Virtual pollination trade uncovers global dependence on biodiversity of developing countries.

Nations' food consumption patterns are increasingly globalized and trade dependent. Natural resources used for agriculture (e.g., water, pollinators) are hence being virtually exchanged across countries. Inspired by the virtual water concept, we, herein, propose the concept of virtual biotic pollination flow as an indicator of countries' mutual dependence on biodiversity-based ecosystem services and provide an online tool to visualize trade flow. Using information on 55 pollinator-dependent crop markets (2001-2015), we show that countries with higher development level demand high levels of biodiversity-based services to sustain their consumption patterns. Such patterns are supported by importation of virtual biotic pollination (up to 40% of national imports of pollinator-dependent crops) from developing countries, stimulating cropland expansion. Quantifying virtual pollination flow can help develop new global socioeconomic policies to meet the interconnected challenges of biodiversity loss, ecosystem health, and social justice.

Second Blood Meal by Female Lutzomyia longipalpis: Enhancement by Oviposition and Its Effects on Digestion, Longevity, and Leishmania Infection.

Lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in America. Physiological and molecular mechanisms of Leishmania infection in sand flies have been studied during the first gonotrophic cycle. There are few studies about these interactions during the second gonotrophic cycle mainly because of the difficulties maintaining sand flies through sequential feeds. Here we standardized conditions to perform the second blood feed efficiently, and our results show that oviposition is an essential factor for the success of multiple feeds. We evaluated the impact of the second blood meal on longevity, protein digestion, trypsin activity, and Leishmania mexicana development within L. longipalpis gut. Mortality of blood-fed females increases after second blood meal as compared to sugar-fed females. Trypsin activity was lower during the second gonotrophic cycle. However, no difference in protein intake was observed between blood meals. There was no difference in the population size of Leishmania in the gut after both blood meals. In this work, we presented an optimized protocol for obtaining sufficient numbers of sand fly females fed on a second blood meal, and we described some physiological and parasitological aspects of the second gonotrophic cycle which might influence the vectorial competence of sand flies.

Genetic diversity of the forage peanut in the Jequitinhonha, São Francisco, and Paranã River valleys of Brazil.

Arachis pintoi and A. repens are legumes with a high forage value that are used to feed ruminants in consortium systems. Not only do they increase the persistence and quality of pastures, they are also used for ornamental and green cover. The objective of this study was to analyze microsatellite markers in order to access the genetic diversity of 65 forage peanut germplasm accessions in the section Caulorrhizae of the genus Arachis in the Jequitinhonha, São Francisco and Paranã River valleys of Brazil. Fifty-seven accessions of A. pintoi and eight of A. repens were analyzed using 17 microsatellites, and the observed heterozygosity (HO), expected heterozygosity (HE), number of alleles per locus, discriminatory power, and polymorphism information content were all estimated. Ten loci (58.8%) were polymorphic, and 125 alleles were found in total. The HE ranged from 0.30 to 0.94, and HO values ranged from 0.03 to 0.88. By using Bayesian analysis, the accessions were genetically differentiated into three gene pools. Neither the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean nor a neighbor-joining analysis clustered samples into species, origin, or collection area. These results reveal a very weak genetic structure that does not form defined clusters, and that there is a high degree of similarity between the two species.

Using the mini-VIDAS(®) Easy Salmonella protocol to assess contamination in transitional and coastal waters.

Classical methodologies for Salmonella detection may be too long in time to assure public safety. Presently, one of the fastest assays for Salmonella detection using the mini-VIDAS(®) system is the Easy Salmonella protocol. This assay, developed for food matrixes analysis, was here assessed for the applicability on the detection of these bacteria in transitional and saltwaters. The presence of Salmonella was detected in 4.2 % of the samples studied. In these transitional waters, the proposed protocol presented an efficiency of 79.1 %, due to a high false positive rate (20.8 %), and a false negative rate of 0 %-implying reducing analysis time, the use of enrichment broths, and making it more cost effective. Despite the multitude of samples nature, the method here described revealed to be an efficient and promising tool for transitional waters analysis.

Acceptance of the bodypainting as supportive method to learn the surface locomotor apparatus anatomy of the horse.

