Breed of origin analysis in genome-wide association studies: enhancing SNP-based insights into production traits in a commercial Brangus population.

BACKGROUND: Carcass weight (HCW) and marbling (MARB) are critical for meat quality and market value in beef cattle. In composite breeds like Brangus, which meld the genetics of Angus and Brahman, SNP-based analyses have illuminated some genetic influences on these traits, but they fall short in fully capturing the nuanced effects of breed of origin alleles (BOA) on these traits. Focus on the impacts of BOA on phenotypic features within Brangus populations can result in a more profound understanding of the specific influences of Angus and Brahman genetics. Moreover, the consideration of BOA becomes particularly significant when evaluating dominance effects contributing to heterosis in crossbred populations. BOA provides a more comprehensive measure of heterosis due to its ability to differentiate the distinct genetic contributions originating from each parent breed. This detailed understanding of genetic effects is essential for making informed breeding decisions to optimize the benefits of heterosis in composite breeds like Brangus. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) influencing HCW and MARB by utilizing SNP and BOA information, incorporating additive, dominance, and overdominance effects within a multi-generational Brangus commercial herd. METHODS: We analyzed phenotypic data from 1,066 genotyped Brangus steers. BOA inference was performed using LAMP-LD software using Angus and Brahman reference sets. SNP-based and BOA-based GWAS were then conducted considering additive, dominance, and overdominance models. RESULTS: The study identified numerous QTLs for HCW and MARB. A notable QTL for HCW was associated to the SGCB gene, pivotal for muscle growth, and was identified solely in the BOA GWAS. Several BOA GWAS QTLs exhibited a dominance effect underscoring their importance in estimating heterosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that SNP-based methods may not detect all genetic variation affecting economically important traits in composite breeds. BOA inclusion in genomic evaluations is crucial for identifying genetic regions contributing to trait variation and for understanding the dominance value underpinning heterosis. By considering BOA, we gain a deeper understanding of genetic interactions and heterosis, which is integral to advancing breeding programs. The incorporation of BOA is recommended for comprehensive genomic evaluations to optimize trait improvements in crossbred cattle populations.

The High Capacity of Brazilian Aedes aegypti Populations to Transmit a Locally Circulating Lineage of Chikungunya Virus.

The incidence of chikungunya has dramatically surged worldwide in recent decades, imposing an expanding burden on public health. In recent years, South America, particularly Brazil, has experienced outbreaks that have ravaged populations following the rapid dissemination of the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), which was first detected in 2014. The primary vector for CHIKV transmission is the urban mosquito species Aedes aegypti, which is highly prevalent throughout Brazil. However, the impact of the locally circulating CHIKV genotypes and specific combinations of local mosquito populations on vector competence remains unexplored. Here, we experimentally analyzed and compared the infectivity and transmissibility of the CHIKV-ECSA lineage recently isolated in Brazil among four Ae. aegypti populations collected from different regions of the country. When exposed to CHIKV-infected AG129 mice for blood feeding, all the mosquito populations displayed high infection rates and dissemination efficiency. Furthermore, we observed that all the populations were highly efficient in transmitting CHIKV to a vertebrate host (naïve AG129 mice) as early as eight days post-infection. These results demonstrate the high capacity of Brazilian Ae. aegypti populations to transmit the locally circulating CHIKV-ECSA lineage. This observation could help to explain the high prevalence of the CHIKV-ECSA lineage over the Asian lineage, which was also detected in Brazil in 2014. However, further studies comparing both lineages are necessary to gain a better understanding of the vector's importance in the epidemiology of CHIKV in the Americas.

Exploring genomic inbreeding and selection signatures in a commercial Brangus herd through functional annotation.

Composite breeds, including Brangus, are widely utilized in subtropical and tropical regions to harness the advantages of both Bos t. taurus and Bos t. indicus breeds. The formation and subsequent selection of composite breeds may result in discernible signatures of selection and shifts in genomic population structure. The objectives of this study were to 1) assess genomic inbreeding, 2) identify signatures of selection, 3) assign functional roles to these signatures in a commercial Brangus herd, and 4) contrast signatures of selection between selected and non-selected cattle from the same year. A total of 4035 commercial Brangus cattle were genotyped using the GGP-F250K array. Runs of Homozygosity (ROH) were used to identify signatures of selection and calculate genomic inbreeding. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) enrichment analysis and literature search identified phenotypic traits linked to ROH islands. Genomic inbreeding averaged 5%, primarily stemming from ancestors five or more generations back. A total of nine ROH islands were identified, QTL enrichment analysis revealed traits related to growth, milk composition, carcass, reproductive, and meat quality traits. Notably, the ROH island on BTA14 encompasses the pleiomorphic adenoma (PLAG1) gene, which has been linked to growth, carcass, and reproductive traits. Moreover, ROH islands associated with milk yield and composition were more pronounced in selected replacement heifers of the population, underscoring the importance of milk traits in cow-calf production. In summary, our research sheds light on the changing genetic landscape of the Brangus breed due to selection pressures and reveals key genomic regions impacting production traits.

