In this study, we propose a new stratigraphic framework for a well-preserved Paleoproterozoic succession of the Carajás Basin (Amazonian craton) in northern Brazil. A core-based facies analysis is ...coupled with a critical review of previous data on this succession. We are proposing that the studied succession, which was previously considered as a single lithostratigraphic unit called the Águas Claras Formation, consists of two different formations of Paleoproterozoic age (~2.37–2.06 Ga). The lower formation, which is composed of ~250-m-thick mudstone strata locally enriched with manganese, is formally proposed here and is designated as the Azul Formation, referring to the Azul mine, in which the type-section is described. The overlying Águas Claras Formation is redefined as a stratigraphic unit composed exclusively of an ~800-m-thick succession of sandstone and conglomerate strata. The contact between these two formations is an easily recognizable surface; thus, these formations can be accurately mapped and distinguished within the basin. We suggest that the Azul and Águas Claras formations are the stratigraphic record associated with a transgressive‒regressive sequence, in which these formations are limited one from the other by a maximum flooding zone. The Azul Formation was deposited during a marine transgression related to the latest incursion of the Azul sea towards the Carajás protocontinent. On the other hand, the overlying Águas Claras Formation was deposited in a fluvial system that developed during a period of marine regression. Whereas the marine transgression may have been influenced by the deglaciation occurred aftermath the Siderian–Rhyacian Serra Sul glaciation, the subsequent marine regression was triggered, at least in part, by uplifting related to the Transamazonian cycle (~2.0 Ga). In addition to our results shed new light on the Carajás Basin evolution, they support the hypothesis that the Azul and Águas Claras formations can be correlated with other Paleoproterozoic successions worldwide, mainly those registered in ancient landmasses that amalgamated and later formed the Columbia supercontinent during the Paleo-to Mesoproterozoic.
•We propose a new lithostratigraphic unit for the Carajás Basin.•The Azul and Águas Claras formations make up together a transgressive-regressive sequence.•The newly defined Azul Formation is the stratigraphic record associated with a marine transgression.•The Transamazonian cycle caused the regional uplift and triggered the installation of the Águas Claras fluvial system.•The Columbia supercontinent assembly promoted continentalization of the Carajás Basin.
Chemerin, acting through its receptor ChemR23, is an adipokine associated with inflammatory response, glucose and lipid metabolism and vascular function. Although this adipokine has been associated ...with the development and progression of kidney disease, it is not clear whether the chemerin/ChemR23 system plays a role in renal function in the context of diabetes. Therefore, we sought to determine whether ChemR23 receptor blockade prevents the development and/or progression of diabetic nephropathy and questioned the role of oxidative stress and Nrf2 in this process. Renal redox state and function were assessed in non-diabetic lean db/m and diabetic obese db/db mice treated with vehicle or CCX832 (ChemR23 antagonist). Renal reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which was increased in diabetic mice, was attenuated by CCX832. This was associated with an increase in Nox 4 expression. Augmented protein oxidation in db/db mice was not observed when mice were treated with CCX832.
also abrogated impaired Nrf2 nuclear activity and associated downregulation in antioxidants expression in kidneys from db/db mice. Our in vivo findings highlight the role of the redox signaling and Nrf2 system as renoprotective players during chemerin receptor blockade in diabetic mice. The chemerin/ChemR23 system may be an important target to limit renal dysfunction associated with obesity-related diabetes.
The aim of this study was to provide a detailed environmental evaluation of pigmeat production (the second most widely eaten type of meat) in Portugal, using relevant and good quality data in order ...to obtain representative results for this production sector.
Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was used for the evaluations from a cradle-to-slaughterhouse gate perspective. The system under study was divided in three subsystems: crop and feed production (S1), pigmeat production (S2) and slaughtering (S3). The production system under study considered the Best Available Techniques (BATs) for intensive rearing of pigs.
