Fungal diversity in deep-sea sediments associated with asphalt seeps at the Sao Paulo Plateau

We investigated the fungal diversity in a total of 20 deep-sea sediment samples (of which 14 samples were associated with natural asphalt seeps and 6 samples were not associated) collected from two different sites at the Sao Paulo Plateau off Brazil by Ion Torrent PGM targeting ITS region of ribosomal RNA. Our results suggest that diverse fungi (113 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) based on clustering at 97% sequence similarity assigned into 9 classes and 31 genus) are present in deep-sea sediment samples collected at the Sao Paulo Plateau, dominated by Ascomycota (74.3%), followed by Basidiomycota (11.5%), unidentified fungi (7.1%), and sequences with no affiliation to any organisms in the public database (7.1%). However, it was revealed that only three species, namely Penicillium sp., Cadophora malorum and Rhodosporidiwn diobovatum, were dominant, with the majority of OTUs remaining a minor community. Unexpectedly, there was no significant difference in major fungal community structure between the asphalt seep and non-asphalt seep sites, despite the presence of mass hydrocarbon deposits and the high amount of macro organisms surrounding the asphalt seeps. However, there were some differences in the minor fungal communities, with possible asphalt degrading fungi present specifically in the asphalt seep sites. In contrast, some differences were found between the two different sampling sites. Classification of OTUs revealed that only 47 (41.6%) fungal OTUs exhibited >97% sequence similarity, in comparison with pre-existing ITS sequences in public databases, indicating that a majority of deep-sea inhabiting fungal taxa still remain undescribed. Although our knowledge on fungi and their role in deep-sea environments is still limited and scarce, this study increases our understanding of fungal diversity and community structure in deep-sea environments.Japan Society for the Promotion of ScienceJapan Agcy Marine Earth Sci & Technol, 2-15 Natsushima Cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 2370061, JapanUniv Vale Itajal, Dept Biol Sci, CTTMar, R Uruguai 458, BR-88302202 Itajal, SC, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Rua Prof Artur Riedel 275, BR-09972270 Diadema, SP, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Inst Oceanog, 191 Praca Oceanog, BR-05508120 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Rua Prof Artur Riedel 275, BR-09972270 Diadema, SP, BrazilJSPS: 23770098JSPS: 15K18601Web of Scienc

Research of the optical communications groups at University of Aveiro and Institute of Telecommunications - Aveiro Pole

This paper summarizes the research activities of the optical communications group at University of Aveiro and Institute of Telecommunications – Aveiro pole. Several activities like clock recovery systems, both electrical and all optical, electrical equalizers for very high bit rate DST systems, post-detection filters for multigigabit optical receivers, soliton systems, simulation work on WDM, DST, EDFA and short pulse generation for high bit rate systems are presented

Resting Heart Rate as Predictor for Left Ventricular Dysfunction and Heart Failure MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis)

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between baseline resting heart rate and incidence of heart failure (HF) and global and regional left ventricular (LV) dysfunction.BackgroundThe association of resting heart rate to HF and LV function has not been well described in an asymptomatic multi-ethnic population.MethodsResting heart rate was measured in participants in the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) trial at inclusion. Incident HF was registered (n = 176) during follow-up (median 7 years) in those who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (n = 5,000). Changes in ejection fraction (ΔEF) and peak circumferential strain (Δεcc) were measured as markers of developing global and regional LV dysfunction in 1,056 participants imaged at baseline and 5 years later. Time to HF (Cox model) and Δεcc and ΔEF (multiple linear regression models) were adjusted for demographics, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, calcium score, LV end-diastolic volume, and mass in addition to resting heart rate.ResultsCox analysis demonstrated that for 1 beat/min increase in resting heart rate, there was a 4% greater adjusted relative risk for incident HF (hazard ratio: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.06; p < 0.001). Adjusted multiple regression models demonstrated that resting heart rate was positively associated with deteriorating εcc and decrease in EF, even when all coronary heart disease events were excluded from the model.ConclusionsElevated resting heart rate was associated with increased risk for incident HF in asymptomatic participants in the MESA trial. Higher heart rate was related to development of regional and global LV dysfunction independent of subclinical atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis [MESA]; NCT00005487

Association of smoking and right ventricular function in middle age: CARDIA study

Objective: To evaluate the association of cigarette smoking and right ventricular (RV) systolic and diastolic functions in a population-based cohort of individuals at middle age. Methods: This cross-sectional study included participants who answered the smoking questionnaire and underwent echocardiography at the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adulthood year 25 examination. RV systolic function was assessed by echocardiographic-derived tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and by right ventricular peak systolic velocity (RVS\u27), while RV diastolic function was evaluated by early right ventricular tissue velocity (RVE\u27). Multivariable linear regression models assessed the relationship of smoking with RV function, adjusting for age, sex, race, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, alcohol consumption, pulmonary function, left ventricular systolic and diastolic function and coronary artery calcium score. Results: A total of 3424 participants were included. The mean age was 50+/-4 years; 57% were female; and 53% were black. There were 2106 (61%) never smokers, 750 (22%) former smokers and 589 (17%) current smokers. In the multivariable analysis, current smokers had significantly lower TAPSE (beta=-0.082, SE=0.031, p=0.008), RVS\u27 (beta=-0.343, SE=0.156, p=0.028) and RVE\u27 (beta=-0.715, SE=0.195, p \u3c 0.001) compared with never smokers. Former smokers had a significantly lower RVE\u27 compared with never smokers (beta=-0.414, SE=0.162, p=0.011), whereas no significant difference in RV systolic function was found between former smokers and never smokers. Conclusions: In a large multicenter community-based biracial cohort of middle-aged individuals, smoking was independently related to both worse RV systolic and diastolic functions

Practical Science and Environmental Education Workshop in Manaus, Brazil

It is an unequivocal fact that Amazonian tropical forest is the largest remaining primary forest in the world. The ecosystem in the region is e tremely comple with high biodiversity (Peres et al. 2010). Conservation and protection of the dynamic forest and river regions is e tremely important not only for the natural environments, but also for the economy and social dependence of benefits from such abundant natural environments. Important natural parameters that affect status of the natural environments include light (natural sunlight), soil, and water, which abundantly e ist in the Amazon region. Solar energy is the primary energy source for the majority of living organisms in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and drives the diurnal and seasonal cycles of biogeochemical processes (Monteith & Unsworth 2013). In particular, in situ light data remains one of the most underappreciated data measurements although having a significant impact on the physical, chemical and biological processes in the ecosystem (Johnsen 2012). Soil provides the fundamental basis for all terrestrial living organisms including the Amazonian forests as well as life-sustaining infrastructure for human society. Water is the most essential single entity to constitute all organisms from a single cell to the earth. Understanding of importance and roles of each factor and interaction of such comple dynamics in the natural environments can serve as fundamental platform for natural scientists, particularly for young scientists such as university students. The objective of this workshop was to provide hand- on scientific and environmental education for university students in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil through practical field measurements using the three most important parameters in the natural ecosystem composed of natural sunlight, soil, and water. The workshop was divided into a series of lectures, in situ field sampling, and data processing, analysis and interpretation with the ultimate goal of empowering the undergraduate students with research-centered environmental education and e perience of developing international collaboration.departmental bulletin pape

Multi-ancestry GWAS of the electrocardiographic PR interval identifies 202 loci underlying cardiac conduction

The electrocardiographic PR interval reflects atrioventricular conduction, and is associated with conduction abnormalities, pacemaker implantation, atrial fibrillation (AF), and cardiovascular mortality. Here we report a multi-ancestry (N=293,051) genome-wide association meta-analysis for the PR interval, discovering 202 loci of which 141 have not previously been reported. Variants at identified loci increase the percentage of heritability explained, from 33.5% to 62.6%. We observe enrichment for cardiac muscle developmental/contractile and cytoskeletal genes, highlighting key regulation processes for atrioventricular conduction. Additionally, 8 loci not previously reported harbor genes underlying inherited arrhythmic syndromes and/or cardiomyopathies suggesting a role for these genes in cardiovascular pathology in the general population. We show that polygenic predisposition to PR interval duration is an endophenotype for cardiovascular disease, including distal conduction disease, AF, and atrioventricular pre-excitation. These findings advance our understanding of the polygenic basis of cardiac conduction, and the genetic relationship between PR interval duration and cardiovascular disease. On the electrocardiogram, the PR interval reflects conduction from the atria to ventricles and also serves as risk indicator of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Here, the authors perform genome-wide meta-analyses for PR interval in multiple ancestries and identify 141 previously unreported genetic loci.Peer reviewe