Global taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of bees in apple orchards.

An essential prerequisite to safeguard pollinator species is characterisation of the multifaceted diversity of crop pollinators and identification of the drivers of pollinator community changes across biogeographical gradients. The extent to which intensive agriculture is associated with the homogenisation of biological communities at large spatial scales remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated diversity drivers for 644 bee species/morphospecies in 177 commercial apple orchards across 33 countries and four global biogeographical biomes. Our findings reveal significant taxonomic dissimilarity among biogeographical zones. Interestingly, despite this dissimilarity, species from different zones share similar higher-level phylogenetic groups and similar ecological and behavioural traits (i.e. functional traits), likely due to habitat filtering caused by perennial monoculture systems managed intensively for crop production. Honey bee species dominated orchard communities, while other managed/manageable and wild species were collected in lower numbers. Moreover, the presence of herbaceous, uncultivated open areas and organic management practices were associated with increased wild bee diversity. Overall, our study sheds light on the importance of large-scale analyses contributing to the emerging fields of functional and phylogenetic diversity, which can be related to ecosystem function to promote biodiversity as a key asset in agroecosystems in the face of global change pressures.

Microbiology of chronic mesh infection.

PURPOSE: Mesh infection following hernia repair is one of the most dreaded complications of hernia surgery. Mesh sinus, infected seromas, mesh extrusion, and mesh-related enteric fistulas are common complications associated with synthetic mesh. This study aimed to review the microbiota of mesh infection in 100 patients submitted to mesh explantation. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of patients presenting with a history of mesh infection lasting or arising six months or more after mesh placement. All patients who submitted to abdominal wall repair with complete removal of an infected mesh and presenting a positive culture were included. The microbiology analysis was based on positive cultures obtained from the fluids and tissues surrounding the mesh or positive cultures of the mesh. Microorganisms were divided into gram-positive or gram-negative, aerobic or anaerobic, and fungi. RESULTS: Pure aerobic gram-positive cultures were encountered in 50% of the patients, followed by a combination of aerobic gram-positive/gram-negative (8%) and pure gram-negative cultures (6%). Anaerobes were recovered from 31% of patients. Fungi were recovered from 6%. Staphylococcus aureus was identified in 64% of cultures, with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus present in 42% and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus in 22%. Among aerobic gram-negative infections, six (17%) were caused by multi-resistant bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Acinetobacter baumanii, Klebsiella pneumoniae complex, and Enterobacter cloacae complex. CONCLUSION: Staphylococcus aureus plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of synthetic mesh infection. Staphylococcus aureus, isolated in 64% of cultures, accounted for most single bacterial infections and was the prevalent germ in mesh sinus and infected seromas. Gram-negative infection occurred in 35%. Anaerobes occurred in 31%, commonly encountered in polymicrobial infections. Most fungi cultures happened in patients with enteric fistulas.

Application of an ancestrality estimate method through morphoscopic analysis of Brazilian skulls.

The objective of the investigation was to test a technique originating in the United States to verify the accuracy of the ancestry estimate in a sample of Brazilian skulls. The sample consisted of 120 skulls of Brazilian adults from the collection of the Institute of Education and Research in Forensic Sciences (IEPCF), Guarulhos-SP, Brazil, with ancestry determined by routine examination. In the skull, the following structures were analyzed: anterior nasal spine (ANS), inferior nasal aperture (INA), interorbital breadth (IOB) nasal aperture width (NAW), nasal bone structure (NBS), and post bregmatic depression (PBD). The Hefner and Ousley technique was applied to classify ancestry. Data were registered and correctness percentage was obtained. To improve ancestry prediction, Machine Learning techniques were used. Regarding the error of the studied method and the correctness of the complete sample, the study presented a percentage above 50%, with values such as 56.33% for whites and 53.07% for non-whites. The most frequent ANS parameter was marked (37.5%), INA straight (31.7%), IOB wide (38.3%), NAW medium (32.5%) NBS triangular (29.2%), and PBD present (78.3%). The application of the method in the sample of the study showed a limitation to estimate ancestry, suggesting a need for adaptation for its applicability in the Brazilian population.

