Genetic characterization by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers and morphochemical traits of Carica papaya L. genotypes

Carica papaya L. is a native fruit from Central America and Mexico and it is an economically important fruit. As a pre-breeding genetic study, the variability of both parents (L7 and M22) and the F1 individuals derived from their crosses (L7 × M22), was evaluated in terms of 32 morphochemical traits, and contrasted with their genetic diversity indicated by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. According to morphochemical traits, L7 and M22 were grouped in two different clades. The first group included L7 and 13 genotypes from the F1, while a second group included the parent M22 and 15 other genotypes from the F1 progeny. The analysis based on morphochemical traits showed an average correlation of 0.652 among genotypes. For AFLP analysis the combination of the primers E-ACA/M-CTA had the best polymorphic index (72.73%). When they were grouped based on AFLPs markers, it was confirmed that both parents are genetically distant, and they were again grouped in two different clades. Five genotypes from the F1 population were grouped in the same clade as L7 and shared 55% similarity. Twenty six genotypes were grouped in the same clade as M22, showing 63.3% similarity. Another 12 genotypes (mainly female genotypes) were grouped in a third independent clade. This relative general agreement between the grouping based on a large number of morphochemical traits (including both plant and fruit traits) and that based on its genetic diversity using AFLPs, suggests that morphochemical characterization, together with genetic analysis by AFLPs, can be complementary and useful techniques for the identification and assessment of genetic diversity within C. papaya L. genotypes, that should be useful for genetic breeding programs of this important species.Key words: Morphological markers, AFLP markers, genetic similarity, Carica papaya L

The 2011 October Draconids outburst. I. Orbital elements, meteoroid fluxes and 21P/Giacobini-Zinner delivered mass to Earth

On October 8th, 2011 the Earth crossed the dust trails left by comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner during its XIX and XX century perihelion approaches with the comet being close to perihelion. The geometric circumstances of that encounter were thus favorable to produce a meteor storm, but the trails were much older than in the 1933 and 1946 historical encounters. As a consequence the 2011 October Draconid display exhibited several activity peaks with Zenithal Hourly Rates of about 400 meteors per hour. In fact, if the display had been not forecasted, it could have passed almost unnoticed as was strongly attenuated for visual observers due to the Moon. This suggests that most meteor storms of a similar nature could have passed historically unnoticed under unfavorable weather and Moon observing conditions. The possibility of obtaining information on the physical properties of cometary meteoroids penetrating the atmosphere under low-geocentric velocity encounter circumstances motivated us to set up a special observing campaign. Added to the Spanish Fireball Network wide-field all-sky and CCD video monitoring, other high-sensitivity 1/2" black and white CCD video cameras were attached to modified medium-field lenses for obtaining high resolution orbital information. The trajectory, radiant, and orbital data of 16 October Draconid meteors observed at multiple stations are presented. The results show that the meteors appeared from a geocentric radiant located at R.A.=263.0+-0.4 deg. and Dec.=+55.3+-0.3 deg. that is in close agreement with the radiant predicted for the 1873-1894 and the 1900 dust trails. The estimated mass of material from 21P/Giacobini-Zinner delivered to Earth during the six-hours outburst was around 950+-150 kg.Comment: Manuscript in press in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, submitted to MNRAS on November 16th, 2012 Accepted for publication in MNRAS on April 28th, 2013 Manuscript Pages: 21 Tables: 8 Figures: 4 Manuscript associated: "The 2011 October Draconids outburst. II. Meteoroid chemical abundances from fireball spectroscopy" by J.M. Madiedo is also in press in the same journa

The 2011 October Draconids outburst-I. Orbital elements, meteoroid fluxes and 21P/Giacobini-Zinner delivered mass to Earth

