Resolving taxonomic uncertainty in vulnerable elasmobranchs : are the Madeira skate (Raja maderensis) and the thornback ray (Raja clavata) distinct species?

We are grateful to all those who helped with sample collection. This includes the MEDITS survey programme (IEO Mallorca) for Mediterranean samples. Portugal mainland samples were collected under the EU Data Collection Framework (DCF, PNAB). Azores specimens from the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries (DOP) of the University of the Azores (UAc) were collected under the project DEMERSAIS “Monitorização das espécies demersais dos Açores” financed by the Azorean government, and the project DEECON “Unravelling population connectivity for sustainable fisheries in the Deep Sea” project approved by the European Science Foundation (ESF) under the EUROCORES programme (proposal No 06-EuroDEEP-FP-008 & SFRH-EuroDEEP/0002/2007). This study was funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Oceans 2025 Strategic Research Programme Theme 6 (Science for Sustainable Marine Resources). REB was supported by the Fisheries Society of the British Isles (FSBI), BSP was funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, SFRH/BPD/72351/2010 and JL was supported by The Alasdair Downes Marine Conservation Fund.

Frequency of resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis in field populations of pink bollworm

Strategies for delaying pest resistance to genetically modified crops that produce Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins are based primarily on theoretical models. One key assumption of such models is that genes conferring resistance are rare. Previous estimates for lepidopteran pests targeted by Bt crops seem to meet this assumption. We report here that the estimated frequency of a recessive allele conferring resistance to Bt toxin Cry1Ac was 0.16 (95% confidence interval = 0.05–0.26) in strains of pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) derived from 10 Arizona cotton fields during 1997. Unexpectedly, the estimated resistance allele frequency did not increase from 1997 to 1999 and Bt cotton remained extremely effective against pink bollworm. These results demonstrate that the assumptions and predictions of resistance management models must be reexamined.

Changes in Cell Wall Composition during Ripening of Grape Berries1

Cell walls were isolated from the mesocarp of grape (Vitis vinifera L.) berries at developmental stages from before veraison through to the final ripe berry. Fluorescence and light microscopy of intact berries revealed no measurable change in cell wall thickness as the mesocarp cells expanded in the ripening fruit. Isolated walls were analyzed for their protein contents and amino acid compositions, and for changes in the composition and solubility of constituent polysaccharides during development. Increases in protein content after veraison were accompanied by an approximate 3-fold increase in hydroxyproline content. The type I arabinogalactan content of the pectic polysaccharides decreased from approximately 20 mol % of total wall polysaccharides to about 4 mol % of wall polysaccharides during berry development. Galacturonan content increased from 26 to 41 mol % of wall polysaccharides, and the galacturonan appeared to become more soluble as ripening progressed. After an initial decrease in the degree of esterification of pectic polysaccharides, no further changes were observed nor were there large variations in cellulose (30–35 mol % of wall polysaccharides) or xyloglucan (approximately 10 mol % of wall polysaccharides) contents. Overall, the results indicate that no major changes in cell wall polysaccharide composition occurred during softening of ripening grape berries, but that significant modification of specific polysaccharide components were observed, together with large changes in protein composition.

Accumulation of Salicylic Acid and 4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid in Phloem Fluids of Cucumber during Systemic Acquired Resistance Is Preceded by a Transient Increase in Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase Activity in Petioles and Stems1

Cucumber (Cucumis sativa) leaves infiltrated with Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae cells produced a mobile signal for systemic acquired resistance between 3 and 6 h after inoculation. The production of a mobile signal by inoculated leaves was followed by a transient increase in phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity in the petioles of inoculated leaves and in stems above inoculated leaves; with peaks in activity at 9 and 12 h, respectively, after inoculation. In contrast, PAL activity in inoculated leaves continued to rise slowly for at least 18 h. No increases in PAL activity were detected in healthy leaves of inoculated plants. Two benzoic acid derivatives, salicylic acid (SA) and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4HBA), began to accumulate in phloem fluids at about the time PAL activity began to increase, reaching maximum concentrations 15 h after inoculation. The accumulation of SA and 4HBA in phloem fluids was unaffected by the removal of all leaves 6 h after inoculation, and seedlings excised from roots prior to inoculation still accumulated high levels of SA and 4HBA. These results suggest that SA and 4HBA are synthesized de novo in stems and petioles in response to a mobile signal from the inoculated leaf.

