Cannabinoid type 2 receptor inhibition enhances the antidepressant and proneurogenic effects of physical exercise after chronic stress.

Chronic stress is a major risk factor for neuropsychiatric conditions such as depression. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) has emerged as a promising target to counteract stress-related disorders given the ability of newborn neurons to facilitate endogenous plasticity. Recent data sheds light on the interaction between cannabinoids and neurotrophic factors underlying the regulation of AHN, with important effects on cognitive plasticity and emotional flexibility. Since physical exercise (PE) is known to enhance neurotrophic factor levels, we hypothesised that PE could engage with cannabinoids to influence AHN and that this would result in beneficial effects under stressful conditions. We therefore investigated the actions of modulating cannabinoid type 2 receptors (CB2R), which are devoid of psychotropic effects, in combination with PE in chronically stressed animals. We found that CB2R inhibition, but not CB2R activation, in combination with PE significantly ameliorated stress-evoked emotional changes and cognitive deficits. Importantly, this combined strategy critically shaped stress-induced changes in AHN dynamics, leading to a significant increase in the rates of cell proliferation and differentiation of newborn neurons, overall reduction in neuroinflammation, and increased hippocampal levels of BDNF. Together, these results show that CB2Rs are crucial regulators of the beneficial effects of PE in countering the effects of chronic stress. Our work emphasises the importance of understanding the mechanisms behind the actions of cannabinoids and PE and provides a framework for future therapeutic strategies to treat stress-related disorders that capitalise on lifestyle interventions complemented with endocannabinoid pharmacomodulation.

Fertility in seasonal-calving pasture-based lactating dairy cows following timed artificial insemination or timed embryo transfer with fresh or frozen in vitro-produced embryos.

The objective was to compare pregnancy per service event (P/S) in lactating dairy cows following timed artificial insemination (AI) or timed embryo transfer (ET) using either fresh or frozen in vitro-produced embryos. Oocytes were collected once per week for up to 9 wk using transvaginal ovum pick-up from elite dairy donors (ET-DAIRY; n = 40; Holstein-Friesian and Jersey) and elite beef donors (ET-ELITE-BEEF; n = 21; Angus). Both ET-DAIRY and ET-ELITE-BEEF donors consisted of heifers and cows. In addition, oocytes were collected from the ovaries of beef heifers of known pedigree following slaughter at a commercial abattoir (ET-COMM-BEEF; n = 119). Following in vitro maturation and fertilization, presumptive zygotes were cultured in vitro to the blastocyst stage. Grade 1 blastocysts were either transferred fresh or frozen for on-farm thawing and direct transfer. A total of 1,106 recipient cows (all lactating, predominantly Holstein-Friesian) located on 16 herdlets were blocked based on parity, calving date, and Economic Breeding Index, and randomly assigned to receive AI (n = 243) or ET (n = 863) after estrous synchronization with a 10-d Progesterone-synch protocol. Cows assigned to ET were further randomized to receive fresh (n = 187) or frozen (n = 178) ET-ELITE-BEEF embryos, fresh (n = 169) or frozen (n = 162) ET-DAIRY embryos, or fresh (n = 80) or frozen (n = 87) ET-COMM-BEEF embryos. Pregnancy was diagnosed using transrectal ultrasound on d 32 to 35 after synchronized ovulation and confirmed on d 62 to 65, at which time fetal sex was determined. Pregnancy per service event at d 32 was not different between AI (48.8%) and ET (48.9%) and did not differ between dairy and beef embryos (50.3% vs. 48.1%, respectively). However, P/S was less on d 32 following transfer of frozen embryos (41.6%) compared with fresh embryos (56.1%). Pregnancy loss between d 32 and 62 was greater for ET (15.1%) compared with AI (4.7%), with greater losses observed for frozen beef (18.5%), fresh beef (17.3%), and frozen dairy (19.2%) compared with fresh dairy (6.0%) embryos. Serum progesterone (P4) concentration on d 7 was associated with P/S at d 32 and 62. Cows in the quartile with the least serum P4 concentrations (quartile 1) had less probability of being pregnant on d 32 (33.4%) compared with cows in the 3 upper quartiles for serum P4 (45.7%, 55.6%, and 61.2% for quartile 2, quartile 3, and quartile 4, respectively). Sex ratio (male:female) at d 62 was skewed toward more male fetuses following ET (61.1:38.9) compared with AI (43.2:56.8) and was consistent with the sex ratio among in vitro blastocysts (61.2:38.8). In conclusion, P/S was similar for AI and ET, although pregnancy loss between d 32 and 62 was greater for ET than for AI.

