The first Miocene fossils from coastal woodlands in the southern East African Rift.

The Miocene was a key time in the evolution of African ecosystems witnessing the origin of the African apes and the isolation of eastern coastal forests through an expanding arid corridor. Until recently, however, Miocene sites from the southeastern regions of the continent were unknown. Here, we report the first Miocene fossil teeth from the shoulders of the Urema Rift in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique. We provide the first 1) radiometric ages of the Mazamba Formation, 2) reconstructions of paleovegetation in the region based on pedogenic carbonates and fossil wood, and 3) descriptions of fossil teeth. Gorongosa is unique in the East African Rift in combining marine invertebrates, marine vertebrates, reptiles, terrestrial mammals, and fossil woods in coastal paleoenvironments. The Gorongosa fossil sites offer the first evidence of woodlands and forests on the coastal margins of southeastern Africa during the Miocene, and an exceptional assemblage of fossils including new species.

The importance of well protected forests for the conservation genetics of West African colobine monkeys.

In tropical forests, anthropogenic activities are major drivers of the destruction and degradation of natural habitats, causing severe biodiversity loss. African colobine monkeys (Colobinae) are mainly folivore and strictly arboreal primates that require large forests to subsist, being among the most vulnerable of all nonhuman primates. The Western red colobus Piliocolobus badius and the King colobus Colobus polykomos inhabit highly fragmented West African forests, including the Cantanhez Forests National Park (CFNP) in Guinea-Bissau. Both species are also found in the largest and best-preserved West African forest-the Taï National Park (TNP) in Ivory Coast. Colobine monkeys are hunted for bushmeat in both protected areas, but these exhibit contrasting levels of forest fragmentation, thus offering an excellent opportunity to investigate the importance of well-preserved forests for the maintenance of evolutionary potential in these arboreal primates. We estimated genetic diversity, population structure, and demographic history by using microsatellite loci and mitochondrial DNA. We then compared the genetic patterns of the colobines from TNP with the ones previously obtained for CFNP and found contrasting genetic patterns. Contrary to the colobines from CFNP that showed very low genetic diversity and a strong population decline, the populations in TNP still maintain high levels of genetic diversity and we found no clear signal of population decrease in Western red colobus and a limited decrease in King colobus. These results suggest larger and historically more stable populations in TNP compared to CFNP. We cannot exclude the possibility that the demographic effects resulting from the recent increase of bushmeat hunting are not yet detectable in TNP using genetic data. Nevertheless, the fact that the TNP colobus populations are highly genetically diverse and maintain large effective population sizes suggests that well-preserved forests are crucial for the maintenance of populations, species, and probably for the evolutionary potential in colobines.

Diversity, distribution and conservation of land mammals in Mauritania, North-West Africa.

Detailed knowledge about biodiversity distribution is critical for monitoring the biological effects of global change processes. Biodiversity knowledge gaps hamper the monitoring of conservation trends and they are especially evident in the desert biome. Mauritania constitutes a remarkable example on how remoteness and regional insecurity affect current knowledge gaps. Mammals remain one of the least studied groups in this country, without a concerted species checklist, the mapping of regions concentrating mammal diversity, or a national assessment of their conservation status. This work assessed the diversity, distribution, and conservation of land mammals in Mauritania. A total of 6,718 published and original observations were assembled in a spatial database and used to update the occurrence status, distribution area, and conservation status. The updated taxonomic list comprises 107 species, including 93 extant, 12 Regionally Extinct, and 2 Extinct in the Wild. Mapping of species distributions allowed locating concentrations of extant mammal species richness in coastal areas, along the Senegal River valley, and in mountain plateaus. Recent regional extinction of large-sized Artiodactyla and Carnivora has been very high (11% extinct species). From the extant mammals, 11% are threatened, including flagship species (e.g., Addax nasomaculatus and Panthera pardus). Species richness is poorly represented by the current protected areas. Despite the strong advances made, 23% of species categorise as Data Deficient. Persisting systematics and distribution uncertainties require further research. Field surveys in currently unexplored areas (northern and south-eastern regions) are urgently needed to increase knowledge about threatened mammals. The long-term conservation of land mammals in Mauritania is embedded in a complex web of socioeconomic and environmental factors that call for collaborative action and investment in sustainable human development. The current work sets the baseline for the future development of detailed research studies and to address the general challenges faced by mammals and biodiversity in the country.

