The Pangenome of the Plant-Selected Rhizobium leguminosarum bv viciae Sub-popuations

Rhizobium leguminosarum bv viciae (Rlv) is a bacterium able to establish effective symbioses with four different legume genera: Pisum, Lens, Lathyrus and Vicia. Classic studies using trap plants have previously shown that, given a choice, different plants prefer specific genotypes of rhizobia, which are adapted to the host (1, 2). In previous work we have performed a Pool-Seq analysis bases on pooled DNA samples from Rlv nodule isolates obtained from Pisum sativum, Lens culinaris, Vicia fava and V. sativa plants, used as rhizobial traps. This experiment allowed us to test the host preference hypothesis: different plant hosts select specific sub-populations of rhizobia from the available population present in a given soil. We have observed that plant-selected sub-populations are different at the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) level. We have selected individual isolates from each sub-population (9 fava-bean isolates, 14 pea isolates 9 vetch isolates and 9 lentil isolates) and sequenced their genomes at draft level (ca. 30x, 90 contigs). Genomic analyses have been carried out using J-species and CMG-Biotools. All the isolates had similar genome size (7.5 Mb) and number of genes (7,300). The resulting Average Nucleotide Identity (ANIm) tree showed that Rhizobium leguminosarum bv viciae is a highly diverse group. Each plant-selected subpopulation showed a closed pangenome and core genomes of similar size (11,500 and 4,800 genes, respectively). The addition of all four sub-population results in a larger, closed pangenome of 19,040 genes and a core genome of similar size (4,392 genes). Each sub-population contains a characteristic set of genes but no universal, plant-specific genes were found. The core genome obtained from all four sub-populations is probably a representative core genome for Rhizobium leguminosarum, given that the reference genome (Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae strain 3841) contains most of the core genome. We have also analyzed the symbiotic cluster (nod), and different nod cluster genotypes were found in each sub-population. Supported by MINECO (Consolider-Ingenio 2010, MICROGEN Project, CSD2009-00006).

RELIGIÃO E ESPORTE: OS ATLETAS RELIGIOSOS E A RELIGIÃO DOS ATLETAS UM ESTUDO DAS TRANSFORMAÇÕES DA RELAÇÃO ENTRE O SUB-CAMPO PROTESTANTE BRASILEIRO E O ESPORTE

Esta pesquisa desenvolve-se na área da Sociologia da Religião e visa apresentar, por meio de levantamentos bibliográficos, históricos e de campo, a transformação da relação entre o sub-campo protestante brasileiro e o esporte, em especial o futebol. Com isso pretende-se demonstrar que a gradual aceitação do esporte em geral e do futebol em particular, nos meios protestantes brasileiros, foi conseqüência do aprofundamento do processo de secularização ocorrido na sociedade brasileira durante o século XX. A aceitação também se deu por conseqüência do desencantamento gradual do sub-campo protestante. Contribuiu para esse processo a dessacralização do tempo, o domingo, o que demonstra uma transformação da cosmovisão protestante. A crescente profissionalização do futebol, cada vez mais entendido como uma atividade legítima pelos protestantes, também contribuiu para sua aceitação. Com um estudo de caso, esta pesquisa apresenta e analisa o grupo que se autodenomina Atletas de Cristo , exemplo da transformação tanto do sub-campo religioso protestante em sua relação com o esporte, quanto das transformações do próprio campo esportivo. Para a compreensão da religião dos Atletas de Cristo, é desenvolvida a etnografia do grupo, a análise de sua literatura própria, de suas relações com os atletas-não-de-Cristo , bem como a sua sacralização do esporte.(AU)

RELIGIÃO E ESPORTE: OS ATLETAS RELIGIOSOS E A RELIGIÃO DOS ATLETAS UM ESTUDO DAS TRANSFORMAÇÕES DA RELAÇÃO ENTRE O SUB-CAMPO PROTESTANTE BRASILEIRO E O ESPORTE