Identification of genetic variants and individual genes associated with postpartum hypocalcemia in Holstein cows.

Periparturient hypocalcemia is a complex metabolic disorder that occurs at the onset of lactation because of a sudden irreversible loss of Ca incorporated into colostrum and milk. Some cows are unable to quickly adapt to this demand and succumb to clinical hypocalcemia, commonly known as milk fever, whereas a larger proportion of cows develop subclinical hypocalcemia. The main goal of this study was to identify causative mutations and candidate genes affecting postpartum blood calcium concentration in Holstein cows. Data consisted of blood calcium concentration measured in 2513 Holstein cows on the first three days after parturition. All cows had genotypic information for 79 k SNP markers. Two consecutive rounds of imputation were performed: first, the 2513 Holstein cows were imputed from 79 k to 312 k SNP markers. This imputation was performed using a reference set of 17,131 proven Holstein bulls with 312 k SNP markers. Then, the 2513 Holstein cows were imputed from 312 k markers to whole-genome sequence data. This second round of imputation used 179 Holstein animals from the 1000 Bulls Genome Project as a reference set. Three alternative phenotypes were evaluated: (1) total calcium concentration in the first 24 h postpartum, (2) total calcium concentration in the first 72 h postpartum calculated as the area under the curve; and (3) the recovery of total calcium concentration calculated as the difference in total calcium concentration between 72 and 24 h. The identification of genetic variants associated with these traits was performed using a two-step mixed model-based approach implemented in the R package MixABEL. The most significant variants were located within or near genes involved in calcium homeostasis and vitamin D transport (GC), calcium and potassium channels (JPH3 and KCNK13), energy and lipid metabolism (CA5A, PRORP, and SREBP1), and immune response (IL12RB2 and CXCL8), among other functions. This work provides the foundation for the development of novel breeding and management tools for reducing the incidence of periparturient hypocalcemia in dairy cattle.

High capacity of Brazilian Aedes aegypti populations to transmit a locally circulating lineage of Chikungunya virus.

The global incidence of chikungunya has surged in recent decades, with South America, particularly Brazil, experiencing devastating outbreaks. The primary vector for transmitting CHIKV in urban areas is the mosquito species Aedes aegypti, which is very abundant in Brazil. However, little is known about the impact of locally circulating CHIKV genotypes and specific combinations of mosquito populations on vector competence. In this study, we analyzed and compared the infectivity and transmissibility of a recently isolated CHIKV-ECSA lineage from Brazil among four Ae. aegypti populations collected from different regions of the country. When exposed to CHIKV-infected mice for blood feeding, all mosquito populations showed high infection rates and dissemination efficiency. Moreover, using a mouse model to assess transmission rates in a manner that better mirrors natural cycles, we observed that these populations exhibit highly efficient transmission rates of CHIKV-ECSA. Our findings underscore the robust capability of Brazilian Ae. aegypti populations to transmit the locally circulating CHIKV-ECSA lineage, potentially explaining its higher prevalence compared to the Asian lineage also introduced in Brazil.

AG129 Mice as a Comprehensive Model for the Experimental Assessment of Mosquito Vector Competence for Arboviruses.

Arboviruses (an acronym for "arthropod-borne virus"), such as dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and Chikungunya, are important human pathogens transmitted by mosquitoes. These viruses impose a growing burden on public health. Despite laboratory mice having been used for decades for understanding the basic biological phenomena of these viruses, it was only recently that researchers started to develop immunocompromised animals to study the pathogenesis of arboviruses and their transmission in a way that parallels natural cycles. Here, we show that the AG129 mouse (IFN α/ß/γ R-/-) is a suitable and comprehensive vertebrate model for studying the mosquito vector competence for the major arboviruses of medical importance, namely the dengue virus (DENV), yellow fever virus (YFV), Zika virus (ZIKV), Mayaro virus (MAYV), and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). We found that, after intraperitoneal injection, AG129 mice developed a transient viremia lasting several days, peaking on day two or three post infection, for all five arboviruses tested in this study. Furthermore, we found that the observed viremia was ample enough to infect Aedes aegypti during a blood meal from the AG129 infected mice. Finally, we demonstrated that infected mosquitoes could transmit each of the tested arboviruses back to naïve AG129 mice, completing a full transmission cycle of these vector-borne viruses. Together, our data show that A129 mice are a simple and comprehensive vertebrate model for studies of vector competence, as well as investigations into other aspects of mosquito biology that can affect virus-host interactions.

