The genome sequence of the lesser marbled fritillary, Brenthis ino, and evidence for a segregating neo-Z chromosome

This is the final version. Available on open access from Oxford University Press via the DOI in this recordData availability: Supplementary Table 1 contains the metadata for the four individuals used for this project. The genome assembly, gene annotation, and raw sequence data can be found at the European Nucleotide Archive under project accession PRJEB49202. The scripts used for analyzing HiC data (chomper.py and HiC_view.py), the script used for calculating site degeneracy (partition_cds.py), and the script used for visualizing synteny (busco2synteny.py) can be found at the following github repository: https://github.com/A-J-F-Mackintosh/Mackintosh_et_al_2022_Bino. The mitochondrial genome sequence and the TE annotation can be found at the same repository.The lesser marbled fritillary, Brenthis ino (Rottemburg, 1775), is a species of Palearctic butterfly. Male Brenthis ino individuals have been reported to have between 12 and 14 pairs of chromosomes, a much-reduced chromosome number than is typical in butterflies. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly for Brenthis ino, as well as gene and transposable element annotations. The assembly is 411.8 Mb in length with a contig N50 of 9.6 Mb and a scaffold N50 of 29.5 Mb. We also show evidence that the male individual from which we generated HiC data was heterozygous for a neo-Z chromosome, consistent with inheriting 14 chromosomes from one parent and 13 from the other. This genome assembly will be a valuable resource for studying chromosome evolution in Lepidoptera, as well as for comparative and population genomics more generally

VASAO: visible all sky adaptive optics: a new adaptive optics concept for CFHT

International audienceVASAO is an ambitious project that explores new conceptual direction in the field of astronomical adaptive optics. In the era of 8 meter and larger telescopes, and their instrument costs and telescope time pressure, there is a natural niche for such ground-breaking conceptual development in the 4 meter class telescope. The aim of VASAO is to provide diffraction limited imaging in the visible with 100% sky coverage; the challenge (but potential rewards) arises from the simultaneity of these requirements. To this end, CFHT is conducting a feasibility study based on the polychromatic guide star concept (Foy et al., 1995 [4]) coupled with a high order curvature AO system, presented in this paper. A number of experiments have been started (or carried out) to study the challenges and limits of the techniques involved in an operational setting; these include the FlyEyes detector, and a polychromatic tip-tilt test on natural stars. Because such a project straddles such a fine line between facility instrument and experimental facility, careful thought has to be given to the balance between modes of operations and potential astrophysical targets

NANOTECNOLOGIA APLICADA AOS COSMÉTICOS

A nanotecnologia está relacionada às estruturas, propriedades e processos envolvendo materiais com dimensões em escala nanométrica. Essas partículas são extensivamente investigadas por promoverem muitas vantagens em relação às formulações tradicionais. A nanotecnologia aplicada à cosmética refere-se à utilização de pequenas partículas contendo princípios ativos que são capazes de penetrar nas camadas mais profundas da pele, potencializando os efeitos do produto. Atualmente existem técnicas distintas para produção e avaliação das nanopartículas, bem como uma grande variedade de polímeros e biopolímeros que são utilizados como matéria-prima para o seu desenvolvimento. Embora o mercado seja promissor, ainda é ampla a discussão acerca desta tecnologia uma vez que se encontra em estágio inicial do seu desenvolvimento

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among veterinary staff in Ontario, Canada (2002): Implications for teratogenic risk

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii infection is embryotoxic in humans. It is mainly transmitted through raw/undercooked meat and ingestion of oocysts in cat feces. There remains controversy about the actual risk of cats transmitting the disease to humans. Our primary objective was to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii antibody among veterinary staff, to ascertain whether they have an increased risk through occupational exposure. Our secondary objective was to examine their practices regarding cats, toxoplasma infection, and pregnancy. METHODS: Veterinary staff attending the 2002 Annual Ontario Veterinary Medical Association Conference were invited to discuss their toxoplasma seroprevalence. Interested attendees completed a questionnaire and a physician drew blood samples to determine T. gondii titres using the ELISA IgG test. RESULTS: We collected 161 completed questionnaires, and 141 blood samples. There were 20 (14.2%, CI95%:8.4–19.9%) reactive titres among the veterinarian staff (80% females aged 30–45). All were regularly exposed to cats, washed their hands when in contact and few wore gloves routinely. CONCLUSIONS: These findings of low positive rates may be used to reassure veterinary staff that their exposure to cats does not appear to increase their risk of contracting toxoplasma infection and that pregnant women are not at an increased risk by owning a cat

