The cultivation of sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas Lam (Solanales: Convolvulaceae), is important for food security. Roots and vines of sweet potato are food for humans and animals and industrial raw ...materials. Sweet potato plants produce phytoalexins, latex and terpenoids with antibiosis effect, but insect pests can damage this plant. The leaf-mining microlepidoptera Bedellia somnulentella (Zeller, 1847) (Lepidoptera: Bedelliidae) is native to Eurasia and one of the main insect pests of the aerial part of sweet potato plants. Here, Cabral and Zanuncio discuss the predation of B. somnulentella caterpillars and pupae by P. sylveirae on sweet potato plants.
In 2019, the Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) virus was identified, also defined as novel coronavirus or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The Corona VIrus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic ...generated several changes in society in 2020 as a result of its rapid spread in humans. The main symptoms are high fever (greater than or equal to 37.8 degreesC), dry cough, dyspnea, upper respiratory symptoms, myalgia, fatigue and diarrhea in the most uncommon cases. Considering the emergency situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects attributed to it, rehabilitation professionals have a fundamental role in the functional recovery of patients, independence and improvement of quality of life. This is a systematic review of the literature, with the aim of discussing the main findings on physical therapy management in functional changes in post-COVID-19 patients. Pubmed, Scielo, Sciencedirect, BVS and PEDro databases were used. The terms MESH/DECs used for the searches were: Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy Modalities, Covid-19, Post-acute Syndromes COVID-19 and Physical Fitness, the keywords were also used: rehabilitation, physiotherapy, Covid-19, post- acute syndrome COVID-19 and functional capacity. To cross the terms, Boolean operators (AND and OR) were used. Randomized trials, recommendations, quasi-randomized or prospective controlled trials, reports, guidelines, and field updates were included. As for the selected population, studies were included in individuals of both sexes, with no age restriction, that evaluated physiotherapeutic interventions in patients who had COVID-19. Literature reviews, case studies, conferences, abstracts of articles published in conference proceedings and letters to the editor were excluded from the research. To measure methodological quality, the PEDro scale was used.Searches for articles were performed restricting the period of publication between the years 2019 to 2022. The electronic search strategy identified a total of 364 records from the selected databases. After screening for duplicates, 14 articles were excluded, followed by screening by titles and abstracts, another 298 articles were excluded, of these 47 potentially relevant records were submitted to full text review and of these 5 randomized clinical trials were included in this review. In view of the findings of this study, it can be concluded that physical therapy rehabilitation should continue after hospital discharge, with the aim of improving physical performance and activities of daily living (ADL) in post-COVID-19 patients.
We extend the simulation results in Santos Silva and Tenreyro (2006, The log of gravity, The Review of Economics and Statistics, 88, 641–658) by considering a novel data-generating process. Our ...results confirm that the Poisson pseudo-maximum likelihood estimator is generally well behaved, even when the proportion of zeros in the sample is very large.
► The Poisson PML estimator is well behaved in datasets with many zeros. ► The performance of the Poisson PML estimator varies little with the proportion of zeros. ► Data are generated as a finite mixture of gamma random variables. ► Zeros are obtained when the number of components in the mixture is zero. ► This is compatible with trade models with a finite number of firms and few exporters.
STING (stimulator of interferon genes) is a cytosolic sensor for cyclic dinucleotides and also an adaptor molecule for intracellular DNA receptors. Although STING has important functions in the host ...defense against pathogens and in autoimmune diseases, its physiological relevance in intestinal homeostasis is largely unknown. In this study, we show that STING
mice presented defective protective mechanisms of intestinal mucosa, including decreased number of goblet cells, diminished mucus production, and lower levels of secretory IgA, when compared with wild-type (WT) mice. Fecal content and microbiota DNA could activate STING, indicating a role of this molecule in gut. Microbiota composition was altered in STING
mice toward a more inflammatory profile, evidencing a reduction in the Allobacolum and Bifidobacterium groups along with increase in Disulfovibrio bacteria. Absence of STING lead to decrease in induced intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) and to increase in group 1 innate lymphoid cell (ILC1) as well as ILC3 frequencies and decrease in ILC2 in the colon. Development and function of Foxp3+ and LAP+ regulatory T cells were also compromised in STING
mice. Moreover, these mice were highly susceptible to dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis, T-cell-induced colitis, and enteric Salmonella typhimurium infection when compared with WT animals. Therefore, our results identify an important role of STING in maintaining gut homeostasis and also a protective effect in controlling gut inflammation.
