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Endemic to the Neotropics, Monnina is the second largest genus of Polygalaceae, yet little is known about its phylogenetic history, biogeography, and morphological character evolution. To address these knowledge gaps, we conducted Bayesian and maximum likelihood (ML) analyses of nuclear ITS and plastid trnL–F regions to test the monophyly of Monnina s.l. We used this phylogenetic framework to (i) infer divergence time estimates of lineages within the genus and reconstruct their historical biogeography; (ii) reconstruct the evolution of morphological characters of putative ecological and evolutionary importance in Monnina ; and (iii) test for correlations between our phylogenetic hypothesis and environmental data. Our results reveal that Monnina is monophyletic with an indehiscent, 1–2-seeded fruit as a synapomorphy for the genus. We identify six clades within Monnina based on our combined phylogenetic results: Clades A, B, and D are primarily distributed in southern and eastern South America, Clades C and E are primarily Central Andean, and Clade F is chiefly distributed in the Northern Andes and Central America. The ancestor of the Monnina stem lineage dispersed from Australia/Africa to South America during the late Eocene to early Oligocene. The divergences of major lineages within the genus began in the early Miocene. We inferred the most recent common ancestor of Monnina to be an herbaceous plant with one-seeded samaroid fruits. The origins of fleshy fruits and shrubby habits are phylogenetically correlated within Monnina , and their concerted convergent evolution may have promoted increased net diversification rates in the two most species-rich subclades of the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Using a multimethod approach, including polarized light microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), SEM with mineral liberation analyzer (MLA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy, we examined subrecent ferruginous crusts in the Xingu River in the Amazon Basin that have formed since the Early Pleistocene (<1.2 Ma), as indicated by (UTh)/He dating of goethite. Although now preserved as goethite, the size and form of the smallest components of the ironstone (nanorods) and the nature of isomorphic substitution in the goethite point to very early transformation of the original precipitate, an unstable hydrous ferrous oxide (HFO) mineral, into goethite. The fine, multiply undulating laminae of the ironstone contain abundant filamentous microbial molds and casts that together support identification of the crusts as ferruginous microbialites and suggest a role of bioinduction/bioinfluence in ironstone precipitation, although inorganic precipitation is also evident. The Xingu Quaternary ironstones are the first evidence of ferruginous microbialite in a modern freshwater system in South America and may hold clues to the recent history of the Xingu River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To report the clinicopathologic features of acquired oral syphilis cases in South American countries. Materials and Methods: Clinical data were retrospectively collected from the records of 18 oral diagnostic services in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Uruguay, and Peru. Serologies of nontreponemal and treponemal tests were used for diagnosis. Results: The series comprised 339 cases of acquired oral syphilis. Secondary syphilis ranked as the most common stage (86.7%). Lesions were more frequent among males (58.0%) and young adults with a mean age of 33.3 years. Individuals aged 20–29 years were most affected (35.3%). The most commonly involved sites were the tongue (31.6%), lip/labial commissure (25.1%), and hard/soft palate (20.4%). Clinically, acquired oral syphilis usually presented as mucous patches (28.4%), papules (25.7%), and ulcers (18.1%). Skin manifestations occurred in 67.7% of individuals, while lymphadenopathy and fever were observed in 61.3% and 11.6% of all subjects, respectively. Most patients were treated with the benzathine penicillin G antibiotic. Conclusion: This report validates the spread of acquired oral syphilis infection among young adults in South America. Our directives include accessible diagnostic tools for proper disease screening, surveillance, and counselling of affected individuals, especially in low‐ and middle‐income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal community responses to extreme climate events can be predicted from the functional traits represented within communities. However, it is unclear whether geographic variation in the response of functional community structure to climate change is primarily driven by physiological matching to local conditions (local adaptation hypothesis) or by differences between species pools in functional redundancy (insurance hypothesis).We conducted a coordinated experiment to understand how aquatic invertebrate