People rely on intuitive knowledge about persuasion to cope with persuasion attempts motivated by self-interest. Because this knowledge associates persuasive intent with low trustworthiness, ...identifying the communicator as an agent with ulterior motives tends to reduce trust in the communicator. Three studies suggest that the extent to which people call on this association to assess a persuasion agent depends on whether the agent’s message challenges or reinforces their prior attitudes. Challenged attitudes motivate people to use the negative association between persuasive intent and trustworthiness, whereas reinforced attitudes lead people to neglect it. However, prior attitudes do not affect people’s capacity to detect cues of ulterior motives and develop an awareness of the persuasive intent. Thus, recipients of persuasive messages that support their prior beliefs trust persuasion agents despite being aware of the agents’ ulterior motives. This seems to be a byproduct of people’s motivation to preserve a sense of self-integrity.
Calsenilin is a calcium ion (Ca
2+
)-binding protein involved in regulating the intracellular concentration of Ca
2+
, a second messenger that controls multiple cellular signaling pathways. The ...ryanodine receptor (RyR) amplifies Ca
2+
signals entering the cytoplasm by releasing Ca
2+
from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stores, a process termed calcium-induced calcium release (CICR). Here, we describe a novel mechanism, in which calsenilin controls the activity of neuronal RyRs. We show calsenilin co-localized with RyR2 and 3 in the ER of mouse hippocampal and cortical neurons using immunocytochemistry. The underlying protein-protein interaction between calsenilin and the RyR was determined in mouse central nervous system (CNS) neurons using immunoprecipitation studies. The functional relevance of this interaction was assayed with single-channel electrophysiology. At low physiological Ca
2+
concentrations, calsenilin binding to the cytoplasmic face of neuronal RyRs decreased the RyR’s open probability, while calsenilin increased the open probability at high physiological Ca
2+
concentrations. This novel molecular mechanism was studied further at the cellular level, where faster release kinetics of caffeine-induced Ca
2+
release were measured in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells overexpressing calsenilin. The interaction between calsenilin and neuronal RyRs reveals a new regulatory mechanism and possibly a novel pharmacological target for the control of Ca
2+
release from intracellular stores.
Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells maintain the health and functional integrity of both photoreceptors and the choroidal vasculature. Loss of RPE differentiation has long been known to play a ...critical role in numerous retinal diseases, including inherited rod-cone degenerations, inherited macular degeneration, age-related macular degeneration, and proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Recent studies in post-mortem eyes have found upregulation of critical epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) drivers such as TGF-β, Wnt, and Hippo. As RPE cells become less differentiated, they begin to exhibit the defining characteristics of mesenchymal cells, namely, the capacity to migrate and proliferate. A number of preclinical studies, including animal and cell culture experiments, also have shown that RPE cells undergo EMT. Taken together, these data suggest that RPE cells retain the reprogramming capacity to move along a continuum between polarized epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells. We propose that movement along this continuum toward a mesenchymal phenotype be defined as
RPE Dysfunction.
Potential mechanisms include impaired tight junctions, accumulation of misfolded proteins and dysregulation of several key pathways and molecules, such as TGF-β pathway, Wnt pathway, nicotinamide, microRNA 204/211 and extracellular vesicles. This review synthesizes the evidence implicating EMT of RPE cells in post-mortem eyes, animal studies, primary RPE, iPSC-RPE and ARPE-19 cell lines.
Rhynchophorus palmarum (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a significant agricultural pest in palm plantations across tropical America, playing a critical role as a vector of the fungus Thielaviopsis ...paradoxa, which is the causative agent of stem bleeding disease in coconut palms. This disease has raised concerns due to its rapid spread and subsequent reduction in coconut production in northeastern Brazil. Additionally, this insect can establish mutualistic interactions with various fungi, including saprophytic, phytopathogenic, and entomopathogenic fungi, underscoring the importance of identifying its external mycobiota. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of T. paradoxa in the digestive tract and identify the cultivable mycobiota associated with the carapace of R. palmarum. To achieve this, a mycological study was conducted by culturing the external surface and digestive tract of field-caught adult insects (10 males and 10 females) on potato dextrose agar (PDA) in Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil. Fungal identification was performed by correlating microscopic features with the macroscopic characteristics of the obtained colonies. The results showed that T. paradoxa was detected in 15.0% of carapace isolates but was not found in the insects' intestinal tract. Additionally, nine fungal genera frequently associated with saprophytic or phytopathogenic behaviors were identified on the carapace. Eight of these genera belong to the Ascomycota phylum, while one is classified in the Basidiomycota phylum. The ubiquitous presence of Paecilomyces spp. and the occurrence of Trichosporon spp. in 95% of the assessed insects stand out. Furthermore, other potentially phytopathogenic fungi such as Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp., and Aspergillus spp., as well as fungi with entomopathogenic potential like Paecilomyces spp., Trichoderma spp., Metarhizium spp., and Beauveria bassiana, were detected. These findings enhance the understanding of the complex interactions between R. palmarum and its fungal hosts, providing insights for integrated pest management strategies.
