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Abstract Physician-researchers are bound by professional obligations stemming from both the role of the physician and the role of the researcher. Currently, the dominant models for understanding the relationship between physician-researchers' clinical duties and research duties fit into three categories: the similarity position, the difference position and the middle ground. The law may be said to offer a fourth "model" that is independent from these three categories. These models frame the expectations placed upon physician-researchers by colleagues, regulators, patients and research participants. This paper examines the extent to which the data from semi-structured interviews with 30 physician-researchers at three major pediatric hospitals in Canada reflect these traditional models. It seeks to determine the extent to which existing models align with the described lived experience of the pediatric physician-researchers interviewed. Ultimately, we find that although some physician-researchers make references to something like the weak version of the similarity position, the pediatric-researchers interviewed in this study did not describe their dual roles in a way that tightly mirrors any of the existing theoretical frameworks. We thus conclude that either physician-researchers are in need of better training regarding the nature of the accountability relationships that flow from their dual roles or that models setting out these roles and relationships must be altered to better reflect what we can reasonably expect of physician-researchers in a real-world environment.

Subfertility remains a major problem in the dairy industry. Only 35% to 40% of high-yielding dairy cows and 55% to 65% of nonlactating heifers become pregnant after their first service. The immune system plays a critical role in the establishment of pregnancy. However, it can also create challenges for embryo survival and contribute to reduced fertility. We conducted 2 separate experiments to characterize changes in subsets of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) and their phenotype over the estrous cycle and early pregnancy in heifers and cows. We used flow cytometry and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR to assess protein and mRNA expression of molecules important for immune function. We observed that CD14+ monocytes and CD3+ T cells tended to be affected by pregnancy status in heifers, whereas CD8B+ lymphocytes and NCR1+ natural killer cells were affected during early pregnancy in cows. Changes in expression of immune function proteins appeared to be greater in heifers than cows. To compare the most striking differences between heifers and cows observed in the initial experiments, we conducted a third experiment where PBL sampled from heifers and cows were simultaneously collected and analyzed under the same experimental conditions. Our results indicate that, compared with heifers, cows had greater mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ and IL6) and AHR protein along with greater percentage of MM20A+ neutrophils and myeloid cells expressing SIRPA, ITGAM, and ITGAX. Moreover, animals that failed to become pregnant showed altered expression of anti-inflammatory molecules compared with cyclic and pregnant animals. Overall, these findings support the hypothesis that early pregnancy signaling alters the phenotype of immune cells in the peripheral blood and that differences in the peripheral immune response to pregnancy between cows and heifers exist. Because cows have lower conception rates than heifers, it is possible that a more proinflammatory immune status in peripheral blood may play a role in embryo loss., (© 2024, The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Dairy Science Association®. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).)

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate oral alterations among university students and explore possible associations with tobacco consumption in its various forms., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2 phases: the first phase involved administering an electronic questionnaire to participants determine the prevalence of tobacco use and the second phase involved a physical examination of the participants. The participants were grouped on the basis of their reported habits and compared using statistical analysis (P < .05)., Results: Of the 620 participants, 57.1% reported using tobacco in some form, with 47.4% reporting electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use. In the clinical phase, comparing the presence of oral changes in tobacco users vs nonusers, e-cigarette users had a higher proportion of white-spot caries lesions (P = .041) and gingivitis (P = .012). When e-cigarette use was combined with other forms of tobacco use, additional oral changes were more prevalent, including coated tongue and nicotinic stomatitis (P < .05)., Conclusions: The use of alternative forms of tobacco consumption is common among university students, with e-cigarette use being the most prevalent form, and may lead to detrimental effects on the oral cavity, such as caries and gingivitis, particularly when used in conjunction with other tobacco products., Practical Implications: The use of tobacco in alternative forms, such as e-cigarettes, can affect oral health directly or indirectly. Dentists should be familiar with the characteristics of this population and the potential oral repercussions associated with tobacco use to address the impact on health and raise awareness of the associated risks., Competing Interests: Disclosure None of the authors reported any disclosures., (Copyright © 2024 American Dental Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) management procedures are directly linked to the final quality of the product. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pre-slaughter density and different stunning methods on biochemical, respiratory and muscle injury parameters associated with quality and sensory characteristics of Nile tilapia fillets. Fish with an average weight of 762±105 g were used, first collected called the control group. The experiment was conducted in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme, with two densities (50 and 300 kg of live weight m-3) and two stunning methods thus totaling four treatments, with 15 repetitions per treatment totaling 75 fish sampled. Blood gas analysis, evaluation of biochemical parameters, analysis of meat quality and sensory analysis were carried out. For blood gas, biochemical and enzymatic parameters, the highest values were obtained for the density of 300 kg m-3 and asphyxia method: partial pressures of CO2; glucose and lactate, the highest values presented were 268.98 and 11.33 mg dL-1 respectively. As well as enzymatic activities, Creatinine kinase (CPK); Creatinine kinase isoenzyme (CKMB) showed higher values (768.93 and 1078.98 mg dL-1 respectively) in the higher density and asphyxia method. Conversely, when evaluating the quality parameters, the highest values were observed for lower density and thermonarcosis. High depuration density (300 kg m-3), combined with the asphyxiation stunning method, promotes changes in respiratory dynamics and provides greater stress, less firm fillet texture and greater weight loss due to cooking, as well as changes in creatine kinase (CK) and its CK-MB isoenzyme, demonstrating greater muscle damage. On the other hand, the density of 50 kg m-3 during pre-slaughter, combined with the method of stunning by thermonarcosis, provide a longer period of permanence in pre rigor mortis, which will result in fillets with a better sensory profile., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Prestes dos Santos et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

