Fatal interactions of albatrosses with weather radiosondes/balloons on the Southern and Southeastern coasts of Brazil.

Weather radiosondes play a crucial role in gathering atmospheric data for weather modeling and forecasting. However, their impact on marine wildlife, particularly seabirds, has raised concerns regarding the potential threats posed by these instruments. This study aims to assess the adverse effects of weather balloons on albatrosses, with a focus on the Southwest Atlantic region. The research reveals seven cases of entanglement of radiosonde equipment, leading to severe injuries and mortality along the Southern and Southeastern coasts of Brazil. Recommendations for mitigating the environmental impact of weather balloons include the adoption of biodegradable materials in their design and the implementation of improved retrieval protocols. Furthermore, the study stresses the importance of continued monitoring and research to address the interaction of weather radiosondes with marine animals. This approach is vital for ensuring the sustainable collection of scientific data while minimizing harm to marine life and ecosystems.

Survey of selected viral agents (herpesvirus, adenovirus and hepatitis E virus) in liver and lung samples of cetaceans, Brazil.

Hepatic and pulmonary lesions are common in cetaceans, despite their poorly understood viral etiology. Herpesviruses (HV), adenoviruses (AdV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) are emerging agents in cetaceans, associated with liver and/or pulmonary damage in mammals. We isolated and molecularly tested DNA for HV and AdV (n = 218 individuals; 187 liver and 108 lung samples) and RNA for HEV (n = 147 animals; 147 liver samples) from six cetacean families. All animals stranded or were bycaught in Brazil between 2001 and 2021. Positive-animals were analyzed by histopathology. Statistical analyses assessed if the prevalence of viral infection could be associated with the variables: species, family, habitat, region, sex, and age group. All samples were negative for AdV and HEV. Overall, 8.7% (19/218) of the cetaceans were HV-positive (4.8% [9/187] liver and 11.1% [12/108] lung), without HV-associated lesions. HV-prevalence was statistically significant higher in Pontoporiidae (19.2%, 10/52) when compared to Delphinidae (4.1%, 5/121), and in southeastern (17.1%, 13/76)-the most industrialized Brazilian region-when compared to the northeastern region (2.4%, 3/126). This study broadens the herpesvirus host range in cetaceans, including its description in pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps) and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Further studies must elucidate herpesvirus drivers in cetaceans.

Realization of a Townes Soliton in a Two-Component Planar Bose Gas.

Most experimental observations of solitons are limited to one-dimensional (1D) situations, where they are naturally stable. For instance, in 1D cold Bose gases, they exist for any attractive interaction strength g and particle number N. By contrast, in two dimensions, solitons appear only for discrete values of gN, the so-called Townes soliton being the most celebrated example. Here, we use a two-component Bose gas to prepare deterministically such a soliton: Starting from a uniform bath of atoms in a given internal state, we imprint the soliton wave function using an optical transfer to another state. We explore various interaction strengths, atom numbers, and sizes and confirm the existence of a solitonic behavior for a specific value of gN and arbitrary sizes, a hallmark of scale invariance.

Homophily around specialized foraging underlies dolphin social preferences.

Individuals often associate socially with those who behave the same way. This principle, homophily, could structure populations into distinct social groups. We tested this hypothesis in a bottlenose dolphin population that appeared to be clustered around a specialized foraging tactic involving cooperation with net-casting fishermen, but in which other potential drivers of such social structure have never been assessed. We measured and controlled for the contribution of sex, age, genetic relatedness, home range and foraging tactics on social associations to test for homophily effects. Dolphins tended to group with others having similar home ranges and frequency of using the specialized foraging tactic, but not other traits. Such social preferences were particularly clear when dolphins were not foraging, showing that homophily extends beyond simply participating in a specific tactic. Combined, these findings highlight the need to account for multiple drivers of group formation across behavioural contexts to determine true social affiliations. We suggest that homophily around behavioural specialization can be a major driver of social patterns, with implications for other social processes. If homophily based on specialized tactics underlies animal social structures more widely, then it may be important in modulating opportunities for social learning, and therefore influence patterns of cultural transmission.

