White eye phenotypes and their genetic analysis

An interesting case for undergraduate students of general Genetics is to consider that different genes can produce the same or similar phenotypes. We present here an experiment to discover that the same phenotype could be produced by different genes, and then, to carry out the genetic analysis of these genes. For this laboratory study we have used the following Drosophila melanogaster strains: white (white eyes) and scarlet-brown (white eyes).

White eye phenotypes and their genetic analysis

An interesting case for undergraduate students of general Genetics is to consider that different genes can produce the same or similar phenotypes. We present here an experiment to discover that the same phenotype could be produced by different genes, and then, to carry out the genetic analysis of these genes. For this laboratory study we have used the following Drosophila melanogaster strains: white (white eyes) and scarlet-brown (white eyes).

Inversion polymorphism in two Serbian natural populations of Drosophila subobscura: Analysis of long-term changes

To study whether inversions (or arrangements) by themselves or karyotypes are the main global warming adaptive target of natural selection, two Drosophila subobscura Serbian populations (Apatin and Petnica) were re analyzed using different statistical approaches. Both populations were sampled in an approximately 15 years period: Apatin in 1994 and 2008 + 2009 and Petnica in 1995 and 2010. For all chromosomes, the four collections studied were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Thus, it seems that inversions (or arrangements) combined at random to constitute populations" karyotypes. However, there were differences in karyotypic fre quencies along the years, although they were significant only for Apatin population. It is possible to conclude that inversions (or arrangements) are likely the target of natural selection, because they presented long term changes, but combine at random to generate the corresponding karyotypic combinations. As a consequence, the frequencies of karyotypes also change along time.

Morfología de las colonias de briozoos en relación con la hidrodinámica del medio sedimentario

La formación de arenas y calcarenitas bioclásticas de la base de la transgresión tortoniense en Alhama de Granada contiene varios tipos de formas coloniales y de acúmulos de briozoos de características peculiares, nuevas o poco conocidas. Una breve descripción de dichos tipos y el establecimiento de su relación con las distintas facies sedimentarias complementan la información sobre el medio sedimentario conseguida por los métodos sedimentológicos clásicos y permiten plantear el significado e interés de los briozoos en el análisis sedimentológico.

Spectral properties of the Laplacian of multiplex networks.

One of the more challenging tasks in the understanding of dynamical properties of models on top of complex networks is to capture the precise role of multiplex topologies. In a recent paper, Gómez et al. [ Phys. Rev. Lett. 110 028701 (2013)], some of the authors proposed a framework for the study of diffusion processes in such networks. Here, we extend the previous framework to deal with general configurations in several layers of networks and analyze the behavior of the spectrum of the Laplacian of the full multiplex. We derive an interesting decoupling of the problem that allow us to unravel the role played by the interconnections of the multiplex in the dynamical processes on top of them. Capitalizing on this decoupling we perform an asymptotic analysis that allow us to derive analytical expressions for the full spectrum of eigenvalues. This spectrum is used to gain insight into physical phenomena on top of multiplex, specifically, diffusion processes and synchronizability.

Algunas consideraciones sobre la edad y la paleogeografía de las gravas de Castellbisbal (Barcelona)

La formación que denominamos 'gravas de Castellbisbal' está constituida, desde el punto de vista litológico, por materiales detritico-groseros, poligénicos, nada o poco cementados, que se hallan muy mal clasificados y compuestos por gravas y arenas.

Doença de Camurati-Engelmann: relato de caso com acometimento ósseo grave

Neste artigo é descrito um caso da doença de Camurati-Engelmann em um paciente do sexo masculino, com 32 anos de idade, que foi submetido a avaliação radiológica por radiografias simples, cintilografia óssea e tomografia computadorizada, as quais mostraram achados clássicos dessa síndrome e alguns aspectos incomuns vistos somente em casos com acometimento ósseo grave.