This study investigates the short and long-term effects of IFNT and PAG on the transcriptome of endometrium and blood leukocytes. Holstein heifers received intrauterine infusions of one of the following treatments: 20 mL of a 200 μg/mL bovine serum albumin solution (BSA; vehicle) from day 14 to 16 of the estrous cycle (BSA), vehicle + 10 μg/mL of IFNT from day 14 to 16 (IFNT3), vehicle + 10 μg/mL of IFNT from day 14 to 19 (IFNT6), and vehicle + 10 μg/mL of IFNT from day 14 to 16 followed by vehicle + 10 μg/mL of IFNT + 5 μg/mL of PAG from day 17 to 19 (IFNT+PAG). RNA-seq analysis was performed in endometrial biopsies and blood leukocytes collected after treatments. Acute IFNT signaling in the endometrium (IFNT3 vs BSA), induced differentially expressed genes (DEG) associated with interferon activation, immune response, inflammation, cell death, and inhibited vesicle transport and extracellular matrix remodeling. Prolonged IFNT signaling (IFNT6 vs IFNT3) altered gene expression related to cell invasion, retinoic acid signaling, and embryo implantation. In contrast, PAG induced numerous DEG in blood leukocytes but only 4 DEG in the endometrium. In blood leukocytes, PAG stimulated genes involved in development and TGFB signaling while inhibiting interferon signaling and cell migration. Overall, IFNT is a primary regulator of endometrial gene expression, while PAG predominantly affected the transcriptome of circulating immune cells during early pregnancy. Further research is essential to fully grasp the roles of identified DEG in both the endometrium and blood leukocytes., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: Authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Cognitive dysfunction and dementia are critical symptoms of Lewy Body dementias (LBD). Specifically, alpha-synuclein (αSyn) accumulation in the hippocampus leading to synaptic dysfunction is linked to cognitive deficits in LBD. Here, we investigated the pathological impact of αSyn on hippocampal neurons. We report that either αSyn overexpression or αSyn pre-formed fibrils (PFFs) treatment triggers the formation of cofilin-actin rods, synapse disruptors, in cultured hippocampal neurons and in the hippocampus of synucleinopathy mouse models and of LBD patients. In vivo, cofilin pathology is present concomitantly with synaptic impairment and cognitive dysfunction. Rods generation prompted by αSyn involves the co-action of the cellular prion protein (PrP C ) and the chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5). Importantly, we show that CCR5 inhibition, with a clinically relevant peptide antagonist, reverts dendritic spine impairment promoted by αSyn. Collectively, we detail the cellular and molecular mechanism through which αSyn disrupts hippocampal synaptic structure and we identify CCR5 as a novel therapeutic target to prevent synaptic impairment and cognitive dysfunction in LBD., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Fear and anxiety are considered concerns for animal welfare as they are associated with negative affective states. This study aimed to pharmacologically validate an attention bias test (ABT) for broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) as a cognitive bias test to determine anxiety. Two-hundred-and-four male Ross 708 broiler chickens were arbitrarily allocated to either the anxiogenic or control treatment at 25 days of age (n = 102/treatment). Birds from the anxiogenic group were administered with 2.5 mg of β-CCM (β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid-N-methylamide [FG 7142]) per kg of body weight through an intraperitoneal injection (0.1 ml/100 g of body weight). Birds from the control group were administered with 9 mg of a saline solution per kg of body weight. During ABT, birds were tested in groups of three (n = 34 groups of three birds/treatment) with commercial feed and mealworms as positive stimuli and a conspecific alarm call as a negative stimulus. Control birds were 45 s faster to begin feeding than anxiogenic birds. Birds from the control group vocalized 40 s later and stepped 57 s later than birds from the anxiogenic group. The occurrence of vigilance behaviors did not differ between treatments. This study was successful in pharmacologically validating an attention bias test for fast-growing broiler chickens, testing three birds simultaneously. Our findings showed that latencies to begin feeding, first vocalization, and first step were valid measures to quantify anxiety., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Lourenço da Silva et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Environmental enrichment can increase the occurrence of natural behavior and improve leg health and other animal welfare outcomes in broiler chickens. This study aimed to assess the effects of three environmental enrichments, specifically hay bales, step platforms, and laser lights, on subclinical spondylolisthesis prevalence, productivity, behavior, and gait of broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus). Twenty-four hundred day-old male Ross® AP95 chicks from a commercial hatchery were used in a completely randomized design with four treatments and four replicate pens per treatment. Pens contained either a Control (C) treatment, an environment similar to a commercial broiler chicken system without environmental enrichments, or an environment with either additional hay bales (HB), additional step platforms (SP), or additional laser lights (LL). Performance, yield, behavior (frequencies), gait score, and subclinical spondylolisthesis prevalences were assessed. When raised with SP or LL access, fewer chickens had subclinical spondylolisthesis than chickens without enrichments (C) or with HB access. Chickens with access to SP exhibited higher wing yield and less abdominal fat than animals from the C group. Chickens from the LL and HB treatments explored more and rested less frequently than animals from the C and SP treatments. As chickens aged, they became less active, exploring less and increasing resting and comfort behaviors. Treatments did not affect gait. Gait was not associated with subclinical spondylolisthesis prevalence. Environmental enrichments benefitted chicken health (subclinical spondylolisthesis) and behavior (exploration) without negative consequences for performance and yield., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Lourenço da Silva et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

The research aimed to assess the effects of auditory environmental enrichment on sows in mixed housing (caged until 35 days after insemination and then collective pens) or collective housing (caged until 72 h after insemination and then collective pens). Reproductive performance, body surface and eye temperature (ET) were evaluated as sows' welfare indicators. A sample of 56 sows between 2nd and 6th parity was submitted to the treatments from artificial insemination to weaning. The sows were assigned in a randomized block design with a 2 × 2 factorial scheme of treatments: mixed housing-control (MH-C), collective housing-control (CH-C), mixed housing-music (MH-M) and collective housing-music (CH-M). Auditory enrichment consisted of exposing sows daily throughout gestation and lactation to 6 h of classical music divided into 2 h periods. The ET of pregnant sows in collective housing was lower than that of sows in mixed housing (33.77 °C vs. 34.91 °C). Pregnant and lactating sows exposed to auditory environmental enrichment exhibited lower ET compared to those that had no access to the stimulus (pregnant 33.36 °C vs. 34.32 °C and lactating 34.21 °C vs. 34.83 °C). No housing type effect was found on the reproductive performance parameter; however, piglets from sows submitted to auditory environmental enrichment, regardless of the type of housing during gestation, were heavier at weaning (6.32 kg vs. 5.57 kg). Collective or mixed housing does not affect sows' reproductive performance; perhaps, auditory environmental enrichment reduced stress in the gestation and lactation phases and provided greater piglet weight gain at weaning.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of partially fermentable insoluble dietary fiber supplementation on the behavior, surface temperature, and reproductive parameters of gestating and lactating sows, as well as on the performance of their litters. Four hundred hyper-prolific sows were assigned in a randomized block design with two treatment groups during the gestation phase: Control (C), corn-soy based diets, or corn-soy based diets with daily 55 g supplementation of eubiotic fiber (F) from the 85th day of gestation until the farrowing (late pregnancy). During the lactation phase, the sows were assigned in a 2 × 2 factorial design using the following treatment groups: (1) CC, no fiber included during gestation and lactation. (2) FC, daily inclusion of 55 g of fiber only during late pregnancy. (3) CF, daily inclusion of 55 g of fiber only during lactation. (4) FF, daily inclusion of 55 g of fiber during late pregnancy and lactation. Sows that received dietary fiber supplementation during the final third of gestation increased feed intake during lactation. Piglets from sows supplemented in both phases showed a significant increase in weight at weaning. The dietary supplementation of eubiotic fiber for sows in the end period of gestation and lactation improved performance and welfare, with positive consequences for developing their litters.