Engaging with the affiliative system through mindfulness: The impact of the different types of positive affect in psychosis.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to explore associations between positive and negative symptoms, mindfulness, positive affect, and social safeness; and to understand the mediator role of positive emotions in the relationship between mindfulness and social safeness. METHOD: Fifty-six participants with a psychotic disorder were assessed with measures of mindfulness, negative and positive symptoms, positive affect, and social safeness. RESULTS: All variables were associated with each other except for positive symptoms and active affect. Mindfulness predicted social safeness through safe affect, when controlling for positive and negative symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to knowledge of mechanisms behind social safeness adding the role of mindfulness and activation of positive emotions. The continuing study of mindfulness as an important mechanism for social safeness will allow further improvement of interventions for psychosis.

Iodine deficiency a persisting problem: assessment of iodine nutrition and evaluation of thyroid nodular pathology in Portugal.

BACKGROUND: The goal of eliminating iodine deficiency (ID) by the year 2000 has still not been achieved in several countries. More than 2 billion people worldwide (over 260 million school age children) remain ID. In Europe, there are still countries, such as Portugal, without national general population data on iodine nutrition (IN). This study aims at evaluating combined complementary data of the IN of the general population through urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and the thyroid histology profile from the inland region of Beira Interior (BI), in Portugal. METHODS: UIC from a population sample of 214 volunteers (131 females and 83 males), with ages ranging from 8 to 97 years (mean 51.5 years ± SD 20.74 years), from BI was determined; the thyroid histology pattern in BI (6-year period) was evaluated; and the iodine content of the largest surface water reservoir of BI, never previously reported, was measured. RESULTS: Median UIC of 62.6 µg/L was measured. Over 92 % of the population had UIC less than 100 µg/L. From 279 histology reports evaluated, the incidence of the different types of thyroid nodular pathology in BI was established. There were 60 histologic diagnoses of malignancy. The observed ratio of papillary to follicular carcinoma relatively close to 1 and the fairly high percentage of anaplastic carcinomas are characteristic of ID areas. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this first general population study on IN from the inland region of BI, Portugal, document significant ID. This problem, with its serious public health implications, could be corrected by having affordable iodised salt widely and generally available and by promoting a proactive population attitude generated by ample public information and educational programs as to the negative consequences of ID.

Quantum Phase Transitions with Parity-Symmetry Breaking and Hysteresis.

Symmetry-breaking quantum phase transitions play a key role in several condensed matter, cosmology and nuclear physics theoretical models1-3. Its observation in real systems is often hampered by finite temperatures and limited control of the system parameters. In this work we report for the first time the experimental observation of the full quantum phase diagram across a transition where the spatial parity symmetry is broken. Our system is made of an ultra-cold gas with tunable attractive interactions trapped in a spatially symmetric double-well potential. At a critical value of the interaction strength, we observe a continuous quantum phase transition where the gas spontaneously localizes in one well or the other, thus breaking the underlying symmetry of the system. Furthermore, we show the robustness of the asymmetric state against controlled energy mismatch between the two wells. This is the result of hysteresis associated with an additional discontinuous quantum phase transition that we fully characterize. Our results pave the way to the study of quantum critical phenomena at finite temperature4, the investigation of macroscopic quantum tunneling of the order parameter in the hysteretic regime and the production of strongly quantum entangled states at critical points5.

Lacaziosis-like disease in Tursiops truncatus from Brazil: a histopathological and immunohistochemical approach

ABSTRACT: Cetacean lacaziosis-like disease or lobomycosis-like disease (LLD) is a chronic skin condition caused by a non-cultivable yeast of the order Onygenales, which also includes Lacazia loboi, as well as Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and P. lutzii, respectively responsible for lacaziosis and paracoccidioidomycosis in humans. Complete identification and phylogenetic classification of the LLD etiological agent still needs to be elucidated, but preliminary phylogenetic analyses have shown a closer relationship of the LLD agent to Paracoccidioides spp. than to L. loboi. Cases of LLD in South American cetaceans based on photographic identification have been reported; however, to date, only 3 histologically confirmed cases of LLD have been described. We evaluated multiple tissue samples from 4 Tursiops truncatus stranded in the states of Santa Catarina (n = 3) and Rio Grande do Sul (n = 1), southern Brazil. Macroscopically, all animals presented lesions consistent with LLD. Hematoxylin-eosin, periodic acid-Schiff, Grocott's methenamine silver, and Mayer's mucicarmin stains were used for histological evaluation. Microscopically, numerous refractile yeasts (4-9 µm in diameter) were observed in skin samples (4/4), and for the first time in dolphins, also in a skeletal muscle abscess (1/4). Immunohistochemistry using anti-P. brasiliensis glycoprotein gp43 as a primary antibody, which is known to cross-react with L. loboi and the LLD agent, was performed and results were positive in all 4 cases. We describe 3 new cases of LLD in cetaceans based on histopathology and immunohistochemistry. This is the first report of LLD in the muscle of cetaceans.