Although bodypainting has been reported as a great resource for teaching surface anatomy of humans, its use in veterinary anatomy has not been scientifically reported. In the present study, bodypainting was performed on 4 horses for anatomy teaching purposes of the equine locomotor apparatus. We aimed to use the bodypainting method as an additional tool to classic teaching and to test the relevance of our purpose. Twenty one Brazilian veterinary students were given a 90-min session, which included a presentation of painted horses, with opportunities for the students to ask questions and to palpate anatomic locations on the horses. Based on a questionnaire, there was unanimous student satisfaction with this technique. Furthermore, student scores on practical tests to evaluate the attention retain given immediately before and 1 h after the session were 33.9 ± 19.8% and 69.0 ± 18.4%, respectively (p < 0.001). We concluded that bodypainting has great potential for support the classic lectures of the equine locomotor apparatus.

Bacterial community involved in the nitrogen cycle in a down-flow sponge-based trickling filter treating UASB effluent.

The bacterial community composition of a down-flow sponge-based trickling filter treating upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) effluent was investigated by pyrosequencing. Bacterial community composition considerably changed along the reactor and over the operational period. The dominant phyla detected were Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, and Planctomycetes. The abundance of denitrifiers decreased from the top to the bottom and it was consistent with the organic matter concentration gradients. At lower loadings (organic and nitrogen loading rates), the abundance of anammox bacteria was higher than that of the ammonium-oxidizing bacteria in the upper portion of the reactor, suggesting that aerobic and anaerobic ammonium oxidation occurred. Nitrification occurred in all the compartments, while anammox bacteria prominently appeared even in the presence of high organic carbon to ammonia ratios (around 1.0-2.0 gCOD gN(-1)). The results suggest that denitrifiers, nitrifiers, and anammox bacteria coexisted in the reactor; thus, different metabolic pathways were involved in ammonium removal in the post-UASB reactor sponge-based.

Does adding a dietician to the liaison team after discharge of geriatric patients improve nutritional outcome: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to test whether adding a dietician to a discharge Liaison-Team after discharge of geriatric patients improves nutritional status, muscle strength and patient relevant outcomes. DESIGN: Twelve-week randomized controlled trial. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Geriatric patients (70 + years and at nutritional risk) at discharge. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomly allocated to receive discharge Liaison-Team vs. discharge Liaison-Team in cooperation with a dietician. The dietician performed a total of three home visits with the aim of developing and implementing an individual nutritional care plan. The first visit took place at the day of discharge together with the discharge Liaison-Team while the remaining visits took place approximately three and eight weeks after discharge and were performed by a dietician alone. MAIN MEASURES: Nutritional status (weight, and dietary intake), muscle strength (hand grip strength, chair-stand), functional status (mobility, and activities of daily living), quality of life, use of social services, re-/hospitalization and mortality. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients were included (34 in the intervention group), and 63 (89%) completed the second data collection after 12 weeks (31 in the intervention group). Odds ratios for hospitalization and mortality 6 months after discharge were 0.367 (0.129; 1.042) and 0.323 (0.060; 1.724). Nutritional status improved and some positive tendencies in favour of the intervention group were observed for patient relevant outcomes, i.e. activities of daily living, and quality of life. Almost 100% of the intervention group received three home visits by a dietician. CONCLUSION: Adding a dietician to the discharge Liaison-Team after discharge of geriatric patients can improve nutritional status and may reduce the number of times hospitalized within 6 months. A larger study is necessary to see a significant effect on other patient relevant outcomes.

Morphological and molecular characteristics do not confirm popular classification of the Brazil nut tree in Acre, Brazil.

In the State of Acre, the Brazil nut tree, Bertholletia excelsa (Lecythidaceae), is classified by the local population into two types according to morphological characteristics, including color and quality of wood, shape of the trunk and crown, and fruit production. We examined the reliability of this classification by comparing morphological and molecular data of four populations of Brazil nut trees from Vale do Rio Acre in the Brazilian Amazon. For the morphological analysis, we evaluated qualitative and quantitative information of the trees, fruits, and seeds. The molecular analysis was performed using RAPD and ISSR markers, with cluster analysis. Significant differences were found between the two types of Brazil nut trees for the characters diameter at breast height, fruit yield, fruit size, and number of seeds per fruit. Despite the significant correlation between the morphological characteristics and the popular classification, we observed all possible combinations of morphological characteristics in both types of Brazil nut trees. In some individuals, the classification did not correspond to any of the characteristics. The results obtained with molecular markers showed that the two locally classified types of Brazil nut trees did not differ genetically, indicating that there is no consistent separation between them.