Background: Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder that occurs in about 10% of all cancer cases. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with an increased occurrence of a wide range of cancers, including HL due to progressive immunosuppression and co-infection with oncogenic viruses. However, the aim of this systematic review is to obtain evidence about the impact of the HIV infection in HL individuals., Methods: We will obtain studies through PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, LILACS, CENTRAL, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases. The inclusion criteria will be observational studies (sectional, cohort, and case-control) that describe the impact of the HIV infection in HL individuals. Outcomes of interest include mortality, prevalence, causes of hospitalization, time between HIV diagnosis and HL diagnosis in days, comorbidities (systemic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, others), T CD4 + cells/mm3 at HIV diagnosis and at HL diagnosis, viral load (log10 copies/mL) at HL diagnosis, and history of treatment abandon. Two reviewers, independently, will extract the data from each included study. Meta-analysis will then be carried out using fixed-effects or random-effects model, using the mean difference for continuous outcomes and the relative risk for dichotomous outcomes. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The quality of evidence for each outcome will be assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology. Review Manager V.5.3.5 will be used for synthesis and subgroup analysis. To assess heterogeneity, we will compute the I2 statistics. Additionally, a quantitative synthesis will be performed if the included studies are sufficiently homogenous., Ethics and Dissemination: This study will be a review of the published data, and thus it is not necessary to obtain ethical approval. The findings of this systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal., Prospero Registration Number: CRD42021289520., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Objective: To evaluate the completeness and consistency of data from hospital-based cancer registries (HCRs) in a Brazilian state., Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was based on secondary data from an HCR in the state of Espírito Santo (ES) between 2010 and 2017. The data were collected between August and November 2020 by the ES State Health Department (SESA/ES). Cancer data were obtained from the HCR of ES using the tumor registration form of the Brazilian Hospital Cancer Registry Integrator and complete databases within the SESA/ES. The incompleteness of the data was classified as excellent (<5%), good (between 5% and 10%), regular (between 10% and 20%), poor (between 20% and 50%), and very poor (>50%), according to the percentage of the absence of information. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS ® Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) version 20.0., Results: Complete data were observed for the variables of sex, date of the first hospital visit, and histological type of the primary tumor; that is, there were no missing data. Most epidemiological variables, including age, origin, date of first tumor diagnosis, previous diagnosis and treatment, location of the primary tumor, first treatment received at the hospital, date of death of the patient, and probable location of the primary tumor, were classified as having excellent completeness throughout the study period. However, the variables schooling, smoking, alcohol consumption, occupation, family history of cancer, and clinical staging of the tumor were classified as poor., Conclusion: Most epidemiological variables from the HCR in the state of ES, Brazil, showed excellent completeness. It is essential to elucidate the sociodemographic and clinical variables of epidemiological importance for a better understanding of the health-disease process., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: Preliminary data suggest that COVID-19 has reduced access to solid organ transplantation. However, the global consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on transplantation rates and the effect on waitlisted patients have not been reported. We aimed to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on transplantation and investigate if the pandemic was associated with heterogeneous adaptation in terms of organ transplantation, with ensuing consequences for waitlisted patients., Methods: In this population-based, observational, before-and-after study, we collected and validated nationwide cohorts of consecutive kidney, liver, lung, and heart transplants from 22 countries. Data were collected from Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2020, along with data from the same period in 2019. The analysis was done from the onset of the 100th cumulative COVID-19 case through to Dec 31, 2020. We assessed the effect of the pandemic on the worldwide organ transplantation rate and the disparity in transplant numbers within each country. We estimated the number of waitlisted patient life-years lost due to the negative effects of the pandemic. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04416256., Findings: Transplant activity in all countries studied showed an overall decrease during the pandemic. Kidney transplantation was the most affected, followed by lung, liver, and heart. We identified three organ transplant rate patterns, as follows: countries with a sharp decrease in transplantation rate with a low COVID-19-related death rate; countries with a moderate decrease in transplantation rate with a moderate COVID-19-related death rate; and countries with a slight decrease in transplantation rate despite a high COVID-19-related death rate. Temporal trends revealed a marked worldwide reduction in transplant activity during the first 3 months of the pandemic, with losses stabilising after June, 2020, but decreasing again from October to December, 2020. The overall reduction in transplants during the observation time period translated to 48 239 waitlisted patient life-years lost., Interpretation: We quantified the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on worldwide organ transplantation activity and revealed heterogeneous adaptation in terms of organ transplantation, both at national levels and within countries, with detrimental consequences for waitlisted patients. Understanding how different countries and health-care systems responded to COVID-19-related challenges could facilitate improved pandemic preparedness, notably, how to safely maintain transplant programmes, both with immediate and non-immediate life-saving potential, to prevent loss of patient life-years., Funding: French national research agency (INSERM) ATIP Avenir and Fondation Bettencourt Schueller., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests We declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The present study aimed to assess the influence of adding straw bales, step platforms, and laser projectors as environmental enrichment resources on the behaviour and welfare indicators of broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus). A sample of 4,000 day-old male Cobb® 500 birds was used. The experimental treatments consisted of No Environmental Enrichment (NEE)-similar to a conventional environment; and Environmental Enrichment (EE)-environment enriched with straw bales, step platforms, and laser projectors, with four replicates per treatment of 500 animals. Behavioural characteristics (ethological observation through cameras, grab test, and modified touch test) and animal welfare indicators (pododermatitis and dorsal cranial myopathy) were assessed. The birds submitted to the EE treatment exhibited greater exploratory activity and expression of behaviours associated with comfort and welfare, whereas those in the NEE group were less active. Locomotion and play fighting behaviour decreased and behaviours associated with comfort increased as age advanced. The frequencies of interaction with laser spots and birds lying around straw bales were the highest in the 1st week (P<0.01). The behaviours of pecking at straw bales (P<0.0004), using the step platforms (P = 0.0001) and being on top of straw bales (P<0.0002) gradually increased. The chickens accessed the feeding troughs the most in the period of 0800 hours (P<0.0001) and expressed the highest frequencies of behaviours associated with comfort in the 1400 hours and 1700 hours periods. The birds in the EE group were calmer in face of human presence and touch and scored higher in animal welfare indicators. Adding straw bales, step platforms, and laser projectors increased locomotion, reduced expression of fear, and improved animal welfare indicators of broiler chickens., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Alpha-Synuclein (αSyn), a protein highly enriched in neurons where it preferentially localizes at the pre-synapse, has been in the spotlight because its intraneuronal aggregation is a central phenomenon in Parkinson's disease. However, the consequences of αSyn accumulation to neuronal function are not fully understood. Considering the crucial role of actin on synaptic function and the fact that dysregulation of this cytoskeleton component is emerging in neurodegenerative disorders, the impact of αSyn on actin is a critical point to be addressed. In this review we explore the link between αSyn and actin and its significance for physiology and pathology. We discuss the relevance of αSyn-actin interaction for synaptic function and highlight the actin-depolymerizing protein cofilin-1 as a key player on αSyn-induced actin dysfunction in Parkinson's disease., (Copyright © 2020 Oliveira da Silva and Liz.)