Genomic variation in baboons from central Mozambique unveils complex evolutionary relationships with other Papio species.

BACKGROUND: Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique hosts a large population of baboons, numbering over 200 troops. Gorongosa baboons have been tentatively identified as part of Papio ursinus on the basis of previous limited morphological analysis and a handful of mitochondrial DNA sequences. However, a recent morphological and morphometric analysis of Gorongosa baboons pinpointed the occurrence of several traits intermediate between P. ursinus and P. cynocephalus, leaving open the possibility of past and/or ongoing gene flow in the baboon population of Gorongosa National Park. In order to investigate the evolutionary history of baboons in Gorongosa, we generated high and low coverage whole genome sequence data of Gorongosa baboons and compared it to available Papio genomes. RESULTS: We confirmed that P. ursinus is the species closest to Gorongosa baboons. However, the Gorongosa baboon genomes share more derived alleles with P. cynocephalus than P. ursinus does, but no recent gene flow between P. ursinus and P. cynocephalus was detected when available Papio genomes were analyzed. Our results, based on the analysis of autosomal, mitochondrial and Y chromosome data, suggest complex, possibly male-biased, gene flow between Gorongosa baboons and P. cynocephalus, hinting to direct or indirect contributions from baboons belonging to the "northern" Papio clade, and signal the presence of population structure within P. ursinus. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of genome data generated from baboon samples collected in central Mozambique highlighted a complex set of evolutionary relationships with other baboons. Our results provided new insights in the population dynamics that have shaped baboon diversity.

Adrenal Crisis Secondary to Small Bowel Obstruction Caused by a Bezoar.

Bezoars are aggregates of undigested materials that accumulate in the gastrointestinal lumen. They are a rare cause of small bowel obstruction and are mostly diagnosed in patients with small bowel disease. Patients with panhypopituitarism are more susceptible to developing metabolic and haemodynamic instability, particularly during perioperative period. We present the case of a male patient with small bowel obstruction secondary to a bezoar. The patient was admitted to the hospital due to upper abdominal pain and emesis, presenting with clinical signs of shock. He had a history of iatrogenic panhypopituitarism and had been submitted to a bilateral inguinal hernioplasty 15 days before. Abdominopelvic computed tomography with angiography revealed small bowel obstruction secondary to a bezoar. Stress-dose hydrocortisone was administered to treat the underlying haemodynamic instability, followed by exploratory laparotomy. The bezoar was removed and eventually the patient recovered with a tapering regimen of hydrocortisone. The diagnosis of small bowel obstruction secondary to bezoar can be challenging. The shock could be related to an adrenal crisis precipitated by the bezoar in the setting of increased susceptibility due to the recent surgery.

Health workers' perspectives on asthma care coordination between primary and specialised healthcare in the COVID-19 pandemic: a protocol for a qualitative study in Ecuador and Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Asthma is a common long-term disorder and strategies to improve asthma control are still a challenge. Integrated delivery of health systems is critical for effective asthma care: there is limited information on experiences of care coordination for asthma from Latin America, especially on perspectives of health personnel and in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This protocol details a qualitative approach to analyse health workers' perspectives of healthcare coordination for asthma control during COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador and Brazil, at primary and specialised levels, through in-depth semistructured interviews using a video communications platform. The analysis will identify knowledge and perspectives based on coordination of clinical information, clinical management and administrative coordination. Theoretical sampling will be used to obtain approximately equal numbers of women and men within each level of healthcare; data saturation will be used to determine sample size. Transcripts will be analysed using content-coding procedures to mark quotations related to major topics and subthemes included in the interview guide, and narrative analysis will be based on a theoretical framework for healthcare coordination to identify new themes and subthemes. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was obtained from the ethics committees of Hospital General Docente Calderón, Quito, Ecuador; and Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil. The findings of this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed articles, conference presentations and condensed summaries for key stakeholders and partners.

