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The paleoenvironmental evolution of the Abrolhos Depression (AD) on the southern Abrolhos Shelf during the global post-Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) transgression is investigated through benthic foraminifera analysis. Downcore sediment samples (core DA03A-5B) collected at a depth of 63 m provide insights into the formation and paleoenvironmental variations of AD over the past 18 kyr BP. The core is divided into four biofacies based on foraminifera assemblages. At the base, the presence of carbonate concretions indicates a karstic surface, marking the initiation of the paleolagoon formation at approximately 13 kyr BP with low density of foraminifera, where species such as Elphidium sp. and Hanzawaia boueana (EH Biofacies) were more abundant. During the Younger Dryas (YD) (12.8-12.5 kyr BP), the AD exhibits two distinct phases: an initially confined lagoon environment with reduced circulation characterized by the dominance of the species Ammonia tepida (At Biofacies), followed by increased circulation characterized by higher density, richness, and diversity of benthic foraminifera. The end of the YD is identified by a significant biofacies change, indicative of a shallow marine environment, where the dominant species were A. tepida and Elphidium excavatum (AE Biofacies), supported by sedimentological and geochemical proxies. This paleoenvironmental shift is associated with Meltwater Pulse (MWP) -1B, suggesting a connection to a shallow marine environment. As sea levels continue to rise, the AD transitions into an open marine setting. However, around 8 kyr BP, a change occurs with the absence of A. tepida and the occurrence of planktonic and other benthic foraminifera typical of the outer shelf, indicating depths greater than 50 m (HQ Biofacies). The findings highlight the complex interplay between climate fluctuations, sea-level changes, and the formation of coastal environments during the LGM transgression. This study contributes to our understanding of paleoenvironmental dynamics, adding valuable insights to the evolutionary history of AD. The results emphasize the importance of integrating benthic foraminifera analysis, radiocarbon dating, and geochemical proxies to reconstruct paleoenvironments accurately. Overall, this research enhances our knowledge of global continental shelf evolution during the post-LGM transgression and provides valuable information for future paleoenvironmental studies., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) have been primarily studied for atmospheric nitrogen (N) fixation but they also have the capacity to improve nutrition and yield of crop plants., Methods: Therefore, the objective of this research was to investigate the effects of inoculation with PGPB in association with different N rates on N uptake, grain yield, and oil concentration of dwarf castor beans in succession to legumes and grasses in Ilha Solteira, Brazil. The treatments consisted of N rates (0 to 180 kg ha -1 of N) and inoculation with three plant growth-promoting bacteria ( Azospirillum brasiliense, Bacillus subtilis , and Pseudomonas fluorescens , applied by leaf) and a control with no-inoculation., Results: The grain and oil yields of castor beans were increased by 20 and 40% at a rate of 103 kg ha -1 of N in succession to grasses as compared to without N application. In addition, the grain yield of castor bean after legumes was increased by 28, 64, and 40% with estimated rates of 97, 113, and 92 kg ha -1 of N in combination with inoculations of A. brasilense , B. subtilis , and P. fluorescens as compared to without N application, respectively. Shoot, grain, and total N uptake were improved with foliar inoculation of A. brasilense , B. subtilis , and P. fluorescens at the N rates of 45, 90, and 135 kg ha -1 , respectively., Discussion and Conclusions: Topdressing of N at the rate of 103 kg ha -1 and foliar inoculation in succession to grasses and 180 kg ha -1 of N without the effect of foliar inoculation in succession to legumes are recommended for higher grain and oil yield of castor beans. Foliar inoculations with A. brasilense , B. subtilis , and P. fluorescens increased grain yield under reduced use of N fertilizer by 44, 37, and 49% in dwarf castor cultivation in succession to legumes, potentially contributing to sustainable agriculture., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Gato, Oliveira, Jalal, Moreira, Hashem, de Lima, Leite, Al-Askar, Freitas, AbdElgawad, Ferreira, Santana, Bastos, Galindo, Zoz and Teixeira Filho.)

Nosocomial infections or healthcare-associated infections, normally develops after the healthcare treatment in the hospital. Most of them are caused by infected medical devices. Plastics are the most common materials for manufacturing these devices because of their good processability, sterilization efficacy, ease of handling and harmlessness, however, it usually do not display antimicrobial properties. Here, in order to infer antimicrobial activity to poly(lactic acid), it was modified by maleation, followed by l-lysine grafting to its structure. The chemical modifications were confirmed by FTIR and 1 H NMR analysis, indicating the success of the reactions. The antimicrobial activity was tested using Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and the results showed that the sample was capable of inhibiting about 99 % of the S. aureus growth by contact. The samples cytotoxicity was also tested using the L929 mouse cells and the results indicated no cytotoxic effect. These results indicated the sample antimicrobial potential, without affect the normal eukaryotic cells. In addition, the processability of the modified PLA (PLA-g-Lys) was improved without compromising its mechanical properties, as shown by thermal analysis and tensile tests. Thus, this novel PLA derivative can be seen as a promising material for future applications in the manufacturing of biomedical devices., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Eliane Trovatti reports financial support was provided by State of Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The rapid decline of coral reefs calls for cost-effective benthic cover data to improve reef health forecasts, policy building, management responses and evaluation. Reef monitoring has been largely based on divers' observations along transects, and secondarily on quadrat-based protocols, video and photographic records. However, the accuracy and precision of the most common sampling approaches are not yet fully understood. Here, we compared benthic cover estimates from three common sampling protocols: Reef Check (RC), Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) and photoquadrats (PQ). The reef cover of two contrasting sites was reconstructed with ∼450 m 2 orthomosaics built with high resolution Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry, which were used as references for comparisons among protocols. In addition, we explored sample size requirements for each protocol and provided cost-effectiveness comparisons. Our results evidenced between-reef differences in the accuracy and precision of estimates with the different protocols. The three protocols performed similarly in the reef with low macroalgal cover (<0.5%), but PQ were more accurate and precise in the reef with relatively high (∼20%) macroalgal cover. The sample size for estimating coral cover with a 20% error margin and a 0.05 significance level was lower for PQ, followed by AGRRA and RC. Considering performance, cost surrogates and equipment needs, cost-effectiveness was higher for PQ. We also discuss costs, limitations and advantages/disadvantages of SfM photogrammetry as a sampling approach for coral reef monitoring., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Glutaminase (GLS), which deaminates glutamine to form glutamate, is a mitochondrial tetrameric protein complex. Although inorganic phosphate (Pi) is known to promote GLS filamentation and activation, the molecular basis of this mechanism is unknown. Here we aimed to determine the molecular mechanism of Pi-induced mouse GLS filamentation and its impact on mitochondrial physiology. Single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy revealed an allosteric mechanism in which Pi binding at the tetramer interface and the activation loop is coupled to direct nucleophile activation at the active site. The active conformation is prone to enzyme filamentation. Notably, human GLS filaments form inside tubulated mitochondria following glutamine withdrawal, as shown by in situ cryo-electron tomography of cells thinned by cryo-focused ion beam milling. Mitochondria with GLS filaments exhibit increased protection from mitophagy. We reveal roles of filamentous GLS in mitochondrial morphology and recycling., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.)