The working hypothesis was that supplementation with progesterone (iP4) at early diestrus increases pregnancy rates of suckled beef cows with poor body condition score (BCS) and/or in anestrus when cows are submitted to timed insemination (TAI). The time of ovulation among suckled multiparous (n = 1270) and primiparous (n = 303) Nelore cows was synchronized using an estradiol/P4-based protocol for TAI (D0). At Day ‒10, visual evaluation of BCS was performed (scale = 1-5) and animals were classified according to an ovarian activity (OA) score: (OA1) absence of CL and presence of follicles ≥ 8 mm, (OA2) absence of CL and presence of follicles < 8 mm and (OA3) presence of corpus luteum (CL). On Day 4, animals were assigned randomly to receive 150 mg of injectable, long-acting P4 (iP4, n = 786) or non-iP4 (n = 787). Further, ultrasonic evaluations were performed on D0 and D4 for measurements of the largest follicle diameter (DF) and CL area, respectively. The BCS affected positively DF, CL area and OA. Supplementation with iP4 did not affect (P =  0.49) pregnancy rates and there was no significant interaction (P > 0.1) of P4 treatment with BCS or OA was detected for conception and pregnancy rates. Regardless of iP4, pregnancy rates of cows with moderate (2.75-3.25) (59.1%) and high (≥ 3.5) (57.8%) BCS were greater than those of cows with low (2.0-2.5) BCS (41.5%). Cows in OA2 had a greater P/AI (51.3%) than cows in OA1 (41.7%) or OA3 (41.9%). In conclusion, P4 supplementation after TAI did not improve P/AI and did not enhance the response to treatment of cows with a low BCS, regardless of OA., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Accumulating evidence suggests that neural interactions are distributed and relate to animal behavior, but many open questions remain. The neural assembly hypothesis, formulated by Hebb, states that synchronously active single neurons may transiently organize into functional neural circuits-neuronal assemblies (NAs)-and that would constitute the fundamental unit of information processing in the brain. However, the formation, vanishing, and temporal evolution of NAs are not fully understood. In particular, characterizing NAs in multiple brain regions over the course of behavioral tasks is relevant to assess the highly distributed nature of brain processing. In the context of NA characterization, active tactile discrimination tasks with rats are elucidative because they engage several cortical areas in the processing of information that are otherwise masked in passive or anesthetized scenarios. In this work, we investigate the dynamic formation of NAs within and among four different cortical regions in long-range fronto-parieto-occipital networks (primary somatosensory, primary visual, prefrontal, and posterior parietal cortices), simultaneously recorded from seven rats engaged in an active tactile discrimination task. Our results first confirm that task-related neuronal firing rate dynamics in all four regions is significantly modulated. Notably, a support vector machine decoder reveals that neural populations contain more information about the tactile stimulus than the majority of single neurons alone. Then, over the course of the task, we identify the emergence and vanishing of NAs whose participating neurons are shown to contain more information about animal behavior than randomly chosen neurons. Taken together, our results further support the role of multiple and distributed neurons as the functional unit of information processing in the brain (NA hypothesis) and their link to active animal behavior.

Cultured rodent brain slices are useful for studying the cellular and molecular behavior of neurons and glia in an environment that maintains many of their normal in vivo interactions. Slices obtained from a variety of transgenic mouse lines or use of viral vectors for expression of fluorescently tagged proteins or reporters in wild type brain slices allow for high-resolution imaging by fluorescence microscopy. Although several methods have been developed for imaging brain slices, combining slice culture with the ability to perform repetitive high-resolution imaging of specific cells in live slices over long time periods has posed problems. This is especially true when viral vectors are used for expression of exogenous proteins since this is best done in a closed system to protect users and prevent cross contamination. Simple modifications made to the roller tube brain slice culture method that allow for repetitive high-resolution imaging of slices over many weeks in an enclosed system are reported. Culturing slices on photoetched coverslips permits the use of fiducial marks to rapidly and precisely reposition the stage to image the identical field over time before and after different treatments. Examples are shown for the use of this method combined with specific neuronal staining and expression to observe changes in hippocampal slice architecture, viral-mediated neuronal expression of fluorescent proteins, and the development of cofilin pathology, which was previously observed in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in response to slice treatment with oligomers of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide.

