Creolization and indigeneity

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72824/1/ae.2006.33.4.576.pd

ADDISC lumbar disc prosthesis : Analytical and FEA testing of novel implants

The intact intervertebral disc is a six-freedom degree elastic deformation structure with shock absorption. 'Ball-and-socket' TDR do not reproduce these properties inducing zygapophyseal joint overload. Elastomeric TDRs reproduce better normal disc kinematics, but repeated core deformation causes its degeneration. We aimed to create a new TDR (ADDISC) reproducing healthy disc features. We designed TDR, analyzed (Finite Element Analysis), and measured every 500,000 cycles for 10 million cycles of the flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation cyclic compression bench-testing. In the inlay case, we weighted it and measured its deformation. ADDISC has two semi-spherical articular surfaces, one rotation centre for flexion, another for extension, the third for lateral bending, and a polycarbonate urethane inlay providing shock absorption. The first contact is between PCU and metal surfaces. There is no metal-metal contact up to 2000 N, and CoCr28Mo6 absorbs the load. After 10 million cycles at 1.2-2.0 kN loads, wear 140.96 mg (35.50 mm3), but no implant failures. Our TDR has a physiological motion range due to its articular surfaces' shape and the PCU inlay bumpers, minimizing the facet joint overload. ADDISC mimics healthy disc biomechanics and Instantaneous Rotation Center, absorbs shock, reduces wear, and has excellent long-term endurance

Characterization of a Novel Conformational GII.4 Norovirus Epitope: Implications for Norovirus-Host Interactions

Human noroviruses (NoVs) are the main etiological agents of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. While NoVs are highly diverse (more than 30 genotypes have been detected in humans), during the last 40 years most outbreaks and epidemics have been caused by GII.4 genotype strains, raising questions about their persistence in the population. Among other potential explanations, immune evasion is considered to be a main driver of their success. In order to study antibody recognition and evasion in detail, we analyzed a conformational epitope recognized by a monoclonal antibody (3C3G3) by phage display, site-directed mutagenesis, and surface plasmon resonance. Our results show that the predicted epitope is composed of 11 amino acids within the P domain: P245, E247, I389, Q390, R397, R435, G443, Y444, P445, N446, and D448. Only two of them, R397 and D448, differ from the homologous variant (GII.4 Den-Haag_2006b) and from a previous variant (GII.4 VA387_1996) that is not recognized by the antibody. A double mutant derived from the VA387_1996 variant containing both changes, Q396R and N447D, is recognized by the 3C3G3 monoclonal antibody, confirming the participation of the two sites in the epitope recognized by the antibody. Furthermore, a single change, Q396R, is able to modify the histo-blood group antigen (HBGA) recognition pattern. These results provide evidence that the epitope recognized by the 3C3G3 antibody is involved in the virus-host interactions, both at the immunological and at the receptor levels. IMPORTANCE Human noroviruses are the main cause of viral diarrhea worldwide in people of all ages. Noroviruses can infect individuals who had been previously exposed to the same or different norovirus genotypes. Norovirus genotype GII.4 has been reported to be most prevalent during the last 40 years. In the present study, we describe a novel viral epitope identified by a monoclonal antibody and located within the highly diverse P domain of the capsid protein. The evolution of this epitope along with sequential GII.4 variants has allowed noroviruses to evade previously elicited antibodies, thus explaining how the GII.4 genotype can persist over long periods, reinfecting the population. Our results also show that the epitope participates in the recognition of host receptors that have evolved over time, as well

Energy savings measures in compressed air systems

Compressed air is one of the most widely used application energies in the industry, such as good transportability, safety, purity, cleanliness, storage capacity and ease of use. In many countries, compressed air systems account for approximately 10% of the industry’s total electricity consumption. Despite all its advantages, compressed air is expensive, only between 10% and 30% of the energy consumed reaches the point of final use. Energy is lost as heat, leaks, pressure drop, misuse, among others. Energy efficiency measures such as: reducing compressor pressure, lowering air inlet temperature, adequate storage capacity, recovering residual heat from the air compressor and reducing leakage, can produce energy savings between 20% and 60%, with an average return on investment lower than 2 years. This paper analyzes the main energy efficiency measures that can be applied in the CASs, the potential energy savings, implementation costs and return rate of each of them are being calculated giving a necessary tool for companies in their objectives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption

Tomato floral induction and flower development are orchestrated by the interplay between gibberellin and two unrelated microRNA-controlled modules

