Prosodic changes with age: a longitudinal study with three public figures in European Portuguese.

Purpose: The analysis of acoustic parameters contributes to the characterisation of human communication development throughout the lifetime. The present paper intends to analyse suprasegmental features of European Portuguese in longitudinal conversational speech samples of three male public figures in uncontrolled environments across different ages, approximately 30 years apart.

Participants And Methods: Twenty prosodic features concerning intonation, intensity, rhythm, and pause measures were extracted semi-automatically from 360 speech intervals (3-4 interviews from each speaker x 30 speech intervals x 3 speakers) lasting between 3 to 6 s.

Halorubrum miltondacostae sp. nov., a potential polyhydroxyalkanoate producer isolated from an inland solar saltern in Rio Maior, Portugal.

One hundred and sixty-three extreme halophiles were recovered from a single sample collected from an inland solar saltern in Rio Maior. Based on random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles and partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing 125 isolates were identified as members of the Archaea domain within the genus Halorubrum. Two strains, RMP-11 and RMP-47, showed 99.

Dominance of mixed ether/ester, intact polar membrane lipids in five species of the order Rubrobacterales: Another group of bacteria not obeying the "lipid divide".

The composition of the core lipids and intact polar lipids (IPLs) of five Rubrobacter species was examined. Methylated (ω-4) fatty acids (FAs) characterized the core lipids of Rubrobacter radiotolerans, R. xylanophilus and R.

Randomized trial of the efficacy of trial-based cognitive therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: preliminary findings.

Introduction: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is the fourth most prevalent mental disorder and is a disabling condition. OCD is associated with anatomical and functional changes in the brain, in addition to dysfunctional cognitions. The treatments of choice are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and exposure and response prevention (ERP).

Miltoncostaea marina gen. nov. sp. nov., and Miltoncostaea oceani sp. nov., a novel deep branching phylogenetic lineage within the class Thermoleophilia isolated from marine environments, and proposal of Miltoncostaeaceae fam. nov. and Miltoncostaeales ord. nov.

Two novel marine actinobacteria, designated as SCSIO 60955 and SCSIO 61214, were isolated from deep-sea sediment samples collected from the South China Sea. The cells of these organisms stained Gram-negative and were rod shaped. These strains were aerobic, and catalase- and oxidase-positive.

Bremerella alba sp. nov., a novel planctomycete isolated from the surface of the macroalga Fucus spiralis.

A bacterial strain, designated FF15, was isolated from the thallus surface of the macroalga Fucus spiralis sampled on a rocky beach in Porto, Portugal. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain FF15 was affiliated to the phylum Planctomycetes. This strain forms white colonies on modified M13 medium and the cells are pear-shaped, can form rosettes, divide by polar budding and are motile.

Association between acoustic speech features and non-severe levels of anxiety and depression symptoms across lifespan.

Background: Several studies have investigated the acoustic effects of diagnosed anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression are not characteristics of the typical aging process, but minimal or mild symptoms can appear and evolve with age. However, the knowledge about the association between speech and anxiety or depression is scarce for minimal/mild symptoms, typical of healthy aging.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Age and Gender Effects in European Portuguese Oral Vowels.

The knowledge about the age effects in speech acoustics is still disperse and incomplete. This study extends the analyses of the effects of age and gender on acoustics of European Portuguese (EP) oral vowels, in order to complement initial studies with limited sets of acoustic parameters, and to further investigate unclear or inconsistent results. A database of EP vowels produced by a group of 113 adults, aged between 35 and 97, was used.

Alienimonas chondri sp. nov., a novel planctomycete isolated from the biofilm of the red alga Chondrus crispus.

The phylum Planctomycetes comprises bacteria with peculiar and very unique characteristics among prokaryotes. In marine environments, macroalgae biofilms are well known for harboring planctomycetal diversity. Here, we describe a novel isolate obtained from the biofilm of the red alga Chondrus crispus collected at a rocky beach in Porto, Portugal.

Comparative genome sequence analysis of several species in the genus and the description of a novel species sp. nov.

We performed high-quality genome sequencing of eight strains of the species of the genus and examined the genomes of closely related strains from the databases to understand why is the only strain of this genus that utilizes glucose and fructose for growth. We found that the assimilation of these hexoses by was due to the presence of two transporters that are absent in all other genomes of strains of members of the genus examined. Some strains lack genes coding for glucokinase, but the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway appears to be otherwise complete.

Characterization of amputees at a large hospital in Recife, PE, Brazil.

Background: Limb amputation can be defined as a procedure that consists of separating a limb or a segment of a limb from the body.

Objectives: To describe the profile of limb amputation procedures performed at a large hospital run by the state of Pernambuco (Brazil).

Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive and retrospective study conducted at a large hospital in the city of Recife, PE.

High-quality draft genome sequence of Gaiella occulta isolated from a 150 meter deep mineral water borehole and comparison with the genome sequences of other deep-branching lineages of the phylum Actinobacteria.

Gaiella occulta strain F2-233 (=CECT 7815 = LMG 26412), isolated from a 150 meter deep mineral water aquifer, was deemed a candidate for high-quality draft genome sequencing because of the rare environment from which it was isolated. The draft genome sequence (QQZY00000000) of strain F2-233 is composed of approximately 3 Mb, predicted 3,119 protein-coding genes of which 2,545 were assigned putative functions. Genome analysis was done by comparison with the other deep-branching Actinobacteria neighbors Rubrobacter radiotolerans, Solirubrobacter soli and Thermoleophilum album.

