Regulation of seed dormancy by histone post-translational modifications in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana.

Plants synchronize their growth and development with environmental changes, which is critical for their survival. Among their life cycle transitions, seed germination is key for ensuring the survival and optimal growth of the next generation. However, even under favorable conditions, often germination can be blocked by seed dormancy, a regulatory multilayered checkpoint integrating internal and external signals. Intricate genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlie seed dormancy establishment, maintenance, and release. In this review, we focus on recent advances that shed light on the complex mechanisms associated with physiological dormancy, prevalent in seed plants, with Arabidopsis thaliana serving as a model. Here, we summarize the role of multiple epigenetic regulators, but with a focus on histone modifications such as acetylation and methylation, that finely tune dormancy responses and influence dormancy-associated gene expression. Understanding these mechanisms can lead to a better understanding of seed biology in general, as well as resulting in the identification of possible targets for breeding climate-resilient plants.

Crise, austeridade fiscal e insegurança alimentar: fatores associados, tendências e distribuição espacial via PNAD e POF / Crisis, austeridad fiscal e inseguridad alimentaria: factores asociados, tendencias y distribución espacial vía PNAD y POF / Crisis, fiscal austerity and food insecurity: associated factors, trends and spatial distribution via PNAD and POF

Resumo O estudo visa identificar e analisar fatores associados à insegurança alimentar (IA), as tendências e a distribuição espacial para estratos geográficos. Investigou-se a hipótese de piora do desfecho de IA grave nos domicílios, medido pela Escala Brasileira de Insegurança Alimentar (EBIA), como efeito da crise e/ou da política de austeridade. O artigo envolve estudos com desenho transversal para análises seccionais e ecológico misto de tendências espaço-temporais, a partir de quatro inquéritos nacionais do IBGE. Adotou-se procedimento de calibração dos pesos segundo distribuição por sexo e faixa etária e métodos de estimação e modelagem que incorporam efeitos do desenho amostral. A regressão de Poisson com estimação robusta de variância foi empregada para estimar razões de prevalências de IA grave em nível etiológico. Para o nível ecológico, empregou-se duas abordagens de modelagem multinível para medidas repetidas de estratos: regressão múltipla log-log para associações; e modelagem de splines para estimação de tendências. Os achados apontam impactos da austeridade adotada, com mudanças de tendências no Programa Bolsa Família e reflexos sobre o aumento da IA grave. Projeta-se o aumento da IA e afastamento do alcance do objetivo nº 2 dos ODS em 2030 pelo Brasil, a despeito do sucesso obtido em 2014 para o ODM nº 1.

Resumen Este estudio tiene como objetivo identificar y analizar factores asociados a la inseguridad alimentaria (IA), tendencias y distribución espacial por estratos geográficos. Se investigó la hipótesis de un deterioro del resultado de IA grave en los hogares, medido por la Escala Brasileña de Inseguridad Alimentaria (EBIA), como efecto de la crisis o de la política de austeridad. El artículo involucra estudios con diseño transversal para análisis ecológicos transversales y mixtos de tendencias espacio-temporales, basados ​​en cuatro encuestas nacionales del IBGE. Se adoptó un procedimiento de calibración de los pesos según distribución por sexo y grupo de edad y métodos de estimación y modelación que incorporan efectos del diseño muestral. Se utilizó la regresión de Poisson con estimación robusta de la varianza para estimar los índices de prevalencia de IA grave a nivel etiológico. Para el nivel ecológico, se utilizaron dos enfoques de modelado multinivel para mediciones repetidas de estratos: regresión múltiple log-log para asociaciones y modelado Splines para estimación de tendencias. Los hallazgos apuntan a los impactos de la austeridad adoptada, con cambios en las tendencias del Programa Bolsa Familia e impactos en el aumento de la IA severa. Se proyecta que Brasil aumentará la IA y se alejará de alcanzar el objetivo N°2 de los ODS en 2030, a pesar del éxito alcanzado en 2014 para el ODM nº1.