[EN] Age-regulated microRNA156 (miR156) and targets similarly control the competence to flower in diverse species. By contrast, the diterpene hormone gibberellin (GA) and the microRNA319-regulated TEOSINTE BRANCHED/CYCLOIDEA/PCF (TCP) transcription factors promote flowering in the facultative long-day Arabidopsis thaliana, but suppress it in the day-neutral tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). We combined genetic and molecular studies and described a new interplay between GA and two unrelated miRNA-associated pathways that modulates tomato transition to flowering. Tomato PROCERA/DELLA activity is required to promote flowering along with the miR156-targeted SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING-LIKE (SPL/SBP) transcription factors by activating SINGLE FLOWER TRUSS (SFT) in the leaves and the MADS-Boxgene APETALA1(AP1)/MC at the shoot apex. Conversely, miR319-targeted LANCEOLATE represses floral transition by increasing GA concentrations and inactivating SFT in the leaves and AP1/MC at the shoot apex. Importantly, the combination of high GA concentrations/responses with the loss of SPL/SPB function impaired canonical meristem maturation and flower initiation in tomato. Our results reveal a cooperative regulation of tomato floral induction and flower development, integrating age cues (miR156 module) with GA responses and miR319-controlled pathways. Importantly, this study contributes to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the effects of GA in controlling flowering time in a day-neutral species.We thank Dr C. Schommer for kindly providing tcp4-soj8/+ seeds, and Carlos Rojas for Arabidopsis flowering time analyses. This work was supported by FAPESP (grant no. 15/17892-7 and fellowships nos 15/23826-7 and 13/16949-0). The authors declare no conflict of interest.Silva, G.; Silva, E.; Correa, J.; Vicente, M.; Jiang, N.; Notini, M.; Junior, A.... (2018). 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A Florigenic Effect of Sucrose in Fuchsia hybrida Is Blocked by Gibberellin-Induced Assimilate Competition. Plant Physiology, 125(1), 488-496. doi:10.1104/pp.125.1.488Kubota, A., Ito, S., Shim, J. S., Johnson, R. S., Song, Y. H., Breton, G., … Imaizumi, T. (2017). TCP4-dependent induction of CONSTANS transcription requires GIGANTEA in photoperiodic flowering in Arabidopsis. PLOS Genetics, 13(6), e1006856. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1006856Kudla, J., & Bock, R. (2016). Lighting the Way to Protein-Protein Interactions: Recommendations on Best Practices for Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation Analyses. The Plant Cell, 28(5), 1002-1008. doi:10.1105/tpc.16.00043Lifschitz, E., Eviatar, T., Rozman, A., Shalit, A., Goldshmidt, A., Amsellem, Z., … Eshed, Y. (2006). The tomato FT ortholog triggers systemic signals that regulate growth and flowering and substitute for diverse environmental stimuli. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 103(16), 6398-6403. doi:10.1073/pnas.0601620103Liu, J., Cheng, X., Liu, P., Li, D., Chen, T., Gu, X., & Sun, J. (2017). MicroRNA319-regulated TCPs interact with FBHs and PFT1 to activate CO transcription and control flowering time in Arabidopsis. PLOS Genetics, 13(5), e1006833. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1006833Livak, K. J., & Schmittgen, T. D. (2001). Analysis of Relative Gene Expression Data Using Real-Time Quantitative PCR and the 2−ΔΔCT Method. Methods, 25(4), 402-408. doi:10.1006/meth.2001.1262Livne, S., Lor, V. S., Nir, I., Eliaz, N., Aharoni, A., Olszewski, N. E., … Weiss, D. (2015). Uncovering DELLA-Independent Gibberellin Responses by Characterizing New Tomato procera Mutants. The Plant Cell, 27(6), 1579-1594. doi:10.1105/tpc.114.132795Lombardi-Crestana, S., da Silva Azevedo, M., e Silva, G. F. F., Pino, L. E., Appezzato-da-Glória, B., Figueira, A., … Peres, L. E. P. (2012). The Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum cv. Micro-Tom) Natural Genetic Variation Rg1 and the DELLA Mutant Procera Control the Competence Necessary to Form Adventitious Roots and Shoots. Journal of Experimental Botany, 63(15), 5689-5703. doi:10.1093/jxb/ers221Lozano, R., Gimenez, E., Cara, B., Capel, J., & Angosto, T. (2009). Genetic analysis of reproductive development in tomato. The International Journal of Developmental Biology, 53(8-9-10), 1635-1648. doi:10.1387/ijdb.072440rlMartin, K., Kopperud, K., Chakrabarty, R., Banerjee, R., Brooks, R., & Goodin, M. M. (2009). Transient expression inNicotiana benthamianafluorescent marker lines provides enhanced definition of protein localization, movement and interactionsin planta. The Plant Journal, 59(1), 150-162. doi:10.1111/j.1365-313x.2009.03850.xMartínez-Bello, L., Moritz, T., & López-Díaz, I. (2015). Silencing C19-GA 2-oxidases induces parthenocarpic development and inhibits lateral branching in tomato plants. 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Gene and Metabolite Regulatory Network Analysis of Early Developing Fruit Tissues Highlights New Candidate Genes for the Control of Tomato Fruit Composition and Development. Plant Physiology, 149(3), 1505-1528. doi:10.1104/pp.108.133967Nir, I., Shohat, H., Panizel, I., Olszewski, N., Aharoni, A., & Weiss, D. (2017). The Tomato DELLA Protein PROCERA Acts in Guard Cells to Promote Stomatal Closure. The Plant Cell, 29(12), 3186-3197. doi:10.1105/tpc.17.00542Ohad, N., Shichrur, K., & Yalovsky, S. (2007). The Analysis of Protein-Protein Interactions in Plants by Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation. Plant Physiology, 145(4), 1090-1099. doi:10.1104/pp.107.107284Ori, N., Cohen, A. R., Etzioni, A., Brand, A., Yanai, O., Shleizer, S., … Eshed, Y. (2007). Regulation of LANCEOLATE by miR319 is required for compound-leaf development in tomato. Nature Genetics, 39(6), 787-791. doi:10.1038/ng2036Pal, S., Zhao, J., Khan, A., Yadav, N. S., Batushansky, A., Barak, S., … Rachmilevitch, S. (2016). Paclobutrazol induces tolerance in tomato to deficit irrigation through diversified effects on plant morphology, physiology and metabolism. Scientific Reports, 6(1). doi:10.1038/srep39321Palatnik, J. F., Wollmann, H., Schommer, C., Schwab, R., Boisbouvier, J., Rodriguez, R., … Weigel, D. (2007). Sequence and Expression Differences Underlie Functional Specialization of Arabidopsis MicroRNAs miR159 and miR319. Developmental Cell, 13(1), 115-125. doi:10.1016/j.devcel.2007.04.012Parapunova, V., Busscher, M., Busscher-Lange, J., Lammers, M., Karlova, R., Bovy, A. G., … de Maagd, R. A. (2014). Identification, cloning and characterization of the tomato TCP transcription factor family. BMC Plant Biology, 14(1), 157. doi:10.1186/1471-2229-14-157Park, S. J., Jiang, K., Schatz, M. C., & Lippman, Z. B. (2011). Rate of meristem maturation determines inflorescence architecture in tomato. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(2), 639-644. doi:10.1073/pnas.1114963109Pharis, R. 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Self-Esteem, Study Habits, and Academic Performance of Business College Students

