Search

Parallel evolution is considered strong evidence for natural selection. However, few studies have investigated the process of parallel selection as it plays out in real time. The common approach is to study historical signatures of selection in populations already well adapted to different environments. Here, to document selection under natural conditions, we study six populations of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) inhabiting bar-built estuaries that undergo seasonal cycles of environmental changes. Estuaries are periodically isolated from the ocean due to sandbar formation during dry summer months, with concurrent environmental shifts that resemble the long-term changes associated with postglacial colonization of freshwater habitats by marine populations. We used pooled whole-genome sequencing to track seasonal allele frequency changes in six of these populations and search for signatures of natural selection. We found consistent changes in allele frequency across estuaries, suggesting a potential role for parallel selection. Functional enrichment among candidate genes included transmembrane ion transport and calcium binding, which are important for osmoregulation and ion balance. The genomic changes that occur in threespine stickleback from bar-built estuaries could provide a glimpse into the early stages of adaptation that have occurred in many historical marine to freshwater transitions.

La terapia de resincronizacion cardiaca mediante estimulacion hisiana ha demostrado ser efectiva en pacientes con bloqueo de rama izquierda del haz de His e insuficiencia cardiaca. Paciente masculino, con 47 anos de edad, con insuficiencia cardiaca, fraccion de expulsion del 17% y miocardio dilatada idiopatica, electrocardiograma en ritmo sinusal, bloqueo auriculoventricular de 1.er grado, intervalo PR 400 ms, bloqueo completo de rama derecha del haz de His, bloqueo del fasciculo anterior de la rama izquierda del haz de His, duracion del QRS 200 ms. Se decidio realizar estimulacion selectiva del haz de His. La resincronizacion cardiaca biventricular convencional en pacientes con presencia de bloqueo completo de la rama derecha del haz de His no esta indicada debido a la pobre respuesta al tratamiento. La estimulacion hisiana permite reclutar la rama bloqueada y reestablecer la conduccion a traves de ella, de tal forma que, en ausencia de necrosis, se logre sincronia biventricular. En el caso presentado el reclutamiento de la rama derecha mediante estimulacion hisiana se reflejo en el restablecimiento de la sincronia biventricular, medida por rastreo de marcas (speckle tracking) e incremento significativo de la fraccion de expulsion del ventriculo izquierdo del 17 al 36.6%, con un incremento absoluto del 19.6%. Cardiac resynchronization therapy has proven to be an effective therapy in patients with left bundle branch block and heart failure. Male, 47 years old, heart failure with a left ventricle ejection fraction of 17%, idiopathic heart failure. ECG with sinus rhythm, 1st degree AV block, PR 400 ms, complete right bundle branch block, anterior hemi-fascicle of the left bundle of His, and QRS duration 200 ms. We decided to perform a selective His bundle pacing. In patients with right bundle branch block the biventricular cardiac resynchronization is not indicated due to low treatment response. His bundle pacing allows recruiting the blocked branch and restoring conduction throughout it, therefore, in the absence of necrosis the biventricular synchrony is achieved. We presented a case of His bundle pacing with recruitment of the right bundle branch, which reestablish biventricular synchrony measured by speckle tracking, and with a significant increase of the left ventricle ejection fraction from 17 to 36.6%, with an absolute increase of 19.6%.

Parallel evolution is considered strong evidence for natural selection. However, few studies have investigated the process of parallel selection as it plays out in real time. The common approach is to study historical signatures of selection in populations already well adapted to different environments. Here, to document selection in action under natural conditions, we study six populations of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) inhabiting bar-built estuaries that undergo seasonal cycles of environmental changes. Estuaries are periodically isolated from the ocean due to sandbar formation during dry summer months, with concurrent environmental shifts that resemble the long-term changes associated with postglacial colonization of freshwater habitats by marine populations. We used pooled whole-genome sequencing (Pool-WGS) to track seasonal allele frequency changes in these populations and search for signatures of natural selection. We found consistent changes in allele frequency across estuaries, suggesting a potential role for parallel selection. Functional enrichment among candidate genes included transmembrane ion transport and calcium binding, which are important for osmoregulation and ion balance. The genomic changes that occur in threespine stickleback from bar-built estuaries could provide a glimpse into the early stages of adaptation that have occurred in many historical marine to freshwater transitions.