traits mediate the responses of multitrophic communities to changes in the quantity and evenness of rainfall in 180 natural freshwater microcosms (tank bromeliads) distributed across six sites from 18°N in the Caribbean to 29°S in South America. At each site, we manipulated the mean and dispersion of the daily amount of rainfall that entered tank bromeliads over a 2‐month period. Manipulations covered a response surface representing 50% to 200% of the dispersion of daily rainfall crossed with 10% to 300% of the mean amounts of rainfall.The response of functional community structure to precipitation regimes differed across sites. These geographic differences were not consistent with the local adaptation hypothesis, as responses did not correlate with the current amplitude in precipitation. Geographic differences in community responses were consistent with the insurance hypothesis: sites with the lowest functional redundancy in their species pools had the strongest response to a gradient in hydrological variability induced by uneven precipitation. In such sites, an increase in the hydrologic variability induced a shift from communities with both pelagic and benthic traits using both green and brown energy channels to strictly benthic, brown energy communities.Our results predict uneven impacts of precipitation change on community structure and energy channels within communities across Neotropical regions. This geographic variation is due more to differences in the size and redundancy of species pools than to local adaptation. Strategies for climate change adaptation should thus seek to identify and preserve functionally unique species and their habitats. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dozens of commercial RT-qPCR kits for SARS-CoV-2 detection are available with or without Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by FDA or other regulatory agencies. Objective: We evaluated the clinical performance of two SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR kits designed and produced in South America, "COVID-19 RT-PCR Real TM FAST (CY5)" (ATGen, Uruguay) and "ECUGEN SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR" (UDLA-STARNEWCORP, Ecuador), for RT-qPCR SARS-CoV2 detection using "TaqMan 2019-nCoV Assay Kit v1" (Thermofisher, USA) as a gold standard technique. Results: We report a great clinical performance and analytical sensitivity for the two South American kits with sensitivity values of 96.4 and 100%, specificity of 100% and limit of detection in the range of 10 copies/uL of RNA extraction. Conclusions: "COVID-19 RT-PCR Real TM FAST (CY5)" and "ECUGEN SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR" kits are reliable SARS-CoV-2 tests made in South America that have been extensively used in Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia and Ecuador. These locally produced SARS-CoV-2 tests have contributed to overcome supply shortages and reduce diagnosis cost, while maintaining the high quality standards of FDA EUA commercially available kits. This approach could be extended for other diagnostic products to improve infectious diseases surveillance at middle and low income countries beyond COVID-19 pandemic. Author summary: COVID-19 pandemic is the worst public health crisis that humanity has faced in the last decades. To success controlling the virus spread an unprecedented amount on molecular tests based on the technique called PCR has been necessary. To carry out viral infection tests, commercial kits are normally used by clinical laboratories. Those commercial kits are mainly produced in industrialized countries and that means a disadvantage in the access to COVID-19 testing in developing countries. Here we present the results of the evaluation of two commercial kits produced in South America for local stakeholders, showing how good quality biotech products can help to fight COVID-19 pandemic in low and middle income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamochaeta cabrerae, G. simplicicaulis, and G. subfalcata are newly reported for Ecuador, and the presence of G. humilis is confirmed. Four species have been previously recorded: G. americana, G. pensylvanica, G. purpurea, and G. sphacelata. These new records of Gamochaeta are described, illustrated and their distributional maps are presented. A key to the Ecuadorian species of Gamochaeta is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL), which can present as either cutaneous (CL) or mucosal leishmaniasis (ML), is endemic in South America, and first-line antimonial treatments are known for their wide range of adverse effects (AEs). Growing reports of drug resistance increase the urgency of the need for better treatment options. The objective of this pilot clinical trial was to assess the efficacy of and AEs associated with the oral combination of miltefosine and pentoxifylline based on a post hoc analysis. Methods: A pilot, randomized, open-label clinical trial was performed. The experimental group (M+P) received 50 mg twice a day (BID) miltefosine and 400 mg three times a day (TID) pentoxifylline, and the control group (A+P) received 20 mg Sb+V/kg/day intravenously and 400 mg TID pentoxifylline. Patients with ML received treatment for 28 days, and patients with CL received treatment for 20 days. Results: Forty-three patients were included: 25 with ML and 18 with CL caused by L.