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Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T15:01:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-06-01 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Phylogenetic, taxonomic, and biogeographic studies of Mimosa sect. Mimosa ser. Mimosa subser. Polycephalae revealed a new species, Mimosa brevicalyx T.P.Mendes & M.J.Silva (sp. nova), endemic to the savannas of central Goias State, Brazil. The species is described here, illustrated, compared with related taxa (Mimosa hypoglauca var. hypoglauca, M. hypoglauca var. dawsonii, M. papposa var. papposa, and M. papposa var. segrex), its geographic distribution is mapped, its conservation status, flowering and fruiting times and systematic position is discussed, and images are provided. Additionally, the new species and its related congeners have their phylogenetic positions elucidated and discussed based on molecular phylogenies derived from the union of ITS (nrDNA) and trnD-T (cpDNA) markers and are compared using leaf-anatomical data, including the micromorphology of its trichomes. Trichomes are of extreme importance for determining the taxa considered here, as they show stable and discontinuous differences related to the environments occupied by the species and are therefore all of likely ecological relevance. Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Bot, Programa Posgrad Ciencias Biol Bot, Inst Biociencias, Campus Botucatu, BR-18618970 Botucatu, SP, Brazil Embrapa Recursos Genet & Biotecnol, Parque Estacao Biol PqEB, BR-70770901 Brasilia, DF, Brazil Univ Fed Goias, Inst Ciencias Biol, Depto Bot, Lab Anat Vegetal, CP 131, BR-74001970 Goiania, Go, Brazil Univ Fed Goias, Inst Ciencias Biol, Dept Bot, Lab Filogenia Mol Plantas, CP 131, BR-74001970 Goiania, Go, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Bot, Programa Posgrad Ciencias Biol Bot, Inst Biociencias, Campus Botucatu, BR-18618970 Botucatu, SP, Brazil CNPq: 307747/2019-0

Whipple's disease (WD) can mimic chronic inflammatory rheumatism leading to incorrect prescription of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFI). Several complicated cases of WD have been reported during TNFI treatment which is strongly suspected to modify the host-pathogen relationship. Tropheryma whipplei asymptomatic carriage is high in the general population, making the diagnosis of WD more difficult face to unexplained arthritis.We report three observations that illustrate situations for which the detection of T. whipplei might be valuable to investigate the differential diagnosis of inflammatory rheumatism.The decision to check for T. whipplei infection should rely on individual clinical assessment. It should be considered in the absence of clinical response or in case of worsening of an inflammatory rheumatism under TNFI treatment, especially in front of atypical features. A systematic screening for T. whipplei before anti-TNF treatment seems unjustified since asymptomatic carriers are frequent.

Extreme weather events and the presence of mega-hydroelectric dams, when combined, present an emerging threat to natural habitats in the Amazon region. To understand the magnitude of these impacts, we used remote sensing data to assess forest loss in areas affected by the extreme 2014 flood in the entire Madeira River basin, the location of two mega-dams. In addition, forest plots (26 ha) were monitored between 2011 and 2015 (14,328 trees) in order to evaluate changes in tree mortality, aboveground biomass (AGB), species composition and community structure around the Jirau reservoir (distance between plots varies from 1 to 80 km). We showed that the mega-dams were the main driver of tree mortality in Madeira basin forests after the 2014 extreme flood. Forest loss in the areas surrounding the reservoirs was 56 km2 in Santo Antônio, 190 km2 in Jirau (7.4–9.2% of the forest cover before flooding), and 79.9% above that predicted in environmental impact assessments. We also show that climatic anomalies, albeit with much smaller impact than that created by the mega-dams, resulted in forest loss along different Madeira sub-basins not affected by dams (34–173 km2; 0.5–1.7%). The impact of flooding was greater in várzea and transitional forests, resulting in high rates of tree mortality (88–100%), AGB decrease (89–100%), and reduction of species richness (78–100%). Conversely, campinarana forests were more flood-tolerant with a slight decrease in species richness (6%) and similar AGB after flooding. Taking together satellite and field measurements, we estimate that the 2014 flood event in the Madeira basin resulted in 8.81–12.47 ∙ 106 tons of dead biomass. Environmental impact studies required for environmental licensing of mega-dams by governmental agencies should consider the increasing trend of climatic anomalies and the high vulnerability of different habitats to minimize the serious impacts of dams on Amazonian biodiversity and carbon stocks.

