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Summary: Mismatch between CO2 production (Vco2) and respiration underlies the pathogenesis of obesity hypoventilation. Leptin-mediated CNS pathways stimulate both metabolism and breathing, but interactions between these functions remain elusive. We hypothesized that LEPRb+ neurons of the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) regulate metabolism and breathing in obesity. In diet-induced obese LeprbCre mice, chemogenetic activation of LEPRb+ DMH neurons increases minute ventilation (Ve) during sleep, the hypercapnic ventilatory response, Vco2, and Ve/Vco2, indicating that breathing is stimulated out of proportion to metabolism. The effects of chemogenetic activation are abolished by a serotonin blocker. Optogenetic stimulation of the LEPRb+ DMH neurons evokes excitatory postsynaptic currents in downstream serotonergic neurons of the dorsal raphe (DR). Administration of retrograde AAV harboring Cre-dependent caspase to the DR deletes LEPRb+ DMH neurons and abolishes metabolic and respiratory responses to leptin. These findings indicate that LEPRb+ DMH neurons match breathing to metabolism through serotonergic pathways to prevent obesity-induced hypoventilation.

Objective: The present study revisited three classification systems of orbital complications of acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) (Chandler, Mortimore & Wormald, and Velasco e Cruz & Anselmo-Lima) and observed which of them presented the best clinical applicability. Methods: Clinical data and CT scan findings of patients with orbital infection were retrospectively collected. To compare the three classification systems, we revised and graded all CT images accordingly, and divided the patients into four groups: Eyelid cellulitis (EC), orbital cellulitis (OC), subperiosteal abscess (SA), and orbital abscess (OA). The groups were compared regarding the presence of sinus opacification, the need for hospitalization and/or surgical treatment, and the presence of further complications/sequelae. Results: 143 patients were included. The median number of sinuses involved in patients in the OC, SA, and OA groups was 2.0. ARS was rarely associated with signs of EC (present in both Chandler’s and Mortimore & Wormald’s classifications. The hospitalization rate was significantly lower in the EC group compared to the other three groups. Surgery was performed in all cases in the OA group, in 58.1% in the SA group, 19.4% in the OC group, and 12.5% in the EC group (p-value

Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a ubiquitous neuro-modulator–transmitter that acts in the central nervous system, playing a major role in the control of breathing and other physiological functions. The midbrain, pons, and medulla regions contain several serotonergic nuclei with distinct physiological roles, including regulating the hypercapnic ventilatory response, upper airway patency, and sleep–wake states. Obesity is a major risk factor in the development of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), recurrent closure of the upper airway during sleep, and obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS), a condition characterized by daytime hypercapnia and hypoventilation during sleep. Approximately 936 million adults have OSA, and 32 million have OHS worldwide. 5-HT acts on 5-HT receptor subtypes that modulate neural control of breathing and upper airway patency. This article reviews the role of 5-HT in SDB and the current advances in 5-HT-targeted treatments for SDB.

In this paper, novel mixed Tutton salts with the chemical formulas K2Mn0.03Ni0.97(SO4)2(H2O)6 and K2Mn0.18Cu0.82(SO4)2(H2O)6 were synthesized and studied as compounds for thermochemical heat storage potential. The crystallographic structures of single crystals were determined by X-ray diffraction. Additionally, a comprehensive computational study, based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations and Hirshfeld surface analysis, was performed to calculate structural, electronic, and thermodynamic properties of the coordination complexes [MII(H2O)6]2+ (MII = Mn, Ni, and Cu), as well as to investigate intermolecular interactions and voids in the framework. The axial compressions relative to octahedral coordination geometry observed in the crystal structures were correlated and elucidated using DFT investigations regarding Jahn–Teller effects arising from complexes with different spin multiplicities. The spatial distributions of the frontier molecular orbital and spin densities, as well as energy gaps, provided further insights into the stability of these complexes. Thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry techniques were also applied to identify the thermal stability and physicochemical properties of the mixed crystals. Values of dehydration enthalpy and storage energy density per volume were also estimated. The two mixed sulfate hydrates reported here have low dehydration temperatures and high energy densities. Both have promising thermal properties for residential heat storage systems, superior to the Tutton salts previously reported.