Abstract This study aims to identify and analyse factors associated with food insecurity (FI), trends and spatial distributions for geographical strata. The hypothesis of worsening of the outcome of severe FI, measured by the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (EBIA) in households, as an effect of the crisis and/or the austerity policy, was investigated. The article involves studies with cross-sectional design and mixed ecological for spatio-temporal trends, based on 4 national IBGE surveys. A weight calibration procedure to match population distribution by gender and age group was adopted, as well as estimation and modelling methods that incorporate effects of the sample design. Poisson regression with robust estimation of variance was used to estimate prevalence ratios of severe FI at the etiological level. For the ecological level, two multilevel modelling approaches were employed for repeated measurements of strata: multiple log-log regression for associations; and modelling of splines for trend estimation. The findings point to impacts of the austerity policy adopted, with changes in trends in the Programa Bolsa Família - PBF (Family Benefit Programme - FBP) and on the increase in severe FI. It is projected that there will be an increase in FI and a shortfall in relation to achievement of the SDG no. 2 in 2030 by Brazil, despite the success obtained in 2014 for MDG no. 1.

NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome participates in macrophage responses to Trypanosoma cruzi by a mechanism that relies on cathepsin-dependent caspase-1 cleavage.

Inflammasomes are large protein complexes that, once activated, initiate inflammatory responses by activating the caspase-1 protease. They play pivotal roles in host defense against pathogens. The well-established role of NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome in bacterial infections involves NAIP proteins functioning as sensors for their ligands. However, recent reports have indicated the involvement of NLRC4 in non-bacterial infections and sterile inflammation, even though the role of NAIP proteins and the exact molecular mechanisms underlying inflammasome activation in these contexts remain to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the activation of the NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome in response to Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan parasite responsible for causing Chagas disease. This parasite has been previously demonstrated to activate NLRP3 inflammasomes. Here we found that NAIP and NLRC4 proteins are also required for IL-1ß and Nitric Oxide (NO) release in response to T. cruzi infection, with their absence rendering macrophages permissive to parasite replication. Moreover, Nlrc4 -/- and Nlrp3 -/- macrophages presented similar impaired responses to T. cruzi, underscoring the non-redundant roles played by these inflammasomes during infection. Notably, it was the live trypomastigotes rather than soluble antigens or extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by them, that activated inflammasomes in a cathepsins-dependent manner. The inhibition of cathepsins effectively abrogated caspase-1 cleavage, IL-1ß and NO release, mirroring the phenotype observed in Nlrc4 -/-/Nlrp3 -/- double knockout macrophages. Collectively, our findings shed light on the pivotal role of the NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome in macrophage responses to T. cruzi infection, providing new insights into its broader functions that extend beyond bacterial infections.

Biosynthesis of Betalains Elicited by Methyl Jasmonate in Two Species of Alternanthera Genus: Antagonistic Regulations Result in Increase of Pigments.

Natural pigments are components very important in the dye industry. The betalains are pigments found in plants from Caryophyllales order and are relevant in the food manufacturing. The main source of betalains is beetroot, which has unfavorable aftertaste. Therefore, the demand for alternative species producing betalains has increased. Elicitor molecules such as methyl jasmonate (MeJA) induce metabolic reprogramming acting in the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites and can enhance pigment concentrations. Here, we used this strategy to identify if treatment with MeJA at 100 µM can promote the accumulation of betalains and other bioactive compounds in Alternanthera philoxeroides and Alternanthera sessilis. We performed the gene expression, concentration of betalains, phenols, flavonoids, amino acids (phenylalanine and tyrosine), and antioxidant activity. The results showed that MeJA treatment increased betalains and other bioactive compounds in the two Alternanthera species but A. sessilis had a better performance. One key factor in this pathway is related to the phenylalanine and tyrosine concentration. However, the species have distinct metabolic regulation: in A. philoxeroides, high concentrations of betalain pigments increase the tyrosine concentration and gene expression (include ADH) under MeJA and in A. sessilis, high concentrations of betalain pigments reduce the gene expression and tyrosine concentration after 2 days under MeJA. This study brings new questions about betalain biosynthesis and sheds light on the evolution of this pathway in Caryophyllales.

Lysosomal cathepsins act in concert with Gasdermin-D during NAIP/NLRC4-dependent IL-1ß secretion.

The NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome is classically associated with the detection of bacterial invasion to the cytosol. However, recent studies have demonstrated that NAIP/NLRC4 is also activated in non-bacterial infections, and in sterile inflammation. Moreover, in addition to the well-established model for the detection of bacterial proteins by NAIP proteins, the participation of other cytosolic pathways in the regulation of NAIP/NLRC4-mediated responses has been reported in distinct contexts. Using pharmacological inhibition and genetic deletion, we demonstrate here that cathepsins, well known for their involvement in NLRP3 activation, also regulate NAIP/NLRC4 responses to cytosolic flagellin in murine and human macrophages. In contrast to that observed for NLRP3 agonists, cathepsins inhibition did not reduce ASC speck formation or caspase-1 maturation in response to flagellin, ruling out their participation in the effector phase of NAIP/NLRC4 activation. Moreover, cathepsins had no impact on NF-κB-mediated priming of pro-IL-1ß, thus suggesting these proteases act downstream of the NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome activation. IL-1ß levels secreted in response to flagellin were reduced in the absence of either cathepsins or Gasdermin-D (GSDMD), a molecule involved in the induction of pyroptosis and cytokines release. Notably, IL-1ß secretion was abrogated in the absence of both GSDMD and cathepsins, demonstrating their non-redundant roles for the optimal IL-1ß release in response to cytosolic flagellin. Given the central role of NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasomes in controlling infection and, also, induction of inflammatory pathologies, many efforts have been made to uncover novel molecules involved in their regulation. Thus, our findings bring together a relevant contribution by describing the role of cathepsins as players in the NAIP/NLRC4-mediated responses.

DNA Sequence and Structure under the Prism of Group Theory and Algebraic Surfaces.

Taking a DNA sequence, a word with letters/bases A, T, G and C, as the relation between the generators of an infinite group π, one can discriminate between two important families: (i) the cardinality structure for conjugacy classes of subgroups of π is that of a free group on one to four bases, and the DNA word, viewed as a substitution sequence, is aperiodic; (ii) the cardinality structure for conjugacy classes of subgroups of π is not that of a free group, the sequence is generally not aperiodic and topological properties of π have to be determined differently. The two cases rely on DNA conformations such as A-DNA, B-DNA, Z-DNA, G-quadruplexes, etc. We found a few salient results: Z-DNA, when involved in transcription, replication and regulation in a healthy situation, implies (i). The sequence of telomeric repeats comprising three distinct bases most of the time satisfies (i). For two-base sequences in the free case (i) or non-free case (ii), the topology of π may be found in terms of the SL(2,C) character variety of π and the attached algebraic surfaces. The linking of two unknotted curves-the Hopf link-may occur in the topology of π in cases of biological importance, in telomeres, G-quadruplexes, hairpins and junctions, a feature that we already found in the context of models of topological quantum computing. For three- and four-base sequences, other knotting configurations are noticed and a building block of the topology is the four-punctured sphere. Our methods have the potential to discriminate between potential diseases associated to the sequences.

Group Theory of Syntactical Freedom in DNA Transcription and Genome Decoding.

Transcription factors (TFs) are proteins that recognize specific DNA fragments in order to decode the genome and ensure its optimal functioning. TFs work at the local and global scales by specifying cell type, cell growth and death, cell migration, organization and timely tasks. We investigate the structure of DNA-binding motifs with the theory of finitely generated groups. The DNA 'word' in the binding domain-the motif-may be seen as the generator of a finitely generated group Fdna on four letters, the bases A, T, G and C. It is shown that, most of the time, the DNA-binding motifs have subgroup structures close to free groups of rank three or less, a property that we call 'syntactical freedom'. Such a property is associated with the aperiodicity of the motif when it is seen as a substitution sequence. Examples are provided for the major families of TFs, such as leucine zipper factors, zinc finger factors, homeo-domain factors, etc. We also discuss the exceptions to the existence of such DNA syntactical rules and their functional roles. This includes the TATA box in the promoter region of some genes, the single-nucleotide markers (SNP) and the motifs of some genes of ubiquitous roles in transcription and regulation.

