Dioctophyme renale, the giant kidney worm, is a nematode related to Trichuris sp and is distributed worldwide. These parasites locate in the kidney of their definitive hosts (mainly belonging to the order Carnivora) and have an indirect life cycle with an annelid as the main intermediate host. Humans are rarely affected, but in those that are, 1 or both kidneys are destroyed. In South America, D. renale is widespread in riparian regions where changing climatic conditions, environmental degradation, and compromised sanitation are increasing the risk of distribution of this parasite, including humans. Here, we provide the descriptions of the genetic diversity of the parasite in the region by analysing 73 adult D. renale samples collected from domestic and wild carnivores. The most common hosts were (Canis lupus familiaris) and maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus Fam. Canidae) among domestic and wild carnivores, respectively. This work shows the descriptions of the genetic diversity of this parasite complementing molecular methods and classical and probabilistic phylogeography. Our results strongly suggest that this parasite has been present on the continent long enough to develop local genetic variants. Also, the phylogenies show transmission between localities and bidirectional transmission between domestic and wild species. We now have new tools to understand the ecological dynamics of this parasite such as molecular markers to study its genetic diversity as well as for identification and reporting in cryptic cases.

This study examined parental depression and parental reflective functioning (PRF) as predictors of parental proficiency in relational savoring (RS), the association between RS proficiency and a marker of children’s physiological self-regulation, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), during a stressor, and indirect effects of parental depression and PRF on children’s RSA via parents’ RS. At Time 1 (T1), parents of 8- to 12-year-old children (N = 139) reported on their depressive symptoms and completed a parenting interview, coded for PRF. After 1.5 years (Time 2; T2), parents savored a positive relational memory that involved their children, which was coded for savoring proficiency. Children’s RSA was measured during a stressful task (a series of impossible puzzles). Depressive symptoms (inversely) and PRF (positively) were associated with RS proficiency. Higher parental RS proficiency was associated with children’s higher mean levels of RSA during the stressor. Indirect effects models supported that T2 RS proficiency mediated the negative association between parental T1 depressive symptoms and children’s T2 RSA, and between T1 PRF and children’s T2 RSA. We discuss these findings in terms of implications for parents’ emotion regulation, children’s emotion regulation, children’s mental health, and intervention.

In this work, we evaluated the short time-induced oxidative stress–mediated rapid metabolic and physiological responses of resistant and susceptible Sumatran fleabane [Conyza sumatrensis (Retz.) E. Walker; syn.: Erigeron sumatrensis Retz.] to 2,4-D herbicide. Under fixed conditions (25 C and 65 ± 5% relative humidity), we assayed injury symptoms, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and antioxidative systems of biotypes both resistant and susceptible to 2,4-D (1,005 g ae ha−1). Under 15 versus 25 C temperatures and light and dark conditions, oxidative stress–mediated damage was assayed on plants that received 2,4-D herbicide applications. The injury symptoms observed in the 2,4-D–resistant biotype were rapid necrosis in leaves within 30 min, with the reestablishment of normal growth within 1 to 2 wk after 2,4-D treatment. The basal antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase were greater in the resistant than in the susceptible biotype, although the activities of all enzymes generally did not differ between untreated and treated in the resistant biotype. The resistant biotype showed great reduction (at 1 and 4 h after application) in the photosynthetic electron transport chain performance index, while these metabolic changes were only detected after 4 h in the susceptible biotype. The resistant biotype recovered from the foliar damage 1 to 2 wk after 2,4-D application, while the susceptible biotype was controlled. The production of H2O2 was responsive to temperature and increased more rapidly in the 2,4-D–resistant biotype than in the susceptible one at both 15 and 25 C; however, there was a greater increase at 25 C in the resistant biotype. H2O2 production was not light dependent in 2,4-D–resistant C. sumatrensis, with increases even under dark conditions. The 2,4-D–resistant biotype showed rapid photosynthetic damage, possibly due to the rapid necrosis and leaf disruption, and increased H2O2 content compared with the susceptible biotype.

