First record of plastic ingestion by a freshwater stingray.

The abundance and dispersion of plastic particles in aquatic ecosystems has become pervasive resulting in the incorporation of these materials into food webs. Here we describe the first record of plastic ingestion by the freshwater white-blotched river stingray Potamotrygon leopoldi (Potamotrygonidae), an endemic and threatened species in the Xingu River, Amazon basin. Potamotrygonidae stingrays inhabit exclusively Neotropical rivers, occupying rocky substrate habitats and feeding mainly on benthic macroinvertebrates. The gastrointestinal tract of 24 stingrays were analyzed, 16 (66.6 %) of which contained plastic particles. In total, 81 plastic particles were recorded and consisted of microplastics (< 5 mm, n = 57) and mesoplastics (5-25 mm, n = 24). The plastic particles found were classified into fibers (64.2 %, n = 52) and fragments (35.8 %, n = 29). The predominant color was blue (33.3 %, n = 27), followed by yellow (18.5 %, n = 15), white (14.8 %, n = 12), black (13.6 %, n = 11), green (6.2 %, n = 5), transparent (4.9 %, n = 4), pink, grey and brown (2.5 %, n = 2, each) and orange (1.2 %, n = 1). No significant correlation was observed between the number of plastic particles and the body size. Eight types of polymers were identified in the plastic particles analyzed using 2D FTIR Imaging. The most frequent polymer was artificial cellulose fiber. This is the first report of plastic ingestion by freshwater elasmobranchs in the world. Plastic waste has become an emerging problem in aquatic ecosystems globally and our results provide an important datapoint for freshwater stingrays in the Neotropics.

Do exist differences in kinematics and EMG of the hip and knee between male runners with and without patellofemoral pain in different running speeds?

OBJECTIVE: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) presents a higher prevalence in female runners, while PFP in male is somehow neglected. Moreover, the effects of progressive greater running speed have not been reported. This study investigates the influence of progressive greater running speed on lower limb tridimensional kinematics and muscle activation (EMG) in male runners with PFP while compared with controls. DESIGN: Cross-Sectional Design. METHODS: Thirteen runners with PFP and 18 controls ran in a treadmill under three different speeds: 9, 11, and 13 km/h. Principal component scores from kinematic data and EMG onset and amplitude were used to compare groups through the Mann-Whitney test at each running speed. RESULTS: Male PFP subjects presented increased hip internal rotation at 11 km/h and increased hip and knee internal at 13 km/h, as well as reduced knee adduction at all speeds. PFP subjects also ran with delayed and shorter vastus medialis oblique pre-activation compared with normal subjects. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that PFP increased knee and hip internal rotation at higher demand running, therefore, it is important to evaluate the transverse plane of the hip and knee biomechanics in male runners with PFP to optimize the rehabilitation and reconditioning method of these subjects.

Contribution of Asphalt Rubber Mixtures to Sustainable Pavements by Reducing Pavement Thickness.

Asphalt rubber mixtures have been used as pavement surface layers due to their ability to prevent early degradation, and are considered a sustainable option. This study performed analysis comparing the fatigue resistance of asphalt rubber mixtures of different combinations of asphalt bases, crumb rubber, and gradation, in order to estimate the performance of asphalt rubber mixtures as pavement surface layers. The methodology was developed in a laboratory and involved asphalt rubber production by continuous and terminal blend systems with different crumb rubbers and asphalt base types. Asphalt rubber mixtures with varying gradations and an unmodified asphalt mixture as a reference were produced. The mechanical behavior as a dynamic modulus and with respect to fatigue resistance was evaluated using a four-point bending test. In order to verify each of the asphalt rubber mixtures' contribution as a surface layer, pavement structures were designed and their lifespans were compared. The findings showed that all asphalt rubber mixtures presented higher fatigue resistance than the reference. For pavement design, in comparison with the reference mixture, the thickness of the surface layer could be reduced by at least 50% while achieving the same life, proving its successful performance. This study demonstrated the effective contribution of crumb rubber from scrap tires as an asphalt modifier for producing sustainable mixtures with adequate fatigue performance.