The use of synthetic mesh in contaminated and infected abdominal wall repairs: challenging the dogma-A long-term prospective clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal wall reconstruction in patients presenting with enteric fistulas and mesh infection is challenging. There is a consensus that synthetic mesh must be avoided in infected operations, and the alternatives to using synthetic mesh, such as component separation techniques and biologic mesh, present disappointing results with expressive wound infection and hernia recurrence rates. METHODS: A prospective clinical trial designed to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of 40 patients submitted to elective abdominal wall repair with synthetic mesh in the dirty-infected setting, and compared to a cohort of 40 patients submitted to clean ventral hernia repairs. Patients in both groups were submitted to a single-staged repair using onlay polypropylene mesh reinforcement. RESULTS: Groups' characteristics were similar. There were 13 (32.5%) surgical site occurrences in the infected mesh (IM) group, compared to 11 (27.5%) in the clean-control (CC) group, p = 0.626. The 30-day surgical site infection rate was 15% for the IM group vs. 10% for the CC cases, p = 0.499. One patient required a complete mesh removal in each group. The mean overall follow-up was 50.2 ± 14.8 months, with 36 patients in the IM group and 38 clean-controls completing a follow-up of 36 months. There was one hernia recurrence (4.2%) in the IM group and no recurrences in the CC group. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that using polypropylene mesh in the infected setting presented similar outcomes to clean repairs. The use of synthetic mesh in the onlay position resulted in a safe and durable abdominal wall reconstruction. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Study registered at Plataforma Brasil (plataformabrasil.saude.gov.br), CAAE 30836614.7.0000.0068. Study registered at Clinical Trials (clinicaltrials.gov), Identifier NCT03702153.

ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Iflaviridae.

Iflaviridae is a family of small non-enveloped viruses with monopartite, positive-stranded RNA genomes of approximately 9-11 kilobases. Viruses of all classified species infect arthropod hosts, with the majority infecting insects. Both beneficial and pest insects serve as hosts, and infections can be symptomless (Nilaparvatalugens honeydew virus 1) or cause developmental abnormalities (deformed wing virus), behavioural changes (sacbrood virus) and premature mortality (infectious flacherie virus). The host range has not been examined for most members. The most common route of infection for iflaviruses is the ingestion of virus-contaminated food sources. This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the taxonomy of the Iflaviridae, which is available at www.ictv.global/report/iflaviridae.

ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Dicistroviridae.

Dicistroviridae is a family of small non-enveloped viruses with monopartite, linear, positive-sense RNA genomes of approximately 8-10 kb. Viruses of all classified species infect arthropod hosts, with some having devastating economic consequences, such as acute bee paralysis virus in domesticated honeybees and taura syndrome virus in shrimp farming. Conversely, the host specificity and other desirable traits exhibited by several members of this group make them potential natural enemies for intentional use against arthropod pests, such as triatoma virus against triatomine bugs that vector Chagas disease. This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the taxonomy of the Dicistroviridae which is available at www.ictv.global/report/dicistroviridae.

Distinct beneficial effects of continuous vs accumulated exercise training on cardiovascular risk factors in Wistar rats.

We compared the effects of continuous exercise (CE) vs accumulated exercise (AE) training on CVD risk factors and heart of young male Wistar rats. The exercise training (ET) was performed in a swimming pool for 30-60 min/day, 5 days/week over 15 weeks. CE group performed the ET in a single long daily session (30-60 min), while AE group performed the ET at the same frequency, intensity, and duration of CE rats, but in three short bouts over the course of a day (10-20 min in three daily sessions). AE training was more efficient than CE in attenuating body and fat weight gain and inhibiting visceral adipocyte hypertrophy at the same food intake level. CE training was more efficient in improving systolic blood pressure, LDL/HDL cholesterol, and serum triglyceride. Both ET protocols increased heart function, decreased lipid peroxidation, and increased intracellular Hsp72 content in the heart. This work shows distinct beneficial effects of CE vs AE training suggesting that the prescription of one or other may be preferred to prevent the increase of a specific CVD risk factor.

