scholarly journals Cuticular hydrocarbons from ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Odontomachus bauri (Emery) from the tropical forest of Maranguape, Ceará, Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. e13010817119
Author(s):  
Paulo Aragão de Azevedo Filho ◽  
Fábio Roger Vasconcelos ◽  
Rayanne Castro Gomes dos Santos ◽  
Selene Maia de Morais

Semiochemicals, 5-methyl-nonacosane, Alkanes, Chromatography.Ants are eusocial organisms with great relative abundance and species richness. Studies on these organisms are scarce, especially in the high altitude humid forest environments of the state of Ceará. In view of this condition, an evaluation of the chemical composition of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) of the species Odontomachus bauri found and recorded for the first time in this study in the tropical forest of Maranguape was carried out, based on the hypothesis that different nests have different compositions of CHCs. For this purpose, collection incursions were carried out in the region to obtain individuals from three different nests. In the laboratory, the extraction of CHCs was performed by immersing the ants in hexane for 30 minutes. After removing the ants, the extracts were subjected to drying to assess the yield of the samples. Then, the extracts were subjected to a silica gel column, before performing an analysis by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The chromatograms obtained were analyzed and demonstrated a great similarity, showing long-chain saturated hydrocarbons, mainly represented by alkanes and methyl-alkanes. 5-Methyl-nonacosane was the component with the highest relative abundance. Statistical analysis of similarity and correlation between samples was performed using non-parametric tests. These analyzes provided sufficient statistical evidence to confirm the existence of a strong positive correlation between the samples and also a significant difference in the composition of HCCs in two of the three paired analyzes performed, thus confirming the study hypothesis.

2014 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 385-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatjana Sekulic ◽  
Lj.V. Vujisic ◽  
B.P.M. Curcic ◽  
B.M. Mandic ◽  
D.Z. Antic ◽  
...  

A complex mixture of compounds was identified from the secretion of specimens of Unciger transsilvanicus. Phenol and p-cresol were detected for the first time in the family Julidae, and for the second time in the order Julida. Thirteen quinones were identified, with a great relative abundance of toloquinone and 2-methoxy-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone. Hydroquinone was detected for the first time in the order Julida. Besides these compounds, isopentyl hexacosatetraenoate and isopentyl esters of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids with chain lengths from C14 to C20were identified. The most abundant non-quinone compound was isopentyl eicosenoate. The relative abundance of quinone and non-quinone in the defensive fluid of U. transsilvanicus was 77% and 23%, respectively. The phylogenetic importance of the registered compounds is briefly discussed.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 814
Author(s):  
Münir Aktaş ◽  
Sezayi Özübek ◽  
Mehmet Can Uluçeşme

Anaplasma phagocytophilum causes tick-borne fever in small ruminants. Recently, novel Anaplasma variants related to A. phagocytophilum have been reported in ruminants from Tunisia, Italy, South Korea, Japan, and China. Based on 16S rRNA and groEL genes and sequencing, we screened the frequency of A. phagocytophilum and related variants in 433 apparently healthy small ruminants in Turkey. Anaplasma spp. overall infection rates were 27.9% (121/433 analyzed samples). The frequency of A. phagocytophilum and A. phagocytophilum-like 1 infections was 1.4% and 26.5%, respectively. No A. phagocytophilum-like 2 was detected in the tested animals. The prevalence of Anaplasma spp. was comparable in species, and no significant difference was detected between sheep and goats, whereas the prevalence significantly increased with tick infestation. Sequencing confirmed PCR-RFLP data and showed the presence of A. phagocytophilum and A. phagocytophilum-like-1 variant in the sampled animals. Phylogeny-based on 16S rRNA gene revealed the A. phagocytophilum-like 1 in a separate clade together with the previous isolates detected in small ruminants and ticks. In this work, A. phagocytophilum-like 1 has been detected for the first time in sheep and goats from Turkey. This finding revealed that the variant should be considered in the diagnosis of caprine and ovine anaplasmosis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 81 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 81-86
Author(s):  
Pierre Koskas ◽  
Mouna Romdhani ◽  
Olivier Drunat

As commonly happens in epidemiological research, none of the reported studies were totally free of methodological problems. Studies have considered the influence of social relationships on dementia, but the mechanisms underlying these associations are not perfectly understood. We look at the possible impact of selection bias. For their first memory consultation, patients may come alone or accompanied by a relative. Our objective is to better understand the impact of this factor by retrospective follow-up of geriatric memory outpatients over several years. All patients over 70 who were referred to Bretonneau Memory Clinic for the first time, between January 2006 and 2018, were included in the study. The patients who came alone formed group 1, the others, whatever type of relative accompanied them, formed group 2. We compared the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores of patients; and for all patients who came twice for consultation with at least a 60-day interval, we compared their first MMSE with the MMSE performed at the second consultation. In total, 2,935 patients were included, aged 79.7 ± 8.4 years. Six hundred and twenty-five formed group 1 and 2,310 group 2. We found a significant difference in MMSE scores between the 2 groups of patients; and upon second consultation in group 2, but that difference was minor in group 1. Our finding of a possible confounding factor underlines the complexity of choosing comparison groups in order to minimize selection bias while maintaining clinical relevance.


