Plant Compartments and Developmental Stages Modulate the Balance between Niche-Based and Neutral Processes in Soybean Microbiome.

Understanding the dynamics of plant-associated microbial communities within agriculture is well documented. However, the ecological processes that assemble the plant microbiome are not well understood. This study elucidates the relative dominance of assembly processes across plant compartments (root, stem, and leaves) and developmental stages (emergence, growth, flowering, and maturation). Bacterial community composition and assembly processes were assessed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Null models that couple phylogenetic community composition and species distribution models were used to evaluate ecological assembly processes of bacterial communities. All models highlighted that the balance between the assembly process was modulated by compartments and developmental stages. Dispersal limitation dominated amongst the epiphytic communities and at the maturation stage. Homogeneous selection dominated assembly across plant compartments and development stages. Overall, both sets of models were mostly in agreement in predicting the prevailing assembly processes. Our results show, for the first time, that even though niche-based processes dominate in the plant environment, the relative influence of dispersal limitation in community assembly is important.

Tetanus vaccination in pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the global literature.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the effect of several factors on the uptake of tetanus vaccination in pregnant women. STUDY DESIGN: This is a systematic review and meta-analysis of the global literature. METHODS: The search strategy was carried out in the EMBASE and MEDLINE (Pubmed) databases, without language restrictions. The databases were searched from the beginning until May 2020. Fixed and random effect models were applied according to the methodological heterogeneity between the included studies. The I2 test was performed to assess the magnitude of the heterogeneity. The results were presented as a grouped odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: The initial search strategy generated 14,349 original articles. In total, 31 studies met all inclusion criteria and 20 articles were included in the meta-analysis. The grouped and subgroup analyses showed a significant association between tetanus vaccination and the following factors: higher number of prenatal visits (OR: 2.00; 95% CI: 1.17-3.42), higher maternal age (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.02-1.50), being single (OR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.20-1.65), professional vaccine guidance (OR: 9.00; 95% CI: 1.81-44.75) and uptake of influenza vaccine (OR: 5.87; 95% CI: 1.39-24.73). CONCLUSIONS: The uptake of tetanus vaccine in pregnant women is associated with various factors. The identification of these factors is an important step towards the implementation of public health strategies aimed at improving immunisation against tetanus in pregnant women.

[Linear lesions: A key dermatological feature of X-linked ectodermal dysplasia in a young girl]. / Lésions linéaires : un signe dermatologique clé de la dysplasie ectodermique liée à l'X chez la fille.

INTRODUCTION: X-linked hypo/anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (AED) is the most common form of AED. It is manifested in boys by involvement of the adnexa, teeth and sweat glands. In girls, signs are usually minor and may include linear lesions that are poorly known since they are reported infrequently or overlooked. Herein we report 3 cases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: There were two female patients who had been followed for several years, as well as the mother of one of the patients. Both of the younger patients had early diagnosis of DEA in childhood based on severe dental abnormalities, i.e. hypodontia and conical teeth, a typical facies, and cutaneous xerosis. The mother had milder signs and the diagnosis was made at the time of her daughter's diagnosis. All 3 had hypopigmented linear skin lesions (arms, buttocks or back), associated with a decrease in hair in one of them. Genetic analysis showed the R156H missense mutation at exon 3 of the EDA gene in all 3 patients. CONCLUSION: These hypopigmentation linear lesions, sometimes with hair loss, are well known to pediatric clinicians and dermatologists concerning early diagnosis of AED in girls, especially where the other signs are mild. Early diagnosis enables appropriate therapeutic management and genetic counseling regarding future pregnancy.

Investigating the feasibility of tumour molecular profiling in gastrointestinal malignancies in routine clinical practice.