(V.) braziliensis. AEs were more frequent in the A+P group (p=0.322), and there was a need for treatment interruption due to severe AEs (p=0.027). Patients with CL had a higher chance of achieving a cure (p=0.042) and a higher risk of AEs (p=0.033). There was no difference in the chance of a cure based on the treatment (p=0.058). Conclusion: In this pilot randomized clinical trial, M+P treatment and A+P treatment yielded similar cure rates, and the former was associated with a lower risk of AEs. Future studies with more patients and longer follow-up are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bromeliads interact with thousands of plants, animals and microorganisms. Some species are considered keystone species for providing shelter and protection to many species from vertebrates to microbes. Aechmea distichantha is a tank bromeliad distributed in the mid-latitudes of South America, known to interact with a wide variety of animal species. Studies aiming to provide inventories of the whole fauna associated are needed. An exhaustive academic review of interactions of this plant species with fauna was carried out including scientific articles, books, book chapters, theses, and reports published in different languages, where interactions between A. distichantha and an animal species were reported. These interactions were classified depending on the use that animals made of the plant and on the part of the plant involved. Since 1960, 347 animal morphospecies, involved in 495 interactions with A. distichantha have been documented. The plant was principally used as habitat or shelter, secondly used for food supply (herbivores, detritivores and predators), and finally for nesting. Morphospecies were mainly associated with the foliage and the phytotelmata, but also with the inflorescence, the inter-ramet space and the stolon. Invertebrates: Arachnids, mainly took refuge or shelter in the plant, and also found their preys. Insects, the most important class, took refuge on or inhabited in the plant and to a lesser extent used the plant for food supply. Vertebrates: amphibians, tortoises and reptiles exclusively used the plant for shelter, while birds and mammals mainly established feeding links. This is the first proposal tending to collect the whole set of animals interacting with this species. Aechmea distichantha is a keystone species that establish diverse, numerous direct and empirically detected interactions with fauna, and plays an important role in providing ecosystem services to humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anuario do Instituto de Geociencias is the property of Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Geociencias and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We applied the Goddard Earth Observing System for subseasonal to seasonal climate prediction to assess the impact of inclusion biomass burning (BB) aerosols over South America (SA) during the austral winter. We also evaluated the model sensitivity to the BB emissions prescription using no emissions, monthly climatological, and daily emissions. Each hindcast consisted of four members running from June to November of each year between 2000 and 2015. Our results indicated that interactive BB aerosols improve the seasonal climate prediction performance over SA. More realistic daily based emissions significantly further improve the performance in comparison with the climatological ones. Therefore, improvements in the BB emissions representation are urged to represent the aerosol impacts on seasonal climate prediction performance adequately. Plain Language Summary: Vegetation fires severely affect tropical forest and savannah‐type biomes in South America (SA) during winter in Southern Hemisphere. Biomass burning (BB) aerosols are important agents changing energy budget and clouds. This study focused on assessing whether including aerosol‐radiation‐cloud interaction in a climate model, particularly the contribution of BB aerosols, can provide additional information for improving seasonal climate predictions. This study has two primary outcomes. First, that including BB aerosols does improve the model's ability to predicted precipitation and near‐surface temperature in SA. Second, it proved it is indeed essential to improve BB emissions representation to further elevate seasonal climate prediction performance. Key Points: This study documents the impacts of biomass burning aerosols on South America seasonal climate predictions in a coupled modeling systemUse of interactive biomass burning aerosols improves seasonal