Necessary conditions for linear noncooperative N-player delta differential games on time scales

We present necessary conditions for linear noncooperative N-player delta dynamic games on a generic time scale. Necessary conditions for an open-loop Nash-equilibrium and for a memoryless perfect state Nash-equilibrium are proved.Comment: Partially presented at the "Fifth Symposium on Nonlinear Analysis" (SNA 2007), Torun, Poland, September 10-14, 200

A symmetric quantum calculus

We introduce the $\alpha,\beta$-symmetric difference derivative and the $\alpha,\beta$-symmetric N\"orlund sum. The associated symmetric quantum calculus is developed, which can be seen as a generalization of the forward and backward $h$-calculus.Comment: Submitted 26/Sept/2011; accepted in revised form 28/Dec/2011; to Proceedings of International Conference on Differential & Difference Equations and Applications, in honour of Professor Ravi P. Agarwal, to be published by Springer in the series Proceedings in Mathematics (PROM

Comparative genomics allowed the identification of drug targets against human fungal pathogens

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The prevalence of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) has increased steadily worldwide in the last few decades. Particularly, there has been a global rise in the number of infections among immunosuppressed people. These patients present severe clinical forms of the infections, which are commonly fatal, and they are more susceptible to opportunistic fungal infections than non-immunocompromised people. IFIs have historically been associated with high morbidity and mortality, partly because of the limitations of available antifungal therapies, including side effects, toxicities, drug interactions and antifungal resistance. Thus, the search for alternative therapies and/or the development of more specific drugs is a challenge that needs to be met. Genomics has created new ways of examining genes, which open new strategies for drug development and control of human diseases.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>In silico </it>analyses and manual mining selected initially 57 potential drug targets, based on 55 genes experimentally confirmed as essential for <it>Candida albicans </it>or <it>Aspergillus fumigatus </it>and other 2 genes (<it>kre2 </it>and <it>erg6</it>) relevant for fungal survival within the host. Orthologs for those 57 potential targets were also identified in eight human fungal pathogens (<it>C. albicans</it>, <it>A. fumigatus</it>, <it>Blastomyces dermatitidis</it>, <it>Paracoccidioides brasiliensis</it>, <it>Paracoccidioides lutzii, Coccidioides immitis</it>, <it>Cryptococcus neoformans </it>and <it>Histoplasma capsulatum</it>). Of those, 10 genes were present in all pathogenic fungi analyzed and absent in the human genome. We focused on four candidates: <it>trr1 </it>that encodes for thioredoxin reductase, <it>rim8 </it>that encodes for a protein involved in the proteolytic activation of a transcriptional factor in response to alkaline pH, <it>kre2 </it>that encodes for α-1,2-mannosyltransferase and <it>erg6 </it>that encodes for Δ(24)-sterol C-methyltransferase.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our data show that the comparative genomics analysis of eight fungal pathogens enabled the identification of four new potential drug targets. The preferred profile for fungal targets includes proteins conserved among fungi, but absent in the human genome. These characteristics potentially minimize toxic side effects exerted by pharmacological inhibition of the cellular targets. From this first step of post-genomic analysis, we obtained information relevant to future new drug development.</p

ESTs from a wild Arachis species for gene discovery and marker development

BACKGROUND: Due to its origin, peanut has a very narrow genetic background. Wild relatives can be a source of genetic variability for cultivated peanut. In this study, the transcriptome of the wild species Arachis stenosperma accession V10309 was analyzed. RESULTS: ESTs were produced from four cDNA libraries of RNAs extracted from leaves and roots of A. stenosperma. Randomly selected cDNA clones were sequenced to generate 8,785 ESTs, of which 6,264 (71.3%) had high quality, with 3,500 clusters: 963 contigs and 2537 singlets. Only 55.9% matched homologous sequences of known genes. ESTs were classified into 23 different categories according to putative protein functions. Numerous sequences related to disease resistance, drought tolerance and human health were identified. Two hundred and six microsatellites were found and markers have been developed for 188 of these. The microsatellite profile was analyzed and compared to other transcribed and genomic sequence data. CONCLUSION: This is, to date, the first report on the analysis of transcriptome of a wild relative of peanut. The ESTs produced in this study are a valuable resource for gene discovery, the characterization of new wild alleles, and for marker development. The ESTs were released in the [GenBank:EH041934 to EH048197]

Analysis of non-TIR NBS-LRR resistance gene analogs in Musa acuminata Colla: Isolation, RFLP marker development, and physical mapping

