Does Variation in Genome Sizes Reflect Adaptive or Neutral Processes? New Clues from Passiflora

One of the long-standing paradoxes in genomic evolution is the observation that much of the genome is composed of repetitive DNA which has been typically regarded as superfluous to the function of the genome in generating phenotypes. In this work, we used comparative phylogenetic approaches to investigate if the variations in genome sizes (GS) should be considered as adaptive or neutral processes by the comparison between GS and flower diameters (FD) of 50 Passiflora species, more specifically, within its two most species-rich subgenera, Passiflora and Decaloba. For this, we have constructed a phylogenetic tree of these species, estimated GS and FD of them, inferred the tempo and mode of evolution of these traits and their correlations, using both current and phylogenetically independent contrasted values. We found significant correlations among the traits, when considering the complete set of data or only the subgenus Passiflora, whereas no correlations were observed within Decaloba. Herein, we present convincing evidence of adaptive evolution of GS, as well as clues that this pattern is limited by a minimum genome size, which could reduce both the possibilities of changes in GS and the possibility of phenotypic responses to environment changes

Polymer/layered silicate nanocomposite as matrix for bioinsecticide formulation.

Due to current encouragement to the use of bioinsecticides for pest control and the susceptibility of biological agents to external factors, we investigated the use of a polymer nanocomposite (PLN, polymer/ layered silicate nanocomposite) as matrix to encapsulate an entomopathogenic fungus active against pest insects of palm trees. The beads were formed by extrusion and the following variables were assessed: fungus conidial concentration (series 1: 107; series 2: 108 and series 3:109 conidia/mL) and nanolayered silicate concentration (0; 0.5; 1; 2 and 4%). The matrix was evaluated by X-ray powder diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the following characteristics of the products were assessed: percent of encapsulated conidia, size distribution and polydispersity index, swelling index, formulation?s in vitro ability to release conidia and stability under different storage temperatures. PLN, whose interactions could be visualized by FTIR, proved to be a potential matrix for this fungus, because, while composed by natural substances non-toxic to the environment, it succeeded to encapsulate high amounts of conidia (series 2). A barrier effect with bentonite increase was also demonstrated by increased fungus germination time and thermal stability

Contrasting changes in the abundance and diversity of North American bird assemblages from 1971 to 2010

This article is based upon work from COST Action ES1101 "Harmonising Global Biodiversity Modelling" (Harmbio), supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology).Although it is generally recognized that global biodiversity is declining, few studies have examined long-term changes in multiple biodiversity dimensions simultaneously. In this study we quantified and compared temporal changes in the abundance, taxonomic diversity, functional diversity and phylogenetic diversity of bird assemblages, using roadside monitoring data of the North American Breeding Bird Survey from 1971 to 2010. We calculated 12 abundance and diversity metrics based on five year average abundances of 519 species for each of 768 monitoring routes. We did this for all bird species together as well as for four sub-groups based on breeding habitat affinity (grassland, woodland, wetland and shrubland breeders). The majority of the biodiversity metrics increased or remained constant over the study period, whereas the overall abundance of birds showed a pronounced decrease, primarily driven by declines of the most abundant species. These results highlight how stable or even increasing metrics of taxonomic, functional or phylogenetic diversity may occur in parallel with substantial losses of individuals. We further found that patterns of change differed among the species sub-groups, with both abundance and diversity increasing for woodland birds and decreasing for grassland breeders. The contrasting changes between abundance and diversity and among the breeding habitat groups underscore the relevance of a multi-faceted approach to measuring biodiversity change. Our findings further stress the importance of monitoring the overall abundance of individuals in addition to metrics of taxonomic, functional or phylogenetic diversity, thus confirming the importance of population abundance as an essential biodiversity variable.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

SCI1 Is a Direct Target of AGAMOUS and WUSCHEL and Is Specifically Expressed in the Floral Meristematic Cells

The specified floral meristem will develop a pre-established number of floral organs and, thus, terminate the floral meristematic cells. The floral meristematic pool of cells is controlled, among some others, by WUSCHEL (WUS) and AGAMOUS (AG) transcription factors (TFs). Here, we demonstrate that the SCI1 (Stigma/style cell-cycle inhibitor 1) gene, a cell proliferation regulator, starts to be expressed since the floral meristem specification of Nicotiana tabacum and is expressed in all floral meristematic cells. Its expression is higher in the floral meristem and the organs being specified, and then it decreases from outside to inside whorls when the organs are differentiating. SCI1 is co-expressed with N. tabacum WUSCHEL (NtWUS) in the floral meristem and the whorl primordia at very early developmental stages. Later in development, SCI1 is co-expressed with NAG1 (N. tabacum AG) in the floral meristem and specialized tissues of the pistil. In silico analyses identified cis-regulatory elements for these TFs in the SCI1 genomic sequence. Yeast one-hybrid and electrophoresis mobility shift assay demonstrated that both TFs interact with the SCI1 promoter sequence. Additionally, the luciferase activity assay showed that NAG1 clearly activates SCI1 expression, while NtWUS could not do so. Taken together, our results suggest that during floral development, the spatiotemporal regulation of SCI1 by NtWUS and NAG1 may result in the maintenance or termination of proliferative cells in the floral meristem, respectively.Fil: Cruz, Joelma O.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Abramo Barrera San Martin, Juca. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. Academia Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion; Argentina. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Lubini, Greice. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Strini, Edward J.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Sobral, Rómulo. Universidade do Minho; PortugalFil: Pinoti, Vitor F.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Ferreira, Pedro B.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Thomé, Vanessa. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Quiapim, Andréa C.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Dornelas, Marcelo C.. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; BrasilFil: Pranchevicius, Maria Cristina S.. Universidade Federal do São Carlos; BrasilFil: Madueño, Francisco. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; EspañaFil: Costa, M. Manuela R.. Universidade do Minho; PortugalFil: Goldman, Maria Helena S.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasi

Avaliação do Ensino de Empreendedorismo entre Estudantes Universitários por meio do Perfil Empreendedor

Entrepreneurship is a socioeconomic phenomenon that has been valued for its influence on the growth and development of regional and national economies. The main promoter of this phenomenon are entrepreneurs, subjects endowed with multiple features that make up their profiles. They are dynamic and results oriented, benefitting from the fruits of their own personal efforts. Entrepreneurial education is highlighted as one of the most efficient ways to promote an entrepreneurial culture and train new entrepreneurs. However, some difficulty has been observed in assessing the effectiveness of teaching and learning this subject. The objective of this study was to analyze, by means of multivariate techniques, an instrument whose function is to measure the learning of Entrepreneurship, verifying the change in entrepreneur profiles of 407 college students participating or not in an entrepreneurial training process. The results showed that students who participated in Entrepreneurship educational training activities showed significant changes in their entrepreneurial profiles. The main contributions showed growth in the Self-realization, Planner, Innovative and Risks Assumed dimensions