Vertically coupled microring resonators using one epitaxial growth step and single-side lithography

A

Nueva localidad de anidación de la garza agami, Agamia agami (Pelecaniformes: Ardeidae) en Ecuador

The Agami heron, Agamia agami, is a rare species of the Neotropics, and even though its distribution is large, little is known about the sites where it congregates to nest. We report a new nesting site, which is the eighth reported site in the Neotropics, located in Tambococha, Yasuní National Park, Ecuador. We estimate that it is occupied by approximately 140 individuals, based on the 70 nests counted and considering the monogamous behavior of this species for at least one year. The discovery of this nesting colony is important to determine more precisely the distribution area of this species, and, in the future, monitor populations and develop studies of population genetics, migration, and behavioral movements as a basis to implement a conservation strategy for the Agami Heron in Ecuador.La garza Agamia agami es una especie rara que habita en el Neotrópico. Aunque su distribución es amplia, se sabe poco sobre los sitios donde se congrega para anidar. Reportamos un nuevo sitio de anidación, el octavo conocido en el Neotropico, ubicado en Tambococha, Parque Nacional Yasuní, Ecuador. Estimamos la presencia de aproximadamente 140 individuos, cifra que se basa en los 70 nidos contabilizados, considerando el comportamiento monógamo que presenta esta especie por lo menos en un año. El descubrimiento de esta colonia de anidación es importante para determinar con mayor precisión el área de distribución de esta especie y, en el futuro, realizar estudios genéticos poblacionales, movimientos migratorios, comportamentales y de monitoreo que sirvan de base para implementar una estrategia de conservación de la garza agami en Ecuador

Wavelength calibration of the JWST-MIRI medium resolution spectrometer

We present the wavelength and spectral resolution characterisation of the Integral Field Unit (IFU) Medium Resolution Spectrometer for the Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI), to fly onboard the James Webb Space Telescope in 2014. We use data collected using the Verification Model of the instrument and develop an empirical method to calibrate properties such as wavelength range and resolving power in a portion of the spectrometer's full spectral range (5-28 microns). We test our results against optical models to verify the system requirements and combine them with a study of the fringing pattern in the instrument's detector to provide a more accurate calibration. We show that MIRI's IFU spectrometer will be able to produce spectra with a resolving power above R=2800 in the wavelength range 6.46-7.70 microns, and that the unresolved spectral lines are well fitted by a Gaussian profile.Comment: 12 pages, submitted to SPIE Proceedings vol. 7731, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2010: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wav

Mimicking tricks from nature with sensory organic-inorganic hybrid materials