Combined venomics, venom gland transcriptomics, bioactivities, and antivenomics of two Bothrops jararaca populations from geographic isolated regions within the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest

Bothrops jararaca is a slender and semi-arboreal medically relevant pit viper species endemic to tropical and subtropical forests in southern Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina (Misiones). Within its geographic range, it is often abundant and is an important cause of snakebite. Although no subspecies are currently recognized, geographic analyses have revealed the existence of two well-supported B. jararaca clades that diverged during the Pliocene similar to 3.8 Mya and currently display a southeastern (SE) and a southern (S) Atlantic rainforest (Mata Atlantica) distribution. The spectrum, geographic variability, and ontogenetic changes of the venom proteomes of snakes from these two B. jararaca phylogroups were investigated applying a combined venom gland transcriptomic and venomic analysis. Comparisons of the venom proteomes and transcriptomes of B. jararaca from the SE and S geographic regions revealed notable interpopulational variability that may be due to the different levels of population-specific transcriptional regulation, including, in the case of the southern population, a marked ontogenetic venom compositional change involving the upregulation of the myotoxic PLA(2) homolog, bothropstoxin-l. This population-specific marker can be used to estimate the proportion of venom from the southern population present in the B. jararaca venom pool used for the Brazilian soro antibotropico (SAB) antivenom production. On the other hand, the southeastern population-specific D49-PLA(2) molecules, BinTX-I and BinTX-II, lend support to the notion that the mainland ancestor of Bothrops insularis was originated within the same population that gave rise to the current SE B. jararaca phylogroup, and that this insular species endemic to Queimada Grande Island (Brazil) expresses a pedomorphic venom phenotype. Mirroring their compositional divergence, the two geographic B. jararaca venom pools showed distinct bioactivity profiles. However, the SAB antivenom manufactured in Vital Brazil Institute neutralized the lethal effect of both venoms to a similar extent. In addition, immobilized SAB antivenom immunocaptured most of the venom components of the venoms of both B. jararaca populations, but did not show immunoreactivity against vasoactive peptides. The Costa Rican bothropic-crotalic-lachesic (BCL) antivenom showed the same lack of reactivity against vasoactive peptides but, in addition, was less efficient immunocapturing PI- and PIII-SVMPs from the SE venom, and bothropstoxin-I, a CRISP molecule, and a D49-PLA(2) from the venom of the southern B. jararaca phylogroup. The remarkable paraspecificity exhibited by the Brazilian and the Costa Rican antivenoms indicates large immunoreactive epitope conservation across the natural history of Bothrops, a genus that has its roots in the middle Miocene. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Omics Evolutionary Ecolog. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A retrospective review and observations over a 16-year clinical experience on the surgical treatment of chronic mesh infection. What about replacing a synthetic mesh on the infected surgical field?

PURPOSE: To review the short- and long-term results in patients who underwent removal of infected or exposed mesh and reconstruction of the abdominal wall with simultaneous mesh replacement. METHODS: Patients undergoing removal of an infected or exposed mesh and single-staged reconstruction of the abdominal wall with synthetic mesh replacement over a 16-year period were retrospectively reviewed from a prospectively maintained database. Patients were operated and followed by a single surgeon. Outcome measures included wound complications and hernia recurrence. RESULTS: From 1996 until 2012, 41 patients (23 F, 18 M), with a mean age of 53.4 years and mean BMI of 31.2 ± 8 kg/m(2), were treated for chronic mesh infection (CMI). A suppurative infection was present in 27 patients, and 14 had an exposed mesh. The need for recurrent incisional hernia repair was observed in 25 patients; bowel resections or other potentially contaminated procedures were associated in 15 patients. The short-term results showed an uneventful post-operative course after mesh replacement in 27 patients; 6 (14.6%) patients developed a minor wound infection and were treated with dressings and antibiotics; 5 (12%) patients had wound infections requiring debridement and one required complete mesh removal. On the long-term follow-up, there were three hernia recurrences, one of which demanded a reoperation for enterocutaneous fistula; 95% of the patients submitted to mesh replacement were considered cured of CMI after a mean follow-up of 74 months. CONCLUSIONS: CMI can be treated by removal of infected mesh; simultaneous mesh replacement prevents hernia recurrence and has an acceptable incidence of post-operative acute infection. Standard polypropylene mesh is a suitable material to be used in the infected surgical field as an onlay graft.