In vitro and in vivo assessment of the effect of Laurus novocanariensis oil and essential oil in human skin.

Laurus novocanariensis is an endemic plant from the Madeira Island forest that derives a fatty oil, with a strong spicy odour, from its berries that has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat skin ailments. This work aimed to investigate the effect of the application of both the oil and its essential oil on normal skin, to assess their safety and potential benefits. Diffusion studies with Franz cells using human epidermal membranes were conducted. The steady-state fluxes of two model molecules through untreated skin were compared with those obtained after a 2-h pre-treatment with either the oil or the essential oil. Additionally, eleven volunteers participated in the in vivo study that was conducted on the forearm and involved daily application of the oil for 5 days. Measurements were performed every day in the treated site with bioengineering methods that measure erythema, irritation and loss of barrier function. Slightly higher steady-state fluxes were observed for both the lipophilic and the hydrophilic molecule when the epidermal membranes were pre-treated. Nevertheless, such differences had no statistical significance, which seems to confirm that neither the oil nor the essential oil impaired the epidermal barrier. Results collected with the Chromameter, the Laser Doppler Flowmeter and the visual scoring are in agreement with those established in the in vitro study. They indicate that the repeated application of the oil did not cause erythema, because the results observed in the first day of the study were maintained throughout the week. Application of the oil did not affect the skin barrier function, because the transepidermal water loss remained constant throughout the study. The stratum corneum hydration was slightly reduced on days 4 and 5. This work shows that both the oil and the essential oil were well tolerated by the skin and did not cause significant barrier impairment or irritation.

Synergistic antimycobacterial activities of sesquiterpene lactones from Laurus spp.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the antimycobacterial potential of laurel oil, its fractions and its two sesquiterpene lactones against several mycobacterial strains and clinical isolates, and to establish the possibility of occurrence of some synergistic effects between those lactones using a modification of the fluorometric Alamar Blue microassay (FMABA). METHODS: The in vitro antimycobacterial activity of whole oil and its fractions and pure active compounds were determined by FMABA. A bioassay-guided fractionation of the traditional preparation of laurel oil from Madeira Islands was performed, yielding pure compounds chemically identified by standard procedures. Synergism of pure compounds was established by X/Y quotient analysis adapted to FMABA. RESULTS: Sesquiterpene lactones, costunolide and dehydrocostuslactone, were the compounds responsible for the antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv with MICs of 6.25 and 12.5 mg/L, respectively. Antimycobacterial activity against drug-resistant M. tuberculosis clinical isolates was better for the mixture than for pure compounds. CONCLUSIONS: Both lactones presented synergistic activity, i.e. analysis of relative fluorescence units presented an X/Y value <0.5 at a concentration of 1/8 MIC of each compound in the combination. Establishment of synergism by FMABA represents another application of the microplate Alamar Blue assay.

Gill Na(+),K(+)-ATPase and osmoregulation in the estuarine crab, Chasmagnathus granulata Dana, 1851 (Decapoda, Grapsidae).

Some kinetic properties of gill Na(+),K(+)-ATPase of the estuarine crab, Chasmagnathus granulata, and its involvement in osmotic adaptation were analyzed. Results suggest the presence of different Na(+),K(+)-ATPase isoforms in anterior and posterior gills. They have different affinities for Na(+), but similar affinity values for K(+), Mg(2+), ATP and similar enzymatic profiles as a function of temperature of the incubation medium. Ouabain concentrations which inhibit 50% of enzyme activity were also similar in the two types of gills. Enzyme activity and affinity for Na(+) are higher in posterior gills than in anterior ones. Furthermore, affinities of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase of posterior gills for Na(+) and K(+) were similar to or higher than those of gills or other structures involved in the osmoregulation in several euryaline decapod crustaceans. Acclimation to low salinity was related to a significant increase in the maximum Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity, mainly in posterior gills. On the other hand, crab acclimation to high salinity induced a significant decrease in maximum enzyme activity, both in anterior and posterior gills. These results are in accordance to the osmoregulatory performance showed by C. granulata in diluted media, and point out the major role of posterior gills in the osmoregulation of this species.