According to the results and in line with other studies, S1 was the most influential subsystem in the environmental profile (ranging from 70% to 100% depending on the impact) mainly due to agricultural activities involved in the production of feed components. Activities carried out on the pig farms (S2) were remarkable in categories such as climate change due to background processes involved in the production of electricity requirements, e.g. emissions derived from slurry management (such as CH4 and N2O), and water depletion. Slaughtering-related contributions were negligible regardless of the category assessed.
Different alternatives for the valorisation of animal by-products derived from the slaughterhouse were proposed for energy and feed production. A comparison with other related studies focused on pigmeat production was performed and no remarkable differences were identified. Thus, achievements and environmental hotspots identified in this specific case study for Portugal could be extended to the European production chain.
•Environmental burdens related with pigmeat production have been assessed in detail.•Relevant and good quality data have been managed in order to obtain representative results.•Feed and crops production subsystem is the most influential factor in the environmental profile.•Special attention must be paid on emissions derived from slurry management.•Portuguese production chain could be considered representative for European systems.
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of a probiotic and a synbiotic on the morphometric parameters of the small intestine of broiler chickens. The experiment ...was conducted on three hundred sixty, one‐day‐old female Ross 308 chicks, which were randomly selected from 20,000 birds and divided into three treatment groups (n = 120) with ten replicates per treatment. The control group (C) was fed a commercial diet, the probiotic group (PRO) was fed the same diet with an added 1% of the probiotic Lavipan® (Lactococcus lactis, Carnobacterium divergens, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae), and the synbiotic group (SYN) was fed the commercial diet with an added synbiotic: 0.8% of the prebiotic RFO (extracted from lupin seeds) and 1% Lavipan®. According to the manufacturer's data, apart from the typical probiotic action,microorganisms contained in the preparation release anti‐bacterial substances (hydrogen peroxide and bacteriocins) and, therefore, are antagonistic towards pathogenic bacteria present in the gut of animals. Supplementation took place in the first seven days of rearing, and all birds had ad libitum access to water and feed during the 42 days of the experiment. On the last day, all birds were slaughtered and samples from three segments of the small intestine were taken. Villi area, height, width and crypt depth ratios were read using Multiscan software. Synbiotic supplementation increased the BWG of broilers from first to tenth day of rearing, compared to the control group. The PRO group had improved villi morphometric parameters of the duodenum. In the jejunum and ileum, both bioactive substances improved villus width and villus surface area. Crypts were deeper in the small intestine of birds supplemented with bioactive substances, which allows greater renewal of the villi. As expected, the intestinal morphometric parameters of broiler chickens benefited from bioactive substance supplementation.
VEXAS syndrome is a recently described autoinflammatory syndrome caused by the somatic acquisition of UBA1 mutations in myeloid precursors and is frequently associated with hematologic malignancies, ...chiefly myelodysplastic syndromes. Disease presentation can mimic several rheumatologic disorders, delaying the diagnosis. We describe a case of atypical presentation resembling late-onset axial spondylarthritis, later progressing to a systemic inflammatory syndrome with chondritis, cutaneous vasculitis, and transfusion-dependent anemia, requiring high doses of steroids. Ruxolitinib was used as the first steroid-sparing strategy without response. However, azacitidine showed activity in controlling both inflammation and the mutant clone. This case raises the question of whether azacitidine’s anti-inflammatory effects are dependent on or independent of clonal control. We discuss the potential relevance of molecular remission in VEXAS syndrome and highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary team for the care of such complex patients.
