Epistatic interaction of ERAP1 and HLA-B in Behçet disease: a replication study in the Spanish population

Behçet's disease (BD) is a multifactorial disorder associated with the HLA region. Recently, the ERAP1 gene has been proposed as a susceptibility locus with a recessive model and with epistatic interaction with HLA-B51. ERAP1 trims peptides in the endoplasmic reticulum to optimize their length for MHC-I binding. Polymorphisms in this gene have been related with the susceptibility to other immune-mediated diseases associated to HLA class I. Our aim was, the replication in the Spanish population of the association described in the Turkish population between ERAP1 (rs17482078) and BD. Additionally, in order to improve the understanding of this association we analyzed four additional SNPs (rs27044, rs10050860, rs30187 and rs2287987) associated with other diseases related to HLA class I and the haplotype blocks in this gene region. According to our results, frequencies of the homozygous genotypes for the minor alleles of all the SNPs were increased among patients and the OR values were higher in the subgroup of patients with the HLA-B risk factors, although differences were not statistically significant. Moreover, the presence of the same mutation in both chromosomes increased the OR values from 4.51 to 10.72 in individuals carrying the HLA-B risk factors. Therefore, although they were not statistically significant, our data were consistent with an association between ERAP1 and BD as well as with an epistatic interaction between ERAP1 and HLA-B in the Spanish population

La renovación de la palabra en el bicentenario de la Argentina : los colores de la mirada lingüística

El libro reúne trabajos en los que se exponen resultados de investigaciones presentadas por investigadores de Argentina, Chile, Brasil, España, Italia y Alemania en el XII Congreso de la Sociedad Argentina de Lingüística (SAL), Bicentenario: la renovación de la palabra, realizado en Mendoza, Argentina, entre el 6 y el 9 de abril de 2010. Las temáticas abordadas en los 167 capítulos muestran las grandes líneas de investigación que se desarrollan fundamentalmente en nuestro país, pero también en los otros países mencionados arriba, y señalan además las áreas que recién se inician, con poca tradición en nuestro país y que deberían fomentarse. Los trabajos aquí publicados se enmarcan dentro de las siguientes disciplinas y/o campos de investigación: Fonología, Sintaxis, Semántica y Pragmática, Lingüística Cognitiva, Análisis del Discurso, Psicolingüística, Adquisición de la Lengua, Sociolingüística y Dialectología, Didáctica de la lengua, Lingüística Aplicada, Lingüística Computacional, Historia de la Lengua y la Lingüística, Lenguas Aborígenes, Filosofía del Lenguaje, Lexicología y Terminología

Deposition patterns of SO42-, NO3- and H+ in the Brazilian Territory

SO42-, NO3 and H+ depositions are estimated in the Brazilian territory based on the existing rainfall chemical data arid on annual rainfall distribution over the whole territory. Local and regional depositions are estimated. Rainfall chemical data over the Brazilian territory shows that the average pH values are usually low (between 4.0 and 5.5). These values are observed in the tropical Amazon forest as well as in urban areas. However, the rainwater acidity in the tropical forests are due to organic acids naturally produced by the vegetation while in urban areas the acidity is mainly due to acidic anion deposition (NO3- and SO42-). In some Amazonian areas, the average input values through rainfall for NO3- is about 0.06 keq.ha.yr(-1) and for SO42- is between 0.23 and 0.54 keq.ha(-1).yr(-1). On the other hand, in some urban centers, such as Sao Paulo, values of .072 keq.ha(-1).yr(-1) for NO3- and 1.16 keq.ha(-1).yr(-1) of SO42- are found and in sites where sulfate sources (coal mining) are present, as for the area of Florianopolis, values as high as 5.59 keq.ha(-1). yr(-1) for SO42- are found.Pages: 1121-112

Use of pedological maps in the identification of sensitivity of soils to acidic deposition: application to Brazilian soils