Decisional Conflict and User Acceptance of Multicriteria Decision-Making Aids *

Despite the development of increasingly sophisticated and refined multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) methods, an examination of the experimental evidence indicates that users most often prefer relatively unsophisticated methods. In this paper, we synthesize theories and empirical findings from the psychology of judgment and choice to provide a new theoretical explanation for such user preferences. Our argument centers on the assertion that the MCDM method preferred by decision makers is a function of the degree to which the method tends to introduce decisional conflict. The model we develop relates response mode, decision strategy, and the salience of decisional conflict to user preferences among decision aids. We then show that the model is consistent with empirical results in MCDM studies. Next, the role of decisional conflict in problem formulation aids is briefly discussed. Finally, we outline future research needed to thoroughly test the theoretical mechanisms we have proposed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73461/1/j.1540-5915.1991.tb00371.x.pd

The genome sequence of the scarce swallowtail, Iphiclides podalirius

This is the final version. Available on open access from Oxford University Press via the DOI in this recordData availability: The genome assembly, gene annotation, and raw sequence data can be found at the European Nucleotide Archive under project accession PRJEB51340. The script used for calculating the site degeneracy (partition_cds.py) and the script used for visualizing HiC contacts (HiC_view.py) can be found at the following github repository: https://github.com/A-J-F-Mackintosh/Mackintosh_et_al_2022_Ipod. The mitochondrial genome sequence and the TE annotation can be found at the same repository.The scarce swallowtail, Iphiclides podalirius (Linnaeus, 1758), is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae. Here we present a chromosome-level genome assembly for I. podalirius as well as gene and transposable element annotations. We investigate how the density of genomic features differ between the 30 I. podalirius chromosomes. We find that shorter chromosomes have higher heterozygosity at fourfold-degenerate sites and a greater density of transposable elements. While the first result is an expected consequence of differences in recombination rate, the second suggests a counter-intuitive relationship between recombination and transposable element evolution. This high quality genome assembly, the first for any species in the tribe Leptocircini, will be a valuable resource for population genomics in the genus Iphiclides and comparative genomics more generally.Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and Agencia Estatal de InvestigaciónEuropean Research Council (ERC)Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC

The genome sequence of the lesser marbled fritillary, Brenthis ino, and evidence for a segregating neo-Z chromosome

This is the final version. Available on open access from Oxford University Press via the DOI in this recordData availability: Supplementary Table 1 contains the metadata for the four individuals used for this project. The genome assembly, gene annotation, and raw sequence data can be found at the European Nucleotide Archive under project accession PRJEB49202. The scripts used for analyzing HiC data (chomper.py and HiC_view.py), the script used for calculating site degeneracy (partition_cds.py), and the script used for visualizing synteny (busco2synteny.py) can be found at the following github repository: https://github.com/A-J-F-Mackintosh/Mackintosh_et_al_2022_Bino. The mitochondrial genome sequence and the TE annotation can be found at the same repository.The lesser marbled fritillary, Brenthis ino (Rottemburg, 1775), is a species of Palearctic butterfly. Male Brenthis ino individuals have been reported to have between 12 and 14 pairs of chromosomes, a much-reduced chromosome number than is typical in butterflies. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly for Brenthis ino, as well as gene and transposable element annotations. The assembly is 411.8 Mb in length with a contig N50 of 9.6 Mb and a scaffold N50 of 29.5 Mb. We also show evidence that the male individual from which we generated HiC data was heterozygous for a neo-Z chromosome, consistent with inheriting 14 chromosomes from one parent and 13 from the other. This genome assembly will be a valuable resource for studying chromosome evolution in Lepidoptera, as well as for comparative and population genomics more generally

Changes in regional cerebral perfusion over time in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder

Background Idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder is associated with increased risk of neurodegeneration, but the temporal evolution of regional perfusion, a marker of cerebral activity, has not been characterized. The objective of the current study was to study longitudinal regional perfusion in patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. Methods Thirty‐seven patients and 23 controls underwent high‐resolution single‐photon emission computed tomography. After 17 months on average, scans were repeated for idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder patients. We compared regional cerebral blood flow between groups and over time. Results At baseline, patients showed lower relative regional perfusion in the anterior frontal and lateral parietotemporal cortex compared with controls. However, over time, patients showed an increase in relative regional perfusion in the anterior frontal, lateral parietal, and occipitotemporal cortex, reverting toward normal control levels. Conclusions Patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder showed significant areas of relative regional hypoperfusion, which disappeared over time to finally return to average levels, suggesting possible developing compensation in areas affected by neurodegeneration

The Search for Higgs particles at high-energy colliders: Past, Present and Future

I briefly review the Higgs sector in the Standard Model and its minimal Supersymmetric extension, the MSSM. After summarizing the properties of the Higgs bosons and the present experimental constraints, I will discuss the prospects for discovering these particle at the upgraded Tevatron, the LHC and a high-energy $e^+e^-$ linear collider. The possibility of studying the properties of the Higgs particles will be then summarized.Comment: 28 pages, latex, 15 figures, talk at WHEPP VII, Allahabad, Indi