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Anthropogenic pressure has well‐documented effects on the spatial distribution of biodiversity but it can also have more subtle effects on wildlife, influencing the time of the day and for how long animals are active. These temporal effects have not received much attention from the scientific and conservation community, despite activity being intrinsically related to crucial aspects in an animal's life. Here we use data from a large‐scale camera trap survey (517 survey sites covering more than 1000 km2) conducted in areas under distinct levels of protection in the Brazilian Cerrado to investigate the effect of anthropogenic pressure on the activity of mammal species >1 kg. We used both circular statistics and GLMMs to investigate whether species would shift activity towards the night in response to disturbance, resulting in a decrease of diurnal activity in areas under lower protection levels and closer to households. Our results revealed that most species investigated did not show a temporal response to anthropogenic pressure, with only two species responding in the way we expected: tamanduas reduced the probability of daytime activity closer to households and collared peccaries reduced diurnal activity slightly in areas under lower protection levels. Our findings also suggest that environmental factors have a greater influence on species' activity than indicators of pressure in the mosaic of protected areas studied. Although stricter levels of habitat protection are known to have a positive and strong influence on the spatial distribution of many mammal species in the study region, we showed here that human pressure has only a modest effect on the period these species were active. This limited temporal response highlights the need for large natural areas under low disturbance that allow mammal species to respond spatially to threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess the influence of artefacts generated by metal posts on the detection of simulated internal root resorption (IRR) in adjacent teeth using cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to verify the impact of metal artefact reduction (MAR) on these cases. Methodology: CBCT images of 14 premolar teeth were acquired before and after IRR simulation using chemical and mechanical procedures, in an OP300 Maxio unit, with and without MAR. Each tooth was placed in the socket of a human mandible and scanned under three different conditions: (i) without adjacent teeth – control group; (ii) distal adjacent tooth restored with metal post; and (iii) with both adjacent teeth restored with metal post. Five oral radiologists scored the IRR detection using a 5‐point scale. Diagnostic values were obtained for the tested groups and compared using two‐way analysis of variance (α = 0.05). Results: The presence of a single adjacent tooth restored with metal post did not significantly influence the diagnostic values for IRR detection (P > 0.05). The presence of both adjacent teeth with metal posts, without MAR application, was associated with a significantly lower area under the ROC curve (Az) compared to the control (P = 0.0182). In this case, the application of MAR increased Az, leading to nonsignificant differences from the control group and the group with one adjacent restored tooth (P > 0.05). Sensitivity decreased significantly when two adjacent restored teeth were present, regardless of MAR application (P = 0.0379). Specificity was not affected by the conditions tested (P > 0.05). Conclusion: CBCT detection of IRR was impaired by artefacts only when both adjacent teeth restored with metal posts were present. In such cases, activation of MAR improved the performance on this diagnostic task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most aluminium (Al)‐accumulating species are found on soils with high Al saturation and low Ca availability (Ca poor). Callisthene fasciculata Mart. (Vochysiaceae), however, is an Al‐accumulating tree restricted to Ca‐rich soils with low Al saturation in the Brazilian Cerrado savanna. Here we tested its calcicole behaviour, and the possible role of organic acids in detoxification of Al during the early stages of plant development.We assessed growth, dry mass, nutrients, Al and organic acids in seedlings grown for 50 days on two contrasting Cerrado soils; one with high Ca concentrations and low Al saturation and the other with low Ca availability and high Al saturation.Relative to plants on Ca‐rich soil, plants on Ca‐poor soil had necrotic spots and bronzing of leaves. Roots and shoots contained reduced concentrations of P and Cu, but higher concentrations of Fe, Al and citrate. Despite lower concentrations in the soil, Ca and Mg increased in shoots. Shoot concentrations of oxalate were also higher.We confirmed C. fasciculata as an Al‐accumulating species with calcicole behaviour. The increased concentrations of organic acids in plants with higher Al accumulation suggest that high availability of soluble Al does not prevent occurrence of this species on soils with high Al saturation. Instead, the absence of C. fasciculata from Ca‐poor soils is probably due to imbalances in tissue Fe, Cu and Zn imposed by this soil type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bees are the most important diurnal pollinators of angiosperms. In several groups of bees a nocturnal/crepuscular habit developed, yet little is known about their role in pollination and whether some plants are adapted specifically to these bees. We used a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the reproductive biology and to understand the role of nocturnal/crepuscular bees in pollination of Campomanesia phaea (Myrtaceae), popularly named cambuci., We studied the floral biology and breeding system of C. phaea. We collected the floral visitors and tested the pollinators' effectiveness. We