Maria A. Martin results 307
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Urban freshwater ecosystems are increasingly exposed to mixtures of pollutants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, their ecological effects remain poorly understood, especially in tropical regions with limited sanitation infrastructure. This study investigated PFAS contamination, water quality, and microbial community structure in Pampulha Lake, a tropical urban reservoir in southeastern Brazil. Spa...
Aim We investigate the distribution of dispersal modes — endozoochory (via animal ingestion), synzoochory (via animal seed accumulation) and anemochory (via wind)—and seed mass of woody plants across Brazilian ecosystems, testing whether their relative abundance in local plant communities could be predicted by climate, edaphic factors and dispersal agents (e.g., the main vectors moving seeds). We expected climate to be the mai...
Revealing the phylogeography of Astyanax lacustris: insights from the São Francisco River cladeNARA Subscribed
The genus Astyanax is highly diverse within the family Acestrorhamphidae, and species identification remains challenging due to overlapping morphological, morphometric, meristic, and coloration traits. As a result, several taxa have been considered as species complexes or treated as synonyms. Molecular and cytogenetic approaches are essential for clarifying taxonomic boundaries and assessing potential genetic divergence among...
Bacterial Diversity in Leaf-Cutter Ant Species: Host-Microbe Interactions and Environmental EffectsNARA Subscribed
Historically, studies have sought to identify host-specific factors in host-microbe interactions as a means of understanding evolutionary success. The genus Atta , comprising leaf-cutter ants, is native to the southern Neotropics and obligately mutualistic with cultivated fungi. It hosts a remarkably diverse range of bacterial communities, yet this variability remains poorly understood. Using high-throughput amplicon sequencin...
Endophytic Fungi Associated with Seaweeds as Potential Producers of Antimicrobial CompoundsNARA Subscribed
The urgent need for new molecules capable of targeting multidrug-resistant microorganisms has redirected bioprospecting efforts toward less explored marine environments and their associated communities, such as marine mycobiota. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of endophytic fungi isolated from various seaweed species and infer the mechanisms of action and chemical profile of most potent fungal extracts...
Role of autonomic receptors in ethyl ferulate-induced cardiovascular effects in normotensive and hypertensive female ratsNARA Subscribed
Aims Ethyl ferulate (EF) may offer novel benefits in hypertension. We investigated the contribution of autonomic receptors to EF-induced effects in female Wistar and SHR. Methods Anesthetized females received EF intravenously at 7.5, 15, or 30 mg/kg. Autonomic involvement was evaluated using pretreatment with atropine, atenolol, or hexamethonium. MAP and HR were continuously monitored. Results EF induced rapid and pronounced r...
Fusarium contamination in malting barley poses a constant threat of mycotoxin exposure in brewing. However, the chemical transformations of trichothecenes toxins during processing and the broader impact of fungal contamination on beer quality are insufficiently understood. In this study, we inoculated barley grains with Fusarium culmorum to track the behavior of deoxynivalenol (DON) and its conjugates, deoxynivalenol-3-glucosi...
Interpretable deep learning reveals spatiotemporal MRI features of brain aging that align with neurodegenerationNARA Subscribed
Cortical thinning and atrophy are hallmarks of brain aging that have been characterized using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Brain aging involves many neuroanatomic features whose effects on brain structure remain unexplored. To address this challenge, we trained interpretable deep neural networks (DNNs) to estimate brain age (BA) from T 1 -weighted ( T 1 w) MRI. By identifying MRI features unapparent to humans, DNNs can fi...
In southeastern Brazil, capybaras ( Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris ) are main hosts of the ticks Amblyomma dubitatum and Amblyomma sculptum ; the latter has great medical importance for being the main vector of Rickettsia rickettsii , the agent of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF). This study aimed to quantify ticks in areas invaded and not invaded by exotic plants ( Hedychium coronarium , Cenchrus purpureus or Megathyrsus maximus ) wi...
Distribution, scale, and drivers of mass mortality events in Europe's freshwater bivalvesNARA Subscribed
Mass mortality events (MMEs) are decimating populations and compromising key ecosystem functions around the globe. One taxon particularly vulnerable to MMEs is freshwater bivalve mollusks. This group has important ecosystem engineering capacities and includes highly threatened and highly invasive taxa. Thus, MMEs of freshwater bivalves have important implications for conservation and ecosystems. Despite this, little is known a...