Pericarp ontogenesis in wild species of Arachis L. (Leguminosae; Papilionoideae)

The genus Arachis encompasses 80 validly described species and the most striking characteristics is the geocarpic fruit, which occurs in every species of the genus. Taking into consideration that much of the current knowledge about this subject is based on the anatomy and morphology of A. hypogaea, a cultivated species with fruits that were modified during domestication, the objective of this study was to learn more about the development of the geocarpic fruits of wild species of Arachis (A. paraguariensis, A. pintoi, A. stenosperma, and A. tuberosa), and to provide characters that can be used in future phylogenetic works about this group. Buds, flowers and fruits at different stages of development were collected and processed according to standard methods used for light field, interferential contrast, and scanning electron microscopy. Although the geocarpic fruits of the wild species share many adaptations, this study identified potentially diagnostic infrageneric characters, such as the type of trichomes on the pericarp, the presence of sclerenchyma caps in the bundles of the pericarp of the seed chamber of the fruit and isthmus, the presence of tracheoid cells in the pith of the isthmus, the location of crystalliferous cells, the presence of tannins in the cells of mesocarp outer layers, and the presence of projections in the sclerenchyma tissue. In addition, this article brings some inferences about functional characteristics of this peculiar geocarpic fruit.     

Stability of crude ligninases: Effect of different hydrogen peroxide concentrations in the presence of aromatic alcohols

Summary In absence of veratryl alcohol (VA),Phanerochaete chrysosporium ligninases were extensively inactivated by H₂O₂ concentrations as low as 5.0 μM (1 hr exposure time, pH 4.5, 38°C). In the presence of 2.5 mM VA (but not 2.5 mM benzyl alcohol), protection occurred below 500 μM H₂O₂.     

Genome-wide detection of copy number variants in European autochthonous and commercial pig breeds by whole-genome sequencing of DNA pools identified breed-characterising copy number states

In this study, we identified copy number variants (CNVs) in 19 European autochthonous pig breeds and in two commercial breeds (Italian Large White and Italian Duroc) that represent important genetic resources for this species. The genome of 725 pigs was sequenced using a breed-specific DNA pooling approach (30–35 animals per pool) obtaining an average depth per pool of 42×. This approach maximised CNV discovery as well as the related copy number states characterising, on average, the analysed breeds. By mining more than 17.5 billion reads, we identified a total of 9592 CNVs (~683 CNVs per breed) and 3710 CNV regions (CNVRs; 1.15% of the reference pig genome), with an average of 77 CNVRs per breed that were considered as private. A few CNVRs were analysed in more detail, together with other information derived from sequencing data. For example, the CNVR encompassing the KIT gene was associated with coat colour phenotypes in the analysed breeds, confirming the role of the multiple copies in determining breed-specific coat colours. The CNVR covering the MSRB3 gene was associated with ear size in most breeds. The CNVRs affecting the ELOVL6 and ZNF622 genes were private features observed in the Lithuanian Indigenous Wattle and in the Turopolje pig breeds respectively. Overall, the genome variability unravelled here can explain part of the genetic diversity among breeds and might contribute to explain their origin, history and adaptation to a variety of production systems.     

Fossil peccaries of Late Pleistocene/Holocene (Cetartiodactyla,Tayassuidae) from underwater caves of Serra da Bodoquena (Mato Grosso do Sul State,Brazil)

New records of Catagonus stenocephalus and Tayassu pecari are reported from the karst of Serra da Bodoquena, located at a south-western portion of Brazil near the border with Paraguay. Skull and lower jaw fragments at different stages of mineralisation were retrieved from two limestone underwater caves, Japonês and Nascente do Formoso, associated with clay and sand deposits with no retrievable stratigraphy. C14 dating of fossil mammals from these caves was attempted, but so far no success was achieved, but the inferred age for the associated paleofauna of these caves is Late Pleistocene and Holocene. The morphology of these fossil peccaries, from the most south-western known population in Brazil, is detailed and paleoecological implications are considered.     

