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To test the hypothesis that interval-training (IHT) would be impaired by hypoxia to a larger extent than repeated-sprint training (RSH) and that dietary nitrate (NOThirty endurance-trained male participants performed IHT (6 × 1 min at 90%∆ with 1 min active recovery) and RSH (2 sets of 6 × 10 s "all-out" efforts with 20 s active recovery) on a cycle ergometer, allocated in one of three groups: normobaric hypoxia (~ 13% F[Formula: see text]OIHT responses were neither more impaired by hypoxia than RSH ones. Moreover, dietary NO

The antimicrobial peptide LyeTxI isolated from the venom of the spider Lycosa erythrognatha is a potential model to develop new antibiotics against bacteria and fungi. In this work, we studied a peptide derived from LyeTxI, named LyeTxI-b, and characterized its structural profile and its in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activities. Compared to LyeTxI, LyeTxI-b has an acetylated N-terminal and a deletion of a His residue, as structural modifications. The secondary structure of LyeTxI-b is a well-defined helical segment, from the second amino acid to the amidated C-terminal, with no clear partition between hydrophobic and hydrophilic faces. Moreover, LyeTxI-b shows a potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative planktonic bacteria, being 10-fold more active than the native peptide against Escherichia coli. LyeTxI-b was also active in an in vivo model of septic arthritis, reducing the number of bacteria load, the migration of immune cells, the level of IL-1β cytokine and CXCL1 chemokine, as well as preventing cartilage damage. Our results show that LyeTxI-b is a potential therapeutic model for the development of new antibiotics against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi utilizar métodos bacteriológicos e moleculares para a identificação do Mycobacteriumbovis em lesões observadas em carcaças de bovinos durante a inspeção post mortem de rotina em matadouros-frigoríficos com serviço de inspeção oficial. Foram acompanhados o abate e a inspeção de 825.394 bovinos, sadios, ao exame antemortem pelo serviço de inspeção oficial em 10 matadouros-frigoríficos do estado da Bahia, entre abril de 2009 e abril de 2012. Cento e oitenta bovinos apresentaram lesões sugestivas de tuberculose e outras linfadenites, as quais foram avaliadas quanto à presença de Mycobacterium bovis por exame bacteriológico e pela PCR multiplex. A maioria das lesões estava localizada em linfonodos do trato respiratório e 71% eram provenientes de bovinos machos com até 32 meses de idade. No isolamento bacteriano, 13,9% (25/180) das amostras apresentavam colônias pequenas, de superfície granular e de coloração creme-amareladas, em meio de cultura Stonebrink-Leslie, e o crescimento médio foi de 34 dias. Todos os esfregaços dos isolados evidenciaram BAAR, e, pela PCR multiplex, 56% (14/25) dos isolados foram identificados como M. bovis. A associação entre exame post mortem, bacteriológico e PCR multiplex permitiu a identificação do agente de forma rápida e em regiões com status sanitário de baixa prevalência, demonstrando ser importante para a detecção dos focos de tuberculose bovina e o auxílio nos programas de controle e erradicação da tuberculose. The aim of the present study was to perform bacteriological and molecular methods for identification of Mycobacterium bovis in lesions derived from bovine carcasses detected during routine post-mortem examination in officially inspected slaughterhouses. We checked the slaughter and inspection of 825,394 bovines, health upon ante-mortem examination, by the official service in 10 slaughterhouses of Bahia state from April, 2009 to April 2012. Lesions suggestive of tuberculosis were collected from 180 bovines and further evaluated by bacteriology and multiplex PCR. The majority of lesions were located in the respiratory tract lymph nodes and 71% were from male bovines up to 32 months old. 13.9% of samples presented small, granular and creamy-yellowish colonies after being cultured in Stonebrink-Leslie with an average growth time of 34 days. All smears from the isolated samples were Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) and among them 56% were identified by mPCR as M. bovis. Thus, the association between post-mortem examination, culture and multiplex PCR allowed the bacillus identification in a reduced time and in regions of low prevalence, pointing out its importance for bovine tuberculosis detection and as a supportive tool for the tuberculosis control and eradication program.

Understanding saturation and pore-pressure changes is very relevant in mature fields, in this paper we used and compared two pre-stack 4D data, 1984-1999 Streamer-Streamer (S4D1) and 1999-2005 Streamer-OBC (S4D1) to monitor the Marimba Field reservoirs – offshore Brazil, its oil production started in 1985. Time-lapse seismic data on this field have been successfully used since 2007 to understand the fluid behavior and estimate bypassed oil areas and had helped to take decisions, such as drilling development wells on a not drained area or to understand the water saturation increasing in wells. Initially was made a 4D seismic modeling to helped interpret time-lapse anomalies seen in the field, was identify approximately a 4% P-impedance contrast difference between oil and brine sands, which suggests that it may be possible to discriminate between oil sands and brine sands in 3D as well as 4D data. Further the two 4Ds data were interpreted in its respective period, generating important decisions for the field. In this paper we compares both results (S4D1 and S4D2) through its anomaly and NRMS maps indicating the possibility of use seismic not 4D dedicated to obtain time-lapse information.

