Pathogenic Cav3.2 channel mutation in a child with primary generalized epilepsy.

Two paternally-inherited missense variants in CACNA1H were identified and characterized in a 6-year-old child with generalized epilepsy. Febrile and unprovoked seizures were present in this child. Both variants were expressed in cis or isolation using human recombinant Cav3.2 calcium channels in tsA-201 cells. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings indicated that one variant (c.3844C > T; p.R1282W) caused a significant increase in current density consistent with a pathogenic gain-of-function phenotype; while the other cis-related variant (c.5294C > T; p.A1765V) had a benign profile

Supporting Non-functional Requirements in Services Software Development Process: An MDD Approach

International audienceThis paper presents the π-SODM method an extension to the Service Oriented Development Method (SOD-M) to support the develop- ment of services software considering their functional and non-functional requirements. Specifically, π-SODM proposes: (i) meta-models for rep- resenting non-functional requirements in different abstraction levels; (ii) model-to-model transformation rules, useful to semi-automatically re- fine Platform Independent Models into Platform Specific Models; and (iii) rules to transform Platform Specific Models into concrete imple- mentations. In order to illustrate the use of this methodology the paper describes how its use to develop a proof-of-concept

Physical properties of edible coatings and films made with a polysaccharide from Anacardium occidentale L.

The effect of the concentrations of the polysaccharide from Anacardium occidentale L. (Policaju) and a surfactant (Tween 80) on relevant properties of edible coatings/films, in view of their application on apples (cv. Golden) was evaluated. The influence of the interactions between those two constituents on apples’ surface properties and on the coating/film’s wettability, water vapor permeability, opacity and mechanical properties was evaluated. The effects of the studied variables (polysaccharide and surfactant concentrations) were analyzed according to a 2² factorial design. Pareto bar charts were used to understand the most significant factors on the studied properties. The addition of surfactant reduced the cohesion forces, therefore reducing the surface tension and increasing the wettability; this resulted in an improved compatibility between the solution and the fruit skin surface. The opacity was also reduced. The results of each of the analyzed properties were adjusted to a polynomial, multifactor model, which provided a good fitting accuracy. This model is important once it will reduce the characterization work needed in subsequent applications of these coatings/films on foods.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Capes, Brazil)Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Brazi

Innovación en la gestión de termoeléctricas en el Amazonas: Reducción del consumo y aumento de la eficiencia por medio del reaprovechamiento de residuos

Este estudio propone una innovación de proceso que, por medio del tratamiento y el reaprovechamiento de residuos de fueloil, reduce el consumo de combustible y aumenta la eficiencia en las plantas termoeléctricas. En el contexto habitual de plantas movidas con fueloil, el tratamiento del combustible genera residuos destinados al desecho.La innovación significa pasar todo el residuo oleoso delcombustible por una nueva estación de tratamiento que,por centrifugación separa el aceite tratado, el agua y loscontaminantes. Las termoeléctricas de fueloil en Brasil generan alrededor de 4000 MWh, cuando están en plena operación. Como promedio son producidas cerca de 150 toneladas de residuo de fueloil al mes. En este trabajo cerca del 65% de este volumen puede ser recuperado y reutilizado en la generación de energía eléctrica, aumentando en hasta un 2,7% la eficiencia de las plantas generadoras de electricidad. Con este nuevo tratamiento y modelo de gestión es posible generar economía en la adquisición de combustibles fósiles, así como obtener una reducción en la generación de residuos de desecho y consecuentemente los impactos ambientales causados por las termoeléctricas movidas con fueloil

Differentiation of Melipona quadrifasciata L. (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini) subspecies using cytochrome b PCR-RFLP patterns

Melipona quadrifasciata quadrifasciata and M. quadrifasciata anthidioides are subspecies of M. quadrifasciata, a stingless bee species common in coastal Brazil. These subspecies are discriminated by the yellow stripe pattern of the abdominal tergites. We found Vsp I restriction patterns in the cytochrome b region closely associated to each subspecies in 155 M. quadrifasciata colonies of different geographical origin. This mitochondrial DNA molecular marker facilitates diagnosis of M. quadrifasciata subspecies matrilines and can be used to establish their natural distribution and identify hybrid colonies