Early impacts of the largest Amazonian hydropower project on fish communities.

Hydropower is a threat to freshwater fishes. Despite a recent boom in dam construction, few studies have assessed their impact on mega-diverse tropical rivers. Using a before-after study design, we investigated the early impacts of the Belo Monte hydroelectric complex, the third-largest hydropower project in the world, on fishes of the Xingu River, a major clear-water tributary of the lower Amazon. We explored impacts across different river sectors (upstream, reservoir, reduced flow sector, and downstream) and spatial scales (individual sectors vs. all sectors combined) using joint species distribution models and different facets of diversity (taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic). After 5 years of the Belo Monte operation, species richness declined ~12% in lentic and ~16% in lotic environments. Changes in abundance were of less magnitude (<4%). Effects were particularly negative for species of the families Serrasalmidae (mainly pacus), Anostomidae (headstanders), Auchenipteridae, and Pimelodidae (catfishes), whereas no taxonomic group consistently increased in richness or abundance. The reservoir and downstream sectors were the most impacted, with declines of ~24-29% in fish species richness, overall reductions in fish body size and trophic level, and a change in average body shape. Richness and abundance also declined in the reduced river flow, and changes in size, shape, and position of fins were observed. Relatively minor changes were found in the upstream sector. Variation in functional and phylogenetic diversity following river impoundment was subtle; however, across sectors, we found a reduction in functional divergence, indicating a decline in the abundance of species located near the extremities of community functional space. This may be the first sign of an environmental filtering process reducing functional diversity in the region. Greater changes in flow and habitats are expected as hydropower operations ramp up, and continued monitoring is warranted to understand the full scope and magnitude of ecological impacts.

Performance of Asphalt Rubber Mixture Overlays to Mitigate Reflective Cracking.

Adequately predicting overlay behaviour is essential for flexible pavement rehabilitation to reach the predicted lifespan. Reflective cracking is one of the main failure mechanisms affecting overlay performance. This failure may occur due to cracks in the lower layers that propagate to the overlay due to traffic loads, temperature variations, shrinkage cracking of cement-treated layers, and subgrade movements. This work aims to assess the reflective cracking phenomenon of asphalt rubber mixtures as an overlay through laboratory tests and numerical simulation. Four-point bending equipment and the reflective crack device were used to perform the laboratory tests. A numerical simulation through the finite element method was accomplished to estimate the von Mises strain and develop reflective cracking fatigue laws. The results showed that the asphalt rubber mixtures are suitable for extending overlay lifespan considering reflective cracking. The evaluated asphalt rubber mixtures presented reflective cracking resistance almost eight times greater than the conventional ones.

Heterogeneous phenotype of Hereditary Xerocytosis in association with PIEZO1 variants.

Hereditary Xerocytosis (HX) is an autosomal dominantly inherited congenital hemolytic anemia associated with erythrocyte dehydration due to decreased intracellular potassium content resulting in increased mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. The affected members of HX families show compensated anemia with splenomegaly, hemosiderosis, and perinatal edema but are in large part transfusion independent. Functional studies show a link between mutations in mechanosensitive ion channel, encoded by PIEZO1 gene and the HX. We identified new PIEZO1 variants that are likely pathogenic in three phenotypically characterized multi-generational HX Brazilian families. Interestingly, one missense variant of the PIEZO1 gene identified, p.E2494V was associated in trans with the previously reported most frequent pathogenic duplication p.E2496ELE. The three-dimensional structure of the human protein modeled using structural coordinates of the mouse Piezo1 solved by cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-ME) showed that the two identified variants, p.M2007L and p.T2014I, are localized to an important mechanosensitive transmembrane domain suggesting a conformational mechanism for altered channel's gating. The p.E2496ELE variant identified alters the extension of helix α1 bringing it much closer to the beam affecting the position of it structure at the end of the pore.

Soil amendment as a strategy for the growth of young vines when replanting vineyards in soils with high copper content.

