Extradenticle and Homothorax Control Adult Muscle Fiber Identity in Drosophila

SummaryHere we identify a key role for the homeodomain proteins Extradenticle (Exd) and Homothorax (Hth) in the specification of muscle fiber fate in Drosophila. exd and hth are expressed in the fibrillar indirect flight muscles but not in tubular jump muscles, and manipulating exd or hth expression converts one muscle type into the other. In the flight muscles, exd and hth are genetically upstream of another muscle identity gene, salm, and are direct transcriptional regulators of the signature flight muscle structural gene, Actin88F. Exd and Hth also impact muscle identity in other somatic muscles of the body by cooperating with Hox factors. Because mammalian orthologs of exd and hth also contribute to muscle gene regulation, our studies suggest that an evolutionarily conserved genetic pathway determines muscle fiber differentiation

Overview of sandy soils management in Vietnam (oral communication)

In Vietnam, more than 36% of agricultural soils are classified as light textured degraded soils that have a low inherent nutrient supplying capacity, low organic matter content and limited water holding capacity. Among these soils, about half a million hectares are sandy soils mainly located in coastal areas. Communities that are economically marginalized and have few viable options available to address issues of food insecurity, poverty and unsustainable resource management often dominate these soils. This has a direct negative impact on the economic and social fabric of communities that are dependant on natural resources for goods and services in order to sustain already tenuous livelihoods. In this paper, the authors report the results collected from different studies on sandy and light textured soil management in Vietnam including a cooperation project with Belgian universities focused on coastal sandy soils of Central Vietnam and a North Vietnam sandy soils monitoring project. The main hysico-chemical characteristics of sandy soils, nutrient problems and Vietnamese farmers’ experiences on mineral and organic fertility management of sandy soil to overcome the shortages in food and toward a sustainable production are described. The management of these soils requires integrated practices that can increase fertility, and the nutrient and water holding capacity of these soils. Biological management of these soils can be an effective way to increase soil quality through management of biomass, i.e. farmyard manures, crop residues, green manures, and alley cropping. In addition, the effective management of these soils needs careful consideration of appropriate techniques that not only address the issue of low productivity, but to also protect the environment. These soils are prone to significant losses of nutrients through leaching, so that any intensification of production needs to recognize this potential adverse effect and develop management strategies that minimize off-site pollution. These technologies need to be assessed in pilot demonstration plots under local conditions prior to recommending their adoption by the wider agricultural community in coastal areas

Concurrent Anemia and Elevated C-Reactive Protein Predicts HIV Clinical Treatment Failure, Including Tuberculosis, After Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation

BACKGROUND Anemia is a known risk factor for clinical failure following antiretroviral therapy (ART). Notably, anemia and inflammation are interrelated, and recent studies have associated elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammation marker, with adverse human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment outcomes, yet their joint effect is not known. The objective of this study was to assess prevalence and risk factors of anemia in HIV infection and to determine whether anemia and elevated CRP jointly predict clinical failure post-ART. METHODS A case-cohort study (N = 470 [236 cases, 234 controls]) was nested within a multinational randomized trial of ART efficacy (Prospective Evaluation of Antiretrovirals in Resource Limited Settings [PEARLS]). Cases were incident World Health Organization stage 3, 4, or death by 96 weeks of ART treatment (clinical failure). Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for pre-ART (baseline) anemia (females: hemoglobin <12.0 g/dL; males: hemoglobin <13.0 g/dL). Association of anemia as well as concurrent baseline anemia and inflammation (CRP ≥ 10 mg/L) with clinical failure were assessed using multivariable Cox models. RESULTS Baseline anemia prevalence was 51% with 15% prevalence of concurrent anemia and inflammation. In analysis of clinical failure, multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios were 6.41 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.82-14.57) for concurrent anemia and inflammation, 0.77 (95% CI, .37-1.58) for anemia without inflammation, and 0.45 (95% CI, .11-1.80) for inflammation without anemia compared to those without anemia and inflammation. CONCLUSIONS ART-naive, HIV-infected individuals with concurrent anemia and inflammation are at particularly high risk of failing treatment, and understanding the pathogenesis could lead to new interventions. Reducing inflammation and anemia will likely improve HIV disease outcomes. Alternatively, concurrent anemia and inflammation could represent individuals with occult opportunistic infections in need of additional screening

The Static and Dynamic Structure Factor of a Diblock Copolymer Melt via Small-Angle X-ray Scattering and X-ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy

We present a detailed X-ray scattering study of the static and dynamic behavior of a styrene–isoprene diblock copolymer melt with a styrene volume fraction of 0.3468. At 115 and 120 °C, we observe splitting of the principal Bragg peak, which we attribute to phase coexistence of hexagonal cylindrical and cubic double-gyroid structure. In the disordered phase, above 130 °C, we have characterized the dynamics of composition fluctuations via X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy. Near the peak of the static structure factor, these fluctuations show stretched-exponential relaxations, characterized by a stretching exponent of about 0.36 for a range of temperatures immediately above the MST. The corresponding characteristic relaxation times vary exponentially with temperature, changing by a factor of 2 for each 2 °C change in temperature. At low wavevectors, the measured relaxations are diffusive with relaxation times that change by a factor of 2 for each 8 °C change in temperature