The K luminosity-metallicity relation for dwarf galaxies and the tidal dwarf galaxies in the tails of HCG 31

We determine a K-band luminosity-metallicity (K-Z) relation for dwarf irregular galaxies, over a large range of magnitudes, -20.5 < M_K < -13.5, using a combination of K photometry from either the 2-micron all sky survey (2MASS) or the recent study of Vadivescu er al. (2005), and metallicities derived mainly with the T_e method, from several different studies. We then use this newly-derived relation, together with published K_s photometry and our new spectra of objects in the field of HCG 31 to discuss the nature of the possible tidal dwarf galaxies of this group. We catalogue a new member of HCG 31, namely "R", situated ~40 kpc north of the group center, composed by a ring of H alpha knots which coincides with a peak in HI. This object is a deviant point in the K-Z relation (it has too high metallicity for its luminosity) and its projected distance to the parent galaxy and large gas reservoir makes it one of the most promising tidal dwarf galaxy candidates of HCG 31, together with object F. The subsystems A1, E, F, H and R all have metallicities similar to that of the galaxies A+C and B, result that is expected in a scenario where those were formed from material expelled from the central galaxies of HCG 31. While objects A1, E and H will most probably fall back onto their progenitors, F and R may survive as tidal dwarf galaxies. We find that two galaxies of HCG 31, G and Q, have A+em spectral signatures, and are probably evolving toward a post-starburst phase.Comment: 32 pages, 4 figures - Submitted to AJ - A version of this paper with full resolution figures can be found at http://www.astro.iag.usp.br/~eduardo/HCG31-KZrelation.pd

Intramyocardial Injection of Autologous Bone Marrow Cells as an Adjunctive Therapy to Incomplete Myocardial Revascularization - Safety Issues

OBJECTIVES: To determine the safety of intramyocardial injection of autologous bone marrow cells in patients undergoing surgical myocardial revascularization (CABG) for severe coronary artery disease. INTRODUCTION: There is little data available regarding the safety profile of autologous bone marrow cells injected during surgical myocardial revascularization. Potential risks include arrythmias, fibrosis in the injected sites and growth of non-cardiac tissues. METHODS: Ten patients (eight men) were enrolled; they were 59&plusmn;5 years old with limiting angina and were non-optimal candidates for complete CABG. Bone marrow cells (1.3&plusmn;0.3x10(8)) were obtained prior to surgery, and the lymphomonocytic fraction (CD34+=1.8&plusmn;0.3%) was separated by density gradient centrifugation. During surgery, bone marrow cells were injected in non-grafted areas of ischemic myocardium. During the first year after surgery, the patients underwent laboratory tests, cardiac imaging, and 24-hour ECG monitoring. RESULTS: Injected segments: inferior (n=7), anterior (n=2), septal (n=1), apical (n=1), and lateral (n=1) walls. Except for a transient elevation of C-reactive protein at one month post-surgery (P=0.01), laboratory tests results were within normal ranges; neither complex arrhythmias nor structural abnormalities were detected during follow-up. There was a reduction in functional class of angina from 3.6&plusmn;0.8 (baseline) to 1.2&plusmn;0.4 (one year) (P<0.0001). Also, patients had a significant decrease in the ischemic score assessed by magnetic resonance, not only globally from 0.65&plusmn;0.14 (baseline) to 0.17&plusmn;0.05 (one year) (P=0.002), but also in the injected areas from 1.11&plusmn;0.20 (baseline) to 0.34&plusmn;0.13 (one year) (P=0.0009). CONCLUSIONS: Intramyocardial injection of bone marrow cells combined with CABG appears to be safe. Theoretical concerns with arrhythmias and/or structural abnormalities after cell therapy were not confirmed in this safety trial

Women's refolution at work

The renowned Age of Revolution encompasses the period between the American Revolution (1776) and the so-called Spring of Nations in 1848, this being the height of the revolutionary movements in Europe in the 19th century, though it may be considered just the tip of the iceberg as far as civil rights movements for people from all walks of life are concerned. The changes that occurred throughout this timespan intended to move from feudal and absolutist systems, considered old-fashioned and ill-suited, to constitutionalist states and republics that would be able to heed the new values, e.g. liberalism, nationalism and socialism, as well as the demands of the working classes, enduring the harmful effects of industrialisation. Working people had been flowing into large industrial cities for over a century since the onset of the Industrial Revolution, leaving behind their home places and settling in overcrowded, rundown dwellings in appalling living conditions. The shift from working at home to working in factories brought along a number of issues that would be the motivation for setting up trade unions, namely the long working hours (between 12 and 14 hours per day), the low wages, the cruel discipline and the fierce system of fines that was applied, and the numerous accidents and health issues that ensued. Despite the overall negative conditions, women and children were among those who suffered the most, especially because the former’s wages were regarded as secondary earnings and thus less important than men’s. Consequently, from 1850s onwards, trade unions began to fight for better paid workers and women were initially excluded from these structures be it as members or leaders, being supported by social reformers instead. As a case in point, it is worth mentioning Clementina Black who, in 1888, set forth a demand for equal pay between men and women in the UK and the Bryant and May match factory strike which was held in the same year. Bearing in mind this social and historical context, our aim with this paper is two-fold: not only do we seek to focus on unionist movements in the last half of the 19th century in the European context as a means to fight against conservative and slavery-like practices in the workplace but we also wish to emphasise the place and importance of working-class women in this general workers’ assertion, particularly in their attempt to gain equal pay, a true refolution that would be the motivational beacon for 20th century movements, such as that of the suffragettes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Genome mining of endophytic streptomyces wadayamensis reveals high antibiotic production capability

The actinobacteria Streptomyces wadayamensis A23, an endophitic strain, was recently sequenced and previous work showed qualitatively that the strain inhibits the growth of some pathogens. Herein we report the genome analysis of S. wadayamensis which reveals several antibiotic biosynthetic pathways. Using mass spectrometry, we were able to identify desferoxamines, several antimycins and candicidin, as predicted. Additionally, it was possible to confirm that the biosynthetic machinery of the strain when compared to identified known metabolites is far underestimated. As suggested by biochemical qualitative tests, genome encoded information reveals that the strain A23 has high capability to produce antibiotics.The actinobacteria Streptomyces wadayamensis A23, an endophitic strain, was recently sequenced and previous work showed qualitatively that the strain inhibits the growth of some pathogens. Herein we report the genome analysis of S. wadayamensis which reve27814651475FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO2014/12727-5; 2010/51677-2; 2013/12598-8; 2015/01013-4162191/2015-4; 130933/2015-5We gratefully acknowledge FAPESP (project grant 2014/12727-5 to L. G. O. and 2010/51677-2 to M. N. E.), PETROBRAS (grant 4712-0), and the University of Campinas. C. F. F. A. and B. S. P. acknowledges CNPq (studentships 162191/2015-4 and 130933/2015-5). A

Genetic diversity of Passiflora spp., based on morphoagronomic descriptors

Neste trabalho, objetivou-se realizar a caracterização morfoagronômica de 15 acessos de Passiflora spp., baseada em descritores qualitativos, sendo 23 de folhas, 25 de flores e 10 de frutos. Foram estimadas dissimilaridades genéticas entre os acessos, por meio do complemento do índice de coincidência simples. A partir da matriz de dissimilaridades genéticas, foi realizada a análise de agrupamento via dendrograma, utilizando método UPGMA - Unweighted Pair-Group Method using Arithmetic Averages, e a dispersão gráfica, foi baseada em escalas multidimensionais usando o método das coordenadas principais (PCO). Houve uma clara diferenciação dos acessos em nível inter e intraespecífico, com base nas análises multivariadas dos descritores de folhas, flores e frutos. Houve uma tendência de agrupamento dos acessos de Passiflora alata. A caracterização morfoagronômica contribuiu para a diferenciação fenotípica dos 15 acessos Passiflora spp., servindo como importante instrumento para quantificar a variabilidade morfológica existente dentro do gênero Passiflora.The objective of this study was to assess the morphoagronomic characterization of Passiflora spp. accessions, using multicategoric descriptors based on leaves, flowers and fruits. Fifteen Passiflora spp. accessions were characterized using 58 multicategoric qualitative morphological descriptors (23 from leaves, 25 from flowers and 10 from fruit). Genetic dissimilarities among all accession pairs were estimated based on the simple coincidence index complement. These genetic dissimilarities were used to perform the cluster and a dendrogram was obtained based on UPGMA method (Unweighted Pair-Group Method using Arithmetic method Averages). The dispersion graphic was based on multidimensional scaling using the principal coordinates (PCO). There was a clear differentiation of all accessions at interspecific and intraspecific level, based on multivariate analysis of leaves, flowers and fruits descriptors. There was a tendency of grouping Passiflora alata accessions. The morphoagronomic characterization contributed to differentiate the 15 Passiflora spp. accessions. The information are useful as an important tool to quantify the Passiflora morphological variability.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Genetic diversity of Passiflora spp., based on morphoagronomic descriptors