The high design luminosity of the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider will result in challenging levels of beam-induced backgro\ unds in the interaction region. Understanding and mitigating these backgrounds is critical to the success of the Belle~II experi\ ment. We report on the first background measurements performed after roll-in of the Belle II detector, a period known as SuperKE\ KB Phase 2, utilizing both the BEAST II system of dedicated background detectors and the Belle II detector itself. We also repor\ t on first revisions to the background simulation made in response to our findings. Backgrounds measured include contributions f\ rom synchrotron radiation, beam-gas, Touschek, and injection backgrounds. At the end of Phase 2, single-beam backgrounds origina\ ting from the 4 GeV positron Low Energy Ring (LER) agree reasonably well with simulation, while backgrounds from the 7 GeV elect\ ron High Energy Ring (HER) are approximately one order of magnitude higher than simulation. We extrapolate these backgrounds for\ ward and conclude it is safe to install the Belle II vertex detector., Comment: 22 Pages, 33 figures

The proliferation of harmful cyanobacterial algal blooms is of concern due to the associated release of toxins affecting ecosystems and human health. The paralytic shellfish poison saxitoxin (STX) is a small polar alkaloid that can occur in inland and marine aquatic environments. Here, we optimized a fast and sensitive analytical method for the determination of STX, neosaxitoxin (NeoSTX), and their decarbamoyl analogues in surface waters. The method involves a simple filtration, addition of isotope-labelled internal standard (ILIS), and analysis by on-line solid-phase extraction coupled to hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (on-line SPE-HILIC-HRMS). Except glass fiber filters, other tested materials (e.g., nylon, nitrocellulose) provided suitable filtration performance. Time-dependent adsorptive losses occurred during the LC-MS batch sequence if glass autosampler vials were used, while no such effect was observed for polypropylene autosampler vials. Matrix effects were evaluated for 4 different quantification scenarios, including external vs. internal curves and neat reagent water vs. matrix-matched curves. Matrix-matched calibration with ILIS correction (NeoSTX

Global patterns of species and evolutionary diversity in plants are primarily determined by a temperature gradient, but precipitation gradients may be more important within the tropics, where plant species richness is positively associated with the amount of rainfall. The impact of precipitation on the distribution of evolutionary diversity, however, is largely unexplored. Here we detail how evolutionary diversity varies along precipitation gradients by bringing together a comprehensive database on the composition of angiosperm tree communities across lowland tropical South America (2,025 inventories from wet to arid biomes), and a new, large-scale phylogenetic hypothesis for the genera that occur in these ecosystems. We find a marked reduction in the evolutionary diversity of communities at low precipitation. However, unlike species richness, evolutionary diversity does not continually increase with rainfall. Rather, our results show that the greatest evolutionary diversity is found in intermediate precipitation regimes, and that there is a decline in evolutionary diversity above 1,490 mm of mean annual rainfall. If conservation is to prioritise evolutionary diversity, areas of intermediate precipitation that are found in the South American ‘arc of deforestation’, but which have been neglected in the design of protected area networks in the tropics, merit increased conservation attention.

Premise of the study: Targeted enrichment methods facilitate sequencing of hundreds of nuclear loci to enhance phylogenetic resolution and elucidate why some parts of the Tree of Life are difficult (if not impossible) to resolve. The mimosoid legumes are a prominent pantropical clade of c. 3300 species of woody angiosperms for which previous phylogenies have shown extensive lack of resolution, especially among the species-rich and taxonomically challenging ingoids.Methods: We generate transcriptomes to select low-copy nuclear genes, enrich the sevia hybrid capture for representative species of most mimosoid genera and analyse the resulting data using de novo assembly and various phylogenomic tools for species tree inference. We also evaluate gene tree support and conflict for key internodes and use phylogenetic network analysis to investigate phylogenetic signal across the ingoids. Key results: Our selection of 964 nuclear genes greatly improves phylogenetic resolution across the mimosoid phylogeny and shows that the ingoid clade can be resolved into several well-supported clades. However, nearly all loci show lack of phylogenetic signal for some of the deeper internodes within the ingoids. Conclusions: Lack of resolution in the ingoid clade is most likely the result of hyper-fast diversification, potentially causing a hard polytomy of six or seven lineages. The gene set for targeted sequencing presented here offers great potential to further enhance the phylogeny of mimosoids and the wider Caesalpinioideae with denser tax on sampling, to provide a framework for taxonomic reclassification, and to study the ingoid radiation.

