USING MECHANICAL TRADING SYSTEMS TO EVALUATE THE WEAK FORM EFFICIENCY OF FUTURES MARKETS

Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Classification and Biogeography of New World Grasses: Chloridoideae

Subfamily Chloridoideae (Poaceae) in the New World includes 72 genera (61 native, 11 introduced), 678 species (607 native), and, including intraspecific taxa, 817 total taxa. The five largest genera are Muhlenbergia (147 species), Eragrostis (111), Sporobolus (76), Bouteloua (57), and Chloris (35). Three tribes are recognized in this study: Cynodonteae, Eragrostideae, and Zoysieae, with ten, three, and two subtribes, respectively. Cynodonteae, the largest tribe, comprise 58 genera and 451 species (67% of all New World chloridoids), including 25 genera (98 species, 22% of all New World Cynodonteae) with unknown affinities (incertae sedis). In Mexico, the USA, and Canada there are 477 native and introduced chloridoid species (70% of all New World species), whereas in Central America (including the Caribbean) and South America there are 196 and 304 species, respectively. Mexico is the center of diversity with 343 species (51%). There appear to be five biogeographical patterns exhibited by New World chloridoid species: (1) North America, centered in northern Mexico and the southwestern USA, (2) southern South America, centered in northern Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern Brazil, (3) northwestern South America, centered in Ecuador and Peru, (4) amphitropical disjuncts, occurring in North America and southern South America, and (5) widespread species, occurring in North America, Central America, and South America. Subtribes Boutelouinae (Bouteloua) and Muhlenbergiinae are predominantly North American, whereas Eragrostidinae (Eragrostis) and Chloridinae are better represented in the southern South American center. Two subtribes of Cynodonteae, Gouiniinae and Hilariinae, are described as new, and two others, Orcuttiinae and Traginae, are newly treated at that rank

Monitoring the variability of active galactic nuclei from a space-based platform

Detailed monitoring of AGN's with FRESIP can provide well-sampled light curves for a large number of AGN's. Such data are completely unprecedented in this field, and will provide powerful new constraints on the origin of the UV/optical continuum in AGN's. The FRESIP baseline design will allow 1 percent photometry on sources brighter than V approximately equals 19.6 mag, and we estimate that over 300 sources can be studied. We point out that digitization effects will have a significant negative impact on the faint limit and the number of detectable sources will decrease dramatically if a fixed gain setting (estimated to be nominally 25 e(-) per ADU) is used for all read-outs. We note that the primary limitation to studying AGN's is background (sky and read-out noise) rather than source/background contrast with a focused telescope and by longer integrations. While we believe that it may be possible to achieve the AGN-monitoring science goals with a more compact and much less expensive telescope, the proposed FRESIP satellite affords an excellent opportunity to attain the required data at essentially zero cost as a secondary goal of a more complex mission

Recombinant Incretin-Secreting Microbe Improves Metabolic Dysfunction in High-Fat Diet Fed Rodents

peer-reviewedThe gut hormone glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 and its analogues represent a new generation of anti-diabetic drugs, which have also demonstrated propensity to modulate host lipid metabolism. Despite this, drugs of this nature are currently limited to intramuscular administration routes due to intestinal degradation. The aim of this study was to design a recombinant microbial delivery vector for a GLP-1 analogue and assess the efficacy of the therapeutic in improving host glucose, lipid and cholesterol metabolism in diet induced obese rodents. Diet-induced obese animals received either Lactobacillus paracasei NFBC 338 transformed to express a long-acting analogue of GLP-1 or the isogenic control microbe which solely harbored the pNZ44 plasmid. Short-term GLP-1 microbe intervention in rats reduced serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides and triglyceride-rich lipoprotein cholesterol substantially. Conversely, extended GLP-1 microbe intervention improved glucose-dependent insulin secretion, glucose metabolism and cholesterol metabolism, compared to the high-fat control group. Interestingly, the microbe significantly attenuated the adiposity associated with the model and altered the serum lipidome, independently of GLP-1 secretion. These data indicate that recombinant incretin-secreting microbes may offer a novel and safe means of managing cholesterol metabolism and diet induced dyslipidaemia, as well as insulin sensitivity in metabolic dysfunction

