The pathological importance of mixed viral infections in plants might be underestimated except for a few well-characterized synergistic combinations in certain crops. Considering that the host ranges ...of many viruses often overlap and that most plant species can be infected by several unrelated viruses, it is not surprising to find more than one virus simultaneously in the same plant. Furthermore, dispersal of the majority of plant viruses relies on efficient transmission mechanisms mediated by vector organisms, mainly but not exclusively insects, which can contribute to the occurrence of multiple infections in the same plant. Recent work using different experimental approaches has shown that mixed viral infections can be remarkably frequent, up to the point that they could be considered the rule more than the exception. The purpose of this review is to describe the impact of multiple infections not only on the participating viruses themselves but also on their vectors and on the common host. From this standpoint, mixed infections arise as complex events that involve several cross-interacting players, and they consequently require a more general perspective than the analysis of single-virus/single-host approaches for a full understanding of their relevance.
•Functional connectome development fits pubertal status better than chronological age.•Longitudinal nonlinear models overpower linear and cross-sectional approaches.•Net centrality, segregation, ...efficiency, and integration increase after puberty onset.•This increase is more prominent in attention-related functional networks.•Higher frontoparietal connectivity relates to better scores in cognitive flexibility.
Adolescence is a developmental period that dramatically impacts body and behavior, with pubertal hormones playing an important role not only in the morphological changes in the body but also in brain structure and function. Understanding brain development during adolescence has become a priority in neuroscience because it coincides with the onset of many psychiatric and behavioral disorders. However, little is known about how puberty influences the brain functional connectome. In this study, taking a longitudinal human sample of typically developing children and adolescents (of both sexes), we demonstrate that the development of the brain functional connectome better fits pubertal status than chronological age. In particular, centrality, segregation, efficiency, and integration of the brain functional connectome increase after the onset of the pubertal markers. We found that these effects are stronger in attention and task control networks. Lastly, after controlling for this effect, we showed that functional connectivity between these networks is related to better performance in cognitive flexibility. This study points out the importance of considering longitudinal nonlinear trends when exploring developmental trajectories, and emphasizes the impact of puberty on the functional organization of the brain in adolescence.
Cholera toxin (CT), a virulence factor elaborated by Vibrio cholerae, is sufficient to induce the severe diarrhea characteristic of cholera. The enzymatic moiety of CT (CtxA) increases cAMP synthesis ...in intestinal epithelial cells, leading to chloride ion (Cl−) efflux through the CFTR Cl− channel. To preserve electroneutrality and osmotic balance, sodium ions and water also flow into the intestinal lumen via a paracellular route. We find that CtxA-driven cAMP increase also inhibits Rab11/exocyst-mediated trafficking of host proteins including E-cadherin and Notch signaling components to cell-cell junctions in Drosophila, human intestinal epithelial cells, and ligated mouse ileal loops, thereby disrupting barrier function. Additionally, CtxA induces junctional damage, weight loss, and dye leakage in the Drosophila gut, contributing to lethality from live V. cholerae infection, all of which can be rescued by Rab11 overexpression. These barrier-disrupting effects of CtxA may act in parallel with Cl− secretion to drive the pathophysiology of cholera.
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•Cholera toxin disrupts Rab11/exocyst-mediated protein trafficking to cell junctions•Cholera toxin inhibits Notch signaling in Drosophila and in human intestinal cells•Elevating Rab11 rescues Ctx-induced weight loss and junctional defects in the gut•Elevating Rab11 rescues Ctx-dependent lethality of V. cholerae infection in flies
Trans‐Saharan migrants often spend a large proportion of their annual cycle wintering in the Sahel. Advances in fieldwork and tracking technology have greatly enhanced our ability to study their ...ecology in these areas. Using GPS‐tracking we aimed to investigate the little known non‐breeding movements of the lesser kestrel Falco naumanni in sub‐Saharan Africa. We segment non‐breeding tracks (n = 79 tracks by 54 individuals) into staging events (131 ± 25 days per non‐breeding cycle), itinerant movements between staging sites (11 ± 10 days), and non‐directed exploratory movements (6 ± 5 days). We then describe timing and directionality of itinerant movements by male and female kestrels throughout the non‐breeding season. Regardless of sex, lesser kestrels spent on average 89% of the non‐breeding season staging at two (range = 1–4) sites in West Africa. At the end of September, kestrels arrived along a broad front throughout the northern Sahel. By December, however, they congregated into two distinct clusters in Senegal and along the Malian–Mauritanian border. The birds stayed for longer periods and showed greater daily activity in the latter areas, compared to their first and intermediate ones. Among 24 individuals tracked along multiple annual cycles, 20 individuals consistently used the Senegalese or Malian–Mauritanian cluster. The remaining four birds either used these clusters in the 2nd or 3rd year of tracking or alternated between them across different years. The eastward and westward itinerant movements of lesser kestrels during the non‐breeding season, coupled with their tendency to cluster geographically towards the end, differ from the southward movements of other insectivorous raptors in West Africa. While 31% of Spanish lesser kestrels converged in Senegal, where roosts of > 20 000 birds are known, 68% moved into the Malian‐Mauritanian border region where more groundwork is needed.
