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Integrated models (IMs) for stock assessment are simultaneously fit to diverse data sets to estimate parameters related to biological and fishery processes. Model misspecification may appear as contradictory signals in the data about these processes and may bias the estimate of quantities of interest. Auxiliary diagnostic analyses may be used to detect model misspecification and highlight potential solutions, but no set of good practices on what to use exist yet. In this study, we illustrate how to use auxiliary diagnostic analyses not only to identify model misspecification, but also to understand what data components provided information about abundance. The diagnostic tools included likelihood component profiles on the scaling parameter, age-structured production models, catch-curve analyses, and two novel analyses: empirical selectivity and monthly depletion models. While the likelihood profile indicated model misspecification, subsequent analyses were required to indicate the causes as unmodelled changes in selectivity and spatial structure of the population. The consistency between the catch-curve models, the monthly depletion models and the IM information on abundance comes from a strong signal shared by several purse-seine fisheries data sets: the length composition data informs absolute abundance while the indices of abundance constrain the trend in relative abundance.

Introdução: A recuperação da frequência cardíaca (RecFC), definida como declínio da frequência cardíaca (FC) após o exercício, é controlada por fatores neuro-humorais. Há duas fases observadas da RecFC, a rápida (reativação vagal), que compreende o período inicial entre 60 e 120 segundos e a lenta (retirada simpática), que vai até o retorno aos valores de repouso. Diversos fatores podem influenciar a RecFC, como o nível de condicionamento físico, o gênero, a idade e outros. Objetivo: Testar a hipótese de que existe diferença no declínio da RecFC entre adultos e adolescentes treinados. Métodos: Foram avaliados 58 jogadores de futebol, sexo masculino, divididos em dois grupos: Adolescentes (GJ) e Adultos (GA), com idade de 16,4 ± 0,5 e 27,9 ± 0,9 anos, respectivamente. Análises antropométricas, de FC e pressão arterial foram realizadas. Resultados: Ambos os grupos atingiram e ultrapassaram a frequência cardíaca máxima (FCmax) prevista pela idade. Os valores observados foram similares ao final da fase rápida da RecFC, enquanto ao final da fase lenta o grupo GJ obteve valores significativamente maiores. Valores de P < 0,05 foram considerados significantes. Conclusão: Os resultados da fase rápida apontam que altos níveis de condicionamento físico parecem atenuar o efeito deletério da idade sobre a reativação vagal. O mesmo efeito não foi observado sobre a retirada simpática durante a fase lenta, sendo assim, o grupo GJ obteve maiores valores de RecFC durante este período.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the increase in sensitivity of a single risperidone administration in relation to energy intake of Wistar rats treated with cafeteria diet from birth to adulthood (119 days). Design/methodology/approach During the lactation period, six litters of Wistar rats (dam + 8 pups each litter) were fed one of the following two diets: Control (n = 3) or Cafeteria (n = 3) diets and water ad libitum. After weaning, the males were placed in individual cages, receiving the same diet offered to their respective dams (Control = 18; or Cafeteria = 18) until adulthood (119 postnatal days). The following parameters were evaluated: food and energy intake; macronutrient intake; weight gain; adipose tissue relative weight; sucrose preference; food intake after an administration of risperidone (0.1 mg/kg body weight). Findings The Cafeteria group showed a higher energy intake in relation to the Control group (p < 0.001). The consumption of energy beyond the individual needs can be understood as a hyperphagic condition. Also, the Cafeteria group reported greater weight gain (p = 0.048) and accumulation of adipose tissue (p < 0.001) with respect to the Control group. These results indicate that the cafeteria diet generated obesity in animals. The Cafeteria group showed reduced sucrose preference (p = 0.031), which is associated with the development of anhedonia-like behavior. In the food intake test, risperidone showed a greater sensitivity in Cafeteria animals, promoting a decrease in their energy intake in relation to the Control group that received risperidone (p = 0.040). Originality/value The cafeteria diet promoted hyperphagia, anhedonia-like behavior and obesity in animals. Acute risperidone administration showed greater sensitivity in the Cafeteria group, with a decrease in energy intake. The reported effects may be related to a downregulation of the dopaminergic system in the NAc region.

The present study describes the use of fucoidan, a negative sulfated polysaccharide, as a coating material for the development of liposomes targeted to macrophages infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. First, fucoidan was chemically modified to obtain a hydrophobized-fucoidan derivative (cholesteryl-fucoidan) using a two-step microwave-assisted (μW) method. The total reaction time was decreased from 14 hours to 1 hour while maintaining the overall yield. Cholesterylfucoidan was then used to prepare surface-modified liposomes containing usnic acid (UA-LipoFuc), an antimicrobial lichen derivative. UA-LipoFuc was evaluated for mean particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), surface charge (ζ), and UA encapsulation efficiency. In addition, a cytotoxicity study, competition assay and an evaluation of antimycobacterial activity against macrophages infected with M. tuberculosis (H37Ra) were performed. When the amount of fucoidan was increased (from 5 to 20 mg), vesicle size increased (from 168 ± 2.82 nm to 1.18 ± 0.01 μm). Changes in from +20 ± 0.41 mV for uncoated liposomes to −5.41 ± 0.23 mV for UA-LipoFuc suggested that the fucoidan was placed on the surface of the liposomes. UA-LipoFuc exhibited a lower IC50 (8.26 ± 1.11 μM) than uncoated liposomes (18.37 ± 3.34 μM), probably due to its higher uptake. UA-LipoFuc5 was internalized through the C-type carbohydrate recognition domain of the cell membrane. Finally, usnic acid, both in its free form and encapsulated in fucoidan-coated liposomes (UA-LipoFuc5), was effective against infected macrophages. Hence, this preliminary investigation suggests that encapsulated usnic acid will aid in further studies related to infected macrophages and may be a potential option for tuberculosis treatment.

Introduction Varying public views on cannabis use across countries may explain the variation in the prevalence of use, policies, and research in individual countries, and global regulation of cannabis. This paper aims to describe the current state of cannabis use, policies, and research across sixteen countries. Methods PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for studies published from 2010 to 2020. Searches were conducted using the relevant country of interest as a search term (e.g., “Iran”), as well as relevant predefined keywords such as “cannabis,” “marijuana,” “hashish,” “bhang “dual diagnosis,” “use,” “addiction,” “prevalence,” “co-morbidity,” “substance use disorder,” “legalization” or “policy” (in English and non-English languages). These keywords were used in multiple combinations to create the search string for studies’ titles and abstracts. Official websites of respective governments and international organizations were also searched in English and non-English languages (using countries national languages) to identify the current state of cannabis use, policies, and research in each of those countries. Results The main findings were inconsistent and heterogeneous reporting of cannabis use, variation in policies (e.g., legalization), and variation in intervention strategies across the countries reviewed. European countries dominate the cannabis research output indexed on PubMed, in contrast to Asian countries (Thailand, Malaysia, India, Iran, and Nepal). Conclusions Although global cannabis regulation is ongoing, the existing heterogeneities across countries in terms of policies and epidemiology can increase the burden of cannabis use disorders disproportionately and unpredictably. There is an urgent need to develop global strategies to address these cross-country barriers to improve early detection, prevention, and interventions for cannabis use and related disorders.

The current study addresses the need to empirically develop effective mental health interventions for youth from ethnic/racial minority and low-income neighborhoods. Using Stage Model evaluation methods supported by the National Institutes of Health in the US to address underutilization of mental healthcare among racial/ethnic minority youth, this feasibility study demonstrates empirical adaptation of an innovative sport-specific psychological intervention for use in youth from ethnic/racial minority and low-income neighborhoods. An international group of professionals familiar with sport performance and mental health intervention serving the target population experientially examined the adapted intervention protocols in workshops and provided feedback. Survey results indicated the professionals found the intervention components were easy to administer and likely to be safe, enjoyable, engaging and efficacious for youth mental health and sport performance. The protocols were revised based on feedback from these professionals and the intervention was examined in a case trial involving an Asian American youth who evidenced Social Anxiety Disorder. Case study results indicated the intervention could be implemented with integrity, and severity of psychiatric symptoms and factors interfering with sport performance decreased after intervention implementation. The participant’s relationships with family, coaches and teammates were also improved.

Leaf blight caused by the fungi of the genus Calonectria represents a high economic risk for forestry companies due to the high potential of economic damage to commercial eucalyptus plantations. An outbreak of leaf blight was observed in Eucalyptus benthamii progeny in three sites in Southern Brazil. This study aimed to: (i) identify the causal agents of the disease; (ii) quantify the incidence and severity of leaf blight (CLB), and (iii) evaluate the selection for CLB resistance potential of E. benthamii. The incidence of the disease was 100% and severity progressed over time, causing more than 50% of canopy defoliation in most trees. The fungal species associated with this study were C. metrosideri and C. spathulata, both found to be pathogenic; C. spathulata was the most aggressive. Infection of E. benthamii by these fungi was associated with temperatures around 18 °C and relative humidity of approximately 74%. There is sufficient genetic variability for the selection of resistant E. benthamii progenies to CLB, based on low severity degrees.