Anatomical and histochemical characterization of stem and leaves of Bauhinia pulchella Benth. (Fabaceae).

Bauhinia pulchella Benth. (Fabaceae), is native to Brazil and popularly known as pata-de-bode. In folk medicine, it is used to treat diabetes. Pharmacological studies have demonstrated different properties, such as cytotoxic and antioxidant, and different chemical constituents, such as essential oil, triterpenoids, steroids, among others. In order to highlight the morphological differences of the species B. pulchella from the others of the genus, and its pharmacological potential, the present study aimed to carry out the anatomical and histochemical characterization of the stem and leaves of B. pulchella. Usual methods in plant anatomy were used in the preparation of semi-permanent slides containing cross sections of the stem, petiole and leaf blade and paradermal sections of the leaf blade for analysis in light microscopy and polarized light. Histochemical tests were also performed to localize the metabolites in the stem and leaf blade. The stem of B. pulchella has a cylindrical outline, the bark is composed of 7-8 layers of cells and discontinuously distributed sclerenchyma; petiole presents flat convex contour, prominences in the adaxial region, concentric amphicrivral vascular bundle, surrounding a small concentric anfivasal intramedullary bundle, adaxially two accessory bundles and tector trichomes; leaf blade with anisocytic and tetracytic stomata on the adaxial surface and anisocytic, tetracytic and anomocytic on the abaxial surface; and midrib with plain-convex outline, 1-2 layers of collenchyma and covering trichomes. Characteristics that differ from other species of the genus Bauhinia. Alkaloids, phenolic compounds, lipophilic compounds, lignin, triterpenes, steroids and tannins were observed in the species. The results are fundamental for the pharmacobotanical standardization of the studied species.

Influence of host genetic polymorphisms involved in immune response and their role in the development of Chikungunya disease: a review.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes and can cause significant pathogenicity in humans. Moreover, its importance has increased in the Americas since 2013. The primary vectors for viral delivery are the mosquito species Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Several factors, including host genetic variations and immune response against CHIKV, influence the outcomes of Chikungunya disease. This work aimed to gather information about different single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes that influence the host immune response during an infection by CHIKV. The viral characteristics, disease epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and immune response against CHIKV are also addressed. The main immune molecules related to this arboviral disease elucidated in this review are TLR3/7/8, DC-SIGN, HLA-DRB1/HLA-DQB1, TNF, IL1RN, OAS2/3, and CRP. Advances in knowledge about the genetic basis of the immune response during CHIKV infection are essential for expanding the understanding of disease pathophysiology, providing new genetic markers for prognosis, and identifying molecular targets for the development of new drug treatments.

Approach-avoidance biases to self-harm cues in young people with self-harm.