The pedogeochemical maps present the spatial distribution of soils according to crystalochemical parameters (clay fraction) and physic-chemical aspects of the sorting complex (CEC and BS). These maps are adequate tool for environmental studies and particularly, for the analysis of the terrestrial ecosystem sensibility to acidic deposition. The pedogeochemical maps of the Brazilian soils, elaborated using FAO Soil World Map, allowed establishing the soil distribution according to 5 classes of vulnerability to acidic deposition, as defined by Stockholm Environmental Institute (SEI). From these maps, it is observed that about 50% of the Brazilian soils are high vulnerable to acidic deposition and can be included within the most sensitive class. This group is formed by well-developed and mature soils, constituted by clay minerals of kaolinite type associated with variable amount of gibbsite. About 8% of the soils can be considered as the least sensitive class. They correspond to Topomorphic Vertisols (Vertissolo, Embrapa 1999), Planosols (Planossolo, Embrapa 1999) and saline soils. Finally, the remaining soils represent the balanced media that dominate the northeastern semiarid zones and the south and northeastern subtropical zones.Pages: 139-14

Nutrients and Nonessential Elements in Soil after 11 Years of Wastewater Irrigation

Irrigation of citrus (Citrus aurantium L. x Citrus paradise Macf.) with urban reclaimed wastewater (RWW) can be economical and conserve fresh water. However, concerns remain regarding its deleterious effects on soil quality. We investigated the ionic speciation (ISP) of RWW and potential impacts of 11 yr of irrigation with RWW on soil quality, compared with well-water (WW) irrigation. Most of nutrients (similar to 53-99%) in RWW are free ionic species and readily available for plant uptake, such as: NH4+, NO3-, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, SO42-, H3BO3, Cl-, Fe2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, Co2+, and Ni2+, whereas more than about 80% of Cu, Cr, Pb, and Al are complexed with CO3-, OH-, and/or organic matter. The RWW irrigation increased the availability and total concentrations of nutrients and nonessential elements, and soil salinity and sodicity by two to three times compared with WW-irrigated soils. Although RWW irrigation changed many soil parameters, no difference in citrus yield was observed. The risk of negative impacts from RWW irrigation on soil quality appears to be minimal because of: (i) adequate quality of RWW, according to USEPA limits; (ii) low concentrations of metals in soil after 11 yr of irrigation with RWW; and (iii) rapid leaching of salts in RWW-irrigated soil during the rainy season.FAPESP (Sao Paulo Research Foundation) [06/56419-6]Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)University of FloridaUniversity of Florid

Biogeochemistry of an Amazonian podzol-ferralsol soil system with white kaolin

International audienceThe podzol-ferralsol soil systems, which cover great areas of Amazonia and other equatorial regions, are frequently associated with kaolin deposits and store and ex-port large amounts of carbon. Although natural organic mat-ter (NOM) plays a key role in their dynamics, little is known about their biogeochemistry. In order to assess the specific role of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on NOM storage in deep horizons and to determine possible relationships be-tween kaolin formation and DOM properties, we studied the groundwater composition of a typical podzol-ferralsol soil catena from the Alto Rio Negro region, Brazil. Groundwater was sampled using tension-free lysimeters placed according to soil morphology. DOC, E H , pH, and dis-solved Si, Al 3+ , Fe 2+ , and Fe 3+ were analyzed for all sam-ples and values are given in a database. Quantification of other dissolved ions, small carboxylic acids and SUVA 254 index and acid-base microtitration was achieved on selected samples. Part of the DOM produced by the hydromorphic podzols is directly exported to the blackwater streams; another part percolates at greater depth, and more than 90 % of it adsorbs in the Bh-Bhs horizons, allowing carbon storage at depth. Humic substances are preferentially adsorbed with regard to small carboxylic compounds. With regard to kaolin genesis, kaolinite precipitation is fa-vored by Al release from NOM mineralization within the Bh-Bhs and kaolin bleaching is ensured by iron reduction due to acidity and relatively low E H . Fe 2+ mobility can be related to small E H variations and enhanced by the significant con-centration of small carboxylic acids. The long-term result of these processes is the thickening of the kaolin, and it can be inferred that kaolin is likely to occur where active, giant pod-zols are close to a slope gradient sufficient enough to lower the deep water table