Background
In a previous work, we found linkage and association of type 1 diabetes (T1D) to a 12 known gene region at chromosome 2p25 in Colombian families. Here, we present further work on this ...candidate region.
Materials and methods
Seventeen SNPs located on the 12 candidate genes, in 100 familial trios set, were tested by ARMS–tetraprimer–PCR or PCR–RFLP. Five extra SNPs in the vicinity of
rs10186193
were typed. A replica phase included 97 novel familial trios, in whom diabetes-related auto-antibodies (AABs) were tested in sera of the patients. In addition to transmission disequilibrium tests, haplotype analyses were carried out using the unphased software.
Results
SNP
rs10186193
(at
RNASEH1
gene) showed association with T1D (
P
= 0.005). The additional five SNPs revealed that
rs7607888
(
P
= 2.03 × 10
−7
),
rs55981318
(
P
= 0.018), and
rs1136545
(
P
= 1.93 × 10
−9
) were also associated with T1D. Haplotype analysis showed association for
rs55981318
–
rs10186193
(
P
= 0.0005),
rs7563960
–
rs7607888
(
P
= 0.0007),
rs7607888
–
rs1136545
(
P
= 9.21 × 10
−10
), and
rs1136545
–
rs11538545
(
P
= 6.67 × 10
−8
). In contrast, the new set of 97 familial trios tested for SNPs
rs55981318
,
rs10186193,
and
rs7607888
did not support the previous finding; however, by combining the sample (197 trios), evidence of association of T1D with
rs55981318
and
rs7607888
was conclusive. In addition, a two-loci haplotype analysis of the combined sample showed significant association of
RNASEH1
with T1D (
P
= 3.1 × 10
−5
).
Conclusion
In conclusion, our analyses suggest that
RNASEH1
gene variants associate with susceptibility/protection to T1D in Colombia.
TiO2 thin films with mixtures of the anatase, rutile, and brookite phases were deposited on glass substrates via magnetron sputtering. Based on XRD and Raman results, the TiO2-0.47 and TiO2-3.47 ...films principally contained the brookite phase, while the TiO2-1.27 and TiO2-2.13 films were primarily anatase. The capacities of the TiO2 films to adsorb heavy metals were tested with Cr(VI) and Fe(III) solutions, and the maximum Cr(VI) and Fe(III) adsorption capacities were realized with the TiO2-0.47 film (334.5 mg/g) and TiO2-3.47 film (271.3 mg/g), respectively. SEM‒EDS results revealed the presence of Cr and Fe on the surfaces of the films, thus corroborating the ability of the TiO2 films to adsorb and remove heavy metals. They are strong candidates for use in wastewater treatment plants.
The South American Tern
Sterna hirundinacea
is a poorly known migratory seabird distributed along South American marine coasts, including the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). The species presents ...allochronic isolation (i.e., separation of populations by breeding time), with different populations occupying different environmental spaces during the reproductive periods. Additionally, southern populations appear to undertake long-distance directional migration, but there is limited knowledge of the migratory behaviour of northern populations. In spite of these temporal and spatial segregative behaviour, limited population structure has been inferred from genetic assessments, although only a few localities have been investigated. Morphological variation is also poorly known. Whether intrinsic, environmental, or anthropogenic factors are causing isolation and differentiation between populations is unknown. Here, we first characterize sexual morphological dimorphism in the South American Tern, and then evaluate morphological variation along the species range, using only measurements that did not respond to sexual dimorphism and with a representative number of specimens. We also evaluate genetic variation along the South American Tern distribution to test for population differentiation and estimate the demographic history and diversification time for the species. Overall, we found limited population structure in both morphological and genetic data, but with some differentiation in measurements assessed for specimens from the Southeastern Pacific. A trend for demographic stability after a population expansion was estimated for the species. The connectivity among species' colonies, followed by its likely non-philopatric behaviour, seems to maintain gene flow between South American Tern populations. However, genetic differentiation might still be undetected, given the estimated recent origin and demographic expansion for the species. Although the South American Tern is not considered globally threatened, it is regionally threatened, and conservation implications of our findings are considered.
