Response Surface Model of the Reduced Flexibility Matrix for Bayesian Damage Identification.

The present work is concerned with the use of a Response Surface Model of the reduced flexibility matrix for structural damage identification. A Response Surface Model (RSM) is fitted with the aim at providing a polynomial relationship between nodal cohesion parameters, used to describe the damage field within the structure, and elements of the reduced flexibility matrix. A design of experiment built on combinations of a relatively small number of nodal cohesion parameters is used to fit the RSM. The damage identification problem is formulated within the Bayesian framework and the Delayed Rejection Adaptive Metropolis method is used to sample the posterior probability density function of the uncertain cohesion parameters. Numerical simulations addressing damage identification in plates were carried out in order to assess the proposed approach, which succeeded in the identification of the different damage profiles considered. Besides, the use of a RSM, instead of a FEM of the structure, resulted in reductions of up almost 78% in the required computational cost.

Role of ABC Proteins in Secondary Metabolism and Immune (=Defensive) Response in Seaweeds.

Laurencia seaweed species synthesize a broad range of secondary metabolites, mainly terpenes (e.g., elatol), exhibiting diverse ecological roles, such as defense against fouling and herbivores. Recently, an intricate cellular machinery was described concerning terpenes biosynthetic pathways, storage inside corps en cerise (CC), and regulated exocytosis in these species. But for seaweeds in general, the proteins involved in transmembrane transport of secondary metabolites remain unknown. Assays with Rhodamine-123 and cyclosporine A (CSA) revealed the presence of ABC transporters in CC membrane of Laurencia dendroidea. In vivo incubation assays with CSA resulted in CC morphological changes, reduced intracellular elatol concentrations, and increased biofouling cover on the seaweed surface. Cultivation assays in the presence of a marine pathogenic bacteria induced the expression of ABC proteins belonging to the subfamilies ABCB, ABCD, ABCF, and ABCG. The latter subfamily is known to be associated with the transport of plant terpenes. Our results shed new light on the role of ABC proteins in key mechanisms of the defensive system in seaweeds against fouling and herbivory.

Tiny insects, big troubles: a review of BOLD's COI database for Thysanoptera (Insecta).

DNA Barcoding is an important tool for disciplines such as taxonomy, phylogenetics and phylogeography, with Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) being the largest database of partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences. We provide the first extensive revision of the information available in this database for the insect order Thysanoptera, to assess: how many COI sequences are available; how representative these sequences are for the order; and the current potential of BOLD as a reference library for specimen identification and species delimitation. The COI database at BOLD currently represents only about 5% of the over 6400 valid thrips species, with a heavy bias towards a few species of economic importance. Clear Barcode gaps were observed for 24 out of 33 genera evaluated, but many outliers were also observed. We suggest that the COI sequences available in BOLD as a reference would not allow for accurate identifications in about 30% of Thysanoptera species in this database, which rises to 40% of taxa within Thripidae, the most sampled family within the order. Thus, we call for caution and a critical evaluation in using BOLD as a reference library for thrips Barcodes, and future efforts should focus on improving the data quality of this database.

Use of Nanostructured Silica SBA-15 as an Oral Vaccine Adjuvant to Control Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in Swine Production.

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is a difficult-to-control bacterium since commercial vaccines do not prevent colonization and excretion. The present study aimed to evaluate the performance of an orally administered vaccine composed of antigens extracted from Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and incorporated into mesoporous silica (SBA-15), which has an adjuvant-carrier function, aiming to potentiate the action of the commercial intramuscular vaccine. A total of 60 piglets were divided into four groups (n = 15) submitted to different vaccination protocols as follows, Group 1: oral SBA15 + commercial vaccine at 24 days after weaning, G2: oral vaccine on the third day of life + vaccine commercial vaccine at 24 days, G3: commercial vaccine at 24 days, and G4: commercial vaccine + oral vaccine at 24 days. On the first day, the piglets were weighed and, from the third day onwards, submitted to blood collections for the detection and quantification of anti-Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae IgG. Nasal swabs were collected to monitor IgA by ELISA, and oropharyngeal swabs were used to assess the bacterial load by qPCR. Biological samples were collected periodically from the third day of life until the 73rd day. At 41 days of life, 15 individuals of the same age, experimentally challenged with an inoculum containing M. hyopneumoniae, were co-housed with the animals from groups (1 to 4) in a single pen to increase the infection pressure during the nursery period. At 73 days, all piglets were euthanized, and lungs were evaluated by collecting samples for estimation of bacterial load by qPCR. Quantitative data obtained from physical parameters and laboratory investigation were analyzed by performing parametric or non-parametric statistical tests. Results indicate that animals from G2 showed smaller affected lung areas compared to G3. Animals from G2 and G4 had a low prevalence of animals shedding M. hyopneumoniae at 61 days of age. Additionally, no correlation was observed between lung lesions and M. hyopneumoniae load in lung and BALF samples in animals that received the oral vaccine, while a strong correlation was observed in other groups. In the present study, evidence points to the effectiveness of the oral vaccine developed for controlling M. hyopneumoniae in pig production under field conditions.