also determined the floral scents released at night and during daytime, and studied behavioural responses of crepuscular/nocturnal bees towards these scents., The flowers of cambuci were self-incompatible and had pollen as the only resource for flower visitors. Anthesis lasted around 14 h, beginning at 04:30 h at night. The flowers released 14 volatile compounds, mainly aliphatic and aromatic compounds. We collected 52 species of floral visitors, mainly bees. Nocturnal and crepuscular bees (four species) were among the most frequent species and the only effective pollinators. In field bioassays performed at night, nocturnal/crepuscular bees were attracted by a synthetic scent blend consisting of the six most abundant compounds., This study describes the first scent-mediated pollination system between a plant and its nocturnal bee pollinators. Further, C. phaea has several floral traits that do not allow classification into other nocturnal pollination syndromes ( e.g. pollinator attraction already before sunrise, with pollen as the only reward), instead it is a plant specifically adapted to nocturnal bees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the analysis of altogether 1050 suspected hereditary breast/ovarian cancer ( HBOC) families, 524 fully screened for BRCA1/ BRCA2 mutations and 526 tested only for the most common mutations. Of the 119 families with pathogenic mutations, 40 (33.6%) had the BRCA2 c.156_157insAlu rearrangement and 15 (12.6%) the BRCA1 c.3331_3334del mutation, the former being specific of Portuguese ancestry and the latter showing a founder effect in Portugal. Interestingly, the two most common mutations were found in a significant proportion of the HBOC families with an a priori BRCAPRO mutation probability <10%. We recommend that all suspected HBOC families from Portugal or with Portuguese ancestry, even those fulfilling moderately stringent clinical-criteria for genetic testing, should be specifically analyzed for the two most common BRCA1/ BRCA2 founder mutations, and we here present a simple method for this first tier test. Screening of the entire coding regions of BRCA1 and BRCA2 should subsequently be offered to those families with a mutation probability ≥10% if none of those founder mutations are found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inga species are characterised by generalist or mixed pollination system. However, this feature does not enhance reproductive rates in species with very low fruit set under natural conditions. Some ecological and genetic factors are associated with this feature, and to test the effect of massive visits on pollination success in Inga subnuda subsp. luschnathiana, we studied the efficacy of polyads deposited on stigmas of flowers isolated from visitors and polyads exposed to visitors. The proportion of polyads fixed in stigmas decreased after exposure to visitors (24 h) in comparison to stigmas isolated from visitors (hummingbirds, bees, wasps, hawkmoths and bats), and fruit set was very low. Furthermore, nectar production, sugar composition and other floral biology traits were evaluated. Increased nectar production, sugar availability and sucrose dominance during the night indicates adaptation to nocturnal visitors and supports their role as main pollinators; although the brush-flower morphology, time of anthesis, nectar dynamics and chemical composition also allow daytime visitors. Thus the species is an important resource for a diverse group of floral visitors. We conclude that excess visits (diurnal and nocturnal) are responsible for the decrease in fixed polyads in stigmas of I. subnuda subsp. luschnathiana flowers, thus contributing, with others factors, to its low fruit set. Therefore, the generalist pollination system does not result in reproductive advantages because the low fruit set in natural conditions could be the result of a negative effect of visitors/pollinators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MSH2 c.388_389del mutation has occasionally been described in Lynch families worldwide. At the Portuguese Oncology Institute in Porto, Portugal, we have identified 16 seemingly unrelated families with this germline mutation. To evaluate if this alteration is a founder or a recurrent mutation we performed haplotype analysis in the 16 Portuguese index cases and 55 relatives, as well as in four index cases and 13 relatives reported from Germany, Scotland, England, and Argentina. In the Portuguese families we observed a shared haplotype of approximately 10 Mb and all were originated from the north of Portugal. These results suggest that this alteration is a founder mutation in Portugal with a relatively recent origin. In the reported families outside Portugal with this mutation different haplotype backgrounds were observed, supporting the hypothesis that it occurred de novo on multiple occasions. We also conclude that the high proportion of families with the MSH2 c.388_389del mutation indicates that screening for this alteration as a first step may be cost-effective in the genetic testing of Lynch syndrome suspects of Portuguese ancestry, especially those originating from the north of Portugal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a central component of the hydrogen peroxide detoxifying system in plant cells, ascorbate peroxidases (APX) play an essential role in the control of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. To characterise the function of cytosolic APX isoforms ( OsAPX1 and OsAPX2) in the mechanisms of plant defence, OsAPX1/2 knockdown rice plants were previously obtained. OsAPX1/2 knockdown plants (APx1/2s) exhibited a normal phenotype and development, even though they showed a global reduction of APX activity and increased hydrogen peroxide accumulation. To understand how rice plants compensate for the deficiency of cytosolic APX, expression and proteomic analyses