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The exchange of technologies used in field cultivation for hydroponic systems can potentially increase plant development and grain production, requiring studies to verify the best management forms, such as growth-promoting bacteria and biostimulant compounds. With this in mind, the study aimed to evaluate the effect of the application of thiamine and niacin, alone and combined, to soybean plants in the absence and presence of inoculation with B. japonicum on the agronomic and physiological characteristics of the crop grown in an ebb and flow hydroponic system. Eight treatments were evaluated using t -test (LSD) and Tukey's test, both at 5% probability ( P < 0.05), in addition to Pearson correlation and canonical variables. The treatments consist of inoculation with B. japonicum at 1 mL 500 g -1 seeds (with and without) and foliar application of four solutions (water, niacin (0.1 g·L -1 ), thiamine (0.1 g·L -1 ), and niacin + thiamine (0.05 g·L -1  + 0.05 g·L -1 )). We found that inoculation significantly improved the parameters evaluated and resulted in a gain of approximately 84.8% in yield when compared by t -test ( P < 0.05). In addition, the action of the vitamins was more significant when they were applied without the presence of B. japonicum , especially niacin, either alone or combined with thiamine, which increased yield parameters in this condition, identified when the Tukey's test ( P < 0.05) was applied. We conclude that inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum in soybean seeds grown in a hydroponic system significantly benefits the development and grain yield, mainly when combined with vitamin solutions. Niacin also has the potential to be used alone or combined with thiamine in noninoculated or inoculated hydroponic soybean crops, respectively., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Alexandre H. de F. Lima et al.)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic variability of natural rubber latex traits among 44 elite genotypes of the rubber tree [Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex Adr. de Juss.) Müell. Arg.]. Multivariate analysis and machine learning techniques were used, targeting the selection of parents that demonstrate superior characters. We analyzed traits related to technological or physicochemical properties of natural rubber latex, such as Wallace plasticity (P 0 ), the plasticity retention index [PRI (%)], Mooney viscosity (V R ), ash percentage (Ash), acetone extract percentage (AE), and nitrogen percentage (N), to study genetic diversity. Multivariate [unweighted pair group method with arithmetic means (UPGMA) and Tocher)] and machine learning techniques [K-means and Kohonen's self-organizing maps (SOMs)] were employed. The genotypes showed high genetic variability for some of the evaluated traits. The traits PRI, Ash, and P O contributed the most to genetic diversity. The genotypes were classified into six clusters by the UPGMA method, and the results were consistent with the Tocher, K-means and SOM results. PRI can be used to improve the industrial potential of clones. The clones IAC 418 and PB 326 were the most divergent, followed by IAC 404 and IAC 56. These genotypes and others from the IAC 500 and 400 series could be used to start a breeding program. These combinations offer greater heterotic potential than the others, which can be used to improve components of rubber latex quality. Thus, it is important to consider the quality of rubber latex in the early stage of breeding programs.

Arthroderma benhamiae is a zoophilic dermathophyte that can cause highly inflammatory tinea corporis and tinea capitis in humans. This is the first report of a patient with dermatophytosis caused by A. benhamiae in Brazil. The lesion was an erythematous, annular plaque on the lumbar region that appeared few weeks after playing with a street cat in a 19-month-old girl. Initial presumed diagnosis was tinea corporis caused by Microsporum canis. Topical treatments were ineffective and the patient required systemic treatment with griseofulvin. Mycological diagnosis was inconclusive: morphological differentiation between M. canis and Trichophyton benhamiae may be difficult, especially when the latter present yellow colonies. The etiological agent was identified only by ITS sequencing of the isolates aligned with reference strains to A. benhamiae. This report highlights the importance of ITS sequencing in the identification of isolates from some cases of dermatophytosis, because conventional morphological diagnosis may result in misdiagnosis of the agent and delay proper treatment.

Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are the main pathogenic species of invasive cryptococcosis among the Cryptococcus species. Taxonomic studies have shown that these two taxa have different genotypes or molecular types with biological and ecoepidemiological peculiarities. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been proposed as an alternative method for labor-intensive methods for C. neoformans and C. gattii genotype differentiation. However, Vitek MS, one of the commercial MALDI-TOF MS instruments, has not been yet been evaluated for this purpose. Thus, we constructed an in-house database with reference strains belonging to the different C. neoformans (VNI, VNII, VNIII, and VNIV) and C. gattii (VGI, VGII, VGIII, and VGIV) major molecular types by using the software Saramis Premium (bioMérieux, Marcy-l'Etoile, France). Then, this new database was evaluated for discrimination of the different genotypes. Our in-house database provided correct identification for all C. neoformans and C. gattii genotypes; however, due to the intergenotypic mass spectral similarities, a careful postanalytic evaluation is necessary to provide correct genotype identification., (Copyright © 2019 American Society for Microbiology.)

Seeds enriched with zinc (Zn) are ususally associated with better germination, more vigorous seedlings and higher yields. However, agronomic benefits of high-Zn seeds were not studied under diverse agro-climatic field conditions. This study investigated effects of low-Zn and high- Zn seeds (biofortified by foliar Zn fertilization of maternal plants under field conditions) of wheat ( Tritcum aestivum L.), rice ( Oryza sativa L.), and common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) on seedling density, grain yield and grain Zn concentration in 31 field locations over two years in six countries. Experimental treatments were: (1) low-Zn seeds and no soil Zn fertilization (control treatment), (2) low-Zn seeds + soil Zn fertilization, and (3) Zn-biofortified seeds and no soil Zn fertilization. The wheat experiments were established in China, India, Pakistan, and Zambia, the rice experiments in China, India and Thailand, and the common bean experiment in Brazil. When compared to the control treatment, soil Zn fertilization increased wheat grain yield in all six locations in India, two locations in Pakistan and one location in China. Zinc-biofortified seeds also increased wheat grain yield in all four locations in Pakistan and four locations in India compared to the control treatment. Across all countries over 2 years, Zn-biofortified wheat seeds increased plant population by 26.8% and grain yield by 5.37%. In rice, soil Zn fertilization increased paddy yield in all four locations in India and one location in Thailand. Across all countries, paddy yield increase was 8.2% by soil Zn fertilization and 5.3% by Zn-biofortified seeds when compared to the control treatment. In common bean, soil Zn application as well as Znbiofortified seed increased grain yield in one location in Brazil. Effects of soil Zn fertilization and high-Zn seed on grain Zn density were generally low. This study, at 31 field locations in six countries over two years, revealed that the seeds biofortfied with Zn enhanced crop productivity at many locations with different soil and environmental conditions. As high-Zn grains are a by-product of Zn biofortification, use of Zn-enriched grains as seed in the next cropping season can contribute to enhance crop productivity in a cost-effective manner., (© 2019 The Authors.)

Five different facets or domains of impulsivity (lack of Perseverance, lack of Premeditation, Sensation Seeking, Positive and Negative Urgency) have been detected in undergraduate students by means of a short, 20-item version of the Impulsive Behavior Scale UPPS-P. The present cross-sectional study examined the psychometric properties of a Brazilian version of this short scale (SUPPS-P) in a non-clinical sample of 510 individuals with a larger age range (10-72 years) and from varying socioeconomic strata (SES). We also investigated: (a) differential item functioning according to age, sex and socioeconomic status; (b) whether these demographic factors affected participants' responses (population heterogeneity); and (c) if using scores directly derived from respondents' answers (raw scores) reflected the 5 distinguishable impulsiveness domains out of the structural equation modeling environment (bifactor model). We showed that the short UPPS-P version replicated factor structures, internal consistency across domains and inter-scale correlations found in prior studies, and confirmed the psychometric separability of the 5 impulsiveness domains. Only three out of the 20 items showed differential item functioning. Higher Positive and Negative Urgency and lack of Premeditation were reported by men and impulsiveness decreases with age in all domains except lack of Premeditation. SES did not influence results. The viability of using raw scores to assess the five domains was not confirmed via bifactor modeling. The use of a general composite score was psychometrically acceptable. We conclude that, in the structural equation modeling environment, the SUPPS-P is a reliable instrument to assess multiple impulsivity domains in non-clinical community samples in different cultural settings. However, out of this statistical environment, viability was only found for a general factor of impulsivity.