Shelf life extension of Ricotta cheese using coatings of galactomannans from nonconventional sources incorporating nisin against Listeria monocytogenes

Shelf life extension of Ricotta cheese was evaluated at 4 °C upon the use of edible coatings made of galactomannans from Gleditsia triacanthos incorporating nisin against Listeria monocytogenes. Three different treatments were tested in cheese: samples without coating; samples with coating without nisin; and samples with coating containing 50 IU·g−1 of nisin. To test the effectiveness of the treatments against L. monocytogenes, the surface of the cheese was inoculated with a suspension of the microorganism. Microbiological and physical−chemical analyses of the cheese samples were performed during 28 days. Results showed that the cheese coated with nisin-added galactomannan film was the treatment presenting the best results in terms of microbial growth delay (p < 0.05). The addition of nisin also affects (p < 0.05) the physical and mechanical properties of the films: O2 permeability decreased from 1.84 to 1.35 × 10−12 cm3·(Pa·s·m)−1; CO2 permeability increased from 1.96 to 6.31 × 10−12 cm3·(Pa·s·m)−1; opacity increased from 3.68 to 4.59%; tensile strength ranged from 0.84 to 1.46 MPa; and elongation at break improved from 50.93 to 68.16%. These results demonstrate that novel galactomannan-based edible coatings, when combined with nisin, may provide consumer-friendly alternatives to reduce L. monocytogenes postcontamination on cheese products during storage.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES, Brazil)Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - SFRH/BD/32566/2006, SFRH/BD/23897/200

Geochemical constraints on the Hadean environment from mineral fingerprints of prokaryotes

The environmental conditions on the Earth before 4 billion years ago are highly uncertain, largely because of the lack of a substantial rock record from this period. During this time interval, known as the Hadean, the young planet transformed from an uninhabited world to the one capable of supporting, and inhabited by the first living cells. These cells formed in a fluid environment they could not at first control, with homeostatic mechanisms developing only later. It is therefore possible that present-day organisms retain some record of the primordial fluid in which the first cells formed. Here we present new data on the elemental compositions and mineral fingerprints of both Bacteria and Archaea, using these data to constrain the environment in which life formed. The cradle solution that produced this elemental signature was saturated in barite, sphene, chalcedony, apatite, and clay minerals. The presence of these minerals, as well as other chemical features, suggests that the cradle environment of life may have been a weathering fluid interacting with dry-land silicate rocks. The specific mineral assemblage provides evidence for a moderate Hadean climate with dry and wet seasons and a lower atmospheric abundance of CO2 than is present today.Fil: Novoselov, Alexey A.. Universidad de Concepción; ChileFil: Silva, Dailto. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; BrasilFil: Schneider, Jerusa. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; BrasilFil: Abrevaya, Ximena Celeste. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciónes Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio. - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio; ArgentinaFil: Chaffin, Michael S.. State University Of Colorado Boulder; Estados UnidosFil: Serrano, Paloma. Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre For Polar And Marine Research,; AlemaniaFil: Navarro, Margareth Sugano. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; BrasilFil: Conti, Maria Josiane. André Tosello Institute; BrasilFil: Souza Filho, Carlos Roberto de. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; Brasi