The genus Eragrostis (Poaceae: Chloridoideae) in northwestern South America (Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru): morphological and taxonomic studies

ilustraciones, fotografía, mapasA morphological and taxonomic treatment of Eragrostis for northwest South America is given. The present revision intends to clarify the taxonomic and nomenclatural problems of the species of Eragrostis present in northwest South America. The classification, nomenclature, affinities, and macro and micromorphological variation of the genus are discussed. Forty-five morphological and micromorphological characters were selected for use in the descriptions and differentiation among the species. This study is based on the examination of herbarium specimens from AAU, AMAZ, ANSM, BA, BAA, BAB, BM, CA, CAUP, COAH, COL, CORD, CPUN, CTES, CUZ, ENCB, F, GB, GH, HAO, HUA, HUT, K, LE, LIL, LINN, LP, MA, MEXU, MICH, MO, NY, P, PSO, QCA, RSA, S, SGO, SI, TAES, UC, UPS, US, USM, UTC, W, and WIS, including the type specimens of most species studied. In addition, extensive field studies were performed to assess the diversity of the genus in this region of South America. Thirty-seven species are recognized in the study area (24 native and 13 introduced-naturalized); four of the species are cited for the first time for Colombia [Eragrostis atrovirens (Desf.) Trin. ex Steud., Eragrostis barrelieri Daveau, Eragrostis gangetica (Roxb.) Steud., Eragrostis soratensis Jedwabn.] and three for Peru [Eragrostis acutiflora (Kunth) Nees, Eragrostis bahiensis Schrad. ex Schult., and Eragrostis secundiflora J. Presl]. Eragrostis condensata (J. Presl) Steud. is endemic to Ecuador, while Eragrostis magna Hitchc. and Eragrostis pilgeri Fedde are endemic to Peru. Twenty-nine species are recorded in Colombia, 19 in Ecuador, and 26 in Peru. Keys for determining the species, descriptions, illustrations, geographical distributions, morphological and ecological observations, chromosome numbers, specimens studied, and synonymies are provided for all native and adventive species of Eragrostis in northwestern South America. Eragrostis lasseri Luces is placed as a synonym of Eragrostis ciliaris (L.) R. Br., and Eragrostis nigricans (Kunth) Steud. var. punensis Nicora is placed as a synonym of Eragrostis mexicana (Hornem.) Link subsp. mexicana. The lectotype for Eragrostis barrelieri Daveau is designated here. Eragrostis patula (Kunth) Steud. and Eragrostis unioloides (Retz.) Nees ex Steud. are excluded from the Colombian Flora since all specimens identified as Eragrostis patula are apparently misidentified and are usually referable to Eragrostis tenuifolia (A. Rich.) Hochst. ex Steud. A single specimen identified as Eragrostis unioloides as cited in the Flora of Antioquia (Colombia) was misidentified and it belongs to Chascolytrum juergensii (Hack.) Essi, Souza-Chies & Longhi-Wagner. (texto tomado de la fuente)Se presenta un estudio morfológico y taxonómico de las especies del género Eragrostis del noroeste de Sudamérica. Con esta revisión se pretende clarificar los problemas taxonómicos y nomenclaturales de los taxones de Eragrostis presentes en el noroeste de Sudamérica. Se analizan diversos aspectos relativos a la clasificación, la nomenclatura, las afinidades genéricas y la variación macro y micromorfológica de los caracteres. Se consideraron 45 caracteres –entre macro y micromorfológicos– los cuales son de suma utilidad en la elaboración de las descripciones, así como para diferenciar y reconocer las diferentes especies. Esta investigación está basada en el análisis de los especímenes depositados en los herbarios AAU, AMAZ, ANSM, BA, BAA, BAB, BM, CA, CAUP, COAH, COL, CORD, CPUN, CTES, CUZ, ENCB, F, GB, GH, HAO, HUA, HUT, K, LE, LIL, LINN, LP, MA, MEXU, MICH, MO, NY, P, PSO, QCA, RSA, S, SGO, SI, TAES, UC, UPS, US, USM, UTC, W y WIS, en el que se incluye, además, el estudio de material tipo para la mayoría de las especies consideradas. Adicionalmente, se realizaron numerosas salidas de campo, con el fin de enriquecer las colecciones del género para esta área geográfica de Sudamérica. Se reconocen 37 especies para el área de estudio (24 nativas y 13 introducidas-naturalizadas), de las cuales siete especies constituyen novedades corológicas: Eragrostis atrovirens (Desf.) Trin. ex Steud., Eragrostis barrelieri Daveau, Eragrostis gangetica (Roxb.) Steud. y Eragrostis soratensis Jedwabn. se citan por primera vez para Colombia, mientras que Eragrostis acutiflora (Kunth) Nees, Eragrostis bahiensis Schrad. ex Schult. y Eragrostis secundiflora J. Presl se registran por primera vez para Perú. Merece destacarse que Eragrostis condensata (J. Presl) Steud. es endémica de Ecuador, mientras que Eragrostis magna Hitchc. y Eragrostis pilgeri Fedde son endémicas de Perú. Este género está representado en Colombia por 29 especies, en Ecuador por 19 y en Perú por 26. Se presentan las claves para reconocer las especies nativas y adventicias presentes en el noroeste de Sudamérica, así como también las descripciones de éstas, la iconografía, la distribución geográfica, los especímenes estudiados, los sinónimos, los números cromosómicos, y se comentan algunas observaciones morfológicas y ecológicas. Por otra parte, Eragrostis lasseri Luces se reduce a la sinonimia de Eragrostis ciliaris (L.) R. Br., y Eragrostis nigricans (Kunth) Steud. var. punensis Nicora se reduce a la sinonimia de Eragrostis mexicana (Hornem.) Link subsp. mexicana. Se designa el lectotipo para Eragrostis barrelieri Daveau. Las especies Eragrostis patula (Kunth) Steud. y Eragrostis unioloides (Retz.) Nees ex Steud. se excluyen de la flora colombiana. Eragrostis patula es frecuentemente considerada en floras locales de Colombia; sin embargo, los especímenes referidos a dicha especie pertenecen generalmente a Eragrostis tenuifolia (A. Rich.) Hochst. ex Steud. Entre tanto, Eragrostis unioloides ha sido citada para la Flora de Antioquia (Colombia) con base en un único ejemplar, pero realmente el espécimen corresponde claramente a Chascolytrum juergensii (Hack.) Essi, Souza-Chies & Longhi-Wagner. (texto tomado de la fuente)Presentation -- Abstract -- Resumen -- Introduction -- Materials and Methods -- Macromorphological analyses -- Micromorphological analyses -- Phytoliths -- Reproductive structures – Microscopy -- Micromorphological and anatomical terminology -- Species concept -- Ant samples -- Results and Discussion -- Phytoliths -- Silica bodies -- Long cells – Short cells -- Stomatal complexes – Macrohairs -- Microhairs -- Prickle hairs – Papillae – Glands -- An overview of glands in grasses -- Microhairs (bicellular trichomes) in Eragrostis -- Multicellular glands (extrafloral nectaries) in Eragrostis -- Spikelet morphology -- Caryopsis morphology -- Diversity of species of Eragrostis in northwestern South America -- Ecology and geographic distribution -- Economic importance -- Taxonomic treatment -- Eragrostis Wolf -- Etymology -- Base chromosome number and levels of ploidy -- Monophyly of Eragrostis -- Biochemical features --The subtribe Eragrostidinae -- Key to separate Eragrostis and Steirachne -- Infrageneric classification -- Comments -- Key to the species of Eragrostis in Colombia -- Key to the species of Eragrostis in Ecuador -- Key to the species of Eragrostis in Peru -- Descriptions of the species -- Eragrostis acutiflora (Kunth) Nees -- Eragrostis airoides Nees -- Eragrostis andicola R. E. Fr -- Eragrostis atrovirens (Desf.) Trin. ex Steud. -- Eragrostis attenuata Hitchc. -- Eragrostis bahiensis Schrad. Ex Schult. -- Eragrostis barrelieri Daveau -- Eragrostis cilianensis (All.) Vignolo ex Janch. -- Eragrostis ciliaris (L.) R. Br. -- Eragrostis condensata (J. Presl) Steud. -- Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees -- Eragrostis gangetica (Roxb.) Steud. -- Eragrostis hypnoides (Lam.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb. -- Eragrostis intermedia Hitchc. -- Eragrostis japonica (Thunb.) Trin. -- Eragrostis lugens Nees -- Eragrostis lurida J. Presl. -- Eragrostis magna Hitchc. -- Eragrostis maypurensis (Kunth) Steud. -- Eragrostis mexicana (Hornem.) Link -- Eragrostis mokensis Pilg. -- Eragrostis nigricans (Kunth) Steud. -- Eragrostis pastoensis (Kunth) Trin. -- Eragrostis pectinacea (Michx.) Nees -- Eragrostis peruviana (Jacq.) Trin. -- Eragrostis pilgeri Fedde -- Eragrostis pilosa (L.) P. Beauv. -- Eragrostis polytricha Nees -- Eragrostis prolifera (Sw.) Steud. -- Eragrostis rufescens Schrad. ex Schult -- Eragrostis secundiflora J. Presl. -- Eragrostis soratensis Jedwabn -- Eragrostis tenella (L.) P. Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult -- Eragrostis tenuifolia (A. Rich.) Hochst. ex Steud. -- Eragrostis unioloides (Retz.) Nees ex Steud. -- Eragrostis viscosa (Retz.) Trin -- Eragrostis weberbaueri Pilg. -- Excluded names -- Acknowledgments -- Literature Cited -- Appendix 1. List of names and synonyms -- Appendix 2. List of vernacular namesPrimera edició