Genetic structure in fragmented populations of Solanum lycocarpum A. St.-Hil. with distinct anthropogenic histories in a Cerrado region of Brazil.

Solanum lycocarpum is a woody tree widely distributed in the Cerrado that reaches high population densities in disturbed environments. We examined the genetic diversity and population differentiation of six S. lycocarpum populations with different degrees of human disturbance in order to determine if they are negatively affected by anthropogenic activity. Three populations located in southern and three located in southeastern regions of Goiás State, Central Brazil, were genotyped with five microsatellite markers. The population located in a protected area had higher number of alleles (26) than the remaining populations (19 to 21 alleles). It indicates that extensive and continuous areas of preserved native vegetation contribute positively to the conservation of genetic diversity, even with S. lycocarpum that easily adapts to disturbed environments. The three southeastern populations, although fragmented, had preserved native vegetation and were not significantly different from each other (θp = 0.002). All other population pairs compared were significantly divergent (θp varied from 0.03 to 0.11 between pairs, P < 0.05). We found three distinct sets of allele frequencies. The three southeastern populations shared similar gene pools, as well as the two disturbed southern populations, which are secondary vegetation. The southern population located in protected area had the most dissimilar gene pool. In conclusion, populations showing a higher degree of human disturbance tends to show a larger population differentiation than expected from the isolation by distance model, which in the current scenario of the Cerrado destruction points out to a threat to the long-term conservation of the species.

Genetic structure based on nuclear and chloroplast microsatellite loci of Solanum lycocarpum A. St. Hil. (Solanaceae) in Central Brazil.

Solanum lycocarpum (Solanaceae) is a woody species found in the Brazilian Cerrado. The flowers are pollinated by Xylocopa spp bees, and seeds are dispersed by mammals with distinct home range sizes. As a consequence, relative contributions of pollen and seeds to overall gene flow can vary according to different spatial scales. We studied the genetic structure of four natural populations of S. lycocarpum separated by 19 to 128 km, including individuals located along dirt roads that interlink three of the populations. A total of 294 individuals were genotyped with five nuclear and six chloroplast microsatellite markers. Significant spatial genetic structure was found in the total set of individuals; the Sp statistic was 0.0086. Population differentiation based on the six chloroplast microsatellite markers (θ(pC) = 0.042) was small and similar to that based on the five nuclear microsatellite markers (θ(p) = 0.054). For this set of populations, pollen and seed flow did not differ significantly from one another (pollen-to-seed flow ratio = 1.22). Capability for long distance seed dispersion and colonization of anthropogenic sites contributes to the ability of S. lycocarpum to maintain genetic diversity. Seed dispersion along dirt roads may be critical in preserving S. lycocarpum genetic diversity in fragmented landscapes.

Effects of novel manufacturing technology on blood and dialysate flow distribution in a new low flux "alpha Polysulfone" hemodialyzer.

The main target for low flux hemodialyzers is an efficient low molecular weight solutes clearance. Such efficiency is largely dependent on the optimization of diffusion between blood and dialysis solution. The diffusion process can be impaired if there is a mismatch between blood and dialysate flow distribution in the dialyzer. Thus optimized flow distribution both in the blood and dialysate compartment becomes quintessential for the maximal efficiency of the diffusion process within the hemodialyzer. The present paper describes the distribution of the blood and dialysate flows in a new low flux polysulfone hollow fiber hemodialyzer characterized by a specific undulation of the fibers and a new cutting technology of the fibers for an improved micro-flow condition in the blood compartment headers. Twelve Diacap alpha Polysulfone LO PS 15 (1.5 sqm) (B. Braun Medizintechnologie, Melsungen Germany) were employed for the study. Six were analyzed in vitro and six were studied in vivo. Blood flow distribution was studied in vitro by dye injection in the blood compartment during experimental extracorporeal circulation utilizing human blood with hematocrit adjusted at 33%. Sequential images were obtained with a helical scanner in a fixed longitudinal section of the dialyzer 1 cm thick. Average and regional blood flow velocities were measured utilizing the reconstructed imaging sequence. The method allowed the calculation of single fiber blood flow (SF Qb) and the mass transfer zone (MTR) definition in digitally subtracted images. The patterns 20-10 and 40-30 were utilized. The same technology was used to evaluate flow distribution in the dialysate compartment after dye injection in the Hansen's connector. Regional dialysate flow was calculated in central and peripheral sample areas of 1 cm2. Six in vivo hemodialysis treatments on patients with end stage renal disease were performed at three different blood flow rates (250-350 and 450 ml/min) in order to measure urea, creatinine and phosphate clearance. Macroscopic and densitometrical analysis revealed that flow distribution was homogeneous in the blood compartment while in the dialysate compartment a slight difference between the peripheral and central regions in terms of flow velocity was observed. This however was not generating channeling phenomena. Urea creatinine and phosphate clearances were remarkably high and so were the Kt/V observed in all sessions, especially in relation to the studied blood flows. In conclusion, a significant blood to dialysate flow match with optimized countercurrent flow condition was observed in the studied hollow fiber hemodialyzers. Such optimization might be due both to the improved dialyzer design at the level of the blood header and to the specific fiber undulation that prevents dialysate channeling.