Molecular basis of human mitochondrial very-long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency causing cardiomyopathy and sudden death in childhood.

beta-Oxidation of long-chain fatty acids provides the major source of energy in the heart. Defects in enzymes of the beta-oxidation pathway cause sudden, unexplained death in childhood, acute hepatic encephalopathy or liver failure, skeletal myopathy, and cardiomyopathy. Very-long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase [VLCAD; very-long-chain-acyl-CoA:(acceptor) 2,3-oxidoreductase, EC 1.3.99.13] catalyzes the first step in beta-oxidation. We have isolated the human VLCAD cDNA and gene and determined the complete nucleotide sequences. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of VLCAD mRNA and genomic exons defined the molecular defects in two patients with VLCAD deficiency who presented with unexplained cardiac arrest and cardiomyopathy. In one, a homozygous mutation in the consensus dinucleotide of the donor splice site (g+1-->a) was associated with universal skipping of the prior exon (exon 11). The second patient was a compound heterozygote, with a missense mutation, C1837-->T, changing the arginine at residue 613 to tryptophan on one allele and a single base deletion at the intron-exon 6 boundary as the second mutation. This initial delineation of human mutations in VLCAD suggests that VLCAD deficiency reduces myocardial fatty acid beta-oxidation and energy production and is associated with cardiomyopathy and sudden death in childhood.

Motivação no trabalho e desempenho individual:um estudo aplicado a IPSS do concelho de Salvaterra de Magos

O presente artigo tem por objetivo investigar: (a) a relação entre as características da função e a motivação intrínseca, (b) a influência da motivação intrínseca no desempenho individual, (c) o papel mediador da motivação intrínseca entre as características da função e o desempenho individual. O desempenho individual foi tanto autoavaliado como reportado pelas chefias, pelo que as relações anteriores serão testadas para ambas as medidas de desempenho. Os dados foram recolhidos através de um inquérito por questionário. Obteve-se uma amostra de 153 colaboradores e de sete diretoras técnicas, de cinco Instituições Particulares de Solidariedade Social do concelho de Salvaterra de Magos. Os resultados sugerem que: (a) as características da função influenciam positivamente a motivação no trabalho; (b) a motivação no trabalho influencia positivamente o desempenho autoavaliado; (c) a motivação no trabalho exerce um efeito mediador entre as características da função e o desempenho autoavaliado; (d) as características da função influenciam direta e positivamente a avaliação de desempenho reportado pelas chefias; (e) emergem diferenças significativas entre a autoavaliação de desempenho e a respetiva avaliação pelas chefias.As características da função, a motivação intrínseca e o desempenho individual são três constructos bastante estudados na área do Comportamento Organizacional, porém são escassos os estudos que contemplem os três simultaneamente. Por essa razão, este estudo apresenta um contributo original para a literatura. Tal contributo é reforçado por: (a) se estudar simultaneamente o desempenho autoavaliado e o reportado pelas chefias, (b) se desenvolver a investigação em organizações do Setor Social, especificamente, Instituições Particulares de Solidariedade Social, (c) se ter utilizado o inventário das características do trabalho de Sims, Szilagyi e Keller (1976).

O efeito mediador da motivação intrínseca na relação entre as características da função e o desempenho individual

Objetivo. Este trabalho testa empiricamente como as perceções acerca das características da função explicam o desempenho individual, tanto diretamente quanto através da mediação da motivação intrínseca. As características da função estudadas abarcam a variedade de trabalho, a autonomia, o feedback, a relação com os outros, a identidade da tarefa e a amizade no local de trabalho (Sims, Szilagyi e Keller, 1976). Embora seja profícua a investigação que considera estes constructos, é menos frequente aquela que: (a) os considera em simultâneo, (b) testa a evidência empírica em Portugal, e (c) considera tanto o desempenho individual autoreportado como o avaliado pelas chefias. Metodologia. A amostra abarca 153 colaboradores (95% do género feminino, 56% com o 9.º ano de escolaridade, 27% com o secundário e 17% com um curso superior, 9% desempenham funções de chefia) provenientes de cinco Instituições Particulares de Solidariedade Social. A idade média dos inquiridos cifra-se nos 43,2 anos (DP: 9,6) e a antiguidade média em 10,2 anos (DP: 8,4). As características da função foram medidas com a escala de Sims et al. (1976), a motivação intrínseca através da escala de Warr, Cook e Wall (1979) e o desempenho individual através da escala de Welbourne, Jonhson e Erez (1998). Os dados foram submetidos análises fatoriais exploratórias. Analisou-se a consistência interna das escalas e prosseguiu-se com análises de médias, correlações e regressões lineares hierárquicas. O efeito mediador da motivação intrínseca foi testado através do Teste de Sobel.Resultados. Os dados sugerem o seguinte: (a) a motivação intrínseca medeia totalmente a relação entre as características da função e o desempenho autoreportado, não ocorrendo o mesmo efeito mediador com o desempenho avaliado pelas chefias; (b) as características da função influenciam direta e positivamente a motivação intrínseca e o desempenho reportado pelas chefias; (c) a motivação intrínseca afeta positivamente o desempenho autoreportado. Emergem diferenças significativas entre a autoavaliação de desempenho e a respetiva avaliação pelas chefias, o que surpreende. Aprofundou-se o estudo para aferir a razão de tal diferença. Contributo. O presente estudo contribui para compreender como as características da função influenciam a motivação intrínseca das pessoas no trabalho e o seu desempenho individual. Limitações. O desempenho individual foi medido através de uma medida subjetiva pelo que estudos futuros devem privilegiar medidas de desempenho objetivas. A relação entre os constructos e a medida de desempenho autoreportado pode padecer de problemas atinentes à variância do método comum.