Human angiostrongyliasis is an important foodborne zoonosis, caused by the infection with Angiostrongylus costaricensis and Angiostrongylus cantonensis. These two species have a significant public health impact in different areas of the world. Angiostrongyliasis is re-emerging and expanding to urban settings rising significant concerns regarding the control of these infections. This review focuses on aspects such as life cycle, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostics, food safety and control of illness caused especially by A. cantonensis.

The Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) is a recent meta-heuristic that can be explored in global optimization problems. This paper proposes a new parameter adjustment mechanism that influences the probability of the food recognition process in the whale algorithm. The adjustment is performed using a fuzzy inference system that uses the current iteration number as input information. Our simulation results are compared with other meta-heuristics such as the conventional version of WOA, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Differential Evolution (DE). All algorithms are used to optimize ten test functions (Sphere, Schwefel 2.22, Quartic, Rosenbrock, Ackley, Rastrigin, Penalty 1, Schwefel 2.21, Six hump camel back and Shekel 1) in order to obtain their respective optimal values for be used as criteria for analysis and comparison. The results of the simulations show that the proposed fuzzy inference system improves the convergence of WOA and also is competitive in relation to the other algorithms, i.e., classical WOA, PSO and DE.

Inhibited reactions have occasionally been observed when cilantro samples were processed for the detection of Cyclospora cayetanensis using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Partial or total inhibition of PCR reactions, including qPCR, can occur, leading to decreased sensitivity or false-negative results. If inhibition occurs, this implies the need for additional purification or cleanup treatments of the extracted DNA to remove inhibitors prior to molecular detection. Our objective was to evaluate the performance of five commercial DNA cleanup kits (QIAquick purification kit from Qiagen [kit 1], OneStep PCR inhibitor removal by Zymo Research [kit 2], NucleoSpin genomic DNA cleanup XS from Macherey-Nagel [kit 3], DNA IQ system by Promega [kit 4], and DNeasy PowerPlant pro kit from Qiagen [5]) to minimize qPCR inhibition using the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-validated Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) Chapter 19b method for detection of C. cayetanensis in cilantro samples containing soil. Each of the five commercial DNA cleanup kits evaluated was able to reduce the qPCR internal amplification control cycle threshold values to those considered to be normal for noninhibited samples, allowing unambiguous interpretation of results in cilantro samples seeded at both a high oocyst level (200 oocysts) and a low oocyst level (10 oocysts). Of the five kits compared, kits 1, 2, and 3 did not show significant differences in the detection of C. cayetanensis, while significantly higher cycle threshold values, indicating lower recovery of the target DNA, were observed from kits 4 and/or 5 in samples seeded with 200 and 10 oocysts (P < 0.05). This comparative study provides recommendations on the use of commercial cleanup kits which could be implemented when inhibition is observed in the detection of C. cayetanensis in cilantro samples using the BAM Chapter 19b method. HIGHLIGHTS

In the United States and Europe, human onchocerciasis is a rare disease caused by zoonotic or anthropophilic parasites in the genus Onchocerca. The zoonotic species identified in focal areas of Europe and United States is Onchocerca lupi, and Onchocerca volvulus, the anthroponotic species, may be found among people who had lived in endemic areas of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, or Latin America. Onchocerciasis due to O. lupi is an emergent parasitic disease, with limited diagnostic methods, in addition to the lack of information on its biology, transmission, and epidemiology. Cutaneous nodules are the disease's most prevalent manifestation but lack diagnostic specificity. To address the diagnosis of onchocerciasis at reference laboratories, we developed a duplex TaqMan real-time PCR (qPCR) method, targeting the cytochrome oxidase subunit I locus which has species-specific probes to identify and differentiate O. lupi from O. volvulus. We determined the performance of the duplex with a panel of 45 samples: 11 positives for O. lupi, six for O. volvulus, five samples with negative results for Onchocerca spp., and 23 non-Onchocerca nematodes. The duplex qPCR correctly detected 10 of 11 O. lupi- and six of six O. volvulus-positive specimens. The new duplex assay allowed the simultaneous detection and discrimination of O. lupi and O. volvulus in clinical specimens, expediting and facilitating the clinical diagnosis of O. lupi in non-endemic settings where the disease is an infrequent finding.

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-12T02:23:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-01-01 Aegla quilombola: is an anomuran crab endemic to São Paulo State, Brazil. The present manuscript aims to provide information about sexual dimorphism using geometric morphometrics, as well as information about heterochely, laterality and sexual maturity. The specimens were sampled in Intervales State Park. The carapace and chelipeds of all animals were photographed and landmarks digitalized. In the analyses, the propodus of the first pair of pereopods (chelipeds) were used. The same structures were measured for morphometric sexual maturity, analysing the relationships between carapace length (CL) x propodus height for males, and CL x abdomen length (ABL) for females. For heterochely and laterality, the height of male and female chelipeds were evaluated. Morphological differences were found in the shape of the posterior margin of the carapace and in the chelipeds’ palmar region. Males reached morphometric maturity at smaller sizes and showed heterochely and laterality, usually having a larger left cheliped. These differences are probably related to differential energy use by males and females in fulfiling specific ecological roles. Females had larger abdominal margins to invest in reproduction and males invested energy in chelipeds that were more robust and larger than females, as chelipeds are often used in agonistic interactions and to obtain better resources. Centro de Ciências Humanas e da Educação (CCHE) Universidade Estadual Do Norte Do Paraná (UENP) – Campus Cornélio Procópio Laboratório De Biologia De Camarões Marinhos E De Água Doce (LABCAM) Departamento De Ciências Biológicas Faculdade De Ciências Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Departamento De Ciências Biológicas Universidade Estadual Paulista FCLA UNESP, Assis Programa De Pós-graduação Em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia) Instituto De Biociências De Botucatu Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Laboratório De Biologia De Camarões Marinhos E De Água Doce (LABCAM) Departamento De Ciências Biológicas Faculdade De Ciências Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Departamento De Ciências Biológicas Universidade Estadual Paulista FCLA UNESP, Assis Programa De Pós-graduação Em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia) Instituto De Biociências De Botucatu Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)

The genus Gliocephalotrichum (Nectriaceae), originally described as a soil-borne fungus, has been associated with postharvest diseases, especially of tropical fruits. Taxonomic studies using both morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses have contributed to recognition of novel species in several countries. However, in Brazil, only three isolates of Gliocephalotrichum have been collected from soil samples and roots since the late 1970s. Our study expands the sample range using many Gliocephalotrichum isolates obtained from rotting fruits of tropical plant species in different states of Brazil. Polyphasic taxonomy was assessed with phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences from four nuclear loci, morphological comparisons, and pathogenicity tests. As a result, three known species (G. bulbilium, G. longibrachium, and G. simplex) were identified from new hosts and locations in Brazil. In addition, three new species are described—G. abrachium, G. brasiliense, and G. caryocaris. A key to all Gliocephalotrichum species worldwide is provided. Although species of Gliocephalotrichum have not been considered to be important plant pathogens, this study shows they may cause postharvest fruit rot in tropical fruits and therefore have an impact in communities that depend economically on the harvest and sale of these fruits. Coordenação de aperfeiçoamento de pessoal de nivel superior/[]/CAPES/Brasil Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa[]/CNPq/Brasil Fundação de Apoio a Pesquisa do Distrito Federal/[0193.000825/2015]/FAP-DF/Brasil Fundação de Apoio a Pesquisa do Distrito Federal/[193.000.512/2018-57]/FAP-DF/Brasil UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigaciones en Productos Naturales (CIPRONA) UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de Biología

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the pathological, biochemical and redox state parameters of liver tissue in Wistar rats treated from birth to adulthood (119 days) with cafeteria diet. Design/methodology/approach During the lactation, 6 liters of Wistar rats (dam + 8 pups each) were fed one of two diets: control (CTRL; n = 3) or cafeteria (CAF; n = 3) diets and water ad libitum. After weaning, the males were placed in individual cages, receiving the same diet offered to their respective dams (CTRL or CAF; n = 18) until adulthood. The following parameters were evaluated: absolute and relative liver weight; blood, liver and feces biochemistry; liver histology; and redox state of the liver. Findings When assessing the relative and absolute organ weight, no significant differences were found between the groups. The Cafeteria group exhibited higher values of serum LDL-c (p = 0.008), VLDL-c (p = 0.03) and triglycerides (p = 0.01), as well as several micro and macrovacuoles of fat accumulation, higher hepatic lipid (p = 0.03) and cholesterol (p = 0.0001) levels regarding Control group. Cafeteria group showed greater expression of glutathione-s-transferase (p = 0.03) and superoxide dismutase (p = 0.005) enzymes compared to the control group. In the case of the markers of oxidative stress, there was no difference between the groups. Originality/value A simple and standardized cafeteria diet caused an accumulation of fatty acids in liver tissue, inducing a state of hepatic steatosis besides an increased expression of antioxidant enzymes.

