Accepting foreign genes

Three recent papers underline the importance of the host genomic background in allowing the stable maintenance of horizontally acquired genes. These studies suggest that post-transfer changes in both host genome and acquired genes contribute to the stable integration of foreign genes.This study was supported by a Grant of Spanish DGI (CGL2013-41375-P).Peer reviewe

Adaptación a la presencia de genes exógenos : Un comentario a dos trabajos recientes de Michener et al. 2014a,b

Peer reviewe

Fingerprinting the Type-Z three Higgs doublet models

There has been great interest in a model with three Higgs doublets in which fermions with a particular charge couple to a single and distinct Higgs field. We study the phenomenological differences between the two common incarnations of this so-called Type-Z 3HDM. We point out that the differences between the two models arise from the scalar potential only. Thus we focus on observables that involve the scalar self-couplings. We find it difficult to uncover features that can uniquely set apart the $Z_3$ variant of the model. However, by studying the dependence of the trilinear Higgs couplings on the nonstandard masses, we have been able to isolate some of the exclusive indicators for the $Z_2\times Z_2$ version of the Type-Z 3HDM. This highlights the importance of precision measurements of the trilinear Higgs couplings.Comment: 15 pages, 4 captioned figure

A lexislación laboral en España. Os gobernos conservadores (1875-1920)

Dende a segunda metade do século XIX, e ata a chegada da mentalidade conservadora corporativista durante a ditadura de Primo de Rivera, comezouse a desenvolver a lexislación laboral en España. Nese senso, resultaron pezas claves nese desenvolvemento os distintos gobernos de signo conservador do período. Neste artigo repasaremos a obra lexislativa conservadora, centrándonos nalgúns dos aspectos ideolóxicos que facilitaron o que creemos foi unha aposta conservadora pola regulación do mundo do traballo en España. Finalmente proporemos algunhas interpretacións para intentar explicar este fenómeno, así como a súa importancia para o posterior desenvolvemento da ideoloxía conservadora na España do século XX

On the presence of a complex hybrid fish (Squalius alburnoides Steindachner, 1866) in a cave system located in southern of Spain

Ponencia Invitada Inaugural del Congreso de Espeleología "EspeleoMeeting Ciudad de Villacarrillo" (Villacarrillo (Jaén), 13, 14 y 15 de agosto de 2016).[ES] En este trabajo se describe a través de la citología, histología y secuenciación del gen de la rodopsina, la única población de peces encontrada en una cueva de la Península Ibérica. Esta población pertenece a la especie Squalius alburnoides (Steindachner, 1866) (Cyprinidae) y tiene la particularidad de tener un origen híbrido con individuos y poblaciones de diferentes ploidias (2n=50; 3n=75 y 4n=100) y distintos mecanismos de reproducción. Los peces de la cueva de Peal del Becerro I presentaron una degeneración incipiente de la retina, con menor cantidad de fotorreceptores y pigmentación que los peces de la misma especie situados en el exterior de la cueva (Embalse de La Bolera). Todos resultaron ser tetraploides simétricos AAPP lo que sugiere que este biotipo favorece de algún modo la viabilidad de poblaciones de esta especie permitiendo recuperar la bisexualidad y un genoma balanceado. Sin embargo, es necesario realizar estudios en profundidad desde la genómica y transcriptómica y tener un mejor conocimiento de la biología y ecología de esta población cavernícola.[EN] In this study we described through a multidisciplinary approach (cytology, histology and rhodopsin gene sequencing) the only cave population of freshwater fish found in the Iberian Peninsula. This population belong to the species Squalius alburnoides (Steindachner, 1866) (Cyprinidae), which has the singularity of being a species of hybridogenetic origin with individuals and populations of different ploidies (2n=50; 3n=75 y 4n=100) and diverse mechanisms of reproduction. The individuals of S. alburnoides found in the Peal del Becerro I cave showed an incipient degeneration of the retina, with lower amount of photoreceptor cells and pigmentation relative to individuals outside the cave (de la Bolera reservoir). All individuals from the cave were symmetric tetraploids AAPP, which suggests that this biotope is favouring the viability of this population through the recovery of bisexuality and a balanced genome. Nonetheless, further deeper studies using genomics and transcriptomics approaches are required to achieve a better understanding of the biology and ecology of this cave-dweller population.Peer reviewe

Entangled-State Lithography: Tailoring any Pattern with a Single State

We demonstrate a systematic approach to Heisenberg-limited lithographic image formation using four-mode reciprocal binominal states. By controlling the exposure pattern with a simple bank of birefringent plates, any pixel pattern on a $(N+1) \times (N+1)$ grid, occupying a square with the side half a wavelength long, can be generated from a $2 N$-photon state.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Quinoline- and benzoselenazole-derived unsymmetrical squaraine cyanine dyes: design, synthesis, photophysicochemical features and light-triggerable antiproliferative effects against breast cancer cell lines