Organisms depend on visual, auditory, and olfactory cues to signal the presence of danger that could impact survival and reproduction. Drosophila melanogaster emits an olfactory alarm signal, termed the Drosophila stress odorant (dSO), in response to mechanical agitation or electric shock. While it has been shown that conspecifics avoid areas previously occupied by stressed individuals, the contextual underpinnings of the emission of, and response to dSO, have received little attention. Using a binary choice assay, we determined that neither age and sex of emitters, nor the time of the day, affected the emission or avoidance of dSO. However, both sex and mating status affected the response to dSO. We also demonstrated that while D. melanogaster, D. simulans, and D. suzukii, have different dSO profiles, its avoidance was not species-specific. Thus, dSO should not be considered a pheromone but a general alarm signal for Drosophila. However, the response levels to both intra- and inter-specific cues differed between Drosophila species and possible reasons for these differences are discussed.

Harmful algal blooms of cyanobacteria (CyanoHABs) can lead to the release of potent toxins that can seriously affect ecosystem integrity. Some freshwater watersheds are particularly at risk considering the threats to already imperiled wildlife. The consumption of tainted drinking water and contaminated food also raises concerns for human health. In the present study, a pilot survey was conducted in the riverine ecosystem of the Pike River Ecological Reserve (QC, Canada) near Missisquoi Bay, Lake Champlain. We examined the occurrence of multiclass cyanotoxins including 12 microcystins, anatoxins, cylindrospermopsin (CYN), anabaenopeptins (AP-A, AP-B), and cyanopeptolin-A in surface waters and wild-caught fish during the summer 2018. Out of the 18 targeted cyanotoxins, 14 were detected in bloom-impacted surface water samples; toxins peaked during early-mid September with the highest concentrations for MC-LR (3.8 μg L−1) and MC-RR (2.9 μg L−1). Among the 71 field-collected fish from 10 species, 30% had positive detections to at least one cyanotoxin. In positive samples, concentration ranges in fish muscle were as follows for summed microcystins (∑MCs: 0.16–9.2 μg kg−1), CYN (46–75 μg kg−1), AP-A (1.1–5.4 μg kg−1), and AP-B (0.12–5.0 μg kg−1). To the best of our knowledge, this is one the first reports of anabaenopeptins occurrence in wildlife. The maximum ∑MCs in fish was 1.15-fold higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) daily intake recommendation for adults and nearly equated the derived value for young children. The concentration of CYN was also about 3-fold higher than the limit derived from the human health guideline values.

The authors review the rationale behind and approaches to testing for COVID-19, the quality of currently available tests, the role of data analytics in strategizing testing, and using the electronic medical record and other programs designed to steward COVID-19 testing and follow-up of patients.

Social interactions are typically impaired in neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism, for which the genetic underpinnings are very complex. Social interactions can be modeled by analysis of behaviors, including social spacing, sociability, and aggression, in simpler organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster. Here, we examined the effects of mutants of the autism-related gene neuroligin 3 (nlg3) on fly social and non-social behaviors. Startled-induced negative geotaxis is affected by a loss of function nlg3 mutation. Social space and aggression are also altered in a sex- and social-experience-specific manner in nlg3 mutant flies. In light of the conserved roles that neuroligins play in social behavior, our results offer insight into the regulation of social behavior in other organisms, including humans.

Stylosanthes (Papilionoideae, Leguminosae) is a predominantly Neotropical genus with ~48 species that include worldwide important forage species. This study presents the chromosome number and morphology of eight species of the genus Stylosanthes (S. acuminata, S. gracilis, S. grandifolia, S. guianensis, S. hippocampoides, S. pilosa, S. macrocephala, and S. ruellioides). In addition, staining with CMA and DAPI, in situ hybridization with 5S and 35S rDNA probes, and estimation of DNA content were performed. The interpretation of Stylosanthes chromosome diversification was anchored by a comparison with the sister genus Arachis and a dated molecular phylogeny based on nuclear and plastid loci. Stylosanthes species showed 2n = 20, with low cytomolecular diversification regarding 5S rDNA, 35S rDNA, and genome size. Arachis has a more ancient diversification (~7 Mya in the Pliocene) than the relatively recent Stylosanthes (~2 Mya in the Pleistocene), and it seems more diverse than its sister lineage. Our data support the idea that the cytomolecular stability of Stylosanthes in relation to Arachis could be a result of its recent origin. The recent diversification of Stylosanthes could also be related to the low morphological differentiation among species, and to the recurrent formation of allopolyploid complexes.