Shedding light on the toxicity of SARS-CoV-2-derived peptide in non-target COVID-19 organisms: A study involving inbred and outbred mice.

Despite advances in research on the vaccine and therapeutic strategies of COVID-19, little attention has been paid to the possible (eco)toxicological impacts of the dispersion of SARS-CoV-2 particles in natural environments. Thus, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the behavioral and biochemical consequences of the short exposure of outbred and inbred mice (male Swiss and C57Bl/6 J mice, respectively) to PSPD-2002 (peptide fragments of the Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2) synthesized in the laboratory. Our data demonstrated that after 24 h of intraperitoneal administration of PSPD-2002 (at 580 µg/kg) the animals did not present alterations in their locomotor, anxiolytic-like, or anxiety-like behavior (in the open field test), nor antidepressant-like or depressive behavior in the forced swimming test. However, the C57Bl/6 J mice exposed to PSPD-2002 showed memory deficit in the novel object recognition task, which was associated with higher production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, as well as the increased suppression of acetylcholinesterase brain activity, compared to Swiss mice also exposed to peptide fragments. In Swiss mice the reduction in the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the brain was not associated with increased oxidative stress biomarkers (hydrogen peroxide), suggesting that other antioxidant mechanisms may have been activated by exposure to PSPD-2002 to maintain the animals' brain redox homeostasis. Finally, the results of all biomarkers evaluated were applied into the "Integrated Biomarker Response Index" (IBRv2) and the principal component analysis (PCA), and greater sensitivity of C57Bl/6 J mice to PSPD-2002 was revealed. Therefore, our study provides pioneering evidence of mammalian exposure-induced toxicity (non-target SARS-CoV-2 infection) to PSPD-2002, as well as "sheds light" on the influence of genetic profile on susceptibility/resistance to the effects of viral peptide fragments.

Toxicological impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the health of the neotropical fish, Poecilia reticulata.

There have been significant impacts of the current COVID-19 pandemic on society including high health and economic costs. However, little is known about the potential ecological risks of this virus despite its presence in freshwater systems. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the exposure of Poecilia reticulata juveniles to two peptides derived from Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, which was synthesized in the laboratory (named PSPD-2002 and PSPD-2003). For this, the animals were exposed for 35 days to the peptides at a concentration of 40 µg/L and different toxicity biomarkers were assessed. Our data indicated that the peptides were able to induce anxiety-like behavior in the open field test and increased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. The biometric evaluation also revealed that the animals exposed to the peptides displayed alterations in the pattern of growth/development. Furthermore, the increased activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes were accompanied by increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which suggests a redox imbalance induced by SARS-CoV-2 spike protein peptides. Moreover, molecular docking analysis suggested a strong interaction of the peptides with the enzymes AChE, SOD and CAT, allowing us to infer that the observed effects are related to the direct action of the peptides on the functionality of these enzymes. Consequently, our study provided evidence that the presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral particles in the freshwater ecosystems offer a health risk to fish and other aquatic organisms.

Produção laboral de psicólogas(os) do NASF-AB de Maceió (AL) em 2019: uma análise a partir do SISAB / Labor productivity of NASF-AB psychologists of Maceió (AL) in 2019: an analysis from SISAB / Producción laboral de psicólogas/os del NASF-AB de Maceió (AL) en 2019: un análisis del SISAB

Profissionais de Psicologia são oficialmente admitidos para atuar na Atenção Primária à Saúde a partir da criação do Núcleo Ampliado de Saúde da Família e Atenção Básica (Nasf-AB), na intenção de ampliar a resolutividade deste nível de atenção à saúde. Este objetivou analisar a produção laboral de profissionais de Psicologia atuantes nos Nasf-AB de Maceió (AL) no ano de 2019. Os aspectos metodológicos incluem a análise de elementos quantitativos e qualitativos num estudo descritivo exploratório, utilizando dados secundários provenientes do Sistema de Informação em Saúde da Atenção Básica (Sisab). Entre os resultados, destaca-se a predominância de atendimentos individuais concentrados na própria unidade de saúde e o grande percentual de encaminhamentos a serviços especializados. Quanto às atividades coletivas, predominam as reuniões de caráter técnico-pedagógico, principalmente com as equipes apoiadas, e a Educação em Saúde voltada aos usuários. Diante de indícios de um perfil ambulatorial, as(os) psicólogas(os) devem problematizar suas práticas enquanto profissionais do Nasf-AB. Sendo um campo complexo de atuação, é importante que esses profissionais se coloquem de forma ativa, explorando as possibilidades da clínica ampliada, da promoção e prevenção em saúde e do conhecimento advindo dos sistemas de informação em saúde.(AU)

