Chrysothrix flavovirens, Lepraria elobata, and Ochrolechia arborea new to Portugal

Chrysothrix flavovirens, Lepraria elobata, and Ochrolechia arborea are reported as new to Portugal, based on surveys carried out in pine forests along the Portuguese coast. Data on the distribution, secondary products and ecology of the species are presented

The uniform bounded deciding property and the separable quotient problem

[EN] Saxon-Wilansky's paper "The equivalence of some Banach space problems" contains six properties equivalent to the existence of an infinite dimensional separable quotient in a Banach space with nice simplified proofs. In the frame of uniform bounded deciding property, we prove that for an infinite dimensional Banach space E the following properties are equivalents: 1) The unit sphere of E contains a dense and non uniform bounded deciding subset. 2) The unit sphere S of E contains a dense and non strong norming subset. 3) E admits an infinite dimensional separable quotient.López Alfonso, S.; Moll López, SE. (2019). The uniform bounded deciding property and the separable quotient problem. Revista de la Real Academia de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales Serie A Matemáticas. 113(2):1223-1230. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13398-018-0543-7S122312301132Argyros, S.A., Dodos, P., Kanellopoulos, V.: Unconditional families in Banach spaces. Math. Ann. 341, 15–38 (2008)Fernández, J., Hui, S., Shapiro, H.: Unimodular functions and uniform boundedness. Publ. Mat. 33, 139–146 (1989)Font, V.P.: On exposed and smooth points of convex bodies in Banach spaces. Bull. London Math. Soc. 28, 51–58 (1996)Ka̧kol, J., López-Pellicer, M.: On Valdivia strong version of Nikodym boundedness property. J. Math. Anal. Appl. 446, 1–17 (2017)López-Alfonso, S., Mas, J., Moll, S.: Nikodym boundedness property and webs in $$\sigma$$ σ -algebras. RACSAM Rev. R. Acad. Cienc. Exactas Fís. Nat. Ser. A Math. 110, 711–722 (2016)López-Alfonso, S.: On Schachermayer and Valdivia results in algebras of Jordan measurable sets. RACSAM Rev. R. Acad. Cienc. Exactas Fís. Nat. Ser. A Math. 110, 799–808 (2016)Nygaard, O.: A strong uniform boundedness principle in Banach spaces. Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 129, 861–863 (2001)Schachermayer, W.: On some classical measure-theoretic theorems for non-sigma-complete Boolean algebras. Dissertationes Math. (Rozprawy Mat.) 214, 33 (1982)Śliwa, W.: The separable quotient problem and the strongly normal sequences. J. Math. Soc. Jpn. 64, 387–397 (2012)Saxon, S.A., Wilansky, A.: The equivalence of some Banach space problems. Colloq. Math. 37, 217–226 (1977)Valdivia, M.: On certain barrelled normed spaces. Ann. Inst. Fourier 29, 39–56 (1979)Valdivia, M.: On Nikodym boundedness property. RACSAM Rev. R. Acad. Cienc. Exactas Fís. Nat. Ser. A Mat. 107, 355–372 (2013

Revalorization Of Prosopanche Americana (Hydnoraceae), Used In Argentine Original Communities

The present work included the study of Prosopanche americana (Hydnoraceae), a medicinal plant native to the province of San Luis. According to the World Health Organization, many populations in the world still use the plants for food and health problems. Prosopanche americana is popularly known as "guaycurú", "mil hombres", "flor de tierra", "flor de hierro", "huachar". It is a parasitic, subway perennial plant that lacks leaves, which only emerges when it blooms in summer season, develops a subway root system and is found in dry or dune areas. Prosopanche americana was used in folk medicine and as edible fruit.The objective of this study was determined the preliminary characterization of Prosopanche americana (Hydnoraceae), performing the proximal analysis and potential toxicity to validate the popular use as food. Its characterization has not been published to date. Using the AOAC methods, the composition was: moisture: 73.2 ± 0.04%; protein: 7,81 ± 0.05; fat: 2.50 ± 0.06; fiber: 10,00 ± 0.13; ash: 0.77 ± 0.05; carbohydrates: 5,72. ± 0.19; moisture: 15.2 ± 0.04%; protein: 4.76,00 ± 0.05; fat: 2.90 ± 0.06; fiber: 27,00 ± 0.13; ash: 0.97 ± 0.05; carbohydrates: 40.17±0.98; energy: 78.54± 0.34 calories for fruits and rhizome respectively.Prosopanche americana toxicity was carried out by of acute toxicity test (OECD guidelines 423). Prosopanche americana aqueous extract was administered orally and the tested doses did not produce visible symptoms or mortality of acute toxicity in the two rodent species used. Prosopanche americana was not classified, since there was no evidence of toxicity at doses higher than 2000 mg/kg, as well as no toxicity at a dose of 5000 mg/kg.Besides, the importance of study new vegetal source, this underutilized native plant analyzed indicate that have a good nutritional value and non-toxic properties that suggest they can be an important alternative for Argentinian food and nutraceutical industry. Preserving and revaluing their consumption in either the traditional way and also as potential new ingredients