Background: Targeted capture sequencing can potentially facilitate precision medicine, but the feasibility of this approach in gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies is unknown. Patients and methods: The FOrMAT (Feasibility of a Molecular Characterisation Approach to Treatment) study was a feasibility study enrolling patients with advanced GI malignancies from February 2014 to November 2015. Targeted capture sequencing (mainly using archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded diagnostic/resection samples) was carried out to detect mutations, copy number variations and translocations in up to 46 genes which had prognostic/predictive significance or were targets in current/upcoming clinical trials. Results: Of the 222 patients recruited, 215 patients (96.8%) had available tissue samples, 125 patients (56.3%) had ≥16 genes successfully sequenced and 136 patients (61.2%) had ≥1 genes successfully sequenced. Sample characteristics influenced the proportion of successfully sequenced samples, e.g. tumour type (colorectal 70.9%, biliary 52.6%, oesophagogastric 50.7%, pancreas 27.3%, P = 0.002), tumour cellularity (high versus low: 78.3% versus 13.3%, P ≤ 0.001), tumour content (high versus low: 78.6% versus 27.3%, P = 0.001) and type of sample (resection versus biopsy: 82.4% versus 47.6%, P ≤ 0.001). Currently, actionable alterations were detected in 90 (40.5%) of the 222 patients recruited (66% of the 136 patients sequenced) and 2 patients subsequently received a targeted therapy. The most frequently detected currently actionable alterations were mutations in KRAS, BRAF, TP53 and PIK3CA. For the 205 patients with archival samples, the median time to obtain sequencing results was 18.9 weeks, including a median of 4.9 weeks for sample retrieval and 5.1 weeks for sequencing. Conclusions: Targeted sequencing detected actionable alterations in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples, but tissue characteristics are of critical importance in determining sequencing success. Routine molecular profiling of GI tumours outside of clinical trials is not an effective use of healthcare resources unless more targeted drugs become available. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02112357.

Elastogram quality assessment score in vibration-controlled transient elastography: Diagnostic performance compared to digital morphometric analysis of liver biopsy in chronic hepatitis C.

Vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) is widely used for noninvasive fibrosis staging in chronic hepatitis C. However, internal validation is based solely on variability and success rate and lacks reproducible quality indicators. We analysed the graphic representation of shear wave propagation in comparison with morphometric results of liver biopsy, eliminating observer variability bias. Individual elastograms were classified according to two morphologic criteria: extension of wave propagation (length of the graphic representation) and shear wave dispersal (level of parallelism displayed in the elastogram). Then, a score based on these criteria stratified the elastogram in classes I through III (highest to lowest technical quality). Liver stiffness results of each measurement were compared with collagen contents in liver biopsy by morphometric analysis. A total of 3243 elastograms were studied (316 patients). Digital morphometry in liver biopsy showed significant fibrosis in 66% of samples and advanced fibrosis in 31%. Elastogram quality analysis resulted in 1438 class I measurements (44%), 1070 class II (34%) and 735 class III. Area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) for severe fibrosis according to class (I, II and III) was 0.941, 0.887 and 0.766, respectively. For advanced fibrosis, AUROCs were 0.977, 0.883 and 0.781, respectively. Spearman's correlation testing for all classes and levels of fibrosis demonstrated significant independent association (r2  = -.95, P < .01). Our study is the first to propose measurable quality criteria for VTCE and to validate them against objective assessment of liver biopsy through digital morphometric imaging analysis. We concluded that VCTE performance is significantly influenced by quality assessment of individual measurements. Considering these criteria in clinical practice may improve accuracy.

Fragmentation of Valence and Carbon Core Excited and Ionized CH2FCF3 Molecule.

The photofragmentation dynamics of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R134a) with photon energies from 12 eV up to 320 eV, surrounding the C 1s edge is discussed. The ionic moieties were measured in coincidence with the ejected electrons (PEPICO mode), and detected as a function of the photon energy. Around the C K core edge, the fragmentation profiles are examined regarding the site specific excitation of the CH2FCF3 molecule. In the present case, site-selectivity is favored by the distinct chemical environments surrounding both C atoms. NEXAFS spectrum at the C 1s edge simulation has been obtained at the TDDFT level and excited state geometry optimization calculations have been performed at the inner-shell multiconfigurational self-consistent field level. Our observations indicate that the C(H2F) 1s excitation to a highly repulsive potential expels a fluorine atom leaving the heavier radical fragment C2F3H2* which relaxes to the fundamental state of the ion C2F3H2+. On the other hand, the excitation from the C(F3) 1s carbon to a repulsive state in the C-C bond, leads to a C-C bond cleavage, explaining the observed site specific fragmentation.