Deep Convolutional Neural Networks With Ensemble Learning and Generative Adversarial Networks for Alzheimer's Disease Image Data Classification.

Recent advancements in deep learning (DL) have made possible new methodologies for analyzing massive datasets with intriguing implications in healthcare. Convolutional neural networks (CNN), which have proven to be successful supervised algorithms for classifying imaging data, are of particular interest in the neuroscience community for their utility in the classification of Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is the leading cause of dementia in the aging population. There remains a critical unmet need for early detection of AD pathogenesis based on non-invasive neuroimaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET). In this comprehensive review, we explore potential interdisciplinary approaches for early detection and provide insight into recent advances on AD classification using 3D CNN architectures for multi-modal PET/MRI data. We also consider the application of generative adversarial networks (GANs) to overcome pitfalls associated with limited data. Finally, we discuss increasing the robustness of CNNs by combining them with ensemble learning (EL).

Educação superior em saúde: a educação a distância em meio à crise do novo coronavírus no Brasil

Objetivo: Refletir sobre as estratégias de educação a distância adotadas no ensino remoto por instituições de ensino superior brasileiras no processo de continuidade de suas atividades letivas da graduação e da pós-graduação na área da saúde, no contexto da pandemia pelo novo coronavírus. Síntese de conteúdo: Essa pandemia caracteriza uma crise generalizada e, com isso, a suspensão das aulas presenciais nas universidades no Brasil. Esse episódio promove um debate sobre possibilidades, riscos e consequências das estratégias de educação a distância adotadas neste momento. Por um lado, possibilita a aproximação dos indivíduos e a continuidade do ensino ante o isolamento social; por outro, acarreta a dissolução das diretrizes curriculares dos cursos de graduação em saúde. A educação a distância apresenta-se como uma forte ferramenta para desenvolver o domínio cognitivo, porém insuficiente para atender os domínios psicomotor e afetivo. A pandemia evidencia que somente práticas técnicas não são suficientes para o exercício dos profissionais de saúde, já que o contato humano é fundamental no processo de ensino e aprendizagem. Argumenta-se que é imprescindível garantir o tripé ensino-pesquisa-extensão baseado nos vínculos sociais dos futuros profissionais e na compreensão dos diferentes contextos em que atuarão. Conclusão: A educação a distância, embora relevante para o ensino remoto no momento da pandemia, deve ser realizada posteriormente em caráter complementar, e não substitutivo ao ensino presencial.

Objetivo: Reflexionar sobre las estrategias de educación a distancia adoptadas por las instituciones de educación superior brasileñas, para continuar sus actividades de enseñanza a nivel de pregrado y posgrado en el área de la salud, en el contexto de la pandemia del nuevo coronavirus. Síntesis del contenido: La pandemia del nuevo coronavirus ocasionó una crisis generalizada y, con ello, la suspensión de clases presenciales en las universidades en Brasil. Este episodio promueve un debate sobre las posibilidades, los riesgos y las consecuencias de las estrategias de educación a distancia actualmente adoptadas. Por una parte, esta estrategia permite el acercamiento de los individuos y la continuidad de la enseñanza en el aislamiento social. Por otro lado, conlleva a la disolución de las directrices curriculares de las carreras de pregrado en el área de la salud. Si bien la educación a distancia se presenta como una herramienta poderosa para el desarrollo del dominio cognitivo, esta es insuficiente para satisfacer los dominios psicomotor y afectivo. La pandemia actual muestra que la aplicación de prácticas exclusivamente técnicas resulta insuficiente para el ejercicio de los profesionales de la salud, dado que el contacto humano es fundamental en el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje. Se argumenta que es esencial garantizar la triada enseñanza-investigación-extensión basada en el vínculo social de los futuros profesionales y la comprensión de las realidades en que estos actuarán. Conclusión: La educación a distancia, aunque resulta importante de cara al contexto generado por la pandemia, debe incorporarse posteriormente como un método complementario dentro del proceso de formación, sin sustituir la enseñanza presencial.