Wind from the black-hole accretion disk driving a molecular outflow in an active galaxy

Powerful winds driven by active galactic nuclei (AGN) are often invoked to play a fundamental role in the evolution of both supermassive black holes (SMBHs) and their host galaxies, quenching star formation and explaining the tight SMBH-galaxy relations. Recent observations of large-scale molecular outflows in ultra-luminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) have provided the evidence to support these studies, as they directly trace the gas out of which stars form. Theoretical models suggest an origin of these outflows as energy-conserving flows driven by fast AGN accretion disk winds. Previous claims of a connection between large-scale molecular outflows and AGN activity in ULIRGs were incomplete because they were lacking the detection of the putative inner wind. Conversely, studies of powerful AGN accretion disk winds to date have focused only on X-ray observations of local Seyferts and a few higher redshift quasars. Here we show the clear detection of a powerful AGN accretion disk wind with a mildly relativistic velocity of 0.25c in the X-ray spectrum of IRAS F11119+3257, a nearby (z = 0.189) optically classified type 1 ULIRG hosting a powerful molecular outflow. The AGN is responsible for ~80% of the emission, with a quasar-like luminosity of L_AGN = 1.5x10^46 erg/s. The energetics of these winds are consistent with the energy-conserving mechanism, which is the basis of the quasar mode feedback in AGN lacking powerful radio jets.Comment: Revised file including the letter, methods and supplementary information. Published in the March 26th 2015 issue of Natur

First GIS analysis of modern stone tools used by wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in Bossou, Guinea, West Africa

Stone tool use by wild chimpanzees of West Africa offers a unique opportunity to explore the evolutionary roots of technology during human evolution. However, detailed analyses of chimpanzee stone artifacts are still lacking, thus precluding a comparison with the earliest archaeological record. This paper presents the first systematic study of stone tools used by wild chimpanzees to crack open nuts in Bossou (Guinea-Conakry), and applies pioneering analytical techniques to such artifacts. Automatic morphometric GIS classification enabled to create maps of use wear over the stone tools (anvils, hammers, and hammers/anvils), which were blind tested with GIS spatial analysis of damage patterns identified visually. Our analysis shows that chimpanzee stone tool use wear can be systematized and specific damage patterns discerned, allowing to discriminate between active and passive pounders in lithic assemblages. In summary, our results demonstrate the heuristic potential of combined suites of GIS techniques for the analysis of battered artifacts, and have enabled creating a referential framework of analysis in which wild chimpanzee battered tools can for the first time be directly compared to the early archaeological record.Leverhulme Trust [IN-052]; MEXT [20002001, 24000001]; JSPS-U04-PWS; FCT-Portugal [SFRH/BD/36169/2007]; Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Researc

Tetrahydropyrazolo[1,5-a]Pyrimidine-3-Carboxamide and N-Benzyl-6′,7′-Dihydrospiro[Piperidine-4,4′-Thieno[3,2-c]Pyran] analogues with bactericidal efficacy against Mycobacterium tuberculosis targeting MmpL3

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a major human pathogen and the causative agent for the pulmonary disease, tuberculosis (TB). Current treatment programs to combat TB are under threat due to the emergence of multi-drug and extensively-drug resistant TB. As part of our efforts towards the discovery of new anti-tubercular leads, a number of potent tetrahydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-3-ca​rboxamide(THPP) and N-benzyl-6′,7′-dihydrospiro[piperidine-4,​4′-thieno[3,2-c]pyran](Spiro) analogues were recently identified against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis BCG through a high-throughput whole-cell screening campaign. Herein, we describe the attractive in vitro and in vivo anti-tubercular profiles of both lead series. The generation of M. tuberculosis spontaneous mutants and subsequent whole genome sequencing of several resistant mutants identified single mutations in the essential mmpL3 gene. This ‘genetic phenotype’ was further confirmed by a ‘chemical phenotype’, whereby M. bovis BCG treated with both the THPP and Spiro series resulted in the accumulation of trehalose monomycolate. In vivo efficacy evaluation of two optimized THPP and Spiro leads showed how the compounds were able to reduce >2 logs bacterial cfu counts in the lungs of infected mice