Photodynamic therapy is an innovative treatment approach broadly directed towards oncological diseases. Its applicability and efficiency are closely related to the interaction of three main components, namely a photosensitizer, light and molecular triplet oxygen, which should drive cell death. Recently, several studies have demonstrated that squaraine cyanine dyes have a set of photophysical and photochemical properties that have made of these compounds’ potential photosensitizers for this therapeutic modality. In the present research work, we describe the synthesis and characterization of four quinoline- and benzoselenazole-derived unsymmetrical squaraine cyanine dyes. Except for the precursor of aminosquaraine dyes, i.e., O-methylated derivative, all dyes were evaluated for their behavior and absorption capacity in different organic and aqueous solvents, their ability to form singlet oxygen, their light-stability, and in vitro phototherapeutic effects against two human breast cancer cell cultures (BT-474 and MCF-7). Regardless of the nature of the used solvents, the synthesized dyes showed intense absorption in the red and near-infrared spectral regions, despite the formation of aggregates in aqueous media. Dyes showed high light-stability against light exposure. Despite the low ability to produce singlet oxygen, aminosquaraine dyes demonstrated worthy in vitro phototherapeutic activity.This research was funded by the European Investment Funds by FEDER/COMPETE/POCI under projects POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006958 (CITAB) and POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007491 (CICS-UBI) and Funds by FCT—Portuguese Foundation for Science and technology, under the projects UIDB/ 04033/2020 (CITAB) and UIDB/ 00616/2020 (CQ-VR). This work was also supported by funds from the Health Sciences Research Center (CICS-UBI) through National Funds by FCT—Foundation for Science and Technology (UID/Multi/00709/2019).The research at iBB was supported by Project UID/NAN/50024/2019 and M-ERA-NET/0002/2015 from FCT. E.L. was supported by the FCT PhD grant SFRH/BD/147645/2019.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Red and near-infrared absorbing dicyanomethylene squaraine cyanine dyes: photophysicochemical properties and anti-tumor photosensitizing effects

Photodynamic therapy is a medical modality developed for the treatment of several diseases of oncological and non-oncological etiology that requires the presence of a photosensitizer, light and molecular oxygen, which combined will trigger physicochemical reactions responsible for reactive oxygen species production. Given the scarcity of photosensitizers that exhibit desirable characteristics for its potential application in this therapeutic strategy, the main aims of this work were the study of the photophysical and photochemical properties and the photobiological activity of several dicyanomethylene squaraine cyanine dyes. Thus, herein, the study of their aggregation character, photobleaching and singlet oxygen production ability, and the further application of the previously synthesized dyes in Caco-2 and HepG2 cancer cell lines, to evaluate their phototherapeutic effects, are described. Dicyanomethylene squaraine dyes exhibited moderate light-stability and, despite the low singlet oxygen quantum yields, were a core of dyes that exhibited relevant in vitro photodynamic activity, as there was an evident increase in the toxicity of some of the tested dyes exclusive to radiation treatments.This research was funded by the European Investment Funds by FEDER/COMPETE/POCI under projects POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006958 (CITAB) and POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007491 (CICS-UBI) and Funds by FCT – Portuguese Foundation for Science and technology, under the projects UIDB/04033/2019 (CITAB) and UIDB/00616/2020 (CQ-VR). This work was also supported by funds from the Health Sciences Research Center (CICS-UBI) through National Funds by FCT—Foundation for Science and Technology (UID/Multi/00709/2019). The research at CQFM was supported by Project UID/NAN/50024/2019 and M-ERA-NET/0002/2015 from FCT. E. L. was supported by the FCT PhD grant SFRH/BD/147645/2019

Sub-wavelength lithography over extended areas

We demonstrate a systematic approach to sub-wavelength resolution lithographic image formation on films covering areas larger than a wavelength squared. For example, it is possible to make a lithographic pattern with a feature size resolution of $\lambda/[2(N+1)]$ by using a particular $2 M$-photon, multi-mode entangled state, where $N < M$, and banks of birefringent plates. By preparing a statistically mixed such a state one can form any pixel pattern on a $(N+1) 2^{M-N} \times (N+1) 2^{M-N}$ pixel grid occupying a square with a side of $L=2^{M-N-1}$ wavelengths. Hence, there is a trade-off between the exposed area, the minimum lithographic feature size resolution, and the number of photons used for the exposure. We also show that the proposed method will work even under non-ideal conditions, albeit with somewhat poorer performance.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, 1 table. Written in RevTe

Efecto del clima sobre las características seminales de porcinos en una zona de bosque húmedo tropical.

En una zona de bosque húmedo tropical se seleccionaron diez reproductores porcinos con edades entre 12 y 24 meses, con el fin evaluar el efecto de las variables climáticas presentes el día de la recolección de semen y en cada uno de los 45 días anteriores a ella, sobre las características seminales. Se descompuso la variabilidad de cada característica en una componente intraindividual y en otra interindividual, usando estimadores de máxima verosimilitud (PROC VARCOMP de SAS®). Para relacionar las características seminales con las variables climáticas se agruparon las anormalidades morfológicas, según la región espermática afectada, en anormalidades de cabeza, de pieza intermedia y de pieza principal; las demás características fueron relacionadas sin ninguna modificación o agrupamiento. Se evaluaron posibles correlaciones entre las características seminales y las variables climáticas. En un total de 298 eyaculados recolectados semanalmente durante un período de 30 semanas, con excepción del volumen y de anormalidades morfológicas, las características seminales presentaron baja o moderada variación intra e interindividual y fueron semejantes a las que se producen en otras latitudes, con tendencia a presentar mayor volumen seminal y mayor concentración de espermatozoides. La temperatura máxima, la temperatura mínima, el rango entre las temperaturas, la humedad relativa y la precipitación que se presentaron el día de la recolección de semen y en cada uno de los 45 días anteriores a ella, tuvieron muy bajo efecto sobre las características seminales. Es posible que los reproductores porcinos en zona tropical cálida húmeda desarrollen un alto grado de adaptación que permite una adecuada termorregulación testicular que favorece la función espermatogénica en los túbulos seminíferos, de manera que no se afecta sensiblemente la producción y la calidad del semen