prediction performance for the austral winter over South AmericaPrescribing daily emission estimates provides better performance in comparison with prescribing monthly climatological mean emissions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in global and regional precipitation regimes are among the most pervasive components of climate change. Intensification of rainfall cycles, ranging from frequent downpours to severe droughts, could cause widespread, but largely unknown, alterations to trophic structure and ecosystem function. We conducted multi-site coordinated experiments to show how variation in the quantity and evenness of rainfall modulates trophic structure in 210 natural freshwater microcosms (tank bromeliads) across Central and South America (18°N to 29°S). The biomass of smaller organisms (detritivores) was higher under more stable hydrological conditions. Conversely, the biomass of predators was highest when rainfall was uneven, resulting in top-heavy biomass pyramids. These results illustrate how extremes of precipitation, resulting in localized droughts or flooding, can erode the base of freshwater food webs, with negative implications for the stability of trophic dynamics. The amount and frequency of rainfall structures aquatic food webs. Here the authors show that in tropical tank bromeliads, lower trophic levels are more abundant in stable rainfall conditions, while biomass pyramids are inverted in conditions with periodic droughts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is regarded as a prototype autoimmune disease because it can serve as a means for studying differences between ethnic minorities and sex. Traditionally, all Hispanics have been bracketed within the same ethnic group, but there are differences between Hispanics from Spain and those from Latin America, not to mention other Spanish-speaking populations. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the demographic and clinical characteristics, severity, activity, damage, mortality and co-morbidity of SLE in Hispanics belonging to the two ethnic groups resident in Spain, and to identify any differences. Methods: This was an observational, multi-centre, retrospective study. The demographic and clinical variables of patients with SLE from 45 rheumatology units were collected. The study was conducted in accordance with Good Clinical Practice guidelines. Hispanic patients from the registry were divided into two groups: Spaniards or European Caucasians (EC) and Latin American mestizos (LAM). Comparative univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were carried out. Results: A total of 3490 SLE patients were included, 90% of whom were female; 3305 (92%) EC and 185 (5%) LAM. LAM patients experienced their first lupus symptoms four years earlier than EC patients and were diagnosed and included in the registry younger, and their SLE was of a shorter duration. The time in months from the first SLE symptoms to diagnosis was longer in EC patients, as were the follow-up periods. LAM patients exhibited higher prevalence rates of myositis, haemolytic anaemia and nephritis, but there were no differences in histological type or serositis. Anti-Sm, anti-Ro and anti-RNP antibodies were more frequently found in LAM patients. LAM patients also had higher levels of disease activity, severity and hospital admissions. However, there were no differences in damage index, mortality or co-morbidity index. In the multivariate analysis, after adjusting for confounders, in several models the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for a Katz severity index >3 in LAM patients was 1.45 (1.038–2.026; p = 0.02). This difference did not extend to activity levels (i.e. SLEDAI >3; 0.98 (0.30–1.66)). Conclusion: SLE in Hispanic EC patients showed clinical differences compared to Hispanic LAM patients. The latter more frequently suffered nephritis and higher severity indices. This study shows that where lupus is concerned, not all Hispanics are equal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems and the more established concept of systems of innovation and considers their application in Latin America, where many countries are currently experiencing political and economic upheaval. The paper finds that current entrepreneurial ecosystem literature is not directly applicable to most of Latin America, as it takes for granted features of an advanced economy, while the innovation system literature favours studies of well-functioning economies and innovation in high-technology sectors. Findings suggest that network and institutional perspectives may enrich both concepts in theoretical and analytical term and complementary innovation system and entrepreneurial ecosystem perspectives appear well suited in further defining the needs and demands of local production structures and existing resource and knowledge capabilities. The paper suggests the need for measurable transformations in Latin American production and