Dissecting the development of plasmacytoid dendritic cells

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are an immune subset specialized in the production of Type I Interferons (IFNs). Conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) originate mostly from a common dendritic cell progenitor (CDP), whereas pDCs have been shown to develop from both CDPs as well as common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs). In contrast to the current literature, we here show that pDCs mostly differentiate from an IL-7R expressing lymphoid progenitor. IL-7R+ progenitors can be subdivided into three distinct subsets based on the expression of SiglecH and Ly6D: double negative (DN), Ly6D+ single positive (SP) and double positive (DP) progenitors. Each of these subsets identifies a specific developmental stage along the pDC lineage, where commitment by IL-7R+ progenitors is achieved upon expression of Ly6D and SiglecH (DP pre-pDCs). Further, RNA sequencing analysis of IL-7R+ lymphoid progenitor subsets revealed the transcriptional landscape of pDC development along the lymphoid branch, where high expression of the transcription factor IRF8 marks pDC commitment and anticipates the increase of TCF4 levels. The transcriptional signature of DP pre-pDCs correlates with the lineage potential assessed in vitro, in which DP pre-pDCs are fully committed to the pDC lineage. Moreover, single cell RNA sequencing on bone marrow and splenic pDCs revealed pDC heterogeneity in both tissues and further supported the dual origin of pDC from myeloid and lymphoid precursors. While all pDCs have the potential to secrete Type I IFNs and have high expression levels of pDC-specific transcript, only myeloid-derived pDCs share with cDCs the capacity to process and present antigen, suggesting that functional specification is directly linked to developmental origin

Urban planning law in Liberia: the case for a transformational approach

This article discusses the need for a fundamental rethinking of urban planning in Liberia with special reference to Monrovia, the capital. Liberia is a post-conflict country and is facing a multitude of problems. One is the very rapid urbanisation of the country. Well over 50% of the population live in urban areas, and over one million people—one third of the population—live in Monrovia, for the most part in informal ‘illegal’ settlements with few facilities. Despite land issues being acknowledged as in need of being tackled as a matter of urgency, little has been done by the Johnson-Sirleaf government since it came to power in 2006. What is needed and what this article argues for is a plan for the development of Monrovia based on the Right to the City with residents given clear rights to land and to participate in the governance of their city. The approach is denominated as a transformational one, taking its inspiration from van der Walt’s approach set out in his Property in the Margins. The need for and the outline of an Urban Transformation Act are set out in the article which concludes with a warning that it cannot be supposed that the residents of Monrovia will continue indefinitely to put up with their very poor living conditions

Conserved defense responses between maize and sorghum to Exserohilum turcicum.

BACKGROUND:Exserohilum turcicum is an important pathogen of both sorghum and maize, causing sorghum leaf blight and northern corn leaf blight. Because the same pathogen can infect and cause major losses for two of the most important grain crops, it is an ideal pathosystem to study plant-pathogen evolution and investigate shared resistance mechanisms between the two plant species. To identify sorghum genes involved in the E. turcicum response, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS). RESULTS:Using the sorghum conversion panel evaluated across three environments, we identified a total of 216 significant markers. Based on physical linkage with the significant markers, we detected a total of 113 unique candidate genes, some with known roles in plant defense. Also, we compared maize genes known to play a role in resistance to E. turcicum with the association mapping results and found evidence of genes conferring resistance in both crops, providing evidence of shared resistance between maize and sorghum. CONCLUSIONS:Using a genetics approach, we identified shared genetic regions conferring resistance to E. turcicum in both maize and sorghum. We identified several promising candidate genes for resistance to leaf blight in sorghum, including genes related to R-gene mediated resistance. We present significant advancements in the understanding of host resistance to E. turcicum, which is crucial to reduce losses due to this important pathogen

SISTEMA BRASILEIRO DE FINANCIAMENTO À EDUCAÇÃO BÁSICA: PRINCIPAIS CARACTERÍSTICAS, LIMITAÇÕES E ALTERNATIVAS

Education is fundamental for social and economic development and school finance is one of the main features of an educational system. Assuming that a greater amount of resources brings more school quality, one can say that an "appropriate" primary and secondary school finance system should guarantee: (i) a satisfactory level of resources per pupil in each educational level; and (ii) equal opportunities for all students. This paper aims to analyze in what extent the actual system, particularly the Fundef, it is well succeeded in accomplishing these objectives, determining its main characteristics and limitations. The results suggest that although Fundef promoted a better resource distribution in the northern and northeastern regions, when considering the whole country the final result is negative. Besides that, when projecting future enrolment, two out of three scenarios indicate that Fundef distortions are worsened. Considering that, we also analyze the possible impacts of school finance centralization, including redistributive impacts among state, state's capital and other municipalities.