Release of microparticles in LDL apheresis.

Particle contamination of blood always takes place in extracorporeal systems and few studies have been conducted to evaluate potential risks. Particle concentration was measured in the efferent blood line on original equipment for two established LDL elimination procedures (DALI) (Fresenius) and Liposorber (Kaneka). Acquired data were compared with standards for infusion solutions from European (EP) and American (USP) Pharmacopoeia. All values were well below the given limits. Even in extreme situations (>20 pump stops) particle concentration did not exceed the standards. Considering an average treated blood volume of 7.31 for the DALI-System and 17.01 for Liposorber (long term clinical studies) the absolute amount of particles infused per treatment was 167,000 (DALI) and 465,000 (Liposorber) particles > or = 2 microm.

Particle release in extracorporeal low-density lipoprotein lowering therapies.

Release of microparticles into the blood during extracorporeal circulation must be kept low because of possibly serious acute and chronic adverse effects. Concentration and size distribution of microparticles were measured during simulated treatments (n = 7) on original equipment for 2 standard low-density lipoprotein (LDL) elimination procedures (DALI 750, Fresenius AG, St. Wendel, Germany and Liposorber, Kaneka Corporation, Osaka, Japan) and compared to hemofiltration solutions. For both systems as well as in hemofiltration solutions, the mean particle concentrations in 500 ml portions gathered from the efferent blood line stayed below 10% of pharmacopoeia standards for infusion solutions (United States Pharmacopoeia, European Pharmacopoeia) in all measured size classes. Although particle concentrations were comparable in all systems, the mean total number of particles > or =2 microm released per session was lowest in the DALI (167,000) compared to the Liposorber (465,000) and hemofiltration solutions (2,240,000). This was mainly due to different total processed blood volumes necessary to achieve the required LDL reduction.

Embolia arterial de membros inferiores: estudo dos fatores relacionados à morbidade e à mortalidade operatórias / Arterial embolism of the lower limbs: a study of factors related to operative morbidity and mortality

A embolia arterial periférica é uma doença frequente entre as urgências vasculares e apresenta índices de morbidade e de mortalidade elevados. Setenta e dois doentes que foram submetidos à embolectomia arterial de membros inferiores são analisados retrospectivamente, com o objetivo de estudar, pela análise multivariada, a influência de diferentes fatores na morbidade e na mortalidade do procedimento operatório. A mortalidade opertória da série foi de 25 'por cento', sendo 44,4 'por cento', de origem cardíaca. A análise estatística foi realizada pela análise multivariada (MULTLR). A rabdomiólise, a exploração da artéria poplítea e a aterosclerose periférica foram os fatores de risco para a amputação. Além da exploração da artéria poplítea e da aterosclerose periférica, a impotência funcional à admissão e a doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica foram os fatores de risco para complicaçöes sistêmicas. A análise da mortalidade identificou como fatores de risco a complicação pulmonar, a síndrome de revascularização tardia e o infarto do miocárdio.

In vitro antibiotic susceptibility of salmonellae.

In vitro antibiotic susceptibilities were determined for 101 strains of salmonellae. Resistance to chloramphenicol and ampicillin was low. Cefamandole was active against the majority of strains and deserves further evaluation.