Self-perception of oral health among tertiary-care users: quanti-qualitative analysis with chronic kidney disease patients

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a global public health challenge. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between self-perception of oral health and clinical condition among patients with CKD. This isa quanti-qualitative survey conducted in a CKD specialized service. The sample consisted of 60 patients who underwent oral examinations to have their severity of caries (DMFT) and need for dental prosthesis checked. Age, sex, time on dialysis, marital status, skin color, education and pre-existing diseases were also analyzed. Among the kidney patients who agreed to undergo the clinical examinations and showed communication skills, some were selected, and three focus groups were created, with the participation of a moderator and six to 10 kidney patients in each group. Their speeches were processed in the IRAMUTEQ software and analyzed through the similarity analysis and word cloud techniques. As for profile, the patients were aged 60.23 ± 10.87 years old; were male (73.33%); were on dialysis for 41.90 ± 56.57 months; were married (61.67%); were white (76.67%); had incomplete primary education (41.66%); had arterial hypertension (76.67%); had a DMFT index of 22.55 ± 8.39; 43.33% needed an upper complete denture; and 30.00% needed a lower complete denture. The similarity analysis revealed many doubts and uncertainties about current health services, which can be proven by the words 'no' and 'treatment'. The quanti-qualitative analysis showed a high rate of dental loss and the need for complete dentures and suggests inequities in oral health care for chronic kidney disease patients, especially in tertiary care. There was a positive representation regarding oral health, but the lexicographical analyses of the textual corpusconfirmed the self-perception of lack of dental care.

Efeitos da crise e políticas de austeridade na insegurança alimentar e na mortalidade na infância no Brasil / Effects of crisis and austerity policies on food insecurity and in mortality childhood in Brazil

Esta tese visa identificar e analisar fatores associados à insegurança alimentar (IA) e à mortalidade na infância, apontando tendências e distribuições espaciais para estratos de menores níveis de agregação possíveis que em conjunto tenham abrangência em todo o território brasileiro. As análises investigaram a hipótese de piora do desfecho de IA grave, medido pela Escala Brasileira de Insegurança Alimentar (EBIA) e desfecho de morte antes de completar 5 anos, como efeitos da crise e/ou da política de austeridade. O trabalho envolve estudos com desenhos transversais para análises seccionais e ecológico misto de tendências espaçotemporais, a partir de dados de 4 inquéritos nacionais do IBGE, dos sistemas de informações em saúde do Ministério da Saúde para os desfechos e dados das estatísticas do registro civil do IBGE, de indicadores do Programa Bolsa Família (PBF), da Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) e de outros indicadores socioeconômicos de variadas fontes, todos como exposições representantes proxies da crise e da austeridade. Para os estudos seccionais adotou-se procedimento de calibração dos pesos segundo distribuição populacional por sexo e faixa etária, assim como a aplicação de métodos de estimação e modelagem que incorporam os efeitos do desenho amostral. A regressão de Poisson com estimação robusta de variância foi empregada para estimar em nível etiológico razões de prevalências de IA grave. Para o nível ecológico, empregou-se duas abordagens de modelagem multinível para 4 ou 14 medidas repetidas de estratos ao longo de dois artigos diferentes: regressão múltipla do tipo log-log para associações e modelagem de splines cúbicas para estimação de tendências. Os achados apontam impactos da austeridade em vigor, com inflexões de tendências no PBF e ESF, com reflexos sobre o aumento da IA grave e da incidência de mortalidade na infância. Projeta-se o aumento da IA e afastamento do alcance da meta 2.1 do objetivo nº 2 dos ODS em 2030 pelo Brasil, a despeito do sucesso já alcançado em 2014 para o primeiro dos ODM. Aponta-se também que, no prosseguindo na rota austera estabelecida pela emenda do teto dos gastos, o Brasil poderá continuar caminhando em sentido oposto ao estabelecido pela meta 3.2 dos ODS, podendo não ter êxito no seu alcance em 2030.

This thesis aims to identify and analyze factors associated with Food Insecurity (FI) and childhood mortality, pointing out trends and spatial distributions for strata with the lowest possible levels of aggregation that together cover the entire Brazilian territory. The analyzes investigated the hypothesis of worsening of the severe FI outcome, measured by the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (BFIS) and death outcome before completing 5 years, as effects of the crisis and/or austerity policy. The work involves studies with cross-sectional designs for sectional and mixed ecological analysis of spatio-temporal trends, based on data from 4 national surveys by the IBGE, from the health information systems of the Ministry of Health for outcomes, and data from statistics from the civil registry from the IBGE, from indicators from the Bolsa Família Program (BFP), from the Family Health Strategy (FHS) and from other socioeconomic indicators from various sources such as exposures that are proxies representatives of the crisis and austerity. For the sectional studies, a procedure was adopted to calibrate the weights according to population distribution by sex and age group, as well as the application of estimation and modeling methods that incorporate the effects of the sample design. Poisson regression with robust variance estimation was used to estimate at the etiological level the prevalence ratios of severe FI. For the ecological level, two multilevel modeling approaches were used for 4 or 14 repeated measures of strata over two different articles: log-log multiple regression for associations; and, modeling cubic splines for trend estimation. The findings point to the impacts of the austerity in force, with inflections of trends in the BFP and FHS, with reflections on the increase in severe FI and the incidence of mortality in infancy. It is projected that FI will increase and move away from the achievement of target 2.1 of goal 2 of the SDGs in 2030 by Brazil, despite the success already achieved in 2014 for the first of the MDGs. It is also pointed out that, by continuing on the austere route established by the spending ceiling amendment, Brazil may continue to move in the opposite direction to that established by target 3.2 of the SDGs, and may not be successful in reaching it in 2030.