Cladosterigma clavariellum has been treated as a basidiomycete since its first description by Spegazzini in 1886 as Microcera clavariella. After further morphological studies, between 1919 and 2011, it remained among the basidiomycetes, most recently as incertae sedis in the order Cryptobasidiales. Our studies, based on light and scanning electron microscopy, supported by multilocus phylogenetic analyses-second-largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1), small subunit (18S), large subunit (28S), and nuclear internal transcribed spacers (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) of the nuclear rDNA sequences, and mitochondrial rDNA small subunit (mtSSU)-finally determined the phylogenetic placement of Cladosterigma as the first nonlichenicolous mycoparasitic member of the Gomphillaceae within the Graphidales, an ascomycete order previously composed predominantly of lichen-forming fungi.

Diptera Mesembrinellidae present great ecological importance as potential bioindicators and Calliphoridae stand out for their medical-sanitary importance as potential vectors of pathogens and causes of human and animal diseases such as myiasis. They beneficially aid in elucidating crimes in forensic entomology, contributing to determine the postmortem interval (PMI) and assisting in the healing process of necrotic wounds in larval therapy. This study aimed to inventory the Calliphoridae and Mesembrinellidae fauna in order to evaluate structural parameters and to apply faunal indexes in catching species in the Itaipu–Piratininga lagoon complex, in Niterói (Rio de Janeiro), Brazil. The collections were carried out monthly from September 2015 to August 2016 with fish bait (sardines) exposed for 48 h, totaling six traps installed in three physiognomies (mangrove, ombrophilous forest, and restinga). In total, 9,773 individuals were captured, divided into two families, five genera, and 11 species. Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) was the predominant species, while Mesembrinella bellardiana (Aldrich, 1922) was the least representative species, indicating the preservation level of this ecosystem. Ombrophilous forest was the physiognomy with greater diversity and restinga was the physiognomy with greater species dominance. The similarity index indicated greater similarity among the mangrove and restinga populations.

Este trabalho apresenta dados sobre a dinâmica reprodutiva, o padrão alimentar e as associações com parasitos em indivíduos de Artibeus lituratus capturados no período de 2009 a 2018 em três Parques Naturais urbanos no município do Rio de Janeiro. Os animais foram capturados com auxílio de redes de espera, medidos, pesados e inspecionados para a ocorrência de ectoparasitas; quando possível, foram coletadas fezes e preparados esfregaços sanguíneos para análise da dieta e presença de hemoparasitos, respectivamente. A partir da avaliação dos 307 espécimes capturados, verificou-se que os dados biométricos estavam dentro do esperado para a espécie. A dieta foi avaliada através de 68 amostras de fezes, que continham fragmentos de insetos, polpa de frutos e sementes de Urticaceae, Combretaceae, Myrtaceae, Piperaceae e Solanaceae. Os parasitos encontrados em associação com os morcegos foram a espécie de Diptera Paratrichobius longicrus e o ácaro Periglischrus iheringi, além dos hemoparasitos Plasmodium sp., Hepatozoon sp., e Litomosoides sp. Os dados referentes à reprodução de Artibeus lituratus nos parques urbanos inventariados neste estudo demonstram que eles mantêm um padrão reprodutivo típico da Subfamília Stenodermatinae, que consiste em poliestria bimodal com pico em março e abril e outro em julho, agosto e setembro.

Growth studies on Anomura, especially hermit crabs, are relatively limited, due to the complexity in constructing generalized growth models as well as the heterogeneity of the group. Despite Diogenes alias being one of the most abundant species in the study area, there is a lack of information regarding its sexual dimorphism and maturity. The present study aims to evaluate its ontogenic allometry, using Jolicoeur’s multivariate allometric coefficient. The specimens were collected biweekly from trawl fishing grounds off the Mumbai coast for one year. Sexual dimorphism was patent at the larger cheliped width in males and the wider shield width in females, which was attributed to the differential energy allocation by both male and female. The size of morphological sexual maturity was established at 7.6 mm shield length for males, and at 6.2 mm in females.

Black pod disease, caused by Phytophthora species, is among the main limiting factors of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) production. High incidence levels of black pod disease have been reported in Brazil, being induced by Phytophthora capsici, Phytophthora citrophthora, Phytophthora heveae, and Phytophthora palmivora. To assess the diversity of Phytophthora species affecting cacao in Brazil, 40 new isolates were obtained from cacao pods exhibiting symptoms of black pod disease collected in different smallholder farms in 2017. Further, ten cacao-infecting isolates morphologically identified as P. citrophthora and P. palmivora were molecularly characterized. The genomic regions beta-tubulin, elongation factor 1 alpha, heat shock protein 90, and internal transcribed spacer, and the mitochondrially encoded cytochrome c oxidase I and II genes were PCR-amplified and Sanger-sequenced from the cacao-infecting Phytophthora isolates. The morphological characterization and evaluation of the mycelial growth rates for the Phytophthora isolates were performed in vitro. Based on the molecular analysis and morphological comparisons, 19 isolates were identified as P. palmivora (clade 4). Interestingly, 31 isolates grouped together in the phylogenetic tree and were placed apart from previously known species in Phytophthora clade 2. Therefore, these isolates are considered as a new species herein referred to as Phytophthora theobromicola sp. nov., which produced papillate, semipapillate, and persistent sporangia on simple sporangiophores. The P. palmivora isolates were identified as A1 mating type by pairing each isolate with known A1 and A2 tester strains of P. capsici, but no oogonia/antheridia were observed when P. theobromicola was paired with the different tester strains. The P. theobromicola and P. citrophthora isolates showed higher mycelial growth rates, when compared to P. palmivora, on different media at 10, 15, and 20°C, but similar values were observed when grown on clarified CA media at 25 and 30°C. The pathogenicity tests carried out on pods of four cacao clones (CCN51, PS1319, Cepec2004, and CP49) showed significant variability among the isolates of both Phytophthora species, with P. theobromicola inducing higher rates of necrotic lesion expansion, when compared to P. palmivora. Here, two Phytophthora species were found associated with black pod disease in the state of Bahia, Brazil, and the previously undescribed P. theobromicola seems to be prevalent in field conditions. This is the first report of P. theobromicola on T. cacao. Also, these findings are crucial to improve the disease control strategies, and for the development of cacao materials genetically resistant to Phytophthora.

The use of allelopathy emerges as an alternative method for weed management in crops, especially in small vegetable producing properties. Thus, the objective of this work was to identify possible allelopathic effects of aqueous extracts of the weeds Cyperus difformis L. (small-flowered nutsedge), Commelina benghalensis L. (benghal dayflower) and Galinsoga parviflora Cav. (gallant soldier) on seed germination and seedling growth of Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce) and Lycopersicum esculentum L. (tomato). Two experiments were carried out in a completely randomized design with five replications, the first with lettuce seeds and the second with tomato seeds submitted to germination in five concentrations of weeds aqueous extracts (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%). All treatments with aqueous extracts of the three species, at different concentrations, caused a reduction in lettuce and tomato root length. There was a reduction in most of the evaluated variables, and seed germination of the crops had the lowest influence of the extracts. The weeds benghal dayflower, small-flowered nutsedge and gallant soldier showed allelopathic potential on lettuce and tomato crops. This potential allelopathic effect is directly related to the concentration and type of extract from the plant species. In general, it can be noted that the greatest allelopathic effect occurred with the use of small-flowered nutsedge extract, followed by gallant soldier and benghal dayflower. Made available in DSpace on 2020-05-07T04:38:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Allelopathy-weeds.pdf: 833932 bytes, checksum: 16a6986afe0ab211e6b1754666453bf5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2020