Definition of a Critical Size Osteochondral Knee Defect and its Negative Effect on the Surrounding Articular Cartilage in the Rat.

BACKGROUND: Joint trauma is predisposing to the incidence of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. There is a limited knowledge on the impact of posttraumatic osteochondral defects on the whole joint. This study was designed to define a critical size osteochondral defect in the knee of rats and to investigate a possible association between osteochondral defects and degeneration of the surrounding joint surface. METHODS: Cylindrical osteochondral defects of different sizes were created in the knee joint of rats. The natural course of these lesions was studied by macroscopic observation, histology, and immunohistochemistry. Gene expression of the articular cartilage surrounding the defects in vivo and of articular chondrocytes cultured in vitro in IL1ß and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) supplemented media was evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). RESULTS: In defects of 0.9 mm diameter, spontaneous joint surface healing was observed but also upward advancing of the subchondral bone plate at 16 weeks. Larger 1.4 mm diameter defects were critical size, not resulting in successful healing at any time point. Importantly, the articular cartilage surrounding the defects expressed FGF2 and IL1ß, but not ACAN and Col2. Chondrocytes cultured in IL1ß and FGF2 supplemented media lost the natural fibroblast growth factor receptors - FGFr1/FGFr3 balance and showed decreased viability. CONCLUSIONS: A critical size osteochondral defect was defined as 1.4 mm in diameter in rat. Subchondral bone plate advancement occured rapidly. The articular cartilage surrounding osteochondral defects showed catabolic activity with expression of IL1ß, FGF2 and a disturbed FGFr1/FGFr3 balance, potentially initiating a process of early osteoarthritic disease.

Nanocomposites of Recycled Polycarbonate/Nano-Zinc Oxide (rPC/nZno): Effect of Nanofiller and Gamma-Radiation on the Properties and as Barrier Against Ultraviolet Light.

In order to promote barrier against ultraviolet radiation and increase of mechanical characteristics performance, nanocomposites of recycled polycarbonate/nano-zinc oxide (rPC/nZnO) with different nZnO content were prepared and submitted to doses of gamma-radiation (10­50 kGy). The nanocomposites were also exposed to Xenon light source in a weather chamber viewing to evaluate the action of nZnO against ultraviolet light. The rPC/nZnO nanocomposites were characterized by thermogravimetry (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and infrared spectrometry (FT-IR). There was a progressive reduction of the glass transition temperature (T g) and degradation temperatures, T onset and T max, as function of gamma-radiation dose and nano-zinc oxide content. The lowering of the thermal properties was attributed to the alcoholysis reaction between hydroxyl groups onto the nZnO surface and carbonate linkages of the rPC during the molten state. WAXD revealed a possible chains arrangement (induction of crystallinity) and/or segregation of chains size (scission of rPC chains generating oligomers) associated to the alcoholysis reaction. The action of gamma-radiation as crosslinking agent was not effective. The degree of swelling is zero on account of the stabilization of rPC radicals by oxygen during gamma-radiation exposure. Before exposure to UV light the carbonyl index (CI) show trend to decrease­corroborating the scission of the rPC carbonate bonds. After 100 hours of exposure a recovering of the CI was noticed. The result was associated to the free radicals recombination and esterification reactions. In some extent the combined action of nZnO and gamma-radiation as barrier to UV light was successful.

Tourism as a driver of conflicts and changes in fisheries value chains in Marine Protected Areas.