Importância da documentação ortodôntica para análise odontológica e rugoscópica forenses: relato de caso / Importance of orthodontic records for forensic dental and rugoscopic analysis: case report

Introdução: A perícia odontolegal para identificação humana fundamenta-se na grande variedade de caracteres individualizadores dos arcos dentais. Além disso, os elementos dentários são as estruturas mais estáveis, duras e resistentes do corpo humano. Em casos de carbonização, comumente não é viável a coleta de impressões digitais e a Odontologia Legal se torna uma alternativa rápida e de baixo custo, dispensando o exame de DNA para identificação das vítimas. Objetivo: Relatar um caso pericial em que um cadáver carbonizado foi identificado pelo método odontolegal com a utilização de documentação ortodôntica. Relato de caso: Em 2020 uma vítima de acidente automobilístico seguido de incêndio foi examinada para determinação da causa mortis e identificação humana. Exames de reconhecimento facial e papiloscópicos não puderam determinar a identidade do cadáver carbonizado. A análise odontológica permitiu constatar a presença de contenção ortodôntica na cavidade bucal do periciado. Como a Ortodontia é uma especialidade que rotineiramente produz prontuários completos, em virtude da complexidade e duração dos tratamentos, e constituindo-se em uma das melhores documentações odontológicas que o perito pode utilizar para a identificação odontolegal, aguardou-se a procura por eventuais familiares. O exame odontológico confrontou dados postmortem com exames radiográficos e fotografias intrabucais produzidas em 2012, apontando inúmeras similaridades e nenhuma incompatibilidade, o que permitiu a identificação positiva da vítima. Conclusão: A documentação ortodôntica foi de fundamental importância para a identificação rápida, segura e inconteste, tanto pela riqueza de informações contidas nas imagens e modelos de gesso, quanto por estar adequadamente arquivada com o cirurgião-dentista que assistiu a vítima em vida

Introduction: The forensic dentistry expertise for human identification is based on the wide variety of individualizing characteristics of dental arches. In addition, dental elements are the most stable, hard, and resistant structures of the human body. In cases of carbonization, fingerprinting is usually not feasible and Forensic Dentistry becomes a fast and low-cost alternative, dispensing with DNA testing to identify victims. Objective: To report an expert case in which a charred corpse was identified by the forensic dentistry method using orthodontic documentation. Case report: In 2020, a car accident victim followed by fire was examined for cause of death and human identification. Fingerprint analysis and facial recognition tests could not determine the identity of the charred corpse. The dental analysis showed the presence of orthodontic retention in the oral cavity of the expert. As Orthodontics is a specialty that routinely produces complete medical records, due to the complexity and duration of treatments, and constituting one of the best dental documentation that the expert can use for forensic dentistry identification, the search for possible family members was awaited. The dental examination compared postmortem data with radiographic exams and intraoral clinical photographs produced in 2012, pointing out numerous similarities and no incompatibilities, which allowed the positive identification of the victim. Conclusion: The orthodontic documentation was of fundamental importance for the fast, safe, and unchallenged identification, both because of the wealth of information contained in the images and plaster cast, and because it was properly filed with the dental surgeon who assisted the victim in life

The 4-Year Experience with Implementation and Routine Use of Pathogen Reduction in a Brazilian Hospital.

