2,113 research outputs found

    Decomposition and nutrient release of leguminous plants in coffee agroforestry systems.

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    Leguminous plants used as green manure are an important nutrient source for coffee plantations, especially for soils with low nutrient levels. Field experiments were conducted in the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais State, Brazil to evaluate the decomposition and nutrient release rates of four leguminous species used as green manures (Arachis pintoi, Calopogonium mucunoides, Stizolobium aterrimum and Stylosanthes guianensis) in a coffee agroforestry system under two different climate conditions. The initial N contents in plant residues varied from 25.7 to 37.0 g kg-1 and P from 2.4 to 3.0 g kg-1. The lignin/N, lignin/polyphenol and(lignin+polyphenol)/N ratios were low in all residues studied. Mass loss rates were highest in the first 15 days, when 25 % of the residues were decomposed. From 15 to 30 days, the decomposition rate decreased on both farms. On the farm in Pedra Dourada (PD), the decomposition constant k increased in the order C. mucunoides < S. aterrimum < S. guianensis < A. pintoi. On the farm in Araponga (ARA), there was no difference in the decomposition rate among leguminous plants. The N release rates varied from 0.0036 to 0.0096 d-1. Around 32 % of the total N content in the plant material was released in the first 15 days. In ARA, the N concentration in the S. aterrimum residues was always significantly higher than in the other residues. At the end of 360 days, the N released was 78 % in ARA and 89 % in PD of the initial content. Phosphorus was the most rapidly released nutrient (k values from 0.0165 to 0.0394 d-1). Residue decomposition and nutrient release did not correlate with initial residue chemistry and biochemistry, but differences in climatic conditions between the two study sites modified the decomposition rate constants

    Climate change impacts on seagrass meadows and macroalgal forests: an integrative perspective on acclimation and adaptation potential

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    Marine macrophytes are the foundation of algal forests and seagrass meadows-some of the most productive and diverse coastal marine ecosystems on the planet. These ecosystems provide nursery grounds and food for fish and invertebrates, coastline protection from erosion, carbon sequestration, and nutrient fixation. For marine macrophytes, temperature is generally the most important range limiting factor, and ocean warming is considered the most severe threat among global climate change factors. Ocean warming induced losses of dominant macrophytes along their equatorial range edges, as well as range extensions into polar regions, are predicted and already documented. While adaptive evolution based on genetic change is considered too slow to keep pace with the increasing rate of anthropogenic environmental changes, rapid adaptation may come about through a set of non-genetic mechanisms involving the functional composition of the associated microbiome, as well as epigenetic modification of the genome and its regulatory effect on gene expression and the activity of transposable elements. While research in terrestrial plants demonstrates that the integration of non-genetic mechanisms provide a more holistic picture of a species' evolutionary potential, research in marine systems is lagging behind. Here, we aim to review the potential of marine macrophytes to acclimatize and adapt to major climate change effects via intraspecific variation at the genetic, epigenetic, and microbiome levels. All three levels create phenotypic variation that may either enhance fitness within individuals (plasticity) or be subject to selection and ultimately, adaptation. We review three of the most important phenotypic variations in a climate change context, including physiological variation, variation in propagation success, and in herbivore resistance. Integrating different levels of plasticity, and adaptability into ecological models will allow to obtain a more holistic understanding of trait variation and a realistic assessment of the future performance and distribution of marine macrophytes. Such multi-disciplinary approach that integrates various levels of intraspecific variation, and their effect on phenotypic and physiological variation, is of crucial importance for the effective management and conservation of seagrasses and macroalgae under climate change.FCT SFRH/BPD/115162/2016 Portuguese FCT through MARFOR Biodiversa/0004/2015 Norwegian Research Council (Havkyst project) 243916 European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Mar 2020 program through the VALPRAD project 16-01-04-FMP-0007 SFRH/PBD/107878/2015info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

    Green manure in coffee systems in the region of Zona da Mata, Minas Gerais: characteristics and kinetics of carbon and nitrogen mineralization.