The effects of endothelial nitric oxide synthase tagSNPs on nitrite levels and risk of hypertension and obesity in children and adolescents.

Obesity and the nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3) gene polymorphisms are associated with nitrite levels and hypertension. However, no study has tested the hypothesis that NOS3 tagSNPs rs3918226, rs3918188, rs743506 and rs7830 affect nitrite levels and are associated with hypertension in childhood obesity. We investigated the association of these NOS3 tagSNPs and the haplotypes formed by them with hypertension and with nitrite levels in children and adolescents with obesity and with obesity plus hypertension. We studied 355 subjects: 174 healthy (controls), 109 normotensive obese, and 72 obese children and adolescents with obesity plus hypertension. Genotypes were determined by Taqman allele discrimination assay and real-time PCR. We compared the distribution of NOS3 tagSNP genotypes, alleles and haplotypes in the three groups of subjects. Nitrite levels were determined by ozone-based chemiluminescence. Nitrite levels were affected by the rs3918226 polymorphism (P<0.05) but not by NOS3 haplotypes. There was no association between the tagSNPs studied and hypertension in children and adolescents. Our findings show that the NOS3 tagSNP rs3918226 is associated with NO production in children and adolescents, and suggest that this polymorphism may have an impact on cardiovascular health. Further studies are needed to better clarify the effects of this polymorphism on cardiovascular risk.

Proinflammatory and oxidative stress markers in patients submitted to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass after 1 year of follow-up.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effect of weight loss after 3, 6 and 12 months of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) on energy intake and on several biomarkers of oxidative stress such as levels of vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin E (diet/blood), nitric oxide metabolites (NOx), myeloperoxidase (MPO), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), reduced glutathione (GSH) and activity of catalase (CAT). SUBJECTS/METHODS: Study with a control group (CG), assessed once, and a bariatric group (BG) assessed at the basal period as well as at 3, 6 and 12 months post-surgery; both groups were composed of 5 men and 31 women (n=36). Age was 38.7 ± 9.4 and 39.6 ± 9.2 years old and body mass index (BMI) was 22.2 0 ± 2.1 and 47.6 ± 9.1 kg/m(2), respectively. The variance measure quoted was SEM. RESULTS: The body weight at 12 months was 35.8 ± 1.0% (P<0.001) lower than that of the basal period. At the basal period BG showed higher levels of NOx (P=0.007) and TBARS (P<0.001) and lower levels of vitamins C and E (P<0.001) compared with CG. After 3 months the activity of MPO was decreased (P<0.001). Six months after surgery GSH levels were decreased (P=0.037), whereas CAT activity was increased (P=0.029). After 12 months levels of NOx (P=0.004), TBARS (P<0.001), beta-carotene (P<0.001) and vitamin E (P<0.001) were decreased, whereas those of vitamin C (P<0.001) were increased compared with controls. CONCLUSION: RYGB followed by a daily vitamin supplement apparently attenuated pro-inflammatory and oxidative stress markers 1 year after surgery, but additional antioxidant supplementation appears necessary.

Passive transfer of streptococcus-induced antibodies reproduces behavioral disturbances in a mouse model of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection.