Identification of O-Linked Glycoproteins Binding to the Lectin Helix pomatia Agglutinin as Markers of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Background Protein glycosylation is an important post-translational modification shown to be altered in all tumour types studied to date. Mucin glycoproteins have been established as important carriers of O-linked glycans but other glycoproteins exhibiting altered glycosylation repertoires have yet to be identified but offer potential as biomarkers for metastatic cancer. Methodology In this study a glycoproteomic approach was used to identify glycoproteins exhibiting alterations in glycosylation in colorectal cancer and to evaluate the changes in O-linked glycosylation in the context of the p53 and KRAS (codon 12/13) mutation status. Affinity purification with the carbohydrate binding protein from Helix pomatia agglutinin (HPA) was coupled to 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis with mass spectrometry to enable the identification of low abundance O-linked glycoproteins from human colorectal cancer specimens. Results Aberrant O-linked glycosylation was observed to be an early event that occurred irrespective of the p53 and KRAS status and correlating with metastatic colorectal cancer. Affinity purification using the lectin HPA followed by proteomic analysis revealed annexin 4, annexin 5 and CLCA1 to be increased in the metastatic colorectal cancer specimens. The results were validated using a further independent set of specimens and this showed a significant association between the staining score for annexin 4 and HPA and the time to metastasis; independently (annexin A4: Chi square 11.45, P = 0.0007; HPA: Chi square 9.065, P = 0.0026) and in combination (annexin 4 and HPA combined: Chi square 13.47; P = 0.0002). Conclusion Glycoproteins showing changes in O-linked glycosylation in metastatic colorectal cancer have been identified. The glycosylation changes were independent of p53 and KRAS status. These proteins offer potential for further exploration as biomarkers and potential targets for metastatic colorectal cancer

M6 Membrane Protein Plays an Essential Role in Drosophila Oogenesis

We had previously shown that the transmembrane glycoprotein M6a, a member of the proteolipid protein (PLP) family, regulates neurite/filopodium outgrowth, hence, M6a might be involved in neuronal remodeling and differentiation. In this work we focused on M6, the only PLP family member present in Drosophila, and ortholog to M6a. Unexpectedly, we found that decreased expression of M6 leads to female sterility. M6 is expressed in the membrane of the follicular epithelium in ovarioles throughout oogenesis. Phenotypes triggered by M6 downregulation in hypomorphic mutants included egg collapse and egg permeability, thus suggesting M6 involvement in eggshell biosynthesis. In addition, RNAi-mediated M6 knockdown targeted specifically to follicle cells induced an arrest of egg chamber development, revealing that M6 is essential in oogenesis. Interestingly, M6-associated phenotypes evidenced abnormal changes of the follicle cell shape and disrupted follicular epithelium in mid- and late-stage egg chambers. Therefore, we propose that M6 plays a role in follicular epithelium maintenance involving membrane cell remodeling during oogenesis in Drosophila

VILIP-1 Downregulation in Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinomas: Mechanisms and Prediction of Survival

VILIP-1, a member of the neuronal Ca++ sensor protein family, acts as a tumor suppressor gene in an experimental animal model by inhibiting cell proliferation, adhesion and invasiveness of squamous cell carcinoma cells. Western Blot analysis of human tumor cells showed that VILIP-1 expression was undetectable in several types of human tumor cells, including 11 out of 12 non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell lines. The down-regulation of VILIP-1 was due to loss of VILIP-1 mRNA transcripts. Rearrangements, large gene deletions or mutations were not found. Hypermethylation of the VILIP-1 promoter played an important role in gene silencing. In most VILIP-1-silent cells the VILIP-1 promoter was methylated. In vitro methylation of the VILIP-1 promoter reduced its activity in a promoter-reporter assay. Transcriptional activity of endogenous VILIP-1 promoter was recovered by treatment with 5′-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5′-Aza-dC). Trichostatin A (TSA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, potently induced VILIP-1 expression, indicating that histone deacetylation is an additional mechanism of VILIP-1 silencing. TSA increased histone H3 and H4 acetylation in the region of the VILIP-1 promoter. Furthermore, statistical analysis of expression and promoter methylation (n = 150 primary NSCLC samples) showed a significant relationship between promoter methylation and protein expression downregulation as well as between survival and decreased or absent VILIP-1 expression in lung cancer tissues (p<0.0001). VILIP-1 expression is silenced by promoter hypermethylation and histone deacetylation in aggressive NSCLC cell lines and primary tumors and its clinical evaluation could have a role as a predictor of short-term survival in lung cancer patients

Vault changes after cyclopentolate instillation in eyes with posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens

Posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens (pIOL) implantation is a common option for correcting moderate-to-high ocular refractive defects. Because this pIOL is implanted on ciliary sulcus, the distance between the back surface of the pIOL and the anterior surface of the crystalline lens, that it is known as vault, should be measured in different conditions to ensure the technique's safety. Cyclopentolate is a drug that dilates the pupil and relaxes accommodation (cycloplegia). It is often used for different ocular examinations and for other medical purposes. However, there is no evidence of the effect of this drug on vault. This study quantified central vault changes associated with cyclopentolate instillation. We measured the vault under normal conditions (pre-cycloplegic instillation) and after instilling cyclopentolate on 39 eyes of 39 patients with implanted pIOL. Our results suggest that cyclopentolate instillation may induce changes to vault in eyes with implanted pIOL. These changes seem safe and are mainly associated with vault under normal conditions, but also with anterior chamber depth, pupillary diameter and pIOL size.- European Fund for Regional Development (FEDER) through the COMPETE Program and the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) provided financial support in the framework of projects PTDC/SAU-BEB/098391/2008, PTDC/SAU-BEB/098392/2008 and the Strategic Project PEST-C/FIS/UI607/2011