Global analysis of the sugarcane microtranscriptome reveals a unique composition of small RNAs associated with axillary bud outgrowth

Axillary bud outgrowth determines shoot architecture and is under the control of endogenous hormones and a fine-tuned gene-expression network, which probably includes small RNAs (sRNAs). Although it is well known that sRNAs act broadly in plant development, our understanding about their roles in vegetative bud outgrowth remains limited. Moreover, the expression profiles of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their targets within axillary buds are largely unknown. Here, we employed sRNA next-generation sequencing as well as computational and gene-expression analysis to identify and quantify sRNAs and their targets in vegetative axillary buds of the biofuel crop sugarcane (Saccharum spp.). Computational analysis allowed the identification of 26 conserved miRNA families and two putative novel miRNAs, as well as a number of trans-acting small interfering RNAs. sRNAs associated with transposable elements and protein-encoding genes were similarly represented in both inactive and developing bud libraries. Conversely, sequencing and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR results revealed that specific miRNAs were differentially expressed in developing buds, and some correlated negatively with the expression of their targets at specific stages of axillary bud development. For instance, the expression patterns of miR159 and its target GAMYB suggested that they may play roles in regulating abscisic acid-signalling pathways during sugarcane bud outgrowth. Our work reveals, for the first time, differences in the composition and expression profiles of diverse sRNAs and targets between inactive and developing vegetative buds that, together with the endogenous balance of specific hormones, may be important in regulating axillary bud outgrowth

Efeito da concentração de compostos do pré-tratamento de biomassa florestal no crescimento de Saccharomyces cerevisiae industrial.

Editores técnicos: Marcílio José Thomazini, Elenice Fritzsons, Patrícia Raquel Silva, Guilherme Schnell e Schuhli, Denise Jeton Cardoso, Luziane Franciscon. EVINCI. Resumos

The effect of loss aversion and entitlement on cheating: An online experiment

We investigate how loss aversion and entitlement influence lying. We conduct an online experiment with a cheating task in which participants draw and report a number. Participants can cheat by reporting a different number to earn a higher payoff. We vary whether participants perform (or not) a real effort task to generate their endowment before the cheating task to evoke a sense of entitlement, and whether participants can cheat for an additional gain or to avoid a loss using a 2 (earned/not earned endowment) × 2 (loss/gain) design. We find no effect of loss aversion on cheating and only weak evidence of a prior stage of real effort on lying behavior. Furthermore, we find a correlation between real effort task performance and lying, but only in the gain domain. This is the first study to look at how entitlement affects cheating behavior in both the gain and loss domains

Human cachexia induces changes in mitochondria, autophagy and apoptosis in the skeletal muscle

Cachexia is a wasting syndrome characterized by the continuous loss of skeletal muscle mass due to imbalance between protein synthesis and degradation, which is related with poor prognosis and compromised quality of life. Dysfunctional mitochondria are associated with lower muscle strength and muscle atrophy in cancer patients, yet poorly described in human cachexia. We herein investigated mitochondrial morphology, autophagy and apoptosis in the skeletal muscle of patients with gastrointestinal cancer-associated cachexia (CC), as compared with a weight-stable cancer group (WSC). CC showed prominent weight loss and increased circulating levels of serum C-reactive protein, lower body mass index and decreased circulating hemoglobin, when compared to WSC. Electron microscopy analysis revealed an increase in intermyofibrillar mitochondrial area in CC, as compared to WSC. Relative gene expression of Fission 1, a protein related to mitochondrial fission, was increased in CC, as compared to WSC. LC3 II, autophagy-related (ATG) 5 and 7 essential proteins for autophagosome formation, presented higher content in the cachectic group. Protein levels of phosphorylated p53 (Ser46), activated caspase 8 (Asp384) and 9 (Asp315) were also increased in the skeletal muscle of CC. Overall, our results demonstrate that human cancer-associated cachexia leads to exacerbated muscle-stress response that may culminate in muscle loss, which is in part due to disruption of mitochondrial morphology, dysfunctional autophagy and increased apoptosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing quantitative morphological alterations in skeletal muscle mitochondria in cachectic patients

Dripping Faucet Dynamics Clarified by an Improved Mass-Spring Model

An improved mass-spring model for a dripping faucet is presented. The model is constructed based on the numerical results which we recently obtained from fluid dynamical calculations. Both the fluid dynamical calculations and the present mass-spring model exhibit a variety of complex behavior including transition to chaos in good agreement with experiments. Further, the mass-spring model reveals fundamental dynamics inherent in the dripping faucet system.Comment: 17 pages, 17 figure

El paro juvenil no es el principal desequilibrio del mercado laboral. Informe de coyuntura sobre el mercado de trabajo en España y Andalucía (cuarto trimestre de 2011)

El artículo analiza la evolución de las principales variables laborales españolas y andaluzas en el cuarto trimestre de 2011. En primer lugar, se plantea el contexto de la evolución de la actividad económica en el ámbito internacional y nacional señalándose un cierto deterioro en el crecimiento económico especialmente en la segunda parte del año. A continuación se analiza con mayor detenimiento la evolución de las principales variables laborales relativas a la oferta y demanda de trabajo y desempleo. Esta misma estructura se sigue para el análisis del mercado de trabajo en Andalucía. Se presta especial atención a los trabajadores más jóvenes para indicar el impacto de la crisis económica sobre este grupo social

Influência de compostos do pré-tratamento de biomassa florestal no crescimento de Saccharomyces cerevisiae JP1.

