The High Capacity of Brazilian Aedes aegypti Populations to Transmit a Locally Circulating Lineage of Chikungunya Virus.

The incidence of chikungunya has dramatically surged worldwide in recent decades, imposing an expanding burden on public health. In recent years, South America, particularly Brazil, has experienced outbreaks that have ravaged populations following the rapid dissemination of the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), which was first detected in 2014. The primary vector for CHIKV transmission is the urban mosquito species Aedes aegypti, which is highly prevalent throughout Brazil. However, the impact of the locally circulating CHIKV genotypes and specific combinations of local mosquito populations on vector competence remains unexplored. Here, we experimentally analyzed and compared the infectivity and transmissibility of the CHIKV-ECSA lineage recently isolated in Brazil among four Ae. aegypti populations collected from different regions of the country. When exposed to CHIKV-infected AG129 mice for blood feeding, all the mosquito populations displayed high infection rates and dissemination efficiency. Furthermore, we observed that all the populations were highly efficient in transmitting CHIKV to a vertebrate host (naïve AG129 mice) as early as eight days post-infection. These results demonstrate the high capacity of Brazilian Ae. aegypti populations to transmit the locally circulating CHIKV-ECSA lineage. This observation could help to explain the high prevalence of the CHIKV-ECSA lineage over the Asian lineage, which was also detected in Brazil in 2014. However, further studies comparing both lineages are necessary to gain a better understanding of the vector's importance in the epidemiology of CHIKV in the Americas.

High capacity of Brazilian Aedes aegypti populations to transmit a locally circulating lineage of Chikungunya virus.

The global incidence of chikungunya has surged in recent decades, with South America, particularly Brazil, experiencing devastating outbreaks. The primary vector for transmitting CHIKV in urban areas is the mosquito species Aedes aegypti, which is very abundant in Brazil. However, little is known about the impact of locally circulating CHIKV genotypes and specific combinations of mosquito populations on vector competence. In this study, we analyzed and compared the infectivity and transmissibility of a recently isolated CHIKV-ECSA lineage from Brazil among four Ae. aegypti populations collected from different regions of the country. When exposed to CHIKV-infected mice for blood feeding, all mosquito populations showed high infection rates and dissemination efficiency. Moreover, using a mouse model to assess transmission rates in a manner that better mirrors natural cycles, we observed that these populations exhibit highly efficient transmission rates of CHIKV-ECSA. Our findings underscore the robust capability of Brazilian Ae. aegypti populations to transmit the locally circulating CHIKV-ECSA lineage, potentially explaining its higher prevalence compared to the Asian lineage also introduced in Brazil.

AG129 Mice as a Comprehensive Model for the Experimental Assessment of Mosquito Vector Competence for Arboviruses.

Arboviruses (an acronym for "arthropod-borne virus"), such as dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and Chikungunya, are important human pathogens transmitted by mosquitoes. These viruses impose a growing burden on public health. Despite laboratory mice having been used for decades for understanding the basic biological phenomena of these viruses, it was only recently that researchers started to develop immunocompromised animals to study the pathogenesis of arboviruses and their transmission in a way that parallels natural cycles. Here, we show that the AG129 mouse (IFN α/ß/γ R-/-) is a suitable and comprehensive vertebrate model for studying the mosquito vector competence for the major arboviruses of medical importance, namely the dengue virus (DENV), yellow fever virus (YFV), Zika virus (ZIKV), Mayaro virus (MAYV), and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). We found that, after intraperitoneal injection, AG129 mice developed a transient viremia lasting several days, peaking on day two or three post infection, for all five arboviruses tested in this study. Furthermore, we found that the observed viremia was ample enough to infect Aedes aegypti during a blood meal from the AG129 infected mice. Finally, we demonstrated that infected mosquitoes could transmit each of the tested arboviruses back to naïve AG129 mice, completing a full transmission cycle of these vector-borne viruses. Together, our data show that A129 mice are a simple and comprehensive vertebrate model for studies of vector competence, as well as investigations into other aspects of mosquito biology that can affect virus-host interactions.

Shedding light on the toxicity of SARS-CoV-2-derived peptide in non-target COVID-19 organisms: A study involving inbred and outbred mice.