support structures that include embracing social, organisational, and interactional innovation and socially oriented entrepreneurial activity. The paper encourages further research to identify the drivers and economic consequences of distinctive Latin American entrepreneurial ecosystems and for researchers to adopt an evolutionary perspective that acknowledges historical trajectories in different regions, where local social, political, and economic regimes will influence the trajectory and success of future innovation policy initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Enfermagem em Foco is the property of Conselho Federal de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The New World genus Heterosperma Cav. is circumscribed to include 11 species: H. achaetum S. F. Blake, H. diversifolium Kunth, H. ferreyrii H. Rob., H. mexicanum (A. Gray ex S. Watson) Lizarazu & S. E. Freire, H. nanum (Nutt.) Sherff, H. ovale S. F. Blake, H. ovatifolium Cav., H. pinnatum Cav., H. spathulatum S. F. Blake, H. tenuisectum (Griseb.) Cabrera, and H. trilobum S. F. Blake. Heterosperma is described as having a usually herbaceous habit, pinnatisect or entire leaves, radiate capitula, and heteromorphic cypselae. The following taxa are newly synonymized: Coreopsis L. sect. Anathysana S. F. Blake with Heterosperma; H. maritimum Kunth var. hirsuta Hieron. with H. ovatifolium; and H. maritimum var. latifolia Hieron. with H. spathulatum. Lectotypes are here designated for H. maritimum var. hirsuta, H. pinnatum, H. tagetinum A. Gray, H. spathulatum, and H. maritimum var. latifolia. A key to the species of the genus is provided, as well as morphological descriptions, illustrations, and distribution maps. A detailed morphological study of trichomes and pappus is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the decline of pollinators around the world, preserving these animals has become a priority. This is especially urgent in threatened areas that concentrate high biodiversity such as the Atlantic forest (AF) in South America. Orchid bees are among the most important pollinators in the AF and are considered as good biological indicators of environmental quality. However, the populations of these bees have been reduced in size as a result of environmental impacts caused by human activities. In the present study, we used historical climate modelling to infer the refuge areas within the AF that concentrate high genetic diversity of orchid bees. From a total of 235 records of ten species, we built species models for the current days, Mid-Holocene and Last Glacial Maximum periods using MaxEnt program. Our results show refuge areas separately for each species, which may harbor their high levels of individual genetic diversity in the AF. On the other hand, the assemblage-scale model of climate stability shows a large continuous range of suitable areas from the southern to the northern AF, divided into three main stability zones (northeastern, central and southeastern-southern) where putatively are concentrated high levels of genetic diversity for most of these bees. This inference of stability zones should be useful to direct the choice of new conservation units in the AF, mainly in the northern portion of the AF, where the zone of greater suitability for orchid bees analyzed is present, which has been under protected and has experienced an increase of deforestation in the recent years. Finally, we point out that phylogeographic studies with these bees are necessary and might validate our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sequence-based approach was used to investigate molecular genetic variations in Phakopsora pachyrhizi, an obligate biotrophic pathogen that causes Asian soybean rust. In Argentina, the samples came from uredinium-bearing leaves taken from 11 soybean fields; in Brazil, the samples comprised urediniospores from leaves of 10 soybean genotypes that had been grown in three experimental stations during two growing seasons. PCR-based cloning techniques were used to generate DNA sequences for two gene regions and alignments were supplemented with data from GenBank. A total of 575 sequences for the internal transcribed spacer region (18 ribotypes) and 160 partial sequences for a housekeeping gene encoding ADP-ribosylation factor (10 haplotypes) were obtained. Ribotype accumulation curves predicted that about 20 bacterial clones would recover 5-6 ribotypes ( c. 70-80% of the total molecular variation) per locality. The samples from the three experimental stations in Brazil displayed most (14 out of 16) ribotypes found worldwide; the lack of genetic structure and differentiation at a diverse geographic scale suggests that both local and distant sources provide airborne inoculum during disease establishment. Soybean genotypes with resistance genes for the Asian soybean rust did not decrease the molecular genetic variation of fungal populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New DNA-based