Endophytic Fungi as Potential Biological Control Agents against Grapevine Trunk Diseases in Alentejo Region

none9Grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) are the most widespread fungal diseases, affecting grapevines in all the major growing regions of the world, and their complete eradication is still not possible. Aiming to search alternatives to avoid the spread and high incidence of these diseases, the present work intended to molecularly identify the grapevine endophytic community, the phytopathogenic fungi associated with GTDs in vineyards within the Alentejo region, and to test potential antagonist microorganisms as biological control candidates against GTDs-associated fungi. Grapevine endophytic community showed a wide variety of fungi in GTDs' asymptomatic and symptomatic plants, nine of them previously described as GTDs-associated fungi. GTDs prevalent fungi identified in symptomatic plants were Diaporthe sp., Neofusicoccum sp., and H. viticola. Almost all these fungi were also detected in asymptomatic plants, which shows the importance of investigating the interactions of fungal communities and confirms the need for early diagnosis of these diseases. Direct inhibition antagonism tests were performed among identified endophytes and GTDs phytopathogenic fungi, and all the endophyte fungi showed potential as biocontrol agents. Our findings suggest that endophytes are promising candidates for their use in biological control due to their antagonistic activity against the mycelia growth of some GTDs-associated fungi.openAlmeida, Angela Billar de; Concas, Jonathan; Campos, Maria Doroteia; Materatski, Patrick; Varanda, Carla; Patanita, Mariana; Murolo, Sergio; Romanazzi, Gianfranco; Félix, Maria do RosárioAlmeida, Angela Billar de; Concas, Jonathan; Campos, Maria Doroteia; Materatski, Patrick; Varanda, Carla; Patanita, Mariana; Murolo, Sergio; Romanazzi, Gianfranco; Félix, Maria do Rosári

Photo-induced second-order nonlinearity in stoichiometric silicon nitride waveguides

We report the observation of second-harmonic generation in stoichiometric silicon nitride waveguides grown via low-pressure chemical vapour deposition. Quasi-rectangular waveguides with a large cross section were used, with a height of 1 {\mu}m and various different widths, from 0.6 to 1.2 {\mu}m, and with various lengths from 22 to 74 mm. Using a mode-locked laser delivering 6-ps pulses at 1064 nm wavelength with a repetition rate of 20 MHz, 15% of the incoming power was coupled through the waveguide, making maximum average powers of up to 15 mW available in the waveguide. Second-harmonic output was observed with a delay of minutes to several hours after the initial turn-on of pump radiation, showing a fast growth rate between 10$^{-4}$ to 10$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$, with the shortest delay and highest growth rate at the highest input power. After this first, initial build-up, the second-harmonic became generated instantly with each new turn-on of the pump laser power. Phase matching was found to be present independent of the used waveguide width, although the latter changes the fundamental and second-harmonic phase velocities. We address the presence of a second-order nonlinearity and phase matching, involving an initial, power-dependent build-up, to the coherent photogalvanic effect. The effect, via the third-order nonlinearity and multiphoton absorption leads to a spatially patterned charge separation, which generates a spatially periodic, semi-permanent, DC-field-induced second-order susceptibility with a period that is appropriate for quasi-phase matching. The maximum measured second-harmonic conversion efficiency amounts to 0.4% in a waveguide with 0.9 x 1 {\mu}m$^2$ cross section and 36 mm length, corresponding to 53 {\mu}W at 532 nm with 13 mW of IR input coupled into the waveguide. The according $\chi^{(2)}$ amounts to 3.7 pm/V, as retrieved from the measured conversion efficiency.Comment: 20 pages, 10 figure

O Serviço social e as demandas das famílias dos recém-nascidos prematuros internados na unidade de neonatologioa da Maternidade do Hospital Universitário Polydoro Ernani de São Thiago

TCC (graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Sócio Econômico, Curso de Serviço SocialO presente Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso tem por objetivo mostrar a importância da atuação do Serviço Social no atendimento às demandas das famílias dos recém-nascidos prematuros, internados na Unidade de Neonatologia da maternidade do Hospital Universitário Polydoro Ernani de São Thiago (HU). Este estudo é resultado da prática de Estágio Curricular Obrigatório I e II, efetivado no período compreendido entre 5 de maio e 16 de setembro de 2006. Compõe-se de uma pesquisa bibliográfica sobre a prematuridade, a fim de subsidiar a compreensão sobre a problemática vivenciada pelas famílias dos pacientes internados na Unidade de Neonatologia, acrescida do estudo das políticas de proteção ao recém-nascido prematuro. Compõe-se, ainda, de uma pesquisa descritiva, documental, de cunho quantitativo com a finalidade de investigar o perfil das dezessete famílias acompanhadas durante a prática de estágio, utilizando-se a ficha de atendimento, como base para a coleta de dados. O texto divide-se em duas seções, a primeira, com foco na abordagem do cenário de prática e os atores sociais envolvidos e a segunda, no Serviço Social e sua atuação frente às demandas apresentadas pelas famílias. Este trabalho evidencia a importância do Serviço Social na garantia e efetivação dos direitos civis e sociais referentes à saúd

