Uso de bactérias diazotróficas na produção de mudas de cana-de-açúcar em diferentes substratos.

Dissertação (Mestrado) - Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sistemas de Produção Agrícola Familiar. Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas-RS. Orientador: Sergio Delmar dos Anjos e Silva; Co-orientador: Carlos Rogerio Mauch; Veronica Massena Reis

Potencial da mistura de cinco bactérias diazotróficas no desenvolvimento e produção de cana-de-açúcar.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a influencia de uma mistura de cinco espécies de bactérias diazotróficas no desenvolvimento e na produção de variedades de cana-de-açúcar.Tese (Doutorado) - Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sistemas de Produção Agrícola Familiar, Faculdade de Agronomia Eliseu Maciel, Universidade Federal de Pelotas. Orientador: Sergio Delmar dos Anjos e Silva (CPACT); Coorientadoras: Tânia Beatriz Gamboa Araújo Morselli; Veronica Massena Reis

Hypothalamic Control of Sleep-Wake Circadian Cycle

Sleep-wake cycle is probably the most truthful signature of life. These unavoidable interchangeable states are together the matrix for all that occurs in physiology, and its rhythms are regulated by homeostatic and circadian processes involving different neuronal structures and distinct neural substrates. Hypothalamic regulation of sleep-wake cycle becomes of relevance as several neuropeptide-producing neurons involved in sleep and wakefulness regulation are located there. In this chapter, we provide a review of the hypothalamic regulation of sleep-wake cycle, focusing on the hypocretin system and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH)-producing neurons located in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA)

Experimental observation of fractional topological phases with photonic qudits

Geometrical and topological phases play a fundamental role in quantum theory. Geometric phases have been proposed as a tool for implementing unitary gates for quantum computation. A fractional topological phase has been recently discovered for bipartite systems. The dimension of the Hilbert space determines the topological phase of entangled qudits under local unitary operations. Here we investigate fractional topological phases acquired by photonic entangled qudits. Photon pairs prepared as spatial qudits are operated inside a Sagnac interferometer and the two-photon interference pattern reveals the topological phase as fringes shifts when local operations are performed. Dimensions $d = 2, 3$ and $4$ were tested, showing the expected theoretical values.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Two new cases of de novo small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMC) detected at prenatal diagnosis

No Abstract

Molecular cytogenetic characterisation of a mosaic add(12)(p13.3) with an inv dup(3)(q26.31 --> qter) detected in an autistic boy

BACKGROUND: Inverted duplications (inv dup) of a terminal chromosome region are a particular subset of rearrangements that often results in partial tetrasomy or partial trisomy when accompanied by a deleted chromosome. Associated mosaicism could be the consequence of a post-zygotic event or could result from the correction of a trisomic conception. Tetrasomies of distal segments of the chromosome 3q are rare genetic events and their phenotypic manifestations are diverse. To our knowledge, there are only 12 cases reported with partial 3q tetrasomy. Generally, individuals with this genomic imbalance present mild to severe developmental delay, facial dysmorphisms and skin pigmentary disorders. RESULTS: We present the results of the molecular cytogenetic characterization of an unbalanced mosaic karyotype consisting of mos 46,XY,add(12)(p13.3) [56]/46,XY [44] in a previously described 11 years old autistic boy, re-evaluated at adult age. The employment of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and multicolor banding (MCB) techniques identified the extra material on 12p to be derived from chromosome 3, defining the additional material on 12p as an inv dup(3)(qter --> q26.3::q26.3 --> qter). Subsequently, array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) confirmed the breakpoint at 3q26.31, defining the extra material with a length of 24.92 Mb to be between 174.37 and 199.29 Mb. CONCLUSION: This is the thirteenth reported case of inversion-duplication 3q, being the first one described as an inv dup translocated onto a non-homologous chromosome. The mosaic terminal inv dup(3q) observed could be the result of two proposed alternative mechanisms. The most striking feature of this case is the autistic behavior of the proband, a characteristic not shared by any other patient with tetrasomy for 3q26.31 --> 3qter. The present work further illustrates the advantages of the use of an integrative cytogenetic strategy, composed both by conventional and molecular techniques, on providing powerful information for an accurate diagnosis. This report also highlights a chromosome region potentially involved in autistic disorders