Although critical tools for protecting ocean habitats, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are sometimes challenged for social impacts and conflicts they may generate. Some conflicts have an economic base, which, once understood, can be used to resolve associated socioenvironmental problems. We addressed how the fish trade in an MPA that combines no-take zones and tourist or resident zones creates incentives for increased fisheries. We performed a value chain analysis following the fish supply and trade through interviews that assessed consumer demand and preference. The results showed a simple and closed value chain driven by tourism (70% of the consumption). Both tourists and local consumers preferred high trophic level species (predators), but the former preferred large pelagics (tuna and dolphinfish) and the latter preferred reef species (barracuda and snapper). Pelagic predators are caught with fresh sardines, which are sometimes located only in the no-take zone. Pelagic species are mainly served as fillet, and the leftover fish parts end up as waste, an issue that, if properly addressed, can help reduce fishing pressure. Whereas some of the target species may be sustainable (e.g., dolphinfish), others are more vulnerable (e.g., wahoo) and should not be intensively fished. We advise setting stricter limits to the number of tourists visiting MPAs, according to their own capacity and peculiarities, in order to avoid conflicts with conservations goals through incentives for increased resource use.

PAN-EX: a pooled analysis of two trials of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy in MRI-defined, locally advanced rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: EXPERT and EXPERT-C were phase II clinical trials of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in high-risk, locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). DESIGN: We pooled individual patient data from these trials. The primary objective was overall survival (OS) in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population. Prognostic factors were also analysed. RESULTS: A total of 269 patients were included. Of these, 91.1% completed NACT, 88.1% completed CRT and 240 (89.2%) underwent curative surgery (R0/R1). After a median follow-up of 71.9 months, 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and OS were 66.4% and 73.3%, respectively. In the group of R0/R1 resection patients, 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS) and OS were 71.6% and 77.2%, respectively, with local recurrence occurring in 5.5% and distant metastases in 20.6% of cases. Significant prognostic factors after multivariate analyses included age, tumour grade and MRI extramural venous invasion (mrEMVI) at baseline, MRI tumour regression grade (mrTRG) after CRT, ypT stage after surgery and adherence to study treatment. mrTRG after NACT was associated with PFS (P = 0.002) and OS (P = 0.018) and appeared to stratify patients based on the incremental benefit from sequential CRT. Among the outcome measures considered, in the subgroup of R0/R1 resection patients, ypT and ypStage had the highest predictive accuracy for RFS (concordance index: 0.6238 and 0.6252, respectively) and OS (concordance index: 0.6094 and 0.6132, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Administering NACT before CRT could be a potential strategy for high-risk LARC. In this setting, mrTRG after CRT is an independent prognostic factor, while mrTRG after NACT should be tested as a parameter for treatment selection in trials of NACT ± CRT. ypT stage may be a valuable surrogate end point for future phase II trials investigating intensified neoadjuvant treatments in similar patient populations.

Comparative effect of a new mouthrinse containing chlorhexidine, triclosan and zinc on volatile sulphur compounds: a randomized, crossover, double-blind study.

AIM: The aims of this study were to compare the volatile sulphur compounds (VSC)-reducing effect of two commercial mouthrinses using a morning bad breath model and to assess the role of mechanical plaque control (MPC) when performed previously to mouthrinse use. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eleven volunteers with good oral health were enrolled in a double-blind, randomized, six-step crossover design study with a 7-day washout period. Two commercial mouthrinses were tested using a saline solution (NaCl 0.9%) as a negative control: one mouthrinse contained 0.05% chlorhexidine, 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride and 0.14% zinc lactate (CHX-CPC-Zn), while the other contained 0.05% chlorhexidine, 0.15% triclosan and 0.18% zinc pidolate (CHX-triclosan-Zn). A portable sulphide monitor (Halimeter(®) ) was used for VSC quantification. Measurements were made at baseline, and 1, 3 and 5 h after rinsing. Significant differences were detected by analysis of variance. RESULTS: No significant differences between groups were detected at baseline. We were unable to demonstrate a significant influence of mechanical plaque control on the reduction of VSC levels when performed before mouthrinse use (P = 0.631). Both mouthrinses effectively lowered VSC levels in all test intervals (P < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found between mouthrinses in any of the test intervals (P = 0.629, 0.069 and 0.598 at 1, 3 and 5 h). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that CHX-CPC-Zn and CHX-triclosan-Zn have significant and similar effects in reducing VSC levels, which persist for at least 5 h. Such effects were independent of previous MPC, which failed to improve on the results of mouthrinse use alone.