Background: Current methods for the production of Histoplasma capsulatum antigens are problematic in terms of standardization, specificity, stability, repeatability and reproducibility., Aims: In this study, we sought to optimize the methodology for producing H. capsulatum antigens, and to evaluate its applicability., Methods: Antigenic preparations obtained from 12 H. capsulatum isolates were evaluated by double immunodiffusion and immunoblotting assays against homologous and heterologous sera., Results: The evaluated and optimized protocol allowed a more stable production, as well as repeatable, reproducible, with shorter culture time and less costly. By double immunodiffusion and immunoblotting assays, the best pattern of reactivity was observed for antigens obtained with 33 days of culture from the isolates 200 and 406 against the M antigen and for the isolate 200 with 15 days against H antigen. The SDS-PAGE presented antigenic components of molecular masses between 17 and 119kDa. The immunoblotting sensitivity was 95.5% and 100% with histoplasmosis sera from ill patients and sera from H. capsulatum infected but otherwise healthy patients, respectively, to the antigen derived from isolates 200 and 406., Conclusions: We suggest the employment of the antigen from isolate 200, with 15 or 30 days of culture, in the double immunodiffusion and immunoblotting assays due to its good ability to discriminate both sera from patients with histoplasmosis illness and histoplasmosis infection, in addition to its high specificity against heterologous sera., (Copyright © 2017 Asociación Española de Micología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Several reports showed outbreaks of histoplasmosis acquired while bat-inhabited caves were visited by tourists, miners or researchers. We evaluated the performance of double immunodifusion (DI) and immunoblotting (IB) assays, employed for the histoplasmosis outbreak elucidation occurred in Vale do Paraíba, São Paulo. The existence of epidemiologic link, four patients with clinical signs suggestive of histoplasmosis and mycological confirmation has made that all 35 individuals involved to the cave visit were subjected to serological evaluation. By DI, we observed reactivity against H. capsulatum antigen in a single serum examined nearly 20 days after exposure to fungal propagules. On the other hand, IB showed reactivity against H and M fractions in 50% of samples evaluated. The analysis of the second sample batch, collected two months after the exposure showed that 96.7% were reactive by DI with antibodies titers ranging from 1 to 16 and 100% of reactivity against H and M fractions, by IB, suggesting an acute infection. The analysis of the overall agreement between the methods showed to be reasonable (κ = 0.37). This study confirms the importance and efficacy of more sensitive methodologies, such as IB assay, to early elucidation of disease, especially in cases of patients without mycological information.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a disorder caused by a deficiency in phenylalanine hydroxylase activity, which converts phenylalanine (Phe) to tyrosine, leading to hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) with accumulation of Phe in tissues of patients. The neuropathophysiology mechanism of disease remains unknown. However, recently the involvement of oxidative stress with decreased glutathione levels in PKU has been reported. Intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels may be maintained by the antioxidant action of lipoic acid (LA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of the enzymes involved in the metabolism and function of GSH, such as glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), glutathione reductase (GR), glutamate-cysteine ligase (GCL), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and GSH content in brain and liver of young rats subjected to a chemically induced model of HPA and the effect of LA for a week. In brain, the administration of Phe reduced the activity of the GSH-Px, GR and G6PD and LA prevented these effects totally or partially. GCL activity was increased by HPA and was not affect by LA antioxidant treatment. GST activity did not differ between groups. GSH content was increased by LA and decreased by HPA treatment in brain samples. Considering the liver, all parameters analyzed were increased in studied HPA animals and LA was able to hinder some effects except for the GCL, GST enzymes and GSH content. These results suggested that HPA model alter the metabolism of GSH in rat brain and liver, which may have an important role in the maintenance of GSH function in PKU although liver is not a directly affected organ in this disease. So, an antioxidant therapy with LA may be useful in the treatment of oxidative stress in HPA.