Autoregulation of blood flow drives early hypotension in a rat model of systemic inflammation induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide.

Uncontrolled vasodilation is known to account for hypotension in the advanced stages of sepsis and other systemic inflammatory conditions, but the mechanisms of hypotension in earlier stages of such conditions are not clear. By monitoring hemodynamics with the highest temporal resolution in unanesthetized rats, in combination with ex-vivo assessment of vascular function, we found that early development of hypotension following injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide is brought about by a fall in vascular resistance when arterioles are still fully responsive to vasoactive agents. This approach further uncovered that the early development of hypotension stabilized blood flow. We thus hypothesized that prioritization of the local mechanisms of blood flow regulation (tissue autoregulation) over the brain-driven mechanisms of pressure regulation (baroreflex) underscored the early development of hypotension in this model. Consistent with this hypothesis, an assessment of squared coherence and partial-directed coherence revealed that, at the onset of hypotension, the flow-pressure relationship was strengthened at frequencies (<0.2 Hz) known to be associated with autoregulation. The autoregulatory escape to phenylephrine-induced vasoconstriction, another proxy of autoregulation, was also strengthened in this phase. The competitive demand that drives prioritization of flow over pressure regulation could be edema-associated hypovolemia, as this became detectable at the onset of hypotension. Accordingly, blood transfusion aimed at preventing hypovolemia brought the autoregulation proxies back to normal and prevented the fall in vascular resistance. This novel hypothesis opens a new avenue of investigation into the mechanisms that can drive hypotension in systemic inflammation.

International Survey on Urodynamic Investigations in Women Undergoing Stress Urinary Incontinence Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of invasive urodynamics (UD) in women candidates for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a worldwide survey on current trends in use of preoperative invasive UD in women undergoing SUI surgery. Demographic respondents' data, whether routine invasive UD is performed before surgery and its diagnostic role were investigated. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 504 respondents: urologists 83.1%, gynecologists 16.8%. UD findings were reported influencing the surgical decision in 84.3% of the cases and may change planned surgery in 72.4%, may discourage it in 43.6%, may change surgical expectations in 55.5%, and are useful for preoperative counselling in 96.6%. We found a very low rate of routine performance of UD for uncomplicated SUI. The most impactful UD findings were related to the conditions of detrusor contractility, overactivity and underactivity. Among voiding disorders, dyssynergia was considered the most relevant dysfunction. Valsalva Leak Point Pressure was the most reported tool to investigate urethral function. The surgical management was influenced by UD findings in the vast majority of the cases, although about 60% reported that a relevant impact of the UD occurred in less than 40% of the investigations. The crucial effect of UD on surgical management was high. This finding showed that for many respondents UD still has a pivotal role before SUI surgery. CONCLUSION: This survey showed a worldwide picture on preoperative UD in SUI surgery highlighting the crucial role of UD. UD investigation influences surgical management, but whether it influences outcomes is unclear.

Amazon Biobank: a collaborative genetic database for bioeconomy development.