Population characteristics, habitat and diet of a recently discovered stingray Dasyatis marianae: implications for conservation.

This study examined population density, habitat and diet of Dasyatis marianae, a recently discovered species, in the reef complex of Maracajaú in Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil. The highest concentration of D. marianae occurred in seagrass beds. Habitat use differed significantly between sex and age classes, with females and juveniles using areas other than reefs. Females utilized primarily seagrass beds and juveniles occurred mainly along the sandy bottom near the beach, highlighting the importance of protecting these areas. Dasyatis marianae diet was characterized primarily by crustaceans (91·9% index of relative importance, IRI ), including shrimp, crabs and lobsters. The availability of prey in different habitat types influences occupation by D. marianae, but the prey selectivity of D. marianae, among other factors, may affect this relationship. Intense shrimp and lobster fishing in the region probably has an effect on preferred prey resources of this ray. Information on feeding habits of this species contributes to a better understanding of trophic dynamics and food webs, which is critical if ecosystem principles are to be integrated into fisheries management.

Perception of Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Children with Epidermolysis Bullosa: A Quantitative and Qualitative Study.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT: The results of this study confirm the difficulties experienced by patients in the oral sphere. They also show that patients are able to adapt and that their demands go beyond functional rehabilitation. This work should encourage dental practitioners to be part of the overall management of the disease, involving regular checkups, preventive dental measures, and oral hygiene education. Therefore, more effective communication is required, not only between the dental and dermatological teams but also with the parents and caregivers.

Multiannual observations of acetone, methanol, and acetaldehyde in remote tropical atlantic air: implications for atmospheric OVOC budgets and oxidative capacity.

Oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) in the atmosphere are precursors to peroxy acetyl nitrate (PAN), affect the tropospheric ozone budget, and in the remote marine environment represent a significant sink of the hydroxyl radical (OH). The sparse observational database for these compounds, particularly in the tropics, contributes to a high uncertainty in their emissions and atmospheric significance. Here, we show measurements of acetone, methanol, and acetaldehyde in the tropical remote marine boundary layer made between October 2006 and September 2011 at the Cape Verde Atmospheric Observatory (CVAO) (16.85° N, 24.87° W). Mean mixing ratios of acetone, methanol, and acetaldehyde were 546 ± 295 pptv, 742 ± 419 pptv, and 428 ± 190 pptv, respectively, averaged from approximately hourly values over this five-year period. The CAM-Chem global chemical transport model reproduced annual average acetone concentrations well (21% overestimation) but underestimated levels by a factor of 2 in autumn and overestimated concentrations in winter. Annual average concentrations of acetaldehyde were underestimated by a factor of 10, rising to a factor of 40 in summer, and methanol was underestimated on average by a factor of 2, peaking to over a factor of 4 in spring. The model predicted summer minima in acetaldehyde and acetone, which were not apparent in the observations. CAM-Chem was adapted to include a two-way sea-air flux parametrization based on seawater measurements made in the Atlantic Ocean, and the resultant fluxes suggest that the tropical Atlantic region is a net sink for acetone but a net source for methanol and acetaldehyde. Inclusion of the ocean fluxes resulted in good model simulations of monthly averaged methanol levels although still with a 3-fold underestimation in acetaldehyde. Wintertime acetone levels were better simulated, but the observed autumn levels were more severely underestimated than in the standard model. We suggest that the latter may be caused by underestimated terrestrial biogenic African primary and/or secondary OVOC sources by the model. The model underestimation of acetaldehyde concentrations all year round implies a consistent significant missing source, potentially from secondary chemistry of higher alkanes produced biogenically from plants or from the ocean. We estimate that low model bias in OVOC abundances in the remote tropical marine atmosphere may result in up to 8% underestimation of the global methane lifetime due to missing model OH reactivity. Underestimation of acetaldehyde concentrations is responsible for the bulk (∼70%) of this missing reactivity.