Sheep milk has a high nutritional value and high concentrations of proteins, fats, minerals, and vitamins, as compared to the milks of other domestic species. The physicochemical and nutritional ...characteristics of sheep milk can be advantageous for the manufacture of products containing prebiotic ingredients and/or probiotic bacteria, which are major categories in the functional food market. Following this technological trend, this review will address the characteristics and advantages of sheep milk as a potentially functional food, as well as the development of sheep milk dairy products containing prebiotics and/or probiotics.
To identify individual characteristics associated with outcomes following combined first-line interventions for knee osteoarthritis.
MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection and the ...Cochrane library were searched. Studies were included if they reported an association between baseline factors and change in pain or function following combined exercise therapy, osteoarthritis education, or weight management interventions for knee osteoarthritis. Risk of bias was assessed using Quality in Prognostic Factor Studies. Data was visualised and a narrative synthesis was conducted for key factors (age, sex, BMI, comorbidity, depression, and imaging severity).
32 studies were included. Being female compared to male was associated with 2-3 times the odds of a positive response. Older age was associated with reduced odds of a positive response. The effect size (less than 10% reduction) is unlikely to be clinically relevant. It was difficult to conclude whether BMI, comorbidity, depression and imaging severity were associated with pain and function outcomes following a combined first-line intervention for knee osteoarthritis. Low to very low certainty evidence was found for sex, BMI, depression, comorbidity and imaging severity and moderate certainty evidence for age. Varying study methods contributed to some difficulty in drawing clear conclusions.
This systematic review found no clear evidence to suggest factors such as age, sex, BMI, OA severity and presence of depression or comorbidities are associated with the response to first-line interventions for knee OA. Current evidence indicates that some groups of people may respond equally to first-line interventions, such as those with or without comorbidities. First-line interventions consisting of exercise therapy, education, and weight loss for people with knee OA should be recommended irrespective of sex, age, obesity, comorbidity, depression and imaging findings.
The high levels of microplastics (MPs) found in freshwaters, particularly in riverine sediments, may impose a threat to the macroinvertebrate communities with possible consequences at ...ecosystem-level. The present study aimed to assess the effects of a mixture of different sizes of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) on the composition and structure of macroinvertebrate communities and key-functions, such as primary production and leaf litter decomposition. MPs were mixed in the sediment at three different concentrations (0.1, 1, and 10 g kg-1) already found in freshwater sediments to enhance the relevance of the work. After eight days of exposure to PE-MPs, the observed changes in macroinvertebrate community structure were mostly due to the reduction in the abundance of deposit-feeders and grazers that were reduced by ca 31-50% and 34-39%, in the two highest MPs concentrations respectively, in comparison with the control treatment after 8 days of exposure. MPs internal concentrations were detected only in organisms exposed to plastic particles within artificial streams with chironomids and mayflies presenting higher MPs internal levels (average of 115 particles/individual found in chironomids, 166/individual for Baetis sp. and 415 particles/individual for Ephemerella sp.) suggesting higher ingestion of plastic microparticles. Nevertheless, the alterations in the community structure did not translate into impairments in the functional endpoints analysed, leaf litter decomposition and primary production, that were expected due to possible sub-lethal effects (e.g., feeding inhibition) on detritivores and grazers.