Psychology professionals are officially admitted to work in Primary Health Care after the Extended Nucleus of Family Health and Primary Care (NASF-AB) creation, intending to expand the resolution of this level of health care. This study aimed to analyze the labor productivity of Psychology professionals working in the NASF-AB in Maceió (state of Alagoas - AL) in 2019. The methodological aspects include the analysis of quantitative and qualitative elements in an exploratory-descriptive research, using secondary data from the Primary Health Care Information System (SISAB). Among the results, the predominance of individual care mainly on health center itself and the high percentage of referrals to specialized services stand out. Regarding collective activities, meetings of a technical and pedagogical nature predominate, mainly with the supported teams, and Health Education focused at users. Faced with evidence of a clinical profile, psychologists must problematize their practices as NASF-AB professionals. Since this is a complex field of action, it is important that these professionals take an active role, exploring the possibilities of expanded clinic, health promotion and prevention, and knowledge from health information systems.(AU)

Los profesionales de la psicología se admiten oficialmente para trabajar en Atención Primaria con la creación del Núcleo Extendido de Salud de la Familia y Atención Primaria (NASF), con la intención de ampliar la resolución de este tipo de asistencia sanitaria Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar la producción laboral de los psicólogos que trabajan en NASF de Maceió-AL en 2019. Los aspectos metodológicos incluyen un análisis de elementos cuantitativos y cualitativos en un estudio descriptivo exploratorio, utilizando datos secundarios del Sistema de Información de Atención Primaria de Salud (SISAB). Entre los resultados se destaca el predominio de la asistencia individual, concentrados en el propio centro de salud, y el gran porcentaje de derivaciones a servicios de salud especializados. En cuanto a las actividades colectivas predominan las de carácter técnico y pedagógico, principalmente con los equipos apoyados, y actividades de educación en salud para la población. Ante la evidencia de un perfil ambulatorio las/los psicólogas/os deben problematizar sus prácticas como profesionales de NASF. Al tratarse de un campo de trabajo complejo es importante que estas/os profesionales asuman un papel activo, explorando las posibilidades de la clínica ampliada, la promoción y prevención de la salud y los conocimientos derivados de los sistemas de información en salud.(AU)

Estresse Ocupacional em Gestores de um Hospital Público / Occupational Stress in Managers of a Public Hospital

A atuação dos gestores da área da saúde apresenta-se como expressiva fonte de tensão, ocasionando manifestações de estresse e comprometendo a saúde emocional e física. Diante desse contexto, este estudo objetivou descrever e explicar as manifestações de estresse ocupacional em gestores de um hospital público. Em relação ao método, utilizou-se o modelo teórico de explicação do estresse ocupacional em gerentes, a partir de abordagem quantitativa, onde os dados foram coletados por meio de questionário, envolvendo 83 gestores. A análise dos dados se deu por meio da estatística descritiva e inferencial. Apurou-se que 82% dos gestores possuem algum nível de estresse ocupacional, variando de leve/moderado (44,65) a muito intenso (37,4%). As principais fontes de tensão apontam para a realização de várias atividades ao mesmo tempo com alto nível de cobrança e a pressão excessiva no trabalho. Os sintomas prevalentes foram dor nos músculos do pescoço e ombros, fadiga e angústia. Observaram-se indicadores de impacto no trabalho como a dificuldade de lembrar fatos recentes, desmotivação; e excessivo desgaste nos relacionamentos interpessoais. Como estratégias para amenizar as tensões excessivas no trabalho identificou-se, principalmente, a cooperação entre os pares e o melhor planejamento do tempo.

The health manager's performance is a revealing source of tension, causing stress manifestations and compromising emotional and physical health. Given this context, this study aimed to describe and explain the occupational stress manifestations in a public hospital managers. Regarding the method, the theoretical model for explaining occupational stress in managers was used, based on a quantitative approach, where data were collected through a questionnaire involving 83 managers. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics. It was found that 82% of managers have some level of occupational stress, ranging from mild/moderate (44.65) to very intense (37.4%). The principal source of tension points to the performance of several activities simultaneously with a high level of collection and excessive pressure at work. The prevalent symptoms were a pain in the neck and shoulders muscles, fatigue, and distress. Indicators of impact at work were observed, such as the difficulty remembering recent facts, lack of motivation, and excessive wear and tear in interpersonal relationships. As strategies to alleviate exorbitant tensions at work, cooperation between peers and better time planning was identified.

Genome-wide detection of CNVs and their association with performance traits in broilers.