The persistence and high dispersal of weeds during the off-season can favor the survival of pests and diseases that threaten cultivated crops in Brazil. The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is one of the principal polyphagous pests that takes advantage of the no-tillage system. Despite its pest status, little is known about S. frugiperda survival and development in alternative hosts, including those resistant to glyphosate. The purpose of this study was to investigate, in laboratory and greenhouse conditions, the adaptive capacity of S. frugiperda in volunteer maize and 6 weeds commonly found in Brazilian agroecosystems, including species with biotypes known for glyphosate resistance, such as fleabane, sourgrass, and goosegrass. We found that S. frugiperda survival and biomass were significantly higher in goosegrass, maize, and johnsongrass in both laboratory and greenhouse conditions. In contrast, fleabane, benghal dayflower, sourgrass, and smooth pigweed caused a decrease in S. frugiperda fitness. Along with S. frugiperda adaptive capacity, our results suggest that its persistence in the field can be directly related to weed control inefficiency during the off-season, increasing the demand for integrated pest and weed management. Made available in DSpace on 2020-07-16T11:12:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Survival-development.pdf: 443015 bytes, checksum: 28ae25b321ea833363edf37db36d991c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2020

Ever since its brief introduction in the Brazilian territory in 1981, dengue virus serotype 4 (DENV-4) remained absent from the national epidemiological scenario for almost 25 years. The emergence of DENV-4 in 2010 resulted in epidemics in most Brazilian states. DENV-4, however, remains one of the least studied among the four DENV serotypes. Despite being known as a mild serotype, DENV-4 is associated with severe cases and deaths and deserves to be investigated, however, the lack of suitable experimental animal models is a limiting factor for pathogenesis studies. Here, we aimed to investigate the susceptibility and potential tropism of DENV-4 for liver, lung and heart of an immunocompetent mice model, and to evaluate and investigate the resulting morphological and ultrastructural alterations upon viral infection. BALB/c mice were inoculated intravenously with non-neuroadapted doses of DENV-4 isolated from a human case. The histopathological analysis of liver revealed typical alterations of DENV, such as microsteatosis, edema and vascular congestion, while in lung, widespread areas of hemorrhage and interstitial pneumonia were observed. While milder alterations were present in heart, characterized by limited hemorrhage and discrete presence of inflammatory infiltrate, the disorganization of the structure of the intercalated disc is of particular interest. DENV-4 RNA was detected in liver, lung, heart and serum of BALB/c mice through qRT-PCR, while the NS3 viral protein was observed in all of the aforementioned organs through immunohistochemistry. These findings indicate the susceptibility of the model to the serotype and further reinforce the usefulness of BALB/c mice in studying the many alterations caused by DENV.

Ralstonia solanacearum, a causal agent of bacterial wilt, a disease with significant negative impacts on world agriculture, presents considerable difficulties in handling due to its resistance to the common forms of control. Based on this context, the objective of this work was to investigate alternative substances for biofilm control and planktonic growth of this phytopathogen. Four organic extracts in the eluotropic series (cyclohexane, chloroform, athyl acetate, and methanol) of Myroxylon peruiferum collected in the Caatinga were evaluated for antibiofilm and antibacterial activity using the crystal violet method and antibacterial activity in microplates, considering positive values greater than 50% inhibition. The organic extracts were evaluated qualitatively by thin layer chromatography. Results obtained showed that antibiofilm activity was detected in the cyclohexanic extract, whereas ethyl acetate extract showed antibiotic activity, both in the minimum inhibitory concentration of 3 mg/mL. The evaluation presented in this study provides a database for the development of new natural phytopathogen control agents.

Reference points are used to determine whether overfishing is occurring, a stock is overfished, or the abundance of the stock is approaching an undesirable level. Reference points are often classified as limit reference points, which indicate an undesirable state, or target reference points, which specify a desirable one. Limit reference points frequently indicate a state for which the reproductive potential of the stock is impacted, and are thus based on spawning output. Spawning output is also used in the stock-recruitment curve, which is a key component of stock-assessment models. We investigated the effect on stock assessment results of metrics of spawning output that are used either in the stock-recruitment relationship or to evaluate reference points. We use yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) in the eastern Pacific Ocean as an example. The metrics biomass of mature females and fecundity attribute higher reproductive potential to the older ages, while numbers of mature females and summary biomass attribute more to the younger ages. Both the stock assessment results and the evaluation of reference points are sensitive to the metric used. The most optimistic perceptions of stock status are obtained when using numbers of mature females, female summary biomass or summary biomass to evaluate the reference points. The choice of metric may be as important as the uncertainty about steepness of the stock-recruitment curve. Given the difficulty in determining the appropriate measure of spawning output and the fact that populations fluctuate naturally, it is recommended that fishing mortality-based reference points are given more consideration for management advice aiming to maintain stocks at desirable states (target reference points) and that harvest control rules based on both types of reference points be compared for their relative effectiveness in avoiding recruitment overfishing and achieving other fisheries objectives using Management Strategy Evaluation.

Although molecular diagnostics is well established in clinical laboratories, its full potential has not been extended to field settings. Typically, diagnostic real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) reagents require temperature-controlled transportation and storage. Furthermore, thermocyclers are bulky and fragile, requiring good infrastructure for optimal operation. These major hurdles strongly limit use of molecular-based tests in low-resource scenarios. Herein, Trypanosoma cruzi or Plasmodium spp. DNA were detected with qPCR using commercial equipment (ABI7500 instrument) and a prototype platform comprising a portable device and a silicon chip, named Q3-Plus. In addition, a ready-to-use reaction format, where all qPCR reagents are stored on plate or on chip, was compared with the traditional freezer-stored format. No significant differences were observed in detecting T. cruzi or Plasmodium spp. DNA between thermocyclers, as well as between reagents' formats, for storage periods of up to 28 days (at 2°C to 8°C or 21°C to 23°C, respectively). When challenged with patients' samples, the Q3-Plus system performed as efficiently as the standard equipment for Plasmodium spp. DNA detection, showing it to be a valuable solution to malaria point-of-care diagnostics. Detection of T. cruzi DNA in chronic patients' samples using the Q3-Plus system yielded approximately 50% efficiency relative to the ABI7500. These results are essential to support future endeavors to bring molecular diagnostics to the point of care, where most needed.

Studies about bats biology encompassing diet, reproduction and parasitology are important to understand the role of these small animals in the ecosystem. However, few studies present such information. Therefore, the present paper was made to congregate information about biology of Phyllostomus hastatus, and compare the results between two urban parks at Rio de Janeiro City (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil): Parque Natural Municipal da Freguesia (PNMF) and Parque Estadual da Pedra Branca (PEPB), the latter being considerably larger than the other one. Long-term fieldworks were conducted in both areas and data on biometry, reproduction, parasites and diet were assembled. Animals were captured in mists nets and put in cotton sacs, from where fecal material was collected for further analysis. They were measured alive and inspected for reproductive stage; ectoparasites were collected and blood smears were made whenever possible. Bats were released at the end of the fieldwork. The feces and blood material were analyzed at the lab. Thus, 53 specimens of Phyllostomus were captured, 13 from PNMF and 40 from PEPB. We found individuals with smaller measurements at the most anthropized park – the Freguesia Park; reproduction occurred between September and December at both parks; diet included Curcubitaceae, Urticaceae, Bombacaceae, Lythraceae, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hemiptera and Diptera. Concerning ectoparasites, Diptera and Acari were recorded; no haemoparasites were found in the blood smears. Although specimens from the smaller park seem to be most affected by anthropization, our results reinforce the idea that the creation of small parks is important for species maintenance, since it may serve as ecological corridor and as a food source for the animals.

Biflorin (6,9-dimethyl-3-(4-methylpent-3-en-1-yl) benzo[de]chromene-7,8-dione) is a promising substance that has been increasingly studied in the past decades due to its diverse pharmacological properties (i.e. antitumor, antioxidant, antiinflamatory, antimicrobial activity etc.). Aiming the comprehension of its antitumoral activity we investigated the cell proliferation and cytotoxicity habilities of biflorin against mice splenocytes Balb/c. Biflorin was able to stimulate mice splenocytes Balb/c in 48 h of incubation at a concentration of 20.2 μM. Its immunostimulation promoted the production of cytokines such as: TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-6 and IL-17, inducing the immune profile toward a Th1 response. Moreover, an original method which led to an excellent yield with less processing time compared to the methods described in the literature was developed to obtain biflorin, from sawdust of Capraria biflora L., Scrophulariaceae. This method shows a great potential of increasing the production of this pharmacological active compound. Keywords: Biflorin, Original method, Biological activity, Immunomodulatory effect

Wood sanding is one of the most expensive processes in the woodworking industry, and little is known about the factors that influence the final quality of wooden parts. For this reason, studies involving different wood treatments, such as thermal treatment, have been developed to produce better surface qualities. The objective of this work was to verify the influence of thermal treatment of the wood species Corymbia citriodora before the sanding process on the surface quality of the wood pieces. The surface finishes of the sanded natural and heat-treated wood were compared. Sanding was performed using two sandpaper grades, 80 mesh and 120 mesh, with abrasive grains of aluminum oxide. The sanding process was performed by flat horizontal sanding parallel to the fibers. Six specimens were used for each sandpaper grade. Initially the specimens were heat-treated at 120 °C, 160 °C, and 200 °C for 2 h, and then they were subjected to sanding. For the analysis of the surface quality of the wood pieces, the average roughness was used. From the obtained results, it was concluded that the heat treatment considerably reduced the roughness of the wood for both sandpaper grit sizes, and it facilitated the final finishing of the wood pieces.