were performed to characterise the global expression pattern of the APx1/2s mutant line compared with non-transformed plants. Our results strongly suggest that deficiencies in cytosolic APX isoforms markedly alter expression of genes associated with several key metabolic pathways, especially of genes involved in photosynthesis and antioxidant defence. These metabolic changes are compensatory because central physiological processes such as photosynthesis and growth were similar to non-transformed rice plants. Our analyses showed modulation of groups of genes and proteins related to specific metabolic pathways. Among the differentially expressed genes, the largest number corresponded to those with catalytic activity. Genes related to oxidative stress, carbohydrate metabolism, photosynthesis and transcription factor-encoding genes were also modulated. These results represent an important step toward understanding of the role played by cytosolic APX isoforms and hydrogen peroxide in the regulation of metabolism by redox modulation in monocots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, increased demand for low-calorie products and foods with alternative sweeteners has gained special attention. Intense sweeteners avoid the problems of health risks associated with caloric sweeteners. This paper presents information about the technical characteristics of the more widely used artificial sweeteners and the possibility of their application in low-calorie yogurts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new dynamic modeling methodology, SLIN (Simulação Linguistica), allowing for the analysis of systems defined by linguistic variables, is presented. SLIN applies a set of logical rules avoiding fuzzy theoretic concepts. To make the transition from qualitative to quantitative modes, logical rules are used as well. Extensions of the methodology to simulation-optimization applications and multiexpert system modeling are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SLIN (Simulação Linguistica) is a new method for qualitative dynamic simulation. As was presented previously (Camara et al., this issue), SLIN relies upon a categorical representation of variables which are manipulated by logical rules. Two applications to water resources systems are included to illustrate SLIN's potential usefulness: the environmental impact evaluation of a hydropower plant and the assessment of oil dispersion in the sea after a tanker wreck. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Microglia cells exert a critical role in brain development, mainly supported by their immune functions, which predicts an impact on the genesis of psychiatric disorders. In fact, microglia stress during gestation is, for instance, associated with chronic anxiety and cognitive deficits accompanied by long-lasting, region- and sex-specific changes in microglia morphology. We recently reported that the pattern of microglia morphologic plasticity, which is sex-determined, impacts on anxious-like behaviour and cognition. We also reported that the pharmacologic blockade of adenosine A 2A receptors (A 2 A R) is able to reshape microglia morphology, in a sex-specific manner and with behavioural sequelae. In order to better understand the role of A 2 A R in the sex differentiation of microglia, we now compared their morphology in wild-type and A 2 A R knockout male and female C57BL/6 mice in two cardinal brain regions implicated in anxiety-like behaviour and cognition, the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the dorsal hippocampus (dHIP). We report interregional differences between PFC and dHIP in a sex-specific manner: while males presented more complex microglia in the dHIP, microglia from females had a more complex morphology in the PFC. Surprisingly, the genetic deletion of A 2 A R did not alter these sex differences, but promoted the exclusive remodelling (increase in complexity) in PFC microglia from females. These findings further support the existence of a heterogeneous microglial network, distinct between sexes and brain regions, and help characterizing the role of A 2 A R in the sex- and brain region-specific morphologic differentiation of microglia., (© 2019 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Some biochemical characteristics of 37 enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens strains isolated from human feces, ground beef, and soil samples by heat-selection methods and of two NCTC strains were studied. Two different biochemical patterns closely related to the heat resistance of the strains were found. The strains placed into group 1 were trehalose, inositol, and sorbitol negative and synthesized heat-resistant spores, while those placed into group 2 were trehalose and inositol positive and synthesized heat-sensitive spores. Sorbitol fermentation was variable among the strains of this last group. The strains of group 1 were more cellobiose, melibiose, and salicin fermentative than those of group 2. Only the strains placed into group 2 synthesized toxins of sufficient levels for typing. In spite of having been isolated by mild heat treatment of the specimens, two strains showed the same biochemical and toxigenic characteristics of the strains of group 1. The heating of these two strains did not modify their characteristics. We conclude that enterotoxigenic C. perfringens strains showing the two different toxigenic and biochemical patterns are present in the human gut, ground beef, and, probably, in soil. These strains may be differentiated on the basis of their capacity to produce acid from trehalose, inositol, and sorbitol, heat resistance of the spores and grade of toxigenicity. The heat-selection methods used for isolation of C. perfringens strains from different sources exerted a selection of strains from one or another group, but had no influence on their toxigenic and biochemical properties.