Despite advances in research on the vaccine and therapeutic strategies of COVID-19, little attention has been paid to the possible (eco)toxicological impacts of the dispersion of SARS-CoV-2 particles in natural environments. Thus, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the behavioral and biochemical consequences of the short exposure of outbred and inbred mice (male Swiss and C57Bl/6 J mice, respectively) to PSPD-2002 (peptide fragments of the Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2) synthesized in the laboratory. Our data demonstrated that after 24 h of intraperitoneal administration of PSPD-2002 (at 580 µg/kg) the animals did not present alterations in their locomotor, anxiolytic-like, or anxiety-like behavior (in the open field test), nor antidepressant-like or depressive behavior in the forced swimming test. However, the C57Bl/6 J mice exposed to PSPD-2002 showed memory deficit in the novel object recognition task, which was associated with higher production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, as well as the increased suppression of acetylcholinesterase brain activity, compared to Swiss mice also exposed to peptide fragments. In Swiss mice the reduction in the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the brain was not associated with increased oxidative stress biomarkers (hydrogen peroxide), suggesting that other antioxidant mechanisms may have been activated by exposure to PSPD-2002 to maintain the animals' brain redox homeostasis. Finally, the results of all biomarkers evaluated were applied into the "Integrated Biomarker Response Index" (IBRv2) and the principal component analysis (PCA), and greater sensitivity of C57Bl/6 J mice to PSPD-2002 was revealed. Therefore, our study provides pioneering evidence of mammalian exposure-induced toxicity (non-target SARS-CoV-2 infection) to PSPD-2002, as well as "sheds light" on the influence of genetic profile on susceptibility/resistance to the effects of viral peptide fragments.

Produção laboral de psicólogas(os) do NASF-AB de Maceió (AL) em 2019: uma análise a partir do SISAB / Labor productivity of NASF-AB psychologists of Maceió (AL) in 2019: an analysis from SISAB / Producción laboral de psicólogas/os del NASF-AB de Maceió (AL) en 2019: un análisis del SISAB

Profissionais de Psicologia são oficialmente admitidos para atuar na Atenção Primária à Saúde a partir da criação do Núcleo Ampliado de Saúde da Família e Atenção Básica (Nasf-AB), na intenção de ampliar a resolutividade deste nível de atenção à saúde. Este objetivou analisar a produção laboral de profissionais de Psicologia atuantes nos Nasf-AB de Maceió (AL) no ano de 2019. Os aspectos metodológicos incluem a análise de elementos quantitativos e qualitativos num estudo descritivo exploratório, utilizando dados secundários provenientes do Sistema de Informação em Saúde da Atenção Básica (Sisab). Entre os resultados, destaca-se a predominância de atendimentos individuais concentrados na própria unidade de saúde e o grande percentual de encaminhamentos a serviços especializados. Quanto às atividades coletivas, predominam as reuniões de caráter técnico-pedagógico, principalmente com as equipes apoiadas, e a Educação em Saúde voltada aos usuários. Diante de indícios de um perfil ambulatorial, as(os) psicólogas(os) devem problematizar suas práticas enquanto profissionais do Nasf-AB. Sendo um campo complexo de atuação, é importante que esses profissionais se coloquem de forma ativa, explorando as possibilidades da clínica ampliada, da promoção e prevenção em saúde e do conhecimento advindo dos sistemas de informação em saúde.(AU)

Psychology professionals are officially admitted to work in Primary Health Care after the Extended Nucleus of Family Health and Primary Care (NASF-AB) creation, intending to expand the resolution of this level of health care. This study aimed to analyze the labor productivity of Psychology professionals working in the NASF-AB in Maceió (state of Alagoas - AL) in 2019. The methodological aspects include the analysis of quantitative and qualitative elements in an exploratory-descriptive research, using secondary data from the Primary Health Care Information System (SISAB). Among the results, the predominance of individual care mainly on health center itself and the high percentage of referrals to specialized services stand out. Regarding collective activities, meetings of a technical and pedagogical nature predominate, mainly with the supported teams, and Health Education focused at users. Faced with evidence of a clinical profile, psychologists must problematize their practices as NASF-AB professionals. Since this is a complex field of action, it is important that these professionals take an active role, exploring the possibilities of expanded clinic, health promotion and prevention, and knowledge from health information systems.(AU)

Los profesionales de la psicología se admiten oficialmente para trabajar en Atención Primaria con la creación del Núcleo Extendido de Salud de la Familia y Atención Primaria (NASF), con la intención de ampliar la resolución de este tipo de asistencia sanitaria Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar la producción laboral de los psicólogos que trabajan en NASF de Maceió-AL en 2019. Los aspectos metodológicos incluyen un análisis de elementos cuantitativos y cualitativos en un estudio descriptivo exploratorio, utilizando datos secundarios del Sistema de Información de Atención Primaria de Salud (SISAB). Entre los resultados se destaca el predominio de la asistencia individual, concentrados en el propio centro de salud, y el gran porcentaje de derivaciones a servicios de salud especializados. En cuanto a las actividades colectivas predominan las de carácter técnico y pedagógico, principalmente con los equipos apoyados, y actividades de educación en salud para la población. Ante la evidencia de un perfil ambulatorio las/los psicólogas/os deben problematizar sus prácticas como profesionales de NASF. Al tratarse de un campo de trabajo complejo es importante que estas/os profesionales asuman un papel activo, explorando las posibilidades de la clínica ampliada, la promoción y prevención de la salud y los conocimientos derivados de los sistemas de información en salud.(AU)