The reproductive biology of South American freshwater stingrays (family Potamotrygonidae) is still poorly studied compared to other marine species. In the present study, we examined the gross anatomy and histology of six species of potamotrygonids from the Amazon basin and described the structural asymmetry of the ovaries and their relationship between ovarian and uterine fecundities. Stereological techniques were used to quantify the volume of ovarian and epigonal organ tissue associated with the left and right sides of the Potamotrygon wallacei, a recently described species, locally known as the cururu ray. This species presented ovarian asymmetry; the left epigonal organ-ovary complex was 55 times larger than the right side. The right side was composed of, volumetrically, 7.3% ovarian tissue and 92.7% epigonal organ tissue whereas the left side was 51.2% of ovarian tissue and 48.8% epigonal organ tissue. In all species, six types of follicles were identified in both right and left ovaries. Uteri were symmetrical and the fecundity ratio between the right and left sides was 0.9:1.1, respectively. Despite the volumetric difference of ovarian tissue between the two sides, the uterine fecundity shows that both ovaries are functional and that ovarian fecundity alone is not an accurate measure to determine the reproductive potential of freshwater stingrays. Anat Rec, 300:265-276, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

B-cell malignancies (BCM) originate from the same cell of origin, but at different maturation stages and have distinct clinical phenotypes. Although genetic risk variants for individual BCMs have been identified, an agnostic, genome-wide search for shared genetic susceptibility has not been performed. We explored genome-wide association studies of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL, N = 1,842), Hodgkin lymphoma (HL, N = 1,465) and multiple myeloma (MM, N = 3,790). We identified a novel pleiotropic risk locus at 3q22.2 (NCK1, rs11715604, P = 1.60 × 10 -9 ) with opposing effects between CLL (P = 1.97 × 10 -8 ) and HL (P = 3.31 × 10 -3 ). Eight established non-HLA risk loci showed pleiotropic associations. Within the HLA region, Ser37 + Phe37 in HLA-DRB1 (P = 1.84 × 10 -12 ) was associated with increased CLL and HL risk (P = 4.68 × 10 -12 ), and reduced MM risk (P = 1.12 × 10 -2 ), and Gly70 in HLA-DQB1 (P = 3.15 × 10 -10 ) showed opposing effects between CLL (P = 3.52 × 10 -3 ) and HL (P = 3.41 × 10 -9 ). By integrating eQTL, Hi-C and ChIP-seq data, we show that the pleiotropic risk loci are enriched for B-cell regulatory elements, as well as an over-representation of binding of key B-cell transcription factors. These data identify shared biological pathways influencing the development of CLL, HL and MM. The identification of these risk loci furthers our understanding of the aetiological basis of BCMs.

Phospholipid metabolism and signaling influences on early pregnancy events in cattle are unknown. This study aimed to characterize global phospholipid composition of oviduct and uterus during early diestrus in a model of contrasting embryo receptivity. Beef cows were treated to ovulate a larger (LF-LCL group, associated with greater receptivity) or smaller (SF-SCL group) follicle and, consequently, to present greater or smaller plasma concentrations of estradiol during proestrus-estrus, as well as progesterone during early diestrus. Oviduct and uterus (4 days after gonadotropin-releasing hormone-induced ovulation; D4) as well as the uterus (D7) were collected, and lipid profiles were monitored by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). This technique allowed the identification and tissue localization of sphingomyelins (SM), phosphatidylcholines (PC), ceramides (Cer), and phosphatidylethanolamines (PE). Multivariate statistics were used to separate samples into groups with distinctly different phospholipid profiles in the uterus at D4 and D7. Different abundance of ions corresponding to specific lipids were detected on D4 (Cer [42:1], PC [31:0], PC [32:1], PC [34:4], and PC [36:4] greater for LF-LCL group; and PC [38:7], PC [38:5], PC [38:4], PC [40:7], and PC [40:6] greater for SF-SCL group) and D7 (SM [34:2], SM [34:1], PC [32:1], and PC [35:2] greater for LF-LCL group). The MALDI-MS imaging showed the spatial distributions of major phospholipids. In conclusion, distinct phospholipid profiles were associated with animals treated to show contrasting receptivity to the embryo. Functional roles of the identified phospholipids on uterine function and preimplantation embryo development deserve further studies., (© 2016 by the Society for the Study of Reproduction, Inc.)

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent cancer in women and a major public health problem in Morocco. Several Moroccan studies have focused on studying this disease, but more are needed, especially at the genetic and molecular levels. Therefore, we investigated the potential association of several functional germline variants in the genes commonly mutated in sporadic breast cancer., Methods: In this case-control study, we examined 36 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 13 genes (APOBEC3A, APOBEC3B, ARID1B, ATR, MAP3K1, MLL2, MLL3, NCOR1, RUNX1, SF3B1, SMAD4, TBX3, TTN), which were located in the core promoter, 5'-and 3'UTR or which were nonsynonymous SNPs to assess their potential association with inherited predisposition to breast cancer development. Additionally, we identified a ~29.5-kb deletion polymorphism between APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B and explored possible associations with BC. A total of 226 Moroccan breast cancer cases and 200 matched healthy controls were included in this study., Results: The analysis showed that12 SNPs in 8 driver genes, 4 SNPs in APOBEC3B gene and 1 SNP in APOBEC3A gene were associated with BC risk and/or clinical outcome at P ≤ 0.05 level. RUNX1&#95;rs8130963 (odds ratio (OR) = 2.25; 95 % CI 1.42-3.56; P = 0.0005; dominant model), TBX3&#95;rs8853 (OR = 2.04; 95 % CI 1.38-3.01; P = 0.0003; dominant model), TBX3&#95;rs1061651 (OR= 2.14; 95 % CI1.43-3.18; P = 0.0002; dominant model), TTN&#95;rs12465459 (OR = 2.02; 95 % confidence interval 1.33-3.07; P = 0.0009; dominant model), were the most significantly associated SNPs with BC risk. A strong association with clinical outcome were detected for the genes SMAD4 &#95;rs3819122 with tumor size (OR = 0.45; 95 % CI 0.25-0.82; P = 0.009) and TTN&#95;rs2244492 with estrogen receptor (OR = 0.45; 95 % CI 0.25-0.82; P = 0.009)., Conclusion: Our results suggest that genetic variations in driver and APOBEC3 genes were associated with the risk of BC and may have impact on clinical outcome. However, the reported association between the deletion polymorphism and BC risk was not confirmed in the Moroccan population. These preliminary findings require replication in larger studies.