Physical exercise on the rat ventral prostate: steroid hormone receptors, apoptosis and cell proliferation.

Studies have investigated the effect of exercise on prostate cancer risk. However, there are still doubts regarding the correlation between physical activity and the steroid hormones with respect to the reduction of the risk for prostatic lesions. We evaluated the levels of corticosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone, estradiol, and steroid hormone receptors, and investigated the relationship between apoptosis and cell proliferation in the rat ventral prostate after training. Two groups were included in this study: control and trained. The trained group was submitted to training for 13 weeks (1 week of adaptation). Two days after the last training session, all animals were euthanized, and the intermediate and distal regions of the ventral prostate were collected and processed for immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and hormonal analyses. Physical exercise increased the corticosterone plasma, DHT and testosterone. In addition, androgen receptor expression was lower and estrogen receptor (ER) α and ER ß expression were higher in the trained group. However, the trained group showed disruption of the ratio of apoptotic to proliferating cells, indicating a predominance of apoptosis. We conclude that physical exercise alters the sex hormones and their receptors and is associated with the disruption of the balance between apoptosis and cell proliferation in the rat ventral prostate.

Comparison of different protocols for the extraction of microbial DNA from reef corals.

This study aimed to test different protocols for the extraction of microbial DNA from the coral Mussismilia harttii. Four different commercial kits were tested, three of them based on methods for DNA extraction from soil (FastDNA SPIN Kit for soil, MP Bio, PowerSoil DNA Isolation Kit, MoBio, and ZR Soil Microbe DNA Kit, Zymo Research) and one kit for DNA extraction from plants (UltraClean Plant DNA Isolation Kit, MoBio). Five polyps of the same colony of M. harttii were macerated and aliquots were submitted to DNA extraction by the different kits. After extraction, the DNA was quantified and PCR-DGGE was used to study the molecular fingerprint of Bacteria and Eukarya. Among the four kits tested, the ZR Soil Microbe DNA Kit was the most efficient with respect to the amount of DNA extracted, yielding about three times more DNA than the other kits. Also, we observed a higher number and intensities of DGGE bands for both Bacteria and Eukarya with the same kit. Considering these results, we suggested that the ZR Soil Microbe DNA Kit is the best adapted for the study of the microbial communities of corals.

Exploration of robustness indicators using adaptive responses to short-term feed restriction in suckling primiparous beef cows.

Animal robustness is a complex trait of importance for livestock production systems and genetic selection. Phenotyping is essential for evaluation of the adaptation of different genotypes to changing environments. This study tested an experimental framework to induce marked deviations in the adaptive responses of suckling beef cows and to identify relevant indicators of responses to characterise individual differences in the robustness of cows. The production and metabolic responses of primiparous suckling Charolais cows to two periods of feed restriction (FR, 50% of their net energy requirements) of different durations were monitored. After calving, 13 cows (aged 39 ±â€¯2 months, BW of 680 ±â€¯42 kg at calving) had ad libitum access to a diet composed of hay and supplemented with concentrate to meet their energy and protein requirements. Starting at 54 ±â€¯6 days postcalving, the cows underwent two periods of FR: 4 days of FR (FR4), which was followed by 17 days of ad libitum intake to study the recovery from FR4, and 10 days of FR (FR10), which was followed by 18 days of ad libitum intake to study the recovery from FR10. The milk yield (MY), BW, body condition score and plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), ß-hydroxybutyrate, glucose and urea concentrations were measured before, during and after each FR. Among all measured variables, the MY and NEFA concentrations showed the most significant changes in response to FR. A functional data analysis approach was applied to the MY and NEFA data to model the adaptive responses and extract quantifiable indicators of deviation and recovery. Linear correlations (P < 0.03-0.07) between FR4 and FR10 were found for some indicators describing MY and NEFA levels before and after FR. The overall repeatability of MY and NEFA responses between both FR accounted for 46% based on quartile analysis performed on average responses. Moreover, the variance in both the MY and NEFA variables did not differ significantly between FR4 and FR10, despite a trend for higher variances in FR10. Altogether, (1) the calculated variables derived from the functional data analysis of the time patterns of the MY and NEFA accounted for the differences in the cow responses to FR, and (2) the animal responses appeared to show concordance between FR4 and FR10. In conclusion, short-term FR is a relevant framework for studying productive and metabolic adaptive responses in suckling cows and allows the identification of potential robustness indicators.