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) and glyphosate-tolerant weeds cause considerable yield losses and represent a growing threat to soybean production systems. Despite the relevance of this topic, few studies have evaluated the dispersal of these species in Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dispersal and frequency of known GR and glyphosate-tolerant weeds in soybean-producing microregions. A total of 2,481 interviews were conducted in different regions of Brazil. The interviews were stratified among 20 edaphoclimatic microregions (ECRs) to cover all of the country's soybean-producing regions. A minimum number of interviews was estimated to generate a margin of error of ≤10% within the ECRs and ≤5% in the country. The values of the farmers' responses were extrapolated to the total soybean production area of each ECR and the country as a whole, and the absolute values of each response were normalized as percentage values. The dispersal and management data demonstrate a loss of efficiency of glyphosate-resistance technology. Species that are naturally tolerant to glyphosate such as goosegrass, Commelina spp., and Ipomoea spp. had a greater presence in the ECRs, as did the resistant biotypes, particularly Conyza spp. and sourgrass, due to the large area cultivated with GR soybean, where glyphosate has been used with high frequency.Nomenclature: Glyphosate; dayflower species, Commelina spp.; goosegrass, Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.; horseweed, Conyza spp; morningglory species, Ipomoea spp; sourgrass, Digitaria insularis (L.) Mez ex Ekman; soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr

The aim of this study was to investigate the level of exposure to Leishmania infection in stray dogs in an area of intense visceral leishmaniasis transmission in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Blood samples from 178 dogs were analyzed using serological and molecular assays: rapid immunochromatographic test (ICT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), and conventional and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (cPCR and qPCR). Positivity values obtained with serological tests were 71.4% (127/178), 70.2% (125/178), and 50.6% (90/178) using ICT, ELISA, and IFAT, respectively, with 38.8% (69/178) of the dogs were simultaneously positive for all three tests. The positivity values obtained with cPCR and qPCR were 20.2% (36/178) and 38.8% (69/178), respectively, with 11.8% (21/178) testing positive in both molecular assays. Overall, 87.1% (155/178) were positive for anti-Leishmania spp. antibodies and/or Leishmania spp. DNA. Positivity to one or more tests was statistically associated with lymphadenomegaly, skin lesions, lymphocytosis, anemia and hyperproteinemia. The results of this study revealed a high level of exposure to Leishmania in stray dogs in an area of intense human visceral leishmaniasis transmission, suggesting that dogs play a role as reservoirs in the transmission cycle of this zoonosis.

Several studies about the phylogenetic relationships of the Scarabaeinae subfamily (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) have been performed, but some phylogenetic uncertainties persist including the relationship and monophyly of different tribes and some genera. The aim of this study was to characterize the mitogenome of Coprophanaeus ensifer in order to establish its position within the Scarabaeidae family and to contribute to the resolution of some phylogenetic uncertainties. The mitogenome was sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq 4000, assembled using the Mitobim software and annotated in MITOS WebServer. The phylogenetic trees were reconstructed by Bayesian inference. The C. ensifer mitogenome is a molecule of 14,964 bp that contains the number and organization of the genes similar to those of most Coleoptera species. Phylogenetic reconstruction suggests monophyly of the tribe Phanaeini and supports the hypothesis that Coprini is a sister group of Phanaeini. The results also revealed the position of the tribe Oniticellini which is grouped with Onthophagini and Onitini. The geographic distribution of these species that form the most ancestral clade suggests with Scarabaeinae originated in Africa.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-28T19:42:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-08-01 Gene flow studies provide information on gene exchange between populations, which is essential for developing genetic conservation strategies. Such analyses enable a better understanding of the life history and seed and pollen dispersal mechanisms of plant species. In this study, we investigate pollen and seed flow in a regenerant population of the pioneer species Astronium fraxinifolium in an area degraded during the construction of a hydroelectric dam. We mapped, sampled, sexed, and genotyped 386 individuals in the regenerant population (RP), as well as 128 adult trees located along two highways adjacent to the degraded area; one in Mato Grosso do Sul State (MS) and other in São Paulo State (SP). Parentage analyses was carried out for 370 individuals of the RP population, using as putative parents 348 individuals from RP and all 128 individuals sampled in MS and SP. Based on parentage analysis and eight microsatellite loci, our analyses revealed that for individuals of the RP with an identified father (pollen donor), 1.1% of the pollen was dispersed up to 532 m, while for those with an identified mother (seed donor), 0.5% of seeds were dispersed up to 4,782 m. However, a large proportion of pollen (76.5%) and seeds (57%) immigrated from trees outside the sampled populations. Pollen and seeds were dispersed through a pattern of isolation by distance. Genetic diversity was significantly similar between adults of both highway populations and individuals from RP, with significant levels of inbreeding detected only in RP. Our results demonstrate that the nearest trees contributed pollen and seeds for the recovery of the degraded area, indicating reproductive spatial isolation among the sampled populations due to the damming of the river. Such results help to understand the process of regeneration for A. fraxinifolium in regenerant populations to inform strategies for conservation and environmental recovery with this species. Copyright: Instituto de Biotecnologia/ UNESP Instituto de Biociências/ UNESP Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira/UNESP Ilha Solteira Departamento de Melhoramento e Conservacão Genética Instituto Florestal de São Paulo Instituto de Biotecnologia/ UNESP Instituto de Biociências/ UNESP Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira/UNESP Ilha Solteira

Sweet sorghum is currently an important alternative for ethanol production in sugar cane off-season. In this study was to evaluate the effects of plant arrangements and the application of atrazine and S-metolachlor on growth and productivity of sweet sorghum. An experiment was conducted in randomized block design and, arranged in split plots with four repetitions. Plots consisted of spacing (0.25 m, 0.45 m 0.45-0.45-0.90 m) and sub-plots of weed control methods - atrazine (2000 g ha-1), atrazine + S-metolachlor (2000 + 720 g ha-1), atrazine + S-metolachlor (2000 + 960 g ha-1), atrazine + S-metolachlor (2000 + 1200 g ha-1), atrazine + S-metolachlor (2000 + 1440 g ha-1). Besides that, manual hoeing control was added. The intoxication of sorghum plants and weed control was evaluated at 7, 14 e 28 days after herbicides application (DAA). Plant height, stem diameter, total fresh matter, juice mass and total soluble solids (°Brix) were evaluated at 120 days after crop emergence (DAE). There was no interaction between the factors spacings and control method for variables total matter fresh (TMF), height (H), stem diameter (D), juice mass (JM), and Brix. Application of the mixture (atrazine + S-metolachlor) in the highest doses reduced total fresh matter and °Brix. The spacing of 0.25 m provided the highest productivity of fresh matter, juice mass and increased the °Brix. The application of mixture (atrazine + S-metolachlor) controlled 90% of the weeds at 28 days after application. The increasing in doses of S-metolachlor elevates the intoxication in sorghum plants. The mixture (atrazine + S-metolachlor) has a potential for use in weed control in sweet sorghum, but at doses below 960 g ha-1 of S-metolachlor. metolachlor. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos de arranjos de plantas e dos herbicidas atrazine e S-metolachlor sobre o crescimento e a produtividade do sorgo sacarino. O experimento foi realizado no delineamento em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram dispostos em esquema de parcelas subdivididas. Nas parcelas avaliaram-se os espaçamentos entrelinhas (0,25 m, 0,45 m e 0,45-0,45-0,90 m) e nas subparcelas os métodos de controle das plantas daninhas: atrazine (2000 g ha-1), atrazine + S-metolachlor (2000 + 720 g ha-1), atrazine + S-metolachlor (2000 + 960 g ha-1), atrazine + S-metolachlor (2000 + 1200 g ha-1), atrazine + S-metolachlor (2000 + 1440 g ha-1), capina manual e ausência de controle. Aos 7, 14 e 28 dias após a aplicação dos herbicidas foi avaliado a intoxicação das plantas de sorgo e o nível de controle de plantas daninhas na cultura. Aos 120 dias após a emergência da cultura avaliou-se altura de plantas, diâmetro de colmo, massa fresca total, massa de caldo e o teor de sólidos solúveis totais (Brix). Não houve interação entre os fatores espaçamentos e o método de controle para as variáveis massa fresca total (TMF), altura (H), diâmetro do caule (D), peso do suco (JM) e Brix. O controle das plantas daninhas e a intoxicação visual do sorgo aumentaram linearmente com o incremento das doses do S-metolachlor. O crescimento da cultura e os teores de Brix foram reduzidos pela aplicação da associação entre atrazine + S-metolachlor. A escolha do espaçamento de entrelinha influenciou nos componentes de rendimento da cultura. Conclui-se que, o espaçamento de 0,25 m de entrelinhas proporcionou maior produtividade de matéria fresca e de Brix do caldo. A associação entre atrazine e S-metolachlor tem potencial para o uso no controle de plantas daninhas em sorgo sacarino, em doses abaixo de 960 g ha-1 de S-metolachlor.