Inhibitory effects of cadmium on carbonic anhydrase activity and ionic regulation of the estuarine crab Chasmagnathus granulata (Decapoda, Grapsidae).

This work was aimed at evaluating the gill carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity of the estuarine crab Chasmagnathus granulata exposed in vivo to cadmium, at different salinities. The in vivo effect of the specific inhibitor acetazolamide (AZ) was also assayed. Besides, the inhibition of CA activity by different heavy metals (cadmium, copper, zinc) and AZ were evaluated under in vitro conditions. For the in vivo assays, adult males were acclimated to salinities of 2.5 or 30/1000. The corresponding 96-h LC50 of cadmium was 2.69 mg l-1 at 2.5/1000, and > 50 mg l-1 at 30/1000. Cadmium only caused a significant lower CA activity than control at 2.5/1000. EC50 for CA inhibition was estimated to be 1.59 mg l-1 at 2.5/1000. Statistical differences in Na+ hemolymphatic levels (P < 0.05) were only detected at 2.5/1000, between 0 and 1.25 mg l-1 of cadmium, but no statistical differences were observed for Cl- levels at any assayed salinity. As CA inhibition registered at 2.5/1000 was followed by only changes in Na+ concentration, it is likely that cadmium exposure could differentially affect ions permeability, among others factors. The concentrations that inhibited in vitro 50% of enzymatic activity (IC50) were 2.15 x 10(-5), 1.62 x 10(-5), 3.75 x 10(-6) and 4.4 x 10(-10) M for cadmium, copper, zinc and AZ, respectively. The comparison with IC50 values of other aquatic species, indicates a higher CA sensitivity for C. granulata to pollutants.

Reversed-phase liquid chromatography for the separation of chloropromazine, imipramine and some of their metabolites.

Reversed-phase liquid chromatography on a C18 bonded silica with water-alcohol mixtures containing decylamine as the mobile phase was investigated for its applicability to the separation of chlorpromazine, imipramine and their metabolites. The addition of decylamine to the mobile phase was found to be necessary in order to obtain symmetrical peaks. The influence of the decylamine and ethanol concentrations and of the pH of the mobile phase was investigated and these parameters were found to be useful for the adjustment of the retention. The phase system developed was found to be suitable for the required separation. The phase system was applied to the analysis of imipramine and its metabolites, desmethylimipramine and didesmethylimipramine, and desmethylchlorpromazine in human plasma.

Levels of lead and other metals in human blood: suggestive relationships, determining factors.

Epidemiological studies on metal levels in blood were carried out. Evidence suggested the existence of a different trend in serum-iron levels in relation to blood lead levels in nonoccupationally exposed males (negative trend) and females (positive trend). There was a positive relation between blood lead levels and blood manganese levels in children and occupationally exposed male workers. Blood metal levels increased with age in young children. There was evidence for an influence of socioeconomic class on blood lead levels in children. A direct and an indirect effect of smoking was found on blood lead levels and on the activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity in erythrocytes in adult nonoccupationally exposed females.

Blood lead and serum iron levels in non-occupationally exposed males and females.

PIP: Blood lead (PbB) and serum iron (Fe-S) levels were studied in 148 nonoccupationally exposed 19-21 year old student volunteers: 57 males, 47 non-oral-contraceptive (OC)-using females and 44 regular OC-using females. PbB levels ranged from 46 to 238 parts/billion. Free-erythrocyte-porphyrins (FEPs), Fe-S, hemoglobin, hematocrit, total Fe-binding-capacity (TIBC), and unsaturated-IBC were measured. A negative correlation was seen between PbB and Fe-S in males (r = -.36, p .01). Females had a significantly higher FEP level than males at the same PbB level (p .05). OC users had significantly higher Fe-S levels (p .0005) and TIBC (p .005) than non-OC users. A 2nd group of 51 males also showed a negative trend in the relationship between PbB and Fe-S. 2 hypotheses are suggested to explain this negative relationship: 1) competition between iron and lead in regard to the metal-binding capacity of some serum proteins, and 2) feedback inhibition by heme on the iron transport through the erythrocyte precursor membrane.^ieng