The iconic caged shape of fullerenes gives rise to a series of unique chemical and physical properties; hence a deeper understanding of the attractive and repulsive forces between two buckyballs can bring detrimental information about the structural stability of such complexes, providing significant data applicable for several studies. The potential energy curves for the interaction of multiple van der Waals buckyball complexes with increasing mass were theoretically obtained within the DFT framework at ωB97xD/6−31G(d) compound model. These potential energy curves were employed to estimate the spectroscopic constants and the lifetime of the fullerene complexes with the Discrete Variable Representation and with the Dunham approaches. It was revealed that both methods are compatible in determining the rovibrational structure of the dimers and that they are genuinely stable, i.e., long-lived complexes. To further inquire into the nature of such interaction, Bader’s QTAIM approach was applied. QTAIM descriptors indicate that the interactions of these closed-shell systems are dominated by weak van der Waals forces. This non-covalent interaction character was confirmed by the RDG analysis scheme. Indirectly, QTAIM also allowed us to confirm the stability of the non-covalent bonded fullerene dimers. Our lifetime calculations have shown that the studied dimers are stable for more than 1 ps, which increases accordingly with the number of carbon atoms.

Abstract Serotonin is an important mediator modulating behavior, metabolism, sleep, control of breathing, and upper airway function, but the role of aging in serotonin‐mediated effects has not been previously defined. Our study aimed to examine the effect of brain serotonin deficiency on breathing during sleep and metabolism in younger and older mice. We measured breathing during sleep, hypercapnic ventilatory response (HCVR), CO2 production (VCO2), and O2 consumption (VO2) in 16–18‐week old and 40–44‐week old mice with deficiency of tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2), which regulates serotonin synthesis specifically in neurons, compared to Tph2+/+ mice. As expected, aging decreased VCO2 and VO2. Tph2 knockout resulted in an increase in both metabolic indexes and no interaction between age and the genotype was observed. During wakefulness, neither age nor genotype had an effect on minute ventilation. The genotype did not affect hypercapnic sensitivity in younger mice. During sleep, Tph2−/− mice showed significant decreases in maximal inspiratory flow in NREM sleep, respiratory rate, and oxyhemoglobin saturation in REM sleep, compared to wildtype, regardless of age. Neither serotonin deficiency nor aging affected the frequency of flow limited breaths (a marker of upper airway closure) or apneas. Serotonin deficiency increased the amount and efficiency of sleep only in older animals. In conclusion, younger Tph2−/− mice were able to defend their ventilation and phenotypically did not differ from wildtype during wakefulness. In contrast, both young and old Tph2−/− mice showed sleep‐related hypoventilation, which was manifested by hypoxemia during REM sleep.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate possible changes in the quality of chicken breast meat containing white stripes during freezing for 12 mo. Samples of Pectoralis major muscle from male Cobb 500 broilers containing white stripes in moderate and severe degrees were used, as well as samples from a control group (normal – absence of myopathies). Part of the samples (n = 60; n = 20 for each severity degree) were analyzed on the day of collection (beginning) and the rest (n = 240) was frozen (−20°C) for up to 12 mo. At the end of each proposed freezing period (3, 6, 9, and 12 mo), color, pH, water holding capacity, cooking loss, tenderness, lipid oxidation, chemical composition, cholesterol and collagen concentrations, myofibrillary fragmentation, and sarcomere length were analyzed. Microbiological analysis of samples was performed at the beginning and after 12 mo of freezing. Myopathy linked to freezing showed results of increased meat tenderness, with reduction of crude protein and mineral matter and increase of moisture, fat, and cholesterol, without affecting the meat's collagen percentages. However, these variations with the onset of myopathy do not compromise the consumption of broiled chicken breast meat, kept frozen for up to 12 mo.

Tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is the major pest of tomato crops in Pakistan. Insecticides are commonly used for the management of this insect-pest. To develop a better insecticide resistance management strategy and evaluate the risk of resistance evolution, a field collected population of the tomato pinworm was selected with flubendiamide in the laboratory. We investigated the genetics of flubendiamide resistance and concentration-mortality response to other insecticides by selecting a field strain of tomato pinworm with commercial flubendiamide formulation. Tuta absoluta was reciprocally crossed with resistant strain (Fluben-R) and was selected up to 13 generations, while F1 progeny was back-crossed with resistant parent (Fluben-R). The results of LC50 and Resistance Ratio (RR) demonstrated a higher resistance developed in field and laboratory-selected strains (G2 and G13, respectively). Field-collected and laboratory-selected (Fluben-R) strains demonstrated higher intensity of concentration-mortality response against chlorantraniliprole, thiamethoxam, permethrin, abamectin and tebufenozide compared to susceptible ones. Based on the overlapping of 95% FL, it demonstrated significant differences, revealing that it was not sex linked (autosomal) with no maternal effects. The backcross analysis of the F1× resistant parent resulting in significant differences at all concentrations suggests that resistance is controlled by more than one factor; the null hypothesis was rejected and inheritance was under polygenic control. Resistance progression from 38 to 550 folds demonstrated that T. absoluta can develop a higher level of resistance to flubendiamide. Concentration-mortality response experiments demonstrated that the LC50 of some tested insecticides was higher for field-collected and laboratory-selected strains, suggesting that resistance mechanisms should be studied at a molecular level for better understanding. These results could be helpful to design resistance management strategies against the tomato pinworm.