Design strategies for (bio)chemical systems that are inspired by nature's accomplishments in system design and operation on various levels of complexity are increasingly gaining in importance. Within the broad field of biomimetic chemistry, this article highlights various attempts toward improved and sophisticated sensory materials that rely on the combination of supramolecular (bio)chemical recognition principles and nanoscopic solid structures. Examples range from more established concepts such as hybrid sensing ensembles with improved sensitivity and selectivity or for target analytes for which selectivity is hard to achieve by conventional methods, which were often inspired by protein binding pockets or ion channels in membranes, to very recent approaches relying on target-gated amplified signalling with functionalised mesoporous inorganic supports and the integration of native biological sensory species such as transmembrane proteins in spherically supported bilayer membranes. Besides obvious mimicry of recognition-based processes, selected approaches toward chemical transduction junctions utilizing artificially organized synapses, hybrid ensembles for improved antibody generation and uniquely colour changing systems are discussed. All of these strategies open up exciting new prospects for the development of sensing concepts and sensory devices at the interface of nanotechnology, smart materials and supramolecular (bio)chemistry. © 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry.Martínez Mañez, R.; Sancenón Galarza, F.; Biyikal, M.; Hecht, M.; Rurack, K. (2011). Mimicking tricks from nature with sensory organic-inorganic hybrid materials. Journal of Materials Chemistry. 21(34):12588-12604. doi:10.1039/c1jm11210dS12588126042134Ma, M. (2007). Encoding Olfactory Signals via Multiple Chemosensory Systems. Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 42(6), 463-480. doi:10.1080/10409230701693359Leinders-Zufall, T., Lane, A. P., Puche, A. C., Ma, W., Novotny, M. 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Biophysical Chemistry, 100(1-3), 519-534. doi:10.1016/s0301-4622(02)00303-4Anslyn, E. V. (2007). Supramolecular Analytical Chemistry. The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 72(3), 687-699. doi:10.1021/jo0617971Descalzo, A. B., Martínez-Máñez, R., Sancenón, F., Hoffmann, K., & Rurack, K. (2006). The Supramolecular Chemistry of Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Materials. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 45(36), 5924-5948. doi:10.1002/anie.200600734Martínez-Máñez, R., Sancenón, F., Hecht, M., Biyikal, M., & Rurack, K. (2010). Nanoscopic optical sensors based on functional supramolecular hybrid materials. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 399(1), 55-74. doi:10.1007/s00216-010-4198-2Koshland, D. E. (1958). Application of a Theory of Enzyme Specificity to Protein Synthesis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 44(2), 98-104. doi:10.1073/pnas.44.2.98Hammes, G. G. (2002). Multiple Conformational Changes in Enzyme Catalysis†. Biochemistry, 41(26), 8221-8228. doi:10.1021/bi0260839Lin, V. S.-Y., Lai, C.-Y., Huang, J., Song, S.-A., & Xu, S. (2001). Molecular Recognition Inside of Multifunctionalized Mesoporous Silicas:  Toward Selective Fluorescence Detection of Dopamine and Glucosamine. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 123(46), 11510-11511. doi:10.1021/ja016223mRadu, D. R., Lai, C.-Y., Wiench, J. W., Pruski, M., & Lin, V. S.-Y. (2004). Gatekeeping Layer Effect:  A Poly(lactic acid)-coated Mesoporous Silica Nanosphere-Based Fluorescence Probe for Detection of Amino-Containing Neurotransmitters. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 126(6), 1640-1641. doi:10.1021/ja038222vDescalzo, A. B., Rurack, K., Weisshoff, H., Martínez-Máñez, R., Marcos, M. D., Amorós, P., … Soto, J. (2005). Rational Design of a Chromo- and Fluorogenic Hybrid Chemosensor Material for the Detection of Long-Chain Carboxylates. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 127(1), 184-200. doi:10.1021/ja045683nComes, M., Marcos, M. D., Martínez-Máñez, R., Sancenón, F., Soto, J., Villaescusa, L. A., … Beltrán, D. (2004). Chromogenic Discrimination of Primary Aliphatic Amines in Water with Functionalized Mesoporous Silica. Advanced Materials, 16(20), 1783-1786. doi:10.1002/adma.200400143(s. f.). doi:10.1021/ol052298García-Acosta, B., Comes, M., Bricks, J. L., Kudinova, M. A., Kurdyukov, V. V., Tolmachev, A. I., … Amorós, P. (2006). Sensory hybrid host materials for the selective chromo-fluorogenic detection of biogenic amines. Chem. Commun., (21), 2239-2241. doi:10.1039/b602497aComes, M., Marcos, M. D., Martínez-Máñez, R., Millán, M. C., Ros-Lis, J. V., Sancenón, F., … Villaescusa, L. A. (2006). Anchoring Dyes into Multidimensional Large-Pore Zeolites: A Prospective Use as Chromogenic Sensing Materials. Chemistry - A European Journal, 12(8), 2162-2170. doi:10.1002/chem.200500932Comes, M., Rodríguez-López, G., Marcos, M. D., Martínez-Máñez, R., Sancenón, F., Soto, J., … Beltrán, D. (2005). Host Solids Containing Nanoscale Anion-Binding Pockets and Their Use in Selective Sensing Displacement Assays. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 44(19), 2918-2922. doi:10.1002/anie.200461511Comes, M., Marcos, M. D., Martínez-Máñez, R., Sancenón, F., Soto, J., Villaescusa, L. A., & Amorós, P. (2008). Hybrid materials with nanoscopic anion-binding pockets for the colorimetric sensing of phosphate in water using displacement assays. Chemical Communications, (31), 3639. doi:10.1039/b804396eComes, M., Aznar, E., Moragues, M., Marcos, M. D., Martínez-Máñez, R., Sancenón, F., … Amorós, P. (2009). Mesoporous Hybrid Materials Containing Nanoscopic «Binding Pockets» for Colorimetric Anion Signaling in Water by using Displacement Assays. Chemistry - A European Journal, 15(36), 9024-9033. doi:10.1002/chem.200900890Vašák, M. (2005). Advances in metallothionein structure and functions. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 19(1), 13-17. doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2005.03.003Slocik, J. M., & Wright, D. W. (2003). Biomimetic Mineralization of Noble Metal Nanoclusters. Biomacromolecules, 4(5), 1135-1141. doi:10.1021/bm034003qLee, J.-W., & Helmann, J. D. (2007). Functional specialization within the Fur family of metalloregulators. BioMetals, 20(3-4), 485-499. doi:10.1007/s10534-006-9070-7Lee, M. H., Lee, S. J., Jung, J. H., Lim, H., & Kim, J. S. (2007). Luminophore-immobilized mesoporous silica for selective Hg2+ sensing. Tetrahedron, 63(48), 12087-12092. doi:10.1016/j.tet.2007.08.113Song, C., Zhang, X., Jia, C., Zhou, P., Quan, X., & Duan, C. (2010). Highly sensitive and selective fluorescence sensor based on functional SBA-15 for detection of Hg2+ in Aqueous Media. Talanta, 81(1-2), 643-649. doi:10.1016/j.talanta.2009.12.047Métivier, R., Leray, I., Lebeau, B., & Valeur, B. (2005). A mesoporous silica functionalized by a covalently bound calixarene-based fluoroionophore for selective optical sensing of mercury(ii) in water. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 15(27-28), 2965. doi:10.1039/b501897hLee, S. J., Lee, J.-E., Seo, J., Jeong, I. Y., Lee, S. S., & Jung, J. H. (2007). Optical Sensor Based on Nanomaterial for the Selective Detection of Toxic Metal Ions. Advanced Functional Materials, 17(17), 3441-3446. doi:10.1002/adfm.200601202Palomares, E., Vilar, R., & Durrant, J. R. (2004). Heterogeneous colorimetric sensor for mercuric saltsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Materials and methods. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/cc/b3/b314138a/. Chemical Communications, (4), 362. doi:10.1039/b314138aWang, Y., Li, B., Zhang, L., Liu, L., Zuo, Q., & Li, P. (2010). A highly selective regenerable optical sensor for detection of mercury(ii) ion in water using organic–inorganic hybrid nanomaterials containing pyrene. New Journal of Chemistry, 34(9), 1946. doi:10.1039/c0nj00039fLi, L.-L., Sun, H., Fang, C.-J., Xu, J., Jin, J.-Y., & Yan, C.-H. (2007). Optical sensors based on functionalized mesoporous silica SBA-15 for the detection of multianalytes (H+ and Cu2+) in water. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 17(42), 4492. doi:10.1039/b708857dZhang, H., Zhang, P., Ye, K., Sun, Y., Jiang, S., Wang, Y., & Pang, W. (2006). Mesoporous material grafted with luminescent molecules for the design of selective metal ion chemosensor. Journal of Luminescence, 117(1), 68-74. doi:10.1016/j.jlumin.2005.04.009Gao, L., Wang, J. Q., Huang, L., Fan, X. X., Zhu, J. H., Wang, Y., & Zou, Z. G. (2007). Novel Inorganic−Organic Hybrid Fluorescence Chemosensor Derived from SBA-15 for Copper Cation. Inorganic Chemistry, 46(24), 10287-10293. doi:10.1021/ic7008732Wang, J.-Q., Huang, L., Xue, M., Wang, Y., Gao, L., Zhu, J. H., & Zou, Z. (2008). Architecture of a Hybrid Mesoporous Chemosensor for Fe3+ by Covalent Coupling Bis-Schiff Base PMBA onto the CPTES-Functionalized SBA-15. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 112(13), 5014-5022. doi:10.1021/jp7099948Gao, L., Wang, Y., Wang, J., Huang, L., Shi, L., Fan, X., … Li, Z. (2006). A Novel ZnII-Sensitive Fluorescent Chemosensor Assembled within Aminopropyl-Functionalized Mesoporous SBA-15. Inorganic Chemistry, 45(17), 6844-6850. doi:10.1021/ic0516562Balaji, T., Sasidharan, M., & Matsunaga, H. (2005). Naked eye detection of cadmium using inorganic–organic hybrid mesoporous material. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 384(2), 488-494. doi:10.1007/s00216-005-0187-2Balaji, T., El-Safty, S. A., Matsunaga, H., Hanaoka, T., & Mizukami, F. (2006). Optical Sensors Based on Nanostructured Cage Materials for the Detection of Toxic Metal Ions. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 45(43), 7202-7208. doi:10.1002/anie.200602453El-Safty, S. A., Ismail, A. A., Matsunaga, H., & Mizukami, F. (2007). Optical Nanosensor Design with Uniform Pore Geometry and Large Particle Morphology. Chemistry - A European Journal, 13(33), 9245-9255. doi:10.1002/chem.200700499El-Safty, S. A., Ismail, A. A., Matsunaga, H., Hanaoka, T., & Mizukami, F. (2008). Optical Nanoscale Pool-on-Surface Design for Control Sensing Recognition of Multiple Cations. Advanced Functional Materials, 18(10), 1485-1500. doi:10.1002/adfm.200701059Ros-Lis, J. V., Casasús, R., Comes, M., Coll, C., Marcos, M. D., Martínez-Máñez, R., … Rurack, K. (2008). A Mesoporous 3D Hybrid Material with Dual Functionality for Hg2+Detection and Adsorption. Chemistry - A European Journal, 14(27), 8267-8278. doi:10.1002/chem.200800632Lee, S. J., Bae, D. R., Han, W. S., Lee, S. S., & Jung, J. H. (2008). Different Morphological Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Nanomaterials as Fluorescent Chemosensors and Adsorbents for CuII Ions. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2008(10), 1559-1564. doi:10.1002/ejic.200701073Lee, H. Y., Bae, D. R., Park, J. C., Song, H., Han, W. S., & Jung, J. H. (2009). A Selective Fluoroionophore Based on BODIPY-functionalized Magnetic Silica Nanoparticles: Removal of Pb2+ from Human Blood. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 48(7), 1239-1243. doi:10.1002/anie.200804714Haupt, K., & Mosbach, K. (2000). Molecularly Imprinted Polymers and Their Use in Biomimetic Sensors. Chemical Reviews, 100(7), 2495-2504. doi:10.1021/cr990099wWulff, G. (2002). Enzyme-like Catalysis by Molecularly Imprinted Polymers. Chemical Reviews, 102(1), 1-28. doi:10.1021/cr980039aSellergren, B. (1997). Noncovalent molecular imprinting: antibody-like molecular recognition in polymeric network materials. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 16(6), 310-320. doi:10.1016/s0165-9936(97)00027-7D�az-Garc�a, M. E., & La�n�o, R. B. (2004). Molecular Imprinting in Sol-Gel Materials: Recent Developments and Applications. Microchimica Acta, 149(1-2), 19-36. doi:10.1007/s00604-004-0274-7Bossi, A., Bonini, F., Turner, A. P. F., & Piletsky, S. A. (2007). Molecularly imprinted polymers for the recognition of proteins: The state of the art. Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 22(6), 1131-1137. doi:10.1016/j.bios.2006.06.023Nicholls, I. A., & Rosengren, J. P. (2001). Bioseparation, 10(6), 301-305. doi:10.1023/a:1021541631063Chang, Y.-S., Ko, T.-H., Hsu, T.-J., & Syu, M.-J. (2009). Synthesis of an Imprinted Hybrid Organic−Inorganic Polymeric Sol−Gel Matrix Toward the Specific Binding and Isotherm Kinetics Investigation of Creatinine. Analytical Chemistry, 81(6), 2098-2105. doi:10.1021/ac802168wBass, J. D., & Katz, A. (2003). Thermolytic Synthesis of Imprinted Amines in Bulk Silica. Chemistry of Materials, 15(14), 2757-2763. doi:10.1021/cm021822tCarlson, C. A., Lloyd, J. A., Dean, S. L., Walker, N. R., & Edmiston, P. L. (2006). Sensor for Fluorene Based on the Incorporation of an Environmentally Sensitive Fluorophore Proximal to a Molecularly Imprinted Binding Site. Analytical Chemistry, 78(11), 3537-3542. doi:10.1021/ac051375bShughart, E. L., Ahsan, K., Detty, M. R., & Bright, F. V. (2006). Site Selectively Templated and Tagged Xerogels for Chemical Sensors. Analytical Chemistry, 78(9), 3165-3170. doi:10.1021/ac060113mTrammell, S. A., Zeinali, M., Melde, B. J., Charles, P. T., Velez, F. L., Dinderman, M. A., … Markowitz, M. A. (2008). Nanoporous Organosilicas as Preconcentration Materials for the Electrochemical Detection of Trinitrotoluene. Analytical Chemistry, 80(12), 4627-4633. doi:10.1021/ac702263tMakote, R., & Collinson, M. M. (1998). Template Recognition in Inorganic−Organic Hybrid Films Prepared by the Sol−Gel Process. Chemistry of Materials, 10(9), 2440-2445. doi:10.1021/cm9801136Makote, R., & Collinson, M. M. (1998). Dopamine recognition in templated silicate films. Chemical Communications, (3), 425-426. doi:10.1039/a705536fFireman-Shoresh, S., Avnir, D., & Marx, S. (2003). General Method for Chiral Imprinting of Sol−Gel Thin Films Exhibiting Enantioselectivity. Chemistry of Materials, 15(19), 3607-3613. doi:10.1021/cm0340734Marx, S., Zaltsman, A., Turyan, I., & Mandler, D. (2004). Parathion Sensor Based on Molecularly Imprinted Sol−Gel Films. Analytical Chemistry, 76(1), 120-126. doi:10.1021/ac034531sTurner, N. W., Jeans, C. W., Brain, K. R., Allender, C. J., Hlady, V., & Britt, D. W. (2006). From 3D to 2D: A Review of the Molecular Imprinting of Proteins. Biotechnology Progress, 22(6), 1474-1489. doi:10.1002/bp060122gXie, C., Liu, B., Wang, Z., Gao, D., Guan, G., & Zhang, Z. (2008). Molecular Imprinting at Walls of Silica Nanotubes for TNT Recognition. Analytical Chemistry, 80(2), 437-443. doi:10.1021/ac701767hTan, J., Wang, H.-F., & Yan, X.-P. (2009). Discrimination of Saccharides with a Fluorescent Molecular Imprinting Sensor Array Based on Phenylboronic Acid Functionalized Mesoporous Silica. Analytical Chemistry, 81(13), 5273-5280. doi:10.1021/ac900484xWang, H.-F., He, Y., Ji, T.-R., & Yan, X.