Esta pesquisa desenvolve-se na área da Sociologia da Religião e visa apresentar, por meio de levantamentos bibliográficos, históricos e de campo, a transformação da relação entre o sub-campo protestante brasileiro e o esporte, em especial o futebol. Com isso pretende-se demonstrar que a gradual aceitação do esporte em geral e do futebol em particular, nos meios protestantes brasileiros, foi conseqüência do aprofundamento do processo de secularização ocorrido na sociedade brasileira durante o século XX. A aceitação também se deu por conseqüência do desencantamento gradual do sub-campo protestante. Contribuiu para esse processo a dessacralização do tempo, o domingo, o que demonstra uma transformação da cosmovisão protestante. A crescente profissionalização do futebol, cada vez mais entendido como uma atividade legítima pelos protestantes, também contribuiu para sua aceitação. Com um estudo de caso, esta pesquisa apresenta e analisa o grupo que se autodenomina Atletas de Cristo , exemplo da transformação tanto do sub-campo religioso protestante em sua relação com o esporte, quanto das transformações do próprio campo esportivo. Para a compreensão da religião dos Atletas de Cristo, é desenvolvida a etnografia do grupo, a análise de sua literatura própria, de suas relações com os atletas-não-de-Cristo , bem como a sua sacralização do esporte.(AU)

Molecules, wing pattern and distribution: an approach to species delimitation in the "loxurina group" (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Penaincisalia)

The wide range of morphological variations in the “loxurina group” makes taxa identification difficult, and despite several reviews, serious taxonomical confusion remains. We make use of DNA data in conjunction with morphological appearance and available information on species distribution to delimit the boundaries of the “loxurina” group species previously established based on morphology. A fragment of 635 base pairs within the mtDNA gene cytochrome oxidase I (COI) was analysed for seven species of the “loxurina group”. Phylogenetic relationships among the included taxa were inferred using maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood methods. Penaincisalia sigsiga (Bálint et al), P. cillutincarae (Draudt), P. atymna (Hewitson) and P. loxurina (C. Felder & R. Felder) were easily delimited as the morphological, geographic and molecular data were congruent. Penaincisalia ludovica (Bálint & Wojtusiak) and P. loxurina astillero (Johnson) represent the same entity and constitute a sub-species of P. loxurina. However, incongruence among morphological, genetic, and geographic data is shown in P. chachapoya (Bálint & Wojtusiak) and P. tegulina (Bálint et al). Our results highlight that an integrative approach is needed to clarify the taxonomy of these neotropical taxa, but more genetic and geographical studies are still required.

Molecular recognition of sub-micromolar inhibitors by the epinephrine-synthesizing enzyme phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase

The crystal structures of human phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase in complex with S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (7, AdoHcy) and either 7-iodo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (2) or 8,9-dichloro-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-2-benzazepine (3, LY134046) were determined and compared with the structure of the enzyme complex with 7 and 7-aminosulfonyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (1, SK&F 29661). The enzyme is able to accommodate a variety of chemically disparate functional groups on the aromatic ring of the inhibitors through adaptation of the binding pocket for this substituent and by subtle adjustments of the orientation of the inhibitors within the relatively planar binding site. In addition, the interactions formed by the amine nitrogen of all three inhibitors reinforce the hypothesis that this functional group mimics the beta-hydroxyl of norepinephrine rather than the amine. These studies provide further clues for the development of improved inhibitors for use as pharmacological probes.