BACKGROUND: The urge to self-harm can be likened to craving in addictive behaviours. However, it remains unclear whether cognitive mechanisms involved in craving, such as attentional biases to cues, also underpin the urge to self-harm. METHODS: A Dot Probe Task was used to investigate attentional biases to self-harm cues in young people aged 16-25 with self-harm. Cues were shown for either 0.2 s or 2 s. Dot Probe Task performance in the Self-harm group (N = 50) was compared with age-matched Healthy Controls (N = 50) and age- and negative-affect (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21) matched controls with no self-harm (N = 50). RESULTS: The Self-harm group showed significantly greater avoidance of self-harm cues than Healthy Controls at 2 s. The Negative Affect group showed significantly less difficulty disengaging from self-harm cues than the Self-harm group and Healthy Controls at 2 s. There were no between-group differences in attentional bias at 0.2 s. LIMITATIONS: Study limitations that may affect attentional biases in the Self-harm group include not measuring indicators of recovery and recruiting only from the community potentially missing more severe self-harm presentations in clinical settings. CONCLUSIONS: Avoidance of self-harm cues in young people with self-harm may reflect conflict around self-harm behaviour, consistent with ambivalence models of craving. An ability to disengage from self-harm cues may be a protective factor in young people with higher levels of negative affect who do not self-harm. Whether these attentional biases represent a quantifiable marker of treatment response or susceptibility to relapse in individuals with self-harm remains an area for future investigation.

Influence of host genetic polymorphisms involved in immune response and their role in the development of Chikungunya disease: a review

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes and can cause significant pathogenicity in humans. Moreover, its importance has increased in the Americas since 2013. The primary vectors for viral delivery are the mosquito species Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Several factors, including host genetic variations and immune response against CHIKV, influence the outcomes of Chikungunya disease. This work aimed to gather information about different single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes that influence the host immune response during an infection by CHIKV. The viral characteristics, disease epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and immune response against CHIKV are also addressed. The main immune molecules related to this arboviral disease elucidated in this review are TLR3/7/8, DC-SIGN, HLA-DRB1/HLA-DQB1, TNF, IL1RN, OAS2/3, and CRP. Advances in knowledge about the genetic basis of the immune response during CHIKV infection are essential for expanding the understanding of disease pathophysiology, providing new genetic markers for prognosis, and identifying molecular targets for the development of new drug treatments.

Erratum to "Reproductive performance of early- and late-calving dairy cows artificially inseminated after ovulation synchronization and estrous resynchronization or artificially inseminated after observed estrus" (JDS Commun. 2:80-85).

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3168/jdsc.2020-0035.].

Colonization by Streptococcus pneumoniae among children in Porto Velho, Rondônia, Western Brazilian Amazon.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the primary pathogens that are associated with acute respiratory infections (ARI) that cause high rates of morbidity and mortality among children under five years of age in developed and developing countries. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of nasopharyngeal colonization, the antimicrobial resistance profile, and the capacity for biofilm formation by S. pneumoniae isolated from children aged 0-6 years with ARI throughout the Porto Velho-RO. A total of 660 swabs were collected from children with ARI. Molecular and biochemical tests were performed to characterize the isolates. The disk-difusion method and the E-test were used for antimicrobial sensitivity testing (TSA). Biofilm formation capacity was assessed using microtiter plate assays, and serotype detection was acheived using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses. The colonization rate for S. pneumoniae was 8.9% (59/660) and exhibited a high prevalence in children under 23 months of age 64.4% (38/59). The observed serotypes were 9V and 19F with frequencies of 1.7% (1/59) and 13.6% (8/59), respectively. The antimicrobial susceptibility test revealed 100% (59/59) sensitivity to vancomycin. In contrast, trimethoprim and oxacillin exhibited high resistance rates of 76.3% (45/59) and 52.5% (31/59), respectively. Of the biofilm-forming isolates, 54.8% (23/42) possessed resistance to some antimicrobials. In this study, S. pneumoniae showed high rates of antimicrobial resistance and the ability to form biofilms, as these are factors that favor bacterial persistence and can cause serious damage to the host.