Acoustic backscatter has been used as a tool to map the seafloor in greater detail and plays an increasingly important role in seafloor mapping to meet multiple ocean management needs. An outstanding challenge to the use of backscatter for seafloor mapping is the distinction between acoustically similar substrates, such as mixed sediments from rhodoliths. Rhodolith beds are a biogenic substrate that provides important ecological services, and are typically classified as a single categorical substrate type-though nodules coverage may be spatially variable. Recently, multispectral acoustic backscatter has demonstrated great potential to improve thematic seafloor mapping compared to single-frequency systems. This work employs multispectral multibeam backscatter and underwater imagery to characterize and map rhodolith beds in the Costa das Algas Marine Protected Area (Brazil). A support vector machine classifier was used to classify multifrequency backscatter mosaics according to rhodolith classes identified from underwater imagery. Results suggest that multispectral backscatter is effective both in providing information for mapping different proportions of rhodolith coverage and in predicting the presence or absence of these nodules. The backscatter of the lowest frequency was the most useful for distinguishing variable proportions of rhodolith coverage, and the two higher frequencies were better predictors of presence and absence., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Continental shelves encompass gently sloped seascapes that are highly productive and intensively exploited for natural resources. Islands, reefs and other emergent or quasi-emergent features punctuate these shallow (<100 m) seascapes and are well known drivers of increased biomass and biodiversity, as well as predictors of fishing and other human uses. On the other hand, relict mesoscale geomorphological features that do not represent navigation hazards, such as incised valleys (IVs), remain poorly charted. Consequently, their role in biophysical processes remains poorly assessed and sampled. Incised valleys are common within rhodolith beds (RBs), the most extensive benthic habitat along the tropical and subtropical portions of the mid and outer Brazilian shelf. Here, we report on a multi-proxy assessment carried out in a tropical-subtropical transition region (~20°S) off Eastern Brazil, contrasting physicochemical and biological variables in IVs and adjacent RBs. Valleys interfere in near bottom circulation and function as conduits for water and propagules from the slope up to the mid shelf. In addition, they provide a stable and structurally complex habitat for black corals and gorgonians that usually occur in deeper water, contrasting sharply with the algae-dominated RB. Fish richness, abundance and biomass were also higher in the IVs, with small planktivores and large-bodied, commercially important species (e.g. groupers, snappers and grunts) presenting smaller abundances or being absent from RBs. Overall, IVs are unique and vulnerable habitats that sustain diverse assemblages and important ecosystem processes. As new IVs are detected by remote sensing or bathymetric surveys, they can be incorporated into regional marine management plans as conservation targets and priority sites for detailed in situ surveys., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Castro et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Since 2011, Sargassum events have increased in frequency along the Caribbean and Atlantic coasts. The accumulation and decomposition of large amounts of Sargassum seaweed on beaches pose socio-economic, ecological, and health risks due to the emission of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), methane, and ammonia. However, limited research exists on the emission processes and the health effects of subchronic and chronic exposure to low levels of H 2 S. Additionally, the absence of emission factor data for Sargassum decomposition on-site makes health risk assessments challenging. This study aimed to create a custom chamber to simulate real-world Sargassum decomposition, exposing experimental animals to the generated gases. Metal content was analyzed, and emission rates were estimated in a controlled environment. The decomposition-exposure system replicated reported environmental gas emissions from the Caribbean region, except for NH 3 . H 2 S bursts were observed during the decomposition process at intervals of 2-10 days, with higher frequency associated with larger masses of decomposing Sargassum. The decomposed gas was transferred to the exposure chamber, resulting in an 80-87% reduction in H 2 S concentration. The maximum H 2 S emission was 156 ppm, with a concentration ranging from 50.4 to 56.5 ppm. An estimated emission rate of 7-8 g/h for H 2 S was observed, and significant levels of lead, arsenic, and aluminum were found in beached Sargassum from the northeast coast of Brazil. This study's developed model provides an opportunity to investigate the effects and risks to human health associated with exposure to gases produced during the environmental decomposition of Sargassum seaweed., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Mariana Matera Veras reports financial support was provided by Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo 10.13039/501100001807FAPESP., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Verheijen, F.G.A. reports financial support was provided by Foundation for Science and Technology. Bastos, A.C. reports financial support was provided by Foundation for Science and Technology. Verheijen, F.G.A. reports administrative support was provided by University of Aveiro Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies.

Biochar application to soil has the potential to affect soil and vegetation properties that are key for the processes of runoff and soil erosion. However, both field and pot experiments show a vast range of effects, from strong reductions to strong increases in runoff and/or soil erosion. Therefore, this study aimed to quantify and interpret the impacts of biochar on runoff and soil erosion through the first systematic meta-analysis on this topic. The developed dataset consists of 184 pairwise observations for runoff and soil erosion from 30 independent studies but 8 of which just focused on soil erosion. Overall, biochar application to soil significantly reduced runoff by 25 % and erosion by 16 %. Mitigation of soil erosion in the tropics was approximately three times stronger (30 %) than at temperate latitudes (9 %); erosion reduction in the subtropical zone was 14 %, but not significantly different from either the tropical or temperate zones. Fewer reported field observations for runoff resulted in larger confidence intervals and only the temperate latitudes showed a significant effect (i.e. a 28 % reduction). At topsoil gravimetric biochar concentrations between 0.6 % and 2.5 %, significant reductions occurred in soil erosion, with no effect at lower and higher concentrations. Biochar experiments that included a vegetation cover reduced soil erosion more than twice as much as bare soil experiments, i.e. 27 % vs 12 %, respectively. This suggests that soil infiltration, canopy interception, and soil cohesion mechanisms may have synergistic effects. Soil amended with biochar pyrolyzed at >500 °C was associated with roughly double the erosion reduction than soil amended with biochar produced at 300-500 °C, which potentially could be related to the enhancement of hydrophobicity in the latter case. Our results demonstrate substantial potential for biochar to improve ecosystem services that are affected by increased infiltration and reduced erosion, while mechanistic understanding needs to be improved., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Behrouz Gholamahmadi reports financial support was provided by Foundation for Science and Technology. Frank Verheijen reports financial support was provided by Foundation for Science and Technology. Ana Catarina Bastos reports financial support was provided by Foundation for Science and Technology. Frank Verheijen reports financial support was provided by University of Aveiro Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies. Sergio Alegre Prats reports financial support was provided by Foundation for Science and Technology. Oscar Gonzalez-Pelayo reports financial support was provided by Foundation for Science and Technology. Jan Jacob Keizer reports financial support was provided by Foundation for Science and Technology., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (CaHPO 4 ·2H 2 O, DCPD, brushite) crystals were synthesised within Scots pine sapwood via a wet-chemistry route from aqueous solutions of Ca(CH 3 COO) 2 and NH 4 H 2 PO 4 salts. SEM/EDS analysis was used to assess the saturation of the wood cell lumina and cell wall as well as morphological features and elemental composition of the co-precipitated mineral. Brushite mineral crystallization and crystallite growth within the wood matrix was studied by in situ XRD. The chemical composition of the mineral before and after the dissolution was evaluated using FTIR spectroscopy. The overall impact of brushite on the thermal behaviour of wood was studied by TGA/DSC and TGA/DTA/MS analysis under oxidative and pyrolytic conditions. Bending and compression strength perpendicular and parallel to the fibre directions as well as bending strengths in longitudinal and transverse directions of the mineralised wood were also evaluated. Results indicate the viability of the wet-chemistry processing route for wood reinforcement with crystalline calcium phosphate (CaP)-based minerals, and imply a potential in producing hybrid bio-based materials that could be attractive in the construction sector as an environmentally friendly building material., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Introduction: Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPBs) could be developed as a sustainable strategy to promote plant growth and yield to feed the ever-growing global population with nutritious food. Foliar application of nano-zinc oxide (ZnO) is an environmentally safe strategy that alleviates zinc (Zn) malnutrition by improving biochemical attributes and storage proteins of grain., Methods: In this context, the current study aimed to investigate the combined effect of seed inoculation with PGPBs and foliar nano-ZnO application on the growth, biochemical attributes, nutrient metabolism, and yield of maize in the tropical savannah of Brazil. The treatments consisted of four PGPB inoculations [i.e., without inoculation , Azospirillum brasilense ( A. brasilense ) , Bacillus subtilis ( B. subtilis ) , Pseudomonas fluorescens ( P. fluorescens ), which was applied on the seeds] and two doses of Zn (i.e., 0 and 3 kg ha -1 , applied from nano-ZnO in two splits on the leaf)., Results: Inoculation of B. subtilis with foliar ZnO application increased shoot dry matter (7.3 and 9.8%) and grain yield (17.1 and 16.7%) in 2019-20 and 2020-2021 crop seasons respectively. Inoculation with A. brasilense increased 100-grains weight by 9.5% in both crop seasons. Shoot Zn accumulation was improved by 30 and 51% with inoculation of P. fluorescens in 2019-20 and 2020-2021 crop seasons. Whereas grain Zn accumulation was improved by 49 and 50.7% with inoculation of B. subtilis and P. fluorescens respectively. In addition, biochemical attributes (chlorophyll a, b and total, carotenoids, total soluble sugar and amino acids) were improved with inoculation of B. subtilis along with foliar nano ZnO application as compared to other treatments. Co-application of P. fluorescens with foliar ZnO improved concentration of grains albumin (20 and 13%) and globulin (39 and 30%). Also, co-application of B. subtilis and foliar ZnO improved concentration of grains glutelin (8.8 and 8.7%) and prolamin (15 and 21%) in first and second seasons., Discussion: Therefore, inoculation of B. subtilis and P. fluorescens with foliar nano-ZnO application is considered a sustainable and environmentally safe strategy for improving the biochemical, metabolic, nutritional, and productivity attributes of maize in tropical Savannah regions., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Jalal, Oliveira, Bastos, Fernandes, de Lima, Furlani Junior, de Carvalho, Galindo, Gato and Teixeira Filho.)