Individual’s academic success may be affected by personal and social dimensions of life. Self-esteem and study habits are that dimensions in life that have influential effects on academic achievement.  Thus, this study was conducted to determine if there is a significant relationship between self-esteem, study habits and the academic performance of 151 students from the College of Business.  This study utilized the descriptive and correlational designs.   Using stratified sampling, the questionnaires were administered to a sample of 151 business students.  The descriptive results revealed that the business students have high self-esteem, good study habits, and average academic performance (GPA=3.31).  Using Pearson’s correlation, a significant relationship was found between self-esteem and academic performance and between study habits and academic performance in terms of reading textbooks, taking notes and using resources. It was recommended that educators should encourage and cheer up students, raise their spirits when they are down, and congratulate them when they are doing well. Educators should find activities that will motivate students to study harder to improve their academic performance

Bilinear R-parity violation with flavor symmetry

Bilinear R-parity violation (BRPV) provides the simplest intrinsically supersymmetric neutrino mass generation scheme. While neutrino mixing parameters can be probed in high energy accelerators, they are unfortunately not predicted by the theory. Here we propose a model based on the discrete flavor symmetry $A_4$ with a single R-parity violating parameter, leading to (i) correct Cabbibo mixing given by the Gatto-Sartori-Tonin formula, and a successful unification-like b-tau mass relation, and (ii) a correlation between the lepton mixing angles $\theta_{13}$ and $\theta_{23}$ in agreement with recent neutrino oscillation data, as well as a (nearly) massless neutrino, leading to absence of neutrinoless double beta decay.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures. Extended version, as published in JHE