Molecular Phylogenetics of Bromus (Poaceae: Pooideae) Based on Chloroplast and Nuclear DNA Sequence Data

We conducted a phylogenetic analysis to characterize relationships among Bromus and test the monophyly of five of the seven morphologically distinct groups within Bromus (Poaceae: Pooideae) that have been treated as sections, subgenera, or genera. We sequenced the chloroplast trnL (UAA) intron, the 3\u27-end of the chloroplast ndhF gene, and the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA region for 46 species that represent a large proportion of the morphological and geographical diversity in the genus. Independent analyses of plastid and nuclear ribosomal data identified several lineages in Bromus, but there is some evidence of incongruence between these linkage groups. Nuclear ribosomal trees indicate that two clades comprising some North and South American species of sect. Bromopsis are the successive sister groups of the rest of the genus, and that Old World species of sect. Bromopsis are more closely related to sects. Ceratochloa and Neobromus than they are to the remaining North American species of sect. Bromopsis. In contrast, plastid trees indicate a close relationship between Old World and some North American species of sect. Bromopsis. In the nuclear ribosomal trees, sects. Genea and Bromus (if sect. Triniusia is included within it, as treated by most authors) are monophyletic and not closely related. In the plastid trees, species of these two sections are intermixed, supporting a hybrid origin for B. pectinatus. The monophyly of sect. Ceratochloa is supported in the plastid and nuclear ribosomal trees, and the monophyly of sect. Neobromus is robustly supported in the nuclear ribosomal trees. Current classification schemes do not reflect phylogenetic relationships in Bromus. Tentative evidence of conflict among nuclear and plastid data partitions needs clarification with more robustly supported plastid and nuclear ribosomal gene trees

Divergent properties of prolamins in wheat and maize

Cereal grains are an important nutritional source of amino acids for humans and livestock worldwide. Wheat, barley, and oats belong to a different subfamily of the grasses than rice and in addition to maize, millets, sugarcane, and sorghum. All their seeds, however, are largely devoid of free amino acids because they are stored during dormancy in specialized storage proteins. Prolamins, the major class of storage proteins in cereals with preponderance of proline and glutamine, are synthesized at the endoplasmic reticulum during seed development and deposited into subcellular structures of the immature endosperm, the protein bodies. Prolamins have diverged during the evolution of the grass family in their structure and their properties. Here, we used the expression of wheat glutenin-Dx5 in maize to examine its interaction with maize prolamins during endosperm development. Ectopic expression of Dx5 alters protein body morphology in a way that resembles non-vitreous kernel phenotypes, although Dx5 alone does not cause an opaque phenotype. However, if we lower the amount of γ-zeins in Dx5 maize through RNAi, a non-vitreous phenotype emerges and the deformation on the surface of protein bodies is enhanced, indicating that Dx5 requires γ-zeins for its proper subcellular organization in maize

