Diversity and functional potential of fungal communities in Arctic and boreal freshwaters

Fungi are important decomposers of the organic matter (OM) in terrestrial environments, but there is limited knowledge about their ecological roles in aquatic ecosystems. This thesis applies a variety of molecular techniques (e.g. metabarcoding, sequencing of genomes and metagenomics) to explore the diversity of freshwater fungi and their role in the recycling of organic matter. The aquatic fungal diversity was first assessed in boreal lakes in Scandinavia. The composition of the communities varied significantly across lakes, and was associated with organic carbon availability. Furthermore, the relationship between fungal diversity and OM was extensively explored in permafrost ecosystems. Climate change is causing the thawing and collapse of permafrost peatlands, creating water bodies named thermokarst ponds. These ponds receive a significant amount of carbon previously stored in the permafrost, and are considered hotspots for carbon cycling. To investigate the ecology of the fungi in these ponds, five regions across the Arctic were sampled, comprising a gradient of permafrost integrity: from sites not affected by thawing to degraded sites with thermokarst ponds. The quality of the dissolved organic matter (DOM) was strongly linked with the fungal community composition, and associated with a significant decline in beta-diversity towards the degraded sites. Also, the genetic functional potential of the fungal communities in the pond water and sediment was explored at one of the degraded sites. The results showed the highest potential for breaking down the OM in the sediment, associated with higher relative abundances of fungal isolates with greater potential for degradation of plant litter. On the contrary, in the water, the fungi had a high potential for growth. Correlations between genes and proxies for the water DOM quality were found, suggesting that the aquatic fungi are able to benefit from the freshly produced OM of microbial sources and old OM from terrestrial sources. These findings shed light onto the ecological roles of aquatic fungal communities in the carbon cycle of ecosystems affected by a warming climate

Presença de partículas virais infecciosas em amostras de água de diferentes tipos e localidades do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

The parameters for drinking water currently are based only on the analysis of bacteria; nevertheless the absence of coliforms does not exclude viral contamination. Enteric viruses may resist conventional water and sewage treatment methods, due to its physical and chemical stability. Although laborious and time consuming, analysis by viral isolation in cell culture allows to evaluate the viability of viral particles, advantageous feature when compared to molecular biology techniques. Sixty-four water samples from surface and tap water from various Rio Grande do Sul’s locations were collected and inoculated into 24-well microplates containing CER cell line cells. The microplates were stored in 37°C oven, 5% CO2 for seven days and observed daily for possible detection of cytopathic effect (CPE) in inverted microscope. CPE consistent with viral presence was observed in 12 (21.8%) of 55 samples, with higher prevalence in tap water, indicating the need to revise our current legislation on drinking water.Os parâmetros de potabilidade da água atualmente baseiam-se apenas na análise de bactérias; porém a ausência de coliformes não exclui a contaminação viral. Vírus entéricos podem resistir aos métodos convencionais de tratamento de água e esgoto, devido à suas características de estabilidade físico-química. Apesar de laboriosa e demorada, a análise virológica por isolamento em cultivo celular permite avaliar a viabilidade das partículas virais presentes, aspecto vantajoso quando comparado a técnicas de biologia molecular. Sessenta e quatro amostras de água superficial e de torneira de diversas localidades do Rio Grande do Sul foram coletadas e inoculadas em microplacas de 24 poços, contendo células da linhagem CER. As microplacas foram armazenadas em estufa 37ºC, 5% de CO2 por sete dias, sendo observadas diariamente para possível detecção de efeito citopático (ECP) em microscópio invertido. Foi observado ECP condizente com presença viral em 12 (21,8%) das 55 amostras analisadas, com maior prevalência em águas de torneira, indicando a necessidade de revisar a legislação vigente sobre potabilidade da água

The Eighteenth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys: Targeting and First Spectra from SDSS-V

The eighteenth data release of the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys (SDSS) is the first one for SDSS-V, the fifth generation of the survey. SDSS-V comprises three primary scientific programs, or "Mappers": Milky Way Mapper (MWM), Black Hole Mapper (BHM), and Local Volume Mapper (LVM). This data release contains extensive targeting information for the two multi-object spectroscopy programs (MWM and BHM), including input catalogs and selection functions for their numerous scientific objectives. We describe the production of the targeting databases and their calibration- and scientifically-focused components. DR18 also includes ~25,000 new SDSS spectra and supplemental information for X-ray sources identified by eROSITA in its eFEDS field. We present updates to some of the SDSS software pipelines and preview changes anticipated for DR19. We also describe three value-added catalogs (VACs) based on SDSS-IV data that have been published since DR17, and one VAC based on the SDSS-V data in the eFEDS field.Comment: Accepted to ApJ