Captive-bred ball pythons (Python regius) represent a powerful model system for studying the genetic basis of colour variation and Mendelian phenotypes in vertebrates. Although hundreds of Mendelian phenotypes (colour morphs) affecting colouration and patterning have been described for ball pythons, the genes causing these colour morphs remain unknown. Here, we used crowdsourcing of samples from commercial ball python breeders to investigate the genetic basis of a classic phenotype found in the pet trade, the piebald [characterized by dorsolateral patches of unpigmented (white) skin]. We used whole-genome sequencing of pooled samples followed by population genetic methods to delineate the genomic region containing the causal gene. We identified TFEC of the MIT-family of transcription factors as a candidate gene. Functional annotation of SNPs identified a nonsense mutation in TFEC, which we conclude is the likely causal variant for the piebald phenotype. Our work shows that ball python colour morphs have the potential to be an excellent model system for studying the genetic basis of pigment variation in vertebrates, and highlights how collaborations with commercial breeders can accelerate discoveries.

Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) is one of the most prevalent cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD). Subsequent to the introduction of surgical repair, long-term outcomes for patients with ToF have improved significantly. Pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA-VSD) may be considered as an extreme form of classic ToF. Surgical repair not only corrects the haemodynamic but also creates scars that will be source for ventricular arrhythmias. Patients with tetralogy of Fallot are at risk for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. We present the successful treatment of a 7-years-old child with history of PA-VSD treated by surgical correction and ventricular tachycardia from an unusual anatomic place in the left ventricle summit (LVS), using catheter ablation.

Vasovagal syncope (VVS) is the most common type of syncope; the lone cardioinhibitory syncope represents only a small group of patients; however, the “cardioinhibitory component” is highly prevalent in reflex syncope and can be severe enough to produce asystole, lasting for a few seconds followed by a recovery to sinus beats. The environment in which syncope occurs can compromise life, and in-depth knowledge of the disease can prevent deaths and guide the appropriate management. The therapeutic cornerstone is general measures (increase water and salt) followed by pharmacologic therapy; for cardioinhibitory syncope, both treatments fail most of the time, and the next therapeutic option is pacemaker implantation. However, although the pacemaker causes a reduction in syncope, recurrence is high, and a one-time, effective, and safe intervention would be ideal. Cardioneuroablation (CNA) therapy has been proposed as a pacemaker alternative with these characteristics. CNA has shown a high reduction or even complete syncope elimination during 3 years of follow-up in some studies. Patients also reported prolonged prodromal periods, which allowed them enough time to abort the syncope. Invasive therapies like CNA require further extensive cohort studies, randomized clinical trials, and more substantial follow-up to evaluate adverse side effects. This review highlights syncope pathophysiology, dividing it into a central theory and a peripheral theory, the diagnosis explaining the head-up tilt test protocols, and treatments like CAN, representing it with figures for a simplified understanding.

Galectin-9 has emerged as a promising biological target for cancer immunotherapy due to its role as a regulator of macrophage and T-cell differentiation. In addition, its expression in tumor cells modulates tumor cell adhesion, metastasis, and apoptosis. Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive neoplasm of the mesothelial cells lining the pleural and peritoneal cavities, and in this study, we found that both human MM tissues and mouse MM cells express high levels of galectin-9. Using a novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) (Clone P4D2) that binds the C-terminal carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) of galectin-9, we demonstrate unique agonistic properties resulting in MM cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the P4D2 mAb reduced tumor-associated macrophages differentiation toward a protumor phenotype. Importantly, these effects exerted by the P4D2 mAb were observed in both human and mouse in vitro experiments and not observed with another antigalectin-9 specific mAb (clone P1D9) that engages the N-terminus CRD of galectin-9. In syngeneic murine models of MM, P4D2 mAb treatment inhibited tumor growth and improved survival, with tumors from P4D2-treated mice exhibited reduced infiltration of tumor-associated M2 macrophages. This was consistent with an increased production of inducible nitric oxide synthase, which is a major enzyme-regulating macrophage inflammatory response to cancer. These data suggest that using an antigalectin 9 mAb with agonistic properties similar to those exerted by galectin-9 may provide a novel multitargeted strategy for the treatment of mesothelioma and possibly other galectin-9 expressing tumors.

Identifying genetic variation involved in thermal adaptation is likely to yield insights into how species adapt to different climates. Physiological and behavioral responses associated with overwintering (e.g., torpor) are thought to serve important functions in climate adaptation. In this study, we use 2 isolated Peromyscus leucopus lineages on the northern margin of the species range to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) showing a strong environmental association and test for evidence of parallel evolution. We found signatures of clinal selection in each lineage, but evidence of parallelism was limited, with only 2 SNPs showing parallel allele frequencies across transects. These parallel SNPs map to a gene involved in protection against iron-dependent oxidative stress (Fxn) and to a gene with unknown function but containing a forkhead-associated domain (Fhad1). Furthermore, within transects, we find significant clinal patterns in genes enriched for functions associated with glycogen homeostasis, synaptic function, intracellular Ca2+ balance, H3 histone modification, as well as the G2/M transition of cell division. Our results are consistent with recent literature on the cellular and molecular basis of climate adaptation in small mammals and provide candidate genomic regions for further study.