Abstract
Monitoring compliance with environmental laws is essential to overcoming possible implementation shortfalls jeopardizing their effectiveness. Besides improving our ecological understanding ...of wildlife, remote tracking technologies also allow us to take advantage of such ecological knowledge to use wildlife as sentinels of compliance with law.
We illustrate this sentinel potential of wildlife using GPS tracking of large scavengers with complementary functional traits (i.e. 21 griffon vultures and 13 wolves) to assess compliance with EU sanitary regulations allowing livestock carcass disposal in the field.
Wildlife sentinels allowed the systematic evaluation of 489 livestock carcasses left in the field, which revealed an important mismatch between on‐paper and in‐reality implementation of these regulations. While <45% of the carcasses were placed in authorized areas, compliance with all the criteria required by the regulations on livestock carcass disposal (e.g. from carcass characteristics such as species, age or production system to its location far away from water, buildings or roads) ranged from 0% to 4.2%, with no major differences between regions with uneven implementation.
Major gaps in compliance pointed towards insufficient and over‐bureaucratized designation of scavenger feeding zones, where livestock carcass disposal is authorized. The indiscriminate nature of distance criteria from carcasses to watercourses, buildings and infrastructure further affected compliance.
Synthesis and applications
. GPS‐tagged scavengers allow the on‐ground monitoring of carcasses, the addressing of potential risks for wildlife, livestock and human health, the quantitative assessment of compliance with the law and would improve estimates of carcass availability, substantially contributing to more effective legislation enforcement. Our results show the huge potential of GPS‐tagged wildlife as sentinels for monitoring compliance to enhance the environmental rule of law.
Resumen
Evaluar el grado de cumplimiento de las normativas ambientales resulta clave a la hora de corregir posibles fallos de implementación que comprometan su efectividad. Además de mejorar nuestro conocimiento sobre la ecología de la fauna silvestre, las tecnologías de seguimiento remoto permiten utilizar a las especies silvestres como centinelas del cumplimiento de las leyes que afectan a la conservación de la naturaleza.
En este trabajo ilustramos ese potencial como especies centinelas mediante el seguimiento GPS de grandes carnívoros y aves carroñeras con rasgos funcionales complementarios. En concreto, se utilizaron 21 buitres leonados y 13 lobos para evaluar el nivel de cumplimiento de las normativas sanitarias europeas que permiten abandonar carroñas de ganado en el campo.
Con la ayuda de las especies centinelas, pudimos evaluar de forma sistemática 489 carroñas de ganado abandonadas en el campo, que revelaron una notable falta de correspondencia entre lo que recoge la normativa, y lo que se observa en la realidad. Menos del 45% de las carroñas se encontraron en áreas autorizadas, mientras que el nivel de cumplimiento simultáneo de todos los criterios requeridos por las normativas (ej. desde características como la edad, especie u origen de las carroñas hasta su ubicación lejos de puntos de agua, edificios o carreteras) osciló entre 0 y 4,2%, sin grandes diferencias entre regiones administrativas con distinta implementación.
El correcto cumplimento de las normativas se ve afectado por la insuficiente y excesivamente burocratizada designación de Zonas para la Alimentación de Especies Necrófagas, dónde se permite dejar carroñas de ganado. Las distancias de las carroñas a puntos de agua, edificios e infraestructuras limitaron aún más el cumplimiento.