predictive tests for physical characteristics and inference of ancestry are highly informative tools that are being increasingly used in forensic genetic analysis. Two eye colour prediction models: a Bayesian classifier – Snipper and a multinomial logistic regression (MLR) system for the Irisplex assay, have been described for the analysis of unadmixed European populations. Since multiple SNPs in combination contribute in varying degrees to eye colour predictability in Europeans, it is likely that these predictive tests will perform in different ways amongst admixed populations that have European co-ancestry, compared to unadmixed Europeans. In this study we examined 99 individuals from two admixed South American populations comparing eye colour versus ancestry in order to reveal a direct correlation of light eye colour phenotypes with European co-ancestry in admixed individuals. Additionally, eye colour prediction following six prediction models, using varying numbers of SNPs and based on Snipper and MLR, were applied to the study populations. Furthermore, patterns of eye colour prediction have been inferred for a set of publicly available admixed and globally distributed populations from the HGDP-CEPH panel and 1000 Genomes databases with a special emphasis on admixed American populations similar to those of the study samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas is the property of Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: The jundiá (Rhamdia quelen) is a Siluriform native to South America, intensely cultivated in Southern Brazil, and which has been increasingly considered as a potential substitute for the culture of exotic species. Due to this interest, there is a constant need of methods to reduce parasite infestations common to the species. The use of sodium chloride (NaCl) is one of such practices. However, not much is known about the effects of NaCl on the osmotic homeostasis of this and other commercially relevant tropical freshwater species. This study thus aimed at evaluating the effect of adding NaCl (5, 15, or 25 g/L) to the water for 1 h, on the osmoregulation, and capacity for muscle tissue water regulation of the jundiá. In addition, muscle slices were subjected in vitro to isosmotic (control, animal in fresh water) and hyper-osmotic (120, 150, and 180% of control) salines, for evaluation of their capacity to control their water content. Some changes have been observed, when fishes submitted to 25 g/L were compared to freshwater controls: plasma ions and osmolality increased, the last from 260±5 to 419±12 mOsm/kg H2O; plasma glucose increased from 47.8 to 92.8 mg/dL, and muscle water content decreased from 80 to 76.7%; plasma cortisol levels remained unchanged (~150 ng/mL). Branchial carbonic anhydrase activity also increased in 25 g/L, probably as a response to the metabolic acidosis that develops upon severe saline challenges. In vitro experiments indicated a high capacity for water content regulation, even when muscle slices were exposed to an 80% increase in osmolality. Exposure of jundiás for 1 h to 25 g/L was indeed harmful to their osmotic homeostasis, also affecting sensory and motor functions (observed as loss of barbel function, and swim impairment). However, the high degree of euryhalinity shown both in vivo and in vitro by this freshwater siluriform is coherent with its occasional presence in dilute estuarine waters and to the positioning of its family within a group of seawater-related Siluriforms. Thus, a reasonable amount of salt (15 g/L) for an intermediate time period (1 h) could be employed against parasites of the jundiá, while still being harmless to both the jundiás and humans that consume its flesh. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cereal grains and soybean meal are the main feedstuffs used in swine and poultry feeding, two of the most consumed meats and of key relevance to food security worldwide. Such crops are grown mostly in North and South America and transported over large distances creating sustainability concerns and, furthermore, are in direct competition with human nutrition. Alternatives to these ingredients are, thus, a pressing need to ensure the sustainability of swine and poultry production. Microalgae seem to be a viable alternative due to their interesting nutritional composition. The use of different microalgae in monogastric feeding has been addressed by different researchers over the last decade, particularly their use as a supplement, whilst their use as a feed ingredient has been comparatively less studied. In addition, the high production costs of microalgae are a barrier and prevent higher dietary inclusion. Studies on the effect of microalgae on meat quality refer mostly to fatty acid composition, using these either as a functional ingredient or as a feedstuff. Within such a context and in line with such a rationale, in this review we address the current research on the topic of the use of microalgae in