Elliptic curves with j = 0, 1728 and low embedding degree

Elliptic curves over a finite field Fq with j-invariant 0 or 1728, both supersingular and ordinary, whose embedding degree k is low are studied. In the ordinary case we give conditions characterizing such elliptic curves with fixed embedding degree with respect to a subgroup of prime order . For k = 1, 2, these conditions give parameterizations of q in terms of and two integers m, n. We show several examples of families with infinitely many curves. Similar parameterizations for k ? 3 need a fixed kth root of the unity in the underlying field. Moreover, when the elliptic curve admits distortion maps, an example is provided

Familias de curvas elípticas adecuadas para Criptografía Basada en la Identidad

La Criptografía Basada en la Identidad hace uso de curvas elípticas que satisfacen ciertas condiciones (pairingfriendly curves), en particular, el grado de inmersión de dichas curvas debe ser pequeño. En este trabajo se obtienen familias explicitas de curvas elípticas idóneas para este escenario. Dicha criptografía está basada en el cálculo de emparejamientos sobre curvas, cálculo factible gracias al algoritmo de Miller. Proponemos una versión más eficiente que la clásica de este algoritmo usando la representación de un número en forma no adyacente (NAF).Este trabajo ha sido financiado por el Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad con los proyectos MTM2010-21580-C02-01/02 y MTM2010-16051

Synthesis, Photochemical, and Redox Properties of Gold(I) and Gold(III) Pincer Complexes Incorporating a 2,2′:6′,2″-Terpyridine Ligand Framework

Reaction of [Au(C6F5)(tht)] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene) with 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (terpy) leads to complex [Au(C6F5)(η1-terpy)] (1). The chemical oxidation of complex (1) with 2 equiv of [N(C6H4Br-4)3](PF6) or using electrosynthetic techniques affords the Au(III) complex [Au(C6F5)(η3-terpy)](PF6)2 (2). The X-ray diffraction study of complex 2 reveals that the terpyridine acts as tridentate chelate ligand, which leads to a slightly distorted square-planar geometry. Complex 1 displays fluorescence in the solid state at 77 K due to a metal (gold) to ligand (terpy) charge transfer transition, whereas complex 2 displays fluorescence in acetonitrile due to excimer or exciplex formation. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations match the experimental absorption spectra of the synthesized complexes. In order to further probe the frontier orbitals of both complexes and study their redox behavior, each compound was separately characterized using cyclic voltammetry. The bulk electrolysis of a solution of complex 1 was analyzed by spectroscopic methods confirming the electrochemical synthesis of complex 2

Desertification

IPCC SPECIAL REPORT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND LAND (SRCCL) Chapter 3: Climate Change and Land: An IPCC special report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystem

A globally occurring indel polymorphism in the promoter of the IFNA2 gene is not associated with severity of malaria but with the positivity rate of HCV

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Type I Interferons (IFNs) are well known cytokines which exert antiviral activity, antitumor activity and immunomodulatory effects. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and deletions in the gene coding for <it>IFNA2 </it>have been shown to influence the level of expression <it>in vitro</it>. The indel polymorphism -305_-300delAACTTT showed the strongest effect <it>in vitro</it>. To analyse the worldwide distribution of this polymorphism we analyzed five different populations (586 Vietnamese, 199 Central Africans, 265 Brazilians, 108 Kaingang and 98 Guarani). To investigate a possible association with susceptibility to infectious diseases we determined the polymorphism in malaria patients suffering either mild or severe malaria and in a cohort of hepatitis C virus infected individuals.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We could detect the indel polymorphism in all populations analysed. There was no association with this polymorphism and the outcome of malaria but we found an increase of this indel polymorphism in hepatitis C virus positive individuals compared to healthy controls (p = 0.014).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Polymorphisms in genes involved in the interferon pathway have been implicated in the resistance or susceptibility against cerebral malaria and HBV. Here we show that an indel polymorphism, which mediates a disadvantageous effect in HBV patients, may also play a disadvantageous role in HCV infections stressing the importance of a fully functional interferon pathway.</p

Glucocorticoid receptor intestinal epithelial knockout mice show attenuated colonic inflammatory response but unaffected permeability in early experimental sepsis