Estresse Ocupacional em Gestores de um Hospital Público / Occupational Stress in Managers of a Public Hospital

A atuação dos gestores da área da saúde apresenta-se como expressiva fonte de tensão, ocasionando manifestações de estresse e comprometendo a saúde emocional e física. Diante desse contexto, este estudo objetivou descrever e explicar as manifestações de estresse ocupacional em gestores de um hospital público. Em relação ao método, utilizou-se o modelo teórico de explicação do estresse ocupacional em gerentes, a partir de abordagem quantitativa, onde os dados foram coletados por meio de questionário, envolvendo 83 gestores. A análise dos dados se deu por meio da estatística descritiva e inferencial. Apurou-se que 82% dos gestores possuem algum nível de estresse ocupacional, variando de leve/moderado (44,65) a muito intenso (37,4%). As principais fontes de tensão apontam para a realização de várias atividades ao mesmo tempo com alto nível de cobrança e a pressão excessiva no trabalho. Os sintomas prevalentes foram dor nos músculos do pescoço e ombros, fadiga e angústia. Observaram-se indicadores de impacto no trabalho como a dificuldade de lembrar fatos recentes, desmotivação; e excessivo desgaste nos relacionamentos interpessoais. Como estratégias para amenizar as tensões excessivas no trabalho identificou-se, principalmente, a cooperação entre os pares e o melhor planejamento do tempo.

The health manager's performance is a revealing source of tension, causing stress manifestations and compromising emotional and physical health. Given this context, this study aimed to describe and explain the occupational stress manifestations in a public hospital managers. Regarding the method, the theoretical model for explaining occupational stress in managers was used, based on a quantitative approach, where data were collected through a questionnaire involving 83 managers. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics. It was found that 82% of managers have some level of occupational stress, ranging from mild/moderate (44.65) to very intense (37.4%). The principal source of tension points to the performance of several activities simultaneously with a high level of collection and excessive pressure at work. The prevalent symptoms were a pain in the neck and shoulders muscles, fatigue, and distress. Indicators of impact at work were observed, such as the difficulty remembering recent facts, lack of motivation, and excessive wear and tear in interpersonal relationships. As strategies to alleviate exorbitant tensions at work, cooperation between peers and better time planning was identified.

Genome-wide detection of CNVs and their association with performance traits in broilers.

BACKGROUND: Copy number variations (CNVs) are a major type of structural genomic variants that underlie genetic architecture and phenotypic variation of complex traits, not only in humans, but also in livestock animals. We identified CNVs along the chicken genome and analyzed their association with performance traits. Genome-wide CNVs were inferred from Affymetrix® high density SNP-chip data for a broiler population. CNVs were concatenated into segments and association analyses were performed with linear mixed models considering a genomic relationship matrix, for birth weight, body weight at 21, 35, 41 and 42 days, feed intake from 35 to 41 days, feed conversion ratio from 35 to 41 days and, body weight gain from 35 to 41 days of age. RESULTS: We identified 23,214 autosomal CNVs, merged into 5042 distinct CNV regions (CNVRs), covering 12.84% of the chicken autosomal genome. One significant CNV segment was associated with BWG on GGA3 (q-value = 0.00443); one significant CNV segment was associated with BW35 (q-value = 0.00571), BW41 (q-value = 0.00180) and BW42 (q-value = 0.00130) on GGA3, and one significant CNV segment was associated with BW on GGA5 (q-value = 0.00432). All significant CNV segments were verified by qPCR, and a validation rate of 92.59% was observed. These CNV segments are located nearby genes, such as KCNJ11, MyoD1 and SOX6, known to underlie growth and development. Moreover, gene-set analyses revealed terms linked with muscle physiology, cellular processes regulation and potassium channels. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this CNV-based GWAS study unravels potential candidate genes that may regulate performance traits in chickens. Our findings provide a foundation for future functional studies on the role of specific genes in regulating performance in chickens.

Influência da técnica de preparo sobre o contorno cervical dos laminados cerâmicos: relato de caso / Influence of the preparation technique on the cervical contour of ceramic laminates: a case report / Influencia de la técnica de preparación en el contorno cervical de los laminados cerámicos: reporte del caso

Introdução: Devido à crescente demanda estética, a odontologia restauradora se renova na intenção de alcançar melhores resultados na harmonia do sorriso. Entretanto, a atenção deve voltar-se também aos tecidos periodontais, visto que há uma integração entre material restaurador e os tecidos. Objetivo:Descrever e discutir as etapas clínicas para a confecção de laminados cerâmicos, atentando-se a preparos minimamente invasivos, contorno cervical e fatores que podem intervir na longevidade do procedimento.Relato de caso:Paciente do sexo masculino, 28 anos de idade, compareceu a Associação Brasileira de Odontologia, seção de Alagoas, relatando insatisfação em relação ao tamanho dos seus dentes. Os arcos superior e inferior foram moldados para a obtenção dos modelos de estudo e enceramento diagnóstico. Ao início do tratamento foi orientado ao paciente clareamento dental pela técnica combinada. O preparo dos dentes foi guiado por uma matriz de silicone, sendo estes uniformes e conservadores, seguido de moldagem, fase laboratorial e cimentação final. Finalizado o caso foi realizado o ajuste oclusal solicitando ao paciente que realizasse movimentos de lateralidade e protrusão. Conclusões:A técnica do preparo influência na longevidade dos laminados cerâmicos, por relacioanar-se à adesão e a saúde periodontal. O preparo deve ser mínino e limitado ao esmalte dental sempre que possível, determinando assim um maior e melhor prognóstico (AU).