Biodiversity is proposed as a sustainable alternative for the economic development of high-biodiversity regions. Especially in the field of biodiversity genomics, the development of low-cost DNA sequencing opens an opportunity for new actors beyond academia to engage in genomic sequencing. However, it is challenging to adequately compensate non-academic actors such as local populations for their contribution to the innovation process, preventing better bioeconomy development. Although many repositories register genomic data to support biodiversity research, they do not facilitate the fair sharing of economic benefits. In this work, we propose the creation of the Amazon Biobank, a community-based genetic database. We employed blockchain to build a transparent and verifiable log of transactions involving genomic data, and we used smart contracts to implement an internal monetary system for all participants who collect, insert, process, store, and validate genomic data. We also used peer-to-peer solutions to allow users with commodity computers to collaborate with the storage and distribution of DNA files. By combining emerging technologies, Amazon Biobank provides adequate benefit-sharing among all participants that collaborate with data, knowledge, and computational resources. It also provides traceability and auditability, allowing easy association between biotechnological research and DNA data. In addition, the solution is highly scalable and less dependent on the trust deposited in any system player. Therefore, Amazon Biobank can become an important stepping stone to unlock the potential of bioeconomy in rich ecosystems such as the Amazon Rainforest.

Chromatographic method development using multivariate approaches for organic solvents optimized analysis in [18F]fluorocholine.

A fast and simple method using Gas Chromatography combined with Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) was developed for the determination of ethanol, acetonitrile, dibromomethane, dimethylaminoethanol, and dimethyl sulfoxide in [18F]fluorocholine. The combination of fractional factorial design, Doehlert design, and Desirability function was used to evaluate the operational parameters and to establish the best working condition. The validation results revealed that the proposed method has good recovery (85.1-104.1%) and repeatability (RSD ≤8.1%). Correlation coefficients (R ≥ 0.983) indicated good linearity over a wide range. The limit of detection (≤2.5 ppm) and the limit of quantification (≤7.5 ppm) were satisfactory. The proposed method is based on minimum manual operation, sample preparation free, direct injection technique, and short chromatographic separation time. This method is useful for routine analysis of organic solvents in [18F]fluorocholine, feasible for the modernization of specific monograph, and was therefore successfully implemented to assess samples manufactured by Nuclear Technology Development Center (CDTN).

Freeze-dried Platelet-rich Plasma and Stem Cell-conditioned Medium for Therapeutic Use in Horses.

This study investigated platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and adipose stem cell-conditioned medium (ASC-CM) use as a strategy to accelerate tissue healing. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were quantified in fresh and freeze-dried PRP and ASC-CM, and a stability test was performed in the freeze-dried samples (90 and 180 days of storage). A cell proliferation test was performed using equine mesenchymal stem cell culture in reconstituted PRP gel mesh after freeze-drying. In vivo PRP, ASC-CM applications, or their association were performed in induced wounds at 15 and 9-day intervals, according to the treatments: saline solution (control), PRP, ASC-CM, or ASC-CM + PRP. Horses were monitored through photographs and wound area measurements on days 5, 7, 15, and 24 after lesion induction. Skin biopsies were obtained on days 15 and 24 of the experiment. PDGF and VEGF quantification did not differ between fresh or freeze-dried treatments, was similar after freeze-drying or 90 days of storage, but showed a significant reduction after 180 days of storage. Comparing all treatments, no differences were observed in the histopathological analyses. For inflammation, fibroplasia, and collagen formation, only the time effect between the first and second biopsies was significant. The cell proliferation test revealed intense multiplication in the PRP gel mesh. Healing time was similar among all treatments. In conclusion, our results showed the possibility to produce and maintain freeze-dried PRP and ASC-CM for 90 days. Further studies are needed to better explore the in vivo therapeutic PRP and ASC-CM effects.

Structural stability and the low-lying singlet and triplet states of BN-n-acenes, n = 1-7.

The chemical stability and the low-lying singlet and triplet excited states of BN-n-acenes (n = 1-7) were studied using single reference and multireference methodologies. From the calculations, descriptors such as the singlet-triplet splitting, the natural orbital (NO) occupations and aromaticity indexes are used to provide structural and energetic analysis. The boron and nitrogen atoms form an isoelectronic pair of two carbon atoms, which was used for the complete substitution of these units in the acene series. The structural analysis confirms the effects originated from the insertion of a uniform pattern of electronegativity difference within the molecular systems. The covalent bonds tend to be strongly polarized which does not happen in the case of a carbon-only framework. This effect leads to a charge transfer between neighbor atoms resulting in a more strengthened structure, keeping the aromaticity roughly constant along the chain. The singlet-triplet splitting also agrees with this stability trend, maintaining a consistent gap value for all molecules. The BN-n-acenes molecules possess a ground state with monoconfigurational character indicating their electronic stability. The low-lying singlet excited states have charge transfer character, which proceeds from nitrogen to boron.