Resumo. Disponível online. MIPE

Levels of copper, zinc, manganese and iron in two fish species from salt marshes of Cadiz Bay (southwest Iberian Peninsula)

The authors analysed copper, iron, manganese and zinc concentrations in liver, gills and muscle in two species of fish from salt marshes on Cadiz Bay: the sole Solea senegalensis (Kaup, 1858) and the killifish Fundulus heteroclitus (Linnaeus, 1758). The highest concentrations of copper and iron, in both species, were found in the liver. The mean values reported were: 977.71 ± 42.92 and 354.42 ± 22.80 μg g⁻¹ for iron and 124.16 ± 15.97 and 60.17 ± 1.95 μg g⁻¹ dry weight for Cu in S. senegalensis and F. heteroclitus, respectively. The distribution pattern of zinc in organs was different in both fish, so S. senegalensis showed the highest values in liver and F. heteroclitus in gills. The results of the present study enabled us to determine the background concentrations of these metals in both species and their distribution in the different organs. These data will constitute a reference for future studies on the evolution of contamination in this area.Se han analizado las concentraciones de los metales cobre, hierro, manganeso y zinc en branquias, músculos e hígado en ejemplares de dos especies de peces: Solea senegalensis (Kaup, 1858) y Fundulus heteroclitus (Linnaeus, 1758) recolectados en las marismas de la bahía de Cádiz (suroeste de la península Ibérica). Las concentraciones más elevadas para hierro y cobre, en ambas especies, se encontraron en el hígado. Los valores medios registrados fueron: 977,71 ± 42,92 y 354,42 ± 22,80 μg g⁻¹ en el caso del Fe, y 124,16 ± 15,97 y 60,17 ± 1,95 μg g⁻¹ peso seco para el Cu en S. senegalensis y F. heteroclitus, respectivamente. El comportamiento del zinc fue diferente en ambas especies, ya que mientras en S. senegalensis el hígado registró los valores más elevados, en F. heteroclitus éstos se hallaron en branquias. Los resultados obtenidos permiten determinar la concentración basal de estos metales en estas especies y su distribución en los órganos analizados, y constituyen una referencia en estudios posteriores de la evolución de la contaminación en esta zona.Instituto Español de Oceanografí

Impact of an enhanced screening program on the detection of non-AIDS neoplasias in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection

Background The incidence of non-AIDS defining cancer (NADC) is higher in people living with HIV (PLWH) than in the general population, and it is already one of the leading causes of death in the HIV-infected population. It is estimated that the situation will be aggravated by the progressive aging of PLWH. Early diagnosis through intensive cancer screening may improve the ability for therapeutic interventions and could be critical in reducing mortality, but it might also increase expenditure and harms associated with adverse events. The aim of this study is to evaluate an enhanced screening program for early diagnosis of cancer in PLWH compared to standard practice. The specific objectives are (1) to compare the frequency of cancer diagnosed at an early stage, (2) to analyze safety of the enhanced program: adverse events and unnecessary interventions, (3) to analyze the cost-utility of the program, and (4) to estimate the overall and site-specific incidence of NADC in PLWH. Methods We will conduct a multicenter, non-blinded, randomized, controlled trial, comparing two parallel arms: conventional vs enhanced screening. Data will be recorded in an electronic data collection notebook. Conventional intervention group will follow the standard of care screening in the participating centers, according to the European AIDS Clinical Society recommendations, and the enhanced intervention group will follow an expanded screening aimed to early detection of lung, liver, anal, cervical, breast, prostate, colorectal, and skin cancer. The trial will be conducted within the framework of the Spanish AIDS Research Network Cohort (CoRIS). Discussion The trial will evaluate the efficacy, safety, and efficiency of an enhanced screening program for the early diagnosis of cancer in HIV patients compared to standard of care practice. The information provided will be relevant since there are currently no studies on expanded cancer screening strategies in patients with HIV, and available data estimating cost effectiveness or cost-utility of such as programs are scarce. An enhanced program for NADC screening in patients with HIV could lead to early diagnosis and improve the prognosis of these patients, with an acceptable rate of unnecessary interventions, but it is critical to demonstrate that the benefits clearly outweigh the harms, before the strategy could be implemented