Flower morphology and plant-bee pollinator interactions are related to stamen dimorphism in Melastomataceae.

Approximately 20,000 species of flowering plant offer mainly pollen to their pollinators, generally bees. Stamen dimorphism, a floral trait commonly present in some pollen flowers, is thought to be associated with exclusive pollen provision for highly effective bee pollinators. Notwithstanding, little is known about how stamen dimorphism is related to other floral morphological traits and, consequently, plant-pollinator interactions at the community scale. Here we investigated the relationship between stamen dimorphism and other floral morphological traits, as well as the interactions with pollinators in plants of Melastomataceae. We characterized each plant species as stamen dimorphic or stamen isomorphic according to differences in size and shape between stamen sets. Data on interactions between the plants and their bee pollinators were analysed as quantitative bipartite networks. We found that petal and style size and shape were correlated to stamen dimorphism. Stamen dimorphic species present larger flowers and less variable style shapes than stamen isomorphic species. Furthermore, stamen dimorphism is associated with higher richness of visiting bees, i.e. higher ecological generalization. During the evolutionary history of Melastomataceae, the dependence on pollinators for fruit set has possibly favoured the evolution of larger flowers with dimorphic stamens, which in turn are able to make use of a larger spectrum of pollen-collecting bees, leading to ecological generalization.

Early high calcium and phosphorus intake by parenteral nutrition prevents short-term bone strength decline in preterm infants.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Very premature newborns have an increased risk of low bone mass and metabolic bone disease. Most longitudinal studies report a significant decline in bone strength in the first weeks after birth. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether higher early calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) intake delivered by parenteral nutrition (PN) can prevent bone strength decline in preterm infants, within the first weeks after birth. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial of consecutively admitted neonates born with ≤ 33 weeks of gestational age, assigned to receive either Ca 45 mg · kg⁻¹ · day⁻¹ (low dose [LD]) or Ca 75 mg · kg⁻¹ · day⁻¹ (high dose [HD]) by PN. P was added to the PN solutions at a fixed Ca:P ratio (mg) of 1.7:1. Bone strength was assessed by the speed of sound (SOS) using the quantitative ultrasound method. Measurements were performed weekly from birth until discharge. Low bone strength (SOS < 10th centile of reference values) was the main outcome. RESULTS: Eighty-six infants were enrolled, 40 assigned to LD group and 46 to HD group. Mean (standard error) gestational age was 29.6 weeks (2.1) and birth weight was 1262 g (0.356). In the HD group, the SOS values never fell below those recorded at birth and, up to the sixth week of life, low bone strength was significantly less frequent as compared with that in the LD group, in spite of progressive reduction in parenteral mineral intake and/or establishment of full enteral feeding. CONCLUSIONS: Early assigned parenteral intake of Ca 75 mg · kg⁻¹ · day⁻¹ and P 44 mg · kg⁻¹ · day⁻¹ significantly contributed to preventing short-term bone strength decline in preterm infants.