A review of plasma endothelin-1 levels in CABG patient group

Introduction: Endothelin-1 is a potent vasoconstricting growth peptide. In physiologic conditions basal levels maintain vascular homeostasis, conversely in pathological situations it may be expressed in response to chronic and acute vascular injury. Elevated levels of plasma ET-1 have been identified in sub-populations at risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) including smokers, diabetics and hyerlipidaemic subjects and in patients with atherosclerotic disease. This peptide may be chronically expressed, such as in congestive heart failure where it has been used as a prognostic marker of disease severity and also acutely, after cardiac revascularisation surgery, possibly as a result of endothelial injury and ischaemia. Aims: The objectives of this study were to (1) identify basal endothelin-1 concentrations in a young healthy control group with no risk factors for IHD (control group 1); (2) to compare; (1) venous plasma ET-1 levels preoperatively and post-operatively in patients undergoing CABG surgery, (3) to compare pre-operative plasma ET-1 levels from the CABG group with an age and gender matched control group (control group 2) and (4) combine all three groups to assess correlations between plasma ET-1 and the various risk factors for IHD, including smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes and family history. Methods: Venous specimens were collected in chilled EDTA tubes and samples measured using an ELISA assay (Biomedica), following the standard protocol for human EDTA plasma. Results: Forty CABG patients (5F, 35M, mean age 66 yrs), 15 control group 1 subjects (8F, 7M, mean age 29 yrs) and 30 control group 2 subjects (5F, 25M, mean age 61 yrs) participated in the study. No significant difference was detected in plasma ET-1 levels between the controls (1) and (2), and the CABG group, where plasma ET-1 levels were 3.37+/ 5.19 pmol/L, 1.99+/3.74 pmol/L and 1.28+/1.27 pmol/L, respectively. There was a non-significant elevation in post-op ET-1 plasma in comparison with the pre-op levels (2.50+/0.51 Vs 1.45+/6.44). There were also no statistical correlation between risk factors for IHD including smoking, hypertension, NIDDM, hyperlipidemia or family history when data from both patient and controls groups was merged. Conclusion: Contrary to other findings, plasma ET-1 does not appear to a valid marker for IHD or factors which are strongly associated with the pathogenesis of this disease.

RELIGIÃO E ESPORTE: OS ATLETAS RELIGIOSOS E A RELIGIÃO DOS ATLETAS UM ESTUDO DAS TRANSFORMAÇÕES DA RELAÇÃO ENTRE O SUB-CAMPO PROTESTANTE BRASILEIRO E O ESPORTE

Esta pesquisa desenvolve-se na área da Sociologia da Religião e visa apresentar, por meio de levantamentos bibliográficos, históricos e de campo, a transformação da relação entre o sub-campo protestante brasileiro e o esporte, em especial o futebol. Com isso pretende-se demonstrar que a gradual aceitação do esporte em geral e do futebol em particular, nos meios protestantes brasileiros, foi conseqüência do aprofundamento do processo de secularização ocorrido na sociedade brasileira durante o século XX. A aceitação também se deu por conseqüência do desencantamento gradual do sub-campo protestante. Contribuiu para esse processo a dessacralização do tempo, o domingo, o que demonstra uma transformação da cosmovisão protestante. A crescente profissionalização do futebol, cada vez mais entendido como uma atividade legítima pelos protestantes, também contribuiu para sua aceitação. Com um estudo de caso, esta pesquisa apresenta e analisa o grupo que se autodenomina Atletas de Cristo , exemplo da transformação tanto do sub-campo religioso protestante em sua relação com o esporte, quanto das transformações do próprio campo esportivo. Para a compreensão da religião dos Atletas de Cristo, é desenvolvida a etnografia do grupo, a análise de sua literatura própria, de suas relações com os atletas-não-de-Cristo , bem como a sua sacralização do esporte.(AU)

Strategic planning in a decentralised industrial group : a process-action study

The research was carried out within a major public company. It sought to implement an approach to strategic planning which accounted for organisational values as well as employing a holistic value-free analysis of the firm and its environment. To this end, an 'ecological' model of the firm was formulated. A series of value-free strategic policies for its development were generated. These policies were validated by the company's top-management.They compared favourably with their own planning outcomes. The approach appeared to be diagnostically strong but lacked sufficient depth in the context of finding realistic corrective measures. However, feedback from the company showed it to be a useful complementary process to conventional procedures, in providing an explicitly different perspective. The research empirically evaluated the company's value-systems and their influence on strategy. It introduced the idea of an organisational 'self-concept' pre-determining the acceptability of various strategies.The values and the "self-concept' of the company were identified and validated, They appeared to have considerable influence on strategy. In addition, tho company's planning process within the decentralised structure was shown to be sub-optimal. This resulted from the variety of value systems maintained by different parts of the organisation. Proposals attempting to redress this situation were ofJered and several accepted. The study was postured as process-action research and the chosen perspective could be succinctly described as a 'worm's-eye view', akin to that of many real planners operating at some distance from the decision-making body. In this way, the normal strategic functionings of the firm and any changes resulting from the researcher's intervention were observed and recorded. Recurrent difficulties of the planning process resulting from the decentralised structure were identified. The overall procedure suggested as a result of the research aimed to increase the viabiIity of planning and the efficiency of the process. It is considered to be flexible enough to be applicable in a broader context.