Spores of the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungus Glomus clarum obtained from sweet potatoes grown in soil inoculated with this fungus and with an enrichment culture of Acetobacter diazotrophicus contained A. diazotrophicus and several other bacteria, including a diazotrophic Klebsiella sp. Inoculation of micropropagated sweet potatoes with G. clarum and A. diazotrophicus enhanced spore formation in soil compared to VAM inoculation alone. Plants inoculated with VAM spores containing the bacteria showed additional increases in the number of spores formed within roots. A. diazotrophicus infected aerial plant parts only when inoculated together with VAM or when present within VAM spores. Micropropagated sugarcane seedlings inoculated with the same VAM spores containing the diazotrophs also contained much higher numbers of A. diazotrophicus in aerial parts than seedlings inoculated in vitro with the bacteria alone. When grown in non-sterile soil, the sugarcane seedlings again showed the greatest infection of aerial parts after inoculation with VAM spores containing the diazotrophs. This treatment also increased VAM colonization and the numbers of spores formed within roots. Similar effects were observed in sweet sorghum except that the aerial plant parts were not infected by A. diazotrophicus.

Study aim: To evaluate the physical fitness of rock climbers. Material and methods: A group of 21 male and 9 female climbers, mean age 30.5 ± 8.8 years, training on indoor climbing walls and on outdoor rocks participated in the study. Cardio-respiratory fitness was evaluated using the Polar OwnIndex, highly correlated with the ‡O2max. Neuromuscular fitness was evaluated by maximum repetition and maximum endurance tests for upper extremities, simulating the holding conditions specifically met by climbers. Results: Male climbers were far stronger than the female ones as evidenced by the average numbers of pull-ups (13.8 and 3.2, respectively; p

College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK; National Kaohsiung Marine University, Kaohsiung City 811, Taiwan; Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5YW, UK; EMBPRAPA-Agrobiologia, km 47, Seropedica, 23851-970, RJ, Brazil; EMBRAPA-Cedrrados, Planaltina, Brasilia, 73301-970, DF Brazil; Department of Plant Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, OXI 3RB, UK; Depto de Ciencias Agrarias e Ambientais, UESC, km 16, Ilheus 45662-000 BA, Brazil; Faculdade de Agronomia, UFMT, Cuiaba, 78060-900, MT, Brazil; LSTM, IRD/CIRAD/INRA/AGROM/UMII, 34398 Montpellier, France

Cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) are the third most common cause of death and are the main cause of permanent disability in the western world, where they also rank first as regards the loss of years of disability-adapted independent life. Ischaemic CVAs tend to present irreversible sequelae, which reduces the patient's quality of life.To analyse the effect of a series of exercises carried out in water on the quality of life of patients who have had an ischaemic CVA.Two groups were studied: an experimental group made up of 15 subjects aged 50.3 +/- 9.1 years, and a control group consisting of 13 subjects aged 52.5 +/- 7.7 years. The experimental group followed a 12-week programme of aquatic physical exercises. The two groups were evaluated in a pre- and post-treatment and then results from both groups were compared. Data were collected by administering a generic health-related quality of life survey (SF-36).Significant differences were found between the pre- and post-treatment in the experimental group. In the between-groups evaluation, significant differences were recorded with regard to functional capacity, physical aspects, pain, general state of health, vitality, social aspects and mental health.Doing physical exercises in water tends to improve motor behaviour, with a greater degree of independence, significant improvements in functional capacity and other aspects linked to physical aptitude. As a result, the level of quality of life of individuals affected by ischaemic CVA is enhanced.