BACKGROUND: Copy number variations (CNVs) are a major type of structural genomic variants that underlie genetic architecture and phenotypic variation of complex traits, not only in humans, but also in livestock animals. We identified CNVs along the chicken genome and analyzed their association with performance traits. Genome-wide CNVs were inferred from Affymetrix® high density SNP-chip data for a broiler population. CNVs were concatenated into segments and association analyses were performed with linear mixed models considering a genomic relationship matrix, for birth weight, body weight at 21, 35, 41 and 42 days, feed intake from 35 to 41 days, feed conversion ratio from 35 to 41 days and, body weight gain from 35 to 41 days of age. RESULTS: We identified 23,214 autosomal CNVs, merged into 5042 distinct CNV regions (CNVRs), covering 12.84% of the chicken autosomal genome. One significant CNV segment was associated with BWG on GGA3 (q-value = 0.00443); one significant CNV segment was associated with BW35 (q-value = 0.00571), BW41 (q-value = 0.00180) and BW42 (q-value = 0.00130) on GGA3, and one significant CNV segment was associated with BW on GGA5 (q-value = 0.00432). All significant CNV segments were verified by qPCR, and a validation rate of 92.59% was observed. These CNV segments are located nearby genes, such as KCNJ11, MyoD1 and SOX6, known to underlie growth and development. Moreover, gene-set analyses revealed terms linked with muscle physiology, cellular processes regulation and potassium channels. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this CNV-based GWAS study unravels potential candidate genes that may regulate performance traits in chickens. Our findings provide a foundation for future functional studies on the role of specific genes in regulating performance in chickens.

Influência da técnica de preparo sobre o contorno cervical dos laminados cerâmicos: relato de caso / Influence of the preparation technique on the cervical contour of ceramic laminates: a case report / Influencia de la técnica de preparación en el contorno cervical de los laminados cerámicos: reporte del caso

Introdução: Devido à crescente demanda estética, a odontologia restauradora se renova na intenção de alcançar melhores resultados na harmonia do sorriso. Entretanto, a atenção deve voltar-se também aos tecidos periodontais, visto que há uma integração entre material restaurador e os tecidos. Objetivo:Descrever e discutir as etapas clínicas para a confecção de laminados cerâmicos, atentando-se a preparos minimamente invasivos, contorno cervical e fatores que podem intervir na longevidade do procedimento.Relato de caso:Paciente do sexo masculino, 28 anos de idade, compareceu a Associação Brasileira de Odontologia, seção de Alagoas, relatando insatisfação em relação ao tamanho dos seus dentes. Os arcos superior e inferior foram moldados para a obtenção dos modelos de estudo e enceramento diagnóstico. Ao início do tratamento foi orientado ao paciente clareamento dental pela técnica combinada. O preparo dos dentes foi guiado por uma matriz de silicone, sendo estes uniformes e conservadores, seguido de moldagem, fase laboratorial e cimentação final. Finalizado o caso foi realizado o ajuste oclusal solicitando ao paciente que realizasse movimentos de lateralidade e protrusão. Conclusões:A técnica do preparo influência na longevidade dos laminados cerâmicos, por relacioanar-se à adesão e a saúde periodontal. O preparo deve ser mínino e limitado ao esmalte dental sempre que possível, determinando assim um maior e melhor prognóstico (AU).

Introduction:Due to the growing aesthetic demand, restorative dentistry is renewed to achieve better results in smile harmony. However, attention should also be turned to periodontal tissues since there is an integration between restorative material and tissues. Objective:To describe and discuss the clinical steps for the manufacture of laminate veneers, paying attention to minimally invasive preparations, cervical contour, and factors that can intervene in the procedure's longevity. Case report:A 28-year-old male patient attended the Brazilian Dental Association, the Alagoas section, reporting dissatisfaction with his teeth' size. The upper and lower arches were molded to obtain the study and diagnostic waxing models. At the beginning of treatment, the patient was instructed by the combined technique. After the case, the occlusal adjustment was performed, asking the patient to perform laterality and protrusion movements. Conclusions:The preparation technique influences the longevity of laminate veneers due to adherence and periodontal health. The preparation should be minimal and limited to dental enamel whenever possible, thus determining a higher and better prognosis (AU).