Os antimicrobianos sao amplamente utilizados, porem o uso indiscriminado tem aumentado o aparecimento de microrganismos resistentes produzindo infeccoes de dificil tratamento e cura. Sendo assim, surgir como alternativa a pesquisa de novas moleculas antimicrobianas a partir de produtos naturais. Com isso, o semiarido tornou-se um ecossistema brasileiro que tornou-se alvo da comunidade cientifica e de empresas, principalmente industria de medicamentos, devido a presenca de uma alta taxa de biodiversidade. Neste estudo foi realizada uma coleta da rizosfera de plantas do genero das Stachytarpheta em areas definidas no municipio de Mucuge. Apos a realizacao de um “screening” (Testes antifungicos) de extratos de linhagens isoladas, foi selecionada uma linhagem identificada atraves do sequenciamento do DNA como Bacillus cereus. Observou-se uma atividade inibitoria significativa dos extratos frente a Candida albicans, que atraves do bioautografia, visualizou-se que Rf 0,43 e a fracao que obteve maior eficiencia na inibicao do patogeno. O estudo evidenciou uma importante etapa na pesquisa de um composto com atividade antimicrobiana, porem e necessaria a realizacao de estudos mais minuciosos para alcancar maior acao frente ao patogeno analisado.

This paper explores the concept of community archives as community building tools. Through a systematic review of literature, we have found consistent themes in how communities participate in community archives and the effects archives have on the formation of community identity. We discuss the ways in which physical archival spaces, events in the community, and digital archives work to create representation and engage communities that have historically been left out of the archives as well as how community archival practices differ from mainstream archives. These differences sometimes cause conflicts between community archives and more traditional archival institutions which we also acknowledge in this review. In these ways we present the unique role community archives play in not only their communities, but also the wider archival profession.

Range expansion has genetic consequences expected to result in differentiated wave-front populations with low genetic variation and potentially introgression from a local species. The northern expansion of Peromyscus leucopus in southern Quebec provides an opportunity to test these predictions using population genomic tools. Our results show evidence of recent and post-glacial expansion. Genome-wide variation in P. leucopus indicates two post-glacial lineages are separated by the St. Lawrence River, with a more recent divergence of populations isolated by the Richelieu River. In two of three transects we documented northern populations with low diversity in at least one genetic measure, although most relationships were not significant. Consistent with bottlenecks and allele surfing during northward expansion, we document a northern-most population with low nucleotide diversity, divergent allele frequencies and the most private alleles, and observed heterozygosity indicates outcrossing. Ancestry proportions revealed putative hybrids of P. leucopus and P. maniculatus. A formal test for gene flow confirmed secondary contact, showing that a reticulate population phylogeny between P. maniculatus and P. leucopus was a better fit to the data than a bifurcating model without gene flow. Thus, we provide the first genomic evidence of gene flow between this pair of species in natural populations. Understanding the evolutionary consequences of secondary contact is an important conservation concern as climate-induced range expansions are expected to result in new hybrid zones between closely related species.

Este artigo apresenta o estudo da técnica de mineração de dados aplicada aos sistemas de recomendação e o desenvolvimento de um sistema computacional, para indicação de produtos a usuários conforme suas preferências e características. Com a utilização de técnicas de Mineração de Dados, Clusterização e Regras de Associação, advindas da área de Inteligência Artificial, o sistema desenvolvido visa integrar essas duas técnicas, gerando um sistema híbrido que fornece informações para a geração de recomendações.Abstract This paper presents the study of data mining technique applied to recommender systems and the development of a computational system to indicate products to users according to their preferences and characteristics. With the use of techniques of Data Mining, Clustering and Association Rules, arising from the area of Artificial Intelligence, the developed system aims to integrate these two techniques, creating a hybrid system that provides information to generate recommendations.