Early-Onset Pectus Excavatum Is More Likely to Be Part of a Genetic Variation

BACKGROUND: Potential underlying genetic variations of pectus excavatum (PE) are quite rare. Only one-fifth of PE cases are identified in the first decade of life and thus are of congenital origin. The objective of this study is to test if early-onset PE is more likely to be part of genetic variations than PE that becomes apparent during puberty or adolescence. MATERIALS AND METHODS:  Children younger than 11 years who presented with PE to the outpatient clinic of the Department of Pediatric Surgery at our center between 2014 and 2020 were screened by two clinical geneticists separately. Molecular analysis was performed based on the differential diagnosis. Data of all young PE patients who already had been referred for genetic counseling were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS:  Pathogenic genetic variations were found in 8 of the 18 participants (44%): 3 syndromic disorders (Catel-Manzke syndrome and two Noonan syndromes), 3 chromosomal disorders (16p13.11 microduplication syndrome, 22q11.21 microduplication syndrome, and genetic gain at 1q44), 1 connective tissue disease (Loeys-Dietz syndrome), and 1 neuromuscular disorder (pathogenic variation in BICD2 gene).CONCLUSION:  Early-onset PE is more likely to be part of genetic variations than PE that becomes apparent during puberty or adolescence. Referral for genetic counseling should therefore be considered. TRIAL REGISTRATION:  NCT05443113.</p

Music intervention to relieve anxiety and pain in adults undergoing cardiac surgery: A systematic review and meta-Analysis

Objectives Previous studies have reported beneficial effects of perioperative music on patients' anxiety and pain. We performed a systematic review and meta-Analysis of randomised controlled trials investigating music interventions in cardiac surgery. Methods Five electronic databases were systematically searched. Primary outcomes were patients' postoperative anxiety and pain. Secondary outcomes were hospital length of stay, opioid use, vital parameters and time on mechanical ventilation. PRISMA guidelines were followed and PROSPERO database registration was completed (CRD42020149733). A meta-Analysis was performed using random effects models and pooled standardised mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results Twenty studies were included for qualitative analysis (1169 patients) and 16 (987 patients) for meta-Analysis. The first postoperative mu

Measures of subclinical cardiac dysfunction and increased filling pressures associate with pulmonary arterial pressure in the general population: results from the population-based Rotterdam Study

Pulmonary hypertension is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in the elderly population. Heart failure is a common cause of pulmonary hypertension. Yet, the relation between left heart parameters reflective of subclinical cardiac dysfunction and increased filling pressures, and pulmonary arterial pressures in the elderly population remains elusive. Within the population-based Rotterdam Study, 2592 unselected participants with a mean age of 72.6 years (61.4% women) had complete echocardiography data available. We studied the cross-sectional associations of left heart structure and systolic and diastolic function with echocardiographically measured pulmonary artery systolic pressure. Mean pulmonary artery systolic pressure was 25.4 mmHg. After multivariable-adjustment measures of both structure and function were independently associated with pulmonary artery systolic pressure: E/A ratio [0.63 mmHg (95% CI 0.35–0.91) per 1-SD increase], left atrial diameter [0.79 mmHg (0.50–1.09) per 1-SD increase], E/E′ ratio [1.27 mmHg (0.92–1.61) per 1-SD increase], left ventricular volume [0.62 mmHg (0.25–0.98) per 1-SD increase], fractional shortening [0.45 mmHg (0.17–0.74) per 1-SD increase], aortic root diameter [− 0.43 mmHg (− 0.72 to − 0.14) per 1-SD increase], mitral valve deceleration time [− 0.31 mmHg (− 0.57 to − 0.05) per 1-SD increase], and E′ [1.04 mmHg (0.66–1.42) per 1-SD increase]. Results did not materially differ when restricting the analyses to participants free of symptoms of shortness of breath. Structural and functional echocardiographic parameters of subclinical cardiac dysfunction and increased filling pressures are associated with pulmonary arterial pressures in the unselected general ageing population