2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Esin Merve Erol Koç ◽  
Rahime Bedir Fındık ◽  
Hatice Akkaya ◽  
Işılay Karadağ ◽  
Eda Özden Tokalıoğlu ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivesTo evaluate the relationship between Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes. The secondary aim is to analyze the diagnostic value of hematologic parameters in COVID-19 complicated pregnancies.MethodsThe current study is conducted in a high volume tertiary obstetrics center burdened by COVID-19 pandemics, in Turkey. In this cohort study, perinatal outcomes and complete blood count indices performed at the time of admission of 39 pregnancies (Study group) complicated by COVID-19 were compared with 69 uncomplicated pregnancies (Control group).ResultsThere was no significant difference between the obstetric and neonatal outcomes of pregnancies with COVID-19 compared to data of healthy pregnancies, except the increased C-section rate (p=0.026). Monocyte count, red cell distribution width (RDW), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR) were significantly increased (p<0.0001, p=0.009, p=0.043, p<0.0001, respectively) whereas the MPV and plateletcrit were significantly decreased (p=0.001, p=0.008) in pregnants with COVID-19. ROC analysis revealed that the optimal cut-off value for MLR was 0.354 which indicated 96.7% specificity and 59.5% sensitivity in diagnosis of pregnant women with COVID-19. A strong positive correlation was found between the MLR and the presence of cough symptom (r=41.4, p=<0.0001).ConclusionsThe study revealed that, pregnancies complicated by COVID-19 is not related with adverse perinatal outcomes. MLR may serve as a supportive diagnostic parameter together with the Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) in assessment of COVID-19 in pregnant cohort.


2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 415-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morten Schrøder ◽  
Kirsten A. Boisen ◽  
Jesper Reimers ◽  
Grete Teilmann ◽  
Jesper Brok

AbstractPurposeWe performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies assessing quality of life in adolescents and young adults born with CHD compared with age-matched controls.MethodsWe carried out a systematic search of the literature published in Medline, Embase, PsychINFO, and the Cochrane Library’s Database (1990–2013); two authors independently extracted data from the included studies. We used the Newcastle–Ottawa scale for quality assessment of studies. A random effects meta-analysis model was used. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2-test.ResultsWe included 18 studies with 1786 patients. The studies were of acceptable-to-good quality. The meta-analysis of six studies on quality of life showed no significant difference – mean difference: −1.31; 95% confidence intervals: −6.51 to +3.89, I2=90.9% – between adolescents and young adults with CHD and controls. Similar results were found in 10 studies not eligible for the meta-analysis. In subdomains, it seems that patients had reduced physical quality of life; however, social functioning was comparable or better compared with controls.ConclusionFor the first time in a meta-analysis, we have shown that quality of life in adolescents and young adults with CHD is not reduced when compared with age-matched controls.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuai Meng ◽  
Yong Zhu ◽  
Kesen Liu ◽  
Ruofei Jia ◽  
Jing Nan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Left ventricular negative remodelling after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is considered as the major cause for the poor prognosis. But the predisposing factors and potential mechanisms of left ventricular negative remodelling after STEMI remain not fully understood. The present research mainly assessed the association between the stress hyperglycaemia ratio (SHR) and left ventricular negative remodelling. Methods We recruited 127 first-time, anterior, and acute STEMI patients in the present study. All enrolled patients were divided into 2 subgroups equally according to the median value of SHR level (1.191). Echocardiography was conducted within 24 h after admission and 6 months post-STEMI to measure left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), and left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD). Changes in echocardiography parameters (δLVEF, δLVEDD, δLVESD) were calculated as LVEF, LVEDD, and LVESD at 6 months after infarction minus baseline LVEF, LVEDD and LVESD, respectively. Results In the present study, the mean SHR was 1.22 ± 0.25 and there was significant difference in SHR between the 2 subgroups (1.05 (0.95, 1.11) vs 1.39 (1.28, 1.50), p < 0.0001). The global LVEF at 6 months post-STEMI was significantly higher in the low SHR group than the high SHR group (59.37 ± 7.33 vs 54.03 ± 9.64, p  = 0.001). Additionally, the global LVEDD (49.84 ± 5.10 vs 51.81 ± 5.60, p  = 0.040) and LVESD (33.27 ± 5.03 vs 35.38 ± 6.05, p  = 0.035) at 6 months after STEMI were lower in the low SHR group. Most importantly, after adjusting through multivariable linear regression analysis, SHR remained associated with δLVEF (beta = −9.825, 95% CI −15.168 to −4.481, p  < 0.0001), δLVEDD (beta = 4.879, 95% CI 1.725 to 8.069, p  = 0.003), and δLVESD (beta = 5.079, 95% CI 1.421 to 8.738, p  = 0.007). Conclusions In the present research, we demonstrated for the first time that SHR is significantly correlated with left ventricular negative remodelling after STEMI.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Fereshteh Heydari ◽  
Shohreh Farahani