Wnt signaling affects fundamental development pathways and, if aberrantly activated, promotes the development of cancers. Wnt signaling is modulated by different factors, but whether the ...mitochondrial energetic state affects Wnt signaling is unknown. Here, we show that sublethal concentrations of different compounds that decrease mitochondrial ATP production specifically downregulate Wnt/β-catenin signaling in vitro in colon cancer cells and in vivo in zebrafish reporter lines. Accordingly, fibroblasts from a GRACILE syndrome patient and a generated zebrafish model lead to reduced Wnt signaling. We identify a mitochondria-Wnt signaling axis whereby a decrease in mitochondrial ATP reduces calcium uptake into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), leading to endoplasmic reticulum stress and to impaired Wnt signaling. In turn, the recovery of the ATP level or the inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress restores Wnt activity. These findings reveal a mechanism that links mitochondrial energetic metabolism to the control of the Wnt pathway that may be beneficial against several pathologies.
Display omitted
•Mitochondrial ATP is necessary to sustain Wnt signaling•Respiratory chain complex inhibition leads to reduced calcium uptake into the ER•A defect in complex III assembly causes impairments in Wnt signaling
Wnt signaling and mitochondrial fitness are both important for cell fate. Costa et al. demonstrate that the reduction of mitochondrial ATP production leads to the induction of ER stress and, in turn, decreases canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling in vitro and in vivo.
•Direct injection stratified lean burn combustion using hydrous ethanol as fuel.•A single cylinder optical research engine was instrumented and used in this research.•Significant reduction of ...engine-out emissions and fuel consumption was achieved due to the use of lean mixtures.•Combustion analysis considering cyclic variability and combustion duration related to engine fuel conversion efficiency.•Important results and technology for the Latin America market application.
Fulfilling emission restrictions is the most challenging task considering future engine development. Stratified lean burn combustion mode associated with the use of biofuels has been widely studied to overcome current and future environmental regulation and global weather concerns. Power modulation by means of a throttle valve increases the pumping mean effective pressure with a corresponding penalty in engine fuel consumption at part load. De-throttling by means of direct injection (DI) is an attractive way of improving fuel economy and exhaust emissions at low and part load operation in spark-ignition (SI) engines. In this research, a study has been made of the investigations concerning stratified lean burn combustion in a wall-air guided type SI single cylinder optical research engine (SCORE) using Brazilian hydrous ethanol (E100) as fuel. Experiments were conducted at a constant load of 3 bar of net indicated mean effective pressure (NIMEP), for a wide range of injection, ignition and mixture formation parameters. Engine fuel conversion efficiency, combustion characteristics and emissions were evaluated for each excess air ratio (λ). Optical visualization illustrated the spray behavior and flame propagation. Specific fuel consumption and engine fuel conversion efficiency achieved an improvement of 8.1% and 2.6%, respectively, for λ = 1.4. Engine-out specific emissions were reduced by 66% for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and by 20% for total hydrocarbon (THC) and carbon dioxide (CO). A detailed combustion analysis based on in-cylinder pressure measurement was carried out and provided useful data for ethanol direct injection engine development.
Carrier water quality is one of the main characteristics for an efficient and safe spraying of pesticides. Overall related to the levels of pH and hardness. The objective was to evaluate the ...interaction between water pH and storage time of the spray, containing 2,4-D amine, 2,4-D choline and dicamba, on the visible efficacy in Ipomoea triloba, Bidens pilosa, Amaranthus viridis; and water hardness on I. triloba. Three studies were carried out in a greenhouse. Study 1 with a 3x5 factorial, which factor A being pH of 2, 6 and 10 and factor B being 0, 2, 6, 24 and 36 hours of application after the mixture. Study 2 was a 3x5 factorial for each herbicide, whith factor A being the levels of pH (2, 6 and 10) and factor B being 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours of application after the mixture. The study 3 is a 3x7 factorial, with factor A being the herbicides and factor B levels of water hardness: 0, 65, 125, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 parts per million. The pH of all solutions remained stable for 48 hours after preparation. However, did not interfere in efficacy of dicamba in I. triloba. Also, longer time between preparing the spray with 2,4-D formulations and application caused reduction efficacy on I. triloba. Also, the level of water hardness decreased control on I. triloba. The pH of carrier water did not affect efficacy of 2,4-D and dicamba on the weeds; however, longer time of the spray application reduce the visible efficacy.