A First Look at the Auriga-California Giant Molecular Cloud With Herschel and the CSO: Census of the Young Stellar Objects and the Dense Gas

We have mapped the Auriga/California molecular cloud with the Herschel PACS and SPIRE cameras and the Bolocam 1.1 mm camera on the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) with the eventual goal of quantifying the star formation and cloud structure in this Giant Molecular Cloud (GMC) that is comparable in size and mass to the Orion GMC, but which appears to be forming far fewer stars. We have tabulated 60 compact 70/160um sources that are likely pre-main-sequence objects and correlated those with Spitzer and WISE mid-IR sources. At 1.1 mm we find 18 cold, compact sources and discuss their properties. The most important result from this part of our study is that we find a modest number of additional compact young objects beyond those identified at shorter wavelengths with Spitzer. We also describe the dust column density and temperature structure derived from our photometric maps. The column density peaks at a few x 10^22 cm^-2 (N_H2) and is distributed in a clear filamentary structure along which nearly all the pre-main-sequence objects are found. We compare the YSO surface density to the gas column density and find a strong non-linear correlation between them. The dust temperature in the densest parts of the filaments drops to ~10K from values ~ 14--15K in the low density parts of the cloud. We also derive the cumulative mass fraction and probability density function of material in the cloud which we compare with similar data on other star-forming clouds.Comment: in press Astrophysical Journal, 201

\u3ci\u3eArgulus\u3c/i\u3e From the Pascagoula River, MS, USA, With an Emphasis On Those of the Threatened Gulf Sturgeon, \u3ci\u3eAcipenser oxyinchus desotoi\u3c/i\u3e

Species of Argulus (Branchiura Thorell, 1864) are common ectoparasites of freshwater, estuarine, and marine fishes. Argulid identification and taxonomy is often confusing because many species are reported to parasitize multiple host species, have similar morphological characters, and come from various salinity regimes. Gulf sturgeon is an anadromous fish natal to drainages in the north-central Gulf of Mexico, and as with many endangered species, has a poorly documented parasite community. During Gulf sturgeon tagging and monitoring studies (2016–2019) in the Pascagoula River, MS, USA, species of Argulus were collected from Gulf sturgeon as well as other incidentally captured fishes. Argulus flavescens Wilson, 1916 was found on Gulf sturgeon and flathead catfish, Argulus americanus Wilson, 1902 on bowfin, and Argulus bicolor Bere, 1936 on Atlantic stingray. We provide morphological details and measurements for these species as well as the first confirmed 28S rDNA molecular data. Argulus flavescens was more abundant and prevalent on larger Gulf sturgeon and on sturgeon captured in freshwater rather than estuarine habitats. Our results indicate that A. flacescens may not tolerate estuarine salinities and that the anadromous life-history pattern of Gulf sturgeon could help rid them of A. flavescens when they emigrate from their riverine habitats

Impaired expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the gracile nucleus is involved in neuropathic changes in Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats with and without 2,5-hexanedione intoxication

These studies examined the influence of 2,5-hexanedione (2,5-HD) intoxication on expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the brainstem nuclei in Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) vs. lean control (LC) rats. Functional neuropathic changes were also investigated following axonal damage and impaired axonal transport induced by the treatment. Animals were intoxicated by i.p. injection of 2,5-HD plus unilateral administration of 2,5-HD over the sciatic nerve. The mechanical thresholds and withdrawal latencies to heat and cold stimuli on the foot were measured at baseline and after intoxication. The medulla sections were examined by nNOS immunohistochemistry and NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry at the end of the treatments. The mechanical thresholds and withdrawal latencies were significantly decreased while nNOS immunostained neurons and NADPH-diaphorase positive cells were selectively reduced in the gracile nucleus at baseline in ZDF vs. LC rats. NADPH-diaphorase reactivity and nNOS positive neurons were increased in the ipsilateral gracile nucleus in LC rats following 2,5-HD intoxication, but its up-regulation was attenuated in ZDF rats. These results suggest that diabetic and chemical intoxication-induced nNOS expression is selectively reduced in the gracile nucleus in ZDF rats. Impaired axonal damage-induced nNOS expression in the gracile nucleus is involved in neuropathic pathophysiology in type II diabetic rats