Soil contamination with copper (Cu)-based agrochemicals used in vineyards for pest control is a growing problem. In this context, the application of soil amendment to limit Cu toxicity, especially for young plants after the replanting of vineyards, has been a concern for winemakers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate how different amendments can contribute to the decrease in Cu availability in areas vocated to viticulture. Furthermore, the aim was to evaluate to the effect of Cu on the biochemical and physiological changes in the development of the young vine plants, both at the shoot and the root level. Vine plants were grown in a greenhouse using a Typic Hapludalf soil characterized by 87.5 mg of Cu kg-1 (control). Three different amendments were applied to the soil: limestone (3 Mg ha-1), calcium silicate (3 Mg ha-1) and vermicompost (30 g of C kg-1). The amendment with vermicompost and calcium silicate caused a significant alkalization of the soil solution. Moreover, specifically for the treatment with vermicompost, the levels of Cu2+ in the soil solution were consistently diminished with a clear benefit for plants (+89% biomass accumulation at the shoot level). In addition, this soil amendment led to a higher photosynthetic rate, lower superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) and guaiacol peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7) activity and a higher percentage of fine roots with diameter between 0 < L ≥ 0.2 mm (particularly active in water and nutrient acquisition). In conclusion, results showed that vermicompost effectively reduced Cu phytotoxicityin young vines grown in soils with high Cu contents. Furthermore, this amendment might be an asset in enhancing the availability of other important micronutrients such as iron.

Leguminosae native nodulating bacteria from a gold mine As-contaminated soil: Multi-resistance to trace elements, and possible role in plant growth and mineral nutrition.

Efficient N2-fixing Leguminosae nodulating bacteria resistant to As may facilitate plant growth on As-contaminated sites. In order to identify bacteria holding these features, 24 strains were isolated from nodules of the trap species Crotalaria spectabilis (12) and Stizolobium aterrimum (12) growing on an As-contaminated gold mine site. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that most of the strains belonged to the group of α-Proteobacteria, being representatives of the genera Bradyrhizobium, Rhizobium, Inquilinus, Labrys, Bosea, Starkeya, and Methylobacterium. Strains of the first four genera showed symbiotic efficiency with their original host, and demonstrated in vitro specific plant-growth-promoting (PGP) traits (production of organic acids, indole-3-acetic-acid and siderophores, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase activity, and Ca3(PO4)2 solubilization), and increased resistance to As, Zn, and Cd. In addition, these strains and some type and reference rhizobia strains exhibited a wide resistance spectrum to ß-lactam antibiotics. Both intrinsic PGP abilities and multi-element resistance of rhizobia are promising for exploiting the symbiosis with different legume plants on trace-element-contaminated soils.

Translation Hypersurfaces with Constant Sr Curvature in the Euclidean Space.

The main goal of this paper is to present a complete description of all translation hypersurfaces with constant r -curvature S r , in the Euclidean space ℝ n + 1 , where 3 ≤ r ≤ n - 1 .

Physiological and nutritional status of black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) grown in soil with interaction of high doses of copper and zinc.

Vineyard sandy acid soils from South Brazil have experienced heavy metal contamination due to replacement of copper (Cu)-based by zinc (Zn)-based products to control foliar diseases. Thus, we evaluate physiological and nutritional status of black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.), a common interrow crop in vineyards from this region. Soil was collected in a natural field from Santana do Livramento, in Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil. Black oat was cultivated for 30 days in a greenhouse with application of 0, 30, and 60 mg Cu kg(-1) combined with 0, 15, 30, 60, 120, and 180 mg Zn kg(-1). After the trial period, dry matter accumulation of roots and shoots, Cu and Zn contents in roots and shoots, chlorophyll a fluorescence, photosynthetic pigments and catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6) and peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7) activity were determined. Cu and Zn toxicity was evidenced by the decrease in plant growth of black oat as well as by the decrease of photochemical efficiency associated with the decrease in photosynthetic pigment content, especially with the highest doses of Cu and Zn. Furthermore, the activity of antioxidant enzymes (CAT and POD) was increased in intermediate doses of Zn, indicating the activation of the antioxidant system, but the stress condition in treatments with high levels of Cu and Zn was not reversed.