On 2011 October 8, the Earth crossed the dust trails left by comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner during its 19th and 20th century perihelion approaches with the comet being close to perihelion. The geometric circumstances of that encounter were thus favourable to produce a meteor storm, but the trails were much older than in the 1933 and 1946 historical encounters. As a consequence the 2011 October Draconid display exhibited several activity peaks with Zenithal Hourly Rates of about 400 meteors h-1. In fact, if the display had not been forecasted, it could have passed almost unnoticed as was strongly attenuated for visual observers due to the Moon. This suggests that most meteor storms of a similar nature could have passed historically unnoticed under unfavourable weather and Moon observing conditions. The possibility of obtaining information on the physical properties of cometary meteoroids penetrating the atmosphere under low geocentric velocity encounter circumstances motivated us to set up a special observing campaign. Added to the Spanish Fireball Network wide-field all-sky and CCD video monitoring, other high-sensitivity 1/2 arcsec black and white CCD videocameras were attached to the modified medium-field lenses for obtaining high-resolution orbital information. The trajectory, radiant and orbital data of October 16 Draconid meteors observed at multiple stations are presented. The results show that the meteors appeared from a geocentric radiant located at α = 263.0 ± 0°.4 and δ =+55.3 ± 0°.3 that is in close agreement with the radiant predicted for the 1873-1894 and the 1900 dust trails. The estimated mass of material from 21P/Giacobini-Zinner delivered to Earth during the 6 h outburst was around950 ±150 kg

Pollen record during the Eemian from the Fuentillejo maar-lake sequence (Ciudad Real, Spain)

The Fuentillejo maar is located in the Central Spanish Volcanic Field of Campo de Calatrava (Ciudad Real). Fuentillejo maar-Iake is a c10sed system covering over 142 m depth oflacustrine sediments; it is one ofthe best examples oflong and continuous cores at terrestrial site from the Iberian Peninsula. PalynoIogical, mineralogical and sedimentary facies analysis were performed to characterize the sedimentary record during the Last Interglacial. In core FUENT-l this period (dated in 133 ka-120 ka) is detected between 45,90-56,90 m depth. Sedimentology point of view is characterized by develop of lacustrine facies, fineIy laminated black-brown doIomicrite mud and sapropeIIayers (Sedimentary Units 16,6-17-18). The vegetation is characterised by high polIen taxa diversity (around 50 polIen taxa of terrestriaI types, 5 polIen taxa of aquatic types, spores and 9 types of non palynological microfossils-NPM) together with a high content in the Mediterranean and mesic forest components (Quercus evergreen, Oleaceae, Quercus decidous and CoryIus), tipical ofwarm and humid conditions, and a few content on Artemisia, Pinus and Juniperus taxa (typicaI of coId or warm arid phases). The scarce forest development can be interpreted from the polIen record of mesophilus and thermophilous vegetation of the FUENT-1 sequence, in which only 40-50% of total polIen come from arboreaI associations. These vaIues for arboreal pollen content are low compared with other European polIen sequences

First results from the HENSA/ANAIS collaboration at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory

The HENSA/ANAIS collaboration aims for the precise determination of the neutron flux that could affect ANAIS-112, an experiment looking for the dark matter annual modulation using NaI(Tl) scintillators. In this work, the first measurements of the neutron flux and Monte Carlo simulations of the neutron spectrum are reported

Ancient DNA of the Pygmy Marmoset Type Specimen \u3cem\u3eCebuella pygmaea\u3c/em\u3e (Spix, 1823) Resolves a Taxonomic Conundrum

The pygmy marmoset, the smallest of the anthropoid primates, has a broad distribution in Western Amazonia. Recent studies using molecular and morphological data have identified two distinct species separated by the Napo and Solimões-Amazonas rivers. However, reconciling this new biological evidence with current taxonomy, i.e., two subspecies, Cebuella pygmaea pygmaea (Spix, 1823) and Cebuella pygmaea niveiventris (Lönnberg, 1940), was problematic given the uncertainty as to whether Spix’s pygmy marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea pygmaea) was collected north or south of the Napo and Solimões-Amazonas rivers, making it unclear to which of the two newly revealed species the name pygmaea would apply. Here, we present the first molecular data from Spix’s type specimen of Cebuella pygmaea, as well as novel mitochondrial genomes from modern pygmy marmosets sampled near the type locality (Tabatinga) on both sides of the river. With these data, we can confirm the correct names of the two species identified, i.e., C. pygmaea for animals north of the Napo and Solimões-Amazonas rivers and C. niveiventris for animals south of these two rivers. Phylogenetic analyses of the novel genetic data placed into the context of cytochrome b gene sequences from across the range of pygmy marmosets further led us to re-evaluate the geographical distribution for the two Cebuella species. We dated the split of these two species to 2.54 million years ago. We discuss additional, more recent, subdivisions within each lineage, as well as potential contact zones between the two species in the headwaters of these rivers

