134 research outputs found
Large and variable genome size unrelated to serpentine adaptation but supportive of cryptic sexuality in Cenococcum geophilum
Estimations of genome size and its variation can
provide valuable information regarding the genetic diversity
of organisms and their adaptation potential to heterogeneous
environments. We used flow cytometry to characterize the
variation in genome size among 40 isolates of Cenococcum
geophilum, an ectomycorrhizal fungus with a wide ecological
and geographical distribution, obtained from two serpentine
and two non-serpentine sites in Portugal. Besides
determining the genome size and its intraspecies variation,
we wanted to assess whether a relationship exists between
genome size and the edaphic background of the C.
geophilum isolates. Our results reveal C. geophilum to have
one of the largest genome sizes so far measured in the
Ascomycota, with a mean haploid genome size estimate of
0.208 pg (203 Mbp). However, no relationship was found
between genome size and the edaphic background of the
sampled isolates, indicating genetic and demographic processes
to be more important for shaping the genome size
variation in this species than environmental selection. The
detection of variation in ploidy level among our isolates,
including a single individual with both presumed haploid
and diploid nuclei, provides supportive evidence for a possible
cryptic sexual or parasexual cycle in C. geophilum
(although other mechanisms may have caused this variation).
The existence of such a cycle would have wide significance,
explaining the high levels of genetic diversity and
likelihood of recombination previously reported in this species,
and adds to the increasing number of studies suggesting
sexual cycles in previously assumed asexual fungi.This
work was supported by research grant PTDC/BIA-BEC/100733/2008,
funded by the European Union and the Fundação para a Ciência e a
Tecnologia, awarded to Ludo Muller
Cell membrane and bioactive factors derived from mesenchymal stromal cells: Cell-free based therapy for inflammatory bowel diseases
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract associated with multifactorial conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Although the underlying mechanisms of IBD remain unclear, growing evidence has shown that dysregulated immune system reactions in genetically susceptible individuals contribute to mucosal inflammation. However, conventional treatments have been effective in inducing remission of IBD but not in preventing the relapse of them. In this way, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) therapy has been recognized as a promising treatment for IBD due to their immunomodulatory properties, ability to differentiate into several tissues, and homing to inflammatory sites. Even so, literature is conflicted regarding the location and persistence of MSC in the body after transplantation. For this reason, recent studies have focused on the paracrine effect of the biofactors secreted by MSC, especially in relation to the immunomodulatory potential of soluble factors (cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors) and extracellular vehicles that are involved in cell communication and in the transfer of cellular material, such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Moreover, treatment with interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin- 1β causes MSC to express immunomodulatory molecules that mediate the suppression via cell-contact dependent mechanisms. Taken together, we present an overview of the role of bioactive factors and cell membrane proteins derived from MSC as a cell-free therapy that can improve IBD treatment
Non-linear QCD dynamics in two-photon interactions at high energies
Perturbative QCD predicts that the growth of the gluon density at high
energies should saturate, forming a Color Glass Condensate (CGC), which is
described in mean field approximation by the Balitsky-Kovchegov (BK) equation.
In this paper we study the interactions at high energies and
estimate the main observables which will be probed at future linear colliders
using the color dipole picture. We discuss in detail the dipole - dipole cross
section and propose a new relation between this quantity and the dipole
scattering amplitude. The total ,
cross-sections and the real photon structure function are
calculated using the recent solution of the BK equation with running coupling
constant and the predictions are compared with those obtained using
phenomenological models for the dipole-dipole cross section and scattering
amplitude. We demonstrate that these models are able to describe the LEP data
at high energies, but predict a very different behavior for the observables at
higher energies. Therefore we conclude that the study of
interactions can be useful to constrain the QCD dynamics.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures. Version to be published in European Physical
Journal
Semigroup Closures of Finite Rank Symmetric Inverse Semigroups
We introduce the notion of semigroup with a tight ideal series and
investigate their closures in semitopological semigroups, particularly inverse
semigroups with continuous inversion. As a corollary we show that the symmetric
inverse semigroup of finite transformations of the rank
is algebraically closed in the class of (semi)topological inverse
semigroups with continuous inversion. We also derive related results about the
nonexistence of (partial) compactifications of classes of semigroups that we
consider.Comment: With the participation of the new coauthor - Jimmie Lawson - the
manuscript has been substantially revised and expanded. Accordingly, we have
also changed the manuscript titl
Dipole model for double meson production in two-photon interactions at high energies
In this work the double vector meson production in two-photon interactions at
high energies is investigated considering saturation physics. We extend the
color dipole picture for this process and study the energy and virtuality
dependence of the forward differential cross section. Comparison with previous
results is presented and the contribution of the different photon polarizations
is estimated.Comment: 20 pages, 8 figures, 1 table. Version to be published in European
Physical Jornal
Unitarity Corrections to the Proton Structure Functions through the Dipole Picture
We study the dipole picture for the description of the deep inelastic
scattering, focusing on the structure functions which are driven directly by
the gluon distribution. One performs estimates using the effective dipole cross
section given by the Glauber-Mueller approach in QCD, which encodes the
corrections due to the unitarity effects associated with the saturation
phenomenon. We also address issues about frame invariance of the calculations
when analysing the observables.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures. Version to be published in Phys. Rev.