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    The use of green manure may contribute to reduce soil erosion and increase the soil organic matter content and N availability in coffee plantations in the Zona da Mata, State of Minas Gerais, in Southeastern Brazil. The potential of four legumes (A. pintoi, C. mucunoides, S. aterrimum and S. guianensis)to produce above-ground biomass, accumulate nutrients and mineralize N was studied in two coffee plantations of subsistence farmers under different climate conditions. The biomass production of C. mucunoides was influenced by the shade of the coffee plantation.C. mucunoides tended to mineralize more N than the other legumes due to the low polyphenol content and polyphenol/N ratio. In the first year, the crop establishment of A. pintoi in the area took longer than of the other legumes, resulting in lower biomass production and N2 fixation. In the long term, cellulose was the main factor controlling N mineralization. The biochemical characteristics, nutrient accumulation and biomass production of the legumes were greatly influenced by the altitude and position of the area relative to the sun

    Playing for the Masses: The Role of Music in Venezuelan Protetsts

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    This paper focuses on the performative protest of violinist Wuilly Arteaga, an increasingly notable member of Venezuela\u27s La Resistencia. Using Susanne Langer\u27s (1942) theoretical framework implicating the power in artistic expression, this paper argues that Arteaga\u27s style of protest rhetoric functions as a powerful presentational form, through the use of his musical performances in the midst of protests. In combination - playing iconic Venezolano music, the violin itself, and wearing the colors of the Venezuelan flag - his performance carries a powerful message of remembrance, perseverance, and hope that the discursive cannot convey. In analyzing this form of presentational protest rhetoric, this paper contends that in terms of outcomes of protest, this particular form has proven to be more meaningful and effective than other forms of protest in meeting its ultimate goals

    Plano de intervenção para impactar a não adesão ao tratamento da hipertensão arterial no PSF de Arantina- Minas Gerais

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    Systemic arterial hypertension is a health problem that causes serious complications to the patient, such as cerebrovascular accident and Ischemic Heart Disease if not properly treated, causing significant decrease in quality of life. To be successful in preventing complications and control of blood pressure levels, adherence is critical for patients to drug therapy and non-drug, ie the control of systemic hypertension is closely linked to the degree of adherence to treatment. The objective of this study is to perform a literature review to support the development of a proposal for intervention, according to the Situational Strategic Planning, to impact the major factor influencing non-adherence to treatment of hypertension in the city of Arantina - MG. Review of the literature was performed between the years 2000 to 2014, obtained through the BIREME database (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences and Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online) and Scientific Electronic Library Online. In addition to scientific articles used was performed to collect records made by the team and the research on the basis of the Primary Care Information System. The preparation of the action plan set out the prioritization of problems and selection of critical nodes, the critical resources, proposed for the motivation of actors and operational plan of the scheme. It is expected that the proposal developed here can be effective to increase the adherence to treatment of systemic hypertension, create new promotion strategies and disease prevention in the target audience and emphasize the practice of lifelong learning.A Hipertensão Arterial Sistêmica é um problema de saúde que traz complicações graves ao paciente, tais como, Acidente Vascular Encefálico e Doenças Isquêmicas Cardíacas se não for tratada adequadamente, acarretando importante diminuição na qualidade de vida. Para haver sucesso na prevenção de suas complicações e controle dos níveis pressóricos, é fundamental a adesão dos pacientes ao tratamento medicamentoso ou não medicamentoso, ou seja, o controle da Hipertensão Arterial Sistêmica está intimamente ligado ao grau de adesão ao tratamento. O objetivo deste trabalho é realizar uma revisão da literatura para subsidiar a elaboração de uma proposta de intervenção, segundo o Planejamento Estratégico Situacional, para impactar o principal fator que influencia a não adesão ao tratamento da hipertensão arterial no município de Arantina - MG. Foi realizada revisão da literatura entre os anos de 2000 a 2014, obtidas por meio da base de dados da BIREME (Literatura Latino-Americana edo Caribe em Ciências da Saúde e Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online) e Scientific Eletronic Library Online. Além dos artigos científicos utilizados foi realizada a coleta de registros feita pela equipe e a pesquisa na base de dados do Sistema de Informação da Atenção Básica. A elaboração do plano de intervenção partiu da priorização dos problemas e seleção dos nós críticos, dos recursos críticos, proposta para a motivação dos atores e esquema do plano operativo. Espera-se que a proposta aqui desenvolvida possa ser efetiva para aumentar a adesão ao tratamento da Hipertensão Arterial Sistêmica, criar novas estratégias de promoção e prevenção da doença no público alvo e enfatizar a prática da educação permanente