(1) Background: We reviewed the logistics of the implementation of pathogen reduction (PR) using the INTERCEPT Blood System™ for platelets and the experience with routine use and clinical outcomes in the patient population at the Sírio-Libanês Hospital of São Paulo, Brazil. (2) Methods: Platelet concentrate (PC), including pathogen reduced (PR-PC) production, inventory management, discard rates, blood utilization, and clinical outcomes were analyzed over the 40 months before and after PR implementation. Age distribution and wastage rates were compared over the 10 months before and after approval for PR-PC to be stored for up to seven days. (3) Results: A 100% PR-PC inventory was achieved by increasing double apheresis collections and production of double doses using pools of two single apheresis units. Discard rates decreased from 6% to 3% after PR implementation and further decreased to 1.2% after seven-day storage extension for PR-PCs. The blood utilization remained stable, with no increase in component utilization. A significant decrease in adverse transfusion events was observed after the PR implementation. (4) Conclusion: Our experience demonstrates the feasibility for Brazilian blood centers to achieve a 100% PR-PC inventory. All patients at our hospital received PR-PC and showed no increase in blood component utilization and decreased rates of adverse transfusion reactions.

Drought stress memory in rice guard cells: Proteome changes and genomic stability of DNA.

Drought is one of the major threats for crop plants among them rice, worldwide. The effects of drought vary depending on the plant growth phase and the occurrence of a previous stress, which can leave a memory of the stress. Stomata guard cells perform many essential functions and are highly responsive to hormonal and environmental stimuli. Therefore, information on how guard cells respond to drought might be useful for selecting drought tolerant plants. In this work, physiological analysis, comparative proteomics, gene expression and 5 - methylcytosine (%) analysis were used to elucidate the effects of drought in single stress event at vegetative or reproductive stage or recurrent at both stages in guard cells from rice plants. Photosynthesis and stomatal conductance decreased when drought was applied at reproductive stage in single and recurrent event. Twelve drought-responsive proteins were identified, belonging to photosynthesis pathway, response to oxidative stress, stress signalling and others. The expression of their encoding genes showed a positive relation with the protein abundance. Drought stress increased the total DNA methylation when applied at vegetative stage in single (35%) and recurrent event (18%) and decreased it in plants stressed at reproductive stage (9.8%), with respect to the levels measured in well-watered ones (13.84%). In conclusion, a first drought event seems to induce adaptation to water-deficit conditions through decreasing energy dissipation, increasing ATP energy provision, reducing oxidative damage in GC. Furthermore, the stress memory is associated with epigenetic markers.

Surrogate test performance for SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) for convalescent plasma (CCP): How useful could they be?

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 high-titer CCP selection is a concern, because neutralizing antibody (nAb) testing requires sophisticated labs and methods. Surrogate tests are an alternative for measuring nAb levels in plasma bags, including those that are pathogen-reduced. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: We studied a panel consisting of 191 samples from convalescent donors tested by nAb (CPE-VNT), obtained from 180 CCP donations (collection: March 20-January 21) and 11 negative controls, with a total of 80 and 111 serum and plasma samples (71 amotosalen/UV treated), with nAb titers ranging from negative to 10,240. Samples were blindly tested for several surrogates: one anti-RBD, two anti-spike, and four anti-nucleocapsid tests, either isolated or combined to improve their positive predictive values as predictors of the presence of high-titer nAbs, defined as those with titers ≥160. RESULTS: Except for combined and anti-IgA/M tests, all isolated surrogate tests showed excellent performance for nAb detection: sensitivity (98.3%-100%), specificity (85.7%-100%), PPV (98.9%-100%), NPV (81.3%-100%), and AUC (0.93-0.96), with a variable decrease in sensitivity and considerably lower specificity when using FDA authorization and concomitant nAb titers ≥160. All surrogates had AUCs that were statistically different from CPE-VNT if nAb≥160, including when using combined, orthogonal approaches. CONCLUSIONS: Surrogate tests (isolated or in combination) have an indirect good performance in detecting the presence of nAb, with lower sensitivity and specificity when high nAb titer samples are used, possibly accepting a considerable number of donors whose nAb titers are actually low, which should be evaluated by each laboratory responsible for CCP collection.

Stress memory of physiological, biochemical and metabolomic responses in two different rice genotypes under drought stress: The scale matters.