Sustained effect of isoniazid preventive therapy among household contacts in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) is highly effective in preventing TB disease; however, its long-term benefit in household contacts (HHCs) of infectious TB cases is unclear.METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of two household contact studies in Vitoria, ES, Brazil, between 2008 and 2015. Households with smear-positive, culture-proven TB disease were enrolled. Eligible HHCs with tuberculin skin test (TST) indurations of ≥10 mm were referred to local TB clinics and IPT was started according to national guidelines. We reviewed the national dataset information system in January 2020 to identify HHCs with a diagnosis of TB disease. Time to event and Cox proportional regression analysis were conducted to identify factors associated with TB disease.RESULTS: Of the 1097 HHCs enrolled, 654 (60%) had TST ≥10 mm; 160 (24%) initiated IPT, of whom 115 (71.9%) completed IPT, which accounts for an overall completion rate of 18% among the population at risk; 42 (6%) TB cases were identified. IPT was associated with a 71% decrease in TB disease rates (HR 0.29, 95% CI 0.10-0.82; P = 0.02) among HHCs with TST ≥10 mm. IPT effect was sustained, as TB cases in HHCs without IPT occurred along the 7.9-year follow-up, whereas all four TB cases in HHCs with IPT were diagnosed within the first 3 years after exposureCONCLUSION: Isoniazid provides long-term protection for TB disease in household contacts of culture-proven TB cases.

Dinoflagellates cyst assemblage concerning trophic index for eutrophication from major ports along the west coast of India.

An overview of dinoflagellates cysts assemblage is presented as a trophic index for three monsoon-influenced estuarine and marine ports along the Indian coast. The cyst distribution (including harmful species) showed a trend of highest abundance and species number in highly eutrophicated estuarine (Cochin-south) followed by medium (New-Mangalore-central) and low (Kandla-north) levels of eutrophicated marine ports. The investigation revealed four new species in the region (Bitectatodinium spongium, Gonyaulax elongatum, Brigantedinium sp. and potential harmful species Blixaea quinquecornis-cyst similar to planktonic). Autotrophs dominance in the highly productive Cochin and New-Mangalore ports reveals that, in eutrophic systems, heterotrophs need not always be dominant. The indicator taxa (Polykrikos, Protoperidnium, and Lingulodinium) presence in high density indicated a eutrophic system. This study concludes cyst (species numbers/Fisher-α index/indicator species) as potential eutrophication proxies and emphasizes greater harmful-algal-bloom risks in the high trophic-index ports (Cochin and New-Mangalore).

Milk Contamination by Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex, Implications for Public Health in Amazonas, Brazil.

ABSTRACT: In Brazil, contamination of raw milk with Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) has been reported in several states. The highest rate of consumption of raw milk and its derivatives in Brazil occurs in Amazonas. This state also has the highest prevalence of tuberculosis in both humans and livestock. We assessed the contamination of cow's milk and buffalo's milk with MTC in Amazonas, focusing on Mycobacterium bovis, the species most commonly found in cattle and buffalo. In 2019, 250 samples of raw milk (91 from cattle, 159 from buffalo) were collected before processing from three milk plants in the state of Amazonas. The samples were placed into 21 pools and analyzed using shotgun metagenomic sequencing and taxonomic classification with Kraken 2 and MegaBLAST. To confirm the identity of mycobacterial species found, BLASTN was used to identify specific genomic positions in the TbD1 and RD1 regions and flanking RD4 region. MTC genetic material was identified in all pools of raw milk. Genetic material consistent with M. bovis was identified in seven pools of raw milk (1 from cattle, 6 from buffalo). Buffalo's milk had significantly higher MTC reads than did cow's milk. The common practice of consumption of raw milk and its derivatives in Amazonas presents a risk to public health. Urgent measures to prevent transmission of foodborne tuberculosis are needed in the Amazon region. Greater efforts and resources also should be directed toward elimination of bovine tuberculosis in cattle and buffalo herds in Amazonas and the rest of Brazil.

Integrated management of residues from tomato production: Recovery of value-added compounds and biogas production in the biorefinery context.