Glucosylceramides (GlcCer) are the main neutral glycosphingolipids expressed in fungal cells. In this work, glucosylceramides (GlcCer) were extracted from three strains of Scedosporium (Pseudallescheria) boydii, one strain of Pseudallescheria ellipsoidea and one strain of Pseudallescheria angusta and purified by several chromatographic steps. Using high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC), we found a similarity between GlcCer obtained from all of the analysed strains. A detailed structural analysis of the P. ellipsoidea GlcCer was performed via electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and confirmed in 1- and 2-D heteronuclear NMR experiments ((1)H-(13) C HSQC). GlcCer species produced by mycelial forms of these strains displayed the same structure previously demonstrated by our group for P. boydii, Cryptococcus neoformans, Pseudallescheria minustipora, Fusarium solani, and Colletotrichum gloesporioides. A monoclonal antibody (mAb) against GlcCer was used for immunofluorescence experiments. Our results revealed that GlcCer is present on the surface of these fungi, and no difference was observed in the GlcCer structure of the present set of strains in terms of geographic or clinical origin, suggesting a conserved GlcCer structure similar to those previously described for Scedosporium apiospermum, Scedosporium aurantiacum, and P. minutispora. The surface distribution of GlcCer in these fungi is suggestive of the involvement of this molecule in fungal growth., (Copyright © 2015 The British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) help to understand the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on breast cancer (BC) progression and survival. We performed multiple analyses on data from a previously conducted GWAS for the influence of individual SNPs, runs of homozygosity (ROHs) and inbreeding on BC survival. (I.) The association of individual SNPs indicated no differences in the proportions of homozygous individuals among short-time survivors (STSs) and long-time survivors (LTSs). (II.) The analysis revealed differences among the populations for the number of ROHs per person and the total and average length of ROHs per person and among LTSs and STSs for the number of ROHs per person. (III.) Common ROHs at particular genomic positions were nominally more frequent among LTSs than in STSs. Common ROHs showed significant evidence for natural selection (iHS, Tajima's D, Fay-Wu's H). Most regions could be linked to genes related to BC progression or treatment. (IV.) Results were supported by a higher level of inbreeding among LTSs. Our results showed that an increased level of homozygosity may result in a preference of individuals during BC treatment. Although common ROHs were short, variants within ROHs might favor survival of BC and may function in a recessive manner.

The genus Xenelmis is found in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Currently, seven out of thirteen species are registered from Brazil. Here, two new species of Xenelmis from Brazil are described and illustraded-Xenelmis sinecarina sp. nov. and Xenelmis granatoides sp. nov. Additionaly, X. granata and X. micros are characterized and illustrated.

A bibliography of significant taxonomic papers on Elmidae (Coleoptera, Polyphaga, Byrrhoidea), and a checklist of valid species and subspecies and their geographic distributions are provided. Forty-seven genera and 430 valid species are included. Maps show the geographic distribution of the genera by country.

Metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) is a false neurotransmitter noradrenaline analogue that is taken up by the 'uptake 1' transporter mechanism in the cell membrane of presynaptic adrenergic neurons and accumulates in catecholamine storage vesicles. Since it is practically unmetabolized, it can be labeled with a radioisotope (iodine-123) in scintigraphic exams to noninvasively assess the functional status of the sympathetic innervation of organs with a significant adrenergic component, including the heart. Studies of its application in nuclear cardiology appear to confirm its value in the assessment of conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias and sudden death. Heart failure is a global problem, with an estimated prevalence of 2% in developed countries. Sudden cardiac death is the main cause of its high mortality. The autonomic nervous system dysfunction, including sympathetic hyperactivity, that accompanies chronic heart failure is associated with progressive myocardial remodeling, declining left ventricular function and worsening symptoms, and contributes to the development of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death. Since 123I-MIBG cardiac scintigraphy can detect changes in the cardiac adrenergic system, there is considerable interest in its role in obtaining diagnostic and prognostic information in patients with heart failure. In this article we present a literature review on the use of 123I-MIBG scintigraphy for risk stratification of sudden death in patients with heart failure., (Copyright © 2012 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Published by Elsevier España. All rights reserved.)

Background: The use of mesoporous silica for cancer targeting is increasing rapidly. The association between rigid model of nanoparticles such as mesoporous silica and biological compounds with affinity for oncological diseases is a very promising drug targeting system nowadays., Methods: In this study, we used the mesoporous silica (SBA-15) associated with aptamer (functionalized for the tumor marker MUC-1)., Results: The results obtained in the characterization were quite interesting and demonstrated that the silica produced were very uniform and with a size range of 50-100 nm. Thus, the results of cytotoxicity demonstrated that there is no cytotoxicity related to the nanoparticle., Conclusion: We conclude that although further studies are required, the nanoparticle mesoporous silica model loaded with aptamer is very functional and its use can be widespread for other application especially in nuclear medicine.

The use of mesoporous silica in targeted cancer therapy is increasing daily. The combination of a rigid model of nanoparticles like mesoporous silica and biological compounds with an affinity for oncological diseases is the most promising drug-targeting system nowadays. In this study, we used the mesoporous silica SBA-15 combined with aptamer (functionalized for tumor with MUC1). The results obtained were of interest and showed the formation of the silica mesoporous structure. The impregnation methodology of mesoporous silica with the aptamer was also confirmed. Cytotoxicity results demonstrated that the particle associated with the aptamer has no cytotoxicity. We conclude that although further studies are required, the mesoporous silica nanoparticle model loaded with aptamer is very functional and can be used for other applications, especially in nuclear medicine., (Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Peptidorhamnomannans (PRMs), rhamnomannans and α-glucans are especially relevant for the architecture of the Scedosporium/Pseudallescheria boydii cell wall, but many of them are immunologically active, with great potential as regulators of pathogenesis and the immune response of the host. In addition, some of them can be specifically recognised by antibodies from the sera of patients, suggesting that they could also be useful in diagnosis of fungal infections. Their primary structures have been determined, based on a combination of techniques including gas chromatography, electrospray ionization - mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), (1)H-COSY and TOCSY, (13)C and (1)H/(13)C NMR spectroscopy. Using monoclonal antibodies to PRM, we showed that it is involved in germination and viability of P. boydii conidia, in the phagocytosis of P. boydii conidia by macrophages and non-phagocytic cells and in the survival of mice with P. boydii infection. Also, components of the fungal cell wall, such as α-glucans, are involved. Rhamnomannans are immunostimulatory and participate in the recognition and uptake of fungal cells by the immune system. These glycosylated polymers, being present in the fungal cell wall, are mostly absent from mammalian cells, and are excellent targets for the design of new agents capable of inhibiting fungal growth and differentiation of pathogens., (© 2011 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

In recent years particular effort is being devoted towards the development of radiofrequency (rf) pulsed glow discharges (GDs) coupled to optical emission spectrometry (OES) for depth profile analysis of materials with technological interest. In this work, pulsed rf-GD-OES is investigated for the fast and sensitive depth characterization of Zn-TiO(2) nanocomposite films deposited on conductive substrates (Ti and steel). The first part of this work focuses on assessing the advantages of pulsed GDs, in comparison with the continuous GD, in terms of analytical emission intensities and emission yields. Next, the capability of pulsed rf-GD-OES for determination of thickness and compositional depth profiles is demonstrated by resorting to a simple multi-matrix calibration procedure. A rf forward power of 75 W, a pressure of 600 Pa, 10 kHz pulse frequency and 50% duty cycle were selected as GD operation parameters.Quantitative depth profiles obtained with the GD proposed methodology for Zn-TiO(2) nanocomposite films, prepared by the occlusion electrodeposition method using pulsed reverse current electrolysis, have proved to be in good agreement with results achieved by complementary techniques, including scanning electron microscopy and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The work carried out demonstrates that pulsed rf-GD-OES is a promising tool for the fast analytical characterization of nanocomposite films., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the formed elements in the periferical blood of two amostral groups of Phrynops geoffroanus: one from an urban environment under domestic sewage dumping, and another from a non-contaminated environment. Blood samples of 36 animals (females and males) were collected through cardiocentesis. Sixteen specimens were from the urban environment, and 20 were from a control environment. Samples of blood tissue were used for light microscopy analysis, and also for morphometric analysis of red blood cells. For the ultrastructural analysis, blood samples of 2 animals were used. The formed elements found, using morphological and ultrastructural analysis were: nucleated red blood cells; thrombocytes; neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils; eosinophils; heterophils, and azurophils. The morphometric analysis of all red blood cells parameters examinated in females showed a statistically significant difference, but in males just the nuclear area showed difference between the specimens of the two environments. The elements identified by light microscopy were elucidated by electron transmission microscopy. This P. geoffroanus study is the first one that makes a correlation between these environments and the description of turtle's blood cells, thus contributing to the identification of the hematological characteristics of this group., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A growing body of evidence has pointed to the ionotropic glutamate N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDA) as an important player in the etiology of psychopathologies, including anxiety and major depression. Clinical findings suggest that ketamine may be used for the treatment of major depression. There is evidence that reactive oxygen species also play an important role in the pathogenesis of many diseases, particularly those which are neurological and psychiatric in nature. This study examined the behavioral and oxidative stress alterations after a single administration of ketamine (5, 10 and 20mg/kg i.p.) in mice. Ketamine presented a significant anxiogenic effect in the elevated plus-maze model of anxiety, also increasing locomotor activity. In the forced swimming and tail suspension tests, a significant decrease in immobility time after ketamine administration was observed. In addition to the behavioral changes induced by ketamine, this drug also increased lipid peroxidation, nitrite content and catalase activity, while decreased GSH levels in mice prefrontal cortex. In conclusion, our results confirm the antidepressant effects of ketamine, also showing a pro-oxidant effect of this drug., (2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In recent years, the application of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to biological systems has highlighted the potential of this technology. AFM provides insights into studies of biological structures and interactions and can also identify and characterize a large panel of pathogens, including viruses. The Flaviviridae family contains a number of viruses that are important human and animal pathogens. Among them, Dengue virus causes epidemics with fatal outcomes mainly in the tropics. In this study, Dengue virus is visualized for the first time using the in air AFM technique. Images were obtained from a potassium-tartrate gradient-purified virus. This study enhances the application of AFM as a novel tool for the visualization and characterization of virus particles. Because flavivirus members are closely related, studies of the morphologic structure of the Dengue virus can reveal strategies that may be useful to identify and study other important viruses in the family, including the West Nile virus.

Isolated from the mycelium of Scedosporium prolificans were complex glycoproteins (RMP-Sp), with three structurally related components (HPSEC). RMP-Sp contained 35% protein and 62% carbohydrate with Rha, Ara, Man, Gal, Glc, and GlcNH(2) in a 18:1:24:8:6:5 molar ratio. Methylation analysis showed mainly nonreducing end- of Galp (13%), nonreducing end- (9%), 2-O- (13%), and 3-O-subst. Rhap (7%), nonreducing end- (11%), 2-O- (10%), 3-O- (14%), and 2,6-di-O-subst. Manp units (13%). Mild reductive beta-elimination of RMP-Sp gave alpha-l-Rhap-(1-->2)-alpha-l-Rhap-(1-->3)-alpha-l-Rhap-(1-->3)-alpha-d-Manp-(1-->2)-d-Man-ol, with Man-ol substituted at O-6 with beta-d-Galp units, a related pentasaccharide lacking beta-d-Galp units, and beta-d-Galp-(1-->6)-[alpha-d-Manp-(1-->2)]-d-Man-ol in a 16:3:1w/w ratio. Traces of Man-ol and Rha-ol were detected. ESI-MS showed HexHex-ol and Hex(3-6)Hex-ol components. Three rhamnosyl units were peeled off successively from the penta- and hexasaccharide by ESI-MS-MS. The carbohydrate epitopes of RMP-Sp differ from those of the glycoprotein of Pseudallescheria boydii, a related opportunistic pathogen.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a versatile technique that permits the imaging of surfaces and generates topographical images from a variety of materials. Due to the fact that AFM requires minimum sample manipulation, it is a valuable tool for studying biological materials such as cells, DNA, bacteria and viruses. The aim of the present study was to standardize the AFM technique as a diagnostic tool for detection of naturally occurring orthopoxviruses. The samples analyzed were collected during natural outbreaks of Vaccinia virus (VACV) in dairy cattle in Brazil. These viruses are zoonotic infections; and therefore safe manipulation of all samples is required. The AFM technique would provide a more secure way to diagnose infection. By using the "in air" AFM technique after purification and inactivation process, relatively crude preparations of viruses were visualized rapidly. Details for efficient sample preparation and AFM imaging are described. The AFM technique provides a rapid and biosecure tool for the diagnosis of emerging orthopoxviruses and has potential as a tool for screening bioterrorism samples.