poultry and swine nutrition, particularly aspects concerning pork and poultry meat quality and nutritional traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Austral winter, vegetation fires severely affect the tropical forest and savannah-type biomes in South America (SA), mostly associated with deforestation and agricultural/pasture land management. During the biomass burning (BB) season, there is an increase of about at least 90% of the total aerosol optical depth (AOD) in the visible spectrum associated with the BB aerosols over an area that can reach about 5 million km2 over SA. BB aerosol also act as cloud condensation nuclei affecting cloud microphysics properties. Therefore, changing the radiation budget, hydrological cycle and global circulation patterns over disturbed areas. Aiming to evaluate the impact of the BB aerosol over South America, we used the Goddard Earth Observing System global circulation model, sub-seasonal to seasonal system (GEOS-S2S). We designed two numerical experiments with GEOS-S2S, accounting explicitly for the aerosols interaction with cloud and radiation, to assess the BB aerosol direct and indirect radiative forcing (ARF and AIF) on the seasonal scale. For both experiments, we accounted for dust, sea salt, and anthropogenic aerosols sources in the same way, and only biomass burning emissions differentiate them. The GEOS-S2S system ran with a nominal spatial resolution of 56 km from June to November spanning over the years 2000 to 2015, each experiment consisting of 4 members. We analyzed the difference of the shortwave radiation fluxes both in clear-sky and cloudy conditions over SA, both at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) and at the surface from the two experiments. During September, the peak of BB aerosol emissions in SA, the ARF at the surface reached about -30 Wm-2, indicating a decreasing of the radiative budget due to the scattering and absorption of the solar radiation by the aerosols. While at the TOA, the ARF was about -12 Wm-2, indicating a loss of radiation to the space associated with the higher albedo of the aerosol layer. Including the BB aerosols in the seasonal climate forecasting significantly changed the radiative budget over SA, which in turn improved the model ability to predict meteorological variables that depend of this forcing. For example, the model skills for the 2-meter temperature increased of up to 0.3 over some areas. The model results for the AIF and the impact on variables such as precipitation and circulation will also be are being analyzed and will be discussed. This work contributes to highlight the importance of accounting for the aerosol-radiation-clouds interaction in the seasonal climate forecasting models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent molecular studies suggest that Senecio otites belonging to Senecio sect. Senecio ser. Otopteri should be removed from Senecio so that this large and taxonomically complicated genus would be monophyletic. In order to evaluate the taxonomic position of Senecio otites and the placement of series Otopteri, 13 species belonging to Senecio sect. Senecio ser. Otopteri, including S. otites, were examined for micro-morphological characters of the style branches (stigmatic surface, style-arm apices) and anthers (filament collar, anther bases, anther appendages). Three states of these micromorphological characters were present in nearly all species of Senecio sect. Senecio ser. Otopteri: 1) the style-arms are apically convex or subconvex, papillate, and surrounded by a crown of hairs of different lengths; 2) the stigmatic surfaces have a cleft configuration (banded to cleft in S. attenuatus); and 3) the anthers are auriculate. These results provide new morphological support for the placement of Senecio otites in Senecio sect. Senecio ser. Otopteri and the future removal of that series from Senecio proper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether people with a Sardinian genetic background who live in the megacities of South America have a higher frequency of hypomania than residents of Sardinia. Methods: A community survey of Sardinian immigrants was carried out in four Brazilian metropoles (n=218) and Buenos Aires (n=306). The results were compared with those of a study involving a similar methodology (Mood Disorder Questionnaire [MDQ] as a screening tool) conducted in seven Italian regions, including a sub-sample from Sardinia. Results: There was a higher prevalence of lifetime hypomania among Sardinians living in the Brazilian metropoles than among those living in Sardinia. This result was also consistent with Sardinian immigrants in Buenos Aires. After stratification by sex and age, the lifetime prevalence of MDQ scores X 8 among Sardinians in South-American megacities and Sardinia was 8.6% vs. 2.9%, respectively (p o 0.0001). Conclusions: The higher frequency of hypomania in migrant populations appears to favor an evolutionary view in which mood