Transfer of Meiothermus chliarophilus (Tenreiro et al.1995) Nobre et al. 1996, Meiothermus roseus Ming et al. 2016, Meiothermus terrae Yu et al. 2014 and Meiothermus timidus Pires et al. 2005, to Calidithermus gen. nov., as Calidithermus chliarophilus comb. nov., Calidithermus roseus comb. nov., Calidithermus terrae comb. nov. and Calidithermus timidus comb. nov., respectively, and emended description of the genus Meiothermus.

Chemotaxonomic parameters, phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene, phylogenetic analysis of 90 housekeeping genes and 855 core genes, amino acid identity (AAI), average nucleotide identity (ANI) and genomic characteristics were used to examine the 13 species of the genus Meiothermuswith validly published names to reclassify this genus. The results indicate that the species of the genus Meiothermus can be divided into three lineages on the basis of the results of the phylogenetic analysis, AAI, the guanine+cytosine (G+C) mole ratio, the ability to synthesize the red-pigmented carotenoid canthaxanthin and the colony colour, as well as other genomic characteristics. The results presented in this study circumscribe the genus Meiothermus to the species Meithermus ruber, Meiothermus cateniformans, Meiothermus taiwanensis, Meiothermus cerbereus, Meiothermus hypogaeus, Meiothermus luteus, Meiothermus rufus and Meiothermus granaticius, for which it is necessary to emend the genus Meiothermus.

Solimicrobium silvestre gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from alpine forest soil.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, motile, catalase and cytochrome c oxidase-positive bacterial strain, designated S20-91, was isolated from alpine forest soil. Growth occurred within a temperature range of 0-25 °C. Yeast extract was required for growth.

Lysobacter silvestris sp. nov., isolated from alpine forest soil, and reclassification of Luteimonas tolerans as Lysobacter tolerans comb. nov.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, motile, catalase-positive and cytochrome c oxidase-positive bacterial strain, designated AM20-91, was isolated from alpine forest soil. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that strain AM20-91 was related to the genus Lysobacter and had highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to the type strains of Lysobacter novalis THG-PC7 (97.8 %), Luteimonas tolerans UM1 (97.

Raineya orbicola gen. nov., sp. nov. a slightly thermophilic bacterium of the phylum Bacteroidetes and the description of Raineyaceae fam. nov.

An isolate, designated SPSPC-11, with an optimum growth temperature of about 50 °C and an optimum pH for growth between 7.5 and 8.0, was recovered from a hot spring in central Portugal.

Dehalogenimonas formicexedens sp. nov., a chlorinated alkane-respiring bacterium isolated from contaminated groundwater.

A strictly anaerobic, Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming bacterium designated NSZ-14T, isolated from contaminated groundwater in Louisiana (USA), was characterized using a polyphasic approach. Strain NSZ-14T reductively dehalogenated a variety of polychlorinated aliphatic alkanes, producing ethene from 1,2-dichloroethane, propene from 1,2-dichloropropane, a mixture of cis- and trans-1,2-dichloroethene from 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, vinyl chloride from 1,1,2-trichloroethane and allyl chloride (3-chloro-1-propene) from 1,2,3-trichloropropane. Formate or hydrogen could both serve as electron donors.

Mariniblastus fucicola gen. nov., sp. nov. a novel planctomycete associated with macroalgae.

One strain of a novel genus and species of the order Planctomycetes, designated FC18T, was isolated from the epiphytic community of Fucusspiralis. This strain was non-pigmented in medium M13 but was slightly pink pigmented on medium M14, containing four-fold the levels of glucose, peptone and yeast extract of M13. The organism was primarily spherical, with unicellular non-motile forms and rosettes.

Psychromicrobium silvestre gen. nov., sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from alpine forest soils.

Two Gram-stain-variable, non-motile, catalase-positive and cytochrome c oxidase-negative bacteria, designated AK20-18 and AM20-54, were isolated from forest soil samples collected in the Italian Alps. Growth occurred at a temperature range of 5-30 °C, at pH 6-9 and in the presence of 0-5 % (w/v) NaCl. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strains AK20-18 and AM20-54 was 100 %.

Characteristics of the first cases of microcephaly possibly related to Zika virus reported in the Metropolitan Region of Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil.

Objective: to describe the first cases of microcephaly possibly related to Zika virus in live born babies reported in the Metropolitan Region of Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil.

Methods: this was a descriptive case series study (cases reported between August 1st and October 31st 2015), using medical record data and data from a questionnaire answered by the mothers of the babies.

Results: 40 microcephaly cases were confirmed, distributed in eight municipalities within the Metropolitan Region, with Recife itself having the highest concentration of cases (n=12); median head circumference was 29 cm, median chest girth was 31 cm and median weight was 2,628 grams; 21/25 cases had brain calcification, ventriculomegaly or lissencephaly; 27 of the 40 mothers reported rash during pregnancy, 20 in the first trimester and 7 in the second trimester, as well as itching, headache, myalgia and absence of fever.

Nakamurella silvestris sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from alpine forest soil.

A Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, catalase-positive and cytochrome c oxidase-negative bacterium, designated strain S20-107T, was isolated from alpine forest soil. Growth occurred at 0-30 °C, at pH 6-9 and in the presence of 0-3 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain S20-107T was related to the genus Nakamurella and had the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Nakamurella flavida DS-52T (96.