Phenotypic differentiation between wild and domesticated varieties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crescentia cujete</Emphasis>L. and culturally relevant uses of their fruits as bowls in the Yucatan Peninsula,Mexico

Background

Selection criteria are important for analyzing domestication of perennial plant species, which experience a selection pressure throughout several human generations. We analyze the preferred morphological characteristics of Crescentia cujete fruits, which are used as bowls by the Maya of Yucatan, according to the uses they are given and the phenotypic consequences of artificial selection between one wild and three domesticated varieties.

Methods

We performed 40 semi-structured interviews in seven communities. We calculated Sutrop’s salience index (S) of five classes of ceremonial and daily life uses, and of each item from the two most salient classes. We sampled 238 bowls at homes of people interviewed and compared their shape, volume and thickness with 139 fruits collected in homegardens and 179 from the wild. Morphology of varieties was assessed in fruit (n?=?114 trees) and vegetative characters (n?=?136 trees). Differences between varieties were evaluated through linear discriminant analysis (LDA).

Results

Use of bowls as containers for the Day of the Dead offerings was the most salient class (S?=?0.489) with chocolate as its most salient beverage (S?=?0.491), followed by consumption of daily beverages (S?=?0.423), especially maize-based pozol (S?=?0.412). The sacred saka’ and balche' are offered in different sized bowls during agricultural and domestic rituals. Roundness was the most relevant character for these uses, as bowls from households showed a strong selection towards round shapes compared with wild and homegarden fruits. Larger fruits from domesticated varieties were also preferred over small wild fruits, although in the household different sizes of the domesticated varieties are useful. LDA separated wild from domesticated trees (p?<?0.001) according to both fruit and vegetative variables, but domesticated varieties were not different among themselves.

Conclusions

The association between C. cujete bowls and traditional beverages in ritual and daily life situations has driven for centuries the selection of preferred fruit morphology in this tree. Selection of fruit roundness and volume has allowed for the differentiation between the wild variety and the three domesticated ones, counteracting gene flow among them. By choosing the best fruits from domesticated varieties propagated in homegardens, the Maya people model the domestication process of this important tree in their culture.

     

Clinical case: Differential diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Background

The diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis can be quite challenging, even after careful clinical evaluation, imaging and pathological tests. This case report intends to demonstrate and discuss these difficulties, especially those concerning the differential diagnosis with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Case presentation

A 58-year-old white male presented with shortness of breath, dry cough, fatigue and weight loss for two months. He was a former smoker and had regular exposure to a parakeet and poultry. Physical examination revealed bilateral basal crackles and chest imaging showed subpleural cystic lesions and traction bronchiectasis with a right side and upper level predominance. Auto-antibodies and IgG immunoglobulins to parakeet and fungal proteins were negative. Lung function tests displayed moderate restriction, low diffusion capacity and resting hypoxaemia. Bronchoalveolar lavage showed increased lymphocytes (28%) and neutrophils (12%) and surgical lung biopsy was compatible with a pattern of usual interstitial pneumonia. According to the possibility of either idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis, treatment included prednisolone, azathioprine, acetylcysteine and avoidance of contact with the parakeet, but there was an unfavorable response and the patient was subsequently referred for lung transplant.

Conclusion

Chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis can present with the same clinical and radiological manifestations In this case, despite careful evaluation, no definite diagnosis could be achieved.

     

Tailoring of Localized Surface Plasmon Resonances of Core-Shell Au@Ag Nanorods by Changing the Thickness of Ag Shell

We report the synthesis and the characterization of core-shell Au@Ag nanorods through reduction by the wet chemical method. UV-visible absorption spectra of core-shell Au@Ag nanorods demonstrate the longitudinal mode of localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) can be tailored from 724 to 786 nm by controlling the thickness of the silver shell, as is assessed by transmission electron microscope (TEM). Furthermore, the tunable and well-controlled LSPRs of core-shell Au@Ag nanorods are also investigated by numerical simulation using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method, which strongly supports the experimental observations. The growth mechanism for core-shell Au@Ag nanorods is proposed, according to experimental observations and numerical calculations.     

Analysis of Mid-Infrared Surface Plasmon Modes in a Graphene-Based Cylindrical Hybrid Waveguide

A graphene-based cylindrical hybrid surface plasmon polariton waveguide, composed of a silicon nanowire core surrounded by a silica layer and then a graphene layer, is investigated using the finite-difference time-domain method. The analytical solutions and the numerical simulation show that an ultra-small mode area and a large propagation length can be achieved with this waveguide. Utilizing the perturbation theory of coupled mode, we demonstrate that the six lowest-order coupling modes originate from the coupling of the three lowest-order single-waveguide modes, and the m?=?1 order yy-coupling mode possesses the maximum coupling length and the minimum crosstalk. This waveguide can be used for photonic integrated circuits in the mid-infrared range.     

Magnetic-Based Fano Resonance by a Trimer with Y-shaped Gap

We introduce a Y-shaped gap into a silver disk to break the structure symmetry which can be looked as a loop-linked structure. Magnetic resonances are excited by incident light when incident electric field is parallel to the trimer plane. Fano resonance is generated by the coupling between bright electric mode and dark magnetic mode. These resonances can be adjusted by tuning the gap size, the radius of trimer, and the position of Y-shaped gap. The extinction cross section of the structure is calculated with the finite element method (FEM). The maximum figure of merit (FOM) is 37.8. Both the magnetic and electric field are greatly enhanced at the Fano dip and the magnetic resonance peak.