Neurodegenerative retinal diseases, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, involve a gradual loss of neurons in the retina as the disease progresses. Central nervous system neurons are not able ...to regenerate in mammals, therefore, an often sought after course of treatment for neuronal loss follows a neuroprotective or regenerative strategy. Neuroprotection is the process of preserving the structure and function of the neurons that have survived a harmful insult; while regenerative approaches aim to replace or rewire the neurons and synaptic connections that were lost, or induce regrowth of damaged axons or dendrites. In order to test the neuroprotective effectiveness or the regenerative capacity of a particular agent, a robust experimental model of retinal neuronal damage is essential. Zebrafish are being used more often in this type of study because their eye structure and development is well-conserved between zebrafish and mammals. Zebrafish are robust genetic tools and are relatively inexpensive to maintain. The large array of functional and behavioral tests available in zebrafish makes them an attractive model for neuroprotection studies. Some common insults used to model retinal disease and study neuroprotection in zebrafish include intense light, chemical toxicity and mechanical damage. This review covers the existing retinal neuroprotection and regeneration literature in the zebrafish and highlights their potential for future studies.
Biofuels world production has increased sharply in recent years. Oil reserves depletion, the oil high price and the confidence in biofuels “carbon neutrality” are the main causes of this phenomenon. ...However, claims related to the negative consequences of biofuel programs are frequent; mainly those related to the biofuels/food competition and sustainability. This paper aims to contribute for the development of a framework for sustainability indicators as a tool for performance assessment. The most used indicators to measure the biofuels sustainability are: Life Cycle Energy Balance (LCEB), quantity of fossil energy substituted per hectare, co-product energy allocation, life cycle carbon balance and changes in soil utilization. On the other hand, existing assessment tools, such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Integrated Environmental Assessment (IEA), are compared emphasizing their advantages and disadvantages. Main constraints related to the studied frontiers, as well as the lack of reliable data and their effects are also discussed. Discussions are held on the basis of real life cycle studies carried out by the authors about palm oil biodiesel and different alternatives for the stillage treatment and disposal. Finally, suggestions and recommendations are made to improve existing methodologies for biofuels sustainability evaluation, all this from a south perspective.
The present work is devoted to the study of polymer/layered silicate nanocomposite (PLN) of alginate-bentonite as a bead matrix for the entomopathogenic fungus
Beauveria bassiana
strain CPATC032. In ...particular, we investigate the encapsulation efficiency and surface morphology of beads presenting different concentrations of bentonite, where the effects associated with the drying method of the samples were analyzed. The internal structure of alginate-bentonite beads are studied by means of X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, determining the impact of the drying process on the crystalline structure of bentonite domains inside the polymeric matrix. By using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and fluorescence microscopy techniques, we identify a monolithic distribution profile for beads inside the PLN matrix, which is independent of the concentration of bentonite and of the drying method employed. However, our results demonstrated that the
in vitro
release of the fungus is sensitive to the bead preparation method due to the emergence of a barrier phenomenon as the concentration of silicate is increased. Swelling degree and release kinetics were also investigated, where a strong dependence on the drying method was observed.
The present manuscript brings new information regarding the advantages of the encapsulation of
B. bassiana
in alginate matrices containing bentonite, such as conidia protection, swelling degree, and release kinetics.
In a group of patients admitted for unstable angina, we investigated whether C-reactive protein (CRP) plasma levels remain elevated at discharge and whether persistent elevation is associated with ...recurrence of instability.
We measured plasma levels of CRP, serum amyloid A protein (SAA), fibrinogen, total cholesterol, and Helicobacter pylori and Chlamydia pneumoniae antibody titers in 53 patients admitted to our coronary care unit for Braunwald class IIIB unstable angina. Blood samples were taken on admission, at discharge, and after 3 months. Patients were followed for 1 year. At discharge, CRP was elevated (>3 mg/L) in 49% of patients; of these, 42% had elevated levels on admission and at 3 months. Only 15% of patients with discharge levels of CRP <3 mg/L but 69% of those with elevated CRP (P<0.001) were readmitted because of recurrence of instability or new myocardial infarction. New phases of instability occurred in 13% of patients in the lower tertile of CRP (</=2.5 mg/L), in 42% of those in the intermediate tertile (2.6 to 8.6 mg/L), and in 67% of those in the upper tertile (>/=8.7 mg/L, P<0.001). The prognostic value of SAA was similar to that of CRP; that of fibrinogen was not significant. Chlamydia pneumoniae but not Helicobacter pylori antibody titers significantly correlated with CRP plasma levels.
In unstable angina, CRP may remain elevated for at >/=3 months after the waning of symptoms and is associated with recurrent instability. Elevation of acute-phase reactants in unstable angina could represent a hallmark of subclinical persistent instability or of susceptibility to recurrent instability and, at least in some patients, could be related to chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection.
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