Biodiversity assessment is a mandatory task for sustainable and adaptive management for the next decade, and long-term ecological monitoring programs are a cornerstone for understanding changes in ecosystems. The Brazilian Long-Term Ecological Research Program (PELD) is an integrated effort model supported by public funds that finance ecological studies at 34 locations. By interviewing and compiling data from project coordinators, we assessed monitoring efforts, targeting biological groups and scientific production from nine PELD projects encompassing coastal lagoons to mesophotic reefs and oceanic islands. Reef environments and fish groups were the most often studied within the long-term projects. PELD projects covered priority areas for conservation but missed sensitive areas close to large cities, as well as underrepresenting ecosystems on the North and Northeast Brazilian coast. Long-term monitoring projects in marine and coastal environments in Brazil are recent (<5 years), not yet integrated as a network, but scientifically productive with considerable relevance for academic and human resources training. Scientific production increased exponentially with project age, despite interruption and shortage of funding during their history. From our diagnosis, we recommend some actions to fill in observed gaps, such as: enhancing projects' collaboration and integration; focusing on priority regions for new projects; broadening the scope of monitored variables; and, maintenance of funding for existing projects., Competing Interests: Juan P. Quimbayo is a PeerJ Academic Editor. The authors declare there are no competing interests., (©2022 Cordeiro et al.)

Coralline algae constitute one of the main groups of highly vulnerable calcified benthic organisms to ocean acidification. Although damaging effects of seawater acidification on the coralline algae skeleton have been widely demonstrated, the susceptibility to dissolution varies according to the Mg 2+ in the calcite lattice. Even though the Southwest Atlantic Ocean exhibits the world's largest rhodolith beds, which occupies 20,902 km 2 , there is no information regarding the coralline algae species mineralogy in this area. Here, we provide mineralogical data of twenty-four coralline algae species, examine the similarity in taxonomic groups, spatial occurrence and the vulnerability of these algae to seawater acidification. Mineralogy revealed that coralline algae skeletons were mainly composed of high-Mg calcite (> 70%) with minor presence of aragonite (< 30%) and dolomite (< 3%). There were no similarities between the skeletal mineralogy of taxonomic groups and sampling regions. Remarkably, the mean Mg-substitution of encrusting coralline algae from the Brazilian Shelf was 46.3% higher than global average. Because of the higher mean Mg-substitution in calcite compared with worldwide coralline algae, these algae from Southwest Atlantic Ocean would be highly susceptible to dissolution caused by the expected near-future ocean acidification and will compromise CaCO 3 net production across the Brazilian Shelf., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Relationships of exchange and mutual help between family generations are the main factor of survival at older ages, especially in developing countries. However, the demand for care for older parents is primarily attributed to daughters. In addition to the emergence of intergenerational solidarity to carry out this care task, the fulfillment of this personal-collective expectation of care is permeated by many tensions, conflicts, and ambivalences. Thus, we propose to discuss the ambivalence in care practices and the constructions of meaning related to this field, focusing on daughters who assumed the role of caregivers for their older parents. To understand how women deal with this complex situation of multiple demands, two narrative interviews will be analyzed in the light of the theoretical perspective of Semiotic Cultural Psychology. To guide and structure the data analysis, the Trajectory Equifinality Model (TEM) was used, taking the decision to care for older parents as the point of equifinality of the trajectories. The synthesized personal orientation by the daughters towards caring for their parents was characterized by a pendulum movement of dialogical oscillation between traditional and postmodern values, leading to qualitative intergenerational transformations., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