Association Between Selenium and Malondialdehyde as an Efficient Biomarker of Oxidative Stress in Infantile Cardiac Surgery

Biological Trace Element Research - The present work describes a method to quantify the level of oxidative stress in infantile cardiac surgery. Fifteen patients, 6 girls and 9 boys, aged between...     

Antibiofilm effect of mono-rhamnolipids and di-rhamnolipids on carbon steel submitted to oil produced water

The objective of this study was to compare the potential of mono-rhamnolipids (mono-RML) and di-rhamnolipids (di-RML) against biofilm formation on carbon steel coupons submitted to oil produced water for 14 days. The antibiofilm effect of the RML on the coupons was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and by epifluorescence microscopy, and the contact angle was measured using a goniometer. SEM analysis results showed that all RML congeners had effective antibiofilm action, as well as preliminary anticorrosion evaluation confirmed that all RML congeners prevented the metal deterioration. In more detail, epifluorescence microscopy showed that mono-RML were the most efficient congeners in preventing microorganism's adherence on the carbon steel metal. Image analyses indicate the presence of 15.9%, 3.4%, and <0.1% of viable particles in di-RML, mono/di-RML and mono-RML pretreatments, respectively, in comparison to control samples. Contact angle results showed that the crude carbon steel coupon presented hydrophobic character favoring hydrophobic molecules adhesion. We calculated the theoretical polarity of the RML congeners and verified that mono-RML (log P = 3.63) presented the most hydrophobic character. This had perfect correspondence to contact angle results, since mono-RML conditioning (58.2°) more significantly changed the contact angle compared with the conditioning with one of the most common surfactants used on oil industry (29.4°). Based on the results, it was concluded that rhamnolipids are efficient molecules to be used to avoid biofilm on carbon steel metal when submitted to oil produced water and that a higher proportion of mono-rhamnolipids is more indicated for this application.     

The last wild Spix's Macaw and an Illiger's Macaw produced a hybrid

The one remaining wild male Spix's macaw(Cyanopsitta spixii) chose a femaleIlliger's macaw (Propyrrhura maracana) asa mate. Eggs were found in the nest used by thecouple and one of them contained an embryo.Sequence variation in CHD1-Z and CHD1-W genesshowed that it was a natural hybrid.     

Identification of pathogenic fungi in surgical and autopsy specimens by immunofluorescence

Summary A method is presented for the preparation of immune sera and detection by immunofluorescence ofC. immitis, S. schenckii, B. dermatitidis, C. neoformans, andC. albicans in surgical and autopsy material. Formalin fixation does not affect the antigens of the mycotic agents. There are no cross reactions except withC. immitis andC. neoformans, which can be differentiated by the site of the specific fluorescence in each organism.     

EDC3 phosphorylation regulates growth and invasion through controlling P‐body formation and dynamics

Regulation of mRNA stability and translation plays a critical role in determining protein abundance within cells. Processing bodies (P‐bodies) are critical regulators of these processes. Here, we report that the Pim1 and 3 protein kinases bind to the P‐body protein enhancer of mRNA decapping 3 (EDC3) and phosphorylate EDC3 on serine (S)161, thereby modifying P‐body assembly. EDC3 phosphorylation is highly elevated in many tumor types, is reduced upon treatment of cells with kinase inhibitors, and blocks the localization of EDC3 to P‐bodies. Prostate cancer cells harboring an EDC3 S161A mutation show markedly decreased growth, migration, and invasion in tissue culture and in xenograft models. Consistent with these phenotypic changes, the expression of integrin β1 and α6 mRNA and protein is reduced in these mutated cells. These results demonstrate that EDC3 phosphorylation regulates multiple cancer‐relevant functions and suggest that modulation of P‐body activity may represent a new paradigm for cancer treatment.     

Involvement of P2 receptors in hematopoiesis and hematopoietic disorders,and as pharmacological targets

Purinergic Signalling - Several reports have shown the presence of P2 receptors in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). These receptors are activated by extracellular nucleotides released from...