Background While dolutegravir has been added by WHO as a preferred second-line option for the treatment of HIV infection, boosted protease inhibitor (bPI)-based regimens are still needed as alternative second-line options. Identifying optimal bPI-based second-line combinations is essential, given associated high costs and funding constraints in low- and middle-income countries. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of three alternative bPI-based second-line regimens in Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Senegal. Methods We used data collected over 2010–2015 in the 2LADY trial/post-trial cohort. Patients with first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) failure were randomly assigned to tenofovir/emtricitabine + lopinavir/ritonavir (TDF/FTC LPV/r; arm A), abacavir + didanosine + lopinavir/ritonavir (arm B), or tenofovir/emtricitabine + darunavir/ritonavir (arm C). Costs (US dollars, 2016), quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were computed for each country over 24 months of follow-up and extrapolated to 5 years using a simulated patient-level Markov model. We assessed uncertainty using cost-effectiveness acceptability curves, scenarios and prices threshold analysis. Results In each country, over 24 months, arm A was significantly less costly than arms B and C (incremental costs ranging from US$410–$US721 and US$468–US$546 for B and C vs A, respectively) and offered similar health benefits (incremental QALY: − 0.138 to 0.023 and − 0.179 to 0.028, respectively). Over 5 years, arm A remained the least costly, health benefits not being significantly different between arms. Compared with arms B and C, in each study country, Arm A had a ≥ 95% probability of being cost-effective for a large range of cost-effectiveness thresholds, irrespective of the scenario considered. Conclusions Using TDF/FTC LPV/r as a bPI-based second-line regimen provided the best economic value in the three study countries. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00928187. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s41669-019-0157-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Theories beyond the standard model often predict the existence of an additional neutral boson, the Z^{'}. Using data collected by the Belle II experiment during 2018 at the SuperKEKB collider, we perform the first searches for the invisible decay of a Z^{'} in the process e^{+}e^{-}→μ^{+}μ^{-}Z^{'} and of a lepton-flavor-violating Z^{'} in e^{+}e^{-}→e^{±}μ^{∓}Z^{'}. We do not find any excess of events and set 90% credibility level upper limits on the cross sections of these processes. We translate the former, in the framework of an L_{μ}-L_{τ} theory, into upper limits on the Z^{'} coupling constant at the level of 5×10^{-2}-1 for M_{Z^{'}}≤6 GeV/c^{2}.

The sensitivity of tropical forest carbon to climate is a key uncertainty in predicting global climate change. Although short-term drying and warming are known to affect forests, it is unknown if such effects translate into long-term responses. Here, we analyze 590 permanent plots measured across the tropics to derive the equilibrium climate controls on forest carbon. Maximum temperature is the most important predictor of aboveground biomass (-9.1 megagrams of carbon per hectare per degree Celsius), primarily by reducing woody productivity, and has a greater impact per °C in the hottest forests (>32.2°C). Our results nevertheless reveal greater thermal resilience than observations of short-term variation imply. To realize the long-term climate adaptation potential of tropical forests requires both protecting them and stabilizing Earth's climate., Our plot monitoring networks havebeen supported by multiple grants from a large number of funding bodies: European Research Council; Natural Environment Research Council; European Union’s Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Framework Programme; Royal Society, Leverhulme Trust; Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation; David and Lucile Packard Foundation; State of São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP); National Council for Science and Technology Development of Brazil (CNPq); Agence Nationale de la Recherche; Conservation International; Missouri Botanical Garden; Smithsonian Institution; Wildlife Conservation Society; National Geographic Society; Centre for International Forestry; and Gabon’s National Park Agency.

—We describe and illustrate Paepalanthus fabianeae, a new species of Eriocaulaceae from the central portion of the Espinhaço Range in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Previous phylogenetic evidence based on analyses of nuclear (ITS and ETS) and plastid (trnL-trnF and psba-trnH) sequences revealed P. fabianeae as belonging to a strongly supported and morphologically coherent clade containing five other species, all of them microendemic, restricted to the Espinhaço range. Due to the infrageneric classification of Paepalanthus being highly artificial, we preferred not assigning P. fabianeae to any infrageneric group. Paepalanthus fabianeae is known from two populations growing in campos rupestres (highland rocky fields) in the meridional Espinhaço Range. The species is characterized by pseudodichotomously branched stems, small, linear, recurved, and reflexed leaves, urceolate capitula, and bifid stigmas. Illustrations, photos, the phylogenetic position, and a detailed description, as well as comments on habitat, morphology, and affinities with similar species are provided. The restricted area of occurrence allied with threats to the quality of the habitat, mainly due to quartzite mining, justifies the preliminary classification of the new species in the Critically Endangered (CR) category using the guidelines and criteria of the IUCN Red List.