Objective: Reflect on the distance education strategies adopted by Brazilian higher education institutions, in order to continue their activities within the context of the new coronavirus pandemic at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Content synthesis: The current pandemic caused by the new coronavirus has led to a general crisis in Brazil and, therefore, the interruption of classroom activities at Brazilian universities. This episode has resulted in a debate around the possibilities, risks, and consequences of the distance education strategies being adopted. On the one hand, such strategies allow reaching students and ensure the continuity of teaching amid the context of social distancing. On the other, they precede the dissolution of the curricular guidelines of undergraduate programs in health studies. Although distance education is presented as a powerful tool for the development of the cognitive domain, it falls short in the psychomotor and affective dimensions. The current pandemic shows that the application of merely technical practices is not enough for the activities carried out by health professionals, since human contact is essential in their teaching and learning processes. Thus, it is necessary to guarantee the teaching-research-outreach triad based on the social bond held by future professionals and the understanding of the realities in which they will exercise their profession. Conclusion: Although distance education is important for the context of the coronavirus pandemic, it must subsequently be incorporated as a complementary method within education processes, without taking the place of in-class education.

The Contribution of lincRNAs at the Interface between Cell Cycle Regulation and Cell State Maintenance.

Cell cycle progression is controlled by the interplay of established cell cycle regulators. Changes in these regulators' activity underpin differences in cell cycle kinetics between cell types. We investigated whether long intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) contribute to embryonic stem cell cycle adaptations. Using single-cell RNA sequencing data for mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) staged as G1, S, or G2/M we found differentially expressed lincRNAs are enriched among cell cycle-regulated genes. These lincRNAs (CC-lincRNAs) are co-expressed with genes involved in cell cycle regulation. We tested the impact of two CC-lincRNA candidates and show using CRISPR activation that increasing their expression is associated with deregulated cell cycle progression. Interestingly, CC-lincRNAs are often differentially expressed between G1 and S, their promoters are enriched in pluripotency transcription factor (TF) binding sites, and their transcripts are frequently co-regulated with genes involved in the maintenance of pluripotency, suggesting a contribution of CC-lincRNAs to mESC cell cycle adaptations.

Chasing a ghost: notes on the present distribution and conservation of the sooty mangabey (Cercocebus atys) in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa.

The West-African sooty mangabey (Cercocebus atys) is threatened by habitat loss, hunting for meat consumption, and mortality during crop-foraging events. The species' overall demographic trend is unknown. Presence and distribution in Guinea-Bissau, a country neighbored by Senegal and Republic of Guinea, was confirmed in 1946 but the species was declared extinct in 1989 and not observed in subsequent countrywide expeditions. Narratives of its presence across southern Guinea-Bissau are scattered in reports and occurrence in the eastern part was reported in 2017, but the limits of its distribution are currently unknown. Here, we present recent geo-referenced visual and molecular-based records of the sooty mangabey for three protected areas in southern Guinea-Bissau collected as part of a region-wide survey. Individuals were observed in Cufada Lagoons Natural Park (2015) and Dulombi National Park (NP) (2016) and photographed in Boé NP (2007, 2015 and 2020). Thirty-six samples collected in Boé NP (2017) were identified as sooty mangabey using a 402 base pair fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Our work suggests a wider distribution in Guinea-Bissau than previously described, augments knowledge of the populations' current habitat use and threats, and has implications for efforts to conserve the species in West Africa. Considering the sooty mangabey as the reservoir of the simian immunodeficiency virus that led to the human variant, HIV-2, confirmation that the Guinea-Bissau population is not extinct may lead to a better understanding of early viral jump to humans and consequent epidemic spread, specifically of the HIV-2 Subgroup A. We highlight the need for extra conservation measures by Guinea-Bissau authorities.