Abstract Herbicides are agrochemicals applied in the control of weeds. With the frequent and repetitive use of these substances, serious problems have been reported. Compounds of natural origin and their derivatives are attractive options to obtain new compounds with herbicidal properties. By aiming to develop compounds with potentiated herbicidal activity, phenoxyacetic acids were synthesized from eugenol and guaiacol. The synthesized compounds were characterized and the herbicidal potential of phenoxyacetic acids and precursors was evaluated through bioassays regarding the germination and initial development of Lactuca sativa and Sorghum bicolor seedlings, with the induction of DNA damage. The induction of changes in the mitotic cycle of meristematic cells of roots of L. sativa was also analyzed. At the concentration of 3 mmol L-1, phenols and their respective phenoxyacetic acids presented phytotoxic and cytotoxic activities in L. sativa and S. bicolor. Eugenol and guaiacol also presented genotoxic action in L. sativa. The toxic effect of eugenoxyacetic acid was more pronounced in L. sativa than in S. bicolor, similar to the commercial 2,4-D herbicide. Molecular properties of the phenols and their derivatives phenoxyacetic acids were compared with the ones obtained for the herbicide 2,4-D, where it was found a correlation between their molecular properties and bioactivity.

ABSTRACT: Deep pectoral myopathy (DPM) considerably affects the meat quality of commercial poultry, thus representing a challenge to the poultry industry. In this study, we examined the breast meat quality of turkey breeder hens at disposal age affected by different degrees of DPM. Samples were collected from Nicholas turkeys at disposal age (385 d), at an average weight of 12.5 kg, which were reared and slaughtered in the south region of Brazil. The breast was first classified according to the degree of DPM and then samples of the Pectoralis major were collected from birds affected (DPM degrees 2 and 3; n = 20 of each) and nonaffected (normal, absence of lesions; n = 20) by the myopathy. After the affected Pectoralis minor muscle was discarded, the carcasses were released for human consumption by the Federal Inspection Service. The meat affected by the myopathy exhibited color changes (L*, a* and b*) (P < 0.05), especially in the inner surface. Higher (P < 0.05) water-holding capacity, pH, sarcomere length and fat concentration and lower (P < 0.05) shear force and moisture percentage were observed when compared to the normal samples. From this study, can be concluded that the severe condition of deep pectoral myopathy which affects the Pectoralis minor muscle, causes variations in the quality of Pectoralis major muscle of turkey on disposal age. As a raw material, this type of meat has a higher fat content and greater capacity for retaining intracellular water, important attributes to the manufacture of processed products. In this way, the processing is an economically viable alternative to the commercialization of breast meat from birds affected by myopathy.

B chromosomes are extra-genomic components of cells found in individuals and in populations of some eukaryotic organisms. They have been described since the first observations of chromosomes, but several aspects of their biology remain enigmatic. Despite being present in hundreds of fungi, plants, and animal species, only a small number of B chromosomes have been investigated through high-throughput analyses, revealing the remarkable mechanisms employed by these elements to ensure their maintenance. Populations of the Psalidodon scabripinnis species complex exhibit great B chromosome diversity, making them a useful material for various analyses. In recent years, important aspects of their biology have been revealed. Here, we review these studies presenting a comprehensive view of the B chromosomes in the P. scabripinnis complex and a new hypothesis regarding the role of the B chromosome in the speciation process.