Mountains are among the most biodiverse areas on the globe. In young mountain ranges, exceptional plant species richness is often associated with recent and rapid radiations linked to the mountain uplift itself. In ancient mountains, however, orogeny vastly precedes the evolution of vascular plants, so species richness has been explained by species accumulation during long periods of low extinction rates. Here we evaluate these assumptions by analysing plant diversification dynamics in thecampo rupestre, an ecosystem associated with pre-Cambrian mountaintops and highlands of eastern South America, areas where plant species richness and endemism are among the highest in the world. Analyses of 15 angiosperm clades show that radiations of endemics exhibit fastest rates of diversification during the last 5 Myr, a climatically unstable period. However, results from ancestral range estimations using different models disagree on the age of the earliestin situspeciation events and point to a complex floristic assembly. There is a general trend for higher diversification rates associated with these areas, but endemism may also increase or reduce extinction rates, depending on the group. Montane habitats, regardless of their geological age, may lead to boosts in speciation rates by accelerating population isolation in archipelago-like systems, circumstances that can also result in higher extinction rates and fast species turnover, misleading the age estimates of endemic lineages.

The ITER PF6 coil is manufactured by winding, insulating the superconducting conductors, and further connecting them electrically and hydraulically. To qualify the insulation design and manufacturing process to be applied to the ITER PF6 coil, two beam-shaped mock-ups taking the form of a 3 × 3 array of conductors combined with the same insulation as in the production coil have been tested in simulated Tokamak operating conditions. All the results of the electrical and mechanical tests, including DC and AC high-voltage withstanding at both room and cryogenic temperature, AC partial discharge, Paschen tests, cryogenic compressive fatigue, push-out, and thermal cycling, met the ITER requirements. Performance of the mock-ups confirmed that the insulation design and manufacturing process are suitable for the ITER PF6 coil, based on that the qualification of the insulation manufacturing process for the double pancake can be started.

Crop wild relatives (CWR) are a key component of the world’s biota since they have the potential to contribute traits for crop improvement. The rich flora of the Brazilian Cerrado harbours a large number of CWR, but little is known about their distribution and conservation status. This study focused on the conservation of cassava (Manihot) wild relatives in the Cerrado. To accomplish this, we performed herbarium and field surveys to assess species conservation status based on geographic distribution, population density estimates, and rates of habitat loss. We found 75 species of Manihot occurring in the Cerrado, including 59 endemics. Among the endemic taxa, 24 are at some level of threat according to IUCN classification (14% Vulnerable, 22% Endangered, 5% Critically endangered), mostly owing to narrow geographic range and habitat loss. Most species are locally abundant, ranging from 55 to 1493 mature individuals per hectare. A quarter of the species recorded have been described over the past 5 years, indicating that the diversity of Manihot in the Cerrado is still underestimated. Areas of high species richness and endemism coincided mostly with Cerrado highlands, particularly in northern Goias state. Field surveys in 16 reserves indicate that 54% of Cerrado endemics are not represented in these protected areas. We believe that the patterns of distribution and conservation status uncovered here for Manihot are representative of many plant groups that are particularly diverse in high-altitude areas in the Cerrado. This calls for expansion of the network of protected areas to cover a wider range of environments, particularly those with a concentration of rare and endemic species, to ensure the effective in situ conservation of CWR present in the Cerrado flora.

The correction coils (CCs) are a system of 18 superconducting coils composed of top CCs, side CCs, and bottom CCs, and are required to correct asymmetries and reduce magnetic error fields detrimental to the plasma performance of the ITER machine. The CC terminals will be connected with those of the superconducting busbars with twin-box joints. Qualification of the manufacturing procedure of the coil terminals is achieved by performing electrical tests of prototype joints in relevant conditions of current, temperature, and background field (4.5 K, 10 kA, and 2.5 T). In order to control the dc resistance and ac loss in series production, special tooling and manufacturing processes were developed. The main technological steps are conductor dejacketing, nickel removal, and silvering of the cable in the terminal, followed by cable compaction and tungsten inert gas welding of the termination box. To this end, two joint samples were manufactured in 2015 and 2016. The performance of the joint samples was verified before and after 1000 electromagnetic cycles. The qualification tests were carried out in the SULTAN facility and ASIPP facility. The test results show the dc resistance below 5- $\text{n}\Omega $ criterion and ac losses below 7 J/cycle.