The biorefinery approach must be boosted in the management of agro-residues in the future. The present study aims to investigate the valorization of tomato production residues, namely rotten tomato (unfit for consumption - RT), green tomato (GT), and tomato branches (TB). The assessment involves the recovery of value-added compounds through the extraction process followed by biogas production through anaerobic digestion. A thorough characterization of the three residues (RT, GT, and TB) was carried out, including the identification of volatile compounds by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The volatiles analysis revealed the presence of flavor enhancer compounds and molecules with insecticidal properties. A solid-liquid extraction with ethanol allowed the recovery of value-added compounds in the extracts, in particular phenolic compounds, ß-carotene, and lycopene, which contributed to the antioxidant activity. RT and TB extracts were found to be richer in total phenolic compounds (~27 mg GAE/gdb dry basis) and exhibited higher antioxidant activity (IC50 = 0.911 and 0.745 mg/mL). The tomato branches extract had the highest concentration of carotenoids with 37.23 and 3.08 mg/kgdb of ß-carotene and lycopene, respectively. The biochemical methane potential (BMP) was assessed in sealed reactors operating in anaerobic conditions for all the raw (RT, GT, and TB) and extracted substrates waste (RTe, GTe, and TBe). While the BMP of RT and GT was in the range of 232-285 mL CH4/g VS, a lower value of 141 mL CH4/g VS was obtained for TB. The methane production for each pair of raw and extracted substrates (RT/RTe, GT/GTe, and TB/TBe) was considered statistically similar at a 95 % confidence level. Overall, the value-added compounds recovery through ethanolic extraction did not compromise the methane production of the materials.

Anatomical description of the skulls of peccaries (Tayassu tajacu, Linnaeus 1758) by computed tomography / [Descrição anatômica de crânio de catetos (Tayassu tajacu, Linnaeus, 1758) por tomografia computadorizada]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anatomical structures of the skulls of peccaries to establish the basis for their clinical study and future preclinical research. Ten skulls of adult peccaries were subjected to tomographic examination. The data obtained were processed via three-dimensional image reconstruction software (3D images). The reconstructions obtained from the neurocranium of the studied specimens allowed the identification and description of the following structures: nasal bone, frontal bone, parietal bones, incisor bone, maxillary bone, zygomatic bone, temporal bone, palatal bone, occipital bone, vomer bone, pterygoid bone, sphenoid bone, paranasal sinuses and orbit. Computed tomography proved to be an important diagnostic tool in the investigation of the skull of this species, allowing the acquisition of anatomical values not yet documented for the species in the literature.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as estruturas anatômicas dos crânios de catetos, a fim de se estabelecerem as bases para seu estudo clínico e futuras pesquisas pré-clínicas. Dez crânios de catetos adultos foram submetidos a exame tomográfico. Os dados obtidos foram introduzidos em um software de reconstrução de imagens tridimensionais (imagens em 3D). As reconstruções obtidas do neurocrânio dos espécimes estudados permitiram a identificação e a descrição das seguintes estruturas: osso nasal, osso frontal, ossos parietais, osso incisivo, osso maxilar, osso zigomático, osso temporal, osso palatino, osso occipital, osso vômer, osso pterigoide, osso esfenoide, seios paranasais e órbita. A tomografia computadorizada mostrou-se como uma ferramenta diagnóstica importante na investigação do crânio dessa espécie, permitindo a aquisição de valores anatômicos ainda não documentados para a espécie na literatura.(AU)

Adultescência: a caminho da maturidade no mundo contemporâneo / Adultecence: On the way to maturity in the contemporary world / Adultoscencia: En camino a la madurez en el mundo contemporáneo

Este artigo dedica- se à reflexão a respeito da passagem da adolescência para vida adulta que, em alguns casos, pode ser experimentada com muita dificuldade. O termo adultescência é um neologismo muito recente, usado para nomear o prolongamento da adolescência e a dificuldade na entrada na vida adulta. A reflexão sobre essa problemática conta com a discussão sobre as dinâmicas arquetípicas atuantes neste momento do desenvolvimento e com a consideração de aspectos da cultura contemporânea influentes e relevantes na vida dos jovens na atualidade. A articulação entre as forças dos arquétipos Grande Mãe, Pai, Alteridade, Herói, Puer-Senex e Eros se soma às influências dos aspectos da cultura contemporânea, formando uma trama complexa de interações que pode favorecer ou atravancar a entrada na vida adulta.