Introducción: Debido a la creciente demanda estética, la odontología restauradora se renueva para lograr mejores resultados en la armonía de la sonrisa. Sin embargo, también se debe prestar atención a los tejidos periodontales ya que existe una integraciónentre el material restaurador y los tejidos.Objetivo: Describir y discutir los pasos clínicos para la confección de carillas laminares, prestando atención a las preparaciones mínimamente invasivas, al contorno cervical y a los factores que pueden intervenir en la longevidad del procedimiento.Reporte del caso: Un paciente masculino de 28 años asistió a la Asociación Dental Brasileña, sección de Alagoas, reportando insatisfacción con el tamaño de sus dientes. Los arcos superior e inferior fueron moldeados para obtener los modelos de depilación de estudio y diagnóstico. Al comienzo del tratamiento, el paciente fue instruido por la técnica combinada. La preparación de los dientes fue guiada por una matriz de silicona, siendo estas uniformes y conservadoras, seguidas de moldeo, fase de laboratorio y cementación final. Después del caso, se realizó el ajuste oclusal, pidiendo al paciente que realizara movimientos de lateralidad y protuberancia. Conclusiones: La técnica de preparación influye en la longevidad de los laminados cerámicos, debido a la adherencia y la salud periodontal. La preparación debe ser mínima y limitada al esmalte dental siempre que sea posible, determinando así un pronóstico más alto y mejor (AU).

Genomic Approaches Reveal Pleiotropic Effects in Crossbred Beef Cattle.

Carcass and meat quality are two important attributes for the beef industry because they drive profitability and consumer demand. These traits are of even greater importance in crossbred cattle used in subtropical and tropical regions for their superior adaptability because they tend to underperform compared to their purebred counterparts. Many of these traits are challenging and expensive to measure and unavailable until late in life or after the animal is harvested, hence unrealistic to improve through traditional phenotypic selection, but perfect candidates for genomic selection. Before genomic selection can be implemented in crossbred populations, it is important to explore if pleiotropic effects exist between carcass and meat quality traits. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify genomic regions with pleiotropic effects on carcass and meat quality traits in a multibreed Angus-Brahman population that included purebred and crossbred animals. Data included phenotypes for 10 carcass and meat quality traits from 2,384 steers, of which 1,038 were genotyped with the GGP Bovine F-250. Single-trait genome-wide association studies were first used to investigate the relevance of direct additive genetic effects on each carcass, sensory and visual meat quality traits. A second analysis for each trait included all other phenotypes as covariates to correct for direct causal effects from identified genomic regions with pure direct effects on the trait under analysis. Five genomic windows on chromosomes BTA5, BTA7, BTA18, and BTA29 explained more than 1% of additive genetic variance of two or more traits. Moreover, three suggestive pleiotropic regions were identified on BTA10 and BTA19. The 317 genes uncovered in pleiotropic regions included anchoring and cytoskeletal proteins, key players in cell growth, muscle development, lipid metabolism and fat deposition, and important factors in muscle proteolysis. A functional analysis of these genes revealed GO terms directly related to carcass quality, meat quality, and tenderness in beef cattle, including calcium-related processes, cell signaling, and modulation of cell-cell adhesion. These results contribute with novel information about the complex genetic architecture and pleiotropic effects of carcass and meat quality traits in crossbred beef cattle.

Genetic parameters associated with meat quality of Nellore cattle at different anatomical points of longissimus: Brazilian standards.

The present study estimated genetic parameters and evaluated the genetic and phenotypic correlations between meat quality characteristics of Nellore cattle evaluated at different anatomical points of the longissimus. Data from 1329 Nellore young bulls were used to evaluate, in the 5th and 12th ribs, marbling score (MAR), shear force (SF), cooking weight losses (CWL) and intramuscular fat (IMF). In addition, the subcutaneous fat thickness was measured at the 12th rib (SFT12) and between the last lumbar and the first sacral vertebrae (SFTLR), in the separation of loin and round. Results yielded moderate heritability coefficients for evaluated characteristics, except CWL. High genetic correlations (0.61) were found between measurements of SFT12 and SFTLR. MAR, IMF and SF were evaluated at the 5th and 12th rib. Meat quality and subcutaneous fat thickness measured at different anatomical points of the longissimus are genetically correlated and can be used in genetic selection programs to improve meat quality characteristics in Nellore cattle.

Escuta clínica em um ambulatório de genética: uma experiência extensiva / The clinical listening in a genetic ambulatory: an extension experience / Escucha clínica em amlabolatoria de genética: uma experiencia de extensión

O trabalho busca relatar uma prática extensionista em um Hospital Universitário que teve como objetivo ampliar as ações no cuidado a pessoas com defeitos congênitos (DC) no SUS. Para tanto, apresenta-se a experiência de estudantes de psicologia em ambulatório de genética, ao associar à prática médica ambulatorial a escuta clínica. Discute-se neste artigo a importância da prática extensiva na atenção a pacientes com DC e seus familiares, decorrente da necessidade da interlocução entre medicina e psicologia na clínica contemporânea. Os resultados delimitaram os desafios enfrentados pelas estudantes e os efeitos da prática extensionista em serviço de genética clínica: estabelecimento de um espaço de fala e escuta; complexidade das condições genéticas; problemática do acompanhamento psicológico em serviço ambulatorial; e implicações na formação em Psicologia. Ressalta-se, por fim, a pertinência das reflexões teórico-clínicas acerca de uma primeira experiência de escuta clínica em sua dupla vertente: como dispositivo tanto terapêutico quanto formativo (AU).