-P. (2009). Surface Molecular Imprinting on Mn-Doped ZnS Quantum Dots for Room-Temperature Phosphorescence Optosensing of Pentachlorophenol in Water. Analytical Chemistry, 81(4), 1615-1621. doi:10.1021/ac802375aJentsch, T. J., Stein, V., Weinreich, F., & Zdebik, A. A. (2002). Molecular Structure and Physiological Function of Chloride Channels. Physiological Reviews, 82(2), 503-568. doi:10.1152/physrev.00029.2001Morbach, S., & Krämer, R. (2002). Body Shaping under Water Stress: Osmosensing and Osmoregulation of Solute Transport in Bacteria. ChemBioChem, 3(5), 384. doi:10.1002/1439-7633(20020503)3:53.0.co;2-hWemmie, J. A., Price, M. P., & Welsh, M. J. (2006). Acid-sensing ion channels: advances, questions and therapeutic opportunities. Trends in Neurosciences, 29(10), 578-586. doi:10.1016/j.tins.2006.06.014Bayley, H., & Martin, C. R. (2000). Resistive-Pulse SensingFrom Microbes to Molecules. Chemical Reviews, 100(7), 2575-2594. doi:10.1021/cr980099gJung, Y., Bayley, H., & Movileanu, L. (2006). 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Macromolecules, 25(20), 5398-5407. doi:10.1021/ma00046a042Finn, J. T., Grunwald, M. E., & Yau, K.-W. (1996). Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Ion Channels: An Extended Family With Diverse Functions. Annual Review of Physiology, 58(1), 395-426. doi:10.1146/annurev.ph.58.030196.002143Levitan, I. B. (2006). Signaling protein complexes associated with neuronal ion channels. Nature Neuroscience, 9(3), 305-310. doi:10.1038/nn1647Goldenberg, L. M., Bryce, M. R., & Petty, M. C. (1999). Chemosensor devices: voltammetric molecular recognition at solid interfaces. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 9(9), 1957-1974. doi:10.1039/a901825eBühlmann, P., Aoki, H., Xiao, K. P., Amemiya, S., Tohda, K., & Umezawa, Y. (1998). Chemical Sensing with Chemically Modified Electrodes that Mimic Gating at Biomembranes Incorporating Ion-Channel Receptors. Electroanalysis, 10(17), 1149-1158. doi:10.1002/(sici)1521-4109(199811)10:173.0.co;2-nSugawara, M., Hirano, A., Bühlmann, P., & Umezawa, Y. (2002). Design and Application of Ion-Channel Sensors Based on Biological and Artificial Receptors. Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan, 75(2), 187-201. doi:10.1246/bcsj.75.187Gadzekpo, V. P. Y., Xiao, K. P., Aoki, H., Bühlmann, P., & Umezawa, Y. (1999). Voltammetric Detection of the Polycation Protamine by the Use of Electrodes Modified with Self-Assembled Monolayers of Thioctic Acid. Analytical Chemistry, 71(22), 5109-5115. doi:10.1021/ac990580mGadzekpo, V. P. Y., Bühlmann, P., Xiao, K. P., Aoki, H., & Umezawa, Y. (2000). Development of an ion-channel sensor for heparin detection. Analytica Chimica Acta, 411(1-2), 163-173. doi:10.1016/s0003-2670(00)00740-6Bandyopadhyay, K., Liu, H., Liu, S.-G., & Echegoyen, L. (2000). Self-assembled monolayers of bis-thioctic ester derivatives of oligoethyleneglycols: remarkable selectivity for K+/Na+ recognition. Chemical Communications, (2), 141-142. doi:10.1039/a905839gFlink, S., Schönherr, H., Vancso, G. J., Geurts, F. A. J., van Leerdam, K. G. 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The Design of Cyclic AMP−Recognizing Oligopeptides and Evaluation of Its Capability for Cyclic AMP Recognition Using an Electrochemical System. Analytical Chemistry, 72(19), 4671-4674. doi:10.1021/ac990847hCliment, E., Casasús, R., Marcos, M. D., Martínez-Máñez, R., Sancenón, F., & Soto, J. (2008). Chromo-fluorogenic sensing of pyrophosphate in aqueous media using silica functionalised with binding and reactive units. Chemical Communications, (48), 6531. doi:10.1039/b813199fCliment, E., Calero, P., Marcos, M. D., Martínez-Máñez, R.