RESUMO: A qualidade da água é uma das principais características para uma aplicação eficiente e segura de pesticidas. De maneira geral, a qualidade da água está relacionada aos níveis de pH e dureza. Assim, o objetivo foi avaliar a interação entre o pH da água e tempo de mistura da calda contendo os herbicidas 2,4-D amina, 2,4-D colina e dicamba, na eficácia visível em Ipomoea triloba, Bidens pilosa, Amaranthus viridis; além dos níveis de dureza da água em I. triloba. Três estudos feitos em estufa. Estudo 1 em fatorial 3x5 sendo o fator A pH de 2, 6 e 10 e o fator B 0, 2, 6, 24 e 26 horas da mistura até a aplicação. Estudo 2 em fatorial 3x5 para cada herbicida, sendo o fator A pH de 2, 6 e 10 e o fator B 0, 6, 12, 24 e 48 horas da mistura até a aplicação. Estudo 3 em fatorial 3x7 sendo o fator A os herbicidas e o fator B níveis de dureza da água: 0, 65, 125, 250, 500, 750 e 1000 partes por milhão. O pH manteve-se estável nas 48 horas. Entretanto, não interferiu na eficácia de dicamba em I. triloba. Além disso, maior tempo entre o preparo da calda com as formulações de 2,4-D e a aplicação causou redução da eficácia em I. triloba. Ainda, a dureza da água diminuiu o controle sobre I. triloba. O pH não afetou 2,4-D e dicamba sobre as plantas, entretanto, maior tempo de aplicação reduz a eficácia.
The yellow fever virus (YFV) caused a severe outbreak in Brazil in 2016-2018 that rapidly spread across the Atlantic Forest in its most populated region without viral circulation for almost 80 years. ...A comprehensive entomological survey combining analysis of distribution, abundance and YFV natural infection in mosquitoes captured before and during the outbreak was conducted in 44 municipalities of five Brazilian states. In total, 17,662 mosquitoes of 89 species were collected. Before evidence of virus circulation, mosquitoes were tested negative but traditional vectors were alarmingly detected in 82% of municipalities, revealing high receptivity to sylvatic transmission. During the outbreak, five species were found positive in 42% of municipalities. Haemagogus janthinomys and Hg. leucocelaenus are considered the primary vectors due to their large distribution combined with high abundance and natural infection rates, concurring together for the rapid spread and severity of this outbreak. Aedes taeniorhynchus was found infected for the first time, but like Sabethes chloropterus and Aedes scapularis, it appears to have a potential local or secondary role because of their low abundance, distribution and infection rates. There was no evidence of YFV transmission by Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti, although the former was the most widespread species across affected municipalities, presenting an important overlap between the niches of the sylvatic vectors and the anthropic ones. The definition of receptive areas, expansion of vaccination in the most affected age group and exposed populations and the adoption of universal vaccination to the entire Brazilian population need to be urgently implemented.
Mitochondrial diseases impair oxidative phosphorylation and ATP production, while effective treatment is still lacking. Defective complex III is associated with a highly variable clinical spectrum. ...We show that pyocyanin, a bacterial redox cycler, can replace the redox functions of complex III, acting as an electron shunt. Sub-μM pyocyanin was harmless, restored respiration and increased ATP production in fibroblasts from five patients harboring pathogenic mutations in TTC19, BCS1L or LYRM7, involved in assembly/stabilization of complex III. Pyocyanin normalized the mitochondrial membrane potential, and mildly increased ROS production and biogenesis. These in vitro effects were confirmed in both Drosophila
and in Danio rerio
, as administration of low concentrations of pyocyanin significantly ameliorated movement proficiency. Importantly, daily administration of pyocyanin for two months was not toxic in control mice. Our results point to utilization of redox cyclers for therapy of complex III disorders.
PDF
