Toxoplasma gondii has at least 318 genotypes distributed worldwide, and tropical regions usually have greater genetic diversity. Campeche is a state located in the southeastern region of México and has favourable climate conditions for the replication and dissemination of this protozoan, similar to those in South American countries where broad genetic diversity has been described. Thus, in this study, 4 T. gondii isolates were obtained from tissues of stray dogs and free-range chickens in Campeche, México, and were genotyped by Mn-PCR-RFLP with 10 typing markers (SAG1, altSAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1 and Apico) and 5 virulence markers (CS3, ROP16, ROP17, ROP18 and ROP5) to provide new information about the distribution and virulence prediction of T. gondii genotypes. Two isolates of T. gondii genotype #116 and 2 of genotype #38 were obtained from stray dogs and chickens, respectively. The parasite load found in these species was between <50 and more than 35 000 tachyzoites per mg of tissue. Virulence marker genotyping revealed a recombinant 1&3 ROP5 RFLP pattern in 2 ToxoDB #116 isolates with no prediction of virulence in a murine model, while in the 2 ToxoDB #38 isolates, the ROP18/ROP5 combination predicted high virulence. Considering all the typed markers, there is a predominance of type I and III alleles, as constantly reported for the isolates characterized in various regions of México. It is crucial to determine their phenotype to corroborate the genetic virulence profile of the T. gondii isolates obtained in this study.

Fluorescence techniques have been widely used by scientists to reveal valuable information from biological samples, but in food science, small progress is known due to the complexity of the samples. In this study, two different biological samples, garlic skin (GS) and agave fibers (AF), were used to evaluate the techniques of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, to obtain valuable information on the fiber size of the samples. A compositional characterization with calcofluor white in CLSM was achieved, but a superficial characterization of the samples with TIRF was made, evidencing fiber sizes of 398.67 ± 48.47 nm and 677.38 ± 76.88 nm for GS and AF, respectively. This work reveals that only an untreated sample can be used with the two techniques in the same microscope. In addition, it is possible to characterize the sample only using a spatial field of research and which valuable information about the structure of the material is found. This work provides the opportunity to use advanced fluorescence techniques for elucidation of structures shortly before studied with these techniques.

Studies on the effect of nanofertilizers (NF) in physiological performance of plants is scarce, especially that related to substances encapsulated into silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles in cocoa plants. The effect of foliar application of SiO2-NF on nutrient contents, gas exchange, photochemical activity, photosynthetic pigments, total soluble protein (TSP), photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE), and growth in seedlings of two cocoa clones (OC-61 and BR-05) in a greenhouse was assessed. Spraying with SiO2-NF increased net photosynthetic rate (A) by 16 and 60% and electron transport rate (J) by 52 and 162% in clones OC-61 and BR-05, respectively, without changes in photosynthetic pigment concentration in either clone. The SiO2-NF caused a decrease of 37 and 22% in stomatal conductance in OC-61 and BR-05, respectively; a similar trend was observed in transpiration rate, causing an increase of 42 and 100% in water use efficiency in OC-61 and BR-05, respectively. In both clones, diameter of graft increased on average 28% with SiO2-NF. Higher photosynthetic capacity was related to an increase in leaf N, P, and TSP. A significant reduction in PNUE (A/N ratio) was found in OC-61, whereas in BR-05 PNUE increased after spraying with SiO2-NF. Overall, spraying with SiO2-NF had a positive effect on photosynthetic processes in both cocoa clones, associated with an increase in nutrients content, which translated into improved growth. A differential physiological response to spraying with SiO2-NF between clones was also found, with BR-05 being the clone with a better physiological response during the establishment and development stages.