The eighteenth data release of the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys : targeting and first spectra from SDSS-V

The eighteenth data release of the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys (SDSS) is the first one for SDSS-V, the fifth generation of the survey. SDSS-V comprises three primary scientific programs, or "Mappers": Milky Way Mapper (MWM), Black Hole Mapper (BHM), and Local Volume Mapper (LVM). This data release contains extensive targeting information for the two multi-object spectroscopy programs (MWM and BHM), including input catalogs and selection functions for their numerous scientific objectives. We describe the production of the targeting databases and their calibration- and scientifically-focused components. DR18 also includes ~25,000 new SDSS spectra and supplemental information for X-ray sources identified by eROSITA in its eFEDS field. We present updates to some of the SDSS software pipelines and preview changes anticipated for DR19. We also describe three value-added catalogs (VACs) based on SDSS-IV data that have been published since DR17, and one VAC based on the SDSS-V data in the eFEDS field.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Juxtaposing BTE and ATE – on the role of the European insurance industry in funding civil litigation

One of the ways in which legal services are financed, and indeed shaped, is through private insurance arrangement. Two contrasting types of legal expenses insurance contracts (LEI) seem to dominate in Europe: before the event (BTE) and after the event (ATE) legal expenses insurance. Notwithstanding institutional differences between different legal systems, BTE and ATE insurance arrangements may be instrumental if government policy is geared towards strengthening a market-oriented system of financing access to justice for individuals and business. At the same time, emphasizing the role of a private industry as a keeper of the gates to justice raises issues of accountability and transparency, not readily reconcilable with demands of competition. Moreover, multiple actors (clients, lawyers, courts, insurers) are involved, causing behavioural dynamics which are not easily predicted or influenced. Against this background, this paper looks into BTE and ATE arrangements by analysing the particularities of BTE and ATE arrangements currently available in some European jurisdictions and by painting a picture of their respective markets and legal contexts. This allows for some reflection on the performance of BTE and ATE providers as both financiers and keepers. Two issues emerge from the analysis that are worthy of some further reflection. Firstly, there is the problematic long-term sustainability of some ATE products. Secondly, the challenges faced by policymakers that would like to nudge consumers into voluntarily taking out BTE LEI

Penilaian Kinerja Keuangan Koperasi di Kabupaten Pelalawan

This paper describe development and financial performance of cooperative in District Pelalawan among 2007 - 2008. Studies on primary and secondary cooperative in 12 sub-districts. Method in this stady use performance measuring of productivity, efficiency, growth, liquidity, and solvability of cooperative. Productivity of cooperative in Pelalawan was highly but efficiency still low. Profit and income were highly, even liquidity of cooperative very high, and solvability was good

Severe early onset preeclampsia: short and long term clinical, psychosocial and biochemical aspects

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy specific disorder commonly defined as de novo hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks gestational age. It occurs in approximately 3-5% of pregnancies and it is still a major cause of both foetal and maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide1. As extensive research has not yet elucidated the aetiology of preeclampsia, there are no rational preventive or therapeutic interventions available. The only rational treatment is delivery, which benefits the mother but is not in the interest of the foetus, if remote from term. Early onset preeclampsia (<32 weeks’ gestational age) occurs in less than 1% of pregnancies. It is, however often associated with maternal morbidity as the risk of progression to severe maternal disease is inversely related with gestational age at onset2. Resulting prematurity is therefore the main cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity in patients with severe preeclampsia3. Although the discussion is ongoing, perinatal survival is suggested to be increased in patients with preterm preeclampsia by expectant, non-interventional management. This temporising treatment option to lengthen pregnancy includes the use of antihypertensive medication to control hypertension, magnesium sulphate to prevent eclampsia and corticosteroids to enhance foetal lung maturity4. With optimal maternal haemodynamic status and reassuring foetal condition this results on average in an extension of 2 weeks. Prolongation of these pregnancies is a great challenge for clinicians to balance between potential maternal risks on one the eve hand and possible foetal benefits on the other. Clinical controversies regarding prolongation of preterm preeclamptic pregnancies still exist – also taking into account that preeclampsia is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the Netherlands5 - a debate which is even more pronounced in very preterm pregnancies with questionable foetal viability6-9. Do maternal risks of prolongation of these very early pregnancies outweigh the chances of neonatal survival? Counselling of women with very early onset preeclampsia not only comprises of knowledge of the outcome of those particular pregnancies, but also knowledge of outcomes of future pregnancies of these women is of major clinical importance. This thesis opens with a review of the literature on identifiable risk factors of preeclampsia

Measurement of associated W plus charm production in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

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