We report on published charmonium measurements performed by ALICE, at the LHC, in Pb – Pb collisions at a center of mass energy per nucleon-nucleon collision sNN=2.76 TeV, at both mid (|y|<0.8) and ...forward (2.5<y<4) rapidities. The nuclear modification factor of inclusive J/ψ is presented as a function of the collision centrality and the J/ψ transverse momentum, pT. The variation of the J/ψ mean transverse momentum square as a function of the collision centrality is also discussed. These measurements are compared to state of the art models that include one or several of the following mechanisms: color screening of the charm quarks, statistical hadronization at the QGP phase boundary, balance between J/ψ dissociation and regeneration in the QGP, J/ψ interaction with a dense comoving medium. Results on the production of the heavier and less bound ψ(2S) meson in Pb–Pb collisions at forward-rapidity are also presented and compared to both models and measurements performed by other experiments. At mid-rapidity we also report on ALICE unique capability to separate prompt and non-prompt J/ψ production down to low pT(≥1.5 GeV/c) and thus disentangle between effects on prompt J/ψ mesons and energy loss of b quarks in the QGP.
The study investigated the longitudinal association between physical activity and the risk of long COVID in patients who recovered from COVID-19 infection.
We analyzed longitudinal data of the ...Prospective Study About Mental and Physical Health cohort, a prospective cohort study with adults living in Southern Brazil.
Participants responded to an online, self-administered questionnaire in June 2020 (wave 1) and June 2022 (wave 4). Only participants who self-reported a positive test for COVID-19 were included. Physical activity was assessed before (wave 1, retrospectively) and during the pandemic (wave 1). Long COVID was assessed in wave 4 and defined as any post-COVID-19 symptoms that persisted for at least 3 months after infection.
A total of 237 participants (75.1% women; mean age standard deviation: 37.1 12.3) were included in this study. The prevalence of physical inactivity in baseline was 71.7%, whereas 76.4% were classified with long COVID in wave 4. In the multivariate analysis, physical activity during the pandemic was associated with a reduced likelihood of long COVID (prevalence ratio PR: 0.83; 95% confidence interval CI: 0.69–0.99) and a reduced duration of long COVID symptoms (odds ratio: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.26–0.75). Participants who remained physically active from before to during the pandemic were less likely to report long COVID (PR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.58–0.95), fatigue (PR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.32–0.76), neurological complications (PR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.27–0.80), cough (PR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.22–0.71), and loss of sense of smell or taste (PR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.21–0.87) as symptom-specific long COVID.
Physical activity practice was associated with reduced risk of long COVID in adults.
Fruit shape is a key trait in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Since most studies focused on proximo-distal fruit morphology, we hypothesized that unknown QTLs for medio-lateral direction ones could ...be found analysing segregating populations where major shape genes are fixed. We examined the diversity of fruit morphology in medio-lateral direction; defined divergent traits in cultivars carrying identical genetic constitution at LC and FAS genes; and identified QTLs for lobedness degree (LD) by a QTL-seq approach. We found that LC and FAS genes were not enough to explain LD variability in a large tomato collection. Then, we derived F2 populations crossing cultivars divergent for LD where LC and FAS were fixed (Yellow Stuffer x Heinz 1439 F2YSxH and Voyage x Old Brooks F2VxOB). By QTL-seq we identified a QTL for LD on chromosome 8 in both F2, which was validated in F2YSxH by interval mapping accounting for ~ 17% of the variability. Other two QTLs located on chromosomes 6 and 11 with epistasis explained ~ 61% of the variability in the F2VxOB. In conclusion, three novel QTLs with major effect for LD (ld6, ld8, and ld11) were identified through the study of diversity and genetic segregation in intraspecific tomato crosses.
•First report about diversity in the medio-lateral direction of tomato fruits.•LC and FAS genes highly explain locule number but not lobedness degree variability.•QTL-seq was applied in two F2 populations with no segregation for FAS and LC.•Three QTLs with major effect for lobedness degree (ld6, ld8, and ld11) were mapped.•ld6 and ld11 showed epistatic interaction and accounted for ~61% of the variability.
Abstract
Heterosis occurs when the F1s outperform their parental lines for a trait. Reciprocal hybrids are obtained by changing the cross direction of parental genotypes. Both biological phenomena ...could affect the external and internal attributes of fleshy fruits. This work aimed to detect reciprocal effects and heterosis in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit quality traits and metabolite content. Twelve agronomic traits and 28 metabolites identified and estimated by 1H-NMR were evaluated in five cultivars grown in two environments. Given that the genotype component was more important than the phenotype, the traits were evaluated following a full diallel mating design among those cultivars, in a greenhouse. Hybrids showed a higher phenotypic diversity than parental lines. Interestingly, the metabolites, mainly amino acids, displayed more reciprocal effects and heterosis. Agronomic traits were more influenced by general combining ability (GCA) and metabolites by specific combining ability (SCA). Furthermore, the genetic distance between parental lines was not causally related to the occurrence of reciprocal effects or heterosis. Hybrids with heterosis and a high content of metabolites linked to tomato flavour and nutritious components were obtained. Our results highlight the impact of selecting a cultivar as male or female in a cross to enhance the variability of fruit attributes through hybrids as well as the possibility to exploit heterosis for fruit composition.
