Dimensionality and size of photorefractive spatial solitons

We study experimentally self-trapping of optical beams in photorefractive media and show that the trapping is inherently asymmetric with respect to the two (transverse) trapping dimensions. We also present experimental results that show how the sizes of the resultant photorefractive spatial solitons are independent (within their range of existence) of the amplitude of the externally applied electric field used to generate them

Mucormicose subcutânea causada por Rhizopus oryzae: provável infecção hospitalar

Os Autores relatam caso de mucormicose subcutânea em paciente apresentando quadro clínico e laboratorial de ceto-acidose diabética. São descritos os aspectos clínicos, micológicos e histopatológicos, salientando-se a importância da obtenção do diagnóstico rápido para a instituição da terapêutica precoce. São revistas as formas clínicas da mucormicose e as principais condições associadas, bem como os possíveis mecanismos que facilitam a infecção por Mucorales em pacientes com ceto-acidose diabética. O isolamento de R. oryzae do ambiente onde o paciente esteve internado, sugere tratar-se provavelmente de infecção hospitalar adquirida por contaminação venosa através de esporos do fungo.The Authors present a case of subcutaneous mucormycosis occurring in a patient with clinical and biochemical evidence of diabetic ketoacidosis. The clinical, mycological and histopathological features are described, emphasizing the relevance of a rapid diagnosis in order to stablish early treatment. The clinical forms of mucormycosis and the main associated conditions are briefly reviewed as well as the most probable conditions which may lead to the enhanced susceptibility to infection in the diabetic patient in ketoacidosis. The recovery of Rhizopus oryzae from the air of the room of the patient suggests a nosocomial infection acquired through contamination of venous puncture site by air borne spores

Geotricose em equino Puro Sangue Inglês

Isolation of fungs of a three years old male sorrel has been reported. The main symptom presented was stinking diarrhea which did not yield with the usually employed antidiarrheal Death overcame at the sixteenth day. At necropsy, accentuated debility was reported. Whitish nodules of approximately 1 cm in diameter, disseminated in the pleura, cardiac muscle, thyroid, spleen, adrenal and Kidneys were observed. Histopatologic observations were: accentuated purulent thyroid, purulent bronchopneumonia, purulent necrotic myocharditis and chronic necrotic entheritis. In all these organs numerous septate hyphae were observed. Isolation from nodules of diverse organs was made in Sabouraud-dextrase with chloranfenicol and in mycosel agar, and growth of culture forms of Geothricum candidum was observed at the 5 th and 7 th days, as observed by morphlogic and biochemical criteria.Relatou-se fungo isolado de equino P.S.I., de 3 anos de idade, de sexo masculino, alazão, que apresentava como sintoma principal diarreia fétida há 15 dias não cedendo aos anti diarreicos habitualmente utilizados. A morte sobreveio ao 16º dia. A necropsia diagnosticou-se caquexia acentuada tendo-se observado nódulos esbranquiçados de aproximadamente 1 cm de diâmetro, disseminados na pleura, músculo cardíaco, tireoide, baço, adrenal e rins. A histopatologia notou-se: acentuada tireoidite e broncopneumonia purulentas, miocardite purulenta e necrótica e enterite crônica necrosante. Em todos esses órgãos foram vistas inúmeras hifas septadas. Do isolamento a partir dos nódulos de diversos órgãos feito em ágar sabouraud-dextrose com cloranfenicol e em Àgar mycosel, obteve-se entre o 5º e 7º dias, crescimento de um fungo, em cultura pura identificado morfológica e bioquimicamente como Geotrichum candidum