On the prospective detection of polyoxymethylene in comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko with the COSIMA instrument onboard Rosetta

The presence of polyoxymethylene (POM) in cometary grains has been debated years ago. Although never proven, its presence can not be excluded. Rosetta, the ESA mission to comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, may answer this question. On board the spacecraft, COSIMA (COmetary Secondary Ion Mass Analyzer) will analyze the grains ejected from the nucleus using a Time Of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer (TOF-SIMS). In this paper we report the extent to which COSIMA will be able to detect POM if this compound is present on cometary grains. We have analyzed two kinds of POM polymers with a laboratory model of COSIMA. Positive mass spectra display alternating sequence of peaks with a separation of 30.011 Da between 1 and 600 Da related to formaldehyde and its oligomers but also to the fragmentation of these oligomers. The separation of 30.011 Da of numbers peaks, corresponding to the fragmentation into H2CO is characteristic of POM and we show that it could be highlight by mathematical treatment. POM lifetime on COSIMA targets have also been studied as POM is thermally instable. It can be concluded that the cometary grains analysis have to be planned not too long after their collection in order to maximize the chances to detect POM. This work was supported by the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES).

Insight into the evolution of the Solanaceae from the parental genomes of Petunia hybrida

Petunia hybrida is a popular bedding plant that has a long history as a genetic model system. We report the whole-genome sequencing and assembly of inbred derivatives of its two wild parents, P. axillaris N and P. inflata S6. The assemblies include 91.3% and 90.2% coverage of their diploid genomes (1.4 Gb; 2n = 14) containing 32,928 and 36,697 protein-coding genes, respectively. The genomes reveal that the Petunia lineage has experienced at least two rounds of hexaploidization: the older gamma event, which is shared with most Eudicots, and a more recent Solanaceae event that is shared with tomato and other solanaceous species. Transcription factors involved in the shift from bee to moth pollination reside in particularly dynamic regions of the genome, which may have been key to the remarkable diversity of floral colour patterns and pollination systems. The high-quality genome sequences will enhance the value of Petunia as a model system for research on unique biological phenomena such as small RNAs, symbiosis, self-incompatibility and circadian rhythms.

Rare earth and trace elements in igneous and metamorphic minerals of oceanic gabbros from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

SIMS analyses have been carried out on clinopyroxenes, plagioclases and amphiboles of six gabbroic samples from Holes 921-924 of the Ocean Drilling Program Leg 153 sited in the MARK area of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at the ridge-transform intersection, to investigate the rare earth, trace and volatile element distribution in the lower ocean crust during igneous crystallization and higher grade metamorphic conditions. The metagabbros underwent granulite to subgreenschist facies conditions through three main tectono-metamorphic phases: (1) ductile regime (750 < T < 1000 °C and P = 0.3 GPa); (2) transitional regime (600 < T < 700 °C and P = 0.2 GPa); (3) brittle regime (350 < T < 600 °C and P < 0.2 GPa). Igneous clinopyroxenes show Cl-chondrite normalized patterns depleted in LREE, and nearly flat for HREE. The rare earth and trace element distributions in igneous clinopyroxenes and plagioclases indicate that these minerals act as REE reservoirs, and comprise the main contribution to the overall rock content. The abundances in igneous minerals reflect the degree of fractionation of the parent liquids. In metamorphic clinopyroxenes recrystallized in anhydrous assemblages, the REE and trace elements patterns mimic those of the primary ones. Conversely, clinopyroxerie re-equilibrated in amphibolebearing assemblages shows a significant increase in REE, Ti, Zr, Y and V, a negative Eu anomaly, and slight decreases in Sr and Ba. An overall increase of REE and some trace elements is evident in hydrous assemblages, with preferential partitioning in the amphibole. It shows high Ti (18196-22844 ppm), LREE depleted patterns and LaN/SmN = 0.10-0.33, LaN/YbN = 0.10-0.30. Amphiboles from granoblastic assemblages show homogeneous patterns with no or a positive anomaly for TiN and negative anomalies for SrN and ZrN. Volatiles in amphibole are low, with Cl/F < 1; H2O% is significantly lower than the stoichiometric ratio (1.33-1.53%). The composition of the clinopyroxene and amphibole recrystallized in low-strain domains records evidence of incomplete re-equilibration, and element diffusion and partitioning is in part controlled by the textural site. The possible origins of the fluids involved in the metamorphic recrystallization are discussed: (1) remobilization from igneous amphibole; (2) exsolution from evolved melts; (3) introduction of seawater-derived fluids modified in rock-dominated systems; (4) injection of highly evolved hydrous melts during the metamorphic process.