Efficient management of sourgrass is one of the main challenges faced by Brazilian soybean farmers. Biological and ecological characteristics of this weed, as well as wide distribution of glyphosate-resistant biotypes, make it difficult to control this species. The objective of this work was to estimate interference of sourgrass in soybean yield. Seven experiments were conducted during three consecutive years (2012/2013, 2013/2014 and 2015/2016 cropping seasons); six of them were on-farm trials where sourgrass infestation was mainly originated from clump regrowth, while infestation originated from seeds in one trial. Data from all sites and experiments were submitted to a combined analysis, according to the study factors and variables, to determine the greatest number of information points for the variable under each circumstance. To each data set, a 1st degree polynomial regression was fit, with a 95% confidence interval. The degree of sourgrass interference varies according to plant origin (seed or clump regrowth) but, in both cases, yield losses are directly correlated with sourgrass densities, aboveground dry mass accumulation and soil coverage. Plants coming from clumps tend to cause higher yield losses than those originated from seeds. These data highlight the importance of performing proper management of sourgrass, especially in its initial stages of development, in view of the high level of losses that perennial plants can cause to crops. RESUMO: O manejo do capim-amargoso se destaca como um dos principais desafios enfrentados pelos sojicultores brasileiros. Características relacionadas a sua biologia e ecologia, associado à ampla distribuição de biótipos resistentes ao glyphosate, tornam essa planta daninha uma espécie de difícil controle. Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar a interferência do capim-amargoso na fase inicial de desenvolvimento e dos rebrotes de plantas entouceiradas na cultura da soja. Sete experimentos foram conduzidos nas safras 2012/2013, 2013/2014 e 2015/2016. Seis experimentos avaliaram a interferência de diferentes densidades de rebrotes de capim-amargoso na produtividade da soja, e um ensaio avaliou a interferência de plantas emergidas junto com a cultura. Os dados de todas as propriedades e anos/experimentos foram analisados de forma combinada, conforme os fatores e as variáveis em questão, de modo que fosse obtido o maior número de pontos de informação para a variável em função do fator em estudo. A cada conjunto de dados foi ajustada uma equação polinomial linear, com o respectivo intervalo de confiança da média a 95%. O grau de interferência do capim-amargoso varia em função da origem da planta (semente ou touceira). Plantas oriundas de touceiras tendem a ocasionar maiores níveis de perda de produtividade, comparadas àquelas oriundas de sementes. Esses dados reforçam a importância de se realizar o adequado manejo do capim-amargoso sobretudo em sua fase inicial de desenvolvimento, tendo em vista o alto nível de perdas que plantas perenizadas podem ocasionar nas lavouras.

Mosquitoes interact with a wide range of viruses including both arboviruses and insect-specific viruses. This study aimed to characterize the RNA viruses that are interacting with Mansonia wilsoni and Coquillettidia hermanoi mosquito species. The total RNA extracted from mosquito pools were sequenced on a Ion torrent platform. Viral contigs were identified against viral databases and their evolutionary relationship were reconstructed. We identified a total of 107 viral sequences, 11 of which were assigned as endogenous viral elements, and at least six known viral families were identified. Phylogenetic reconstructions were performed for 4 viral families. All Mansoniini viruses investigated through phylogenetic analysis are closely related to insect-specific viruses found in other mosquito species although with considerable divergence at the amino acid level, suggesting that we have detected new viral lineages. This study enhanced our understanding about the virome of two sylvatic Mansoniini mosquitoes.

Introduction Obesity and undernutrition, consequences of malnutrition, have been linked to the development of mental illnesses. Both states have been linked to increased sensitivity to some drugs, but there are few data for this association considering drugs with noradrenergic-dopaminergic action. Objective To evaluate the nutritional status of animals treated with either a caloric restriction (CR) or cafeteria (CAF) diet from birth and their behavior after ephedrine application. Methods During the lactation period, 12 litters of Wistar rats (dam + 8 pups) were fed one of three diets: control (n = 4), CR (n = 4), and CAF (n = 4). After weaning, the males were placed in individual boxes and received the same diet as their respective dams. Nutritional assessments were performed after weaning and in adulthood. In adulthood, males received either saline or ephedrine (20 mg/kg) and underwent behavioral tests including the elevated plus-maze, open-field, and food intake tests. Results The CR group exhibited higher serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels and lower food and caloric intake, weight gain, and fat mass than the control group. The CAF group exhibited lower food intake and higher fat caloric intake, fat mass, and serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride, total cholesterol, and hepatic lipid levels than the control group. These results indicated that the CR and CAF groups had developed undernutrition and obesity, respectively. In the elevated plus-maze and open-field tests, the CR and CAF groups showed lower anxiety-like behaviors than the control group after ephedrine application. This result indicates that the animal's nutritional status (undernutrition or obesity) can enhance ephedrine sensitivity. Conclusion The CR group exhibited undernutrition, whereas the CAF group exhibited obesity. Ephedrine altered anxiety and locomotion in animals that received the CR and CAF diets in manner different than that observed in animals receiving the standard diet.

The effects of smoking processes on the sensory and proximate components of two species of shrimp were evaluated. Sixty specimens of each species were distributed in a completely randomized design, with two treatments (T1 = hot smoking and T2 = liquid smoking), and fresh shrimps samples were used as control (T3). The sensory characteristics were evaluated using the 9 point hedonic scale and the acceptance index. The centesimal composition was evaluated based on 100 g from each treatment and the fresh samples. The data were submitted to one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test. The results of sensory analysis showed significant variations (p 0,05). The acceptance rate was above 70% for amazonian prawn and 80% for white shrimp, regardless of the smoking method. The proximate analysis showed significant differences between the two smoking processes, hot and liquid, with moderet values of lipids, between 0.27% and 1.51%, and high protein values, of 24.61% 24.13%, for white shrimp and amazonian prawn, respectively. The smoking processes altered the sensory and chemical profile of the prawns, causing good acceptance and adequate nutritional constitution for smoked fish. Se evaluaron los efectos de los procesos de ahumado sobre los componentes sensoriales y próximos de dos especies de camarón. Se distribuyeron sesenta ejemplares de cada especie en un diseño completamente al azar, con dos tratamientos (T1 = ahumado en caliente y T2 = ahumado líquido), y se utilizaron muestras de camarones frescos como control (T3). Las características sensoriales se evaluaron mediante la escala hedónica de 9 puntos y el índice de aceptación. La composición centesimal se evaluó en base a 100 g de cada tratamiento y las muestras frescas. Los datos se sometieron a ANOVA de una vía y prueba de Tukey. Los resultados del análisis sensorial mostraron variaciones significativas (p 0.05). La tasa de aceptación fue superior al 70% para el camarón amazónico y al 80% para el camarón blanco, independientemente del método de ahumado. El análisis próximo mostró diferencias significativas entre los dos procesos de ahumado, caliente y líquido, con valores moderados de lípidos, entre 0.27% y 1.51%, y altos valores de proteína, de 24.61% 24.13%, para camarón blanco y langostino amazónico, respectivamente. Los procesos de ahumado alteraron el perfil sensorial y químico de las gambas, provocando una buena aceptación y una adecuada constitución nutricional de los ahumados. Foram avaliados os efeitos dos processos de defumação sobre os componentes sensoriais e proximais de duas espécies de camarão. Sessenta espécimes de cada espécie foram distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com dois tratamentos (T1 = fumagem a quente e T2 = fumagem líquida), e amostras frescas de camarão foram utilizadas como controle (T3). As características sensoriais foram avaliadas por meio da escala hedônica de 9 pontos e do índice de aceitação. A composição centesimal foi avaliada com base em 100 g de cada tratamento e nas amostras frescas. Os dados foram submetidos à ANOVA one-way e teste de Tukey. Os resultados da análise sensorial mostraram variações significativas (p 0,05). A taxa de aceitação ficou acima de 70% para o camarão amazônico e 80% para o camarão branco, independentemente do método de defumação. A análise proximal mostrou diferenças significativas entre os dois processos de defumação, quente e líquido, com valores moderados de lipídios, entre 0,27% e 1,51%, e altos valores de proteína, de 24,61% 24,13%, para camarão branco e camarão amazônico, respectivamente. Os processos de defumação alteraram o perfil sensorial e químico dos camarões, proporcionando boa aceitação e constituição nutricional adequada para pescados defumados.