Síntesis y aplicaciones
. El uso como centinelas de las especies carroñeras equipadas con dispositivos GPS permite el seguimiento de carroñas de ganado en el campo, la detección de riesgos para la fauna silvestre, el ganado y la salud humana, la valoración cuantitativa del grado de cumplimiento de la legislación, y mejoraría las estimas de carroña disponible en el campo, contribuyendo sustancialmente a una aplicación más efectiva de la normativa vigente. Nuestros resultados muestran el enorme potencial del seguimiento GPS de fauna silvestre para monitorizar el cumplimiento de la legislación ambiental y mejorar su aplicación.
Resumo
A avaliação do grau de cumprimento da legislação ambiental é fundamental para corrigir possíveis falhas de implementação que comprometam a sua eficácia. Para além de melhorar o nosso conhecimento sobre a ecologia da fauna silvestre, as tecnologias de seguimento remoto também nos permitem utilizar as espécies silvestres como sentinelas do cumprimento das leis relacionadas com a conservação da natureza e da biodiversidade.
Neste estudo, ilustramos esse potencial de espécies sentinelas utilizando o seguimento por GPS de aves necrófagas e grandes carnívoros com características funcionais complementares. Concretamente, utilizámos 21 grifos e 13 lobos para avaliar o grau de cumprimento dos regulamentos sanitários da União Europeia que permitem disponibilizar cadáveres de espécies pecuárias no campo.
Através das espécies sentinelas usadas, fomos capazes de avaliar, de forma sistemática, 489 cadáveres de espécies pecuárias abandonadas no campo, as quais revelaram um desfasamento considerável entre aquilo que está previsto nos regulamentos e o que se observa na realidade. Menos de 45% dos cadáveres foram encontrados em áreas autorizadas, enquanto o grau de cumprimento simultâneo de todos os critérios exigidos pelos regulamentos (e.g. desde características do cadáver como a espécie, a idade ou o sistema de produção, até à sua localização relativamente a pontos de água, edifícios ou estradas) variou entre 0 e 4,2%, sem grandes diferenças entre regiões administrativas com implementação distinta.
As principais falhas no cumprimento dos regulamentos estiveram relacionadas com a designação insuficiente e excessivamente burocratizada das Zonas para Alimentação de Espécies Necrófagas, onde é autorizada a disponibilização de cadáveres de espécies pecuárias. A distância dos cadáveres em relação a pontos de água, edifícios e outras infraestruturas afetou ainda mais o grau de cumprimento.
Síntese e aplicações
. O uso, como sentinelas, de espécies necrófagas equipadas com dispositivos GPS permite a monitorização de cadáveres de animais no terreno, a deteção de ameaças para a fauna silvestre, animais domésticos e saúde humana, a avaliação quantitativa do grau de cumprimento da legislação e poderia, ainda, melhorar as estimativas acerca da disponibilidade de cadáveres no campo, contribuindo substancialmente para uma aplicação mais eficaz da legislação vigente. Os nossos resultados demonstram o enorme potencial das espécies de fauna silvestre equipadas com dispositivos GPS para monitorizar o cumprimento da legislação ambiental e melhorar a sua aplicação.
A two‐week‐long intervention study was performed in two classrooms in an elementary school in Costa Rica. Split‐cooling air‐conditioning (AC) units were installed in both classrooms. During the first ...week, the air temperature was reduced in one classroom while in the other (placebo) classroom the fans were operated but no cooling was provided. During the second week, the conditions were exchanged to create a 2 × 2 crossover design in which each pupil was their own control. A total of 37 children performed tasks similar to school work and completed questionnaires reporting their thermal sensation and perceptions. Operating the AC units reduced classroom temperature by about 5 K, from about 30 to 25°C. Thermal sensations changed from hot to neutral and slightly cold, and the percentage of children rating the thermal conditions as acceptable increased significantly. Neutral temperature was estimated to be about 27°C. The 11‐year‐old children performed the language and logical‐thinking tasks significantly better in terms of speed at the lower temperature, while the less able pupils performed better on all tasks at the lower temperature. There were no significant effects on accuracy. These results confirm published findings from moderate climates and extend their validity to the tropics. They indicate that acclimatization can increase the optimal temperature for learning.
Demyelination and axonal damage are critical processes in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines elicited by inflammation mediates tissue damage.