Tumor de células gigantes ósseo: aspectos clínicos e radiográficos de 115 casos

OBJETIVO: Analisar os aspectos clínicos e radiográficos em pacientes com diagnóstico de tumor de células gigantes ósseo, confirmado por histopatologia. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Os dados clínicos e radiológicos (quando disponíveis) de 115 pacientes com diagnóstico de tumor de células gigantes ósseo foram analisados no presente estudo. RESULTADOS: Dos casos avaliados, 57,4% (66) eram do sexo feminino e 80% (92) eram da raça branca. A média de idade dos pacientes foi de 30 anos e a topografia mais freqüente das lesões foi a metáfise distal do fêmur, em 22,6% (26) dos casos. O aspecto radiográfico mais comum foi o de lesão puramente lítica, em 63,7% (51) dos casos. CONCLUSÃO: O tumor de células gigantes é uma neoplasia óssea relativamente comum, com predomínio em indivíduos da raça branca e com aspecto radiológico bem definido.

Emergence of assortative mixing between clusters of cultured neurons

The analysis of the activity of neuronal cultures is considered to be a good proxy of the functional connectivity of in vivo neuronal tissues. Thus, the functional complex network inferred from activity patterns is a promising way to unravel the interplay between structure and functionality of neuronal systems. Here, we monitor the spontaneous self-sustained dynamics in neuronal cultures formed by interconnected aggregates of neurons (clusters). Dynamics is characterized by the fast activation of groups of clusters in sequences termed bursts. The analysis of the time delays between clusters' activations within the bursts allows the reconstruction of the directed functional connectivity of the network. We propose a method to statistically infer this connectivity and analyze the resulting properties of the associated complex networks. Surprisingly enough, in contrast to what has been reported for many biological networks, the clustered neuronal cultures present assortative mixing connectivity values, meaning that there is a preference for clusters to link to other clusters that share similar functional connectivity, as well as a rich-club core, which shapes a"connectivity backbone" in the network. These results point out that the grouping of neurons and the assortative connectivity between clusters are intrinsic survival mechanisms of the culture.

Expression of Glycogen Phosphorylase Isoforms in Cultured Muscle from Patients with McArdle´s Disease Carrying the p.R771PfsX33 PYGM Mutation

Mutations in the PYGM gene encoding skeletal muscle glycogen phosphorylase (GP) cause a metabolic disorder known as McArdle's disease. Previous studies in muscle biopsies and cultured muscle cells from McArdle patients have shown that PYGM mutations abolish GP activity in skeletal muscle, but that the enzyme activity reappears when muscle cells are in culture. The identification of the GP isoenzyme that accounts for this activity remains controversial.

North African populations carry the signature of admixture with Neandertals

One of the main findings derived from the analysis of the Neandertal genome was the evidence for admixture between Neandertals and non-African modern humans. An alternative scenario is that the ancestral population of non-Africans was closer to Neandertals than to Africans because of ancient population substructure. Thus, the study of North African populations is crucial for testing both hypotheses. We analyzed a total of 780,000 SNPs in 125 individuals representing seven different North African locations and searched for their ancestral/derived state in comparison to different human populations and Neandertals. We found that North African populations have a significant excess of derived alleles shared with Neandertals, when compared to sub-Saharan Africans. This excess is similar to that found in non-African humans, a fact that can be interpreted as a sign of Neandertal admixture. Furthermore, the Neandertal's genetic signal is higher in populations with a local, pre-Neolithic North African ancestry. Therefore, the detected ancient admixture is not due to recent Near Eastern or European migrations. Sub-Saharan populations are the only ones not affected by the admixture event with Neandertals.

Risk Management or Uncertainty Governance? The Challenge of an Interdiscplinary Approach

Peer-reviewed

Alteração do comportamento eletroquímico do eletrodo de níquel, em ácido sulfúrico diluído, sob diferentes condições de iluminação

In this paper is presented electrochemical evidences of the influence of the light on the electrochemical behavior of nickel electrode in diluted sulfuric acid. The current densities related with the electrooxidation of the metal decreases when the electrode is under illumination. The corrosion potential, Ecorr , shift to a more positive value in this condition. This effect was observed with polychromatic light and with different wavelength glass filters such as 700 nm and 520 nm. It was observed that increasing the temperature of the solution, the current densities related with cathodic and anodic processes, increases instead of decreases. The activation energy related with the electrooxidation of the electrode was higher under illumination than in the dark. It is suggested that this behavior may be related or with a photo-inhibition effect either with dessorption of adsorbed water involved in the electrooxidation mechanism.