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Many commercial banana varieties lack sources of resistance to pests and diseases, as a consequence of sterility and narrow genetic background. Fertile wild relatives, by contrast, possess greater variability and represent potential sources of disease resistance genes (R-genes). The largest known family of plant R-genes encode proteins with nucleotide-binding site (NBS) and C-terminal leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domains. Conserved motifs in such genes in diverse plant species offer a means for isolation of candidate genes in banana which may be involved in plant defence.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A computational strategy was developed for unbiased conserved motif discovery in NBS and LRR domains in R-genes and homologues in monocotyledonous plant species. Degenerate PCR primers targeting conserved motifs were tested on the wild cultivar <it>Musa acuminata </it>subsp. <it>burmannicoides</it>, var. Calcutta 4, which is resistant to a number of fungal pathogens and nematodes. One hundred and seventy four resistance gene analogs (RGAs) were amplified and assembled into 52 contiguous sequences. Motifs present were typical of the non-TIR NBS-LRR RGA subfamily. A phylogenetic analysis of deduced amino-acid sequences for 33 RGAs with contiguous open reading frames (ORFs), together with RGAs from <it>Arabidopsis thaliana </it>and <it>Oryza sativa</it>, grouped most <it>Musa </it>RGAs within monocotyledon-specific clades. RFLP-RGA markers were developed, with 12 displaying distinct polymorphisms in parentals and F1 progeny of a diploid <it>M. acuminata </it>mapping population. Eighty eight BAC clones were identified in <it>M. acuminata </it>Calcutta 4, <it>M. acuminata </it>Grande Naine, and <it>M. balbisiana </it>Pisang Klutuk Wulung BAC libraries when hybridized to two RGA probes. Multiple copy RGAs were common within BAC clones, potentially representing variation reservoirs for evolution of new R-gene specificities.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This is the first large scale analysis of NBS-LRR RGAs in <it>M. acuminata </it>Calcutta 4. Contig sequences were deposited in GenBank and assigned numbers <ext-link ext-link-type="gen" ext-link-id="ER935972">ER935972</ext-link> – <ext-link ext-link-type="gen" ext-link-id="ER936023">ER936023</ext-link>. RGA sequences and isolated BACs are a valuable resource for R-gene discovery, and in future applications will provide insight into the organization and evolution of NBS-LRR R-genes in the <it>Musa </it>A and B genome. The developed RFLP-RGA markers are applicable for genetic map development and marker assisted selection for defined traits such as pest and disease resistance.</p

Efeitos do treinamento físico sobre a pressão arterial, frequência cardíaca e morfologia cardíaca de ratos hipertensos

O objetivo desse estudo foi verificar o efeito da natação sobre as alterações morfológicas cardíacas e hemodinâmicas de ratos com hipertensão induzida por L-NAME. Quarenta ratos Wistar foram divididos nos grupos: controle sedentário (CS), controle treinado (CT), sedentário com L-NAME (LS) e treinado com L-NAME (LT). Os animais treinados realizaram natação por até 60 min durante quatro semanas. Os animais dos grupos L-NAME receberam 20 mg.kg-1 também durante quatro semanas. O grupo LS apresentou maiores valores de PAM (136,6±5,1 mmHg) comparado ao CS (107,1±1,8 mmHg). O grupo LT apresentou reduções na PAM comparado ao LS (121,2±1,4 e 136,6±5,1 mmHg, respectivamente). Por outro lado, os LT ainda permaneceram hipertensos comparados ao CT (121,0±1,4 e 107,1±1,8 mmHg, respectivamente). Em relação à FC, houve bradicardia de repouso para os animais treinados. Os grupos CS e CT não apresentaram alterações no peso relativo e absoluto do coração. Houve aumento do peso absoluto do coração para o grupo LS comparado ao CS e também se observou aumento para o peso relativo e absoluto do coração para o grupo LT comparado ao CT. A análise histológica demonstrou que o treinamento físico pode reduzir a quantidade de lesões provocadas pela administração crônica de LNAME. Conclui-se que a natação foi eficiente em reduzir a PAM de animais hipertensos, mas não reduziu em animais normotensos. Adicionalmente, o treinamento físico não promoveu hipertrofia cardíaca, mas a administração de L-NAME aumentou o peso absoluto e relativo do coração em animais sedentários e treinados.The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of swimming on the cardiac morphological and hemodynamic changes in rats with hypertension induced by L-NAME.. Forty Wistar rats were divided into four groups: sedentary control (SC), trained control (TC), sedentary with L-NAME (LS) and trained with LNAME (LT). The animals in the training groups performed swimming lasting up to 60 min for four weeks. Animals in the L-NAME groups received 20 mg.kg-1 during four weeks. The results showed that animals in the LS group had higher mean arterial pressure (136.6±5.1 mmHg) compared to CS (107.1±1.8 mmHg). The LT group showed significant reductions in mean arterial pressure compared to LS (121.2±1.4 and 136.6±5.1 mmHg, respectively). On the other hand, the LT group animals still remained hypertensive compared to CT group (121.0±1.4 and 107.1±1.8 mmHg respectively). In relation to HR, was observed resting bradycardia for the trained animals. The groups CS and CT showed no changes in relative and absolute weight of the heart. An increase in the absolute weight of the heart to the LS group compared to the CS and also observed an increase in the relative and absolute weight for the LT group compared to CT. Histologic analysis showed that exercise training can reduce the amount of damage caused by chronic administration of L-NAME. In conclusion, we observed that mild exercise was effective in reducing mean arterial pressure in hypertensive rats. Additionally, exercise training did not induced cardiac hypertrophy, but the L-NAME increase the absolute and relative weight of the heart in sedentary and trained rats

Prokaryotic expression, purification and immunogenicity in rabbits of the small antigen of hepatitis delta virus