The first total synthesis of (+)-clavilactone B, a potent antifungal agent and novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is described. The absolute configuration of clavilactones has been unambiguously established by using Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation to generate the enantiomerically pure substrate. The strategy highlights the use of a powerful and convergent three-component benzyne coupling with a methylallyl Grignard and a chiral epoxy-aldehyde to generate two C-C bonds and install the carbon skeleton of clavilactone. Oxidative lactonization, ten-membered ring construction by ring closing metathesis, and oxidation gave clavilactone B.

To elucidate tentative assignments of metal-ligand modes of thiosemicarbazide complexes, a structural study and a assignment of the normal vibrations of 2-methylthiosemicarbazide copper(II) nitrate, [Cu(2MeTSC)(2)(NO(3))(2)] have been done through the ab initio DFT: pBP86/DN** procedure, and through the normal coordinate analysis (NCA). In the vibrational calculations, the elongated CuONO(2) bonds of the nitrate groups were considered in the CS and CN tautomers of the complex. DFT calculations had revealed that the infrared spectra can be well interpreted through the CN tautomer, failing in the prediction of the -NO(2) group wavenumbers. A little difference stabilization energy for the tautomers were found: for the CN tautomer was E=-3487,36376a.u., and for the CS tautomer, E=-3473,93598a.u. The observed combination bands at 1763.0 and at 1754.0 cm(-1) are an indicative that the -NO(3)(-) groups acts as monodentate ligands. Calculations had confirmed the experimental assignment of the infrared spectrum.

The structural and optical properties of high-quality crystalline strained InP nanowires are reported in this article. The nanowires were produced by the vapor-liquid-solid growth method in a chemical-beam epitaxy reactor, using 20 nm gold nanoparticles as catalysts. Polarization-resolved photoluminescence experiments were carried out to study the optical properties of the InP nanowires. These experiments revealed a large blue shift of 74 meV of the first electron-to-heavy hole optical transition in the nanowires, which cannot be solely explained by quantum size effects. The blue shift is mainly attributed to the presence of biaxial compressive strain in the inward radial direction of the InP nanowires. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy Electron and selected area electron diffraction experiments show that the nanowires have high crystal quality and grow along a [001] axes. These experiments also confirmed the presence of 1.8% compressive radial strain and 2% tensile longitudinal strain in the nanowires. A simple theoretical model including both quantum confinement and strain effects consistently describes the actual energy position of the InP nanowires optical emission.

Remediation methods for environmental contamination problems based on physical or chemical processes frequently present low efficiency and/or high costs. On the other hand, biological treatment is being proved to be an accessible alternative for soil and water remediation. Bioventing is commonly used for petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) spills. This process provides better subsurface oxygenation, thus stimulating degradation by indigenous microorganisms. In Brazil, gasoline and ethanol are routinely mixed; some authors suggest that despite gasoline high degradability, its degradation in the aquifer is hindered by the presence of much rapidly degrading ethanol. The present study evaluates a bioventing treatment of a gasoline-ethanol contaminated undisturbed residual soil from Rio de Janeiro. Contamination and treatment effects were monitored by conventional microbiology methods, chemical analysis, and ground penetrating radar (GPR) measurements. Results of culturable bacterial population counts show the effect of contamination and bioventing on the microbiota of gasoline and gasoline-ethanol containing soils; however, GPR responses to these variations are not conclusive and still need to be assessed.

Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectra of dimethylterephthalate (DMT), as microcrystalline powder, have been investigated. The vibrational spectra were calculated using the AM1 and PM3 semi empirical procedures, and the Møller-Plesset (MP2/DZV), and the Becke-Lee, Yang and Parr gradient-corrected correlation functional: B3LYP/6-31G(d) ab initio calculations. On this basis, and assisted with the FT-IR and Raman spectra of the terephthalic acid, an assignment of the vibrational spectra of dimethylterephthalate was proposed. In the calculations, remarkable differences concerning the assignments of the vibrational spectra were noted between the AM1 and PM3 methods. Also, the ab initio procedure shows differences in interpreting the spectra compared with the semi empiric procedures, and among themselves. Calculated geometrical parameters were compared with the experimental values of dimethylterephthalate, diethylterephthalate and terephthalic acid.

Coronin has been described as an actin-binding protein of Dictyostelium discoideum, and it has been demonstrated to play a role in cell migration, cytokinesis and phagocytosis. Coronin-related proteins are found in many eukaryotic species, including Coronin-1 in mammals whose expression is enriched in the hematopoietic tissues. Here, we characterize Coronin-1 gene and protein expression in mouse embryonic and adult T lymphocytes. Coronin-1 is expressed throughout T cell ontogeny and in peripheral alphabeta T cells. Expression varies along thymic cell development, with maximum levels observed in embryonic early thymocytes and, in the adults, the selected TCRalphabeta(+) single-positive thymocytes. Subcellular localization analysis indicates that Coronin-1 is in equilibrium between the cytosol and the cell cortex, where it accumulates in F-actin-rich membrane protrusions induced by polarized activation of TCR-CD3-stimulated T cells. These data are consistent with a role of Coronin-1 in T cell differentiation/activation events involving membrane dynamisms and the cortical actin cytoskeleton.

The adhesion force between the tip of an atomic force microscope cantilever derivatized with nimodipine (a calcium blocker, from the dihydropyridine class, currently used in clinical medicine for hypertension) and living cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (unicellular eukaryotes which portray ultrastructural features characteristic of higher eukaryotic cells) was measured. This methodology allowed us to locate (and visualize) pores on the cell surface which may be responsible for calcium transportation in the living cells. The interaction of the cantilever derivatized with the calcium blocker and a pore, which can be a calcium channel, is more intense than a non-derivatized cantilever and the pore. Outside the pore (on the rest of cell surface), a derivatized or a non-derivatized cantilever has the same pattern of adhesion force. The information obtained with this method is very important for the design of new, more potent and less toxic drugs for pharmacological use.