    Analiza zawartości DNA w rozpoznaniu nabłonkowego raka jajnika

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    Objective: To assess the cellular DNA status of epithelial ovarian cancer cells for clinical stage identification and its effect on survival. Methods: Sixty-twopatients treated by primary surgery and six courses of platinum-based chemotherapy were enrolled. The surgical stage was analyzed in correlation with DNA ploidy, S-phase fraction and DNA index. DNA analysis was performed via image cytometry. Results: From the 62 cases,38 were International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Fédération Internationale de Gynécologie et d’Obstétrique, FIGO) stage I and II, 24 – stage III and IV. In the DNA histograms obtained, the DNA index ranged from 0.85 to 3.02. Sixteen were classified as diploid and 46 as aneuploid (18 multiploid). S-phase fraction ranged from 9.8 to 51%. The aneuploid cells with DNA content above 5C ranged from 0.0 to 77.2%. Patients diagnosed with FIGO III and IV (vs. I and II) were 3.3 times more likely to die. Only in FIGO stage I and II the survival differed significantly for the different groups of ploidy. The risk of death for the multiploid (vs. diploid) group is 6.4 times and for aneuploid (vs. diploid) 2.3 times. Overall survival was better in the group with low DNA index. The low percentage compared with a high percentage of 5C cells ploidy groups showed association with mortality. The death hazard for the S-phase >33 median group is 4.9 times the hazard in relation to the S-phase 33 w porównaniu z medianą liczby komórek w fazie S <33. Wnioski: Ploidalność DNA, indeks DNA, faza S oraz obecność komórek 5C to ważne czynniki prognostyczne u pacjentek z nabłonkowym rakiem jajnika, głównie we wczesnym stadium.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

    Honey as an Adjuvant in the Treatment of COVID-19 Infection: A Review

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    Since ancestor times, honey has been used to promote human health due to its medicinal, and nutritious properties, mainly due to bioactive compounds present, such as phenolic compounds. The emergence of COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, led to the pursuit of solutions for the treatment of symptoms and/or disease. Honey has proven to be effective against viral infections, principally due to its potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities that attenuate oxidative damage induced by pathogens, and by improving the immune system. Therefore, the aim of this review is to overview the abilities of honey to attenuate different COVID-19 symptoms, highlighting the mechanisms associated with these actions and relating the with the different bioactive compounds present. A brief, detailed approach to SARS-CoV-2 mechanism of action is first overviewed to allow readers a deep understanding. Additionally, the compounds and beneficial properties of honey, and its previously application in other similar diseases, are detailed in depth. Despite the already reported efficacy of honey against different viruses and their complications, further studies are urgently needed to explain the molecular mechanisms of activity against COVID-19 and, most importantly, clinical trials enrolling COVID-19 patients.This research was funded by MTS/SAS/0077/2020—Honey+—New reasons to care honey from the Natural Park of Montesinho: A bioindicator of environmental quality & its therapeutic potential, and by the projects UIDB/50006/2020, UIDP/50006/2020, and LA/P/0008/2020, all supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (MCTES). We are thankful to the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal) through project MTS/SAS/0077/2020—Honey+—New reasons to care honey from the Natural Park of Montesinho: A bioindicator of environmental quality & its therapeutic potential. This work was also financially supported by Portuguese national funds through projects UIDB/50006/2020, UIDP/50006/2020, UIDB/04033/2020 and LA/P/0008/2020, from the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (MCTES). Francisca Rodrigues and Clara Grosso are thankful for their contracts (CEECIND/01886/2020 and CEECIND/03436/2020) financed by FCT/MCTES—CEEC Individual 2020 Program Contract. Juliana Garcia is grateful to FCT and BPI La Caixa Foundation, within the project titled ‘AquaeVitae—Água Termal Como Fonte de Vida e Saúde”—“PROMOVE—O futuro do Interior” call 2020 and “AquaValor—Centro de Valorização e Transferência de Tecnologia da Água” (NORTE-01-0246-FEDER-000053), supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020) under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

    ASSOCIAÇÃO ENTRE INGESTÃO ALCÓOLICA A TRAUMAS BUCO-MAXILO-FACIAIS EM ACIDENTES MOTOCICLÍSTICOS: UMA REVISÃO DE LITERATURA