...To monitor the demyelination and axonal injury associated with microglia activation we employed a model using cerebellar organotypic cultures stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Microglia activated by LPS released pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα), and increased the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This activation was associated with demyelination and axonal damage in cerebellar cultures. Axonal damage, as revealed by the presence of non-phosphorylated neurofilaments, mitochondrial accumulation in axonal spheroids, and axonal transection, was associated with stronger iNOS expression and concomitant increases in ROS. Moreover, we analyzed the contribution of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress in demyelination and axonal degeneration using the iNOS inhibitor ethyl pyruvate, a free-scavenger and xanthine oxidase inhibitor allopurinol, as well as via blockage of pro-inflammatory cytokines using a Fc-TNFR1 construct. We found that blocking microglia activation with ethyl pyruvate or allopurinol significantly decreased axonal damage, and to a lesser extent, demyelination. Blocking TNFα significantly decreased demyelination but did not prevented axonal damage. Moreover, the most common therapy for MS, interferon-beta, was used as an example of an immunomodulator compound that can be tested in this model. In vitro, interferon-beta treatment decreased oxidative stress (iNOS and ROS levels) and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines after LPS stimulation, reducing axonal damage.
The model of neuroinflammation using cerebellar culture stimulated with endotoxin mimicked myelin and axonal damage mediated by the combination of oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines. This model may both facilitate understanding of the events involved in neuroinflammation and aid in the development of neuroprotective therapies for the treatment of MS and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Background
The life expectancy of people with Down syndrome (DS) is limited by Alzheimer's disease (AD)‐related deaths, mainly due to respiratory infections. The emergence of the COVID‐19 pandemic ...could have changed known, past trends in mortality in this population. We analysed the differences in causes of mortality between individuals with DS deceased before and after the onset of the pandemic.
Method
This is a cross‐sectional study of adults with DS recruited at a tertiary, university outpatient clinic in Madrid, Spain. Demographic and clinical data were retrospectively collected from their medical records, including information on their deaths, if any.
Results
Five hundred seventy‐two adults were included in the study, and 67 (11.7%) died. The main cause of death was respiratory infections, which occurred in 36 participants 9 (45.0%) before, and 27 (58.7%) after the appearance of COVID‐19. No significant differences were found in the determinants of pre‐pandemic and post‐pandemic death after adjusting for age and AD, except for an association between the use of psychotropic medication and death in the post‐pandemic period (odds ratio: 2.24; 95% confidence interval: 1.04–4.82). Vaccination against COVID‐19 showed a marked protective effect against mortality (odds ratio: 0.0002; 95% confidence interval: 6.7e10−6 to 0.004).
Conclusions
The appearance of COVID‐19 has not impacted the overall trend of increase in mean age of death of adults with DS in our milieu, probably thanks to the very important protective effect of vaccination, which supports prioritising people with DS in future immunisation campaigns. The association between psychotropic medication use and mortality requires further exploration.
The short form, 17-item version of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-Youth Self-Report (PSC-17-Y) is a validated measure that assesses psychosocial problems overall (OVR) and in 3 major ...psychopathological domains (internalizing, externalizing, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), taking 5-10 min to complete. Prior research has established sound psychometric properties of the PSC-17-Y for English speakers.
This study extends psychometric evidence for the acceptability of the PSC-17-Y in a large sample of Spanish adolescents, providing proof of its reliability and structure, convergent and discriminant validity, and longitudinal and gender invariance.
Data were collected on 5430 adolescents, aged 12-18 years, who filled out the PSC-17-Y twice during 2018-2019 (7-month interval). We calculated the Cronbach alpha and the McDonald omega coefficients to test reliability, the Pearson correlation for convergent (distress) and criterion validity (well-being, quality of life, and socioemotional skills), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for structure validity, and multigroup and longitudinal measurement invariance analysis for longitudinal and gender stability.
Within structural analysis for the PSC-17-Y, CFA supported a correlated 3-factor solution, which was also invariant longitudinally and across gender. All 3 subscales showed evidence of reliability, with coefficients near or above .70. Moreover, scores of PSC-17-Y subscales were positively related with convergent measures and negatively related with criterion measures. Normative data for the PSC-17-Y are presented in the form of percentiles (75th and 90th).
This work provides the first evidence of the reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the PSC-17-Y administered over the internet to assess mental health problems among adolescents, maintaining the same domains as the long version.
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