Introduction:Due to the growing aesthetic demand, restorative dentistry is renewed to achieve better results in smile harmony. However, attention should also be turned to periodontal tissues since there is an integration between restorative material and tissues. Objective:To describe and discuss the clinical steps for the manufacture of laminate veneers, paying attention to minimally invasive preparations, cervical contour, and factors that can intervene in the procedure's longevity. Case report:A 28-year-old male patient attended the Brazilian Dental Association, the Alagoas section, reporting dissatisfaction with his teeth' size. The upper and lower arches were molded to obtain the study and diagnostic waxing models. At the beginning of treatment, the patient was instructed by the combined technique. After the case, the occlusal adjustment was performed, asking the patient to perform laterality and protrusion movements. Conclusions:The preparation technique influences the longevity of laminate veneers due to adherence and periodontal health. The preparation should be minimal and limited to dental enamel whenever possible, thus determining a higher and better prognosis (AU).

Introducción: Debido a la creciente demanda estética, la odontología restauradora se renueva para lograr mejores resultados en la armonía de la sonrisa. Sin embargo, también se debe prestar atención a los tejidos periodontales ya que existe una integraciónentre el material restaurador y los tejidos.Objetivo: Describir y discutir los pasos clínicos para la confección de carillas laminares, prestando atención a las preparaciones mínimamente invasivas, al contorno cervical y a los factores que pueden intervenir en la longevidad del procedimiento.Reporte del caso: Un paciente masculino de 28 años asistió a la Asociación Dental Brasileña, sección de Alagoas, reportando insatisfacción con el tamaño de sus dientes. Los arcos superior e inferior fueron moldeados para obtener los modelos de depilación de estudio y diagnóstico. Al comienzo del tratamiento, el paciente fue instruido por la técnica combinada. La preparación de los dientes fue guiada por una matriz de silicona, siendo estas uniformes y conservadoras, seguidas de moldeo, fase de laboratorio y cementación final. Después del caso, se realizó el ajuste oclusal, pidiendo al paciente que realizara movimientos de lateralidad y protuberancia. Conclusiones: La técnica de preparación influye en la longevidad de los laminados cerámicos, debido a la adherencia y la salud periodontal. La preparación debe ser mínima y limitada al esmalte dental siempre que sea posible, determinando así un pronóstico más alto y mejor (AU).

Genetic parameters associated with meat quality of Nellore cattle at different anatomical points of longissimus: Brazilian standards.

The present study estimated genetic parameters and evaluated the genetic and phenotypic correlations between meat quality characteristics of Nellore cattle evaluated at different anatomical points of the longissimus. Data from 1329 Nellore young bulls were used to evaluate, in the 5th and 12th ribs, marbling score (MAR), shear force (SF), cooking weight losses (CWL) and intramuscular fat (IMF). In addition, the subcutaneous fat thickness was measured at the 12th rib (SFT12) and between the last lumbar and the first sacral vertebrae (SFTLR), in the separation of loin and round. Results yielded moderate heritability coefficients for evaluated characteristics, except CWL. High genetic correlations (0.61) were found between measurements of SFT12 and SFTLR. MAR, IMF and SF were evaluated at the 5th and 12th rib. Meat quality and subcutaneous fat thickness measured at different anatomical points of the longissimus are genetically correlated and can be used in genetic selection programs to improve meat quality characteristics in Nellore cattle.

Escuta clínica em um ambulatório de genética: uma experiência extensiva / The clinical listening in a genetic ambulatory: an extension experience / Escucha clínica em amlabolatoria de genética: uma experiencia de extensión

O trabalho busca relatar uma prática extensionista em um Hospital Universitário que teve como objetivo ampliar as ações no cuidado a pessoas com defeitos congênitos (DC) no SUS. Para tanto, apresenta-se a experiência de estudantes de psicologia em ambulatório de genética, ao associar à prática médica ambulatorial a escuta clínica. Discute-se neste artigo a importância da prática extensiva na atenção a pacientes com DC e seus familiares, decorrente da necessidade da interlocução entre medicina e psicologia na clínica contemporânea. Os resultados delimitaram os desafios enfrentados pelas estudantes e os efeitos da prática extensionista em serviço de genética clínica: estabelecimento de um espaço de fala e escuta; complexidade das condições genéticas; problemática do acompanhamento psicológico em serviço ambulatorial; e implicações na formação em Psicologia. Ressalta-se, por fim, a pertinência das reflexões teórico-clínicas acerca de uma primeira experiência de escuta clínica em sua dupla vertente: como dispositivo tanto terapêutico quanto formativo (AU).