Community involvement in urban nature conservation : case studies of the Urban Wildlife Group 1980-85

The effectiveness of the strategies employed by the Urban Wildlife Group (a voluntary conservation organisation) to provide and manage three urban nature parks has been evaluated, using a multiple methods methodology. Where the level of community interest and commitment to a project is high, the utilisation of the community nature park strategy (to maximise benefits to UWG and the community) is warranted. Where the level of interest and commitment of the local community is low, a strategy designed to encourage limited involvement of the community is most effective and efficient. The campaign strategy, whereby the community and UWG take direct action to oppose a threat of undesirable development on a nature park, is assessed to be a sub-strategy, rather than a strategy in its own right. Questionnaire surveys and observations studies have revealed that urban people appreciate and indeed demand access to nature parks in urban areas, which have similar amenity value to that provided by countryside recreation sites. Urban nature parks are valued for their natural character, natural features (trees, wild flowers) peace and quiet, wildlife and openness. People use these sites for a mixture of informal and mainly passive activities, such as walking and dog walking. They appear to be of particular value to children for physical and imaginative play. The exact input of time and resources that UWG has committed to the projects has depended on the level of input of the local authority. The evidence indicates that the necessary technical expertise needed to produce and manage urban nature parks, using a user-oriented approach is not adequately provided by local authorities. The methods used in this research are presented as an `evaluation kit' that may be used by practitioners and researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of a wide range of different open spaces and the strategies employed to provide and manage them.

Los números cuentan. Sub-representación de la obra artística de mujeres creadoras en museos y centros de arte contemporáneos

Este artículo cuantifica la presencia de obra artística de mujeres artistas en 21 museos y centros de arte contemporáneo españoles. Los resultados constatan una nítida sub-representación de la obra exhibida, por debajo del 20 por ciento. ¿Por qué sucede esto?, ¿diferencial potencial artístico de mujeres y hombres?, ¿superioridad masculina?, ¿discriminación? o ¿un sistema de arte con sesgo androcéntrico? En estas páginas se discute sobre la presencia de varios factores para explicar la brecha de género y se reclama, de las administraciones públicas y las instituciones de gestión cultural, el cumplimiento de la Ley para la Igualdad para garantizar la paridad.

Modest elevation in BNP in asymptomatic hypertensive patients reflects sub-clinical cardiac remodeling, inflammation and extracellular matrix changes

In asymptomatic subjects B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes even at levels well below contemporary thresholds used for the diagnosis of heart failure. The mechanisms behind these observations are unclear. We examined the hypothesis that in an asymptomatic hypertensive population BNP would be associated with sub-clinical evidence of cardiac remodeling, inflammation and extracellular matrix (ECM) alterations. We performed transthoracic echocardiography and sampled coronary sinus (CS) and peripheral serum from patients with low (n = 14) and high BNP (n = 27). Peripheral BNP was closely associated with CS levels (r = 0.92, p<0.001). CS BNP correlated significantly with CS levels of markers of collagen type I and III turnover including: PINP (r = 0.44, p = 0.008), CITP (r = 0.35, p = 0.03) and PIIINP (r = 0.35, p = 0.001), and with CS levels of inflammatory cytokines including: TNF-α (r = 0.49, p = 0.002), IL-6 (r = 0.35, p = 0.04), and IL-8 (r = 0.54, p<0.001). The high BNP group had greater CS expression of fibro-inflammatory biomarkers including: CITP (3.8±0.7 versus 5.1±1.9, p = 0.007), TNF-α (3.2±0.5 versus 3.7±1.1, p = 003), IL-6 (1.9±1.3 versus 3.4±2.7, p = 0.02) and hsCRP (1.2±1.1 versus 2.4±1.1, p = 0.04), and greater left ventricular mass index (97±20 versus 118±26 g/m(2), p = 0.03) and left atrial volume index (18±2 versus 21±4, p = 0.008). Our data provide insight into the mechanisms behind the observed negative prognostic impact of modest elevations in BNP and suggest that in an asymptomatic hypertensive cohort a peripheral BNP measurement may be a useful marker of an early, sub-clinical pathological process characterized by cardiac remodeling, inflammation and ECM alterations.