The use of probiotics, prebiotics and dietary fiber has become a common practice in shrimp aquaculture as alternatives to antibiotic treatment. However, not much is known about the metabolic ...mechanisms underlying the effects of probiotics and immunostimulant used in shrimp aquaculture. In this study, a gas chromatography−mass spectrometry (GC−MS) based metabolomics approach was used to characterize metabolite profiles of haemolymph and gills of whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) exposed to four treatments (cellulose fiber, probiotics with Vibrio alginolyticus, a combination of cellulose fiber and V. alginolyticus and a control treatment). The cellulose fiber was administrated as a feed additive (100 mg⋅Kg−1 feed), while the probiotics was applied in the water (105 UFC⋅mL−1 culture water). The results showed significant differences in haemolymph metabolite profiles of immune stimulated treatments compared to the control and among treatments. The combination of cellulose fiber and probiotics resulted in greater differences in metabolic profiles, suggesting a better immune stimulation with this approach. The changes in haemolymph metabolome of treated shrimp reflected several biochemical pathway modifications, including changes in amino acid and fatty acid metabolism, disturbances in energy metabolism and antimicrobial activity and stress responses. For gill tissues, significant differences were only found in lactic acid between the probiotic group and the control. Among the altered metabolites, the increases of itaconic acid in haemolymph, and lactic acid in both haemolymph and gill tissues of immune-stimulated suggest the potential use of these metabolites as biomarkers for health assessment in aquaculture.
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•GC−MS metabolomics revealed shrimp responses to immune stimulatory products.•More metabolic responses to immune stimulators in haemolymph than in gills.•The combination of cellulose fibers and probiotics yielded better immune stimulation.•Cellulose fibers could be used as a prebiotic for shrimp.
Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles of controlled size distribution were electrochemically synthesized applying a dissymmetric pattern of potential pulses to iron-based electrodes in aqueous media. The ...best pattern was determined through a design of experiments based on a previous voltammetric study. The applied method conveys an optimization of previous methods which employed direct or symmetric alternate potentials. XRD results indicate that magnetite phase is favored to anodic potentials larger −0.2 V versus SSE. TEM images show quasi spherical particles with size ranging from 10 to 50 nm, depending on the synthesis conditions, which agrees with size estimated from diffractograms. EDS indicate that the electrolyte is not totally eliminated by washing although its content is lower than 1 %.
We present the first standardized list of the vascular flora of the Cantabrian Mountains, a transitional zone between the Eurosiberian and Mediterranean biogeographic regions in northwestern Spain. ...The study area comprises 15000 km2 divided in UTM grid cells of 10 km x 10 km, for which we revised occurrence data reported in the Spanish Plant Information System (Anthos) and the online database of Iberian and Macaronesian Vegetation (SIVIM). We used a semi-automatic procedure to standardize taxonomic concepts into a single list of names, which was further updated by expert-based revision with the support of national and regional literature. In the current version, the checklist of the Cantabrian Mountains contains 2338 native species and subspecies, from which 56 are endemic to the study area. The nomenclature of the checklist follows Euro+Med in 97% of taxa, including annotations when other criteria has been used and for taxa with uncertain status. We also provide a list of 492 non-native taxa that were erroneously reported in the study area, a list of local apomictic taxa, a phylogenetic tree linked to The Plant List, a standardized calculation of Ellenberg Ecological Indicator Values for 80% of the flora, and information about life forms, IUCN threat categories and legal protection status. Our review demonstrates how the Cantabrian mountains represent a key floristic region in southern Europe and a relevant phytogeographical hub in south-western Europe. The checklist and all related information are freely accessible in a digital repository for further uses in basic and applied research
Recovery of motor function after central nervous system (CNS) injury is dependent on the regeneration capacity of the nervous system, which is a multifactorial process influenced, among other things, ...by the role of neuromodulators such as serotonin. The neurotransmitter serotonin can promote neuronal regeneration but there are also reports of it causing restriction, so it is important to clarify these divergent findings in order to understand the direct scope and side effects of potential pharmacological treatments. We evaluated the effect of serotonin on the extent of neuritic outgrowth and morphology of three different neuronal types in the leech Haementeria officinalis during their regeneration in vitro: Retzius interneurons (Rz), annulus erector (AE) motoneurons, and anterolateral number 1 (AL1) CNS neurons. Neurons were isolated and cultured in L15 medium, with or without serotonin. Growth parameters were registered and quantified, and observed differences were analyzed. The addition of serotonin was found to induce AL1 neurons to increase their average growth dramatically by 8.3-fold (P=0.02; n=5), and to have no clear effect on AE motoneurons (P=0.44; n=5). For Rz interneurons, which normally do not regenerate their neurites, the addition of concanavaline-A causes substantial growth, which serotonin was found to inhibit on average by 98% (P=0.02; n=5). The number of primary neurites and their branches were also affected. These results reveal that depending on the neuronal type, serotonin can promote, inhibit, or have no effect on neuronal regeneration. This suggests that after CNS injury, non-specific pharmacological treatments affecting serotonin may have different effects on different neuronal populations.