Effects of zinc addition to a copper-contaminated vineyard soil on sorption of Zn by soil and plant physiological responses.

The occurrence of high levels of Cu in vineyard soils is often the result of intensive use of fungicides for the preventive control of foliar diseases and can cause toxicity to plants. Nowadays many grape growers in Southern Brazil have replaced Cu-based with Zn-based products. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the increase in Zn concentration in a soil with high Cu contents can interfere with the dynamics of these elements, and if this increase in Zn may cause toxicity to maize (Zea mays L.). Soil samples were collected in two areas, one in a vineyard with more than 30 years of cultivation and high concentration of Cu and the other on a natural grassland area adjacent to the vineyard. Different doses of Cu and Zn were added to the soil, and the adsorption isotherms were built following the Langmuir's model. In a second experiment, the vineyard soil was spiked with different Zn concentrations (0, 30, 60, 90, 180, and 270mg Zn kg(-1)) in 3kg pots where maize was grown in a greenhouse for 35 days. When Cu and Zn were added together, there was a reduction in the quantities adsorbed, especially for Zn. Zn addition decreased the total plant dry matter and specific leaf mass. Furthermore, with the increase in the activity of catalase, an activation of the antioxidant system was observed. However, the system was not sufficiently effective to reverse the stress levels imposed on soil, especially in plants grown in the highest doses of Zn. At doses higher than 90Znmgkg(-1) in the Cu-contaminated vineyard soil, maize plants were no longer able to activate the protection mechanism and suffered from metal stress, resulting in suppressed dry matter yields due to impaired functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus and changes in the enzymatic activity of plants. Replacement of Cu- by Zn-based fungicides to avoid Cu toxicity has resulted in soil vineyards contaminated with these metals and damaging of plant photosynthetic apparatus and enzyme activity.

Hb S-São Paulo: a new sickling hemoglobin with stable polymers and decreased oxygen affinity.

Hb S-São Paulo (SP) [HBB:c.20A>T p.Glu6Val; c.196A>G p.Lys65Glu] is a new double-mutant hemoglobin that was found in heterozygosis in an 18-month-old Brazilian male with moderate anemia. It behaves like Hb S in acid electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing and solubility testing but shows different behavior in alkaline electrophoresis, cation-exchange HPLC and RP-HPLC. The variant is slightly unstable, showed reduced oxygen affinity and also appeared to form polymers more stable than the Hb S. Molecular dynamics simulation suggests that the polymerization is favored by interfacial electrostatic interactions. This provides a plausible explanation for some of the reported experimental observations.

Transrectal ultrasound - Techniques and outcomes in the management of intestinal endometriosis.

The widespread use of endoscopic ultrasound has facilitated the evaluation of subepithelial and surrounding lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. Deep pelvic endometriosis, with or without infiltration of the intestinal wall, is a frequent disease that can be observed in women in their fertile age. Patients of this disease may present nonspecific signs and symptoms or be completely asymptomatic. Laparoscopic surgical resection of endometriotic lesions is the treatment of choice in symptomatic patients. An accurate preoperative evaluation is indispensable for therapeutic decisions mainly in the suspicion of intestinal wall and/or urinary tract infiltration, and also in cases where we need to establish histological diagnosis or to rule out malignant disease. Diagnostic tools, including transrectal ultrasound, magnetic resonance image, transvaginal ultrasound, barium enema, and colonoscopy, play significant roles in determining the presence, depth, histology, and other relevant data about the extension of the disease. Diagnostic algorithm depends on the clinical presentation, the expertise of the medical team, and the technology available at each institution. This article reviews and discusses relevant clinical points in endometriosis, including techniques and outcomes of the study of the disease through transrectal ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration.

The role of musical aptitude and language skills in preattentive duration processing in school-aged children.