Abstract Background Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced systemic inflammation (SI) is associated with neuroinflammation in the brain, hypotension, tachycardia, and multiple organs dysfunctions. Considering that during SI these important cardiovascular and inflammatory changes take place, we measured the sensitivity of the cardiovascular reflexes baroreflex, chemoreflex, and Bezold-Jarisch that are key regulators of hemodynamic function. We also evaluated neuroinflammation in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), the first synaptic station that integrates peripheral signals arising from the cardiovascular and inflammatory status. Methods We combined cardiovascular recordings, immunofluorescence, and assays of inflammatory markers in male Wistar rats that receive iv administration of LPS (1.5 or 2.5 mg kg−1) to investigate putative interactions of the neuroinflammation in the NTS and in the anteroventral preoptic region of the hypothalamus (AVPO) with the short-term regulation of blood pressure and heart rate. Results LPS induced hypotension, tachycardia, autonomic disbalance, hypothermia followed by fever, and reduction in spontaneous baroreflex gain. On the other hand, during SI, the bradycardic component of Bezold-Jarisch and chemoreflex activation was increased. These changes were associated with a higher number of activated microglia and interleukin (IL)-1β levels in the NTS. Conclusions The present data are consistent with the notion that during SI and neuroinflammation in the NTS, rats have a reduced baroreflex gain, combined with an enhancement of the bradycardic component of Bezold-Jarisch and chemoreflex despite the important cardiovascular impairments (hypotension and tachycardia). These changes in the cardiac component of Bezold-Jarisch and chemoreflex may be beneficial during SI and indicate that the improvement of theses reflexes responsiveness though specific nerve stimulations may be useful in the management of sepsis.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is recurrent obstruction of the upper airway due to the loss of upper airway muscle tone during sleep. OSA is highly prevalent, especially in obesity. There is no pharmacotherapy for OSA. Previous studies have demonstrated the role of leptin, an adipose-tissue-produced hormone, as a potent respiratory stimulant. Leptin signaling via a long functional isoform of leptin receptor, LEPRb, in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), has been implicated in control of breathing. We hypothesized that leptin acts on LEPRb positive neurons in the NTS to increase ventilation and maintain upper airway patency during sleep in obese mice. We expressed designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADD) selectively in the LEPRb positive neurons of the NTS of Leprb-Cre-GFP mice with diet-induced obesity (DIO) and examined the effect of DREADD ligand, J60, on tongue muscle activity and breathing during sleep. J60 was a potent activator of LEPRb positive NTS neurons, but did not stimulate breathing or upper airway muscles during NREM and REM sleep. We conclude that, in DIO mice, the stimulating effects of leptin on breathing during sleep are independent of LEPRb signaling in the NTS.

This paper presents a communication network for a squadron of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to be used in the scanning rocket impact area for Barreira do Inferno Launch Center—CLBI (Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil), aiming at detecting intruder boats. The main features of communication networks associated with multi-UAV systems are presented. This system sends information through Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN). After comparing and analyzing area scanning strategies, it presents the specification of a data communication network architecture for a squadron of UAVs within a sensor network using XBee Pro 900HP S3B modules. A brief description is made about the initial information from the construction of the system. The embedded hardware and the design procedure of a dedicated communication antenna to the XBee modules are presented. In order to evaluate the performance of the proposed architecture in terms of robustness and reliability, a set of experimental tests in different communication scenarios is carried out. Network management software is employed to measure the throughput, packet loss and other performance indicators in the communication links between the different network nodes. Experimental results allow verifying the quality and performance of the network nodes, as well as the reliability of the communication links, assessing signal received quality, range and latency.

Toxorhynchites mosquitoes play important ecological roles in aquatic microenvironments, and are frequently investigated as potential biological control agents of mosquito disease vectors. Establishment of Toxorhynchites laboratory colonies can be challenging because for some species, mating and insemination either do not occur or require a prohibitive amount of laboratory space for success. Consequently, artificial insemination techniques have been developed to assist with mass rearing of these species. Herein we describe an adapted protocol for colony establishment of T. theobaldi, a species with broad distribution in the Neotropics. The success of the technique and its implications are discussed.

Combined injuries involving the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterolateral corner (PLC) occur in approximately 10% of complex knee injuries. The current tendency is to reconstruct both the ACL and the structures of the PLC. In injuries involving multiple ligaments, a potential problem in the reconstruction is the convergence of tunnels in the lateral walls of the femur. As a solution to this problem, we propose a combined technique for reconstruction of the ACL and PLC with a single tunnel in the lateral femoral wall. Combined ACL/PLC reconstruction is performed with 2 semitendinosus tendons and 1 gracilis tendon. The technique consists of making a tunnel in the lateral wall of the femur, from the outside in, at the isometric point, for reconstruction of the collateral ligament and popliteus tendon, and emerging in the joint region at the anatomic point of the ACL reconstruction. The graft is passed from the tibia to the femur with the double gracilis tendon and the simple semitendinosus tendon; the remaining portions are left for reconstruction of the structures of the PLC. This technique is very effective in terms of minimizing the number of tunnels, but it does rely on having grafts of adequate size.