Surname distribution can be a useful tool for studying the genetic structure of a human population. In South America, the Uruguay population has traditionally been considered to be of European ...ancestry, despite its trihybrid origin, as proved through genetics. The aim of this study was to investigate the structure of the Uruguayan population, resulting from population movements and surname drift in the country. The distribution of the surnames of 2,501,774 people on the electoral register was studied in the nineteen departments of Uruguay. Multivariate approaches were used to estimate isonymic parameters. Isolation by Distance was measured by correlating isonymic and geographic distances. In the study sample, the most frequent surnames were consistently Spanish, reflecting the fact that the first immigration waves occurred before Uruguayan independence. Only a few surnames of Native origin were recorded. The effective surname number (α) for the entire country was 302, and the average for departments was 235.8 ± 19. Inbreeding estimates were lower in the south-west of the country and in the densely populated Montevideo area. Isonymic distances between departments were significantly correlated with linear geographic distance (p < 0.001) indicating continuously increasing surname distances up to 400 km. Surnames form clusters related to geographic regions affected by different historical processes. The isonymic structure of Uruguay shows a radiation towards the east and north, with short-range migration playing a major role, while the contribution of drift, considering the small variance of α, appears to be minor.
Tagasaste wood (
Chamaecytisus proliferus L.F. ssp
palmensis) was characterized, chemical and energy terms, and assessed its potential as a lignocellulosic raw material, and its integral ...fractionation by autohydrolysis and delignification with ethanol. The hydrothermal treatment of the raw material at 175–185
°C provided a liquor containing a substantially increased amount of oligomers (between 16.6% and 47.4% as percentages with respect to the content of the raw material in each polymer fraction). A cellulose pulp with autohydrolysis treatment increased yields (53–60%), reduced Kappa number (28.8–34.6) but also viscosity (755–857
mL/g), and decreased paper strength (2.97–5.22
kN
m/kg). However, beating ethanol cellulose from tagasaste was found to improve its strength-related properties more markedly than in soda pulp from the same material (tensile index of 44
kN
m/kg).
The limited success of international efforts to reduce global warming at levels established in the Paris Agreement, and the increasing frequency and strength of climate impacts, highlight the urgent ...need of adaptation, particularly in developing countries. Unfortunately, current levels of adaptation initiatives are not enough to counteract the observed impacts and projected risks from climate change in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). In this paper, we review and highlight relevant issues that have limited the capacity to transform climate knowledge and parties’ ambitions into action in the region. Current vulnerabilities and climatic impact-drivers in LAC are diverse, complex, and region-specific and their effects are expected to be exacerbated by climate change. However, the advancement of regional and domestic climate agendas has been hindered by scientific gaps, political support, institutional capacity, and financial, technical, human, and economic limitations that are common to many LAC countries. Transforming climate data into multidimensional metrics with useful thresholds for different sectors and understanding their contribution for feasible adaptation strategies are delayed by regional and local conundrums such as lack of inclusive governance, data availability, equity, justice, and transboundary issues. We discuss ways to move forward to develop local and regional climate resilient development actions and a more sustainable future in LAC. The climate science community in LAC needs to strengthen its local, national, and international connections and with decision/policymakers and society to establish a three-way engagement by proposing suitable adaptation actions and international negotiations to reduce the risks and vulnerability associated with climate extremes, climate variability and climate change in the region. The discussions and insights presented in this work could be extrapolated to other countries in the Global South.
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