Development of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies for emerging arbovirus infections

Antibody-based passive immunotherapy has been used effectively in the treatment and prophylaxis of infectious diseases. Outbreaks of emerging viral infections from arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) represent a global public health problem due to their rapid spread, urging measures and the treatment of infected individuals to combat them. Preparedness in advances in developing antivirals and relevant epidemiological studies protect us from damage and losses. Immunotherapy based on monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) has been shown to be very specific in combating infectious diseases and various other illnesses. Recent advances in mAb discovery techniques have allowed the development and approval of a wide number of therapeutic mAbs. This review focuses on the technological approaches available to select neutralizing mAbs for emerging arbovirus infections and the next-generation strategies to obtain highly effective and potent mAbs. The characteristics of mAbs developed as prophylactic and therapeutic antiviral agents for dengue, Zika, chikungunya, West Nile and tick-borne encephalitis virus are presented, as well as the protective effect demonstrated in animal model studies.

Changes in indications for outpatient percutaneous liver biopsy over 5 years: from hepatitis C to fatty liver disease / Cambios en las indicaciones de la biopsia hepática percutánea ambulatoria durante 5 años: de hepatitis C a enfermedad del hígado graso

Introduction: Although the use of non-invasive methods for assessment of liver fibrosis has reduced the need for biopsy, the diagnosis of liver damage still requires histological evaluation in many patients. We aim to describe the indications for percutaneous liver biopsy (PLB) and the rate of complications in an outpatient setting over 5 years. Methods: This observational, single-center, and retrospective study included patients submitted to real-time ultrasound (US)-guided biopsies from 2015 to 2019. We collected age, gender, coagulation tests, comorbidities, and the number of needle passes. The association between the variables and complications was evaluated using the generalized estimating equations method. Results: We analyzed 532 biopsies in 524 patients (55.3% male) with a median age of 49 years (range 13–74y). An average of 130.3 biopsies per year were performed in the first 3 years of the study versus 70.5 in the other 2y. The main indications were hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (47.0%), autoimmune and cholestatic liver diseases (12.6%), and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) (12.1%). The number of HCV-related biopsies had a remarkable reduction, while MAFLD-related procedures have progressively raised over time. Around 54% of the patients reported pain, which was significantly associated with females (p=0.0143). Serious complications occurred in 11 patients (2.1%) and hospital admission was necessary in 10 cases (1.9%). No patient required surgical approach and there were no deaths. No significant association was found between the studied variables and biopsy-related complications. Conclusion: The indications for PLB in an outpatient setting have changed from HCV to MAFLD over the years. This procedure is safe and has a low rate of serious complications, but new strategies to prevent the pain are still needed, especially for females.(AU)

Introducción: Aunque el uso de métodos no invasivos para evaluar la fibrosis hepática ha reducido la necesidad de una biopsia, el diagnóstico de daño hepático aún requiere una evaluación histológica en muchos pacientes. Nuestro objetivo es describir las indicaciones de la biopsia hepática percutánea ambulatoria y la tasa de complicaciones durante cinco años. Métodos: Este estudio observacional, retrospectivo y unicéntrico incluyó pacientes sometidos a biopsias guiadas por ecografía en tiempo real desde 2015 hasta 2019. Recogimos información sobre edad, sexo, pruebas de coagulación, comorbilidades y número de pasadas de aguja. La asociación entre variables y complicaciones se evaluó mediante el método de ecuaciones de estimación generalizada. Resultados: Analizamos 532 biopsias en 524 pacientes (55,3% hombres) con una edad media de 49 años (rango de 13 a 74 años). Se realizó una media de 130,3 biopsias por año en los primeros tres años del estudio frente a 70,5 en los otros dos años. Las principales indicaciones fueron la infección por el virus de la hepatitis C (HCV) (47,0%), las enfermedades hepáticas autoinmunes y colestásicas (12,6%) y la enfermedad del hígado graso asociada a disfunción metabólica (MAFLD) (12,1%). El número de biopsias relacionadas con la HCV tuvo una reducción notable, mientras que los procedimientos relacionados con MAFLD han aumentado progresivamente con el tiempo. Alrededor del 54% de los pacientes informaron dolor, que se asoció significativamente con las mujeres (p = 0,0143). Se produjeron complicaciones graves en 11 pacientes (2,1%) y el ingreso hospitalario fue necesario en 10 casos (1,9%). Ningún paciente requirió abordaje quirúrgico y no hubo muertes. No se encontró asociación significativa entre las variables estudiadas y las complicaciones relacionadas con la biopsia. Conclusión: Las indicaciones para la biopsia hepática percutánea ambulatoria han cambiado de HCV a MAFLD con el pasar de los años.(AU)