This work seeks to report an extension practice in a University Hospital that had the objective to expand the care actions concerning people with birth defects in the Brazil's Unified Health System (SUS). Therefore, it presents the psychology student's experience in a genetic ambulatory, associating the clinical listening to the medical practice. This article also discusses the importance of the extension practice in attention to people with birth defects, through the emerging dialogue between medical practice and the clinical listening. The results set out the challenges faced by the students and the extension practice effects in a genetic service: an effective speaking and listening space; the genetical conditions complexity; the continuity of psychological support issue; and the implications in Psychology formation. Is stands out, lastly, the relevance of theoretical-clinical reflections concerning a first clinical listening experience double-sided: such as a therapeutic disposal and as a formative one (AU).

El trabajo busca reportar una práctica de extensión en un Hospital Universitario que tuvo como objetivo ampliar las acciones de atención a personas con defectos de nacimiento (EC) en el SUS. Para ello, presenta la experiencia en una consulta externa de genética, asociando la escucha clínica a la práctica médica ambulatoria. Este artículo discute la importancia de una práctica extensa en el cuidado de pacientes con EC y sus familias, debido a la necesidad de diálogo entre la medicina y la psicología en la clínica contemporánea. Los resultados delimitaron los desafíos enfrentados por los estudiantes y los efectos de la práctica de extensión en un servicio de genética clínica: establecimiento de un espacio para el habla y la escucha; complejidad de las condiciones genéticas; problemática del seguimiento psicológico en un servicio ambulatorio; e implicaciones para la formación en psicología. Finalmente, se destaca la relevancia de las reflexiones teórico-clínicas acerca de una primera experiencia de escucha clínica en su doble vertiente: como dispositivo terapéutico y formativo (AU).

The Regulation of Floral Colour Change in Pleroma raddianum (DC.) Gardner.

Floral colour change is a widespread phenomenon in angiosperms, but poorly understood from the genetic and chemical point of view. This article investigates this phenomenon in Pleroma raddianum, a Brazilian endemic species whose flowers change from white to purple. To this end, flavonoid compounds and their biosynthetic gene expression were profiled. By using accurate techniques (Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS)), thirty phenolic compounds were quantified. Five key genes of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway were partially cloned, sequenced, and the mRNA levels were analysed (RT-qPCR) during flower development. Primary metabolism was also investigated by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-EIMS), where carbohydrates and organic acids were identified. Collectively, the obtained results suggest that the flower colour change in P. raddianum is determined by petunidin and malvidin whose accumulation coincides with the transcriptional upregulation of early and late biosynthetic genes of the flavonoid pathway, mainly CHS and ANS, respectively. An alteration in sugars, organic acids and phenolic co-pigments is observed together with the colour change. Additionally, an increment in the content of Fe3+ ions in the petals, from the pink to purple stage, seemed to influence the saturation of the colour.

Across-country genomic prediction of bull fertility in Jersey dairy cattle.

The use of information across populations is an attractive approach to increase the accuracy of genomic predictions for numerically small breeds and traits that are time-consuming and difficult to measure, such as male fertility in cattle. This study was conducted to evaluate genomic prediction of Jersey bull fertility using an across-country reference population combining records from the United States and Australia. The data set consisted of 1,570 US Jersey bulls with sire conception rate (SCR) records, 603 Australian Jersey bulls with semen fertility value (SFV) records and SNP genotypes for roughly 90,000 loci. Both SCR and SFV are evaluations of service sire fertility based on cow field data, and both are intended as phenotypic evaluations because the estimates include genetic and nongenetic effects. Within- and across-country genomic predictions were evaluated using univariate and bivariate genomic best linear unbiased prediction models. Predictive ability was assessed in 5-fold cross-validation using the correlation between observed and predicted fertility values and mean squared error of prediction. Within-country genomic predictions exhibited predictive correlations of around 0.28 and 0.02 for the United States and Australia, respectively. The Australian Jersey population is genetically diverse and small in size, so careful selection of the reference population by including only closely related animals (e.g., excluding New Zealand bulls, which is a less-related population) increased the predictive correlations up to 0.20. Notably, the use of bivariate models fitting all US Jersey records and the optimized Australian population resulted in predictive correlations around of 0.24 for SFV values, which is a relative increase in predictive ability of 20%. Conversely, for predicting SCR values, the use of an across-country reference population did not outperform the standard approach using pure US Jersey reference data set. Our findings indicate that genomic prediction of male fertility in dairy cattle is feasible, and the use of an across-country reference population would be beneficial when local populations are small and genetically diverse.