Herbicide-resistant weed management is one of the greatest agricultural challenges in crop production. Thus, the quick identification of herbicide-resistant weeds is extremely important for management. This study aimed to evaluate resistance to PSI-inhibiting herbicides (diquat) and physiological response to paraquat application in Sumatran fleabane [Conyza sumatrensis (Retz.) E. Walker; syn.: Erigeron sumatrensis Retz.]. The research was conducted with two C. sumatrensis biotypes, one susceptible and the other with multiple resistance to herbicides from five different modes of action (glyphosate, paraquat, diuron, saflufenacil, and 2,4-D). A dose–response assay was carried out to evaluate herbicide resistance to diquat in the paraquat-resistant C. sumatrensis biotype. The enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, and chlorophyll a (Chl a) fluorescence were measured in both biotypes after paraquat (400 g ai ha−1) application. The dose–response assay confirmed resistance of C. sumatrensis to diquat with resistance factor levels of 26-fold and 6-fold for LD50 and GR50 values, respectively, compared with the susceptible biotype. Accumulation of H2O2 occurred more rapidly in the paraquat-susceptible biotype than in the resistant one. Paraquat treatment caused an increase in SOD and APX activity in the susceptible biotype, but antioxidant enzyme activities were unaffected by paraquat in the resistant one at 5 h after application (HAA). Chl a fluorescence increased across the first 4 HAA in both resistant and susceptible biotypes. However, at 24 HAA, the resistant biotype showed a decline in fluorescence close to untreated plants, while the susceptible biotype died, confirming resistance to diquat in the paraquat-resistant C. sumatrensis biotype. The paraquat-resistant biotype does not induce antioxidative enzymes, as a possible mechanism of resistance to paraquat, but shows rapid recovery of photosynthesis and continuous growth when subjected to paraquat, while the paraquat-susceptible biotype does not survive.

Several recent reports have raised concern that infected coworkers may be an important source of severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) acquisition by healthcare personnel. In a suspected outbreak among emergency department personnel, sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 confirmed transmission among coworkers. The suspected 6-person outbreak included 2 distinct transmission clusters and 1 unrelated infection.

On coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) wards, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleic acid was frequently detected on high-touch surfaces, floors, and socks inside patient rooms. Contamination of floors and shoes was common outside patient rooms on the COVID-19 wards but decreased after improvements in floor cleaning and disinfection were implemented.

Les traitements classiques appliqués pour disperser les argiles et les séparer des carbonates, des phosphates et des sulfates, sont souvent agressifs vis a vis de celles-ci. Une méthode de traitement utilisant les résines échangeuses de cations (REC) a été mise au point. La résine utilisee est l’amberlite IRC-50H. Elle a été éluée ã HCl 1·5 N et utilisée a une température de 60°C. Ce traitement a permis une très bonne dispersion des suspensions de matière d’argile, et l’élimination complete des carbonates, des sulfates et des phosphates. En raison de leur structure silicatée et de leur composition chimique, les argiles sont peu attaquees par les REC, de plus elles sont protegees par les minéraux susceptibles d’être dissous par les REC (carbonates, phosphates et sulfates).

The unsteady global dynamics of a gravitational liquid sheet interacting with a one-sided adjacent air enclosure (commonly referred to as nappe oscillation configuration) is addressed under the assumptions of potential flow and the presence of surface tension effects. From a theoretical viewpoint the problem is challenging, because from previous literature it is known that the equation governing the evolution of small disturbances exhibits a singularity at the vertical station where the local flow velocity equals the capillary wave velocity (local critical condition), although the solution to the problem has not yet been found. The equation governing the local dynamics resembles one featuring the forced vibrations of a string of finite length, formulated in the reference frame moving with the flow velocity, and exhibits both slow and fast characteristic curves. From the global system perspective the nappe behaves as a driven damped spring–mass oscillator, where the inertial effects are linked to the liquid sheet mass and the spring is represented by the equivalent stiffness of the air enclosure acting on the displacement of the compliant nappe centreline. A suited procedure is developed to remove the singularity of the integro-differential operator for Weber numbers less than unity. The investigation is carried out by means of a modal (i.e. time asymptotic) linear approach, which is corroborated by numerical simulations of the governing equation and supported by systematic comparisons with experimental data from the literature, available in the supercritical regime only. As regards the critical regime for the unit Weber number, the major theoretical result is a sharp increase in oscillation frequency as the flow Weber number is gradually reduced from supercritical to subcritical values due to the shift of the prevailing mode from the slow one to the fast one.