Reciprocal effects and heterosis for agronomic traits and metabolites in tomato fruits were evidenced. Hybrids with higher values of metabolites influencing tomato flavour and precursors of nutraceutical compounds were obtained.
Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe parasitic disease that has emerged as an important opportunistic condition in HIV-infected patients and whose control is impaired by inaccurate identification. ...This is mainly due to the serological tests used for VL having a reduced performance in cases of VL-HIV coinfection due to a low humoral response. In this situation, however, a positive test has even greater diagnostic value when combined with the clinical status. This study aimed to evaluate the application and performance of flow cytometry to detect anti-
antibodies in HIV-infected patients. Sera from VL/HIV coinfected patients, characterized using "gold standard" techniques, were compared with sera from healthy controls plus sera from HIV-infected individuals. The flow cytometry results were expressed as levels of IgG reactivity, based on the percentage of positive fluorescent parasites (PPFP). A ROC curve analysis of a serum titration indicated a PPFP of 1.26% as being the cutoff point to segregate positive and negative results. At the 1:2,048 dilution, with 89% sensitivity and 83% specificity, flow cytometry showed greater sensitivity in relation to the serological tests evaluated. Futhermore, flow cytometry was the only assay that positively identified all VL-HIV patients with quantified HIV load. Together, these findings suggest that flow cytometry may be used as an alternative serological approach for VL identification and as a tool to characterize the humoral response against
in HIV-infected patients.
We have developed highly interleaved zigzag-shaped electrodes for collecting charge on the readout plane of various micropattern gaseous detectors (MPGDs), including gas electron multiplier (GEM) and ...micromega detectors. An optimized zigzag pad (or strip) anode can greatly enhance charge sharing among neighboring pads compared to traditional straight strip or rectangular pad designs and as a result can deliver excellent position resolution with minimal channel count, while exhibiting a virtually uniform response across the detector. We have systematically studied the effects of varying the parameters that define the zigzag geometry using simulations and have measured several printed circuit boards (PCBs) comprising a range of zigzag designs. Recently, we have employed laser ablation to generate zigzag patterns with pad-to-pad gaps smaller than 1 mil (or 25 <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">\mu \text{m} </tex-math></inline-formula>). Reducing the gap well below the 3-mil limit imposed by traditional chemical etching has allowed the production of zigzag electrodes with unprecedentedly small feature sizes. In turn, laser-etched zigzag PCBs were shown to exhibit markedly improved performance over earlier generation PCBs, with position resolutions below 50 <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">\mu \text{m} </tex-math></inline-formula> for a 2-mm pitch. This article will explore in detail the dependence of the position resolution on the structural parameters of a zigzag-shaped anode, specifically for the case of a quadruple GEM detector.
•Compounds with the most functional groups obtained clinically relevant results.•Against SA 1199B only isoeugenol had direct antibacterial activity.•For the NorA carrier strain ...4-allyl-2-6-dimethoxyphenol, eugenol and isoeugenol potentiated the action of the antibiotic.•The docking demonstrated the hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions are key for NorA inhibition.•The 4-Allyl-2,6-dimetoxyphenol compound as a lead compound as NorA inhibitors.
Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive bacterium responsible for a number of diseases and has demonstrated resistance to conventional antibiotics. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of eugenol and its derivatives allylbenzene, 4-allylanisole, isoeugenol and 4-allyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenol against the S. aureus NorA efflux pump (EP) in association with norfloxacin and ethidium bromide. The antibacterial activity of the compounds was assessed using the broth microdilution method to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). A reduction in the MIC of ethidium bromide (a substrate for several efflux pumps) or norfloxacin was used as a parameter of EP inhibition. Molecular modeling studies were used to predict the 3D structure and analyze the interaction of selected compounds with the binding pocket of the NorA efflux pump. Except for 4-allylanisole and allylbenzene, the compounds presented clinically effective antibacterial activity. When associated with norfloxacin against the SA 1199B strain, 4-allyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenol eugenol and isoeugenol caused significant reduction in the MIC of the antibiotic, demonstrating synergistic effects. Similar effects were observed when 4-allyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenol, allylbenzene and isoeugenol were associated with ethidium bromide. Together, these findings indicate a potential inhibition of the NorA pump by eugenol and its derivatives. This in vitro evidence was corroborated by docking results demonstrating favorable interactions between 4-allyl-2,6-dimetoxypheno and the NorA pump mediated by hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. In conclusion, eugenol derivatives have the potential to be used in antibacterial drug development in strains carrying the NorA efflux pump.