The RNAi Pathway Is Important to Control Mayaro Virus Infection in Aedes aegypti but not for Wolbachia-Mediated Protection.

Mayaro virus (MAYV), a sylvatic arbovirus belonging to the Togaviridae family and Alphavirus genus, is responsible for an increasing number of outbreaks in several countries of Central and South America. Despite Haemagogus janthinomys being identified as the main vector of MAYV, laboratory studies have already demonstrated the competence of Aedes aegypti to transmit MAYV. It has also been demonstrated that the WolbachiawMel strain is able to impair the replication and transmission of MAYV in Ae. aegypti. In Ae. aegypti, the small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway is an important antiviral mechanism; however, it remains unclear whether siRNA pathway acts against MAYV infection in Ae. aegypti. The main objective of this study was to determine the contribution of the siRNA pathway in the control of MAYV infection. Thus, we silenced the expression of AGO2, an essential component of the siRNA pathway, by injecting dsRNA-targeting AGO2 (dsAGO2). Our results showed that AGO2 is required to control MAYV replication upon oral infection in Wolbachia-free Ae. aegypti. On the other hand, we found that Wolbachia-induced resistance to MAYV in Ae. aegypti is independent of the siRNA pathway. Our study brought new information regarding the mechanism of viral protection, as well as on Wolbachia mediated interference.

Urban expansion and its impact on water security: The case of the Paraíba do Sul River Basin, São Paulo, Brazil.

Increasing demand for water is one of the most challenging problems that human societies face today and has encouraged new studies to examine water security and water management. Seeking to discuss this important issue in the Brazilian context, we analyzed the impacts of urban expansion on water security in a basin located in the most populated region of Brazil. To quantify increased water demand, we combined urban sprawl and regional population increase projections. In this context, our study contributes to discussions on water security by addressing the importance of integration between water and urban planning. Simulations indicate good performance in reproducing actual water system conditions. The finding demonstrates that urban expansion in the region is mainly driven by road proximity. Urban occupation is projected to increase in 170% by 2050, increasing water demands for domestic use in 38%. Results indicate the feasibility of including landscape and socioeconomic constrains in order to obtain potential domestic water demand scenarios by using land use and land cover change modelling to assess urban expansion and population growth. For the study region, our findings suggest that although urban sprawl increases water demand, urban supply will not be compromised given the large volume of available water in the basin. However, the indirect consequences of urban sprawl, such as industrialization and agricultural intensification, may compromise the quality of this resource and require better water use management in the region.

Stress, parenting and family support in attention deficit/shyperactivity disorder / Estresse, parentalidade e suporte familiar no transtorno de déficit de atenção/hiperatividade / Estrés, parentalidad y soporte familiar en el trastorno de déficit de atención/hiperactividad

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) causes impairments in child development. Parents of children with this diagnosis may present stress, problems in managing rules and limits, compromising parenting style, besides perceiving family support as low. The objectives of the study were to characterize the stress, parenting style and perception of family support in parents of children with ADHD, establishing relationships between these variables. For this, 42 parents (fathers and mothers) responded to Lipp's Stress Symptoms Inventory for Adults (LSSI), the Inventory of Parenting Styles (IPS) and the Family Support Perception Inventory (FSPI). The results show that the mothers presented more stress than the fathers; there was also an association of mothers' stress with negative parenting practices and low perception of family support. Another finding was that the higher the child's age, the worse the parenting style presented by the family. New research should support this data.

O transtorno de déficit de atenção/hiperatividade (TDAH) gera prejuízos para o desenvolvimento infantil. Pais de crianças com esse diagnóstico podem apresentar estresse e problemas no gerenciamento de limites, comprometendo o estilo parental, além de perceberem o suporte familiar como baixo. O objetivo do estudo foi caracterizar estresse, estilo parental e percepção de suporte familiar em pais de crianças com TDAH, estabelecendo relações entre essas variáveis. Assim, 42 pais (pai e mãe) responderam ao Inventário de Sintomas de Stress para Adultos de Lipp (ISSL), Inventário de Estilos Parentais (IEP) e Inventário de Percepção de Suporte Familiar (IPSF). Os resultados indicaram que as mães apresentaram mais estresse do que os pais; também houve associação do estresse das mães com práticas parentais negativas e baixa percepção de suporte familiar. Outro achado foi que, quanto maior a idade da criança, pior o estilo parental que a família apresenta. Novas pesquisas devem dar apoio a esses dados.

El trastorno de déficit de atención/hiperactividad (TDAH) genera perjuicios para el desarrollo infantil. Los padres de niños con este diagnóstico pueden presentar estrés, problemas en gestión de límites, comprometiendo el estilo parental, además de percibir el soporte familiar como bajo. Los objetivos del estudio fueron caracterizar estrés, estilo parental y percepción de soporte familiar en padres de niños con TDAH, estableciendo relaciones entre estas variables. Así, 42 padres (padres y madres) respondieron al Inventario de Síntomas de Estrés para Adultos de Lipp (ISSL), Inventario de Estilos Parentales (IEP) e Inventario de Percepción de Apoyo Familiar (IPSF). Los resultados indican que las madres presentan más estrés que los padres; también hubo asociación del estrés de las madres con prácticas parentales negativas y baja percepción de soporte familiar. Otro hallazgo fue que cuanto mayor es la edad del niño peor el estilo parental que la familia presenta. Las nuevas investigaciones deben apoyar estos datos.

Identification of selection signatures involved in performance traits in a paternal broiler line.

BACKGROUND: Natural and artificial selection leads to changes in certain regions of the genome resulting in selection signatures that can reveal genes associated with the selected traits. Selection signatures may be identified using different methodologies, of which some are based on detecting contiguous sequences of homozygous identical-by-descent haplotypes, called runs of homozygosity (ROH), or estimating fixation index (FST) of genomic windows that indicates genetic differentiation. This study aimed to identify selection signatures in a paternal broiler TT line at generations 7th and 16th of selection and to investigate the genes annotated in these regions as well as the biological pathways involved. For such purpose, ROH and FST-based analysis were performed using whole genome sequence of twenty-eight chickens from two different generations. RESULTS: ROH analysis identified homozygous regions of short and moderate size. Analysis of ROH patterns revealed regions commonly shared among animals and changes in ROH abundance and size between the two generations. Results also suggest that whole genome sequencing (WGS) outperforms SNPchip data avoiding overestimation of ROH size and underestimation of ROH number; however, sequencing costs can limited the number of animals analyzed. FST-based analysis revealed genetic differentiation in several genomic windows. Annotation of the consensus regions of ROH and FST windows revealed new and previously identified genes associated with traits of economic interest, such as APOB, IGF1, IGFBP2, POMC, PPARG, and ZNF423. Over-representation analysis of the genes resulted in biological terms of skeletal muscle, matrilin proteins, adipose tissue, hyperglycemia, diabetes, Salmonella infections and tyrosine. CONCLUSIONS: Identification of ROH and FST-based analyses revealed selection signatures in TT line and genes that have important role in traits of economic interest. Changes in the genome of the chickens were observed between the 7th and 16th generations showing that ancient and recent selection in TT line may have acted over genomic regions affecting diseases and performance traits.

Acylated Flavonoid Glycosides are the Main Pigments that Determine the Flower Colour of the Brazilian Native Tree Tibouchina pulchra (Cham.) Cogn.

Tibouchina pulchra (Cham.) Cogn. is a plant native to Brazil whose genus and family (Melastomataceae) are poorly studied with regards to its metabolite profile. Phenolic pigments of pink flowers were studied by ultra-performance liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector and electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Therein, twenty-three flavonoids were identified with eight flavonols isolated by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography and analysed by one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance. Kaempferol derivatives were the main flavonols, encompassing almost half of the detected compounds with different substitution patterns, such as glucoside, pentosides, galloyl-glucoside, p-coumaroyl-glucoside, and glucuronide. Concerning the anthocyanins, petunidin p-coumaroyl-hexoside acetylpentoside and malvidin p-coumaroyl-hexoside acetylpentoside were identified and agreed with previous reports on acylated anthocyanins from Melastomataceae. A new kaempferol glucoside was identified as kaempferol-(2''-O-methyl)-4'-O-α-d-glucopyranoside. Moreover, twelve compounds were described for the first time in the genus with five being new to the family, contributing to the chemical characterisation of these taxa.

Genomic prediction of bull fertility in US Jersey dairy cattle.

Service sire has a major effect on reproductive success in dairy cattle. Recent studies have reported accurate predictions for Holstein bull fertility using genomic data. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of genomic prediction of sire conception rate (SCR) in US Jersey cattle using alternative predictive models. Data set consisted of 1.5k Jersey bulls with SCR records and 95k SNP covering the entire genome. The analyses included the use of linear and Gaussian kernel-based models fitting either all the SNP or subsets of markers with presumed functional roles, such as SNP significantly associated with SCR or SNP located within or close to annotated genes. Model predictive ability was evaluated using 5-fold cross-validation with 10 replicates. The entire SNP set exhibited predictive correlations around 0.30. Interestingly, either SNP marginally associated with SCR or genic SNP achieved higher predictive abilities than their counterparts using random sets of SNP. Among alternative SNP subsets, Gaussian kernel models fitting significant SNP achieved the best performance with increases in predictive correlation up to 7% compared with the standard whole-genome approach. Notably, the use of a multi-breed reference population including the entire US Holstein SCR data set (11.5k bulls) allowed us to achieve predictive correlations up to 0.315, gaining 8% in accuracy compared with the standard model fitting a pure Jersey reference set. Overall, our findings indicate that genomic prediction of Jersey bull fertility is feasible. The use of Gaussian kernels fitting markers with relevant roles and the inclusion of Holstein records in the training set seem to be promising alternatives to the standard whole-genome approach. These results have the potential to help the dairy industry improve US Jersey sire fertility through accurate genome-guided decisions.