SOCS3 Ablation in Leptin Receptor-Expressing Cells Causes Autonomic and Cardiac Dysfunctions in Middle-Aged Mice despite Improving Energy and Glucose Metabolism.

Leptin resistance is a hallmark of obesity. Treatments aiming to improve leptin sensitivity are considered a promising therapeutical approach against obesity. However, leptin receptor (LepR) signaling also modulates several neurovegetative aspects, such as the cardiovascular system and hepatic gluconeogenesis. Thus, we investigated the long-term consequences of increased leptin sensitivity, considering the potential beneficial and deleterious effects. To generate a mouse model with increased leptin sensitivity, the suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) was ablated in LepR-expressing cells (LepR∆SOCS3 mice). LepR∆SOCS3 mice displayed reduced food intake, body adiposity and weight gain, as well as improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, and were protected against aging-induced leptin resistance. Surprisingly, a very high mortality rate was observed in aging LepR∆SOCS3 mice. LepR∆SOCS3 mice showed cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, increased myocardial fibrosis and reduced cardiovascular capacity. LepR∆SOCS3 mice exhibited impaired post-ischemic cardiac functional recovery and middle-aged LepR∆SOCS3 mice showed substantial arhythmic events during the post-ischemic reperfusion period. Finally, LepR∆SOCS3 mice exhibited fasting-induced hypoglycemia and impaired counterregulatory response to glucopenia associated with reduced gluconeogenesis. In conclusion, although increased sensitivity to leptin improved the energy and glucose homeostasis of aging LepR∆SOCS3 mice, major autonomic/neurovegetative dysfunctions compromised the health and longevity of these animals. Consequently, these potentially negative aspects need to be considered in the therapies that increase leptin sensitivity chronically.

Coral growth bands recorded trace elements associated with the Fundão dam collapse.

In November 2015, the collapse of the Fundão dam (Minas Gerais, Brazil) carried over 40 × 106 m3 of iron ore tailings into the Doce river and caused massive environmental and socioeconomic impacts across the watershed. The downstream mudslide scavenged contaminants deposited in the riverbed, and several potentially toxic elements were further released through reduction and solubilization of Fe oxy-hydroxides under estuarine conditions. A turbidity plume was formed off the river mouth, but the detection of contaminants' dispersion in the ocean remains poorly assessed. This situation is specially concerning because Southwestern Atlantic's largest and richest reefs are located 70-250 km to the north of the Doce river mouth, and the legal dispute over the extent of monitoring, compensation and restoration measures are based either on indirect evidence from modeling or on direct evidence from remote sensing and contaminated organisms. Coral skeletons can incorporate trace elements and are considered good monitors of marine pollution, including inputs from open cut mining. Here, we studied a Montastraea cavernosa (Linnaeus 1767) coral colony collected 220 km northward to the river mouth, using X-rays for assessing growth bands and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry to recover trace elements incorporated in growth bands formed between 2014 and 2018. A threefold positive Fe anomaly was identified in early 2016, associated with negative anomalies in several elements. Variation in Ba and Y was coherent with the region's sedimentation dynamics, but also increased after 2016, akin to Pb, V and Zn. Coral growth rates decreased after the disaster. Besides validating M. cavernosa as a reliable archive of ocean chemistry, our results evidence wide-reaching sub-lethal coral contamination in the Abrolhos reefs, as well as different incorporation mechanisms into corals' skeletons.