disorders may be a maladaptive aspect of a genetic background with adaptive characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yellow fever (YF) is a high-lethality viral disease, endemic in tropical regions of South America and Africa, with a population of over 900 million people under risk. A highly effective attenuated vaccine, produced in embryonated eggs, has been used for about 80 years. However, egg-based production limits manufacturing capacity, and vaccine shortage led to the emergency use of a fractional dose (1/5) by the WHO in an outbreak in Africa in 2016 and by Brazilian authorities during an outbreak in 2018. In addition, rare but fatal adverse events of this vaccine have been reported since 2001. These two aspects make clear the need for the development of a new vaccine. In an effort to develop an inactivated YF vaccine, Bio-Manguinhos/FIOCRUZ started developing a new vaccine based on the production of the attenuated 17DD virus in serum-free conditions in Vero cells propagated in bioreactors, followed by chromatography-based purification and β-propiolactone inactivation. Virus purification was studied in this work. Capture was performed using an anion-exchange membrane adsorber (Sartobind® Q), resulting in a virus recovery of 80.2 ± 4.8% and a residual DNA level of 1.3 ± 1.6 ng/dose, thus in accordance with the recommendations of the WHO (<10 ng/dose). However, the level of host cell proteins (HCP) was still high for a human vaccine, so a second chromatography step was developed based on a multimodal resin (Capto™ Core 700). This step resulted in a virus recovery of 65.7 ± 4.8% and decreased HCP levels to 345 ± 25 ppm. The overall virus recovery in these chromatography steps was 52.7%. SDS-PAGE of the purified sample showed a band with molecular mass of 56 kDa, thus consistent with the virus envelope protein (E) and corresponding to 96.7% of identified proteins. A Western blot stained with an antibody against the E protein showed a single band, confirming the identity of the sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Echovirus 30 (E30) is an important causative agent of aseptic meningitis worldwide. Despite this, the global and regional dispersion patterns, especially in South America, are still largely unknown. We performed an in-depth analysis of global E30 population dynamics, by using the VP1 sequences of 79 strains isolated in Argentina, between 1998 and 2012, and 856 sequences from GenBank. Furthermore, the 3Dpol regions of 329 sequences were analyzed to study potential recombination events. E30 evolution was characterized by co-circulation and continuous replacement of lineages over time, where four lineages appear to circulate at present and another four lineages appear to have stopped circulating. Five lineages showed a global distribution, whereas three other lineages had a more restricted circulation pattern. Strains isolated in South America belong to lineages E and F. Analysis of the 3Dpol region of Argentinean strains indicated that recombination events occurred in both lineages. • E30 evolution is characterized by co-circulation and replacement of lineages. • Lineages A, C, D, E, and F distributed globally whereas B, G, and H were geographically restricted. • All strains isolated in South America belongs to lineages E and F. • Recombination events occurred in strains isolated in Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Yellow fever is a disease caused by the prototype virus of the genus Flavivirus and remains endemic in tropical forest regions from Africa and South America, despite the availability of effective vaccines. These are capable of inducing a rapid specific immune response, with the formation of neutralizing antibodies that appear early, are protective and long lasting. The Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test is considered the most sensitive and specific test for quantification of neutralizing antibodies, and the reference method for assessing the protective immune response after vaccination. This study evaluated the reliability (repeatability and reproducibility) and accuracy (sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy) of micro-PRNT50 and compared its performance with the micro-PRNT90. Although the micro-PRNT50 has showed satisfactory levels of reliability (ICCs ranged from 0.62 to 0.NorNormas e Manuais Técnicosas e Manuais Técnicos6 for repeatability and 0.72 for reproducibility) and accuracy (sensitivity of 91.1%, specificity of 72.9% and overall accuracy of 78%), the micro-PRNT90 showed higher performance, with ICCs for repeatability ranged from 0.78 to 0.79 and 0.81 for reproducibility, sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 94.7% and overall accuracy of 95%. Modifications in the test methodology and changes in the classification criteria in the readings of the results obtained will be important to improve the accuracy of micro-PRNT. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]