The Brazilian Twin Registry (BTR) was established in 2013 and has impelled twin research in South America. The main aim of the initiative was to create a resource that would be accessible to the Brazilian scientific community as well as international researchers interested in the investigation of the contribution of genetic and environmental factors in the development of common diseases, phenotypes, and human behavior traits. The BTR is a joint effort between academic and governmental institutions from Brazil and Australia. The collaboration includes the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) in Brazil, the University of Sydney and University of Melbourne in Australia, the Australian Twin Registry, as well as the research foundations CNPq and CAPES in Brazil. The BTR is a member of the International Network of Twin Registries. Recruitment strategies used to register twins have been through participation in a longitudinal study investigating genetic and environmental factors for low back pain occurrence, and from a variety of sources including media campaigns and social networking. Currently, 291 twins are registered in the BTR, with data on demographics, zygosity, anthropometrics, and health history having been collected from 151 twins using a standardized self-reported questionnaire. Future BTR plans include the registration of thousands of Brazilian twins identified from different sources and collaborate nationally and internationally with other research groups interested on twin studies.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the purine levels of lambs experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus. A total of 12 healthy lambs were divided into two groups, composed of 6 animals each: Group A represented the healthy animals (uninfected), while in Group B the animals were infected with 15 000 larvae of H. contortus. Blood was drawn on days 15, 45 and 75 post-infection (PI) in order to perform the purine analysis (ATP, ADP, AMP, adenosine, inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid) by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) in serum. On day 15 PI a significant (P<0·05) increase in the levels of ATP and inosine was observed in the infected animals, unlike the levels of ADP, adenosine, xanthine and uric acid which were reduced. On day 45 PI a significant (P<0·05) increase in the ATP and xanthine levels in infected animals was observed, contrasting with reduced levels of ADP and uric acid. Finally, on day 75 PI an increase occurred in the levels of ATP, adenosine and hypoxanthine in infected lambs, concomitant with a reduction in the levels of ADP and uric acid (P<0·05). These changes in purine levels may influence the inflammatory process and the pathological events.

The Vista Variables in the Vía Láctea (VVV) ESO Public Survey is an ongoing time-series, near-infrared (IR) survey of the Galactic bulge and an adjacent portion of the inner disk, covering 562 square degrees of the sky, using ESO's VISTA telescope. The survey has provided superb multi-color photometry in 5 broadband filters (Z, Y, J, H, and Ks), leading to the best map of the inner Milky Way ever obtained, particularly in the near-IR. The main part of the survey, which is focused on the variability in the Ks-band, is currently underway, with bulge fields observed between 34 and 73 times, and disk fields between 34 and 36 times. When the survey is complete, bulge (disk) fields will have been observed up to a total of 100 (60) times, providing unprecedented depth and time coverage in the near-IR. Here we provide a first overview of stellar variability in the VVV data.

As is well known from literature, the grinding process, which is an unavoidable step in sample preparation, may strongly modify the physical properties of chrysotile through amorphisation. The aim of this work is to establish the proper milling time to apply to the samples before an accurate X-ray powder diffraction quantitative analysis. We have used the RIR (reference intensity ratio) analytical method, based on the measurement of the ratio I/Is between the intensity of the strongest line of an analyte and the intensity of the analytical peak of a standard material, when they are thoroughly mixed 50:50 by weight. We have studied how the RIR value changes as a function of the milling time of the sample and how the accuracy of this quantitative method is affected.

National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) will be a 3-GeV 792 m circumference third generation synchrotron radiation facility with ultra low emittance and extremely high brightness. There will be a total of 90 multipole storage ring girders supporting the vacuum chambers, multipole magnets and various pieces of ancillary equipment. A major effort is being made to meet the stringent assembly and alignment requirements for the girder assemblies using relatively few and removable positioning fixtures. Girder assembly and alignment will be accomplished in four phases. Each of these phases will be described along with the fixtures required.