This study represents one of the few assessments of MPs effects on freshwater benthic macroinvertebrate community structure and the first that simultaneously considered ecosystem-level functional endpoints. Further research combining different microplastics and longer exposure periods are needed to raise knowledge on potential ecological consequences of MPs to freshwaters.
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•Ecological effects of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) were examined in indoor mesocosms.•PE-MPs exposure induced alterations in benthic macroinvertebrate community structure.•Higher Internal concentrations of PE-MPs detected for deposit-feeders and grazers.•Leaf litter decomposition and primary production were not significantly altered by PE-MPs in sediments.
A number of novel, water-stable redox-active cobalt complexes of the C-functionalized tripodal ligands tris(pyrazolyl)methane XC(pz)(3) (X = HOCH(2), CH(2)OCH(2)Py or CH(2)OSO(2)Me) are reported ...along with their effects on DNA. The compounds were isolated as air-stable solids and fully characterized by IR and FIR spectroscopies, ESI-MS(+/-), cyclic voltammetry, controlled potential electrolysis, elemental analysis and, in a number of cases, also by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. They showed moderate cytotoxicity in vitro towards HCT116 colorectal carcinoma and HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma human cancer cell lines. This viability loss is correlated with an increase of tumour cell lines apoptosis. Reactivity studies with biomolecules, such as reducing agents, H(2)O(2), plasmid DNA and UV-visible titrations were also performed to provide tentative insights into the mode of action of the complexes. Incubation of Co(II) complexes with pDNA induced double strand breaks, without requiring the presence of any activator. This pDNA cleavage appears to be mediated by O-centred radical species.
Genus and species of phlebotomine sand flies have been recorded and described in caves in Brazil, but no study has provided the food source used by sand flies in these environments. Herein, we ...identified the blood source used by sand fly species in caves located at “Quadrilátero Ferrífero” (QF), Minas Gerais state. Specimens were manually collected near or on anurans inside ferruginous caves in Serra do Gandarela National Park and Serra do Rola Moça State Park. Males and females were placed in vials with 70% alcohol and stored at −10°C. Females engorged, after specific identification, had DNA extracted and followed for PCR amplification using specific primers. Sequencing was analyzed in the GenBank and Barcode of Life. A total of 198 specimens were collected (107 females and 91 males), all of them belonging to species
Sciopemyia aff. microps
(88.89%),
Sciopemyia sordellii
(10.61%), or
Martinsmyia oliveirai
(0.50%)
.
When it comes to the females, 89 were
S. aff. microps
and 18
S. sordellii.
Nineteen engorged females of
S. aff. microps
were analyzed and most of them (
n
=18) presented blood from
Bokermannohyla martinsi
and one contained blood from
Scinax fuscovarius
. The blood present in engorged females of
S. sordellii
(
n
=4) was from
B. martinsi. Sciopemyia
genus specimens are commonly found in collections carried out inside natural caves, but this was the first study to prove that females of this genus feed on cold-blooded animals in nature.
Highlights
•
Here we proved that sand flies feed in cold-blooded animals in in Brazilian caves.
•
Females of the
Sciopemyia
genus were for the first time found feeding in natural habitats.
•
Anurans of the family Hylidae were identified as source by molecular analyzes.
•
Insect bloodmeal identification can help assessing the fauna in several biomes.
•
This is the first record of
S. aff. microps
in caves of Brazil.
The enthalpies of formation in the gaseous phase of methyl 3-methylanthranilate and methyl 5-methylanthranilate were determined from experimental measurements of the corresponding standard energies ...of combustion, obtained from combustion calorimetry, and the standard enthalpies of vaporization and sublimation, obtained from Calvet microcalorimetry and Knudsen mass-loss effusion. A computational study, using the G3(MP2)//B3LYP composite method, has also been performed for the calculation of the gas-phase standard enthalpies of formation of those two molecules at T = 298.15 K, as well as for the remaining isomers, methyl 4-methylanthranilate and methyl 6-methylanthranilate. The results have been used to evaluate and analyze the energetic effect of the methyl substituent in different positions of the ring.
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