Non-linear QCD dynamics and exclusive production in collisions
The exclusive processes in electron-proton () interactions are an
important tool to investigate the QCD dynamics at high energies as they are in
general driven by the gluon content of proton which is strongly subject to
parton saturation effects. In this paper we compute the cross sections for the
exclusive vector meson production as well as the deeply virtual Compton
scattering (DVCS) relying on the color dipole approach and considering the
numerical solution of the Balitsky-Kovchegov equation including running
coupling corrections. We show that the small- evolution given by this
evolution equation is able to describe the DESY-HERA data and is relevant for
the physics of the exclusive observables in future electron-proton colliders
and in photoproduction processes to be measured in coherent interactions at the
LHC.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
Physics of Seismo-electromagnetic Phenomena
The seismo-electromagnetic phenomena (SEMG) are integrated in a relatively recent research field that studies diverse phenomena such as: unusual seismo-electrical signals [1], abnormal ultra-low-frequency (ULF) seismo-electromagnetic emissions [2], very-low-frequency (VLF) and low-frequency (LF) radiobroadcast anomalies associated with ionosphere perturbations [3], variation of total electron content of the ionosphere [4], and atypical infrared emissions [5], all related with the preparatory stage of impending earthquakes. In the past, like many other branches of science like Quantum Mechanics, SEMG have been responsible for intense debates about its credibility, in this case concerning its applicability to short-term earthquake prediction [6]. In fact, the development of a truly pre-quake forecasting system is still an elusive plan, but SEM emissions are now a very well established effect extensively reported in literature. Nevertheless, much of the Physics implicated is still not fully understood.
Thus, our main effort is directed towards a systematic field observation of SEMG effects and the development of both constructive theoretical models and laboratorial experiments to promote a better understanding of the Physics engaged in these phenomena. In this presentation we will present a sum up of our recent achievements [7,8,9], focusing future work and improvements.
[1] A. Konstantaras, et al., On the electric field transient anomaly observed at the time of the Kythira M=6.9 earthquake on January 2006, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. 7, 677 (2007).
[2] T. Bleier, et al., Investigation of ULF magnetic pulsations, air conductivity changes, and infra red signatures associated with the 30 October Alum Rock M5.4 earthquake, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. 9, 585 (2009).
[3] P. Biagi, et al., An overview on preseismic anomalies in LF radio signals revealed in Italy by wavelet analysis, Annals of Geophysics 51, 237 (2008).
[4] V. Chauhan, et al., Ultra-low-frequency (ULF) and total electron content (TEC) anomalies observed at Agra and their association with regional earthquakes, Journal of Geodynamics 48, 68 (2009).
[5] D. Ouzounov, et al., Outgoing long wave radiation variability from IR satellite data prior to major earthquakes, Tectonophysics 431, 211 (2007).
[6] S. Uyeda, et al., Short-term earthquake prediction: Current status of seismo-electromagnetics, Tectonophysics 470, 205 (2009).
[7] H.G. Silva, et al., Atmospheric electrical field anomalies associated with seismic activity, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. 11, 987 (2011).
[8] H. G. Silva, et al., Electric transport in different granitic rocks, EGU General Assembly 2011 (EGU 2011), 3-8 April 2011, Vienna (Austria).
[9] H.G. Silva, et al., Piezoelectric effect during solid fracture causing electromagnetic emissions, International Conference on Computational Modelling of Fracture and Failure (CFRAC 2011), 6-8 June 2011, Barcelona (Spain)
Épocas de poda e uso da irrigação em figueira 'roxo de valinhos' na região de Botucatu, SP
Utilização de plantas medicinais com atividade antimicrobiana por usuários do serviço público de saúde em Campina Grande - Paraíba
- …