Despite intensive research during the last few decades, understanding of ecological and physiological factors related to haemosporidian infections in birds is still fragmentary. Since more model organisms are needed in order to understand these infections in the wild, we analysed avian haemosporidian infections in the rufous-collared sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis, Emberizidae) in a dry forest of the Ecuadorian Andes. Parasite diversity was screened using molecular and morphological approaches. By molecular diagnosis, we identified three linages that were phylogenetically placed in the context of molecular haemosporidian diversity and associated with a morphospecies. By microscopy, we identified five described morphospecies and one additional undescribed morphospecies. We found that avian haemosporidian prevalence on the study site was 76.3%. Additionally, we used a series of generalized linear models to explore the potential relationship of parasite prevalence and parasitaemia with a set of variables related to physiological and environmental conditions. Although our results revealed associations of haemosporidian infections with precipitation, age and sampling site, the models only explained a small fraction of the variation.

The sea star Anasterias minuta broods the embryos in the oral region; embryos then block the mouth and prevent the parent from taking up nutrients during the brooding period. Here, we analysed content of carbohydrates in different organs as well as in eggs, embryos and juveniles of A. minuta. We found that these biochemical components are used mainly by the pyloric caeca and the body wall as reserve substances to endure the periods of reduced consumption rates of non-brooding females and males and the long-term starvation of brooding females. The ability to translocate carbohydrates from females to embryos and juveniles observed in other species of sea stars was not confirmed.

The fraction of distant disks and mergers is still debated, while 3D-spectroscopy is revolutionizing the field. However its limited spatial resolution imposes a complimentary HST imagery and a robust analysis procedure. When applied to observations of IMAGES galaxies at z = 0.4-0.8, it reveals that half of the spiral progenitors were in a merger phase, 6 billion year ago. The excellent correspondence between methodologically-based classifications of morphologies and kinematics definitively probes a violent origin of disk galaxies as proposed by Hammer et al. (2005). Examination of nearby galaxy outskirts reveals fossil imprints of such ancient merger events, under the form of well organized stellar streams. Perhaps our neighbor, M31, is the best illustration of an ancient merger, which modeling in 2010 leads to predict the gigantic plane of satellites discovered by Ibata et al. (2013). There are still a lot of discoveries to be done until the ELT era, which will open an avenue for detailed and accurate 3D-spectroscopy of galaxies from the earliest epochs to the present.

We present 3D observations of three interacting galaxies in order derive their extended kinematics and to trace events such as violent star-formation (SF), mass-transfer, structure perturbation and the presence of energetic sources induced by the interacting processes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the CSN1S1 locus polymorphism on 305-d records of milk, fat, protein, lactose and total solids yields, fat, protein, lactose and total solids contents in Mexican dairy goats. A total of 514 lactation records belonging to Alpine (n=60), Saanen (n=105) and Toggenburg (n=74) goats, born from 2003 to 2006 in three herds were used. Discrimination between alleles E, F, N, A* (CSN1S1 A, G, H, I, O1 and O2) and B* (CSN1S1 B1, B2, B3, B4, C and L) were made by amplification of fragments of the gene CSN1S1 and digestion with the restriction endonuclease XmnI. In order to estimate additive and dominance effects, data sets including (1) all genotypes, and (2) only homozygote genotypes, were analysed using linear mixed models. The allele A*, had significant additive effects for protein content (0·21±0·07%; P=0·002) and total solids content (0·66±0·23%; P=0·005) when compared with allele F. An unfavourable additive effect of allele A* on milk yield was found in the Alpine breed (−81·4±40·2; P=0·046) when compared with allele F. Favourable dominance effects were found for some genotypes (P<0·05) for milk yield (A*N and B*N), fat yield (A*N and B*E), protein yield (A*N and B*E), lactose yield (A*N) and total solids yield (A*N). Also, unfavourable dominance effects were found (P<0·05) for protein content (A*B* and A*N) and total solids content (A*B*, A*N, and A*F). Allele A* was the only one with a positive effect for protein content. Significant allele-year interaction effects were also observed. The presence of significant dominance effects, estimated between specific pairs of alleles, challenged the purely additive nature of the genetic effect at the CSN1S1 locus. Implications from use of CSN1S1 effects in goat breeding programmes are presented.