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic mycosis with a geographic distribution that is limited to Central and South America; Brazil has the highest number of cases. Severe disseminated disease caused by paracoccidioidomycosis was observed in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients who live or have resided in endemic paracoccidioidomycosis areas. Here we describe a male patient admitted to a large public hospital with diffuse nodular infiltrates observed in chest radiographs and with erosion at the second rib near the sternum. Blood tests showed anti-human immunodeficiency virus antibodies, a human immunodeficiency virus viral load of 59,700 (4.8 log), and CD4 144/mm(3), with negative serology result for fungal infections. Aspirate of the rib lesion showed cells with a typical morphology of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, aside from benign inflammatory cells. The histology of the rib biopsy showed typical granulomas and immunostained fungal cells. Although there was no growth in the Sabouraud cultures, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis gp43 and rDNA genes were detected in the aspirate by polymerase chain reaction. Therapy with amphotericin resulted in complete recovery. This type of bone lesion is rare and has been described primarily in the juvenile form of paracoccidioidomycosis; it must be included in the differential diagnosis of bone lesions in adult acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients of endemic areas., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rarely are efforts made to arrive at major theoretical syntheses in the realm of biology, while they are so often successful within the realm of sociology. Furthermore, though these efforts gain paradigmatic status in the former case, in the latter they lead to a 'Balkanization' of the discipline. The article explores what might account for this difference, seeking an answer through the reconstruction of one such effort in biology, which has covered more than two decades.

In his Art and Illusion, art historian Ernst Gombrich argues that the emergence and development of styles of pictorial representation depend on the availability of certain schemata, which can be documented. He himself documents the schemata responsible for the emergence and development of several styles. Nothing of this kind has been done as far as the growth of scientific knowledge is concerned. In this article we discuss whether is it possible to document something analogous to Gombrich's schemata that can be of crucial relevance for the development of clinical research.

Until recently, Histoplasma capsulatum was believed to harbour three varieties, var. capsulatum (chiefly a New World human pathogen), var. duboisii (an African human pathogen) and var. farciminosum (an Old World horse pathogen), which varied in clinical manifestations and geographical distribution. We analysed the phylogenetic relationships of 137 individuals representing the three varieties from six continents using DNA sequence variation in four independent protein-coding genes. At least eight clades were idengified: (i) North American class 1 clade; (ii) North American class 2 clade; (iii) Latin American group A clade; (iv) Latin American group B clade; (v) Australian clade; (vi) Netherlands (Indonesian?) clade; (vii) Eurasian clade and (viii) African clade. Seven of eight clades represented genetically isolated groups that may be recognized as phylogenetic species. The sole exception was the Eurasian clade which originated from within the Latin American group A clade. The phylogenetic relationships among the clades made a star phylogeny. Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum individuals were found in all eight clades. The African clade included all of the H. capsulatum var. duboisii individuals as well as individuals of the other two varieties. The 13 individuals of var. farciminosum were distributed among three phylogenetic species. These findings suggest that the three varieties of Histoplasma are phylogenetically meaningless. Instead we have to recognize the existence of genetically distinct geographical populations or phylogenetic species. Combining DNA substitution rates of protein-coding genes with the phylogeny suggests that the radiation of Histoplasma started between 3 and 13 million years ago in Latin America.

We report a case of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis observed in a male patient presenting pulmonary sarcoidosis and submitted to corticosteroid treatment. He presented nodular erythematous-violaceous skin lesions in the dorsum of the right hand. Histopathological examination of the biopsied lesion revealed dematiaceous hyphae and yeast-like cells, with a granulomatous tissual reaction. The isolated fungus was identified as Phoma cava. A review of the literature on fungal infection caused by different Phoma species, is presented. The patient healed after therapy with amphotericin B. followed by itraconazole.