pathways during high-temperature fermentation, and increasing its resistance to high concentration of ethanol, sugar, lactic acid, acetic acid, and furfural. Results indicate that this strain can be used to improve first- and second-generation ethanol production in Brazil.

Drying is one of the stages with the highest energy consumption in the manufacturing process of ceramic materials and aims to reduce the product’s moisture to levels necessary for safe firing stage, reducing the chances of defect formation. For sanitary ware, there is an additional energy cost in the pre-drying stage, which takes place immediately after removing the parts from the molds, and is carried out in an environment with lower temperatures (ranging from 30 to 40 °C). This work aims to experimentally study the drying process of sanitary ware at low temperatures, with particular reference to sanitary toilets with industrial dimensions. Four drying experiments were carried out in an oven with different operating conditions (temperature and relative humidity). The results indicate that an increase in temperature and reduction in relative humidity provoke a faster drying rate. For some physical situations, it is more interesting to dedicate efforts to reducing the relative humidity of the drying air instead of seeking solutions to raise its temperature. Furthermore, a correlation between the linear retraction and moisture content was observed; the greater the moisture loss, the greater the sample shrinkage.

Introduction Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel betacoronavirus causing the deadly pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The risks and specific effects of SARS-CoV-2 in pregnant [...], BACKGROUND. The effects of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in pregnancy remain relatively unknown. We present a case of second trimester pregnancy with symptomatic COVID-19 complicated by severe preeclampsia and placental abruption. METHODS. We analyzed the placenta for the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) through molecular and immunohistochemical assays and by and electron microscopy and measured the maternal antibody response in the blood to this infection. RESULTS. SARS-CoV-2 localized predominantly to syncytiotrophoblast cells at the materno-fetal interface of the placenta. Histological examination of the placenta revealed a dense macrophage infiltrate, but no evidence for the vasculopathy typically associated with preeclampsia. CONCLUSION. This case demonstrates SARS-CoV-2 invasion of the placenta, highlighting the potential for severe morbidity among pregnant women with COVID-19. FUNDING. Beatrice Kleinberg Neuwirth Fund and Fast Grant Emergent Ventures funding from the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. The funding bodies did not have roles in the design of the study or data collection, analysis, and interpretation and played no role in writing the manuscript.

Dengue virus (DENV) is currently causing epidemics of unprecedented scope in endemic settings and expanding to new geographical areas. It is therefore critical to track this virus using genomic surveillance. However, the complex patterns of viral genomic diversity make it challenging to use the existing genotype classification system. Here, we propose adding 2 sub-genotypic levels of virus classification, named major and minor lineages. These lineages have high thresholds for phylogenetic distance and clade size, rendering them stable between phylogenetic studies. We present an assignment tool to show that the proposed lineages are useful for regional, national, and subnational discussions of relevant DENV diversity. Moreover, the proposed lineages are robust to classification using partial genome sequences. We provide a standardized neutral descriptor of DENV diversity with which we can identify and track lineages of potential epidemiological and/or clinical importance. Information about our lineage system, including methods to assign lineages to sequence data and propose new lineages, can be found at: dengue-lineages.org. Dengue virus (DENV) is causing increasingly larger and more widespread epidemics, which makes it critical to track the virus using genomic surveillance, but there is currently no suitable system to classify circulating variants. This Consensus View proposes a new DENV nomenclature system and free online tools to identify and track lineages of potential epidemiological and/or clinical importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]