This work seeks to report an extension practice in a University Hospital that had the objective to expand the care actions concerning people with birth defects in the Brazil's Unified Health System (SUS). Therefore, it presents the psychology student's experience in a genetic ambulatory, associating the clinical listening to the medical practice. This article also discusses the importance of the extension practice in attention to people with birth defects, through the emerging dialogue between medical practice and the clinical listening. The results set out the challenges faced by the students and the extension practice effects in a genetic service: an effective speaking and listening space; the genetical conditions complexity; the continuity of psychological support issue; and the implications in Psychology formation. Is stands out, lastly, the relevance of theoretical-clinical reflections concerning a first clinical listening experience double-sided: such as a therapeutic disposal and as a formative one (AU).

El trabajo busca reportar una práctica de extensión en un Hospital Universitario que tuvo como objetivo ampliar las acciones de atención a personas con defectos de nacimiento (EC) en el SUS. Para ello, presenta la experiencia en una consulta externa de genética, asociando la escucha clínica a la práctica médica ambulatoria. Este artículo discute la importancia de una práctica extensa en el cuidado de pacientes con EC y sus familias, debido a la necesidad de diálogo entre la medicina y la psicología en la clínica contemporánea. Los resultados delimitaron los desafíos enfrentados por los estudiantes y los efectos de la práctica de extensión en un servicio de genética clínica: establecimiento de un espacio para el habla y la escucha; complejidad de las condiciones genéticas; problemática del seguimiento psicológico en un servicio ambulatorio; e implicaciones para la formación en psicología. Finalmente, se destaca la relevancia de las reflexiones teórico-clínicas acerca de una primera experiencia de escucha clínica en su doble vertiente: como dispositivo terapéutico y formativo (AU).

The Regulation of Floral Colour Change in Pleroma raddianum (DC.) Gardner.

Floral colour change is a widespread phenomenon in angiosperms, but poorly understood from the genetic and chemical point of view. This article investigates this phenomenon in Pleroma raddianum, a Brazilian endemic species whose flowers change from white to purple. To this end, flavonoid compounds and their biosynthetic gene expression were profiled. By using accurate techniques (Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS)), thirty phenolic compounds were quantified. Five key genes of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway were partially cloned, sequenced, and the mRNA levels were analysed (RT-qPCR) during flower development. Primary metabolism was also investigated by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-EIMS), where carbohydrates and organic acids were identified. Collectively, the obtained results suggest that the flower colour change in P. raddianum is determined by petunidin and malvidin whose accumulation coincides with the transcriptional upregulation of early and late biosynthetic genes of the flavonoid pathway, mainly CHS and ANS, respectively. An alteration in sugars, organic acids and phenolic co-pigments is observed together with the colour change. Additionally, an increment in the content of Fe3+ ions in the petals, from the pink to purple stage, seemed to influence the saturation of the colour.

Whole Genome Sequence Data Provides Novel Insights Into the Genetic Architecture of Meat Quality Traits in Beef.

Tenderness is a major quality attribute for fresh beef steaks in the United States, and meat quality traits in general are suitable candidates for genomic research. The objectives of the present analysis were to (1) perform genome-wide association (GWA) analysis for marbling, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), tenderness, and connective tissue using whole-genome data in an Angus population, (2) identify enriched pathways in each GWA analysis; (3) construct a protein-protein interaction network using the associated genes and (4) perform a µ-calpain proteolysis assessment for associated structural proteins. An Angus-sired population of 2,285 individuals was assessed. Animals were transported to a commercial packing plant and harvested at an average age of 457 ± 46 days. After 48 h postmortem, marbling was recorded by graders' visual appraisal. Two 2.54-cm steaks were sampled from each muscle for recording of WBSF, and tenderness, and connective tissue by a sensory panel. The relevance of additive effects on marbling, WBSF, tenderness, and connective tissue was evaluated on a genome-wide scale using a two-step mixed model-based approach in single-trait analysis. A tissue-restricted gene enrichment was performed for each GWA where all polymorphisms with an association p-value lower than 1 × 10-3 were included. The genes identified as associated were included in a protein-protein interaction network and a candidate structural protein assessment of proteolysis analyses. A total of 1,867, 3,181, 3,926, and 3,678 polymorphisms were significantly associated with marbling, WBSF, tenderness, and connective tissue, respectively. The associate region on BTA29 (36,432,655-44,313,046 bp) harbors 13 highly significant markers for meat quality traits. Enrichment for the GO term GO:0005634 (Nucleus), which includes transcription factors, was evident. The final protein-protein network included 431 interations between 349 genes. The 42 most important genes based on significance that encode structural proteins were included in a proteolysis analysis, and 81% of these proteins were potential µ-Calpain substrates. Overall, this comprehensive study unraveled genetic variants, genes and mechanisms of action responsible for the variation in meat quality traits. Our findings can provide opportunities for improving meat quality in beef cattle via marker-assisted selection.