Made available in DSpace on 2021-07-14T10:45:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-12-04. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2021-07-14T11:37:40Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S0104-64972020000100804.pdf: 569607 bytes, checksum: 985c16b64fc6359e962f1ee4a336da3b (MD5) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) The aim of this study was to evaluate the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and the weight/length ratio in important shrimp populations (Xiphopenaeus kroyeri (Heller, 1862), Litopenaeus schmitti (Burkenroad, 1936), Rimapenaeus constrictus (Stimpson, 1874)) from the northern littoral of São Paulo State. The samples were collected between 2015 and 2016, with 212 females that were identified, classified according to their gonadal development stage, and measured (CL). The gonads were macroscopically classified into immature, spent and developed, and were then removed. Both body (BodW) and gonad (GonW) dry weights were obtained in order to calculate the gonadosomatic index. Weight/length relationship and weight gain rate were assessed. The weight gain presented negative allometry, indicating that the animals grow faster than they gain weight. The weight/length relationship showed a pattern of continuous reproduction, as previously determined for tropical species. From the GSI values, it was possible to separate the three predetermined gonadal stages, proving that macroscopic evaluation is reliable for evaluating the reproductive period of these shrimps. These results can be used as a guide for fishery stocks management and monitoring. Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Instituto de Biociências de Botucatu Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Faculdade de Ciências Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Instituto de Biociências de Botucatu Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Faculdade de Ciências FAPESP: #2010/50188-8; #2015/13639-5; #2015/01959-5 CNPq: #311034/2018-7 CAPES: #23038.004310/2014-85

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T12:26:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-10-28. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2021-07-15T15:06:09Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S0104-64972020000100802.pdf: 5097343 bytes, checksum: 8c6cd3fe01fe33815342821d5b49a0d2 (MD5) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Thematic BIOTA -INTERCRUSTA The crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) is a native species from the south-central region of the USA and northeastern Mexico that has been introduced to all continents except Antarctica and Oceania. In Brazil, P. clarkii has 17 established populations, all found in the southeastern region. The studied specimens were obtained at Ribeirao Claro municipality (23 degrees 11'38 '' S 49 degrees 45'28W) in Parana State, southern Brazil, in fish ponds from a private property near the Paranapanema River reservoir. Sampling was performed in September 2013 and March 2015, yielding a total of 13 crayfish specimens. Interviews with residents and workers at the sampling sites revealed that the aquarium trade could be an important introductory pathway, since the first crayfish observed had been released into nature shortly after being purchased at a pet shop in the neighboring state of Sao Paulo; even though current legislation forbids their importation, transportation, and commercialization. Sao Paulo State Univ, Inst Biosci Botucatu, Dept Zool, NEBECC Study Grp Crustacean Biol Ecol & Culture, BR-18618970 Botucatu, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Norte Parana UENP, R Portugal 340, BR-86300000 Cornelio Procopio, Parana, Brazil Sao Paulo State Univ, Inst Biosci Botucatu, Dept Zool, NEBECC Study Grp Crustacean Biol Ecol & Culture, BR-18618970 Botucatu, SP, Brazil CNPq: 119593/2013-0 CNPq: 155813/2018-8 FAPESP: 2008/54991-0 Thematic BIOTA -INTERCRUSTA: 2018/13685-5

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is one of the most promising biological control agents used commercially. Its products can contribute to reducing ecological and environmental problems associated with the use of chemical pesticides. Among the limiting factors of using Bt as bioinsecticide are the costs and ensuring its biological activity, which may vary according to the strain and culture conditions. This systematic review aimed to collect state-of-the-art information on the production of Bt endotoxins and to score the methodological feasibility of the data obtained, thus highlighting possible incoherencies. In order to consolidate recent findings and guide future studies, a total of 47 original articles from the last 10 years was analysed, with special attention being given to corroborating data, identifying inconsistencies and suggesting future adjustments so as to increase data reliability. With a maximum score of 8 points, three production parameters were classified on the following scale: preferable (score: 2), adequate (score: 1) and inadequate (score: 0), and another two parameter were classified as adequate (score: 1) or inadequate (score: 0). No article scored more than 6 out of the maximum of 8, thus reflecting the need for more detailed studies regarding Bt endotoxin production. The lack of standardization of methods and units of measurement also have made a comparison of results and an overall analysis difficult. Standards are suggested in the present study. The inclusion of bioassays and quantifying toxin via alkaline dilution are strongly recommended for studies of this nature, along with LC50 expressed in mg/L. Sixteen articles (34%) did not use either of these suggested methods, which indicates the need for further supporting studies. These findings reinforce the need for robust studies in this area, which could include the development of more affordable and effective bioinsecticides, thus increasing their competitiveness against insecticides derived from unsustainable sources.

Studies about the parasite fauna of marine fish highlights as an important problem for public health with zoonotic parasites or affecting the fish quality. Thus, this study evaluated the parasite fauna of Lutjanus synagris commercialized in the fish market from Braganca-PA. In laboratory, 58 fish were measured, weighted and conducted to parasitological analysis to determine parasitological indexes and relative dominance. Every parasite was fixed and identified until to the lowest taxonomic level. Through the parasitological analysis, it found Cymothoidae, Digenea, Cucullanus sp. and Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) sp., with total prevalence 67.24%. Digenea showed the highest prevalence and mean intensity values. For nematode, Cucullanus sp. obtained the greater prevalence and relative dominance, while Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) sp. showed the greater mean intensity and abundance. Cymothoidae showed the lowest prevalence and mean intensity values. As conclusion, the parasite fauna of L. synagris has been noted with low diversity, reporting the nematode occurrence Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) .

Cyclospora cayetanensis is a protozoan parasite that causes foodborne and waterborne diarrheal illness outbreaks worldwide. Most of these outbreaks are associated with the consumption of fresh produce. Sensitive and specific methods to detect C. cayetanensis in agricultural water are needed to identify the parasite in agricultural water used to irrigate crops that have been implicated in outbreaks. In this study, a method to detect C. cayetanensis in water by combining dead-end ultrafiltration (DEUF) with sensitive and specific molecular detection was developed and evaluated. Triplicates of 10-liter agricultural water samples were seeded with 200, 100, 25, 12, and 6 C. cayetanensis oocysts. Surface water samples were also collected in the Mid-Atlantic region. All water samples were processed by DEUF and backflushed from the ultrafilters. DNA was extracted from concentrated samples and analyzed by quantitative PCR (qPCR) targeting the C. cayetanensis 18S rRNA gene. All water samples seeded with 12, 25, 100, and 200 oocysts were positive, and all unseeded samples were negative. Samples seeded with 6 oocysts had a detection rate of 66.6% (8/12). The method was also able to detect C. cayetanensis isolates in surface water samples from different locations of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O Canal) in Maryland. This approach could consistently detect C. cayetanensis DNA in 10-liter agricultural water samples contaminated with low levels of oocysts, equivalent to the levels that may be found in naturally incurred environmental water sources. Our data demonstrate the robustness of the method as a useful tool to detect C. cayetanensis from environmental sources. IMPORTANCECyclospora cayetanensis is a protozoan parasite that causes foodborne and waterborne outbreaks of diarrheal illness worldwide. These foodborne outbreaks associated with the consumption of fresh produce and agricultural water could play a role in the contamination process. In this study, a method to detect C. cayetanensis in agricultural water by combining a robust filtration system with sensitive and specific molecular detection was developed and validated by the FDA. The results showed that this approach could consistently detect low levels of C. cayetanensis contamination in 10 liters of agricultural water, corresponding to the levels that may be found in naturally occurring environmental water sources. The method was also able to detect C. cayetanensis in surface water samples from a specific location in the Mid-Atlantic region. Our data demonstrate the robustness of the method to detect C. cayetanensis in agricultural water samples, which could be very useful to identify environmental sources of contamination.