A comparison of different pre-lysis methods and extraction kits for recovery of Stretococcus agalacticae (Lancefield group B Streptococcus) DNA from whole blood

Sub-optimal recovery of bacterial DNA from whole blood samples can limit the sensitivity of molecular assays to detect pathogenic bacteria. We compared 3 different pre-lysis protocols (none, mechanical pre-lysis and achromopeptidasepre-lysis) and 5 commercially available DNA extraction platforms for direct detection of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) in spiked whole blood samples, without enrichment culture. DNA was extracted using the QIAamp Blood Mini kit (Qiagen), UCP Pathogen Mini kit (Qiagen), QuickGene DNA Whole Blood kit S (Fuji), Speed Xtract Nucleic Acid Kit 200 (Qiagen) and MagNA Pure Compact Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit I (Roche Diagnostics Corp). Mechanical pre-lysis increased yields of bacterial genomic DNA by 51.3 fold (95% confidence interval; 31.6–85.1, p < 0.001) and pre-lysis with achromopeptidase by 6.1 fold (95% CI; 4.2–8.9, p < 0.001), compared with no pre-lysis. Differences in yield dueto pre-lysis were 2–3 fold larger than differences in yield between extraction methods. Including a pre-lysis step can improve the limits of detection of GBS using PCR or other molecular methods without need for culture.

Fast and sensitive aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxins ELISAs for analysis of peanuts, maize and feed ingredients

Aflatoxins are a group of carcinogenic compounds produced by Aspergillus fungi that can grow on different agricultural crops. Both acute and chronic exposure to these mycotoxins can cause serious illness. Due to the high occurrence of aflatoxins in crops worldwide fast and cost-effective analytical methods are required for the identification of contaminated agricultural commodities before they are processed into final products and placed on the market. In order to provide new tools for aflatoxin screening two prototype fast ELISA methods: one for the detection of aflatoxin B₁ and the other for total aflatoxins were developed. Seven monoclonal antibodies with unique high sensitivity and at the same time good cross-reactivity profiles were produced. The monoclonal antibodies were characterized and two antibodies showing IC₅₀ of 0.037 ng/mL and 0.031 ng/mL for aflatoxin B₁ were applied in simple and fast direct competitive ELISA tests. The methods were validated for peanut matrix as this crop is one of the most affected by aflatoxin contamination. The detection capabilities of aflatoxin B₁ and total aflatoxins ELISAs were 0.4 μg/kg and 0.3 μg/kg for aflatoxin B₁, respectively, which are one of the lowest reported values. Total aflatoxins ELISA was also validated for the detection of aflatoxins B₂, G₁ and G₂. The application of the developed tests was demonstrated by screening 32 peanut samples collected from the UK retailers. Total aflatoxins ELISA was further applied to analyse naturally contaminated maize porridge and distiller's dried grain with solubles samples and the results were correlated with these obtained by UHPLC-MS/MS method.