This article is oriented to the reflection on the transition from adolescence to adulthood, which in some cases can be experienced with great difficulty. The term adultecence is a very recent neologism, used to name the prolongation of adolescence and the difficulty in entering adult life. The reflection on this problem relies on the discussion of the archetypal dynamics at this time of development and on the consideration of aspects of contemporary culture that are influential and relevant in the lives of young people today. The articulation between the forces of the archetypes Great Mother, Father, Alterity, Hero, Puer-Senex and Eros, add to the influences of the aspects of contemporary culture, forming a complex plot of interactions, which can favor or hinder entry into adult life.

Este artículo está dedicado a la reflexión sobre la transición de la adolescencia a la edad adulta, que en algunos casos se puede experimentar con gran dificultad. El término adultescencia es un neologismo muy reciente, utilizado para nombrar la prolongación de la adolescencia y la dificultad para entrar en la vida adulta. La reflexión sobre este problema se basa en el debate sobre la dinámica arquetípica en este momento de desarrollo y la consideración de aspectos influyentes y relevantes de la cultura contemporánea en la vida de los jóvenes de hoy. La articulación entre las fuerzas de los arquetipos Gran Madre, Padre, Alteridad, Hero, Puer-Senex y Eros, se suman a las influencias de aspectos de la cultura contemporánea, formando una compleja red de interacciones, que pueden favorecer o dificultar la entrada a la vida adulta.

Hypogalactia in mammary quarters adjacent to lipopolysaccharide-infused quarters is associated with transcriptional changes in immune genes.

Infusion of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) into a mammary gland can provoke inflammatory responses and impair lactation in both the infused gland and neighboring glands. To gain insight into the mechanisms controlling the spatiotemporal response to localized mastitis in lactating dairy cows, we performed RNA sequencing on mammary tissue from quarters infused with LPS, neighboring quarters in the same animals, and control quarters from untreated animals at 3 and 12 h postinfusion. Differences in gene expression were annotated to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. Comparing mammary transcriptomes from all 3 treatments revealed 3,088 and 1,644 differentially expressed (DE) genes at 3 and 12 h, respectively. Of these genes, >95% were DE only in LPS-infused quarters and represented classical responses to LPS: inflammation, apoptosis, tissue remodeling, and altered cell signaling and metabolism. Although relatively few genes were DE in neighboring quarters (56 at 3 h; 74 at 12 h), these represented several common pathways. At 3 h, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), nuclear factor-κB, and nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor signaling pathways were identified by the upregulation of anti-inflammatory (NFKBIA, TNFAIP3) and cell adhesion molecule (VCAM1, ICAM1) genes in neighboring glands. Additionally, at 12 h, several genes linked to 1-carbon and serine metabolism were upregulated. Some responses were also regulated over time. The proinflammatory response in LPS-infused glands diminished between 3 and 12 h, indicating tight control over transcription to re-establish homeostasis. In contrast, 2 glucocorticoid-responsive genes, FKBP5 and ZBTB16, were among the top DE genes upregulated in neighboring quarters at both time points, indicating potential regulation by glucocorticoids. We conclude that a transient, systemic immune response was sufficient to disrupt lactation in neighboring glands. This response may be mediated directly by proinflammatory factors from the LPS-infused gland or indirectly by secondary factors released in response to systemic inflammatory signals.

