Gene Network Visualization and Quantitative Synteny Analysis of more than 300 Marine T4-Like Phage Scaffolds from the GOS Metagenome

Bacteriophages (phages) are the most abundant biological entities in the biosphere and are the dominant “organisms” in marine environments, exerting an enormous influence on marine microbial populations. Metagenomic projects, such as the Global Ocean Sampling expedition (GOS), have demonstrated the predominance of tailed phages (Caudovirales), particularly T4 superfamily cyanophages (Cyano-T4s), in the marine milieu. Whereas previous metagenomic analyses were limited to gene content information, here we present a comparative analysis of over 300 phage scaffolds assembled from the viral fraction of the GOS data. This assembly permits the examination of synteny (organization) of the genes on the scaffolds and their comparison with the genome sequences from cultured Cyano-T4s. We employ comparative genomics and a novel usage of network visualization software to show that the scaffold phylogenies are similar to those of the traditional marker genes they contain. Importantly, these uncultured metagenomic scaffolds quite closely match the organization of the “core genome” of the known Cyano-T4s. This indicates that the current view of genome architecture in the Cyano-T4s is not seriously biased by being based on a small number of cultured phages, and we can be confident that they accurately reflect the diverse population of such viruses in marine surface waters

Enantioselective Conjugate Addition of Diethylzinc to Chalcones Catalysed by Chiral Ni(II) Aminoalcohol Complexes

Conjugate addition of diethylzinc to chalcones is catalysed by complexes prepared in situ from Ni(acac)2 and cis-exo-N,N-dialkyl-3-aminoisoborneols or (+)-cis-endo-N,N-dimethyl-3-aminoborneol ((+)-DAB) (13b). The products are obtained with enantioselectivities up to 84 %. When scalemic (-)-cis-exo-N,N-dimethyl-3-aminoisoborneol ((-)-DAIB) (3c) was employed in the reaction a positive nonlinear relationship was found. Several factors which govern catalyst activity and enantioselectivity have been investigated

Estudos Demográficos e fenológicos sobre Euphorbia davidii na Região Central da Província de Buenos Aires, Argentina

David’s Spurge is an spring-summer annual weed, present in the central area of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Field studies were carried out during 2011/12 and 2013/14 to assess demography and population dynamics and determine a thermal time scale of this species. At the experimental site, 1 m² quadrants were established as observational plots, four per cohort. The number of individuals at each phenological stage and from each cohort was recorded weekly. At the end of the experiment, all plots were harvested, and seed production was determined. A thermal time scale was established to identify the occurrence of the different phenological events. Three cohorts were detected, the first one emerged in midOctober, the second one in early November, and the last cohort varied from late November till early January, totalling an average of 1,500 m-2. Over 80% of the evaluated emergences belonged to the first and second cohorts in both periods. Thermal time requirements calculated to reach the 2-4 leaves, 6-8 leaves, branching, and flowering stages, were 192, 370, 515 and 1,155 o Cd, respectively. Average seed production in the first, second and third cohort was 5,700, 6,400 and 1,900 seeds m-2, respectively. However, the total number of propagules from the sum of the three cohorts was similar in both years, about 14,000 seeds m-2. Results from this study will foster a better understanding of the ecophysiology of Euphorbia davidii in the study area, and it may be a valuable contribution from an integrated weed management perspective.O eufórbio lactífero (em inglês, “David’s Spurge”) é uma planta daninha anual de primavera-verão presente na região central da província de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Estudos de campo foram realizados durante os anos de 2011/12 e 2013/14 para avaliar a demografia e a dinâmica de população, bem como para estabelecer uma escala de tempo térmico para essa espécie. No local do experimento, quatro parcelas de 1 m² foram marcadas para cada coorte de indivíduos. O número de indivíduos de cada coorte, em cada estado fenológico, foi registrado semanalmente. Ao final do experimento, todas as parcelas foram colhidas, e a produção de sementes foi determinada. Uma escala de acumulação de tempo térmico foi estabelecida para identificar a ocorrência de diferentes eventos fenológicos. Foram detectadas três coortes: a primeira surgiu em meados de outubro; a segunda, no início de novembro; e a última, entre o final de novembro e o início de janeiro, totalizando uma média de 1.500 plantas m-2. Mais de 80% das emergências registradas pertenciam à primeira e segunda coortes nos dois períodos de estudo. Os requisitos de tempo térmico calculados para atingir os estádios de 2-4 folhas, 6-8 folhas, ramificação e floração foram de 192, 370, 515 e 1.155 oCd, respectivamente. O rendimento médio na primeira, segunda e terceira coortes foi de 5.700, 6.400 e 1.900 sementes m-2, respectivamente, determinando um número total de mudas de aproximadamente 14.000 sementes m-2, com a soma das três coortes. Os resultados deste estudo permitirão uma melhor compreensão da ecofisiologia de Euphorbia davidii na área de estudo e representarão uma valiosa contribuição para a gestão integrada desta espécie.Fil: Núñez Fré, F.R.. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Juan, Victor Fabian. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Saint André, H.M.. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Chantre Balacca, Guillermo Ruben. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida; Argentin

Distinguishing two probability ensembles with one sample from each ensemble

We introduced a new method for distinguishing two probability ensembles called one from each method, in which the distinguisher receives as input two samples, one from each ensemble. We compare this new method with multi-sample from the same method already exiting in the literature and prove that there are ensembles distinguishable by the new method, but indistinguishable by the multi-sample from the same method. To evaluate the power of the proposed method we also show that if non-uniform distinguishers ( ..

Practical Aspects of Carbon-Carbon Cross-Coupling Reactions Using Heteroarenes

The use of cross-coupling reactions for the preparation of alkylated and arylated heteroaromatic compounds has increased tremendously over the past two decades. This has been driven on the one hand by the increasingly complex structures of new drugs, most of which contain one or more heterocyclic motifs. On the other hand, the development of new catalysts and reaction conditions for these reactions has rendered even the most unreactive of heteroarenes amenable to cross-coupling chemistry. Not only have new bulky electron-donating ligands been created that allow the coupling of aryl chlorides under mild conditions, but also the use of ligand-free palladium, in particular at very low doses, sometimes called homeopathic palladium, has served to bring down the cost of these reactions. More recent and enabling developments are the use of catalysts based on cheap metals such as nickel, copper, and iron. Scale-up issues are availability and cost of starting materials, cost of the catalysts (related to cost of the metal and the ligand, intrinsic activity and stability of the catalyst), solvent choice, and removal of the metal t

Biochemical measures and frailty in people with intellectual disabilities

Introduction: People with intellectual disabilities (ID) are earlier frail than people in the general population. Although this may be explained by lifelong unfavourable social, psychological and clinical causes, underlying physiological pathways might be considered too. Biological measures can help identify pathophysiological pathways. Therefore, we examined the association between frailty and a range of serum markers on inflammation, anaemia, the metabolic system, micronutrients and renal functioning. Methods: Participants (n = 757) with borderline to severe ID (50+) were recruited from three Dutch ID care and support services. Results: Frailty was measured with a frailty index, a measure based on the accumulation of deficits. Linear regression analyses were performed to identify associations between frailty and biochemical measures independent of age, gender, level of ID and the presence of Down syndrome. Frailty appears associated with inflammation (IL-6 and CRP), anaemia, metabolic markers (glucose, cholesterol and albumin) and renal functioning (cystatin-C and creatinine). Discussion: These results are in line with results observed in the general population. Future research needs to investigate the causal relation between biochemical measures and frailty, with a special focus on inflammation and nutrition. Furthermore, the possibility to screen for frailty using biochemical measures needs to be used