A new fungal isolates applicated to bovine skin in beamhouse processes

Content: Beamhouse area is an important step in leather technology, either in the final quality of the leather or in the contribution to the contamination of effluents. In unhairing process, the use of enzymes as sulphide assistants can reduce sulfhidric gas emissions to reach permitted levels for health. The characterization of enzymatic extracts allows controlling the proteolysis mechanism so that its action does not attack the reticular structure. A new fungal enzyme extracts were applied on submerged bovine skin in the soaking and unhairing steps. Fungal strains were isolated from alkaline soils of coast of Buenos Aires province and enzymatic extracts (EE) were obtained by submerged culture with bovine hair waste from hair-saving unhairing process as inducer in the production of keratinolytic enzymes. This activity was determined by quantitative test and the most productive strains were selected: Clonostachys rosea (CR), Emericellopsis minima (EM), Paecilomyces lilacinus (PL), Penicillium sp (Psp), Fusarium oxysporum (FO), Acremonium sp (A) and an unidentified filamentous fungus strain with sterile yellow mycelium (SYM). EE were tested at laboratory scale on submerged bovine skin with biocide 0,2% w/w wet skin, anionic 0,1% and non-ionic 0,5% tensioactives in soaking and unhairing respectively and incubated 48 h at 37°C in shaking thermostatic bath. Controls were tested in the same conditions without EE. Morphological changes in the skin were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Pieces of bovine skin were fixed, post-fixed in formaldehyde 4% and dehydrated in alcohol solutions, treated by critical point drying, metalized and analyzed in SEM. It was observed with FO, EM and A extracts empty hair follicles, absence of epidermis, papillary layer of dermis exposed, hairs enclosed by detached hair follicle sheaths and collagen fibers without characteristic patterns. With PL and SYM EE some hairs were detached while Psp and CR EE did not produce changes. In control samples epidermis and hair without modification were observed. In the quantitative test, keratinolytic activities increased in the following order: A<PL<Psp<CR<FO<SYM. Submerged culture with keratin as inductor produced keratinolytic enzymes useful for unhairing step. Fusarium oxysporum extract showed the greatest effect on the skin, thus the relationship between keratinolytic activity and depilatory effect was found. However, it is necessary to find the optimal conditions to avoid the damage of collagen and enable its application as a sustainable technology. Take-Away: A new fungal isolates applicated to bovine skin in beamhouse processe

Maternal structure of Iberian honey bees inferred from whole mitochondrial genomes

The maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA has been the marker of choice for assessing Iberian honey bee variation, particularly the intergenic tRNA leu -cox2 region. The data generated by massive sampling of this region confirmed early findings of coexistence of African (A) and western European (M) lineages, forming a southwestern–northeastern cline, and revealed unparalleled levels of haplotype diversity and complexity. Accordingly, it has been suggested that Iberia served as a glacial refuge, and as a place of secondary contact between European and African lineages. While we have learned a great deal with this region, due to its high levels of variation and repetitive structure, there are evolutionary questions that an only be properly addressed using other mitochondrial regions. In this study, we used NGS technology to sequence the mitogenomes of 92 individuals and analyzed the data using two phylogenetic methods.We are deeply grateful to numerous people that collaborated in this study. Beekeepers from Spain and Portugal helped obtaining Iberian samples. Antonio Pajuelo provided the contacts of Spanish beekeepers. Margarida Neto, Andreia Brandão and Irene Muñoz collaborated in the sampling. Pilar de la Rúa, Wahida Loucif, Per Kryger, Bjorn Dahle, Lionel Garnery, Raffaele Dall’ Olio, and Romée van der Zee provided the reference samples. Phillip San Miguel and Paul Parker sequenced the whole genomes and Rick Westerman performed the mapping (Purdue University). Dora Henriques and Julio Chávez-Galarza are supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia through the scholarships SFRH/BD/84195/2012 and SFRH/BD/68682/2010, respectively. This research was funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and COMPETE/QREN/EU through the project PTDC/BIA-BEC/099640/2008.