The tolerance of steers (Bos taurus) to sorghum ergot (Claviceps africana) in a feedlot during the cooler months in sub-tropical Queensland

Two experiments tested the tolerance of steers (Bos taurus) to sorghum ergot (Claviceps africana) during cooler months in south-east Queensland. Sorghum grain containing 2.8% ergot and 28 mg/kg ergot alkaloids (84% dihydroergosine, 10% dihydroelymoclavine, 6% festuclavine) was incorporated into feedlot rations. In a previous study in summer–autumn, ergot (1.1–4.4 mg alkaloids/kg ration) severely reduced performance in steers when the temperature–humidity index (THI; dry bulb temperature °C + 0.36 dew-point temperature °C + 41.2) was ~70, whereas a THI of ~79 was tolerated by steers fed ergot-free rations. Experiment 1 was conducted in winter–spring, with rations containing 0, 2.8, 5.6, 8.2 or 11.2 mg ergot alkaloids/kg ration. All ergot inclusions depressed feed intake (14% average reduction) and growth rate (34% average reduction), even when the weekly average daily THI was less than 65. Rectal temperatures were occasionally elevated in ergot-fed steers (P < 0.05), primarily when the THI exceeded ~65. All ergot inclusions depressed plasma prolactin concentrations in steers. Experiment 2 was predominantly carried out in winter, with weekly average daily THI <65 throughout the experiment. Rations containing 0, 0.28, 0.55 or 1.1 mg ergot alkaloids/kg were fed for 4 weeks but produced no significant effect on feed intakes and growth rates of steers. Alkaloid concentrations were then changed to 0, 2.1, 4.3 and 1.1 mg/kg, respectively. Subsequently, feed intakes declined by 17.5% (P < 0.05), and growth rates by 28% (P > 0.05) in the group receiving 4.3 mg/kg alkaloid, compared with Controls. Plasma prolactin concentrations were depressed, relative to the Controls, by dietary alkaloid inclusion greater than 1.1 mg/kg, with alkaloid intake of 4.3 mg/kg causing the greatest reduction (P < 0.05). Cattle performance in these studies shows steers can tolerate up to ~2 mg ergot alkaloid/kg (0.2% ergot) in feedlot rations under low THI conditions (< ~60–65), but previous findings indicate a much lower threshold will apply at higher THI (>65).

The tolerance of steers (Bos taurus) to sorghum ergot (Claviceps africana) in a feedlot during the cooler months in sub-tropical Queensland

Two experiments tested the tolerance of steers (Bos taurus) to sorghum ergot (Claviceps africana) during cooler months in south-east Queensland. Sorghum grain containing 2.8% ergot and 28 mg/kg ergot alkaloids (84% dihydroergosine, 10% dihydroelymoclavine, 6% festuclavine) was incorporated into feedlot rations. In a previous study in summer–autumn, ergot (1.1–4.4 mg alkaloids/kg ration) severely reduced performance in steers when the temperature–humidity index (THI; dry bulb temperature °C + 0.36 dew-point temperature °C + 41.2) was ~70, whereas a THI of ~79 was tolerated by steers fed ergot-free rations. Experiment 1 was conducted in winter–spring, with rations containing 0, 2.8, 5.6, 8.2 or 11.2 mg ergot alkaloids/kg ration. All ergot inclusions depressed feed intake (14% average reduction) and growth rate (34% average reduction), even when the weekly average daily THI was less than 65. Rectal temperatures were occasionally elevated in ergot-fed steers (P < 0.05), primarily when the THI exceeded ~65. All ergot inclusions depressed plasma prolactin concentrations in steers. Experiment 2 was predominantly carried out in winter, with weekly average daily THI <65 throughout the experiment. Rations containing 0, 0.28, 0.55 or 1.1 mg ergot alkaloids/kg were fed for 4 weeks but produced no significant effect on feed intakes and growth rates of steers. Alkaloid concentrations were then changed to 0, 2.1, 4.3 and 1.1 mg/kg, respectively. Subsequently, feed intakes declined by 17.5% (P < 0.05), and growth rates by 28% (P > 0.05) in the group receiving 4.3 mg/kg alkaloid, compared with Controls. Plasma prolactin concentrations were depressed, relative to the Controls, by dietary alkaloid inclusion greater than 1.1 mg/kg, with alkaloid intake of 4.3 mg/kg causing the greatest reduction (P < 0.05). Cattle performance in these studies shows steers can tolerate up to ~2 mg ergot alkaloid/kg (0.2% ergot) in feedlot rations under low THI conditions (< ~60–65), but previous findings indicate a much lower threshold will apply at higher THI (>65).