We examined 10-12-year old elementary school children's ability to preattentively process sound durations in music and speech stimuli. In total, 40 children had either advanced foreign language production skills and higher musical aptitude or less advanced results in both musicality and linguistic tests. Event-related potential (ERP) recordings of the mismatch negativity (MMN) show that the duration changes in musical sounds are more prominently and accurately processed than changes in speech sounds. Moreover, children with advanced pronunciation and musicality skills displayed enhanced MMNs to duration changes in both speech and musical sounds. Thus, our study provides further evidence for the claim that musical aptitude and linguistic skills are interconnected and the musical features of the stimuli could have a preponderant role in preattentive duration processing.

Helical intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide implant: a 6-month surgical feasibility study in rabbits.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To investigate the surgical feasibility and safety of a long-term intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (TA) sustained delivery system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pigmented rabbits were implanted with sustained-release formulations containing 925 microg of TA within a non-biodegradable polymer coating: Dose A (n = 15) with a slow delivery rate of 1 to 2 microg/day and Dose B (n = 15) releasing 3 to 5 microg/day. Additionally, a control group (n = 10) using a device coated with polymer only was implanted. The devices were surgically implanted through a 30-gauge sclerotomy into the vitreous cavity. The animals were clinically observed for up to 6 months after the surgery with complete ophthalmologic examinations. Histologic evaluation of a subset of eyes was performed at the conclusion of the study. RESULTS: Implants were successfully implanted in all 40 eyes. Ocular examinations revealed excellent implant tolerability. In all eyes, there was no significant postoperative inflammation at 1 week of follow-up. There was no increase in intraocular pressure during the follow-up period and histologic evaluation demonstrated no significant abnormalities. Minimal and localized vitreous hemorrhage was observed in 22.5% of implanted eyes and mostly cleared at 1 month after surgery. During the 6 months of follow up, localized lens opacities associated with physical implant contact developed in 66.6% of eyes. CONCLUSION: The surgical procedure using the intravitreal TA sustained delivery device is feasible. Surgical complications were generally mild, with lens opacities attributable to unique anatomical features of the rabbit eye. Long-term follow-up and histology revealed excellent implant tolerability.

Photoperiod and testosterone modulate growth and melanogenesis of s91 murine melanoma.

In vivo and in vitro assays were performed with S91 murine melanoma cells aiming to investigate the effects of testosterone and photoperiod on tumor growth and melanogenesis (tyrosinase activity). In vivo assays were performed by inducing melanoma tumors in castrated mice receiving increasing concentrations of testosterone and submitted to varying photoperiod regimens. The results demonstrated that the increase of melanin content was higher in animals submitted to the longest days, thus demonstrating the importance of photoperiod length in melanin synthesis. Increase in tumor growth and protein content was observed in testosterone-treated animals submitted to 12L:12D; in testosterone-treated animals submitted to 4L:20D and 20L:4D tumor growth was significantly smaller. In S91 cultured cells, testosterone increased cell proliferation and reduced tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. Radioactive binding assays demonstrated that the hormone was acting through low affinity testosterone receptors, since the presence of aromatase inhibitor did not affect the binding assay in a statistically significant way, and all the in vitro experiments were performed in the presence of the inhibitor. Our in vivo data added to the in vitro results corroborate the hypothesis that S91 melanoma cells directly respond to testosterone and that this effect is modulated by light.

Musical aptitude and second language pronunciation skills in school-aged children: neural and behavioral evidence.

The main focus of this study was to examine the relationship between musical aptitude and second language pronunciation skills. We investigated whether children with superior performance in foreign language production represent musical sound features more readily in the preattentive level of neural processing compared with children with less-advanced production skills. Sound processing accuracy was examined in elementary school children by means of event-related potential (ERP) recordings and behavioral measures. Children with good linguistic skills had better musical skills as measured by the Seashore musicality test than children with less accurate linguistic skills. The ERP data accompany the results of the behavioral tests: children with good linguistic skills showed more pronounced sound-change evoked activation with the music stimuli than children with less accurate linguistic skills. Taken together, the results imply that musical and linguistic skills could partly be based on shared neural mechanisms.