After the Fundão iron ore mining dam rupture in November 2015, yellow/ocher emulsions never before reported on the continental shelf adjacent to the Doce River began to be seen, both in coalesced and foam forms. XRD analyses pointed to a prevailing composition of iron and kaolinite with a substantial contribution of an organic-metallic compound, measured in multiple periods over 2 years of sampling. Optical microscopy images allowed the identification of micelles composed of nanoparticles of iron oxyhydroxide making up this emulsion. The generation of dendritic snowflake-shaped microcrystals on fiber filters after water sample filtration and heating confirmed the presence of micelles composed of iron oxyhydroxide nanoparticles enveloped by organic polymers. After losing water, the micelles may act as a self-assembly template seed, where the polymer acts in the oriented adsorption of nanoparticles according to their crystallographic structure. The study brought to light the distinct behavior of a portion of the tailings material, which has already been reported to not have the same flocculation process as the clay minerals previously found in the suspended particulate material (SPM) before the dam rupture., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In November 2015, the collapse of the Fundão dam (Minas Gerais, Brazil) carried over 40 × 10 6 m 3 of iron ore tailings into the Doce river and caused massive environmental and socioeconomic impacts across the watershed. The downstream mudslide scavenged contaminants deposited in the riverbed, and several potentially toxic elements were further released through reduction and solubilization of Fe oxy-hydroxides under estuarine conditions. A turbidity plume was formed off the river mouth, but the detection of contaminants' dispersion in the ocean remains poorly assessed. This situation is specially concerning because Southwestern Atlantic's largest and richest reefs are located 70-250 km to the north of the Doce river mouth, and the legal dispute over the extent of monitoring, compensation and restoration measures are based either on indirect evidence from modeling or on direct evidence from remote sensing and contaminated organisms. Coral skeletons can incorporate trace elements and are considered good monitors of marine pollution, including inputs from open cut mining. Here, we studied a Montastraea cavernosa (Linnaeus 1767) coral colony collected 220 km northward to the river mouth, using X-rays for assessing growth bands and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry to recover trace elements incorporated in growth bands formed between 2014 and 2018. A threefold positive Fe anomaly was identified in early 2016, associated with negative anomalies in several elements. Variation in Ba and Y was coherent with the region's sedimentation dynamics, but also increased after 2016, akin to Pb, V and Zn. Coral growth rates decreased after the disaster. Besides validating M. cavernosa as a reliable archive of ocean chemistry, our results evidence wide-reaching sub-lethal coral contamination in the Abrolhos reefs, as well as different incorporation mechanisms into corals' skeletons., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Pancreatic cancer is increasing worldwide. The burden of pancreatic cancer in Brazil and its states was analyzed and compared with that from the USA and China., Methods: This is a descriptive study of the incidence and mortality estimates from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study, from 2000 to 2019. The Brazilian states presenting the highest and lowest socio-demographic index (SDI) were selected from each of the five regions. The SDI consists of the per capita income, education, and fertility rate of each population., Results: A significant increase was found in age-standardized incidence and mortality of pancreatic cancer in all three countries, with differences in magnitude and annual increases. In Brazil, this incidence rose from 5.33 [95% Uncertainty Interval (UI): 5.06- 5.51] to 6.16 (95% UI: 5.68- 6.53) per 100,000 inhabitants. China and the Brazilian states with the lowest SDI, such as Pará and Maranhão, showed lower incidence and mortality rates, although presenting the highest annual increases. No difference was found between the sexes. A higher mortality rate was observed for those individuals of 70+ years, which was three to four times higher than those aged 50 to 69 years., Conclusions: The increasing burden of pancreatic cancer in the studied countries, and the higher estimates for the elderly in a fast-aging country such as Brazil, indicates that more resources and health policies will be necessary. The greatest increase in the states with lower SDI reflects inequalities in the access to diagnosis and registries of this cancer.

TDP-43 is an RNA-binding protein that forms ribonucleoprotein condensates via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and regulates gene expression through specific RNA interactions. Loss of TDP-43 protein homeostasis and dysfunction are tied to neurodegenerative disorders, mainly amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia. Alterations of TDP-43 LLPS properties may be linked to protein aggregation. However, the mechanisms regulating TDP-43 LLPS are ill-defined, particularly how TDP-43 association with specific RNA targets regulates TDP-43 condensation remains unclear. We show that RNA binding strongly promotes TDP-43 LLPS through sequence-specific interactions. RNA-driven condensation increases with the number of adjacent TDP-43-binding sites and is also mediated by multivalent interactions involving the amino and carboxy-terminal TDP-43 domains. The physiological relevance of RNA-driven TDP-43 condensation is supported by similar observations in mammalian cellular lysate. Importantly, we find that TDP-43-RNA association maintains liquid-like properties of the condensates, which are disrupted in the presence of ALS-linked TDP-43 mutations. Altogether, RNA binding plays a central role in modulating TDP-43 condensation while maintaining protein solubility, and defects in this RNA-mediated activity may underpin TDP-43-associated pathogenesis., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Cancer cells exhibit an altered metabolic phenotype, consuming higher levels of the amino acid glutamine. This metabolic reprogramming depends on increased mitochondrial glutaminase activity to convert glutamine to glutamate, an essential precursor for bioenergetic and biosynthetic processes in cells. Mammals encode the kidney-type (GLS) and liver-type (GLS2) glutaminase isozymes. GLS is overexpressed in cancer and associated with enhanced malignancy. On the other hand, GLS2 is either a tumor suppressor or an oncogene, depending on the tumor type. The GLS structure and activation mechanism are well known, while the structural determinants for GLS2 activation remain elusive. Here, we describe the structure of the human glutaminase domain of GLS2, followed by the functional characterization of the residues critical for its activity. Increasing concentrations of GLS2 lead to tetramer stabilization, a process enhanced by phosphate. In GLS2, the so-called "lid loop" is in a rigid open conformation, which may be related to its higher affinity for phosphate and lower affinity for glutamine; hence, it has lower glutaminase activity than GLS. The lower affinity of GLS2 for glutamine is also related to its less electropositive catalytic site than GLS, as indicated by a Thr225Lys substitution within the catalytic site decreasing the GLS2 glutamine concentration corresponding to half-maximal velocity (K 0.5 ). Finally, we show that the Lys253Ala substitution (corresponding to the Lys320Ala in the GLS "activation" loop, formerly known as the "gating" loop) renders a highly active protein in stable tetrameric form. We conclude that the "activation" loop, a known target for GLS inhibition, may also be a drug target for GLS2., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest related to this work., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The reef system off the Amazon River mouth extends from Amapá state to Maranhão state along the Brazilian Equatorial Margin, encompassing more than 10,000 km2 of rhodolith beds and high-relief hard structures on the outer shelf and upper slope. This unique hard bottom mosaic is remarkable for being influenced by the turbid and hyposaline plume from the world's largest river, and also for representing a connectivity corridor between the Caribbean and Brazil. Bryozoans were recently recognized as major reef builders in the Southwestern Atlantic, but their diversity off the Amazon River mouth remained unknown. Here, we report on recent collections obtained from 23 to 120 m depth in Northern Brazil. Sixty-five bryozoan taxa were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, including 57, five and three taxa of Cheilostomatida, Cyclostomatida and Ctenostomatida, respectively. Cribrilaria smitti and three genera (Cranosina, Glabrilaria and Thornelya) are new records for Brazil, and 13 new species are herein described: Antropora cruzeiro n. sp., Cranosina gilbertoi n. sp., Cribrilaria lateralis n. sp., Crisia brasiliensis n. sp., Glabrilaria antoniettae n. sp., Micropora amapaensis n. sp., Parasmittina amazonensis n. sp., Plesiocleidochasma arcuatum n. sp., Poricella bifurcata n. sp., Pourtalesella duoavicularia n. sp., Stephanollona domuspusilla n. sp., Therenia dianae n. sp., and Thornelya atlanticoensis n. sp. Our results highlight the biodiversity significance of the Amazon reefs and the need for more comprehensive sampling to clarify the role of bryozoans in modern turbid-zone reefs and rhodolith beds.

Tropical reefs are declining rapidly due to climate changes and local stressors such as water quality deterioration and overfishing. The so-called marginal reefs sustain significant coral cover and growth but are dominated by fewer species adapted to suboptimal conditions to most coral species. However, the dynamics of marginal systems may diverge from that of the archetypical oligotrophic tropical reefs, and it is unclear whether they are more or less susceptible to anthropogenic stress. Here, we present the largest (100 fixed quadrats at five reefs) and longest time series (13 years) of benthic cover data for Southwestern Atlantic turbid zone reefs, covering sites under contrasting anthropogenic and oceanographic forcing. Specifically, we addressed how benthic cover changed among habitats and sites, and possible dominance-shift trends. We found less temporal variation in offshore pinnacles' tops than on nearshore ones and, conversely, higher temporal fluctuation on offshore pinnacles' walls than on nearshore ones. In general, the Abrolhos reefs sustained a stable coral cover and we did not record regional-level dominance shifts favoring other organisms. However, coral decline was evidenced in one reef near a dredging disposal site. Relative abundances of longer-lived reef builders showed a high level of synchrony, which indicates that their dynamics fluctuate under similar drivers. Therefore, changes on those drivers could threaten the stability of these reefs. With the intensification of thermal anomalies and land-based stressors, it is unclear whether the Abrolhos reefs will keep providing key ecosystem services. It is paramount to restrain local stressors that contributed to coral reef deterioration in the last decades, once reversal and restoration tend to become increasingly difficult as coral reefs degrade further and climate changes escalate., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Understanding habitat-level variation in community structure provides an informed basis for natural resources' management. Reef fishes are a major component of tropical marine biodiversity, but their abundance and distribution are poorly assessed beyond conventional SCUBA diving depths. Based on a baited-video survey of fish assemblages in Southwestern Atlantic's most biodiverse region we show that species composition responded mainly to the two major hard-bottom megahabitats (reefs and rhodolith beds) and to the amount of light reaching the bottom. Both megahabitats encompassed typical reef fish assemblages but, unexpectedly, richness in rhodolith beds and reefs was equivalent. The dissimilar fish biomass and trophic structure in reefs and rhodolith beds indicates that these systems function based on contrasting energy pathways, such as the much lower herbivory recorded in the latter. Rhodolith beds, the dominant benthic megahabitat in the tropical Southwestern Atlantic shelf, play an underrated role as fish habitats, and it is critical that they are considered in conservation planning.