Os antimicrobianos são amplamente utilizados, porém o uso indiscriminado tem aumentado o aparecimento de microrganismos resistentes produzindo infecções de difícil tratamento e cura. Sendo assim, surgir como alternativa a pesquisa de novas moléculas antimicrobianas a partir de produtos naturais. Com isso, o semiárido tornou-se um ecossistema brasileiro que tornou-se alvo da comunidade científica e de empresas, principalmente indústria de medicamentos, devido a presença de uma alta taxa de biodiversidade. Neste estudo foi realizada uma coleta da rizosfera de plantas do gênero das Stachytarpheta em áreas definidas no município de Mucugê. Após a realização de um “screening” (Testes antifúngicos) de extratos de linhagens isoladas, foi selecionada uma linhagem identificada através do sequenciamento do DNA como Bacillus cereus. Observou-se uma atividade inibitória significativa dos extratos frente à Candida albicans, que através do bioautografia, visualizou-se que Rf 0,43 é a fração que obteve maior eficiência na inibição do patógeno. O estudo evidenciou uma importante etapa na pesquisa de um composto com atividade antimicrobiana, porém é necessária a realização de estudos mais minuciosos para alcançar maior ação frente ao patógeno analisado.

En México, la horticultura de exportación es una actividad que a través del tiempo se ha caracterizado por aportar divisas, empleo y derrama económica en las regiones donde se instala; para ello, es necesario que los productores cumplan con requisitos y certificaciones orientadas principalmente a obtener la inocuidad, sanidad y calidad de los vegetales exportados. Una vez cubiertos estos requerimientos, los productores mexicanos contratan su producción con comercializadoras internacionales. Estas relaciones contractuales se caracterizan por ser generalmente asimétricas; ya sea porque se ocultan acciones o información por parte de las comercializadoras. Lo que deriva en la presencia de problemas como: el riesgo moral, selección adversa y/o problemas de señalización. Lo anterior implica para el productor realizar una toma de decisiones que en ocasiones no se corresponde con el ámbito racional de maximización de la utilidad. De ahí que la teoría de las expectativas (Kahneman & Tversky, 1979), brinde elementos para la explicación de la toma de decisiones, en el sentido que advierte de una coexistencia dual dentro del individuo: la intuición y el razonamiento. En el presente trabajo se plantea una adaptación metodológica de análisis, en donde se incluyen dichas dimensiones, a fin de describir el cómo y por qué eligen a un determinado comercializador las empresas agroexportadoras de hortalizas; ello mediante el contraste empírico a través de un estudio de caso buscando determinar en qué sentido las estructuras cognitivas de los tomadores de decisiones intervienen en las relaciones contractuales que se establecen con comercializadores internacionales.

This chapter provides an overview of existing Chinese tax law provisions having an impact on the conduct of R&D and the use of IP in China, including the licensing of IP by foreign multinational enterprises to their Chinese operating subsidiaries. The tax challenges for companies, and consequent issues for the attention of policymakers, are organized according to a three-part framework for evaluating IP tax management. Policy recommendations are then set out, highlighting the likely future trends in Chinese and international tax policy.

From the beginning of TgP’s activities along 730 km of pipeline from the rainforest in Cuzco towards the coast, south of Lima, it committed to act with responsibility, as part of its environmental policy and social responsibility practices, ensuring the care and conservation of the environment in a sustainable development framework, showing that it is possible to undertake operations in megadiverse areas. Programs and initiatives to protect Biodiversity were developed under IDB Operational Policies and IFC PS6 Biodiversity Conservation, such as the Biological Monitoring Program prior to the construction of the pipeline between 2000 and 2001. In 2007 TgP started as a sponsor of the Biodiversity Monitoring Program in the first 200 Km of the pipeline. These studies allowed the company to implement special measures in its daily operation and maintenance activities in order to prevent and mitigate negative impacts on habitats that we share with native and rural communities along the area of influence. In the Coast it was developed the rescue and translocation of 52,053 and 2,747 tillandsias and columnar cacti, in the Sierra region the bio-restoration of 12.5 ha of highland wetlands by restoring a natural drainage pattern, seeding, organic manuring, and grazing control. In the rainforest during the construction of the facilities for TgP expansion projects an Ecological Management Plan was implemented by the identification of sensitive ecosystems, 100% forest inventory and relocation of sensitive species of flora. Also, there have been new discoveries for science, recording two new species of reptiles group: Potamites montanicola and Euspondylus chasqui. With the implementation of these efforts and initiatives, TgP not only met its initial goal of mitigating impact to Biodiversity but has brought benefits to the various stakeholders through: Promotion of an information source platform for a little studied area. Discovery of new species to science. Development of procedures for protection of Biodiversity to be implemented during construction and operation of pipelines. Promotion of a culture with values focused on the care and protection of Biodiversity in the energy industry.