[Effects of recombinant human erythropoietin in preterm newborns with infectious diseases]. / Efeitos da eritropoetina recombinante humana em recém-nascidos pré-termo com doenças infecciosas.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) in preterm newborns (PTNs) with serious infectious diseases. METHODS: A not randomized case-control study was carried out in 34 preterm newborns with diagnosis of serious infectious pathologies, gestational age up to 35 weeks, birth weight less than 1500 g and clinical stability. Newborns selected for treatment with rHuEpo received 400 U/kg erythropoietin ss, subcutaneously twice a week. Oral iron supplementation was initiated when the levels of serum ferritin were lower than 60 mcg/l. The study was continued for six weeks or until the patient was discharged from the hospital. Erythropoiesis, granulopoiesis, thrombocytopoiesis, the need for transfusions and the occurrence of new episodes of infectious disease were analyzed. RESULTS: In the treated group there was a significant increase in the number of reticulocytes, although there was no statistically significant difference between the groups with regard to the number or volume of transfusions. There was no significant difference in neutrophils and platelet values. CONCLUSION: The use of rHuEpo, 800 U/kg/week, in PTNs with infectious diseases was effective in inducing erythropoiesis, without significant changes in the number of neutrophils or platelets. This strategy, and the accurate control of the blood collected for laboratory exams, may be beneficial for prevention of the anemia in PTNs with serious infectious diseases.

Efeitos da eritropoetina recombinante humana em recém-nascidos pré-termo com doenças infecciosas / Effects of recombinant human erythropoietin in preterm newborns with infectious diseases

OBJETIVO: Analisar os efeitos da eritropoetina recombinante humana (rHuEpo) em recém-nascidos pré-termo com doenças infecciosas graves. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo controlado, não randomizado, em 34 recém-nascidos com diagnóstico de patologias infecciosas graves, peso de nascimento igual ou inferior a 1500 g, idade gestacional inferior a 35 semanas e estabilidade clínica. Os recém-nascidos designados para o tratamento com rHuEpo receberam a eritropoetina ß na dose de 400 UI/kg, duas vezes por semana, por via subcutânea. A suplementação oral com ferro foi iniciada quando os níveis de ferritina sérica foram inferiores a 60 mcg/L. O estudo foi realizado durante seis semanas ou até a alta hospitalar do paciente. Foram avaliados a eritropoese, o número de transfusões, o número de neutrófilos, a contagem de plaquetas e os episódios de novas infecções durante o tratamento com o hormônio. RESULTADOS: Houve aumento significativo do número de reticulócitos no grupo tratado; entretanto, não houve impacto sobre o número ou volume de transfusões. Não foram observadas alterações no número de neutrófilos ou plaquetas. CONCLUSÃO: O uso de rHuEpo em RNPT com doenças infecciosas, na dose de 800 UI/Kg/semana, foi efetivo para induzir eritropoese, sem ocorrerem alterações significativas sobre o número de neutrófilos ou plaquetas. Essa estratégia, associada ao controle rigoroso do volume de sangue retirado para exames, poderá ser benéfica na prevenção da anemia em RNPT com infecção grave.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) in preterm newborns (PTNs) with serious infectious diseases. METHODS: A not randomized case-control study was carried out in 34 preterm newborns with diagnosis of serious infectious pathologies, gestational age up to 35 weeks, birth weight less than 1500 g and clinical stability. Newborns selected for treatment with rHuEpo received 400 U/kg erythropoietin ß, subcutaneously twice a week. Oral iron supplementation was initiated when the levels of serum ferritin were lower than 60 mcg/l. The study was continued for six weeks or until the patient was discharged from the hospital. Erythropoiesis, granulopoiesis, thrombocytopoiesis, the need for transfusions and the occurrence of new episodes of infectious disease were analyzed. RESULTS: In the treated group there was a significant increase in the number of reticulocytes, although there was no statistically significant difference between the groups with regard to the number or volume of transfusions. There was no significant difference in neutrophils and platelet values. CONCLUSION: The use of rHuEpo, 800 U/kg/week, in PTNs with infectious diseases was effective in inducing erythropoiesis, without significant changes in the number of neutrophils or platelets. This strategy, and the accurate control of the blood collected for laboratory exams, may be beneficial for prevention of the anemia in PTNs with serious infectious diseases.