<p>This study was conducted to compare with the executive function of ADHD versus normal male and female children. To obtain this objective, 30 ADHD children referring a private psychological center for the first time who had taken no medication for this disorder, and 30 normal children from one of the schools of District 14 in Tehran were selected randomly who were of the same age and gender of ADHD children. Wisconsin test was used as a measurement tool. Results showed that there is a significant difference between the average scores of the executive function of normal and ADHD children as well as average scores of the executive function of normal boys and ADHD children at the 0.01 level. In addition, there was a significant difference between the average scores of the executive function of normal girls and ADHD girls at the 0.05 level according to which null hypothesis is rejected. Therefore, ADHD children are of lower executive and cognitive function compared to normal children and have extensive cognitive deficits. Therefore, they require medications along with special training and rehabilitation.</p>


1889 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 498-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick Chapman ◽  
C. Davies Sherborn

In the Proceedings of the Geologists' Association for 1878, Mr. W. H. Shrubsole, F.G.S., published a list of Foraminifera obtained from the London Clay of Sheppey. The following list, the result of an examination of some material courteously lent to us by Professor J. W. Judd, F.R.S., adds considerably to the fauna of Sheppey and includes two species not previously recorded from the London Clay. Forty-one forms have been determined, of which twenty-six. are new to Sheppey, thus bringing up the number of forms recorded from that locality to eighty-six. The geographical distribution of the Foraminifera of the London Clay was fully tabulated in 1886, and it is interesting to find so many of the forms there figured and recorded for the first time from the London area common to both localities. The figure following the specific name in the list appended shows the relative abundance of the varieties found.


2019 ◽  
Vol 109 (4) ◽  
pp. 701-707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitsuru Okuda ◽  
Takuya Shiba ◽  
Masahiro Hirae ◽  
Akira Masunaka ◽  
Minoru Takeshita

Rice stripe virus (RSV) is one of the most devastating pathogens of rice (Oryza sativa) in rice-growing regions of East Asia. We analyzed the increase in RSV accumulation in infected rice plants over time and evaluated the association between disease severity and RSV accumulation with the aim of establishing an experimental system for accurate and efficient evaluation of RSV resistance in rice. As an index of RSV accumulation in plants, relative concentration of RNA corresponding to the coat protein gene region was measured using reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Actin and elongation factor 1a were used as the host reference genes. RSV concentrations tended to increase with time from 7 to 28 days after inoculation, and a strong positive correlation was observed between the log RSV concentrations in the midsections of the uppermost leaves and in the stems at the first leaf sheath position. We analyzed RSV concentrations at these two locations 21 days after inoculation with RSV and assessed severity of disease symptoms based on a commonly used scale (Washio’s six-grade scale) rated as A (most severe), B, Bt, C, Cr, or D (mild symptoms). RSV concentrations at both locations were high in plants graded A, B, or Bt, with no significant difference in concentration of RSV among the three grades, but concentrations were significantly higher in the three grades compared with that in the plants in grade D. RSV concentrations were highly variable among plants in grades C and Cr. On the basis of these data, we propose a new formula to estimate the range of disease severities with greater ease and practical value. The values calculated by the new formula corresponded well to those based on Washio’s six-grade scale.


Author(s):  
Mohammed Ahmed Ashigar ◽  
Abdul Hafiz Ab Majid

Ants play a vital role in removing dead arthropods from the environment. Complex foraging patterns are used by ants to locate food items and overwhelm even larger insects such as cockroach. Consequently, the biotic interaction between the ants and the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, another home infesting and a vector of major food-borne diseases, may lead to microbial handover and ease the spread of mechanically transmitted human pathogenic microbes. This study was done to determine the diversity and abundance of cockroach-foraging ants in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Ten households were randomly selected from 14 locations: 5 residential communities from three most urbanized areas (Lafia, Akwanga, and Keffi) and 5 rural communities. Four remaining locations were nonresidential from Lafia and Akwanga, respectively. A total of 1,364 ants belonging to three subfamilies (Myrmicinae, Formicinae, and Ponerinae) were collected from 140 households. Pheidole rugaticeps Emery recorded the highest relative abundance (52%) followed by Pheidole decarinata Santschi (16%), Pheidole sp. (17%), Camponotus maculatus (7%), Paratrechina longicornis (7%), while both Crematogaster sp. and Brachyponera sennaarensis recorded the lowest relative abundance (1%). There is a significant difference in the species diversity between the urban and the rural communities. Pheidole rugaticeps, P. decarinata, Pheidole sp., and P. longicornis were more organized in foraging and operating in group by recruiting nest-mate for collecting fragments of dead cockroach. Studies on the epidemiology, conservation implications, and biocontrol potentials of these Pheidole species are recommended.


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