Impressões digitais de DNA e RNA através de AP-PCR em Entamoeba histolytica

Differences were detected in the gene expression of strains of E. histolytica using RNA (RAP-PCR) and DNA fingerprinting (RAPD). Analysis of the electrophoretic profiles of the gels revealed some polymorphic markers that could be used in the individual characterization of the strains. The 260 bands generated by using five different primers for RAP-PCR, as well as RAPD, were employed in the construction of dendograms. The dendogram obtained based on the RAPD products permitted the distinction of symptomatic and asymptomatic isolates, as well the correlation between the polymorphism exhibited and the virulence of the strains. The dendogram obtained for the RAP-PCR products did not show a correlation with the virulence of the strains but revealed a high degree of intraspecific transcriptional variability that could be related to other biological features, whether or not these are involved in the pathogenesis of amebiasis.Diferenças na expressão gênica de cepas de E. histolytica foram obtidas pelo "fingerprinting" de RNA (RAP-PCR) e DNA (RAPD). A análise do perfil eletroforético do gel revelou alguns marcadores polimórficos que poderiam ser usados na caracterização individual das cepas. As 260 bandas geradas pela utilização de cinco primers diferentes, tanto no RAP-PCR, quanto no RAPD foram empregadas na construção de dendogramas. O dendograma obtido com os produtos do RAPD permitiu a distinção das cepas isoladas de pacientes sintomáticos e assintomáticos, além de correlacionar o polimorfismo exibido com a virulência das mesmas. O dendograma obtido com os produtos do RAP-PCR não apresentou correlação com a virulência das cepas, mas revelou uma exuberante variabilidade transcricional intra-específica, que pode estar relacionada a outros caracteres biológicos envolvidos, ou não, na patogênese da amebíase

Impressões digitais de DNA e RNA através de AP-PCR em Entamoeba histolytica

Differences were detected in the gene expression of strains of E. histolytica using RNA (RAP-PCR) and DNA fingerprinting (RAPD). Analysis of the electrophoretic profiles of the gels revealed some polymorphic markers that could be used in the individual characterization of the strains. The 260 bands generated by using five different primers for RAP-PCR, as well as RAPD, were employed in the construction of dendograms. The dendogram obtained based on the RAPD products permitted the distinction of symptomatic and asymptomatic isolates, as well the correlation between the polymorphism exhibited and the virulence of the strains. The dendogram obtained for the RAP-PCR products did not show a correlation with the virulence of the strains but revealed a high degree of intraspecific transcriptional variability that could be related to other biological features, whether or not these are involved in the pathogenesis of amebiasis.Diferenças na expressão gênica de cepas de E. histolytica foram obtidas pelo "fingerprinting" de RNA (RAP-PCR) e DNA (RAPD). A análise do perfil eletroforético do gel revelou alguns marcadores polimórficos que poderiam ser usados na caracterização individual das cepas. As 260 bandas geradas pela utilização de cinco primers diferentes, tanto no RAP-PCR, quanto no RAPD foram empregadas na construção de dendogramas. O dendograma obtido com os produtos do RAPD permitiu a distinção das cepas isoladas de pacientes sintomáticos e assintomáticos, além de correlacionar o polimorfismo exibido com a virulência das mesmas. O dendograma obtido com os produtos do RAP-PCR não apresentou correlação com a virulência das cepas, mas revelou uma exuberante variabilidade transcricional intra-específica, que pode estar relacionada a outros caracteres biológicos envolvidos, ou não, na patogênese da amebíase

Produção de tomateiro orgânico irrigado por aspersão e gotejamento, em cultivo solteiro e consorciado com coentro.

O uso eficiente da água e a diversificação ambiental são fundamentais para o equilíbrio e a sustentabilidade dos sistemas orgânicos de produção de tomate. O presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a produção de tomate de mesa em cultivo solteiro e consorciado com coentro com irrigação por aspersão e gotejamento, em sistema orgânico. O experimento foi conduzido em área de produção orgânica no Distrito Federal. O delineamento foi blocos ao acaso, com tratamentos dispostos num arranjo fatorial 2 x 2 (dois sistemas de irrigação x dois sistemas de cultivo). Não houve interação significativa entre os fatores avaliados, assim como não houve efeito do sistema de cultivo sobre as variáveis avaliadas. Embora o ciclo do tomateiro irrigado por gotejamento tenha diminuído, a produtividade de frutos não foi afetada pelos sistemas de irrigação. A maior redução de estande verificada na aspersão foi compensada por um aumento no número de frutos por planta, sem variação na massa por fruto. O menor volume de solo explorado pelas raízes do tomateiro associado à maior incidência de traça-o-tomateiro (Tuta absoluta) e principalmente de oídio (Leveillula taurica) pode ter limitado a produtividade do tomateiro irrigado por gotejamento. A taxa de frutos podres na aspersão foi o dobro da verificada no sistema por gotejamento