Resistance to stem rust race TTKS in wheat relative Haynaldia villosa

Tese de doutoramento em Território, Risco e Políticas Públicas, apresentada ao Instituto de Investigação Interdisciplinar da Universidade de CoimbraFor several decades critical infrastructure management belonged to engineering domains; however a new paradigm has emerged - socio-technical paradigm - infrastructures are critical because they have value for society and for a culture. Thus, critical infrastructure operate not only according to technical specifications but also according to constraints imposed by the social environment. The problem is how to integrate in the same model the linkages between infrastructure and social systems. The main goal of this thesis is to propose a new model the Structural Functional Risk Model – SFRM- a model that identifies the roads more vulnerable to interruptions, based on an integrated approach of the structural and functional component of the road network- a critical infrastructure responsible for connecting people, assets and services separated in space. The model is applied to real road network in a multiscalar perspective, the regional context and the municipal context. The case studies are the Central Region of Portugal and Coimbra, a municipality located in this Region. The system used as example focus the road network as element of connection and access between the parishes and the nearest Hospital – a critical infrastructure of the health sector. The methodological approach is composed by three main phases: firstly, the road network is assessed in a structural perspective based on the application of a new approach of the biclustering technique; the following phase is focused on the evaluation of the road network in a functional perspective based on a modified gravity model; the last phase is focused on the integration of structural and functional perspective, which resulted the SFRM. Scenario- based approaches are also relevant in this work, focusing questions such: what can happen? If it does happen, what are the consequences? A scenario-based approach can be a useful support to a more informed, strategic action. Thus, through the work there will be simulated and analyzed road interruption scenarios. The results confirmed the importance of an integrated approach of the structural and functional components. In the assessment of the road network structural component the results pointed that the Biclusters with highest connectivity are mainly located in the II areas economically most dynamic, such the Coastal zone, and the Biclusters with lowest connectivity are mainly located in areas less dynamic, such Beira Transmontana. So, even when the analysis is focused on a network transformed into nodes and edges it is possible to identify relations with the territorial dynamics. The results of the road network functional component assessment point to a significant resources concentration in Coimbra municipality; in the regional context identified significant accessibility gaps across geographical areas and population groups; even in a normal scenario there are significant disparities in terms of accessibility to health care, which can get worse in a road network interruption scenario. From the integration of the structural and functional component of the road network resulted the SFRM, which is a step forward; quantifying the share of accountability of each of the components in the road level of vulnerability. The results demonstrate that territorial constraints play a fundamental role in critical infrastructure management; the strategies set in this domain should take into account the specificities of each territory and population characteristics. This thesis can be seen as step forward in the consolidation of the socio-technical paradigm as well as a tool for the definition of efficient of prevention measures and the definition of strategies aiming quick recovery of the system in case of a disruptive event.Durante várias décadas a gestão das infra-estruturas críticas pertenceu ao domínio da engenharia; contudo surgiu um novo paradigma – o paradigma socio-técnico – as infraestruturas são críticas pelo valor que representam para a sociedade e para a cultura. Neste sentido, o funcionamento das infra-estruturas críticas depende não só de especificidades técnicas, mas também é condicionado pelo meio social. O problema reside em saber como integrar no mesmo modelo as ligações existentes entre as infraestruturas e os sistemas sociais. O principal objetivo deste trabalho é propor um novo modelo - Modelo de Risco Estrutural e Funcional – MREF- que identifica as vias mais vulneráveis a interrupções, numa abordagem integrada da componente estrutural e funcional da rede viária – uma infra-estrutura crítica que tem como função ligar pessoas, bens e serviços separados no espaço. O MRFE é aplicado a uma rede viária real numa perspetiva multiescalar, os casos de estudo são a Região Centro de Portugal e Coimbra, um município localizado nesta Região. O sistema de análise, usado como exemplo, focase na rede viária como elemento de ligação e acesso entre as freguesias e os Hospitais – importantes infra-estruturas críticas do sector da saúde. A metodologia usada neste trabalho é constituída por três fases: numa primeira fase a rede viária é avaliada sob o ponto de vista estrutural com base numa nova abordagem da técnica de biclustering; a fase seguinte foca-se na avaliação da rede viária sob o ponto de vista funcional com base num modelo gravitacional adaptado aos objetivos do presente trabalho; a última fase foca-se na integração da avaliação estrutural com a funcional da qual resulta o MRFE. As abordagens com base em cenários também assumem relevância neste trabalho, focando questões como: O que pode acontecer? Caso aconteça, quais são as consequências? Os resultados desta abordagem contribuem para ação mais informada e estratégica. Neste sentido, ao longo do trabalho serão apresentados e avaliados vários cenários de interrupção de vias. Os resultados demonstram a importância de uma abordagem integrada da componente funcional e da estrutural. Aquando da avaliação da rede viária sob o ponto de vista estrutural os resultados indicaram que os biclusters com maior nível de conectividade se IV encontram essencialmente localizados nas áreas economicamente mais dinâmicas – como a zona costeira, enquanto os biclusters com menor nível de conectividade se encontram essencialmente localizados nas áreas economicamente mais deprimidas – como a Beira Transmontana. Conclui-se que mesmo quando a análise se foca na rede viária enquanto conjunto de nós e ligações é possível identificar relações com a dinâmica territorial. Os resultados da avaliação da rede viária sob o ponto de vista funcional indicam uma significativa polarização de recursos no município de Coimbra, no contexto regional foram identificadas expressivas diferenças em termos de áreas geográficas e grupos populacionais; estas significativas disparidades poderão ser agravadas num cenário de interrupção de vias. O MREF resulta de uma abordagem integrada das componentes estruturais e funcionais da rede viária, um modelo que pode ser visto como um passo em frente uma vez que são definidas e quantificadas as variáveis que influenciam a vulnerabilidade da rede viária. Os resultados demonstram que as condicionantes territoriais devem constituir uma componente fundamental na gestão das infra-estruturas críticas; as estratégias definidas neste âmbito devem ter em atenção as especificidades do território e as características da população. O presente trabalho pode ser visto como contributo para a consolidação do paradigma sociotécnico assim como um instrumento para a definição de medidas de prevenção eficientes e definição de estratégias que tenham em vista o rápido restabelecimento do funcionamento do sistema num cenário disruptivo.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - SFRH/BD/70952/201

Influenza nucleoprotein delivered with aluminium salts protects mice from an influenza virus that expresses an altered nucleoprotein sequence

Influenza virus poses a difficult challenge for protective immunity. This virus is adept at altering its surface proteins, the proteins that are the targets of neutralizing antibody. Consequently, each year a new vaccine must be developed to combat the current recirculating strains. A universal influenza vaccine that primes specific memory cells that recognise conserved parts of the virus could prove to be effective against both annual influenza variants and newly emergent potentially pandemic strains. Such a vaccine will have to contain a safe and effective adjuvant that can be used in individuals of all ages. We examine protection from viral challenge in mice vaccinated with the nucleoprotein from the PR8 strain of influenza A, a protein that is highly conserved across viral subtypes. Vaccination with nucleoprotein delivered with a universally used and safe adjuvant, composed of insoluble aluminium salts, provides protection against viruses that either express the same or an altered version of nucleoprotein. This protection correlated with the presence of nucleoprotein specific CD8 T cells in the lungs of infected animals at early time points after infection. In contrast, immunization with NP delivered with alum and the detoxified LPS adjuvant, monophosphoryl lipid A, provided some protection to the homologous viral strain but no protection against infection by influenza expressing a variant nucleoprotein. Together, these data point towards a vaccine solution for all influenza A subtypes

Plasmonic excitations in noble metals: The case of Ag

The delicate interplay between plasmonic excitations and interband transitions in noble metals is described by means of {\it ab initio} calculations and a simple model in which the conduction electron plasmon is coupled to the continuum of electron-hole pairs. Band structure effects, specially the energy at which the excitation of the $d$-like bands takes place, determine the existence of a subthreshold plasmonic mode, which manifests itself in Ag as a sharp resonance at 3.8 eV. However, such a resonance is not observed in the other noble metals. Here, this different behavior is also analyzed and an explanation is provided.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

Comparisons of host mitochondrial, nuclear and endosymbiont bacterial genes reveal cryptic fig wasp species and the effects of Wolbachia on host mtDNA evolution and diversity

Background Figs and fig-pollinating wasp species usually display a highly specific one-to-one association. However, more and more studies have revealed that the "one-to-one" rule has been broken. Co-pollinators have been reported, but we do not yet know how they evolve. They may evolve from insect speciation induced or facilitated by Wolbachia which can manipulate host reproduction and induce reproductive isolation. In addition, Wolbachia can affect host mitochondrial DNA evolution, because of the linkage between Wolbachia and associated mitochondrial haplotypes, and thus confound host phylogeny based on mtDNA. Previous research has shown that fig wasps have the highest incidence of Wolbachia infection in all insect taxa, and Wolbachia may have great influence on fig wasp biology. Therefore, we look forward to understanding the influence of Wolbachia on mitochondrial DNA evolution and speciation in fig wasps. Results We surveyed 76 pollinator wasp specimens from nine Ficus microcarpa trees each growing at a different location in Hainan and Fujian Provinces, China. We found that all wasps were morphologically identified as Eupristina verticillata, but diverged into three clades with 4.22-5.28% mtDNA divergence and 2.29-20.72% nuclear gene divergence. We also found very strong concordance between E. verticillata clades and Wolbachia infection status, and the predicted effects of Wolbachia on both mtDNA diversity and evolution by decreasing mitochondrial haplotypes. Conclusions Our study reveals that the pollinating wasp E. verticillata on F. microcarpa has diverged into three cryptic species, and Wolbachia may have a role in this divergence. The results also indicate that Wolbachia strains infecting E. verticillata have likely resulted in selective sweeps on host mitochondrial DNA

Sacrificial-template-free synthesis of core-shell C@Bi2S3 heterostructures for efficient supercapacitor and H-2 production applications

Core-shell heterostructures have attracted considerable attention owing to their unique properties and broad range of applications in lithium ion batteries, supercapacitors, and catalysis. Conversely, the effective synthesis of Bi2S3 nanorod core@ amorphous carbon shell heterostructure remains an important challenge. In this study, C@Bi2S3 core-shell heterostructures with enhanced supercapacitor performance were synthesized via sacrificial-template-free one-pot-synthesis method. The highest specific capacities of the C@Bi2S3 core shell was 333.43 F g(-1) at a current density of 1 A g(-1). Core-shell-structured C@Bi2S3 exhibits 1.86 times higher photocatalytic H-2 production than the pristine Bi2S3 under simulated solar light irradiation. This core-shell feature of C@Bi2S3 provides efficient charge separation and transfer owing to the formed heterojunction and a short radial transfer path, thus efficiently diminishing the charge recombination; it also facilitates plenty of active sites for the hydrogen evolution reaction owing to its mesoporous nature. These outcomes will open opportunities for developing low-cost and noble-metal-free efficient electrode materials for water splitting and supercapacitor applications

Molecular cloning and transcriptional activity of a new Petunia calreticulin gene involved in pistil transmitting tract maturation, progamic phase, and double fertilization

Calreticulin (CRT) is a highly conserved and ubiquitously expressed Ca2+-binding protein in multicellular eukaryotes. As an endoplasmic reticulum-resident protein, CRT plays a key role in many cellular processes including Ca2+ storage and release, protein synthesis, and molecular chaperoning in both animals and plants. CRT has long been suggested to play a role in plant sexual reproduction. To begin to address this possibility, we cloned and characterized the full-length cDNA of a new CRT gene (PhCRT) from Petunia. The deduced amino acid sequence of PhCRT shares homology with other known plant CRTs, and phylogenetic analysis indicates that the PhCRT cDNA clone belongs to the CRT1/CRT2 subclass. Northern blot analysis and fluorescent in situ hybridization were used to assess PhCRT gene expression in different parts of the pistil before pollination, during subsequent stages of the progamic phase, and at fertilization. The highest level of PhCRT mRNA was detected in the stigma–style part of the unpollinated pistil 1 day before anthesis and during the early stage of the progamic phase, when pollen is germinated and tubes outgrow on the stigma. In the ovary, PhCRT mRNA was most abundant after pollination and reached maximum at the late stage of the progamic phase, when pollen tubes grow into the ovules and fertilization occurs. PhCRT mRNA transcripts were seen to accumulate predominantly in transmitting tract cells of maturing and receptive stigma, in germinated pollen/growing tubes, and at the micropylar region of the ovule, where the female gametophyte is located. From these results, we suggest that PhCRT gene expression is up-regulated during secretory activity of the pistil transmitting tract cells, pollen germination and outgrowth of the tubes, and then during gamete fusion and early embryogenesis

Experimental and theoretical investigation of ligand effects on the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles

ZnO nanoparticles with highly controllable particle sizes(less than 10 nm) were synthesized using organic capping ligands in Zn(Ac)2 ethanolic solution. The molecular structure of the ligands was found to have significant influence on the particle size. The multi-functional molecule tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane (THMA) favoured smaller particle distributions compared with ligands possessing long hydrocarbon chains that are more frequently employed. The adsorption of capping ligands on ZnnOn crystal nuclei (where n = 4 or 18 molecular clusters of(0001) ZnO surfaces) was modelled by ab initio methods at the density functional theory (DFT) level. For the molecules examined, chemisorption proceeded via the formation of Zn...O, Zn...N, or Zn...S chemical bonds between the ligands and active Zn2+ sites on ZnO surfaces. The DFT results indicated that THMA binds more strongly to the ZnO surface than other ligands, suggesting that this molecule is very effective at stabilizing ZnO nanoparticle surfaces. This study, therefore, provides new insight into the correlation between the molecular structure of capping ligands and the morphology of metal oxide nanostructures formed in their presence