159 research outputs found
Brazilian montane rainforest expansion induced by Heinrich Stadial 1 event
The origin of modern disjunct plant distributions in the Brazilian Highlands with strong floristic affinities
to distant montane rainforests of isolated mountaintops in the northeast and northern Amazonia and
the Guyana Shield remains unknown. We tested the hypothesis that these unexplained biogeographical
patterns reflect former ecosystem rearrangements sustained by widespread plant migrations possibly
due to climatic patterns that are very dissimilar from present-day conditions. To address this issue, we
mapped the presence of the montane arboreal taxa Araucaria, Podocarpus, Drimys, Hedyosmum, Ilex,
Myrsine, Symplocos, and Weinmannia, and cool-adapted plants in the families Myrtaceae, Ericaceae, and
Arecaceae (palms) in 29 palynological records during Heinrich Stadial 1 Event, encompassing a latitudinal
range of 30°S to 0°S. In addition, Principal Component Analysis and Species Distribution Modelling were
used to represent past and modern habitat suitability for Podocarpus and Araucaria. The data reveals
two long-distance patterns of plant migration connecting south/southeast to northeastern Brazil and
Amazonia with a third short route extending from one of them. Their paleofloristic compositions suggest
a climatic scenario of abundant rainfall and relative lower continental surface temperatures, possibly
intensified by the effects of polar air incursions forming cold fronts into the Brazilian Highlands. Although
these taxa are sensitive to changes in temperature, the combined pollen and speleothems proxy data
indicate that this montane rainforest expansion during Heinrich Stadial 1 Event was triggered mainly by
a less seasonal rainfall regime from the subtropics to the equatorial region.This work was funded by FAPESP research grant 2015/50683-2 to P.E. De Oliveira, VULPES Project, Belmount
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Genome of the Avirulent Human-Infective TrypanosomeâTrypanosoma rangeli
Background: Trypanosoma rangeli is a hemoflagellate protozoan parasite infecting humans and other wild and domestic mammals across Central and South America. It does not cause human disease, but it can be mistaken for the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi. We have sequenced the T. rangeli genome to provide new tools for elucidating the distinct and intriguing biology of this species and the key pathways related to interaction with its arthropod and mammalian hosts. Methodology/Principal Findings: The T. rangeli haploid genome is ,24 Mb in length, and is the smallest and least repetitive trypanosomatid genome sequenced thus far. This parasite genome has shorter subtelomeric sequences compared to those of T. cruzi and T. brucei; displays intraspecific karyotype variability and lacks minichromosomes. Of the predicted 7,613 protein coding sequences, functional annotations could be determined for 2,415, while 5,043 are hypothetical proteins, some with evidence of protein expression. 7,101 genes (93%) are shared with other trypanosomatids that infect humans. An ortholog of the dcl2 gene involved in the T. brucei RNAi pathway was found in T. rangeli, but the RNAi machinery is non-functional since the other genes in this pathway are pseudogenized. T. rangeli is highly susceptible to oxidative stress, a phenotype that may be explained by a smaller number of anti-oxidant defense enzymes and heatshock proteins. Conclusions/Significance: Phylogenetic comparison of nuclear and mitochondrial genes indicates that T. rangeli and T. cruzi are equidistant from T. brucei. In addition to revealing new aspects of trypanosome co-evolution within the vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, comparative genomic analysis with pathogenic trypanosomatids provides valuable new information that can be further explored with the aim of developing better diagnostic tools and/or therapeutic targets
Search for direct pair production of the top squark in all-hadronic final states in proton-proton collisions at sâ=8 TeV with the ATLAS detector
The results of a search for direct pair production of the scalar partner to the top quark using an integrated luminosity of 20.1fbâ1 of protonâproton collision data at âs = 8 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC are reported. The top squark is assumed to decay via tËâtÏË01 or tËâ bÏ˱1 âbW(â)ÏË01 , where ÏË01 (Ï˱1 ) denotes the lightest neutralino (chargino) in supersymmetric models. The search targets a fully-hadronic final state in events with four or more jets and large missing transverse momentum. No significant excess over the Standard Model background prediction is observed, and exclusion limits are reported in terms of the top squark and neutralino masses and as a function of the branching fraction of tË â tÏË01 . For a branching fraction of 100%, top squark masses in the range 270â645 GeV are excluded for ÏË01 masses below 30 GeV. For a branching fraction of 50% to either tË â tÏË01 or tË â bÏ˱1 , and assuming the Ï˱1 mass to be twice the ÏË01 mass, top squark masses in the range 250â550 GeV are excluded for ÏË01 masses below 60 GeV
Search for pair-produced long-lived neutral particles decaying to jets in the ATLAS hadronic calorimeter in ppcollisions at âs=8TeV
The ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN is used to search for the decay of a scalar boson to a pair of long-lived particles, neutral under the Standard Model gauge group, in 20.3fbâ1of data collected in protonâproton collisions at âs=8TeV. This search is sensitive to long-lived particles that decay to Standard Model particles producing jets at the outer edge of the ATLAS electromagnetic calorimeter or inside the hadronic calorimeter. No significant excess of events is observed. Limits are reported on the product of the scalar boson production cross section times branching ratio into long-lived neutral particles as a function of the proper lifetime of the particles. Limits are reported for boson masses from 100 GeVto 900 GeV, and a long-lived neutral particle mass from 10 GeVto 150 GeV
2 nd Brazilian Consensus on Chagas Disease, 2015
Abstract Chagas disease is a neglected chronic condition with a high burden of morbidity and mortality. It has considerable psychological, social, and economic impacts. The disease represents a significant public health issue in Brazil, with different regional patterns. This document presents the evidence that resulted in the Brazilian Consensus on Chagas Disease. The objective was to review and standardize strategies for diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and control of Chagas disease in the country, based on the available scientific evidence. The consensus is based on the articulation and strategic contribution of renowned Brazilian experts with knowledge and experience on various aspects of the disease. It is the result of a close collaboration between the Brazilian Society of Tropical Medicine and the Ministry of Health. It is hoped that this document will strengthen the development of integrated actions against Chagas disease in the country, focusing on epidemiology, management, comprehensive care (including families and communities), communication, information, education, and research
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