Análise termodinâmica de um ciclo de absorção de simples efeito NH3-H2O operando como bomba de calor

As alterações climáticas produzem desequilíbrios de temperatura que afetam o conforto térmico dos humanos nos ambientes nos quais estão inseridos, gerando grande demanda por energia. Assim, se faz necessária a busca por alternativas para suprir o bem estar térmico das pessoas. No presente trabalho, avalia-se um ciclo de absorção de simples efeito operando com o par amônia (NH3) e água (H2O) como fluido de trabalho. O modelo termodinâmico foi implementado no software Engineering Equation Solver (EES), para a obtenção das propriedades da solução. Avaliou-se a influência das temperaturas de evaporação e de condensação, além da diferença de fração mássica de amônia entre a solução rica e pobre no coeficiente de desempenho do ciclo. Ademais, um caso de aplicação, com uma carga térmica previamente conhecida foi avaliado. Os resultados demonstraram um aumento no COP devido ao aumento da temperatura de evaporação e do aumento diferença de fração.Climate change produces temperature imbalances that affect the thermal comfort of humans in the environments in which they are inserted, generating great demand for energy. Thus, it is necessary to search for alternatives to supply the thermal well-being of people. In the present work, a single effect absorption cycle operating with the pair ammonia (NH3) and water (H2O) as working fluid is evaluated. The thermodynamic model was implemented in the Engineering Equation Solver (EES) software, to obtain the properties of the solution. The influence of evaporation and condensation temperatures, as well as the difference in ammonia mass fraction between the rich and poor solution on the cycle performance coefficient, was evaluated. In addition, an application case with a previously known thermal load was evaluated. The results showed an increase in COP due to the increase in evaporation temperature and the increase in fraction difference

O envolvimento da família na motivação para a leitura

O presente Relatório Final de Estágio (RFE) encontra-se dividido em duas partes: a primeira é uma reflexão crítica sobre a Prática de Ensino Supervisionada (PES) no 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico (CEB) e na Educação Pré-Escolar (EPE), e a segunda parte é relativa ao projeto de investigação desenvolvido em contexto de estágio no âmbito da PES na EPE. A primeira parte do RFE, contempla uma retrospetiva do percurso no 1.º CEB e na EPE, realizados na PES I e II, e uma reflexão sobre os contextos e as aprendizagens realizadas. Esta parte foi baseada nos elementos dos dossiês semestrais elaborados. A segunda parte do RFE inclui um estudo empírico, que resulta de um trabalho de investigação, visando conhecer o envolvimento da família na motivação para a leitura. O estudo de caráter qualitativo aplicado em EPE, foi realizado com recurso à observação, recolha documental, atividades de leitura, vídeos e inquéritos por questionário. Esta investigação possibilitou-nos concluir que os Pais/Encarregados de Educação (EE) se envolviam na vida escolar dos seus educandos, e constatar a importância de tal envolvimento.This Final Internship Report (RFE) is divided into two parts: the first is a critical reflection on the Supervised Teaching Practice (PES) in the 1st Cycle of Basic Education (CEB) and in Pre-School Education (EPE), and the second part is related to the research project developed in the context of an internship within the scope of PES at EPE. The first part of the RFE contemplates a retrospective of the course in the 1st CEB and EPE, carried out in PES I and II, and a reflection on the contexts and the lessons learned. This part was based on elements of the semi-annual dossiers prepared. The second part of the RFE includes an empirical study, which results from a research work, aiming to know the involvement of the family in the motivation for reading. The qualitative study applied in EPE was carried out using observation, document collection, reading activities, videos and questionnaire surveys. This investigation allowed us to conclude that Parents/Guardians (EE) were involved in the school life of their students, and to verify the importance of such involvement

Cloning and expression of a thermostable α-galactosidase from the thermophilic fungus Talaromyces emersonii in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris

The first gene (alpha-gal1) encoding an extracellular alpha-Dgalactosidase from the thermophilic fungus Talaromyces emersonii was cloned and characterized. The alpha-gal1 gene consisted of an open reading frame of 1,792 base pairs interrupted by six introns that encoded a mature protein of 452 amino acids, including a 24 amino acid secretory signal sequence. The translated protein had highest identity with other fungal alpha-galactosidases belonging to glycosyl hydrolase family 27. The alpha-gal1 gene was overexpressed as a secretory protein with an N-terminal histidine tag in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. Recombinant alpha-Gal1 was secreted into the culture medium as a monomeric glycoprotein with a maximal yield of 10.75 mg/l and purified to homogeneity using Hisbinding nickel-agarose affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme was maximally active at 70 degrees C, pH 4.5, and lost no activity over 10 days at 50 degrees C. alpha-Gal1 followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics (Vmax of 240.3 micronM/min/mg, Km of 0.294 mM) and was inhibited competitively by galactose (Km obs of 0.57 mM, Ki of 2.77 mM). The recombinant T. emersonii alpha-galactosidase displayed broad substrate preference, being active on both oligo- and polymeric substrates, yet had strict specificity for the alpha-galactosidic linkage. Owing to its substrate preference and noteworthy stability, alpha-Gal1 is of particular interest for possible biotechnological applications involving the processing of plant materials.J.S. thanks her supervisor at the University of Jyvaskyla, Emily Knott, for permission to perform her Masters degree research while on exchange at NUT Galway, and for constructive comments on the manuscript. J.S. and A.G. both received scholarships under EU Erasmus/Socrates bilateral agreement. Funding for this research was provided in part to M.G.T. under the National Development Plan, through the Food Institutional Research Measure, administered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Ireland