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    O consumo de álcool é uma realidade para muitos brasileiros, visto que pelo menos 68,7% relataram ingestão na vida. É válido que esta substância afeta a visão e provoca a redução dos reflexos e da concentração. Esses fatores tornam os motociclistas mais suscetíveis a acidentes de trânsito. Dentre as consequências geradas por esse evento as lesões na cabeça e pescoço apresentaram uma prevalência de 12% dos casos. Dessa forma, o estudo buscou estabelecer a relação entre ingestão alcoólica e traumas craniofaciais em acidentes com motocicletas, bem como a atuação da cirurgia buco-maxilo-facial para reparação do trauma. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo de revisão narrativa o qual utilizou a base de dados Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde com os descritores “acidentes de trânsito”, “motocicletas”, “traumas de face”, “álcool”, “buco-maxilo-facial”, no período de 2016 a 2020. Os critérios de inclusão envolviam ter o texto completo disponível na base de dados, ter as expressões utilizadas nas buscas no título ou palavras-chave, excluindo dissertações e teses. Os resultados demonstraram que os motociclistas que consumiram álcool tiveram prevalência maior para acidentes e a cabeça e o pescoço foram as regiões mais afetadas. Além disso, verificou-se a importância da cirurgia buco-maxilo-facial para diagnóstico, prevenção e recuperação dos traumas de face. Diante disso, conclui-se que o consumo de bebidas alcoólicas, associado a direção motociclística está amplamente relacionado aos traumas faciais que devem ser tratadas de forma multidisciplinar, com ênfase no cirurgião buco-maxilo-facial

    Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

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    Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

    Exploring the Immunogenicity of Noncanonical HLA-I Tumor Ligands Identified through Proteogenomics

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    Immunogenicity; ProteogenomicsInmunogenicidad; ProteogenómicaImmunogenicitat; ProteogenòmicaPurpose: Tumor antigens are central to antitumor immunity. Recent evidence suggests that peptides from noncanonical (nonC) aberrantly translated proteins can be presented on HLA-I by tumor cells. Here, we investigated the immunogenicity of nonC tumor HLA-I ligands (nonC-TL) to better understand their contribution to cancer immunosurveillance and their therapeutic applicability. Experimental Design: Peptides presented on HLA-I were identified in 9 patient-derived tumor cell lines from melanoma, gynecologic, and head and neck cancer through proteogenomics. A total of 507 candidate tumor antigens, including nonC-TL, neoantigens, cancer-germline, or melanocyte differentiation antigens, were tested for T-cell recognition of preexisting responses in patients with cancer. Donor peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were in vitro sensitized against 170 selected nonC-TL to isolate antigen-specific T-cell receptors (TCR) and evaluate their therapeutic potential. Results: We found no recognition of the 507 nonC-TL tested by autologous ex vivo expanded tumor-reactive T-cell cultures while the same cultures demonstrated reactivity to mutated, cancer-germline, or melanocyte differentiation antigens. However, in vitro sensitization of donor PBL against 170 selected nonC-TL, led to the identification of TCRs specific to three nonC-TL, two of which mapped to the 5′ UTR regions of HOXC13 and ZKSCAN1, and one mapping to a noncoding spliced variant of C5orf22C. T cells targeting these nonC-TL recognized cancer cell lines naturally presenting their corresponding antigens. Expression of the three immunogenic nonC-TL was shared across tumor types and barely or not detected in normal cells. Conclusions: Our findings predict a limited contribution of nonC-TL to cancer immunosurveillance but demonstrate they may be attractive novel targets for widely applicable immunotherapies.We thank the patients for their participation in this study, Steven A. Rosenberg for providing valuable reagents and support for NGS studies, R. Pujol for helpful scientific discussion, J. Gonzalez for bioinformatics support, CRG/UPF Flow Cytometry Unit for assistance with cell sorting, and CRG/UPF and IRB Proteomics Units for technical support. A. Gros and this work were funded by the Comprehensive Program of Cancer Immunotherapy & Immunology II (CAIMI-II) supported by the BBVA Foundation (53/2021), Institute Carlos III (MS15/00058 and PI17/01085), AECC (IDEAS197PORT), and La Fundació La Marató de TV3 (201919–30). We thank CERCA Programme / Generalitat de Catalunya for institutional support. M. Lozano-Rabella was supported by the Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR) (2018FI_B 00946). A. Garcia-Garijo was supported by Generalitat PERIS award (SLT017/20/000131). A. Yuste-Estevanez was supported by the Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR) (2021 FI_B 00365). J. Palomero was supported by the Beatriu de Pinós programme (BP 2018), cofounded by the Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR) and European Union's Horizon 2020
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