Funding Information: Expression and purification of HDV antigen was supported by Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grant 16-04-01490a). Evaluation of serum by Western blot and confocal microscopy was supported by Russian Science Foundation (grant 14-14-01021). Experiments in rabbits were supported by the Swedish Institute grants 09272_2013 and 19806_2016. Cross-border collaboration of the partners, exchange of the materials and standard operation procedures used in the study, and dissemination of the data were supported by the EU Twinning project VACTRAIN, contract nr 692293. Publisher Copyright: © 2016 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a viroid-like blood-borne human pathogen that accompanies hepatitis B virus infection in 5% patients. HDV has been studied for four decades; however, the knowledge on its life-cycle and pathogenesis is still sparse. The studies are hampered by the absence of the commercially-available HDV-specific antibodies. Here, we describe a set of reproducible methods for the expression in E. coli of His-tagged small antigen of HDV (S-HDAg), its purification, and production of polyclonal anti-S-HDAg antibodies in rabbits. S-HDAg was cloned into a commercial vector guiding expression of the recombinant proteins with the C-terminal His-tag. We optimized S-HDAg protein purification procedure circumventing a low affinity of the His-tagged S-HDAg to the Ni-nitrilotriacetyl agarose (Ni-NTA-agarose) resin. Optimization allowed us to obtain S-HDAg with >90% purity. S-HDAg was used to immunize Shinchilla grey rabbits which received 80 µg of S-HDAg in two subcutaneous primes in the complete, followed by four 40 µg boosts in incomplete Freunds adjuvant. Rabbits were bled two weeks post each boost. Antibody titers determined by indirect ELISA exceeded 107. Anti-S-HDAg antibodies detected the antigen on Western blots in the amounts of up-to 100 pg. They were also successfully used to characterize the expression of S-HDAg in the eukaryotic cells by immunofluorescent staining/confocal microscopy.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Evaluation of peak cough flow in Brazilian healthy adults

Abstract\ud \ud \ud \ud Introduction\ud \ud In this study we aimed to evaluate the peak cough flow (PCF) in healthy Brazilian subjects.\ud \ud \ud \ud Methods\ud \ud We evaluated 484 healthy subjects between 18 and 40 years old. Subjects were seated and oriented were asked to perform a maximal inspiration followed by a quick, short and explosive expiration on the peak flow meter. Three measures were carried out and recorded the average of the three results for each individual.\ud \ud \ud \ud Results\ud \ud The PCF values ranged between 240 and 500 L/min. The PCF values were lower in females than in males. The PCF was inversely proportional to age.\ud \ud \ud \ud Conclusion\ud \ud The values for Brazilian adult healthy subjects regarding PCF were between 240 and 500 L/min.This study received financial support from Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul. The manuscript publication charges were paid by UNESP

Rendimiento de cultivares de Arveja (Pisum sativum L) en diferentes ambientes de la República Argentina. Campaña 2015/2016

El cultivo de arveja logró en la campaña 15-16 ocupar el 32 % de lo sembrado en el invierno en el sudeste de Santa Fe y nordeste de Buenos Aires, con algo más de 88.800 has (Prieto y Vita Larrieu, 2015), y de esa superficie se estima que entre un 15 y 20 %, unas 15.000 has, fueron sembradas con variedades de cotiledón amarillo, recientemente inscriptas en el Instituto Nacional de Semillas. Para conocer el comportamiento y ver la adaptación que estos y otros cultivares tienen en las diferentes regiones de Argentina, se llevó a cabo por tercer año consecutivo la presente red de ensayos.Fil: Prieto, Gabriel María. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Oliveros. Agencia de Extensión Rural Arroyo Seco; ArgentinaFil: Alamo, JF. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá. Agencia de Extensión Rural Trancas; ArgentinaFil: Appella, C. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Barrow; ArgentinaFil: Avila, F. Consorcio Regional de Experimentación Agrícola (CREA); ArgentinaFil: Brassesco, Raul Francisco. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná. Agencia de Extensión Rural Victoria; ArgentinaFil: Buschittari, D. Agricultores Federados Argentinos (AFA). Sociedad Cooperativa Limitada (SCL); ArgentinaFil: Casciani, Andres. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Oliveros. Agencia de Extensión Rural Arroyo Seco; ArgentinaFil: Espósito, María Andrea. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Oliveros; ArgentinaFil: Fariña, Leandro. Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Agencia Regional de Desarrollo Productivo; ArgentinaFil: Fekete, Ana Cecilia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Salta; ArgentinaFil: Figueroa, Enrique Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Mercedes; ArgentinaFil: Maggio, J.C. Agrar del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Martins, Luciano. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela. Agencia de Extensión Rural Galvez; ArgentinaFil: Mortarini, M. Ojos del Salado; ArgentinaFil: Perez, Gonzalo Antonio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Pergamino. Agencia de Extensión Rural Bolívar; ArgentinaFil: Prece, Natalia María. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Pergamino. Sección Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Vallejos, Maximiliano. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná. Agencia de Extensión Rural Victoria; ArgentinaFil: Vizgarra, Oscar Niceforo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentin