Textile Dye Treated Photoelectrolytically and Monitored by Winogradsky Columns

Due to large amounts of wastewater generated by textile industry, studies on degradation and subsequent impact of these effluents are needed when they are released into water bodies. Since reactive dyes present higher degradation when treated by physical and chemical processes, a photoelectrolytic process was used. Ecotoxicological analysis of simulated textile effluents was conducted before and after treatment. Winogradsky columns were used, simulating a microecosystem where algae growth was examined. Results indicated that the photoelectrolytic process achieved satisfactory results in color degradation of the studied dye (Remazol red brilliant), but after 30 min of treatment, even though the effluent became colorless, it reduced dramatically microalgae diversity. Although complete color removal (97%) was not observed, the effluent treated for 5 min did not affect microalgae growth in the same way as the effluent treated for 30 min. An optimum treatment time of 5 min was determined.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)São Paulo State Univ Julio de Mesquita Filho UNES, Dept Biochem & Microbiol, Inst Life Sci, Rio Claro, BrazilCampinas State Univ UNICAMP, Technol Environm Sanitat DTSA, Fac Technol, Limeira, BrazilSão Paulo State Univ Julio de Mesquita Filho UNES, Dept Biochem & Microbiol, Inst Life Sci, Rio Claro, Brazi

Associations of autozygosity with a broad range of human phenotypes

In many species, the offspring of related parents suffer reduced reproductive success, a phenomenon known as inbreeding depression. In humans, the importance of this effect has remained unclear, partly because reproduction between close relatives is both rare and frequently associated with confounding social factors. Here, using genomic inbreeding coefficients (FROH) for >1.4 million individuals, we show that FROH is significantly associated (p < 0.0005) with apparently deleterious changes in 32 out of 100 traits analysed. These changes are associated with runs of homozygosity (ROH), but not with common variant homozygosity, suggesting that genetic variants associated with inbreeding depression are predominantly rare. The effect on fertility is striking: FROH equivalent to the offspring of first cousins is associated with a 55% decrease [95% CI 44–66%] in the odds of having children. Finally, the effects of FROH are confirmed within full-sibling pairs, where the variation in FROH is independent of all environmental confounding

Macroalgas em nascentes e arredores de riachos na região noroeste do estado de São Paulo

Macroalgas são organismos tipicamente bentônicos, constituídos por um talo maduro, discreto e reconhecível a olho nu, cuja identificação microscópica é necessária. Diversos estudos foram realizados visando o conhecimento taxonômico em riachos brasileiros, no entanto, são raros os trabalhos que abordam as algas que se desenvolvem nas nascentes destes riachos. de fevereiro a setembro/2007 coletas mensais foram realizadas em nascentes e em suas imediações (solos úmidos dos afloramentos d'água) de quatro riachos na região noroeste do estado de São Paulo. O levantamento taxonômico resultou na identificação de 13 espécies, sendo 54% dos táxons pertencentes a Cyanophyta e 46% a Chlorophyta. Cylindrospermum gorakhpurense, Mougeotia gotlandica, Spirogyra gallica e S. taftiana são registradas pela primeira vez para o Brasil. A flora aquática encontrada diferiu da regional devido à presença de organismos da família Zygnemataceae (Chlorophyta) em estágio reprodutivo. Este tipo de hábitat mostrou-se especialmente favorável à reprodução das Zygnemataceae.Macroalgae are typically benthic organisms that a mature, discreet and recognizable naked eye thallus, and microscopic identification is necessary. Several studies have been carried out aiming to the taxonomic knowledge in Brazilian streams, however works dealing with algae from springs are rare. Monthly sampling were carried out from February to September/2007 in springs and the surrounding (humid soil near the springs) of four streams in the northwestern region of São Paulo State. The floristic survey resulted in the identification of 13 species, being 54% of taxa belong Cyanophyta and 46% to Chlorophyta. Cylindrospermum gorakhpurense, Mougeotia gotlandica, Spirogyra gallica and S. taftiana were recorded for the first time to Brazil. The aquatic flora differed from the regional records due to presence of organisms of Zygnemataceae family (Chlorophyta) in reproductive stage. This type of habitat revealed to be very favorable to the Zygnemataceae reproduction.Universidade Estadual Paulista Departamento de Zoologia e BotânicaUniversidade Estadual Paulista Departamento de Zoologia e Botânic

X-chromosome and kidney function: evidence from a multi-trait genetic analysis of 908,697 individuals reveals sex-specific and sex-differential findings in genes regulated by androgen response elements

X-chromosomal genetic variants are understudied but can yield valuable insights into sexually dimorphic human traits and diseases. We performed a sex-stratified cross-ancestry X-chromosome-wide association meta-analysis of seven kidney-related traits (n = 908,697), identifying 23 loci genome-wide significantly associated with two of the traits: 7 for uric acid and 16 for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), including four novel eGFR loci containing the functionally plausible prioritized genes ACSL4, CLDN2, TSPAN6 and the female-specific DRP2. Further, we identified five novel sex-interactions, comprising male-specific effects at FAM9B and AR/EDA2R, and three sex-differential findings with larger genetic effect sizes in males at DCAF12L1 and MST4 and larger effect sizes in females at HPRT1. All prioritized genes in loci showing significant sex-interactions were located next to androgen response elements (ARE). Five ARE genes showed sex-differential expressions. This study contributes new insights into sex-dimorphisms of kidney traits along with new prioritized gene targets for further molecular research.</p

Understanding the genetic complexity of puberty timing across the allele frequency spectrum

Pubertal timing varies considerably and is associated with later health outcomes. We performed multi-ancestry genetic analyses on ~800,000 women, identifying 1,080 signals for age at menarche. Collectively, these explained 11% of trait variance in an independent sample. Women at the top and bottom 1% of polygenic risk exhibited ~11 and ~14-fold higher risks of delayed and precocious puberty, respectively. We identified several genes harboring rare loss-of-function variants in ~200,000 women, including variants in ZNF483, which abolished the impact of polygenic risk. Variant-to-gene mapping approaches and mouse gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuron RNA sequencing implicated 665 genes, including an uncharacterized G-protein-coupled receptor, GPR83, which amplified the signaling of MC3R, a key nutritional sensor. Shared signals with menopause timing at genes involved in DNA damage response suggest that the ovarian reserve might signal centrally to trigger puberty. We also highlight body size-dependent and independent mechanisms that potentially link reproductive timing to later life disease

Multi-ancestry study of blood lipid levels identifies four loci interacting with physical activity

Many genetic loci affect circulating lipid levels, but it remains unknown whether lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, modify these genetic effects. To identify lipid loci interacting with physical activity, we performed genome-wide analyses of circulating HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in up to 120,979 individuals of European, African, Asian, Hispanic, and Brazilian ancestry, with follow-up of suggestive associations in an additional 131,012 individuals. We find four loci, in/near CLASP1, LHX1, SNTA1, and CNTNAP2, that are associated with circulating lipid levels through interaction with physical activity; higher levels of physical activity enhance the HDL cholesterol-increasing effects of the CLASP1, LHX1, and SNTA1 loci and attenuate the LDL cholesterol- increasing effect of the CNTNAP2 locus. The CLASP1, LHX1, and SNTA1 regions harbor genes linked to muscle function and lipid metabolism. Our results elucidate the role of physical activity interactions in the genetic contribution to blood lipid levels