Neste trabalho, objetivou-se realizar a caracterização morfoagronômica de 15 acessos de Passiflora spp., baseada em descritores qualitativos, sendo 23 de folhas, 25 de flores e 10 de frutos. Foram estimadas dissimilaridades genéticas entre os acessos, por meio do complemento do índice de coincidência simples. A partir da matriz de dissimilaridades genéticas, foi realizada a análise de agrupamento via dendrograma, utilizando método UPGMA - Unweighted Pair-Group Method using Arithmetic Averages, e a dispersão gráfica, foi baseada em escalas multidimensionais usando o método das coordenadas principais (PCO). Houve uma clara diferenciação dos acessos em nível inter e intraespecífico, com base nas análises multivariadas dos descritores de folhas, flores e frutos. Houve uma tendência de agrupamento dos acessos de Passiflora alata. A caracterização morfoagronômica contribuiu para a diferenciação fenotípica dos 15 acessos Passiflora spp., servindo como importante instrumento para quantificar a variabilidade morfológica existente dentro do gênero Passiflora.The objective of this study was to assess the morphoagronomic characterization of Passiflora spp. accessions, using multicategoric descriptors based on leaves, flowers and fruits. Fifteen Passiflora spp. accessions were characterized using 58 multicategoric qualitative morphological descriptors (23 from leaves, 25 from flowers and 10 from fruit). Genetic dissimilarities among all accession pairs were estimated based on the simple coincidence index complement. These genetic dissimilarities were used to perform the cluster and a dendrogram was obtained based on UPGMA method (Unweighted Pair-Group Method using Arithmetic method Averages). The dispersion graphic was based on multidimensional scaling using the principal coordinates (PCO). There was a clear differentiation of all accessions at interspecific and intraspecific level, based on multivariate analysis of leaves, flowers and fruits descriptors. There was a tendency of grouping Passiflora alata accessions. The morphoagronomic characterization contributed to differentiate the 15 Passiflora spp. accessions. The information are useful as an important tool to quantify the Passiflora morphological variability.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Genetic diversity of Passiflora spp., based on morphoagronomic descriptors

Neste trabalho, objetivou-se realizar a caracterização morfoagronômica de 15 acessos de Passiflora spp., baseada em descritores qualitativos, sendo 23 de folhas, 25 de flores e 10 de frutos. Foram estimadas dissimilaridades genéticas entre os acessos, por meio do complemento do índice de coincidência simples. A partir da matriz de dissimilaridades genéticas, foi realizada a análise de agrupamento via dendrograma, utilizando método UPGMA - Unweighted Pair-Group Method using Arithmetic Averages, e a dispersão gráfica, foi baseada em escalas multidimensionais usando o método das coordenadas principais (PCO). Houve uma clara diferenciação dos acessos em nível inter e intraespecífico, com base nas análises multivariadas dos descritores de folhas, flores e frutos. Houve uma tendência de agrupamento dos acessos de Passiflora alata. A caracterização morfoagronômica contribuiu para a diferenciação fenotípica dos 15 acessos Passiflora spp., servindo como importante instrumento para quantificar a variabilidade morfológica existente dentro do gênero Passiflora.The objective of this study was to assess the morphoagronomic characterization of Passiflora spp. accessions, using multicategoric descriptors based on leaves, flowers and fruits. Fifteen Passiflora spp. accessions were characterized using 58 multicategoric qualitative morphological descriptors (23 from leaves, 25 from flowers and 10 from fruit). Genetic dissimilarities among all accession pairs were estimated based on the simple coincidence index complement. These genetic dissimilarities were used to perform the cluster and a dendrogram was obtained based on UPGMA method (Unweighted Pair-Group Method using Arithmetic method Averages). The dispersion graphic was based on multidimensional scaling using the principal coordinates (PCO). There was a clear differentiation of all accessions at interspecific and intraspecific level, based on multivariate analysis of leaves, flowers and fruits descriptors. There was a tendency of grouping Passiflora alata accessions. The morphoagronomic characterization contributed to differentiate the 15 Passiflora spp. accessions. The information are useful as an important tool to quantify the Passiflora morphological variability.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Designing an enzyme-based nanobiosensor using molecular modeling techniques