Os marfins luso-africanos do reino do Benim (séculos XVI-XVII): estudo histórico-artístico e material

Os marfins luso-africanos do reino do Benim, também designados “afro-portugueses”, são obras esculpidas em dentes de elefante pelos povos Edo durante os séculos XVI e XVII, constituindo um corpus de oitenta e uma peças, designadamente dezassete saleiros, três olifantes e sessenta e uma colheres. A presente tese de doutoramento incide no estudo destes marfins de exportação produzidos durante a proto-globalização, adotando para estas obras híbridas uma nova designação, de marfins edo-portugueses, remetendo para o contexto no qual foram produzidas e para as origens deste antigo reino da África Ocidental. Depois da chegada dos portugueses a esta região da atual Nigéria, em 1486, as interações que se deram entre estas duas culturas resultaram na produção destas obras sincréticas, criações artísticas novas e testemunhos históricos de grande relevo. Analisados segundo uma abordagem e metodologia multidisciplinar, incide-se no estudo histórico-artístico, auxiliado por outros métodos de análise, segundo uma perspetiva alargada que visa valorizar estes interessantes marfins da história global e exemplares de uma “história da arte conectada”, e conhecer melhor as diversas facetas do seu processo criativo e do fenómeno intercultural decorrente destes encontros intercontinentais iniciais.The Luso-African ivories from the kingdom of Benin, also known as “Afro-Portuguese”, are works carved in elephant's teeth by the Edo peoples during the 16th and the 17th centuries, constituting a corpus of eighty-one pieces, namely seventeen salt cellars, three olifants and sixty-one spoons. This doctoral thesis focuses on the study of these export ivories produced during proto-globalization, adopting a new designation for these hybrid works, of Edo-Portuguese ivories, referring to the context in which they were produced and to the origins of this Western Africa kingdom. After the arrival of the Portuguese to this region of present-day Nigeria, in 1486, the interactions that took place between these two cultures resulted in the production of these syncretic works, new artistic creations and important historical testimonies. Analysed according to a multidisciplinary approach and methodology, the focus is on artistic-historical study, aided by other methods of analysis, from a broad perspective that aims to value these interesting ivories of global history and an example of a “connected art history”, and to know better the various facets of its creative process and the intercultural phenomenon arising from these initial intercontinental encounters

Inv21p12q22del21q22 and intellectual disability

Chromosomal rearrangements are common in humans. Pericentric inversions are among the most frequent aberrations (1-2%). Most inversions are balanced and do not cause problems in carriers unless one of the breakpoints disrupts important functional genes, has near submicroscopic copy number variants or hosts "cryptic" complex chromosomal rearrangements. Pericentric inversions can lead to imbalance in offspring. Less than 3% of Down syndrome patients have duplication as a result of parental pericentric inversion of chromosome 21. We report a family with an apparently balanced pericentric inversion of chromosome 21. The proband, a 23-year-old female was referred for prenatal diagnosis at 16weeks gestation because of increased nuchal translucency. She has a familial history of Down's syndrome and moderate intellectual disability, a personal history of four spontaneous abortions and learning difficulties. Peripheral blood and amniotic fluid samples were collected to perform proband's and fetus' cytogenetic analyses. Additionally, another six family members were evaluated and cytogenetic analysis was performed. Complementary FISH and MLPA studies were carried out. An apparent balanced chromosome 21 pericentric inversion was observed in four family members, two revealed a recombinant chromosome 21 with partial trisomy, and one a full trisomy 21 with an inverted chromosome 21. Array CGH analysis was performed in the mother and the brother's proband. MLPA and aCGH studies identified a deletion of about 1.7Mb on the long arm of inverted chromosome 21q22.11. We believe the cause of the intellectual disability/learning difficulties observed in the members with the inversion is related to this deletion. The recombinant chromosome 21 has a partial trisomy including the DSCR with no deletion. The risk for carriers of having a child with multiple malformations/intellectual disability is about 30% depending on whether and how this rearrangement interferes with meiosis