Sugar cane (Saccharum spp.) variety SP 70-1143 was inoculated with Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus strain PAL5 (ATCC 49037) in two experiments. In experiment 1 the bacteria were inoculated into a modified, low sucrose MS medium within which micropropagated plantlets were rooted. After 10 d there was extensive anatomical evidence of endophytic colonization by G. diazotrophicus, particularly in lower stems, where high numbers of bacteria were visible within some of the xylem vessels. The identity of the bacteria was confirmed by immunogold labelling with an antibody raised against G. diazotrophicus. On the lower stems there were breaks caused by the separation of the plantlets into individuals, and at these 'wounds' bacteria were seen colonizing the xylem and intercellular spaces. Bacteria were also occasionally seen entering leaves via damaged stomata, and subsequently colonizing sub-stomatal cavities and intercellular spaces. A localized host defence response in the form of fibrillar material surrounding the bacteria was associated with both the stem and leaf invasion. In experiment 2, stems of 5-week-old greenhouse-grown plants were inoculated by injection with a suspension of G. diazotrophicus containing 10(8) bacteria ml(-1). No hypersensitive response (HR) was observed, and no symptoms were visible on the leaves and stems for the duration of the experiment (7 d). Close to the point of inoculation, G. diazotrophicus cells were observed within the protoxylem and the xylem parenchyma, where they were surrounded by fibrillar material that stained light-green with toluidine blue. In leaf samples taken up to 4 cm from the inoculation points, G. diazotrophicus cells were mainly found within the metaxylem, where they were surrounded by a light green-staining material. The bacteria were growing in relatively low numbers adjacent to the xylem cell walls, and they were separated from the host-derived material by electron-transparent 'haloes' that contained material that reacted with the G. diazotrophicus antibody.

The autoantibody-mediated disease in fogo selvagem (FS) is aggravated by sunlight exposure.The aim of this study was to test whether UVB exposure of uninvolved skin of patients with FS (n = 21) enhances epidermal acantholysis and in vivo binding of FS autoantibodies as compared with a control group (n = 4). Another control group included 8 patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV).Exposure of uninvolved skin of FS to UVB induces acantholysis (15/21 patients) with in vivo binding of IgG and C3 to the epidermal intercellular spaces (17/21 patients). Similar results were found in PV (6/8 patients). The test was negative in the control group.Sunlight exposure is harmful in the clinical course of patients with FS and those with PV. Protection from sunlight should be part of the treatment of these patients.

Investigating the diversity of diazotrophic bacteria associated with plant roots of less well studied plants, isolates of well known and new species could be found. The diversity on the strain level was rather restricted for endophytic bacteria in a given plant, which argues for a specificity of colonization. The mechanism of this specificity is not understood.

Immunological techniques can be applied to detect micro-organisms in different ecosystems. Polyclonal antisera are produced when the immune system of a mammal is exposed to foreign macromolecules. They consist of a mixture of different antibodies synthesised in response to various antigenic determinants. To use this antisera as a probe for microbiological detection on plant/soil material is necessary to characterise the quality of the antibodies/antisera for “in situ” detection and quantification. To follow the fate of Acetobacter diazotrophicus strain BR 11280 (PAL 3), Herbaspirillum seropedicae strain BR 11175 (Z67) and H. rubrisubalbicans strain BR 11192 (M4) in the rhizosphere of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schun. var. Capim Cana D’Africa), polyclonal antisera were raised against these strains. All antisera were purified by protein-A, followed by a primary characterisation for cross-reactivity. To reduce cross-reactivity for these sera, affinity purification was used. After that, all sera were species specific. Bacterial colonisation was quantified by the ELISA protocol. The detection limit was 105 cells ml−1 for both the anti A. diazotrophicus and H. rubrisubalbicans serum and 106 cells ml−1 for the anti H. seropedicae serum. The bacterial numbers were high and present in/on the root tissue. No contamination was detected in the control. It was not possible to detect A. diazotrophicus inoculated on these plants. It is possible that its numbers were below the detection limit but this bacterium is not so effective as Herbaspirillum sp. in colonising the root system efficiently. Only strains of Herbaspirillum spp could be detected in the rhizosphere of elephant grass in high densities mostly on the rhizoplane. The numbers by ELISA estimated were 107 cells g−1 fresh weight.

Several strains of Acetobacter diazotrophicus were isolated from sugar cane genotypes originating from 3 Brazilian regions and also from India and U.S.A. These genotypes have been propagated vegetatively since their introduction, about 30 years ago. Hence, a hypothesis was formulated that the endophytic bacteria living in plants from diverse origins would keep a broad diversity. Twenty five strains of A. diazotrophicus were isolated from roots and leaves of young plants cultivated from stem setts. These strains and seven others used as references, including the type strains PAL5 and PPE4, were submitted to physiological tests to evaluate their use of several carbon sources. The results of optical density of the media were used to run a principal component analysis (PCA) followed by a cluster analysis, in order to group the strains, based on the carbon use and their origin. The results suggest a narrow diversity of the reference and type strains (7 strains). These isolates tended to form one cluster, while the strains from the Indian varieties tended to be clustered in an opposite direction.

The stroke (CVA) incidence has increased in recent years. Regarding its mortality, the stroke ranks third and is the leading cause of permanent disability in western countries. Furthermore there are no treatments for the psychosocial effects of this pathology.PURPOSE: Analyze the effect of an aquati