Nanobiosensors can be built via functionalization of atomic force microscopy (AFM) tips with biomolecules capable of interacting with the analyte on a substrate, and the detection being performed by measuring the force between the immobilized biomolecule and the analyte. The optimization of such sensors may require multiple experiments to determine suitable experimental conditions for the immobilization and detection. In this study we employ molecular modeling techniques to assist in the design of nanobiosensors to detect herbicides. As a proof of principle, the properties of acetyl co-enzyme A carboxylase (ACC) were obtained with molecular dynamics simulations, from which the dimeric form in an aqueous solution was found to be more suitable for immobilization owing to a smaller structural fluctuation than the monomeric form. Upon solving the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equation using a finite-difference procedure, we found that the active sites of ACC exhibited a positive surface potential while the remainder of the ACC surface was negatively charged. Therefore, optimized biosensors should be prepared with electrostatic adsorption of ACC onto an AFM tip functionalized with positively charged groups, leaving the active sites exposed to the analyte. The preferential orientation for the herbicides diclofop and atrazine with the ACC active site was determined by molecular docking calculations which displayed an inhibition coefficient of 0.168 μM for diclofop, and 44.11 μM for atrazine. This binding selectivity for the herbicide family of diclofop was confirmed by semiempirical PM6 quantum chemical calculations which revealed that ACC interacts more strongly with the herbicide diclofop than with atrazine, showing binding energies of -119.04 and +8.40 kcal mol-1, respectively. The initial measurements of the proposed nanobiosensor validated the theoretical calculations and displayed high selectivity for the family of the diclofop herbicides.CAPESCNPqFAPESPFAPEMI

Genome-wide signatures of complex introgression and adaptive evolution in the big cats.

The great cats of the genus Panthera comprise a recent radiation whose evolutionary history is poorly understood. Their rapid diversification poses challenges to resolving their phylogeny while offering opportunities to investigate the historical dynamics of adaptive divergence. We report the sequence, de novo assembly, and annotation of the jaguar (Panthera onca) genome, a novel genome sequence for the leopard (Panthera pardus), and comparative analyses encompassing all living Panthera species. Demographic reconstructions indicated that all of these species have experienced variable episodes of population decline during the Pleistocene, ultimately leading to small effective sizes in present-day genomes. We observed pervasive genealogical discordance across Panthera genomes, caused by both incomplete lineage sorting and complex patterns of historical interspecific hybridization. We identified multiple signatures of species-specific positive selection, affecting genes involved in craniofacial and limb development, protein metabolism, hypoxia, reproduction, pigmentation, and sensory perception. There was remarkable concordance in pathways enriched in genomic segments implicated in interspecies introgression and in positive selection, suggesting that these processes were connected. We tested this hypothesis by developing exome capture probes targeting ~19,000 Panthera genes and applying them to 30 wild-caught jaguars. We found at least two genes (DOCK3 and COL4A5, both related to optic nerve development) bearing significant signatures of interspecies introgression and within-species positive selection. These findings indicate that post-speciation admixture has contributed genetic material that facilitated the adaptive evolution of big cat lineages