Cobalt Ferrite/Barium Titanate nanotube arrays were obtained in anodic aluminum oxide templates (AAO) of 100 nm pore diameter by a two step sol-gel process. Each phase was grown in several wetting – drying cycles starting from the cobalt ferrite layers with the barium titanate on top. As-dried composite structures were sintered at 700 C. The composite nanotubes showed a fine polycrystalline microstructure with an average grain size of 5 nm. The formation of both spinel and perovskite structures was verified by High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM) on isolated nanotubes. The growing rate by layer was found to be lower for the BaTiO3 on top of CoFe2O4 than the later on top of the AAO. Wall sizes were estimated by Z-contrast as 9.8 nm for one layer of CoFe2O4 and 6.6 nm for six layers of BaTiO3. Magnetic properties were studied by VSM. Samples showed ferromagnetic behavior with low coercive values. By means of a finite element model the deformation and stress on the piezoelectric phase was estimated and used to simulate the magnetization reversal under stress in the composite nanotubes, using an updated micromagnetic framework to include the magnetostriction effect. Simulation results showed that a curling mode is expected with opposite vortex states at the end of the nanotubes. The change in the vortex domain structure under voltage driven applied stress is presented and discussed.

We give an overview of the science case for spectroscopy of resolved stellar populations beyond the Local Group with the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT). In particular, we present science simulations undertaken as part of the EAGLE Phase A design study for a multi–integral-field-unit, near-infrared spectrograph. EAGLE will exploit the unprecedented primary aperture of the E-ELT to deliver AO-corrected spectroscopy across a large (38.5 arcmin2) field, truly revolutionising our view of stellar populations in the Local Volume.

We use a combination of deep, high angular resolution imaging data from the HST/ACS GOODS survey and ground based near-IR Ks images to derive the evolution of the galaxy major merger rate in the redshift range 0.2 ≤ z ≤ 1.2. We select galaxies on the sole basis of their J-band rest-frame, absolute magnitude, which is a good tracer of the stellar mass. We find steep evolution with redshift, with the merger rate ∝ (1+z)2.44±0.39 for optically selected pairs, and ∝ (1+z)2.07±0.74 for pairs selected in the near-IR. Our result is unlikely affected by luminosity evolution which is relatively modest when using a rest-frame J band selection. The major merger rate evolves by a factor ~5 from the current epoch to 1.6×10−3 Mpc−3 Gyr−1 at z ~ 1.2, suggesting that 58%×(0.5 Gyr/τ) of all galaxies with MJ ≤ −19.5 have undergone a major merger in the last ~ 8 Gyr (where τ is the merger timescale). Interestingly, we find no effect on the derived major merger rate due to the presence of the large scale structure at z = 0.735 in the CDFS. We do find some evidence for increased star formation due to possible interactions between members of a pair using Spitzer MIPS 24μm fluxes to estimate the SFR.

Analysing mid–infrared ISOCAM images of the cluster of galaxies J1888.16CL, we identified among its members several particularly active galaxies with total infrared luminosities well above $10^{11}~\Lo$. If powered by dust enshrouded starbursts, as suggested by their optical spectra, these Luminous Infrared Galaxies would exhibit star formation rates surprisingly high in the cluster environment. The triggering mechanism is unclear but could be tidal collisions within sub-structures or infalling groups.To search for other articles by the author(s) go to: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html

Analysis of the possible mechanisms of degradation of Ru(bpy)32+-based OLEDs has led to the idea of quencher formation in the metalloorganic area close to the cathode. It has been suggested that the quencher results from an electrochemical process where one of the bipyridine (bpy) groups is replaced with two water molecules [1] or from reduction of Ru(bpy)32+ to Ru(bpy)30 [2]. We have tested these and other degradation ideas for Ru(bpy)32+-based OLEDs, both prepared and tested with considerable exposure to the ambient environment and using materials and procedures that emphasize cost of preparation rather than overall efficiency. In order to understand the mechanisms involved in these particular devices, we have correlated changes in the devices' electrical and optical properties with MALDI-TOF mass spectra and UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectra.