Phylogeny of Celastraceae (spindle-tree family) subfamilies Hippocrateoideae and Salacioideae inferred from chloroplast and nuclear genes

The phylogeny of Celastraceae (the spindle-tree family) subfamilies Hippocrateoideae and Salacioideae, which include about 360 species of shrubs, trees, and vines in 25 genera, was inferred using plastid (matK, trnL-F) and nuclear (ITS and 26S rDNA) genes. Together, subfamilies Hippocrateoideae and Salacioideae contain all members of the former Hippocrateaceae, which are now recognized as a derived group within Celastraceae sensu stricto. Based on our results, Brassiantha, a monotypic genus endemic to New Guinea, is more closely related to the clade of Dicarpellum (New Caledonia) and Hypsophila (Queensland, Australia) than it is to the former Hippocrateaceae, in contrast to previous studies. This well supported resolution indicates that having a nectary disk positioned outside the stamens has been convergently derived in these two separate lineages. The clade of Kokoona and Lophopetalum was resolved as sister to the clade of Hippocrateoideae, Sarawakodendron, and Salacioideae. This resolution of Kokoona and Lophopetalum supports previous assertions that they are a "transitional link" between Celastraceae sensu stricto and the former Hippocrateaceae. Sarawakodendron, a monotypic genus endemic to Borneo, was resolved as sister to the clade of Salacioideae, which supports earlier assertions that Sarawakodendron is "transitional" between Kokoona, Lophopetalum, and Salacioideae. Based on our inferred phylogeny, arils as mucilaginous pulp are derived within Salacioideae and winged arils may be primitive within the former Hippocrateaceae as a whole. Finally, the former Hippocrateaceae had an Old World, rather than a New World, origin.College Honors

Biological activity of the aqueous extract of Lychnophora pinaster Mart

Lyophilized aqueous extract (LAE) from Lychnophora pinaster Mart (Asteraceae) aerial parts was evaluated in the search of possible biological activities. LAE exhibited trypanocidal activity (113.62 μg/mL), but could not inhibit 5-lipoxygenase in vitro (17% of inhibition). LAE chemical characterization by HPLC with UV-Diode Array Detector showed the presence of caffeic acid, isochlorogenic acid, vitexin, isovitexin and quercetin, in comparison with authentic samples

Asociación entre interleuquinas inflamatorias y la presencia de trastornos intraventriculares de la conducción en pacientes con serología positiva para enfermedad de Chagas y función ventricular conservada

Background: Intraventricular conduction disturbances are common in patients with Chagas disease and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, but their association with higher inflammatory activity is unknown. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the presence of an association between interleukin levels and intraventricular conduction disturbances in patients with positive serology for Chagas disease and preserved left ventricular function. Methods: Twenty-two patients between 22 and 80 years of age with positive serology test for Chagas disease of more than 20 years progression and left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50% were included in the study and compared with a control group of 14 healthy individuals. Plasma levels of IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-15, IL-17A, MCP-1/CCL2, MIP-1 α/CCL3, TNF α and IL-2 were measured in patients and controls. Right bundle branch block, left anterior hemiblock or left bundle branch block were considered intraventricular conduction disturbances. Results: Among the 22 patients with positive serology for Chagas disease, 10 presented intraventricular conduction disturbances (45.4%). This group had elevated levels of interleukins with high inflammatory effect, such as INF-γ, IL-15, IL-2, IL-12, MIP-1 α, compared with the control group, and high levels of IL-10 as a regulatory mechanism of an excessive immune response. Conclusions: The association between elevated levels of inflammatory interleukins and intraventricular conduction disturbances suggests that chronic inflammation may play a role in the development of these abnormalities in patients with positive serology for Chagas disease and preserved left ventricular ejection function.Introducción: Los trastornos de la intraventriculares de la conducción constituyen una manifestación habitual en los pacientes con enfermedad de Chagas con función ventricular izquierda conservada. Se desconoce si su presencia puede estar asociada a una mayor actividad inflamatoria. Objetivos: Determinar si existe una correlación entre los niveles de interleuquinas y la presencia de trastornos intraventriculares de la conducción en pacientes con serología positiva para enfermedad de Chagas y fracción de eyección ventricular izquierda conservada. Material y métodos: Se evaluó a 22 pacientes con edades comprendidas entre 21 y 80 años, seropositivos para enfermedad de Chagas, de más de 20 años de evolución y fracción de eyección ventricular izquierda mayor del 50%. Se analizó, además, un grupo control de 14 individuos sanos. Se determinaron las concentraciones en plasma de IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-15, IL-17A, MCP1/CCL2, MIP-1 alfa/CCL3, TNF alfa e IL-2. Se consideró trastornos intraventriculares de la conducción a la presencia de bloqueo de rama derecha, hemibloqueo anterior izquierdo o bloqueo de rama izquierda. Resultados: De los 22 pacientes con serología positiva para enfermedad de Chagas, 10 presentaron trastornos intraventriculares de la conducción (45,4%). En el grupo con trastornos intraventriculares de la conducción, se observaron niveles elevados de interleuquinas de alto efecto inflamatorio como INF-γ, IL-15, IL2, IL-12, MP1α, en comparación al grupo control, además de presentar altos valores de IL 10 como mecanismo modulador de una respuesta inmunitaria excesiva. Conclusiones: La asociación entre niveles elevados de interleuquinas y la presencia de trastornos intraventriculares de la conducción plantea un posible proceso inflamatorio crónico para su desarrollo en pacientes chagásicos con fracción de eyección ventricular izquierda conservada.Fil: Principato, Mario Bruno. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro Universitario de Neurología "Dr. José María Ramos Mejía".; ArgentinaFil: Paolucci, Analía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro Universitario de Neurología "Dr. José María Ramos Mejía".; ArgentinaFil: Miranda, Silvia Esther. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto Alberto C. Taquini de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas "Prof. Dr. Alberto C. Taquini". Instituto Alberto C. Taquini de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional; ArgentinaFil: Lombardi, María Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto Alberto C. Taquini de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas "Prof. Dr. Alberto C. Taquini". Instituto Alberto C. Taquini de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional; ArgentinaFil: Sosa, Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto Alberto C. Taquini de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas "Prof. Dr. Alberto C. Taquini". Instituto Alberto C. Taquini de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional; ArgentinaFil: von Wulffen, María Alejandra. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro Universitario de Neurología "Dr. José María Ramos Mejía".; ArgentinaFil: Villa Fernández, Rocío. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro Universitario de Neurología "Dr. José María Ramos Mejía".; ArgentinaFil: Tomatti, Alejandro. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro Universitario de Neurología "Dr. José María Ramos Mejía".; ArgentinaFil: Di Girolamo, Guillermo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto Alberto C. Taquini de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas "Prof. Dr. Alberto C. Taquini". Instituto Alberto C. Taquini de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional; ArgentinaFil: Carbajales, Julio. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro Universitario de Neurología "Dr. José María Ramos Mejía".; Argentin

Flora da Bahia: Oleaceae

A taxonomic treatment of the Oleaceae from Bahia, Brazil, is present as a contribution to the knowledge of the flora of the state. Four species of the genus Chionanthus are recognized: C. crassifolius, C. filiformis, C. micranthus and C. parviflorus. The taxonomic treatment consists of an identification key, descriptions, comments, illustrations and distribution maps of the species in Bahia.É apresentado o tratamento taxonômico das Oleaceae da Bahia, Brasil, como contribuição ao conhecimento da flora do estado. São reconhecidas quatro espécies do gênero Chionanthus: C. crassifolius, C. filiformis, C. micranthus e C. parviflorus. O tratamento consiste de uma chave de identificação, descrições, comentários, ilustrações e mapas de distribuição das espécies na Bahia

2008-2009 Dean\u27s Showcase No. 2

https://spiral.lynn.edu/conservatory_deansshowcase/1035/thumbnail.jp

European Extremely Large Telescope Site Characterization II: High angular resolution parameters

This is the second article of a series devoted to European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) site characterization. In this article we present the main properties of the parameters involved in high angular resolution observations from the data collected in the site testing campaign of the E-ELT during the Design Study (DS) phase. Observations were made in 2008 and 2009, in the four sites selected to shelter the future E-ELT (characterized under the ELT-DS contract): Aklim mountain in Morocco, Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos (ORM) in Spain, Mac\'on range in Argentina, and Cerro Ventarrones in Chile. The same techniques, instruments and acquisition procedures were taken on each site. A Multiple Aperture Scintillation Sensor (MASS) and a Differential Image Motion Monitor (DIMM) were installed at each site. Global statistics of the integrated seeing, the free atmosphere seeing, the boundary layer seeing and the isoplanatic angle were studied for each site, and the results are presented here. In order to estimate other important parameters such as the coherence time of the wavefront and the overall parameter "coherence \'etendue" additional information of vertical profiles of the wind speed was needed. Data were retrieved from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) archive. Ground wind speed was measured by Automatic Weather Stations (AWS). More aspects of the turbulence parameters such as their seasonal trend, their nightly evolution and their temporal stability were also obtained and analyzed.Comment: 46 pages and 17 figures. Accepted to be published in PAS

Microbial community structure and dynamics in thermophilic composting viewed through metagenomics and metatranscriptomics

Composting is a promising source of new organisms and thermostable enzymes that may be helpful in environmental management and industrial processes. Here we present results of metagenomicand metatranscriptomic-based analyses of a large composting operation in the Sao Paulo Zoo Park. This composting exhibits a sustained thermophilic profile (50 degrees C to 75 degrees C), which seems to preclude fungal activity. The main novelty of our study is the combination of time-series sampling with shotgun DNA, 16S rRNA gene amplicon, and metatranscriptome high-throughput sequencing, enabling an unprecedented detailed view of microbial community structure, dynamics, and function in this ecosystem. The time-series data showed that the turning procedure has a strong impact on the compost microbiota, restoring to a certain extent the population profile seen at the beginning of the processand that lignocellulosic biomass deconstruction occurs synergistically and sequentially, with hemicellulose being degraded preferentially to cellulose and lignin. Moreover, our sequencing data allowed near-complete genome reconstruction of five bacterial species previously found in biomass-degrading environments and of a novel biodegrading bacterial species, likely a new genus in the order Bacillales. The data and analyses provided are a rich source for additional investigations of thermophilic composting microbiology.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Provost's Office for Research of the University of Sao PauloCoordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Quim, Dept Bioquim, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Programa Pos Graduacao Interunidades Bioinformat, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Escola Artes Ciencias & Humanidades, Sao Paulo, Brazil|Fundacao Parque Zool Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Biol, Sao Paulo, BrazilBiocomplex Inst Virginia, Blacksburg, VA USADepartamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2011/50870-6Web of Scienc