Dietary enrichment with crude protein content and feed additives (Bacillus spp. and yeast strains) improves growth performance, survival and circulating hemocytes in juvenile White shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei: Enriquecimiento de la dieta con proteína y aditivos alimentarios (cepas de Bacillus spp. y levaduras) mejora el crecimiento, supervivencia y hemocitos circulantes de juveniles de camarón blanco, Litopenaeus vannamei

In this study the enrichment dietary effect with different  crude protein levels (CP) and feed additives on growth, survival, feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed consumption (FC) and total hemocyte count (THC) in juvenile white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei were evaluated. The study covered two bioassays: in the first one, juveniles were daily fed for 45 days with four experimental diets containing: (1) Control, commercial feed (35% CP); (2) 29% CP; (3) 32% CP; (4) 35% CP. After the 29% CP diet was selected, juveniles in bioassay II were daily fed for 45 days with a single CP diet complemented with probiotics: (1) Control, commercial feed (35% CP); (2) 29% CP; (3) 29% CP + Bacillus mix at 1×106 CFUg–1 feed; and (4) 29% CP + yeast mix at 1×106 CFUg–1 feed. Juvenile shrimp fed with experimental diets gained significantly more weight and increased survival, FCR, FC and THC compared with control diet. However, differences among experimental diets were not significant. In bioassay II, juvenile shrimp fed with experimental diet + feed additives significantly increased survival, FCR, FC and THC compared with control diet. Growth of juveniles significantly increased with 29% CP and 29% CP + yeast mix diets, compared with control group. Complementing the diet with yeast mix showed higher survival and THC of juveniles compared with the other experimental treatments. Different CP levels in shrimp diet improved growth, survival and circulating hemocytes, and addition of mixed yeast as feed additive induced better survival and immune response in juvenile shrimp

Varespladib and cardiovascular events in patients with an acute coronary syndrome: the VISTA-16 randomized clinical trial

IMPORTANCE: Secretory phospholipase A2(sPLA2) generates bioactive phospholipid products implicated in atherosclerosis. The sPLA2inhibitor varespladib has favorable effects on lipid and inflammatory markers; however, its effect on cardiovascular outcomes is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of sPLA2inhibition with varespladib on cardiovascular outcomes. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A double-blind, randomized, multicenter trial at 362 academic and community hospitals in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, India, and North America of 5145 patients randomized within 96 hours of presentation of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) to either varespladib (n = 2572) or placebo (n = 2573) with enrollment between June 1, 2010, and March 7, 2012 (study termination on March 9, 2012). INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomized to receive varespladib (500 mg) or placebo daily for 16 weeks, in addition to atorvastatin and other established therapies. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary efficacy measurewas a composite of cardiovascular mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), nonfatal stroke, or unstable angina with evidence of ischemia requiring hospitalization at 16 weeks. Six-month survival status was also evaluated. RESULTS: At a prespecified interim analysis, including 212 primary end point events, the independent data and safety monitoring board recommended termination of the trial for futility and possible harm. The primary end point occurred in 136 patients (6.1%) treated with varespladib compared with 109 patients (5.1%) treated with placebo (hazard ratio [HR], 1.25; 95%CI, 0.97-1.61; log-rank P = .08). Varespladib was associated with a greater risk of MI (78 [3.4%] vs 47 [2.2%]; HR, 1.66; 95%CI, 1.16-2.39; log-rank P = .005). The composite secondary end point of cardiovascular mortality, MI, and stroke was observed in 107 patients (4.6%) in the varespladib group and 79 patients (3.8%) in the placebo group (HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.02-1.82; P = .04). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In patients with recent ACS, varespladib did not reduce the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events and significantly increased the risk of MI. The sPLA2inhibition with varespladib may be harmful and is not a useful strategy to reduce adverse cardiovascular outcomes after ACS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01130246. Copyright 2014 American Medical Association. All rights reserved

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