Streptococcal infections can induce obsessive-compulsive and tic disorders. In children, this syndrome, frequently associated with disturbances in attention, learning and mood, has been designated pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection (PANDAS). Autoantibodies recognizing central nervous system (CNS) epitopes are found in sera of most PANDAS subjects, but may not be unique to this neuropsychiatric subset. In support of a humoral immune mechanism, clinical improvement often follows plasmapheresis or intravenous immunoglobulin. We recently described a PANDAS mouse model wherein repetitive behaviors correlate with peripheral anti-CNS antibodies and immune deposits in brain following streptococcal immunization. These antibodies are directed against group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus matrix (M) protein and cross-react with molecular targets complement C4 protein and alpha-2-macroglobulin in brain. Here we show additional deficits in motor coordination, learning/memory and social interaction in PANDAS mice, replicating more complex aspects of human disease. Furthermore, we demonstrate for the first time that humoral immunity is necessary and sufficient to induce the syndrome through experiments wherein naive mice are transfused with immunoglobulin G (IgG) from PANDAS mice. Depletion of IgG from donor sera abrogates behavior changes. These functional disturbances link to the autoimmunity-related IgG1 subclass but are not attributable to differences in cytokine profiles. The mode of disrupting blood-brain barrier integrity differentially affects the ultimate CNS distribution of these antibodies and is shown to be an additional important determinant of neuropsychiatric outcomes. This work provides insights into PANDAS pathogenesis and may lead to new strategies for identification and treatment of children at risk for autoimmune brain disorders.

Fibrolipoma associated with a mucus retention cyst in the palate: a case report.

Fibrolipomas are benign mesenchymal neoplasms of the fatty tissue rarely encountered in the oral cavity. They account for around 1% to 5% of all neoplasms affecting the mouth and occur as raised, slow-growing, painless lesions of normal or yellow coloration and uncertain etiology. In contrast, mucus retention cysts are epithelium-lined cavities originated from a salivary gland. They are also raised, asymptomatic, slow-growing lesions, located on the floor of the mouth, buccal mucosa and lips. This article reports a diagnostic and a surgical treatment of a rare fibrolipoma case associated with a mucus retention cyst located in the palate.

Venereal and vertical transmission of deformed wing virus in honeybees (Apis mellifera L.).

Deformed wing virus (DWV) infected semen was used for artificial insemination of DWV-free virgin queens. High titres of DWV could subsequently be detected not only in the spermatheca, but also in the ovaries, demonstrating venereal transmission of DWV in honey bees. Subsequent vertical transmission of the virus to the progeny of DWV infected queens was also demonstrated. Neither transmission route is 100% effective. Whether venereal transmission of DWV occurs during natural mating remains to be determined. The implications for the use, sale and transport of semen samples for artificial insemination are discussed.

Measurement of the D(s)+ lifetime.

A high statistics measurement of the D(s)+ lifetime from the Fermilab fixed-target FOCUS photoproduction experiment is presented. We describe the analysis of the two decay modes, D(s)+ --> phi(1020)pi+ and D(s)+ -->K*(892)0K+, used for the measurement. The measured lifetime is 507.4 +/- 5.5(stat) +/- 5.1(syst) fs using 8961 +/- 105 D(s)+ --> phi(1020)pi+ and 4680 +/- 90 D(s)+ --> K*(892)0K+ decays. This is a significant improvement over the present world average.

Complete nucleotide sequence of Kashmir bee virus and comparison with acute bee paralysis virus.

The complete nucleotide sequence of a novel virus is presented here together with serological evidence that it belongs to Kashmir bee virus (KBV). Analysis reveals that KBV is a cricket paralysis-like virus (family Dicistroviridae: genus Cripavirus), with a non-structural polyprotein open reading frame in the 5' portion of the genome separated by an intergenic region from a structural polyprotein open reading frame in the 3' part of the genome. The genome also has a polyadenylated tail at the 3' terminus. KBV is one of several related viruses that also includes acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV). Although KBV and ABPV are about 70 % identical over the entire genome, there are considerable differences between them in significant areas of the genome, such as the 5' non-translated region (42 % nucleotide identity), between the helicase and 3C-protease domains of the non-structural polyprotein (57 % amino acid identity) and in a 90 aa stretch of the structural polyprotein (33 % amino acid identity). Phylogenetic analyses show that KBV and ABPV isolates fall into clearly separated clades with moderate evolutionary distance between them. Whether these genomic and evolutionary differences are sufficient to classify KBV and ABPV as separate species remains to be determined.

Dalitz plot analysis of the decay D(+)-->K(-)pi(+)pi(+) and indication of a low-mass scalar Kpi resonance.

We study the Dalitz plot of the decay D(+)-->K(-)pi(+)pi(+) with a sample of 15090 events from Fermilab experiment E791. Modeling the decay amplitude as the coherent sum of known Kpi resonances and a uniform nonresonant term, we do not obtain an acceptable fit. If we allow the mass and width of the K(*)(0)(1430) to float, we obtain values consistent with those from PDG but the chi(2) per degree of freedom of the fit is still unsatisfactory. A good fit is found when we allow for the presence of an additional scalar resonance, with mass 797+/-19+/-43 MeV/c(2) and width 410+/-43+/-87 MeV/c(2). The mass and width of the K(*)(0)(1430) become 1459+/-7+/-5 MeV/c(2) and 175+/-12+/-12 MeV/c(2), respectively. Our results provide new information on the scalar sector in hadron spectroscopy.

A high statistics measurement of the Lambda(+)(c) lifetime.

A high statistics measurement of the Lambda(+)(c) lifetime from the Fermilab fixed-target FOCUS photoproduction experiment is presented. We describe the analysis technique with particular attention to the determination of the systematic uncertainty. The measured value of 204.6 +/- 3.4 (stat) +/- 2.5 (syst) fs from 8034 +/- 122 Lambda(+)(c)-->pK(-)pi(+) decays represents a significant improvement over the present world average.

Search for CP violation in the decays D+--> K(S)pi+ and D+-->K(S)K+.

A high-statistics sample of photoproduced charm from the FOCUS experiment has been used to search for direct CP violation in the decay rates for D+-->K(S)pi+ and D+-->K(S)K+. We have measured the following asymmetry parameters relative to D+-->K-pi+pi+: A(CP)(K(S)pi+) = (-1.6+/-1.5+/-0.9)%, A(CP)(K(S)K+) = (+6.9+/-6.0+/-1.5)%, and A(CP)(K(S)K+) = (+7.1+/-6.1+/-1.2)% relative to D+-->K(S)pi+. We have also measured the relative branching ratios and found Gamma(D+-->K(0)pi+)/Gamma(D+-->K-pi+pi+) = (30.60+/-0.46+/-0.32)%, Gamma(D+-->K(0)K+)/Gamma(D+-->K-pi+pi+) = (6.04+/-0.35+/-0.30)%, and Gamma(D+-->K(0)K+)/Gamma(D+-->K(0)pi+) = (19.96+/-1.19+/-0.96)%.

Measurement of the branching ratios of D(+) and D(+)(s) hadronic decays to four-body final states containing a K(S).

We have studied hadronic four-body decays of D(+) and D(+)(s) mesons with a K(S) in the final state using data recorded during the 1996-1997 fixed-target run of the Fermilab high energy photoproduction experiment FOCUS. We report a new branching ratio measurement of gamma(D(+)-->K(S)K-pi(+)pi(+))/gamma(D(+)-->K(S)pi(+)pi(+)pi(-)) = 0.0768+/-0.0041+/-0.0032. We make the first observation of three new decay modes with branching ratios gamma(D(+)-->K(S)K+pi(+)pi(-))/gamma(D(+)-->K(S)pi(+)pi(+)pi(-)) = 0.0562+/-0.0039+/-0.0040, gamma(D(+)-->K(S)K+K-pi(+))/gamma(D(+)-->K(S)pi(+)pi(+)pi(-)) = 0.0077+/-0.0015+/-0.0009, and gamma(D(+)(s)-->K(S)K+pi(+)pi(-))/gamma(D(+)(s)-->K(S)K-pi(+)pi(+)) = 0.586+/-0.052+/-0.043, where in each case the first error is statistical and the second error is systematic.