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-10T17:33:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-05-19 Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservacao da Biodiversidade (ICMBio) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa e Inovacao do Espirito Santo FAPES Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) Background Brazil is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, with about 37,000 species of land plants. Part of this biodiversity is within protected areas. The development of online databases in the last years greatly improved the available biodiversity data. However, the existing databases do not provide information about the protected areas in which individual plant species occur. The lack of such information is a crucial gap for conservation actions. This study aimed to show how the information captured from online databases, cleaned by a protocol and verified by taxonomists allowed us to obtain a comprehensive list of the vascular plant species from the Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, the first national park founded in Brazil. All existing records in the online database JABOT (15,100 vouchers) were downloaded, resulting in 11,783 vouchers identified at the species level. Overall, we documented 2,316 species belonging to 176 families and 837 genera of vascular plants in the Parque Nacional do Itatiaia. Considering the whole vascular flora, 2,238 species are native and 78 are non-native. New information The Parque Nacional do Itatiaia houses 13% of the angiosperm and 37% of the fern species known from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Amongst these species, 82 have been cited as threatened, following IUCN categories (CR, EN or VU), seven are data deficient (DD) and 15 have been classified as a conservation priority, because they are only known from a single specimen collected before 1969. Univ Fed Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil Inst Pesquisas Jardim Bot Rio de Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil Univ Estadual Santa Cruz, Ilheus, BA, Brazil Univ Estadual Feira De Santana, Feira De Santana, BA, Brazil Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil Univ Estado Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil Univ Fed Juiz De Fora, Juiz De Fora, Brazil Univ Fed Alfenas, Alfenas, Brazil Inst Bot, Sao Paulo, Brazil Univ Estadual Norte Fluminense, Campos Dos Goytacazes, Brazil Univ Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil Univ Fed Parana, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Embrapa Clima Temperado, Pelotas, RS, Brazil Univ Fed Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil Univ Fed Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil Univ Fed Oeste Para, Santarem, Brazil Univ Fed Rural Rio De Janeiro, Seropedica, Brazil Univ Fed Sao Joao Del Rei, Sao Joao Del Rei, Brazil Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, Belem, Para, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Sao Paulo, Brazil Flowr Corp, Markham, ON, Canada Univ Estado Rio De Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil Univ Estadual Campinas, Campinas, Brazil Univ Fed Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Sao Paulo, Brazil Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservacao da Biodiversidade (ICMBio): 18/2017 CNPq: 18/2017 CNPq: CNPq 421276/2017-7 Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa e Inovacao do Espirito Santo: 18/2017 Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa e Inovacao do Espirito Santo: FAPES 34/2018 FAPES: 525/2018 FAPERJ: E-26/202.775/2018 FAPERJ: E-26/202.778/2018

Mosquitoes are insects of medical importance due their role as vectors of different pathogens to humans. There is a lack of information about the evolutionary history and phylogenetic positioning of the majority of mosquito species. Here we characterized the mitogenomes of mosquito species through low-coverage whole genome sequencing and data mining. A total of 37 draft mitogenomes of different species were assembled from which 16 are newly-sequenced species. We datamined additional 49 mosquito mitogenomes, and together with our 37 mitogenomes, we reconstructed the evolutionary history of 86 species including representatives from 15 genera and 7 tribes. Our results showed that most of the species clustered in clades with other members of their own genus with exception of Aedes genus which was paraphyletic. We confirmed the monophyletic status of the Mansoniini tribe including both Coquillettidia and Mansonia genus. The Aedeomyiini and Uranotaeniini were consistently recovered as basal to other tribes in the subfamily Culicinae, although the exact relationships among these tribes differed between analyses. These results demonstrate that low-coverage sequencing is effective to recover mitogenomes, establish phylogenetic knowledge and hence generate basic fundamental information that will help in the understanding of the role of these species as pathogen vectors.

Background Outbreaks of cyclosporiasis, a diarrheal illness caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis, have been a public health issue in the USA since the mid 1990’s. In 2018, 2299 domestically acquired cases of cyclosporiasis were reported in the USA as a result of multiple large outbreaks linked to different fresh produce commodities. Outbreak investigations are hindered by the absence of standardized molecular epidemiological tools for C. cayetanensis. For other apicomplexan coccidian parasites, multicopy organellar DNA such as mitochondrial genomes have been used for detection and molecular typing. Methods We developed a workflow to obtain complete mitochondrial genome sequences from cilantro samples and clinical samples for typing of C. cayetanensis isolates. The 6.3 kb long C. cayetanensis mitochondrial genome was amplified by PCR in four overlapping amplicons from genomic DNA extracted from cilantro, seeded with oocysts, and from stool samples positive for C. cayetanensis by diagnostic methods. DNA sequence libraries of pooled amplicons were prepared and sequenced via next-generation sequencing (NGS). Sequence reads were assembled using a custom bioinformatics pipeline. Results This approach allowed us to sequence complete mitochondrial genomes from the samples studied. Sequence alterations, such as single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) profiles and insertion and deletions (InDels), in mitochondrial genomes of 24 stool samples from patients with cyclosporiasis diagnosed in 2014, exhibited discriminatory power. The cluster dendrogram that was created based on distance matrices of the complete mitochondrial genome sequences, indicated distinct strain-level diversity among the 2014 C. cayetanensis outbreak isolates analyzed in this study. Conclusions Our results suggest that genomic analyses of mitochondrial genome sequences may help to link outbreak cases to the source.

Calliphoridae and Mesembrinellidae are relevant to environmental conservation, public health, and forensic entomology. Researches regarding the flight behavior and the influence of abiotic factors on these insects may assist the application of entomology sciences. This study aimed to analyze the population fluctuation of Calliphoridae and Mesembrinellidae, verifying the influence of environmental factors, trap height, and the anthropic effect in the Itaipu–Piratininga lagoon complex, Niterói (RJ). The collections were carried out monthly from September 2015 to August 2016, with fish bait (sardines) exposed for 48 h, totaling six traps, installed in three physiognomies (mangrove, ombrophilous forest, and restinga) at 1.5 and 2.5 m from the ground. Nine thousand seven hundred seventy-three individuals were captured, comprising two families, five genera and 11 species. Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) was the predominant species and Mesembrinella bellardiana (Aldrich, 1922) (Diptera: Mesembrinellidae) the least representative, indicating the low preservation level of this ecosystem. There was a weak, positive correlation between abundance of Chloroprocta idioidea (Robineau Desvoidy, 1830) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Ch. megacephala, Chrysomya putoria (Wiedemann, 1818) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), and Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) with the temperature, as well as between the abundance of C. idioidea and Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) with precipitation; however, there was no correlation between abundance and relative humidity. No significant influence of the trap height was observed. We stated a high influence of anthropic effects on the restinga and mangrove physiognomies, while the forest physiognomy still retains its preserved characteristics, with the dominance of forestall species.

Direct seeding is a technology that reduces the costs of forest restoration projects and favors species which are difficult to establish for seedlings. The seeds osmotic treatment to accelerate and standardize germination and induce tolerance to environmental stresses may favor seedling establishment in field through direct sowing and contribute to the greater efficiency of this technique. With the purpose of favor seed germination and seedling establishment under direct seeding conditions in the field, Tabebuia roseoalba osmoprimed seeds in polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution and unconditioned seeds were treated with isolated and/or combined solutions of plant growth regulators (PGR) and rooting (RTG). These seeds were submitted to germination test and evaluated for percentage germination rate, germination speed index and normal seedlings, and to seedling emergence test by direct field seeding. RTG had a toxic effect on T. roseoalba seeds. Osmoconditioning induced stress tolerance by RTG during germination and on seedling establishment. PGR treatment favors seedling emergence in field conditions and alleviates the toxicity effect caused by RTG. These treatments have great potential for use in direct sowing of T. roseoalba seeds.

This work aimed to investigate the chemical composition, antimicrobial, antinociceptive, acute toxicity and antioxidant activity of the essential oil of Algrizea minor (EOAm). The essential oil presented as the major constituents β-Pinene (56.99%), α-Pinene (16.57%), Germacrene D (4.67%), Bicyclogermacrene (4.66%), (E)-Caryophyllene (3.76%) and Limonene (1.71%). It was verified that the essential oil did not show acute toxicity in the maximum dose of 5,000 mg/kg. In the evaluation of the antinociceptive activity it was verified that the essential oil reduced in 65.84% the number of writhing in the mice, reducing the pain in 59.17%, and the mechanism of action in pain reduction was opioid, similar to morphine. The essential oil also presented significant antimicrobial against Gram positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi, and the antioxidant activity was relevant. Therefore, these results demonstrate the great potential for the future development of pharmaceutical products with the essential oil of Algrizea minor (EOAm).

The performance of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) validated method for regulatory detection of Cyclospora cayetanensis in leafy greens and berries was evaluated in additional high-risk fresh produce items and in a dish prepared with these produce commodities. The method was robust and reproducible in basil, parsley, shredded carrots, shredded cabbage and carrot mix, and could detect as few as 5 oocysts in 25 g samples. Some differences in C. cayetanensis detection were found among the fresh produce analyzed. Significantly lower target gene copy numbers per reaction were obtained with shredded carrots, and shredded cabbage and carrot mix compared to leafy greens, which highlights the importance of evaluating the performance characteristics of validated methods in different food matrices. In the prepared dish, coleslaw with dressing, the method was optimized to detect 5 oocysts in a 25 g sample by using 1.0% Alconox® in the washing solution instead of 0.1% as originally described. These data are important to assess the prevalence of C. cayetanensis in different produce items and to support outbreak investigations.