Insights into the evolution of social systems and species from baboon studies.

Baboons, members of the genus Papio, comprise six closely related species distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa and southwest Arabia. The species exhibit more ecological flexibility and a wider range of social systems than many other primates. This article summarizes our current knowledge of the natural history of baboons and highlights directions for future research. We suggest that baboons can serve as a valuable model for complex evolutionary processes, such as speciation and hybridization. The evolution of baboons has been heavily shaped by climatic changes and population expansion and fragmentation in the African savanna environment, similar to the processes that acted during human evolution. With accumulating long-term data, and new data from previously understudied species, baboons are ideally suited for investigating the links between sociality, health, longevity and reproductive success. To achieve these aims, we propose a closer integration of studies at the proximate level, including functional genomics, with behavioral and ecological studies.

A missing piece of the Papio puzzle: Gorongosa baboon phenostructure and intrageneric relationships.

Most authors recognize six baboon species: hamadryas (Papio hamadryas), Guinea (Papio papio), olive (Papio anubis), yellow (Papio cynocephalus), chacma (Papio ursinus), and Kinda (Papio kindae). However, there is still debate regarding the taxonomic status, phylogenetic relationships, and the amount of gene flow occurring between species. Here, we present ongoing research on baboon morphological diversity in Gorongosa National Park (GNP), located in central Mozambique, south of the Zambezi River, at the southern end of the East African Rift System. The park exhibits outstanding ecological diversity and hosts more than 200 baboon troops. Gorongosa National Park baboons have previously been classified as chacma baboons (P. ursinus). In accordance with this, two mtDNA samples from the park have been placed in the same mtDNA clade as the northern chacma baboons. However, GNP baboons exhibit morphological features common in yellow baboons (e.g., yellow fur color), suggesting that parapatric gene flow between chacma and yellow baboons might have occurred in the past or could be ongoing. We investigated the phenostructure of the Gorongosa baboons using two approaches: 1) description of external phenotypic features, such as coloration and body size, and 2) 3D geometric morphometric analysis of 43 craniofacial landmarks on 11 specimens from Gorongosa compared to a pan-African sample of 352 baboons. The results show that Gorongosa baboons exhibit a mosaic of features shared with southern P. cynocephalus and P. ursinus griseipes. The GNP baboon phenotype fits within a geographic clinal pattern of replacing allotaxa. We put forward the hypothesis of either past and/or ongoing hybridization between the gray-footed chacma and southern yellow baboons in Gorongosa or an isolation-by-distance scenario in which the GNP baboons are geographically and morphologically intermediate. These two scenarios are not mutually exclusive. We highlight the potential of baboons as a useful model to understand speciation and hybridization in early human evolution.

Correction: Disrupted dispersal and its genetic consequences: Comparing protected and threatened baboon populations (Papio papio) in West Africa.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194189.].

Tinea corporis by Microsporum audouinii in a female chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) from Guinea-Bissau: A case report.

We report a Microsporum audouinii infection in a female juvenile chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) presenting generalized dermatitis compatible with dermatophytosis. Dermatophyte was identified by macro- and microscopic characterization of skin and scales cultures in Mycosel Agar. The topical treatment applied was effective, having the potential for dermatophytosis treatment in immunocompetent primates.

Mice on menu: opportunistic feeding behaviour of the Amazonian silver arowana Osteoglossum bicirrhosum.

Two silver arowana, Osteoglossum bicirrhosum, one male (49.5 cm standard length, LS ) and one female (52.5 cm LS ) that had fed on small-eared colilargo or small-eared pygmy rice rat Oligoryzomys microtis, were sampled during the rising water period in the Brazilian Amazon. The identified prey were 6 and 8 cm long and occupied the entire stomachs of both individuals. This opportunistic feeding behaviour appears to be a strategy for this fish to acquire nutrients during times when its usual aquatic prey is dispersed throughout the flooded forest.