The present study deals with bioavailability of trace metals in the Doce river continental shelf, southeast of Brazil. The bottom sediments of the study area were firstly sampled a few weeks before the biggest environmental disaster of Brazil, the collapse of the Fundão dam in November of 2015. The disaster released around 40 Mm 3 of iron ore tailings into Doce river basin and an estimate of 10 Mm 3 reached the river delta, having the adjacent continental shelf as the final destination. One year and a half later, on April of 2017, the continental shelf was sampled again. A total of 48 stations were evaluated concerning concentrations of trace metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr) and other ancillary variables before and after the accident. Trace metals were determined through fractionation in order to assess mobility and establish the ecological risk through RAC index. Before the accident, trace metals mobility was Pb > Ni > Cu > Zn > Cr, with Pb Cu, Ni and posing high ecological risk (RAC>30%) in many stations. Differences in concentrations of metal from pre to post accident were significant, and the increase of trace metals was observed. The mobility order after the accident changed to: Cu > Pb > Ni > Zn > Cr. Metal fractionation showed remarkable changes after the accident, with elements such as Cu, Ni and Zn highly associated with reducible fractions originated from the tailings composition. Despite the decrease of RAC to medium risk after the accident in most stations, the bioavilability of Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn increased as show by their higher accumulation in the bioavailable fractions., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Reclaiming water for cooling systems in oil refineries has been strongly encouraged over the past years for decreasing the large consumption of fresh water, thus contributing to the efficient use of this valuable resource. In a recent study [Journal of Environmental Management 261 (2020) 110229], some of the authors studied the retention of phenols in refinery wastewater through reverse osmosis (RO) and found rejections of up to 98% of phenols and 99% of both chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC). The permeates complied with the quality standards for make-up water in cooling processes. A missing aspect, important for the water to be used in the oil and gas industry, was the level of corrosivity of the new permeates. In this work the corrosion of mild carbon steel in the permeates and in the original cooling tower make-up water was studied by electrochemical techniques. The corrosion rate of steel in the permeates in aerated conditions was lower (between 0.053 ± 0.006 and 0.123 ± 0.011 mm year -1 ) than in the make-up water (0.167 ± 0.030 mm year -1 ), confirming their suitability for replacing make-up water in the cooling towers. The low corrosion of carbon steel was attributed to the low conductivity and absence of oxidizing species in the fluids, compared to fresh water., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This work aims to characterize, in mineral and chemical terms, the ore tailings related to the Mariana disaster (MG, Brazil), occurred on 5 November 2015, and assess its correlation with sediments found in the continental shelf adjacent to the Doce River mouth (ES, Brazil). This study uses samples of tailings and seabed sediments collected at the mouth of the Doce River from 2012 to 2019. Elemental compositions of all samples were determined by X-ray fluorescence measurements; however, Synchrotron Resonant X-Ray Diffraction proved to be a remarkable technique to characterize the crystallographic phases of iron present in sediments. Studies and analyzes of the sediment samples showed that the tailings have a notable feature of the iron-crystallographic phases, mainly observed in the period after the Fundão dam failure, as compared with sediments collected in the period before. This set of iron-containing mineral phases, here called the Iron Mineralogical Set (IMS), consists of the main phases of hematite and magnetite and the minority phases of goethite and greenalite and it is used as a marker of tailings. Mass ac magnetic susceptibility measures supported the concept of the IMS as a marker. It is suggested a relationship between the content of the IMS in the sediment samples as a function of the measures of mass magnetic susceptibility. The IMS had shown the influence of tailings on the sea bed sediment indicating that there is no possibility, at the current stage, of predicting how many years this material will still be at the seabed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)], a peptide of the renin-angiotensin system, has anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic and antiproliferative effects in acute or chronic inflammatory disease of respiratory system. In this study, we evaluated the effect of treatment with Ang-(1-7) on pulmonary tissue damage and behavior of mice submitted to experimental model of elastase-induced pulmonary emphysema (PE). Initially, male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into two main groups: control (CTRL) and PE. In the PE group, the animals received three intratracheal instillations of pancreatic porcine elastase (PPE) at 1-week intervals (0.2 IU in 50 μL of saline). The CTRL group received the same volume of saline solution (50 μL). Twenty-four hours after the last instillation, animals of the PE group were randomly divided into two groups: PE and PE + Ang-(1-7). The PE + Ang-(1-7) group was treated with 60 μg/kg of Ang-(1-7) and 92 μg kg of HPβCD in gavage distilled water, 100 μl. The CTRL and PE groups were treated with vehicle (HPβCD- 92 μg/kg in distilled water per gavage, 100 μl), orally daily for 3 weeks. On the 19th day of treatment, all groups were tested in relation to locomotor activity and exploratory behavior. After 48 h, the animals were euthanized and lungs were collected. The animals of PE group presented rupture of alveolar walls and consequently reduction of alveolar tissue area. Treatment with Ang-(1-7) partially restored the alveolar tissue area. The PE reduced the locomotor activity and the exploratory behavior of the mice in relation to the control group. Treatment with Ang-(1-7) attenuated this change. In addition, it was observed that Ang-(1-7) reduced lung levels of IL-1β and increased levels of IL-10. These results show an anti-inflammatory effect of Ang-(1-7), inducing the return of pulmonary homeostasis and attenuation of the behavioral changes in experimental model of PE by elastase., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Many types of cancers have a well-established dependence on glutamine metabolism to support survival and growth, a process linked to glutaminase 1 (GLS) isoforms. Conversely, GLS2 variants often have tumor-suppressing activity. Triple-negative (TN) breast cancer (testing negative for estrogen, progesterone, and Her2 receptors) has elevated GLS protein levels and reportedly depends on exogenous glutamine and GLS activity for survival. Despite having high GLS levels, we verified that several breast cancer cells (including TN cells) express endogenous GLS2, defying its role as a bona fide tumor suppressor. Moreover, ectopic GLS2 expression rescued cell proliferation, TCA anaplerosis, redox balance, and mitochondrial function after GLS inhibition by the small molecule currently in clinical trials CB-839 or GLS knockdown of GLS-dependent cell lines. In several cell lines, GLS2 knockdown decreased cell proliferation and glutamine-linked metabolic phenotypes. Strikingly, long-term treatment of TN cells with another GLS-exclusive inhibitor bis-2'-(5-phenylacetamide-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)ethyl sulfide (BPTES) selected for a drug-resistant population with increased endogenous GLS2 and restored proliferative capacity. GLS2 was linked to enhanced in vitro cell migration and invasion, mesenchymal markers (through the ERK-ZEB1-vimentin axis under certain conditions) and in vivo lung metastasis. Of concern, GLS2 amplification or overexpression is linked to an overall, disease-free and distant metastasis-free worse survival prognosis in breast cancer. Altogether, these data establish an unforeseen role of GLS2 in sustaining tumor proliferation and underlying metastasis in breast cancer and provide an initial framework for exploring GLS2 as a novel therapeutic target.