Identificação da microbiota fúngica de ambientes considerados assépticos

The isolation and identification of the fungic microbiota present in areas considered aseptic (open and/or restricted, with or without air filtration (HEPA filters) where production of immunobiologicals is carried out)were investigated Three exposures were made with appropriate culture media, in different seasons of the year, before and immediately after the performance of the technical work. Agar-Sabouraud and agar-soy media supplemented with 0.2% yeast extract and without chloranphenicol had their efficacy tests in isolating the filamentous fungia e (molds) and yeasts in the light of the number of cultures grown and the frequency exhibited by the various specimens isolated. Sixty-seven specimens (64 of filamentous fungiae (molds) and three yeasts) have been identified. Of the filamentous fungiae (molds), 54 belonged to 22 genera of the division Deuteromycota, families Moniliaceae and Dematiaceae, five were included in the order Agonomycetales (Mycelia Sterilia), and one was classified in the order Sphaeropsidales, class Coelomycetes. Of the division Zygomycota, order Mucorales, family Mucoraceae, only one specimen could be identified as to genus. The three yeasts, belonging also to the division Deuteromycota (Fungi Imperfecti), family Cryptococcaceae, were identified as two Rhodotorula rubra and one Torulopsis candida. It was demonstrated that the number of colonies isolated in the areas studied increased after the performance of technical maneuvers and that air filtration by means of HEPA filters, reducing to number of colonies isolated in restricted areas, increased safety and is consequently recommended for working areas where successful or unsuccessful results depend on a low incidence of contamination.Objetivou-se isolar e identificar a microbiota fúngica em ambientes considerados assépticos, através de exposições com meios de cultivo adequados, em três épocas distintas do ano, antes e imediatamente após as manobras técnicas realizadas em três áreas de trabalho: ambiente aberto, ambiente fechado sem filtração de ar e ambiente fechado com filtração de ar, utilizadas em produção de imunobiológicos. Os meios ágar-Sabouraud e ágar-soja, enriquecidos com 0,2% de extrato de levedura e sem cloranfenicol, foram estudados quanto à sua eficácia no isolamento de bolores e leveduras, considerando-se o número de colônias desenvolvidas e a freqüência dos diversos fungos isolados. Isolaram-se 67 espécimens, sendo 64 fungos filamentosos (bolores) e três leveduras. Dos bolores, 54 pertenciam a 22 gêneros da divisão Deuteromycota, famílias Moniliaceae e Dematiaceae, cinco amostras filamentosas foram incluídas na ordem Agonomycetales (Mycelia Sterilia), e uma amostra foi classificada na divisão Deuteromycota, ordem Sphaeropsidales, classe Coelomycetes. Da divisão Zygomycota, ordem Mucorales, família Mucoraceae, um único mucoráceo foi identificado até gênero. As três leveduras pertenciam também à divisão Deuteromycota (Fungi Imperfecti), família Cryptococcaceae, e foram identificadas como sendo duas Rhodotorula rubra e uma Torulopsis candida. Comprovou-se que o número de colônias isoladas aumentou após a realização das monobras técnicas e que a filtração de ar através de filtros tipo HEPA, reduzindo o número de colônias isoladas nos ambientes fechados, aumenta a segurança do trabalho; comumente é recomendada para áreas de atividade técnica cujos resultados satisfatórios estão diretamente relacionados com uma baixa incidência de contaminantes

Shedding some light over the floral metabolism by Arum Lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) Spathe de novo transcriptome assembly

Zantedeschia aethiopica is an evergreen perennial plant cultivated worldwide and commonly used for ornamental and medicinal purposes including the treatment of bacterial infections. However, the current understanding of molecular and physiological mechanisms in this plant is limited, in comparison to other non-model plants. In order to improve understanding of the biology of this botanical species, RNA-Seq technology was used for transcriptome assembly and characterization. Following Z. aethiopica spathe tissue RNA extraction, high-throughput RNA sequencing was performed with the aim of obtaining both abundant and rare transcript data. Functional profiling based on KEGG Orthology (KO) analysis highlighted contigs that were involved predominantly in genetic information (37%) and metabolism (34%) processes. Predicted proteins involved in the plant circadian system, hormone signal transduction, secondary metabolism and basal immunity are described here. In silico screening of the transcriptome data set for antimicrobial peptide (AMP) – encoding sequences was also carried out and three lipid transfer proteins (LTP) were identified as potential AMPs involved in plant defense. Spathe predicted protein maps were drawn, and suggested that major plant efforts are expended in guaranteeing the maintenance of cell homeostasis, characterized by high investment in carbohydrate, amino acid and energy metabolism as well as in genetic information

Democratization and gender-neutrality in English(es)

"Democratization" and "gender-neutrality" are two concepts commonly used in recent studies on language variation. While both concepts link linguistic phenomena to sociocultural changes, the extent to which they overlap and/or interact has not been studied in detail. In particular, not much is known about how linguistic changes related to democratization and gender-neutrality spread across registers or varieties of English, as well as whether speakers are aware of the changes that are taking place. In this paper we review the main theoretical issues regarding these concepts and relate them to the main findings in the articles in this issue, all of which study lexical and grammatical variation from a corpus-based perspective. Taken together, they help unveil some of the conscious and unconscious mechanisms that operate at the interface between democratization and gender-neutrality.Peer reviewe

The Ninth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey: First Spectroscopic Data from the SDSS-III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey III (SDSS-III) presents the first spectroscopic data from the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS). This ninth data release (DR9) of the SDSS project includes 535,995 new galaxy spectra (median z=0.52), 102,100 new quasar spectra (median z=2.32), and 90,897 new stellar spectra, along with the data presented in previous data releases. These spectra were obtained with the new BOSS spectrograph and were taken between 2009 December and 2011 July. In addition, the stellar parameters pipeline, which determines radial velocities, surface temperatures, surface gravities, and metallicities of stars, has been updated and refined with improvements in temperature estimates for stars with T_eff<5000 K and in metallicity estimates for stars with [Fe/H]>-0.5. DR9 includes new stellar parameters for all stars presented in DR8, including stars from SDSS-I and II, as well as those observed as part of the SDSS-III Sloan Extension for Galactic Understanding and Exploration-2 (SEGUE-2). The astrometry error introduced in the DR8 imaging catalogs has been corrected in the DR9 data products. The next data release for SDSS-III will be in Summer 2013, which will present the first data from the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) along with another year of data from BOSS, followed by the final SDSS-III data release in December 2014.Comment: 9 figures; 2 tables. Submitted to ApJS. DR9 is available at http://www.sdss3.org/dr