•The essential oil from C. ambrosioides L. leaves potentiated the antibiotic action by inhibition of NorA efflux pumps;•The essential oil from C. ambrosioides L. leaves was innefective against the ...wild type strain;•The α-Terpinene did not show any activity.
This study was carried out to test the essential oil from C. ambrosioides leaves and its main constituent, α-Terpinene, in an antibacterial activity assay. As well, it was evaluated ability reduce resistance to norfloxacin and ethidium bromide was compared the Staphylococcus aureus 1199B whith 1199 wild type strain. The MIC of the C. ambrosioides essential oil and α-Terpinene were determined by microdilution method. The MIC of the essential oil and α-Terpinene presented a value ≥ 1024 μg/mL. However, when associated with antibacterials, the essential oil from C. ambrosioides leaves significantly reduced the MIC of antibiotics and ethidium bromide, characterizing an efflux pump inhibition. The C. ambrosioides essential oil, despite having no direct antibacterial activity against the S. aureus 1199B strain, showed a potentiating action when associated with antibacterial agents, this being attributed to an inhibition of efflux pumps.
•Widespread use of nanoparticles in marine waters is a key environmental concern.•Environmentally realistic concentrations of TiO2 Np induced moderate toxicity in gills.•After 2 h, gills demonstrated ...adaptive responses, while after 4 h recovery was clear.•Simplified ex vivo assays are reliable for assessing nanotoxicity in marine fish.•The NPs legal and logistical constraints are minimized with this approach.
The need to overcome logistic and ethical limitations of in vivo nanotoxicity evaluation in marine organisms is essential, mostly when dealing with fish. It is well established that medium/solvent conditions affect dispersion and agglomeration of nanoparticles (NPs), which represents a constraint towards a solid and realistic toxicity appraisal. In this way the pros and cons of an ex vivo approach, using a simplified exposure medium (seawater) and addressing gills histopathology, were explored. The nanotoxic potential of environmentally realistic concentrations of titanium dioxide NPs (TiO2 NPs) was also assessed, disclosing the morpho-functional effects on the gills and the possible uptake/elimination processes. Excised gills of the Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) were directly exposed in artificial seawater to 20 and 200 μg L−1 TiO2 NPs, for 2 h and 4 h. Semi-quantitative and quantitative histological analyses were applied. The normal morphology of the gill’s epithelia was only slightly altered in the control, reflecting protective mechanisms against the artificiality of the experimental conditions, which, together with the absence of differences in the global histopathological index (Ih), corroborated that the gill’s morpho-functional features were not compromised, thereby validating the proposed ex vivo approach. TiO2 NPs induced moderate severity and dissemination of histopathological lesions. After 2 h, a series of compensatory mechanisms occurred in NP treatments, implying an efficient response of the innate defense system (increasing number of goblet cells) and effective osmoregulatory ability (chloride cells proliferation). After 4 h, gills revealed signs of recovery (normalization of the number of chloride and goblet cells; similar Ih), highlighting the tissue viability and effective elimination and/or neutralization of NPs. The uptake of the TiO2 NPs seemed to be favored by the higher particle sizes. Overall, the proposed approach emerged as a high-throughput, reliable, accurate and ethically commendable methodology for nanotoxicity assessment in marine fish.
Insect–plant interactions involving species of the genus Solanum have been intensively studied, resulting in several articles on insect–plant interactions. However, the interactions between ...herbivores and the fruits of Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) are not well known. Neoleucinodes elegantalis is a borer that causes great yield losses in S. lycopersicum crops because of the direct damage that it causes to the fruits and the difficulty of controlling it. In the field, the outside of a tomato fruit infested with the larvae of N. elegantalis is visually similar to uninfested fruits. Even a minor injury by herbivores can elicit a defensive response. Due to the lack of studies on interactions between fruit borers and S. lycopersicum, our aim in this study was to determine the locations of S. lycopersicum fruit in which the N. elegantalis larvae prefer to feed. An evaluation of nutritional sources was done through histochemical and biochemical tests and the defensive response of the S. lycopersicum fruit to attack by N. elegantalis larvae was evaluated through the detection of protease inhibitors (PIs) and lipoxygenase (LOX) activity. Our results show that the columella region is preferred by the N. elegantalis larvae and that this region has a nutritional source. Furthermore, attack by N. elegantalis larvae in the columella does not induce a significant increase in lipoxygenase activity and PIs. Thus, our results provide a better understanding of the interaction between the larvae of N. elegantalis and S. lycopersicum fruits and a better understanding of the evolution of plant–herbivore interactions, with an emphasis on the choice of feeding location as a strategy to avoid plant defences.
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