EncephalApp Stroop Test validation for the screening of minimal hepatic encephalopathy in Brazil.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The EncephalApp Stroop Test was developed to more easily diagnose minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). A cut-off of >274.9sec (ONtime+OFFtime) reached a 78% sensitivity and 90% specificity in the validation study, but it has been poorly studied in Brazil. We aim to analyze the usefulness of this diagnostic method and to describe a cut-off value to screen MHE in Brazil. METHODS: In this cross-sectional and single-center study, three positive psychometric tests defined the diagnosis of MHE as the gold standard. We evaluated gender, age, education, familiarity with smartphones, etiology of cirrhosis, Child-Pugh/MELD scores, and previous hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Healthy controls and patients without HE were compared for the task validation. The Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests, logistic regression analysis, and ROC curves were used for statistical evaluation. RESULTS: We included 132 patients with cirrhosis (61% male) and 42 controls (62% male) around 51y. Sixty-three were diagnosed with MHE on psychometric tests and 23 had clinical HE. Viral hepatitis (38%) was the major etiology of cirrhosis. The median MELD was 10 and Child-Pugh A was more frequent (70%). There was no significant difference in test results between controls and patients without HE. There was also no influence of gender, age, education, and familiarity with smartphones in the test results. Child-Pugh A was associated with MHE (p=0.0106). A cut-off of >269.8sec (ONtime+OFFtime) had an 87% sensitivity and 77% specificity to detect MHE (p=0.002). CONCLUSION: This is a valid and reliable tool for screening MHE. However, optimal cut-off values need to be validated locally.

Changes in indications for outpatient percutaneous liver biopsy over 5 years: from hepatitis C to fatty liver disease.

INTRODUCTION: Although the use of non-invasive methods for assessment of liver fibrosis has reduced the need for biopsy, the diagnosis of liver damage still requires histological evaluation in many patients. We aim to describe the indications for percutaneous liver biopsy (PLB) and the rate of complications in an outpatient setting over 5 years. METHODS: This observational, single-center, and retrospective study included patients submitted to real-time ultrasound (US)-guided biopsies from 2015 to 2019. We collected age, gender, coagulation tests, comorbidities, and the number of needle passes. The association between the variables and complications was evaluated using the generalized estimating equations method. RESULTS: We analyzed 532 biopsies in 524 patients (55.3% male) with a median age of 49 years (range 13-74y). An average of 130.3 biopsies per year were performed in the first 3 years of the study versus 70.5 in the other 2y. The main indications were hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (47.0%), autoimmune and cholestatic liver diseases (12.6%), and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) (12.1%). The number of HCV-related biopsies had a remarkable reduction, while MAFLD-related procedures have progressively raised over time. Around 54% of the patients reported pain, which was significantly associated with females (p=0.0143). Serious complications occurred in 11 patients (2.1%) and hospital admission was necessary in 10 cases (1.9%). No patient required surgical approach and there were no deaths. No significant association was found between the studied variables and biopsy-related complications. CONCLUSION: The indications for PLB in an outpatient setting have changed from HCV to MAFLD over the years. This procedure is safe and has a low rate of serious complications, but new strategies to prevent the pain are still needed, especially for females.

Carcass characteristics and meat quality of male pigs submitted to surgical or immunological castration.

The objective of this study was to evaluate carcass characteristics and meat quality of surgically castrated and immunocastrated male pigs. Data were collected from 24 surgically castrated pigs and 24 immunocastrated male entire originating from the commercial line (Agroceres x Topigs), receiving isonutritive diets and were housed in the same experimental shed, slaughtered at 177 days old, with a slaughter weight of 127.8 (± 6.5) and 135.1 (± 7.8) kg, respectively. Carcass and meat quality characteristics such as carcass yield, lean meat yield, fat content, backfat thickness, muscle depth, pH, meat coloring and, drip, thawing and cooking loss, were evaluated. Immunocastrated pigs have heavier carcass, higher meat yield and lower fat thickness when compared to surgically castrated animals. Regarding meat quality, the immunocastrated presented a lighter meat, less reddness and less water holding capacity. In conclusion, this study confirmed that the carcass of male pigs, submitted immunocastration, has lower yield, however, more meat and less fat content, when compared to carcass of male pigs surgically castrated. Meat quality showed peculiar characteristics for immunocastrated pigs, and can be used more for sausage production, since it retains less water and have smaller redness color compared to surgically castrated pigs.

Bryozoa from the reefs off the Amazon River mouth: checklist, thirteen new species, and notes on their ecology and distribution.