Introduction: Sepsis is defined as an organic dysfunction that threatens the life of patients due to an abnormally regulated response to infection [1]. The initial phase of sepsis is dominated by an increased production of proinflammatory cytokines, which leads to augmented capillary permeability, extravasation, hypercoagulability and myelopoiesis. One of the main sources of infection in sepsis is believed to be the intestinal microbiota via traslocation through the mucosa to the bloodstream. Systemic inflammation weakens intestinal barrier function (IBF) in animal models, resulting in increased bacterial traslocation [2]. Even if the management of sepsis has advanced in the last decades, mortality is still high and there are blanks in terms of pathological systems and long-term consequences. Thus, the search for effective treatments is clearly justified. Glucocorticoids (GC) are part of the drugs used in sepsis, but they have only shown a moderate therapeutic effect. This fact may be caused by harmful effects of GCs on IBF, whose compromise may limit GC clinical benefit by facilitating luminal translocation of microorganisms. Besides, GC treatment impairs epithelial healing in experimental colitis in mice [3]. Previous results of our research group have shown that mice with induced deletion of the GC receptor (GR) in intestinal epithelial cells (i.e. NR3C1ΔIEC mice) are protected against dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis [4]. In turn, gene deletion results in a short lived inflammatory response in the colon [5]. Objective: Understanding the role of the intestinal epithelial GR and its involvement in IBF regulation in experimental sepsis, with the ultimate goal of improving the management of sepsis with GCs. Matherial and methods: The cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model of sepsis was applied to WT C57BL/6J and NR3C1ΔIEC mice. Ceacum-exposed mice were used as control (Sham). Mice were sacrificed 24 hours after surgery. Four hours before sacrifice, mice were administered 4 kD FITC-dextran, a fluorescent marker of permeability. Colon, jejunum, adrenes, kidney and liver RT-qPCRs were performed as well as determination of plasma FITC-dextran and corticosterone plasma levels. Results: After 24 h, CLP mice exhibited elevated corticosterone plasma levels with hypoglycemia and splenomegaly. Intestinal barrier function was weakened, as indicated by increased FITC-dextran plasma levels. A modest increase in inflammatory markers (S100a8, Cxcl1) was noted in the colon and jejunum. The expression of Tjp1, involved in barrier function, was downregulated in CLP mice. Similarly, the colonic expression of Cyp11a1 and Lrh1, involved in local steroidogenesis, was lower in CLP mice, regardless of genotype. Markers of inflammation were also augmented in the lung and kidney. CLP mice exhibited hypercorticosteronemia, which was associated to increased Cyp11a1 in the adrenes. Of note, both parameters were less pronounced in KO mice. The latter also exhibited dampened inflammatory response in the colon but not the jejunum. FITC-dextran plasma levels were similarly increased in WT and KO mice. Conclusions: In the early stages of the CLP model of sepsis the colon and jejunum are inflamed, and epithelial deletion of the glucocorticoid receptor appears to modulate inflammation in the former, with no change in barrier function. Further studies will characterize the microbiota composition and phenotype in later stages and in the response to glucocorticoid treatment

Simultaneous Culture and Biomachining of Copper in MAC Medium: A Comparison between Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans

Biomachining will not be considered as a full-scale manufacturing technology until a stable, controlled, and continuous metal removal rate (MRR) is achieved. In this research work, a novel strategy that could promote its industrial implementation, namely simultaneous bacterial growth and machining of copper contained in oxygen-free copper (OFC) workpieces, was investigated. This proposal has the major advantage of being a single-stage process, thereby reducing total operating times and becoming more economical in comparison with conventional biomachining (downtime due to bacterial growth would disappear). The study was carried out using mesophilic (Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans) and thermophilic (Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans) extremophile bacteria in order to prevent the progressive decrease in the amount of metal removed per unit time. A constant MRR of 43 mg h-1 was achieved with A. ferrooxidans in the simultaneous process. Despite the accomplishment of a constant MRR, this value is lower than the maximum MRR obtained in conventional biomachining (109 mg h-1), probably due to the inability of ferric ions to come into contact with the metallic surface. With regard to the culture period in MAC medium, S. thermosulfidooxidans showed a slower growth rate (0.11 h-1) and lower ferrous ion oxidation level (0.12 g Fe2+ L-1 h-1) than A. ferrooxidans (0.17 h-1 and 0.22 g Fe2+ L-1 h-1, respectively) under optimal pH (1.5) and Fe2+ concentration (6 g L-1) conditions.Fil: Diaz Tena, E.. Universidad del País Vasco; España. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales; ArgentinaFil: Gallastegui, G.. Universidad del País Vasco; EspañaFil: Hipperdinger, Marcela Liliana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales; ArgentinaFil: Donati, Edgardo Ruben. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales; ArgentinaFil: Rojo, N.. Universidad del País Vasco; EspañaFil: Santaolalla, A.. Universidad del País Vasco; EspañaFil: Ramirez, M.. Universidad del País Vasco; EspañaFil: Barona, A.. Universidad de Cádiz; EspañaFil: Elías, A.. Universidad del Pais Vasco - Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Campus Bizkaia

Identification of an Antimicrobial Peptide from the Venom of the Trinidad Thick-Tailed Scorpion Tityus trinitatis with Potent Activity against ESKAPE Pathogens and Clostridioides difficile

Envenomation by the Trinidad thick-tailed scorpion Tityus trinitatis may result in fatal myocarditis and there is a high incidence of acute pancreatitis among survivors. Peptidomic analysis (reversed-phase HPLC followed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and automated Edman degradation) of T. trinitatis venom led to the isolation and characterization of three peptides with antimicrobial activity. Their primary structures were established asTtAP-1 (FLGSLFSIGSKLLPGVFKLFSRKKQ.NH2), TtAP-2 (IFGMIPGLIGGLISAFK.NH2) and TtAP-3 (FFSLIPSLIGGLVSAIK.NH2). In addition, potassium channel and sodium channel toxins, present in the venom in high abundance, were identified by CID-MS/MS sequence analysis. TtAP-1 was the most potent against a range of clinically relevant Gram-positive and Gram-negative aerobes and against the anaerobe Clostridioides difficile (MIC = 3.1–12.5 µg/mL). At a concentration of 1× MIC, TtAP-1 produced rapid cell death (Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus). The therapeutic potential of TtAP-1 as an anti-infective agent is limited by its high hemolytic activity (LC50 = 18 µg/mL against mouse erythrocytes) but the peptide constitutes a template for the design of analogs that maintain the high bactericidal activity against ESKAPE pathogens but are less toxic to human cells. It is suggested that the antimicrobial peptides in the scorpion venom facilitate the action of the neurotoxins by increasing the membrane permeability of cells from either prey or predator

Techno-economic evaluation of bioenergy production from anaerobic digestion of by-products from ethanol flex plants

Ethanol production implies in by-products generation, mainly vinasse and stillage, respectively generated from sugarcane and corn ethanol production in flex plants. Both by-products require efficient treatment routes to avoid environmental side-effects to support energy recovery. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to evaluate the techno-economic potential of bioenergy (electric and thermal energy) production from the anaerobic digestion (AD) of vinasse and stillage. Three scenarios were defined: (a) Scenario 1, AD of vinasse; (b) Scenario 2, AD of stillage; and (c) Scenario 3, AD of vinasse and stillage in an integrated process. From the results, the methane production was estimated at 3.8 x 106 m3 year-1 considering the AD of stillage and vinasse in Scenario 3. The electricity and thermal energy generation was estimated as 14.61 GWh year-1 and 1.37 x 105 GJ year-1, respectively. This energy would mitigate 1096.05 and 7659.27 ton CO2eq year-1 when replacing fossil fuel energy. The profitability analysis indicated a positive net present value in the scenarios evaluated, however, the highest value was achieved for Scenario 3 (7,890,407.44 USD). For the integrated process, an internal return rate of 86.87% and a payback of 0.68 year were observed. The sensitivity analysis showed that the project profitability is highly dependent on electricity and thermal energy selling prices. In conclusion, AD demonstrated to be a feasible alternative for vinasse and stillage management in an integrated process, being a sustainable technology to the circular economy transition and energy matrix decarbonization.T. Forster-Carneiro acknowledges the database support and samples of materials from NIPE/NIEPE-UNICAMP/UFMT, process numbers 91.752/01-P-17839-2019 and 91759/01-P-18069/2019. T. Forster-Carneiro acknowledges the financial support from the Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP (2018/05999-0; 2018/14938-4) , and CNPq for the productivity grant (302473/2019-0) . L.S. Buller ac-knowledges the financial support from FAPESP (2020/10323-5) . W.G. Sganzerla acknowledges the financial support from FAPESP (2019/26925-7) . M. Tena acknowledges the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Competitiveness for her pre-doctoral contract (Call 2016)

Immunolocalization of dually phosphorylated MAPKs in dividing root meristem cells of Vicia faba, Pisum sativum, Lupinus luteus and Lycopersicon esculentum

Key message In plants, phosphorylated MAPKs display constitutive nuclear localization; however, not all studied plant species show co-localization of activated MAPKs to mitotic microtubules. Abstract The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway is involved not only in the cellular response to biotic and abiotic stress but also in the regulation of cell cycle and plant development. The role of MAPKs in the formation of a mitotic spindle has been widely studied and the MAPK signaling pathway was found to be indispensable for the unperturbed course of cell division. Here we show cellular localization of activated MAPKs (dually phosphorylated at their TXY motifs) in both interphase and mitotic root meristem cells of Lupinus luteus, Pisum sativum, Vicia faba (Fabaceae) and Lycopersicon esculentum (Solanaceae). Nuclear localization of activated MAPKs has been found in all species. Colocalization of these kinases to mitotic microtubules was most evident in L. esculentum, while only about 50 % of mitotic cells in the root meristems of P. sativum and V. faba displayed activated MAPKs localized to microtubules during mitosis. Unexpectedly, no evident immunofluorescence signals at spindle microtubules and phragmoplast were noted in L. luteus. Considering immunocytochemical analyses and studies on the impact of FR180204 (an inhibitor of animal ERK1/2) on mitotic cells, we hypothesize that MAPKs may not play prominent role in the regulation of microtubule dynamics in all plant species