Across-country genomic prediction of bull fertility in Jersey dairy cattle.

The use of information across populations is an attractive approach to increase the accuracy of genomic predictions for numerically small breeds and traits that are time-consuming and difficult to measure, such as male fertility in cattle. This study was conducted to evaluate genomic prediction of Jersey bull fertility using an across-country reference population combining records from the United States and Australia. The data set consisted of 1,570 US Jersey bulls with sire conception rate (SCR) records, 603 Australian Jersey bulls with semen fertility value (SFV) records and SNP genotypes for roughly 90,000 loci. Both SCR and SFV are evaluations of service sire fertility based on cow field data, and both are intended as phenotypic evaluations because the estimates include genetic and nongenetic effects. Within- and across-country genomic predictions were evaluated using univariate and bivariate genomic best linear unbiased prediction models. Predictive ability was assessed in 5-fold cross-validation using the correlation between observed and predicted fertility values and mean squared error of prediction. Within-country genomic predictions exhibited predictive correlations of around 0.28 and 0.02 for the United States and Australia, respectively. The Australian Jersey population is genetically diverse and small in size, so careful selection of the reference population by including only closely related animals (e.g., excluding New Zealand bulls, which is a less-related population) increased the predictive correlations up to 0.20. Notably, the use of bivariate models fitting all US Jersey records and the optimized Australian population resulted in predictive correlations around of 0.24 for SFV values, which is a relative increase in predictive ability of 20%. Conversely, for predicting SCR values, the use of an across-country reference population did not outperform the standard approach using pure US Jersey reference data set. Our findings indicate that genomic prediction of male fertility in dairy cattle is feasible, and the use of an across-country reference population would be beneficial when local populations are small and genetically diverse.

The RNAi Pathway Is Important to Control Mayaro Virus Infection in Aedes aegypti but not for Wolbachia-Mediated Protection.

Mayaro virus (MAYV), a sylvatic arbovirus belonging to the Togaviridae family and Alphavirus genus, is responsible for an increasing number of outbreaks in several countries of Central and South America. Despite Haemagogus janthinomys being identified as the main vector of MAYV, laboratory studies have already demonstrated the competence of Aedes aegypti to transmit MAYV. It has also been demonstrated that the WolbachiawMel strain is able to impair the replication and transmission of MAYV in Ae. aegypti. In Ae. aegypti, the small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway is an important antiviral mechanism; however, it remains unclear whether siRNA pathway acts against MAYV infection in Ae. aegypti. The main objective of this study was to determine the contribution of the siRNA pathway in the control of MAYV infection. Thus, we silenced the expression of AGO2, an essential component of the siRNA pathway, by injecting dsRNA-targeting AGO2 (dsAGO2). Our results showed that AGO2 is required to control MAYV replication upon oral infection in Wolbachia-free Ae. aegypti. On the other hand, we found that Wolbachia-induced resistance to MAYV in Ae. aegypti is independent of the siRNA pathway. Our study brought new information regarding the mechanism of viral protection, as well as on Wolbachia mediated interference.

Urban expansion and its impact on water security: The case of the Paraíba do Sul River Basin, São Paulo, Brazil.

Increasing demand for water is one of the most challenging problems that human societies face today and has encouraged new studies to examine water security and water management. Seeking to discuss this important issue in the Brazilian context, we analyzed the impacts of urban expansion on water security in a basin located in the most populated region of Brazil. To quantify increased water demand, we combined urban sprawl and regional population increase projections. In this context, our study contributes to discussions on water security by addressing the importance of integration between water and urban planning. Simulations indicate good performance in reproducing actual water system conditions. The finding demonstrates that urban expansion in the region is mainly driven by road proximity. Urban occupation is projected to increase in 170% by 2050, increasing water demands for domestic use in 38%. Results indicate the feasibility of including landscape and socioeconomic constrains in order to obtain potential domestic water demand scenarios by using land use and land cover change modelling to assess urban expansion and population growth. For the study region, our findings suggest that although urban sprawl increases water demand, urban supply will not be compromised given the large volume of available water in the basin. However, the indirect consequences of urban sprawl, such as industrialization and agricultural intensification, may compromise the quality of this resource and require better water use management in the region.