Despite the increasing interest for biochar as a soil amendment, a knowledge gap remains on its impacts on non-target soil and aquatic species. We hypothesised that biochar particle size and application rate can play a role in the toxicity to biota. Pine woodchip biochar was incorporated in a clean soil at three particle size classes: small (<0.5 mm), medium (1-2 mm), and large (<4 mm), and at two concentrations: 1% and 6% w/w. A laboratory screening with earthworm Eisenia andrei avoidance behaviour bioassay was carried out to test the most adequate application rates, particle sizes and soil-biochar pre-incubation period. Thereafter, a 28-day greenhouse microcosm experiment was conducted as an ecologically more representative approach. Survival, vertical distribution and weight changes of E. andrei, and bait-lamina consumption were recorded. Soil leachates from the microcosms were collected to evaluate their impact on Daphnia magna immobilisation and Vibrio fischeri (Microtox®) bioluminescence. A feeding experiment with E. andrei was also performed to address earthworm weight changes and to conduct a screening of PAH-type metabolites in their tissue. The 6% <0.5 mm treatment pre-incubated for 96 h induced significant avoidance of the earthworms. Significantly lower bait-lamina consumption was observed in microcosms for the 6% <0.5 mm treatment. Moreover, particle size was a statistically significant factor regarding the loss of weight in the feeding experiment and higher concentration of naphthalene-type metabolites detected in E. andrei tissue, when exposed to <0.5 mm biochar particles. The leachates had no adverse effects on the aquatic species. The results suggest that particles <0.5 mm of pine woodchip biochar can pose sub-lethal effects on soil biota., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: to describe our experience with a methodology for teaching nursing consultation in support of people with diabetes mellitus at a Family Health Unit., Method: experience report with four moments-submission of the proposal to the team; theorizing; nursing care for people with diabetes mellitus at home and at the health unit, and evaluation of learning., Results: the pedagogical process favored the integration between service and users, contributed to implement and apply the nursing process and strengthened professional training, based on the epidemiological profile of chronic diseases and its implications for nursing in primary care., Final Considerations: the active methodology discussed here allowed for a resignification of knowledge and a qualification of nursing care, demonstrating to be an important instrument for integrating clinical practice and epidemiology in accordance to experienced reality.

Although marine protected areas can simultaneously contribute to biodiversity conservation and fisheries management, the global network is biased toward particular ecosystem types because they have been established primarily in an ad hoc fashion. The optimization of trade-offs between biodiversity benefits and socioeconomic values increases success of protected areas and minimizes enforcement costs in the long run, but it is often neglected in marine spatial planning (MSP). Although the acquisition of spatially explicit socioeconomic data is perceived as a costly or secondary step in MSP, it is critical to account for lost opportunities by people whose activities will be restricted, especially fishers. We developed an easily reproduced habitat-based approach to estimate the spatial distribution of opportunity cost to fishers in data-poor regions. We assumed the most accessible areas have higher economic and conservation values than less accessible areas and their designation as no-take zones represents a loss of fishing opportunities. We estimated potential distribution of fishing resources from bathymetric ranges and benthic habitat distribution and the relative importance of the different resources for each port of total catches, revenues, and stakeholder perception. In our model, we combined different cost layers to produce a comprehensive cost layer so that we could evaluate of trade-offs. Our approach directly supports conservation planning, can be applied generally, and is expected to facilitate stakeholder input and community acceptance of conservation., (© 2017 Society for Conservation Biology.)

Bryozoans are a key group of sessile invertebrates in some reef frameworks but are typically neglected in environmental monitoring programs. Abrolhos Bank (Brazil) is the largest reef complex in the South Atlantic Ocean, encompassing several reef landscapes over an area of 46,000 km2. A transition takes place across the shelf from mangroves to soft sediments, coastal shallow reefs to a volcanic archipelago - surrounded by fringing reefs - and unique mushroom-shaped biogenic structures, with mesophotic pinnacle reefs, rhodolith beds, sink-holes and shelf break deep environments. The taxonomic composition of the bryozoan fauna was studied in 11 core samples taken from shallow to mesophotic mid-shelf reefs (4-25 m deep) on Abrolhos Bank by divers using a submersible drill. Of the 20 bryozoan species sampled, 17 are new records for Abrolhos Bank and seven species are new to science: Crassimarginatella winstonae n. sp., Parasmittina distincta n. sp., Parasmittina abrolhosensis n. sp., Hemismittoidea asymmetrica n. sp., Stylopoma variabilis n. sp., Stylopoma hastata n. sp., and Plesiocleidochasma acuminata n. sp. (described by Ramalho, Taylor Moraes). The most conspicuous species is Celleporaria atlantica. These results increase to 48 the total number of bryozoan species known in this region and reinforce the importance of this group as one of the main components apart from crustose coralline algae and corals of the reef framework-building community of Abrolhos Bank.

Most coral reefs have recently experienced acute changes in benthic community structure, generally involving dominance shifts from slow-growing hard corals to fast-growing benthic invertebrates and fleshy photosynthesizers. Besides overfishing, increased nutrification and sedimentation are important drivers of this process, which is well documented at landscape scales in the Caribbean and in the Indo-Pacific. However, small-scale processes that occur at the level of individual organisms remain poorly explored. In addition, the generality of coral reef decline models still needs to be verified on the vast realm of turbid-zone reefs. Here, we documented the outcome of interactions between an endangered Brazilian-endemic coral ( Mussismilia braziliensis ) and its most abundant contacting organisms (turf, cyanobacteria, corals, crustose coralline algae and foliose macroalgae). Our study was based on a long (2006-2016) series of high resolution data (fixed photoquadrats) acquired along a cross-shelf gradient that includes coastal unprotected reefs and offshore protected sites. The study region (Abrolhos Bank) comprises the largest and richest coralline complex in the South Atlantic, and a foremost example of a turbid-zone reef system with low diversity and expressive coral cover. Coral growth was significantly different between reefs. Coral-algae contacts predominated inshore, while cyanobacteria and turf contacts dominated offshore. An overall trend in positive coral growth was detected from 2009 onward in the inshore reef, whereas retraction in live coral tissue was observed offshore during this period. Turbidity (+) and cyanobacteria (-) were the best predictors of coral growth. Complimentary incubation experiments, in which treatments of Symbiodinium spp. from M. braziliensis colonies were subjected to cyanobacterial exudates, showed a negative effect of the exudate on the symbionts, demonstrating that cyanobacteria play an important role in coral tissue necrosis. Negative effects of cyanobacteria on living coral tissue may remain undetected from percent cover estimates gathered at larger spatial scales, as these ephemeral organisms tend to be rapidly replaced by longer-living macroalgae, or complex turf-like consortia. The cross-shelf trend of decreasing turbidity and macroalgae abundance suggests either a direct positive effect of turbidity on coral growth, or an indirect effect related to the higher inshore cover of foliose macroalgae, constraining cyanobacterial abundance. It is unclear whether the higher inshore macroalgal abundance (10-20% of reef cover) is a stable phase related to a long-standing high turbidity background, or a contemporary response to anthropogenic stress. Our results challenge the idea that high macroalgal cover is always associated with compromised coral health, as the baselines for turbid zone reefs may derive sharply from those of coral-dominated reefs that dwell under oligotrophic conditions., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no competing interests.