Disrupted dispersal and its genetic consequences: Comparing protected and threatened baboon populations (Papio papio) in West Africa.

Dispersal is a demographic process that can potentially counterbalance the negative impacts of anthropogenic habitat fragmentation. However, mechanisms of dispersal may become modified in populations living in human-dominated habitats. Here, we investigated dispersal in Guinea baboons (Papio papio) in areas with contrasting levels of anthropogenic fragmentation, as a case study. Using molecular data, we compared the direction and extent of sex-biased gene flow in two baboon populations: from Guinea-Bissau (GB, fragmented distribution, human-dominated habitat) and Senegal (SEN, continuous distribution, protected area). Individual-based Bayesian clustering, spatial autocorrelation, assignment tests and migrant identification suggested female-mediated gene flow at a large spatial scale for GB with evidence of contact between genetically differentiated males at one locality, which could be interpreted as male-mediated gene flow in southern GB. Gene flow was also found to be female-biased in SEN for a smaller scale. However, in the southwest coastal part of GB, at the same geographic scale as SEN, no sex-biased dispersal was detected and a modest or recent restriction in GB female dispersal seems to have occurred. This population-specific variation in dispersal is attributed to behavioural responses to human activity in GB. Our study highlights the importance of considering the genetic consequences of disrupted dispersal patterns as an additional impact of anthropogenic habitat fragmentation and is potentially relevant to the conservation of many species inhabiting human-dominated environments.

cis-Acting Complex-Trait-Associated lincRNA Expression Correlates with Modulation of Chromosomal Architecture.

Intergenic long noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) are the largest class of transcripts in the human genome. Although many have recently been linked to complex human traits, the underlying mechanisms for most of these transcripts remain undetermined. We investigated the regulatory roles of a high-confidence and reproducible set of 69 trait-relevant lincRNAs (TR-lincRNAs) in human lymphoblastoid cells whose biological relevance is supported by their evolutionary conservation during recent human history and genetic interactions with other trait-associated loci. Their enrichment in enhancer-like chromatin signatures, interactions with nearby trait-relevant protein-coding loci, and preferential location at topologically associated domain (TAD) boundaries provide evidence that TR-lincRNAs likely regulate proximal trait-relevant gene expression in cis by modulating local chromosomal architecture. This is consistent with the positive and significant correlation found between TR-lincRNA abundance and intra-TAD DNA-DNA contacts. Our results provide insights into the molecular mode of action by which TR-lincRNAs contribute to complex human traits.

Barriers to healthcare coordination in market-based and decentralized public health systems: a qualitative study in healthcare networks of Colombia and Brazil.

Although integrated healthcare networks (IHNs) are promoted in Latin America in response to health system fragmentation, few analyses on the coordination of care across levels in these networks have been conducted in the region. The aim is to analyse the existence of healthcare coordination across levels of care and the factors influencing it from the health personnel' perspective in healthcare networks of two countries with different health systems: Colombia, with a social security system based on managed competition and Brazil, with a decentralized national health system. A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive-interpretative study was conducted, based on a case study of healthcare networks in four municipalities. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with a three stage theoretical sample of (a) health (112) and administrative (66) professionals of different care levels, and (b) managers of providers (42) and insurers (14). A thematic content analysis was conducted, segmented by cases, informant groups and themes. The results reveal poor clinical information transfer between healthcare levels in all networks analysed, with added deficiencies in Brazil in the coordination of access and clinical management. The obstacles to care coordination are related to the organization of both the health system and the healthcare networks. In the health system, there is the existence of economic incentives to compete (exacerbated in Brazil by partisan political interests), the fragmentation and instability of networks in Colombia and weak planning and evaluation in Brazil. In the healthcare networks, there are inadequate working conditions (temporary and/or part-time contracts) which hinder the use of coordination mechanisms, and inadequate professional training for implementing a healthcare model in which primary care should act as coordinator in patient care. Reforms are needed in these health systems and networks in order to modify incentives, strengthen the state planning and supervision functions and improve professional working conditions and skills.