Drought is a pivotal cause for crop yield reductions. When subjected to recurrent external stimuli, plants can develop memory of stress responses that, eventually, enables improved plant tolerance to environmental changes. In addition, despite causal relationships, these responses may vary according to hierarchical levels of observation. Thus, this study aims to check the responses of recurrent and non-recurrent stresses in two rice genotypes observing their drought memory responses at different levels of organization, that is, on a physiological, biochemical and metabolomic scale and for end in global PCA. For this, seventy variables were measured on the scales described in order to obtain a large number of observations. The memory responses were evident in almost all scales observed. The lowland genotype, especially plants not subjected to recurrent water shortage, showed higher damage to the photosynthetic apparatus under drought conditions, although it has exhibited more evident memory response effect after rehydration. On the other hand, the upland genotype appears to be more tolerant to drought insofar lower biochemical damage was observed. Specific behaviors of each genotype at biochemical and metabolomics levels and similar behavior at physiological level were observed. This study demonstrates the importance of observation at different hierarchical levels.

Perioperative score for octogenarian patients eligible for rectal cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Colorectal cancer incidence increases with age; therefore, rectal cancer treatment in elderly patients is increasingly common. Surgery is a common rectal cancer treatment, and the risks involve complicated surgical decisions. There are currently few surgical outcome data for rectal cancer in elderly patients. The aim of this study is to identify new perioperative risk factors that could be associated with higher 30- and 180-day mortality in elderly patients in good clinical condition considering traditional perioperative risk scores and to develop a risk score. METHODS: A single-centre, retrospective cohort study was performed by reviewing the medical records of patients from the National Cancer Institute of Brazil aged 80 years or older who electively underwent rectal cancer surgery; several independent variables correlated with death from all causes at 30 and 180 days were studied. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis found new variables (CEA, albumin and reoperation) that had independent correlations with increased 30- and 180-day mortality. A clinical risk score was developed with survival profiles ranging from 29.3% to 97.2% within 30 days and 2.45% to 91.8% within 180 days. CONCLUSIONS: This score can aid in deciding whether a patient should undergo rectal cancer surgery.

Interleukin-1ß-31 (rs1143627) genetic variant and the risk of age-related macular degeneration in the Brazilian population.

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a multifactorial disease and one of the main causes of blindness in people over 50 years old. The etiology and pathophysiology of AMD are not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the rs1143627 variant allele of IL1B, which encodes Interleukin (IL)-1ß, a key cytokine, mediates immune and inflammatory responses.Methods: A case-control study was conducted with 397 AMD patients and 402 controls in Brazil. IL1B genotyping was carried out with TaqMan® genotyping assay. Differences in IL1B allele frequencies and genotypes were evaluated between patients and controls and between wet and dry subgroups of AMD. Relationships between allele presence/genotype and disease risk are reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).Results: Genotype proportions for the rs1143627 variant allele of IL1B were similar between AMD patients and controls (p = .21), with 84.38% of AMD patients and 79.60% of the controls carrying the variant allele. We observed a trend toward the variant allele being associated with AMD risk (OR = 1.38, 95% CI 0.95-2.03, p = .08), as well as a trend toward the variant allele being associated with increased risk for wet AMD in particular (OR = 1.23, 95% CI 0.96-1.56, p = .08).Conclusions: The rs1443627 variant was not associated with AMD risk in this Brazilian population sample. Larger studies are warranted to determine whether the trends observed in this study reflect a relationship between this variant and risk of AMD, especially wet AMD.

Prime-boost with Chikungunya virus E2 envelope protein combined with Poly (I:C) induces specific humoral and cellular immune responses.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an arbovirus transmitted to humans mainly by the bite of infected Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. CHIKV illness is characterized by fever and long-lasting arthritic symptoms, and in some cases it is a deadly disease. The CHIKV envelope E2 (E2CHIKV) glycoprotein is crucial for virus attachment to the cell. Furthermore, E2CHIKV is the immunodominant protein and the main target of neutralizing antibodies. To date, there is no available prophylactic vaccine or specific treatment against CHIKV infection. Here, we designed and produced a DNA vaccine and a recombinant protein containing a consensus sequence of E2CHIKV. C57BL/6 mice immunized twice with the E2CHIKV recombinant protein in the presence of the adjuvant Poly (I:C) induced the highest E2CHIKV-specific humoral and cellular immune responses, while the immunization with the homologous DNA vaccine pVAX-E2CHIKV was able to induce specific IFN-γ producing cells. The heterologous prime-boost strategy was also able to induce specific cellular and humoral immune responses that were, in general, lower than the responses induced by the homologous E2CHIKV recombinant protein immunization. Furthermore, recombinant E2CHIKV induced the highest titers of neutralizing antibodies. Collectively, we believe this is the first report to analyze E2CHIKV-specific humoral and cellular immune responses after immunization with E2CHIKV recombinant protein and DNA pVAX-E2CHIKV vaccine platforms.