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Análisis de introgresión en Apis mellifera iberiensis y Apis mellifera mellifera usando polimorfismos de nucleótidos simples (SNPs)

Diferentes estudios han agrupado las subespecies de A. mellifera en cuatro linajes evolutivos basados sobre marcadores morfométricos, ecológicos, microsatélites y mtDNA: Africano (A), Medio Oriente (O), Este y Centro de Europa (C), Norte y Oeste de Europa (M). El linaje M está representado por las subespecies A. m. iberiensis y A. m. mellifera, cuya distribución es la Península Ibérica para la primera y desde los Pirineos hacia el Norte de Europa para la segunda. Durante las últimas décadas, la introducción masiva de subespecies del linaje C por apicultores ha ocasionado un fuerte flujo génico y más aún al casi completo remplazamiento de A. m. mellifera, como ha sido reportado para Alemania. Por tanto, el análisis de niveles de introgresión en programas de crianza y conservación es de vital importancia para evitar la perdida de diversidad genética y sustitución de especies nativas. Este estudio busca identificar los niveles de introgresión de subespecies del linaje C en las subespecies pertenecientes al linaje M a través de un análisis amplio del genoma usando SNPs. Para 711 individuos correspondiente a A. m. iberiensis y 88 individuos A. m. mellifera fueron genotipados 1536 SNPs. Las subespecies de linaje C A. m. ligustica y A. m. carnica fueron usados como poblaciones de referencia. Los niveles de introgresión fueron evaluados usando un método de agrupamiento Bayesiano implementado en el software STRUCTURE. Nuestros resultados indicaron que la introgresión en A. m .iberiensis no es significante, a diferencia en A. m. mellifera que presentó de 8% a 30% de introgresión. Considerando que muchas de las muestras de A. m. mellifera son provenientes de poblaciones integradas en programas de conservación en el Norte de Europa, este resultado evidencia el profundo contraste entre las dos subespecies del linaje M con respecto a su estado de conservación

Spectrophotometry of HII Regions, Diffuse Ionized Gas and Supernova Remnants in M31: The Transition from Photo- to Shock-Ionization

We present results of KPNO 4-m optical spectroscopy of discrete emission-line nebulae and regions of diffuse ionized gas (DIG) in M31. Long-slit spectra of 16 positions in the NE half of M31 were obtained over a 5-15 kpc range in radial distance from the center of the galaxy. The spectra have been used to confirm 16 supernova remnant candidates from the Braun & Walterbos (1993) catalog. The slits also covered 46 HII regions which show significant differences among the various morphological types (center-brightened, diffuse, rings). Radial gradients in emission-line ratios such as [OIII]/H$\beta$ and [OII]/[OIII] are observed most prominently in the center-brightened HII regions. These line ratio trends are either much weaker or completely absent in the diffuse and ring nebulae. The line ratio gradients previously seen in M31 SNRs (Blair, Kirshner, & Chevalier 1981; 1982) are well reproduced by our new data. The spectra of center-brightened HII regions and SNRs confirm previous determinations of the radial abundance gradient in M31. We use diagnostic diagrams which separate photoionized gas from shock-ionized gas to compare the spectral properties of HII regions, SNRs and DIG. This analysis strengthens earlier claims (Greenawalt, Walterbos, & Braun 1997) that the DIG in the disk of M31 is photoionized by a dilute radiation field.Comment: 45 pages, 9 figures, 7 tables, to appear in the Astronomical Journal (December 1999