B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography of abdominal structures of the peccary (Tayassu tajacu, Linnaeus 1758) / [Ultrassonografias Doppler e modo-B das estruturas abdominais de catetos (Tayassu tajacu Linnaeus, 1758)]

This study used B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography to characterize the abdominal structures of healthy peccaries raised in captivity. Fifteen peccaries were used for this study. The urinary vesicle appeared as an ovoid structure, located in the abdominal and pelvic transition, with a hyperechogenic, thin, smooth, and regular wall. The kidneys presented retroperitoneal topography and had similar sizes. The kidney/aorta ratio had an average value of 10.53±15cm (right) and 10.23±0.12 (left). The right adrenal gland had a length of 1.93±0.34cm and diameter of 0.56±0.16cm. The left adrenal gland had a length of 1.85±0.42cm and diameter of 0.52±0.11cm. The spleen had a diameter of 1.13±0.18cm. The hepatic vein demonstrated polyphasic flow in pulsed Doppler, with two retrograde peaks and an anterograde peak with a flow velocity of 25.7±0.83cm/s. The abdominal aorta had a diameter of 0.58±0.05cm and a flow velocity of 115.17±5.32cm/s. The morphological and hemodynamic study of the abdominal structures of the peccary, observed through B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography, aided in identifying the size, shape, position, echogenicity, and echotexture of the abdominal organs and in making inferences about the normal parameters for these structures in this species.(AU)

Este estudo teve como objetivo utilizar as ultrassonografias de modo-B e Doppler para caracterizar as estruturas abdominais de um cateto sadio criado em cativeiro. Quinze catetos foram utilizados para este estudo. A vesícula urinária apareceu como uma estrutura ovoide, localizada na transição entre as partes abdominal e pélvica, com uma parede hiperecogênica, fina, lisa e regular. Os rins apresentaram topografia retroperitoneal e tamanhos semelhantes. A relação rim/aorta teve um valor médio de 10,53 ± 15cm (direita) e 10,23 ± 0,12cm (esquerda). A glândula adrenal direita tinha um comprimento de 1,93 ± 0,34cm e um diâmetro de 0,56 ± 0,16cm. A glândula suprarrenal esquerda tinha um comprimento de 1,85 ± 0,42cm e um diâmetro de 0,52 ± 0,11cm. O baço tinha um diâmetro de 1,13 ± 0,18cm. A veia hepática demonstrou fluxo polifásico no Doppler pulsátil, com dois picos retrógrados e um pico anterógrado com velocidade de fluxo de 25,7±0,83cm/s. A aorta abdominal tinha um diâmetro de 0,58 ± 0,05cm e uma velocidade de fluxo de 115,17±5,32cm/s. Os estudos morfológico e hemodinâmico das estruturas abdominais do queixada, observadas por meio das ultrassonografias modo-B e Doppler, auxiliaram na identificação do tamanho, da forma, da posição, da ecogenicidade e da ecotextura dos órgãos abdominais e na realização de inferências sobre os parâmetros de normalidade para as estruturas nas espécies.(AU)

Perfluoro effect on the electronic excited states of para-benzoquinone revealed by experiment and theory.

We report a comprehensive study on the electronic excited states of tetrafluoro-1,4-benzoquinone, through high-resolution vacuum ultraviolet photoabsorption spectroscopy and time-dependent density functional theory calculations performed within the nuclear ensemble approach. Absolute cross section values were experimentally determined in the 3.8-10.8 eV energy range. The present experimental results represent the highest resolution data yet reported for this molecule and reveal previously unresolved spectral structures. The interpretation of the results was made in close comparison with the available data for para-benzoquinone [Jones et al., J. Chem. Phys., 2017, 146, 184303]. While the dominant absorption features for both molecules arise from analogous π* ← π transitions, some remarkable differences have been identified. The perfluoro effect manifests in different ways: shifts in band positions and cross sections, appearance of features associated with excitations to σCF* orbitals, and spectrum broadening by quenching of either vibrational or Rydberg progressions. The level of agreement between experiment and theory is very satisfactory, yet that required the inclusion of nuclear quantum effects in the calculations. We have also discussed the role of temperature on the absorption spectrum, as well as the involvement of core-excited resonances in promoting dissociative electron attachment reactions in the 3-5 eV range.