Metabolism of abscisic acid in two contrasting rice genotypes submitted to recurrent water deficit.

Drought is the main constrain for crops worldwide, however, the effects of recurrent water deficit remain still hidden. We analysed two rice genotypes, 'BRS-Querência' (lowlands) and 'AN-Cambará' (uplands), after 7 days of recurrent drought followed by 24 h of rehydration, hypothesising that genotypes grown in regions with different water availabilities respond differently to water deficits, and that a previous exposure to stress could alter abscisic acid (ABA) metabolism. The results showed that both genotypes reduced stomatal conductance and increased ABA concentration. After rehydration, the ABA levels decreased, mainly in the plants of BRS-Querência subjected to recurrent stress. However, the levels of ABA were higher in plants in recurrent water deficit compared to non-recurrent stress plants in both genotypes. Remarkably in the lowland genotype, the ABA glucosyl-ester (ABA-GE) concentration increased after recovery in the plants under recurrent stress. Regarding of gene expression, the genes associated in ABA biosynthesis with the highest expression levels were NCED2, NCED3, NCED4 and AAO2. However, 'AN-Cambará' showed less transcriptional activation. Taking into account the genes involved in ABA catabolism, ABAH1 appears to play an important role related to the recurrent stress in upland plants. These results indicate that one of the factors that can promote greater tolerance for the upland genotype is the tradeoff between ABA and ABA-GE when plants are subjected to water deficits. In addition, they indicate that abscisic acid metabolism is altered due to the genotype (upland or lowland) and pre-exposure to stress can also modify adaptive responses in rice varieties (recurrent stress).

The Self-Simulation Hypothesis Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics.

We modify the simulation hypothesis to a self-simulation hypothesis, where the physical universe, as a strange loop, is a mental self-simulation that might exist as one of a broad class of possible code theoretic quantum gravity models of reality obeying the principle of efficient language axiom. This leads to ontological interpretations about quantum mechanics. We also discuss some implications of the self-simulation hypothesis such as an informational arrow of time.

Análise e classificação da impressão labial em universitários da região sul do brasil / Analysis and classification of lip prints in undergraduate students from the Southern region of Brazil

Introdução: A queiloscopia pode ser definida como estudo, registro e classificação das cristas e sulcos localizados na superfície das mucosas labiais. Objetivos: Analisar as características queiloscópicas de universitários da região Sul do Brasil, bem como identificar possíveis variações entre os sexos dos participantes. Materiais e métodos: Foi realizado um estudo observacional, classificatório e transversal com uma amostra de conveniência composta por 50 universitários de Odontologia de uma instituição privada. Para a coleta das impressões labiais foi utilizado uma pequena quantidade de batom de coloração vermelha para cada participante, espalhada nos lábios com hastes flexíveis de algodão. Em seguida, os lábios foram pressionados em movimento de rolagem contra cartolina branca apoiada sobre uma placa de vidro. Após a obtenção da impressão labial, esta foi subdividida em oito subquadrantes e numerada em sentido horário, e cada tipo de sulco foi classificado segundo o sistema proposto por Suzuki e Tsuchihashi (1970). Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente com a utilização dos Testes Qui-Quadrado e Razão de Verossimilhança (p=0,05). Resultados: O sulco Tipo I ́ apresentou-se mais frequente (26,3%) seguido pelos Tipos I (24,3%) e II (20,5%). Segundo a variável sexo, o Tipo II (24,0%) e I (23,0%) obteve maior expressividade em homens, enquanto os sulcos I ́(31,5%) e I (25,5%) apresentaram-se prevalentes no sexo feminino. Conclusão: Os tipos de sulcos labiais mais encontrados foram o Tipo I', seguido pelo Tipo I no grupo total avaliado, sendo mais prevalentes os Tipos I´ e II, respectivamente para o sexo feminino e masculino. A queiloscopia não resultou em caracterizações com dimorfismos sexuais, e novos estudos se fazem necessários para sua utilização em casos que envolvam vestígios labiais em identificação humana.