10 research outputs found
The Harrod-Balassa-Samuelson Effect: A Survey of Empirical Evidence
No full textThe paper surveys empirical evidence on the Harrod-Balassa-Samuelson effect. The survey encompasses the published empirical work on the phenomenon since its (re)discovery in 1964. In total, 58 empirical papers are examined within a specialized analytical framework. The body of empirical evidence is synthesized through four major elements. The analysis starts with the ongoing controversy related to the name of the theory. This is followed by a presentation of the evolution of the theoretical and econometric model. It ends with an analysis of the results of the surveyed empirical studies. Results of the survey indicate that growing body of evidence definitely points towards professional rethinking about the significance of the Harrod-Balassa-Samuelson effect.Harrod Balassa Samuelson effect, real exchange rate, purchasing power parity, productivity
Bis(phthalocyaninato)yttrium Grown on Au(111): Electronic Structure of a Single Molecule and the Stability of Two-dimensional Films Investigated by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy/Spectroscopy at 4.8 K
No full textScanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) at 4.8 K has been used to examine the growth of a double-decker bis(phthalocyaninato)yttrium (YPc(2)) molecule on a reconstructed Au(111) substrate. Local differential conductance spectra (dI/dV) of a single YPc(2) molecule allow the characteristics of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) to be identified. Furthermore, lateral distributions of the local density of states (LDOS) have also been obtained by dI/dV mapping and confirmed by first principles simulations. These electronic feature mappings and theoretical calculations provide a basis for understanding the unique STM morphology of YPc(2), which is usually imaged as an eight-lobed structure. In addition, we demonstrate that bias-dependent STM morphologies and simultaneous dI/dV maps can provide a way of understanding the stability of two-dimensional YPc(2) films.Chemistry, PhysicalNanoscience & NanotechnologyMaterials Science, MultidisciplinaryPhysics, AppliedSCI(E)5ARTICLE8604-611
Polyphenol oxidase activity and yellow pigment content in Aegilops tauschii, Triticum turgidum, Triticum aestivum, synthetic hexaploid wheat and its parents
No full textPolyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity and yellow pigment content (YPC) are two important quality traits determining the color of wheat end-products. Synthetic hexaploid wheat (SHW) has been largely synthesized and widely used in wheat breeding. In this study, we investigated PPO activity and YPC of 118 accessions consist of Aegilops tauschii, Triticum turgidum, Triticum aestivum and synthetic hexaploid wheat. Irrespective of PPO activity or YPC, T. aestivum tended to a lower value and a more concentrated range. As for PPO activity, synthetic hexaploid wheat showed a large number of genetic variation comparable to T. turgidum. Each T turgidum - SHW - Ae. tauschii combination represents an independent wheat hexaploidization process. By comparing 29 synthetic hexaploid wheats with their corresponding parents (maternal, T turgidum, BBA(u)A(u); paternal, Ae. tauschii, DD), our report highlighted different performances for PPO activity and YPC during wheat hexaploidization processes: the PPO activity of SHW can be higher, lower than both parents, or in the middle; in contrast, all the combinations showed a relative stable YPC trend. Besides, take these two traits we tested as an example, from an evolutionary perspective, the uniqueness of traits and their potential functions on polyploidy adaption or stress responses were also discussed. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Exploring the diversity of extremely halophilic archaea in food-grade salts
No full textIntroduction Salting is one of the oldest means of food preservation: adding salt decreases water activity and inhibits microbial development. Worldwide production of salt is led by China (24 %), Europe (21 %) and USA (17 %). Applications for food and feed represent 3 % of the European consumption. Salted and fermented food products often contain halophilic archaea. The presence of Halorubrum and Halosarcina species has been reported in brines during fermentation of table olives [1]. Histamine-degrading archaea belonging to genera Halobacterium and Natrinema were reported in salted-fermented fishery products and Haloarcula marismortui was isolated from salted anchovies [2] [3]. Kimchi, a Korean fermented food, was shown to maintain archaeal population of the Natronococcus, Natrialba, Halosimplex, Halobiforma and Halococcus genera [4]. The salt itself has proven to contain viable microbial cells [5]. However, to our knowledge, no studies have investigated the occurrence and diversity of archaea in food-grade salts. Material and methods The archaeal diversity of twenty-six commercial food-grade salts from worldwide origin was assessed by culture on solid media (MGM, Hv-YPC, DBCM2 and CDM with pyruvate). Colony forming units (CFU) were counted and phenotypically distinct isolates were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Additionally, high-throughput sequencing was performed on nine of these salts. Results Viable archaea were observed in 14 salts and colony counts reached more than 105 CFU per gram in three salts. All archaeal isolates identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing belonged to the Halobacteriaceae family and were related to 16 distinct genera among which Haloarcula, Halobacterium, Halarchaeum and Halorubrum were the most represented. High-throughput sequencing generated extremely different profiles for each salt. Four of them contained a single major genus (Halorubrum, Halonotius or Haloarcula) while the others had three or more genera of similar occurrence. The number of distinct genera per salt ranged from 21 to 27. Discussion Halorubrum had a significant contribution to the archaeal diversity in seven salts; this correlates with its frequent occurrence in crystallization ponds. On the contrary, Haloquadratum walsbyi, the halophilic archaea most commonly found in solar salterns, was a minor actor of the food-grade salt diversity. This supports the hypothesis that the crystallization process modifies the archaeal diversity, possibly due to distinct survival capabilities in extremely low water activity environments. Although not primarily sought, halophilic bacteria were also recovered from four food-grade salts. They were isolated from the richest substrate media MGM and Hv-YPC. The latter not only supported the growth of halophilic bacteria, but also impeded archaeal development. The surprisingly high content of viable archaea in popular food-grade salts frequently used in food preparation raises the question of their fate after ingestion. Therefore, their survival and potential activity in human intestinal tract should now be considered and further investigated. References 1. Abriouel H. et al. (2011). Int J Food Microbiol 144(3): 487-496. 2. Moschetti G. et al. (2006). Ann Microbiol 56(2): 119-127. 3. Tapingkae W. et al. (2010). Enzyme Microb Tech 46(2): 92-99. 4. Chang H-W. et al. (2008). Int J Food Microbiol 126(1-2): 159-166. 5. Minegishi H. et al. (2010). Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 60(11): 2513-2516
An updated tribal classification of Lamiaceae based on plastome phylogenomics
No full textBackground: A robust molecular phylogeny is fundamental for developing a stable classification and providing a solid framework to understand patterns of diversification, historical biogeography, and character evolution. As the sixth largest angiosperm family, Lamiaceae, or the mint family, consitutes a major source of aromatic oil, wood, ornamentals, and culinary and medicinal herbs, making it an exceptionally important group ecologically, ethnobotanically, and floristically. The lack of a reliable phylogenetic framework for this family has thus far hindered broad-scale biogeographic studies and our comprehension of diversification. Although significant progress has been made towards clarifying Lamiaceae relationships during the past three decades, the resolution of a phylogenetic backbone at the tribal level has remained one of the greatest challenges due to limited availability of genetic data. Results: We performed phylogenetic analyses of Lamiaceae to infer relationships at the tribal level using 79 protein-coding plastid genes from 175 accessions representing 170 taxa, 79 genera, and all 12 subfamilies. Both maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses yielded a more robust phylogenetic hypothesis relative to previous studies and supported the monophyly of all 12 subfamilies, and a classification for 22 tribes, three of which are newly recognized in this study. As a consequence, we propose an updated phylogenetically informed tribal classification for Lamiaceae that is supplemented with a detailed summary of taxonomic history, generic and species diversity, morphology, synapomorphies, and distribution for each subfamily and tribe. Conclusions: Increased taxon sampling conjoined with phylogenetic analyses based on plastome sequences has provided robust support at both deep and shallow nodes and offers new insights into the phylogenetic relationships among tribes and subfamilies of Lamiaceae. This robust phylogenetic backbone of Lamiaceae will serve as a framework for future studies on mint classification, biogeography, character evolution, and diversification. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2021, The Author(s).Ten Thousand Talent Plans for Young Top-notch Talents of Yunnan Province: YNWR-QNBJ-2018-279National Science Foundation, NSF: TUBITAK-BIDEB 2219, DEB-1655611RG19-172019FI009This study was in part supported by Yunnan Fundamental Research Projects (Grant No. 2019FI009) and “Ten Thousand Talents Program of Yunnan” (Grant No. YNWR-QNBJ-2018-279) awarded to CLX, the CAS “Light of West China” program to CLX and YPC, the Australian Biological Resources Study National Taxonomy Research Grant Program (Grant No. RG19-17) awarded to TCW, CLX, and BL, NSF DEB-1655611 awarded to BTD, and the Postdoctoral Research Program (TUBITAK-BIDEB 2219) awarded to FC
Bothynus araya Duarte & Grossi 2020, new species
No full textBothynus araya Duarte & Grossi, new species (Figs. 5 A–F; 7B; 8E; 9E; 10D, F; 12E) Diagnosis. Both sexes of B. araya are similar to B. entellus; however B. araya can be distinguished using the following characters: stridulatory apparatus with well-marked carinae near to basal margin in both sexes (Fig. 7B); parameres with lateral “flaps” distinctly as narrow as basal half (Fig. 8E); female differ from the females of other species in this group by the pronotum with weakly punctate concavity and smooth discal area (Fig. 10D) and proventrite with a long furrow at anterolateral angles (Fig. 10F). Etymology. The specific epithet is named as tribute to the grandmother of the first author. The name “araya” originates from the Tupi-Guarani dialect, meaning “grandmother”. This name should be treated as a noun in apposition. Type material. Holotype not dissected. Brasil: Paraná: Guarapuava, 3.IV.2012, Oliveira. G.B. – 1♂ (CERPE). Paratypes [16 males and 2 females]. One male and one female with same data as holotype (CERPE). Brasil: Minas Gerais: Poços de Caldas, XI.1995,— 1♂ (YPC). Paraná: Castro, Estrada Castro-Tibagi, Km 15, 15.XII.2006, P. Grossi & Parizotto— 1♂ (EPGC). Brasil: Santa Catarina: Campos Novos, (27º23’S, 51º12’W), II.2011, armadilha pitfall, R.C. Campos—(1♂ MAHC, 5♂ 1♀ CERPE, 4♂ CEMT). Paraguay: Caaguazú: Sommerfeld, I.1962 — 1♂ (MAHC). No data —(1♂ CERPE, 1♂ YPC). Description. Holotype male (Fig. 5A). Body l ength: 25.0 mm. Body width: 14.0 mm. Color: Dark brown. Head: Clypeus subpentagonal in shape, moderately punctate, weakly setose on sides, strongly constricted laterally at apical half, basal half with parallel and slightly raised sides. Frontoclypeal suture with a weak ridge interrupted at middle, nearly reaching the lateral margins. Interocular width equals 2.8 transverse eye diameters, frontal surface weakly rugopunctate, sides scarcely setose, basal area between eyes smooth. Eye canthus subquadrate. Mouthparts: Mandibles bidentate, teeth subtriangular. Mentum subtriangular, convex at disc, weakly rounded and densely covered with setose punctures on sides, disc smooth. Maxilla with quadridentate galea; 1 apical tooth (strong), 2 medial teeth (1 weak, 1 strong), 1 basal tooth (weak). Pronotum: Moderately convex, without horns, only with 1 small, conic-shaped apical tubercle; concavity V-shaped, shallow, confined to anterior area (Fig. 5A), hypomeron convergent (Fig. 5D); surface finely punctate Scutellar shield: Triangular in shape, smooth. Elytra: Surface with barely marked longitudinal striae, finely punctate, only observed under 90X magnification. Legs: Inner protarsal claw dilated, protarsomere IV with short ventral apex (Fig. 5E). Mesofemora with setae confined on disc (Fig. 5F). Mesotibiae slightly convex on external surface. Abdomen: Ventrites I–IV completely setose, V setose only on sides, VI bordered with setae on apex. Tergite VII with stridulatory apparatus formed by a band of transversal carinae well marked on the basal area, becoming finely marked toward the apical area (Fig. 7B). Tergite VIII with weak, setose punctures confined to sides, disc smooth. Variation. Male paratypes differ from holotype in the following aspects: Body length: 21.0– 26.5 mm. Body width: 11.0–13.0 mm. Color: Pronotal and elytral surface with variation from dark reddish brown to reddish brown. Pronotum: Concavity occasionally small and shallow compared to holotype, sometimes U-shaped. Aedeagus: Parameres in caudal view (Fig. 8E), middle area abruptly constricted on sides, apical half expanded in shape of subparallel lateral “flaps”, as narrow as the basal half. In lateral view, apex downcurved (Fig. 9E). Female paratypes (Fig. 5B) differs in the following aspects: Body length: 21.0– 26.5 mm. Body width: 11.0–13.0. Pronotum: Concavity rounded, small, confined near to anterior margin; latero-anterior surface moderately punctate, concavity weakly punctate, disc smooth (Fig. 10D). Legs: Protarsus not thickened, claws simple. Venter: Proventrite with a long furrow at anterolateral angles (Fig. 10F). Abdomen: Ventrite VI triangular shaped, not emarginate apically. Tergite VIII flattened in lateral view. Geographic distribution. Brazil: Minas Gerais, Paraná, Santa Catarina. Paraguay: Caaguazú (Fig. 12E). Bothynus araya occurs in open fields predominantly characterized as having shrubby vegetation within the “Campos Gerais” region from southern Brazilian to Paraguay.Published as part of Duarte, Paulo R. M. & Grossi, Paschoal C., 2020, Bothynus entellus (LePeletier & Serville) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) species group: taxonomic revision and description of two new species, pp. 101-121 in Zootaxa 4750 (1) on pages 111-113, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4750.1.5, http://zenodo.org/record/370286
Genome-Wide Association Study of Circulating Interleukin 6 Levels Identifies Novel Loci
No full textInterleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine with both pro- and anti-inflammatory properties with a heritability estimate of up to 61%. The circulating levels of IL-6 in blood have been associated with an increased risk of complex disease pathogenesis. We conducted a two-staged, discovery, and replication meta genome-wide association study (GWAS) of circulating serum IL-6 levels comprising up to 67 428 (n{discovery} = 52 654 and n_{replication} = 14 774) individuals of European ancestry. The inverse variance fixed-effects based discovery meta-analysis, followed by replication led to the identification of two independent loci, IL1F10/IL1RN rs6734238 on Chromosome (Chr) 2q14, (pcombined = 1.8 × 10^{−11}), HLA-DRB1/DRB5 rs660895 on Chr6p21 (p_{combined} = 1.5 × 10^{−10}) in the combined meta-analyses of all samples. We also replicated the IL6R rs4537545 locus on Chr1q21 (p_{combined} = 1.2 × 10^{−122}). Our study identifies novel loci for circulating IL-6 levels uncovering new immunological and inflammatory pathways that may influence IL-6 pathobiology
Loci influencing blood pressure identified using a cardiovascular gene-centric array
No full textBlood pressure (BP) is a heritable determinant of risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). To investigate genetic associations with systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse pressure (PP), we genotyped ~50 000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that capture variation in ~2100 candidate genes for cardiovascular phenotypes in 61 619 individuals of European ancestry from cohort studies in the USA and Europe. We identified novel associations between rs347591 and SBP (chromosome 3p25.3, in an intron of HRH1) and between rs2169137 and DBP (chromosome1q32.1 in an intron of MDM4) and between rs2014408 and SBP (chromosome 11p15 in an intron of SOX6), previously reported to be associated with MAP. We also confirmed 10 previously known loci associated with SBP, DBP, MAP or PP (ADRB1, ATP2B1, SH2B3/ATXN2, CSK, CYP17A1, FURIN, HFE, LSP1, MTHFR, SOX6) at array-wide significance (P < 2.4 × 10). We then replicated these associations in an independent set of 65 886 individuals of European ancestry. The findings from expression QTL (eQTL) analysis showed associations of SNPs in the MDM4 region with MDM4 expression. We did not find any evidence of association of the two novel SNPs in MDM4 and HRH1 with sequelae of high BP including coronary artery disease (CAD), left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) or stroke. In summary, we identified two novel loci associated with BP and confirmed multiple previously reported associations. Our findings extend our understanding of genes involved in BP regulation, some of which may eventually provide new targets for therapeutic intervention
Gene-centric meta-analysis in 87,736 individuals of European ancestry identifies multiple blood-pressure-related loci
No full textBlood pressure (BP) is a heritable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. To investigate genetic associations with systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and pulse pressure (PP), we genotyped ∼50,000 SNPs in up to 87,736 individuals of European ancestry and combined these in a meta-analysis. We replicated findings in an independent set of 68,368 individuals of European ancestry. Our analyses identified 11 previously undescribed associations in independent loci containing 31 genes including PDE1A, HLA-DQB1, CDK6, PRKAG2, VCL, H19, NUCB2, RELA, HOXC@ complex, FBN1, and NFAT5 at the Bonferroni-corrected array-wide significance threshold (p < 6 × 10−7) and confirmed 27 previously reported associations. Bioinformatic analysis of the 11 loci provided support for a putative role in hypertension of several genes, such as CDK6 and NUCB2. Analysis of potential pharmacological targets in databases of small molecules showed that ten of the genes are predicted to be a target for small molecules. In summary, we identified previously unknown loci associated with BP. Our findings extend our understanding of genes involved in BP regulation, which may provide new targets for therapeutic intervention or drug response stratification
Genetic variants in novel pathways influence blood pressure and cardiovascular disease risk
No full textBlood pressure is a heritable trait1 influenced by several biological pathways and responsive to environmental stimuli. Over one billion people worldwide have hypertension (90mmHg diastolic blood pressure)2. Even small increments in blood pressure are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events3. This genome-wide associationstudy of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, which useda multi-stage design in 200,000 individuals of European descent,identified sixteen novel loci: six of these loci contain genes previously known or suspected to regulate blood pressure(GUCY1A3–GUCY1B3, NPR3–C5orf23, ADM, FURIN–FES, GOSR2, GNAS–EDN3); the other ten provide new clues to blood pressure physiology. A genetic risk score based on 29 genomewide significant variants was associated with hypertension, left ventricular wall thickness, stroke and coronary artery disease, but not kidney disease or kidney function. We also observed associations with blood pressure in East Asian, South Asian and African ancestry individuals. Our findings provide new insights into the genetics and biology of blood pressure, and suggestpotential novel therapeutic pathways for cardiovascular disease prevention