Violência contra mulher: concepções e práticas de profissionais de serviços públicos / Violence against women: conceptions and practices of public service professionals / Violencia contra mujeres: concepciones y prácticas de los profesionales del servicio público

A violência contra a mulher decorre da desigualdade de gênero e acarreta danos psicológicos, físicos, morais, patrimoniais e sexuais. Apesar da alta prevalência, ela ainda é pouco identificada nos serviços de saúde, constituindo-se em um problema para a efetivação de políticas públicas de enfrentamento da violência. O estudo investigou as concepções e práticas de profissionais de saúde acerca do fenômeno da violência contra mulher. Foi realizado estudo qualitativo, cuja amostra foi composta por 9 participantes (três médicas, três enfermeiras e três psicólogas) que atendiam mulheres nas unidades públicas de saúde de Jataí/GO. Para a obtenção de dados, foi utilizada entrevista individual e semiestruturada. Os dados foram interpretados à luz da análise de conteúdo. Averiguou-se fragilidades teórico-metodológicas das profissionais sobre a temática da violência contra a mulher, bem como dificuldades nas ações de prevenção, acolhimento e notificação dos serviços de saúde.

Violence against women stems from gender inequality and leads to psychological, physical, moral, property, and sexual harm. Despite its high prevalence, it is still subidentified in the health services, what is a problem for the effective implementation of public policies to combat violence. The study investigated the conceptions and practices of health professionals about the phenomenon of violence against women. We carried out a qualitative study, with a sample of nine participants (three doctors, three nurses, and three psychologists) who attend women in public health units of Jataí/GO. To obtain data, we used individual and semi-structured interviews. The data were interpreted with content analysis. It was found theoretical and methodological weaknesses of the professionals on the issue of violence against women, as well as difficulties in prevention, care, and notification of health services.

La violencia contra las mujeres se debe a la desigualdad de género y conduce a la violencia psicológica, física, moral, la propiedad y el daño sexual. A pesar de la alta prevalencia, todavía no se identifica en los servicios de salud, lo que constituye un problema para la aplicación efectiva de las políticas públicas para combatir la violencia. El estudio investigó las concepciones e prácticas de los profesionales de la salud sobre el fenómeno de la violencia contra mujeres. Estudio cualitativo se llevó a cabo, cuya muestra estuvo constituida por 9 participantes (3 médicas, 3 enfermeras y 3 psicólogas) que cumplieron con las mujeres en las unidades de salud pública de Jataí/GO. Para obtener los datos, se utilizó la entrevista individual y semiestructurado. Los datos fueron interpretados a la luz del análisis de contenido. Se encontró debilidades teóricas y metodológicas de los profesionales en el tema de la violencia contra las mujeres, así como las dificultades en la prevención, la atención y la notificación de los servicios de salud.

Head morphometry and chromatin instability in normal boar spermatozoa and in spermatozoa with cytoplasmic droplets

In boar studs, morphological analyses are used to evaluate sperm quality and there by categorize ejaculates as either approved or rejected. Normally, morphological characteristics correlate with chromatin disorders, but studies to date have only considered the average of abnormalities; cells were not segregated as normal or abnormal. The aim of this study was to assess whether the presence of cytoplasmic droplets was associated with morphometric characteristics and chromatin instability of spermatozoa heads. Morphological analyses were performed on semen from 11 boars using phase contrast microscopy (200 cells per sample). Normal cells were differentiated from those with cytoplasmic droplets and both types were evaluated separately. Photomicrographs were acquired ofnormal spermatozoa (Group NOR, N = 1,207) as well as spermatozoa with proximal and distal cytoplasmic droplets (Group DROP, N = 725). Sperm-head morphometry and chromatin structure were evaluated using the toluidine blue technique. Spermatozoa heads in the DROP group were longer (8.37 ± 0.60 × 8.31 ± 0.53; P = 0.025), narrower (4.16 ± 0.21 × 4.19 ± 0.19; P = 0.03), And more symmetric on the sides (0.973 ± 0.012 × 0.971 ± 0.011; P = 0.007) than were spermatozoa heads of the NOR group. The DROP group also had a greater average ellipticity (0.335 ± 0.034 × 0.329 ± 0.031; P= 0.0004),a greater percentage of decondensed chromatin (2.71 ± 3.87 × 2.28 ± 1.38; P < 0.0008), and a greater chromatin heterogeneity (4.66 ± 1.40 × 4.40 ± 1.42;P < 0.0001). A greater frequency of semen collection results in a shorter period of cell maturation and this probably affected the degree of chromatin condensation and the cytoplasmic droplet migration, with concomitant effect onthe head morphometry measurements.(AU)