In major modern reef regions, either in the Indo-Pacific or the Caribbean, scleractinian corals are described as the main reef framework builders, often associated with crustose coralline algae. We used underwater cores to investigate Late Holocene reef growth and characterise the main framework builders in the Abrolhos Shelf, the largest and richest modern tropical reef complex in the South Western Atlantic, a scientifically underexplored reef province. Rather than a typical coralgal reef, our results show a complex framework building system dominated by bryozoans. Bryozoans were major components in all cores and age intervals (2,000 yrs BP), accounting for up to 44% of the reef framework, while crustose coralline algae and coral accounted for less than 28 and 23%, respectively. Reef accretion rates varied from 2.7 to 0.9 mm yr -1 , which are similar to typical coralgal reefs. Bryozoan functional groups encompassed 20 taxa and Celleporaria atlantica (Busk, 1884) dominated the framework at all cores. While the prevalent mesotrophic conditions may have driven suspension-feeders' dominance over photoautotrophs and mixotrophs, we propose that a combination of historical factors with the low storm-disturbance regime of the tropical South Atlantic also contributed to the region's low diversity, and underlies the unique mushroom shape of the Abrolhos pinnacles.

Objectives: To develop a population model describing temocillin pharmacokinetics (PK) in patients undergoing haemodialysis and investigate how pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PD) targets can be met with different dosage regimens., Patients and Methods: Sixteen patients received the currently licenced dosing of 1, 2 or 3 g of temocillin (total of 61 doses) corresponding to an inter-dialytic period of 20, 44 or 68 h, respectively, and a dialysis period of 4 h. A non-linear mixed-effects model was developed jointly for total and unbound temocillin serum concentrations. The performance of clinically feasible dosing regimens was evaluated using a 5000-subject Monte Carlo (MC) simulation for determining the highest MIC for which the PK/PD target of 40%ƒT>MIC would be reached in 90% of patients [probability of target attainment (PTA)]. This PK study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02285075)., Results: Temocillin unbound and total serum concentrations (429 samples) were used to fit an open two-compartment model with non-linear albumin binding and first-order elimination. In addition to total body clearance, dialysis clearance was modelled using the Michaels function. The currently licenced dosing achieved a 90% PTA for an MIC up to 8 mg/L. A new temocillin dosage regimen was designed that would achieve a 90% PTA for an MIC of 16 mg/L (MIC90 of target organisms) adjusted to patient weight and inter-dialytic period., Conclusions: Currently licensed dosage regimen is suboptimal for MICs >8 mg/L (frequently found in clinical isolates). Model-based simulations allowed suggestion of a new dosage regimen with improved probability of microbiological success, applicability in routine clinical practice and more appropriate for empirical therapy.

This study focuses on the vertical distribution of total and reactive As in two contrasted coastal sedimentary environments: the Abrolhos Continental Shelf (ACS), a carbonate and siliciclastic shelf sediment, and the Doce River Continental Shelf (DRCS), a submerged delta system. The Doce River was the location of a massive ore tailings dam collapsed in November 2015. Millions of liters of tailings were dumped into the river and reached the continental shelf, causing the country's biggest environmental disaster. We evaluated the As content in sediment of the DRCS before the dam collapse. At both sites, the total As background measured in bottom sediment revealed relative natural enrichment (above 8mg/kg). Content of As decrease with depth; reactive As showed surficial peaks which were associated with Fe and Mn oxides. The ACS sediment did not show significant enrichment or contamination of As, with an enrichment factor (EF) of approximately 2 and a geoaccumulation index (Igeo) near 0. In contrast, the DRCS exhibited severe As enrichment (EF=15) and contamination (Igeo between 3-4). This enrichment is attributed to long-term iron and gold exploitation in the Doce River watershed. The high levels of reactive As, up to 108 mg/kg, alert us to an environmental risk due to potential As bioaccessibility. These data provide an important perspective on the As contamination in continental shelves and encourage the monitoring of the ore mine environmental impacts., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Energy-transfer reactions are the key for living open systems, biological chemical networking, and the development of life-inspired nanoscale machineries. It is a challenge to find simple reliable synthetic chemical networks providing a localization of the time-dependent flux of matter. In this paper, we look to photocatalytic reaction on TiO 2 from different angles, focusing on proton generation and introducing a reliable, minimal-reagent-consuming, stable inorganic light-promoted proton pump. Localized illumination was applied to a TiO 2 surface in solution for reversible spatially controlled "inorganic photoproton" isometric cycling, the lateral separation of water-splitting reactions. The proton flux is pumped during the irradiation of the surface of TiO 2 and dynamically maintained at the irradiated surface area in the absence of any membrane or predetermined material structure. Moreover, we spatially predetermine a transient acidic pH value on the TiO 2 surface in the irradiated area with the feedback-driven generation of a base as deactivator. Importantly we describe how to effectively monitor the spatial localization of the process by the in situ scanning ion-selective electrode technique (SIET) measurements for pH and the scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET) for local photoelectrochemical studies without additional pH-sensitive dye markers. This work shows the great potential for time- and space-resolved water-splitting reactions for following the investigation of pH-stimulated processes in open systems with their flexible localization on a surface.

Over the past decades, the presence of micronucleated blood cells has been used to detect genotoxic effects of xenobiotics in fish, amphibians and birds. This study assessed the frequency of micronuclei (MN) and other nuclear abnormalities in erythrocytes of individuals of Ardea cinerea and Ciconia ciconia retrieved for rehabilitation in order to evaluate the influence of age, temporal and spatial factors on the occurrence of DNA damage in Portuguese wild birds. Blood smears from 65 birds with different life-history backgrounds (e.g. geographic origin, age) were collected between 2007 and 2011 and the frequency of erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities (ENAs) was analysed. Differences in DNA damage between ages were observed to occur in C. ciconia, with chicks displaying significantly higher frequencies of ENAs (both when looking at total ENAs or only MN frequency) than juveniles and adults. Additionally, significant differences in ENAs frequencies were observed between different years and geographic origins, whereas MN frequency alone did not show significant alterations concerning spatial and temporal variations. These results suggest that the assessment of ENAs rather than MN frequency alone may be a useful and valuable tool to complement the evaluation of DNA damage in populations of birds, as prompted by individual life-history traits and environmental factors., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Balantidium coli is a protozoon that can cause dysentery in humans, pigs and nonhuman primates, with zoonotic potential. In the literature, there is still little information on the effectiveness of different laboratory techniques for diagnosing this disease. This study compared and evaluated the performance of the Lutz, modified Ritchie, Faust, modified Sheather and direct examination techniques for detecting cysts of this protozoon. Between 2012 and 2014, 1905 fecal samples were collected from captive animals in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Of these, 790 were obtained from the rectum of pigs and 1115 from enclosures occupied by nonhuman primates. B. coli cysts were most evident through direct examination (22.4% of the samples) and the Lutz technique (21%). Fair agreement (Kappa = 0.41; p < 0.05) was observed only between direct examination and Lutz. The flotation techniques (Faust and modified Sheather) did not show good recovery of cysts. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in the frequency of cysts between pigs and nonhuman primates could only be observed through direct examination and the Lutz technique. The most efficient method for diagnosing this parasitosis was seen to an association between direct examination and the spontaneous sedimentation technique.

The abundance of reef builders, non-builders and the calcium carbonate produced by communities established in Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs) were determined in three Abrolhos Bank shallow reefs during the period from 2012 to 2014. In addition, the seawater temperature, the irradiance, and the amount and composition of the sediments were determined. The inner and outer reef arcs were compared. CAUs located on the inner reef shelf were under the influence of terrigenous sediments. On the outer reefs, the sediments were composed primarily of marine biogenic carbonates. The mean carbonate production in shallow reefs of Abrolhos was 579 ± 98 g m-2 y-1. The builder community was dominated by crustose coralline algae, while the non-builder community was dominated by turf. A marine heat wave was detected during the summer of 2013-2014, and the number of consecutive days with a temperature above or below the summer mean was positively correlated with the turf cover increase. The mean carbonate production of the shallow reefs of Abrolhos Bank was greater than the estimated carbonate production measured for artificial structures on several other shallow reefs of the world. The calcimass was higher than the non-calcareous mass, suggesting that the Abrolhos reefs are still in a positive carbonate production balance. Given that marine heat waves produce an increase of turf cover on the shallow reefs of the Abrolhos, a decrease in the cover represented by reef builders and shifting carbonate production are expected in the near future.

Large rivers create major gaps in reef distribution along tropical shelves. The Amazon River represents 20% of the global riverine discharge to the ocean, generating up to a 1.3 × 10(6)-km(2) plume, and extensive muddy bottoms in the equatorial margin of South America. As a result, a wide area of the tropical North Atlantic is heavily affected in terms of salinity, pH, light penetration, and sedimentation. Such unfavorable conditions were thought to imprint a major gap in Western Atlantic reefs. We present an extensive carbonate system off the Amazon mouth, underneath the river plume. Significant carbonate sedimentation occurred during lowstand sea level, and still occurs in the outer shelf, resulting in complex hard-bottom topography. A permanent near-bottom wedge of ocean water, together with the seasonal nature of the plume's eastward retroflection, conditions the existence of this extensive (~9500 km(2)) hard-bottom mosaic. The Amazon reefs transition from accretive to erosional structures and encompass extensive rhodolith beds. Carbonate structures function as a connectivity corridor for wide depth-ranging reef-associated species, being heavily colonized by large sponges and other structure-forming filter feeders that dwell under low light and high levels of particulates. The oxycline between the plume and subplume is associated with chemoautotrophic and anaerobic microbial metabolisms. The system described here provides several insights about the responses of tropical reefs to suboptimal and marginal reef-building conditions, which are accelerating worldwide due to global changes.

Zinc-aluminum layered double hydroxides with nitrate intercalated (Zn(n)Al-NO3, n=Zn/Al) is an intermediate material for the intercalation of different functional molecules used in a wide range of industrial applications. The synthesis of Zn(2)Al-NO3 was investigated considering the time and temperature of hydrothermal treatment. By examining the crystallite size in two different directions, hydrodynamic particle size, morphology, crystal structure and chemical species in solution, it was possible to understand the crystallization and dissolution processes involved in the mechanisms of crystallite and particle growth. In addition, hydrogeochemical modeling rendered insights on the speciation of different metal cations in solution. Therefore, this tool can be a promising solution to model and optimize the synthesis of layered double hydroxide-based materials for industrial applications., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The forest refuge hypothesis (FRH) has long been a paradigm for explaining the extreme biological diversity of tropical forests. According to this hypothesis, forest retraction and fragmentation during glacial periods would have promoted reproductive isolation and consequently speciation in forest patches (ecological refuges) surrounded by open habitats. The recent use of paleoclimatic models of species and habitat distributions revitalized the FRH, not by considering refuges as the main drivers of allopatric speciation, but instead by suggesting that high contemporary diversity is associated with historically stable forest areas. However, the role of the emerged continental shelf on the Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot of eastern South America during glacial periods has been ignored in the literature. Here, we combined results of species distribution models with coalescent simulations based on DNA sequences to explore the congruence between scenarios of forest dynamics through time and the genetic structure of mammal species cooccurring in the central region of the Atlantic Forest. Contrary to the FRH predictions, we found more fragmentation of suitable habitats during the last interglacial (LIG) and the present than in the last glacial maximum (LGM), probably due to topography. We also detected expansion of suitable climatic conditions onto the emerged continental shelf during the LGM, which would have allowed forests and forest-adapted species to expand. The interplay of sea level and land distribution must have been crucial in the biogeographic history of the Atlantic Forest, and forest refuges played only a minor role, if any, in this biodiversity hotspot during glacial periods.

Insects possess both cellular and humoral immune responses. The latter makes them capable to recognize and control invading pathogens after synthesis of a variety of small proteins, also known as antimicrobial peptides. Defensins, cysteine-rich cationic peptides with major activity against Gram-positive bacteria, are one ubiquitous class of antimicrobial peptides, widely distributed in different animal and plant taxa. Regarding triatomines in each of the so far analyzed species, various defensin gene isoforms have been identified. In the present study, these genes were sequenced and used as a molecular marker for phylogenetic analysis. Considering the vectors of Chagas disease the authors are reporting for the first time the presence of these genes in Triatoma sordida (Stål, 1859), Rhodnius nasutus (Stål, 1859), and Panstrongylus megistus (Burmeister, 1835). Members of the Triatoma brasiliensis species complex were included into the study to verify the genetic variability within these taxa. Mainly in their mature peptide, the deduced defensin amino acid sequences were highly conserved. In the dendrogram based on defensin encoding nucleotide, sequences the Triatoma Def3/4 genes were separated from the rest. In the dendrogram based on deduced amino acid sequences the Triatoma Def2/3/4 together with Rhodnius DefA/B pre-propeptides were separated from the rest. In the sub-branches of both the DNA and amino acid dendrograms, the genus Triatoma was separated from the genus Rhodnius as well as from P. megistus.

In patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) treated with intermittent haemodialysis, a limited number of antibiotics have been studied for their suitability for parenteral administration after dialysis sessions only in a thrice-weekly regimen. Temocillin is a β-lactam antibiotic with a long half-live and enhanced activity against most Gram-negative bacteria, including extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producers, thus making it an ideal candidate for use in this setting. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of thrice-weekly parenteral temocillin in haemodialysis patients by characterising the pharmacokinetics of total and free temocillin. Free and total temocillin concentrations were determined with a validated HPLC method in 448 samples derived from 48 administration cycles in 16 patients with ESRD treated with intermittent haemodialysis and temocillin. Pharmacokinetics were non-linear partly due to saturation in protein binding. Median clearance and half-life for the free drug during intradialysis and interdialysis periods were 113 mL/min vs. 26 mL/min and 3.6 h vs. 24 h, respectively, with dialysis extracting approximately one-half of the residual concentration. The free temocillin concentration remained >16 mg/L (MIC90 threshold for most Enterobacteriaceae) during 48%, 67% and 71% of the dosing interval for patients receiving 1 g q24h, 2 g q48h and 3 g q72h, respectively, suggesting appropriate exposure for the two latter therapeutic schemes. Temocillin administered on dialysis days only in a dosing schedule of 2 g q48h and 3 g q72h is appropriate for the treatment of serious and/or resistant Gram-negative infections in patients with ESRD undergoing intermittent haemodialysis. These doses are higher than those previously recommended., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. and the International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.)