The reef system off the Amazon River mouth extends from Amapá state to Maranhão state along the Brazilian Equatorial Margin, encompassing more than 10,000 km2 of rhodolith beds and high-relief hard structures on the outer shelf and upper slope. This unique hard bottom mosaic is remarkable for being influenced by the turbid and hyposaline plume from the world's largest river, and also for representing a connectivity corridor between the Caribbean and Brazil. Bryozoans were recently recognized as major reef builders in the Southwestern Atlantic, but their diversity off the Amazon River mouth remained unknown. Here, we report on recent collections obtained from 23 to 120 m depth in Northern Brazil. Sixty-five bryozoan taxa were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, including 57, five and three taxa of Cheilostomatida, Cyclostomatida and Ctenostomatida, respectively. Cribrilaria smitti and three genera (Cranosina, Glabrilaria and Thornelya) are new records for Brazil, and 13 new species are herein described: Antropora cruzeiro n. sp., Cranosina gilbertoi n. sp., Cribrilaria lateralis n. sp., Crisia brasiliensis n. sp., Glabrilaria antoniettae n. sp., Micropora amapaensis n. sp., Parasmittina amazonensis n. sp., Plesiocleidochasma arcuatum n. sp., Poricella bifurcata n. sp., Pourtalesella duoavicularia n. sp., Stephanollona domuspusilla n. sp., Therenia dianae n. sp., and Thornelya atlanticoensis n. sp. Our results highlight the biodiversity significance of the Amazon reefs and the need for more comprehensive sampling to clarify the role of bryozoans in modern turbid-zone reefs and rhodolith beds.

Decadal (2006-2018) dynamics of Southwestern Atlantic's largest turbid zone reefs.

Tropical reefs are declining rapidly due to climate changes and local stressors such as water quality deterioration and overfishing. The so-called marginal reefs sustain significant coral cover and growth but are dominated by fewer species adapted to suboptimal conditions to most coral species. However, the dynamics of marginal systems may diverge from that of the archetypical oligotrophic tropical reefs, and it is unclear whether they are more or less susceptible to anthropogenic stress. Here, we present the largest (100 fixed quadrats at five reefs) and longest time series (13 years) of benthic cover data for Southwestern Atlantic turbid zone reefs, covering sites under contrasting anthropogenic and oceanographic forcing. Specifically, we addressed how benthic cover changed among habitats and sites, and possible dominance-shift trends. We found less temporal variation in offshore pinnacles' tops than on nearshore ones and, conversely, higher temporal fluctuation on offshore pinnacles' walls than on nearshore ones. In general, the Abrolhos reefs sustained a stable coral cover and we did not record regional-level dominance shifts favoring other organisms. However, coral decline was evidenced in one reef near a dredging disposal site. Relative abundances of longer-lived reef builders showed a high level of synchrony, which indicates that their dynamics fluctuate under similar drivers. Therefore, changes on those drivers could threaten the stability of these reefs. With the intensification of thermal anomalies and land-based stressors, it is unclear whether the Abrolhos reefs will keep providing key ecosystem services. It is paramount to restrain local stressors that contributed to coral reef deterioration in the last decades, once reversal and restoration tend to become increasingly difficult as coral reefs degrade further and climate changes escalate.

The influence of the model superimposition method on the assessment of accuracy and predictability of setup models.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different superimposition methods on the accuracy and predictability of conventional and virtual diagnostic setups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten finished cases were used to make a conventional setup and a virtual setup. Second molars were not moved in the two setup situations to allow a reference for superimposition. Conventional and virtual setups were superimposed and compared by second molar registration and the whole surface best fit method (WSBF). Conventional and virtual setups were compared to the posttreatment models with WSBF and palatal rugae best fit (PRBF). Anterior, intermediate, and posterior regions of the dental arches were compared. The paired t-test was used to compare the mean differences between conventional and virtual setups, posttreatment models and both conventional and virtual setups by the WSBF method, and between maxillary posttreatment and virtual setup models using the WSBF and PRBF methods. RESULTS: Conventional and virtual setups differed depending on the two superimposition methods used. Superimposition of the posttreatment models and both setups using WSBF presented no statistically significant differences. There were statistically significant differences between posttreatment and virtual setup models using WSBF and PRBF superimposition methods. CONCLUSIONS: The model superimposition method influenced the assessment of accuracy and predictability of setup models. There were statistically significant differences between the maxillary posttreatment and virtual setup models using the WSBF and the PRBF superimposition methods. It is important to establish stable structures to evaluate the accuracy and predictability of setup models.