Backgrounds and aims The genus Stylosanthes includes nitrogen-fixing and drought-tolerant species of considerable economic importance for perennial pasture, green manure and land recovery. Stylosanthes scabra is adapted to variable soil conditions, being cultivated to improve pastures and soils worldwide. Previous studies have proposed S. scabra as an allotetraploid species (2n = 40) with a putative diploid A genome progenitor S. hamata or S. seabrana (2n = 20) and the B genome progenitor S. viscosa (2n = 20). We aimed to provide conclusive evidence for the origin of S. scabra. Methods We performed fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) experiments and Illumina paired-end sequencing of S. scabra, S. hamata and S. viscosa genomic DNA, to assemble and compare complete ribosomal DNA (rDNA) units and chloroplast genomes. Plastome- and genome-wide single nucleotide variation detection was also performed. Key results GISH and phylogenetic analyses of plastid DNA and rDNA sequences support that S. scabra is an allotetraploid formed from 0.63 to 0.52 million years ago (Mya), from progenitors with a similar genome structure to the maternal donor S. hamata and the paternal donor S. viscosa. FISH revealed a non-additive number of 35S rDNA sites in S. scabra compared with its progenitors, indicating the loss of one locus from A genome origin. In S. scabra, most 5S rDNA units were similar to S. viscosa, while one 5S rDNA site of reduced size most probably came from an A genome species as revealed by GISH and in silico analysis. Conclusions Our approach combined whole-plastome and rDNA assembly with additional cytogenetic analysis to shed light successfully on the allotetraploid origin of S. scabra. We propose a Middle Pleistocene origin for S. scabra involving species with maternal A and paternal B genomes. Our data also suggest that variation found in rDNA units in S. scabra and its progenitors reveals differences that can be explained by homogenization, deletion and amplification processes that have occurred since its origin.

The ITER poloidal field (PF) magnet system is composed of six circular coils, consisting of winding packs (WP) made up from a stack of double pancakes (DP) wound of NbTi cable-in-conduit superconductor. The largest coil has a diameter of 24 m, the heaviest weighs 400 ton, and they are designed to produce a total magnetic energy of 4 Giga Joules at a maximum magnetic field of 6 T for 30 000 inductively driven plasma pulses. The ends of the conductors (in the outer-most coil turns) of the top and bottom DP are coil terminations, which are connected to the superconducting bus bars of the feeders, these conductors exit being one of the weakest structural points of the coils. The main function of the tail is to reinforce this region by linking the outer-most termination to the last-but-one turn, thus guaranteeing the transfer of longitudinal tensile force, through an electrically insulated mechanical connection featuring a fiberglass strap. The PF coils are subject to electromagnetic forces induced from their own magnetic field and the magnetic field generated from the rest of the ITER magnet system, the thermal stresses during cooldown and warmup cycles and dc/ac high-voltage levels. Therefore, the tail components shall withstand these conditions while staying within the geometrical boundaries imposed by the conductor dimensions, in order to avoid any protrusion on the WP surface. This paper aims to describe the adopted solution throughout its lifecycle, from the design validation, by the electromagnetic and mechanical analyses, to the design qualification of the set of imposed requirements through the manufacture, and testing of a set of full-size mock-ups.

The superconducting coils of the ITER magnet system have hundreds of electrical lap joints interconnecting superconducting cables. The joints operate in a magnetic field of up to 4 T, field derivatives of 0.5 T/s, and currents up to 70 kA. The acceptance tests for the toroidal field (TF), poloidal field (PF), and correction coil (CC) coils will be performed at 77 K, before they are assembled in the pit. Hence there will be no possibility to measure the resistance of the joints in the superconducting state before the whole magnet system is enclosed in the Tokamak cryostat. In addition, no reliable nondestructive method has been found to spot the joints with a failure at room temperature. Therefore, the production of the joints relies on the strict adhesion to established robust manufacturing procedures during the qualification phase. As additional quality monitoring, a periodic test of the joint samples manufactured in parallel with a coil fabrication is foreseen to control the reproducibility of the joint electrical performance. In order to qualify the manufacturing procedures, to establish a series production tools and worker teams, a comprehensive qualification program has been set up for manufacturers of the coils in Russia (Poloidal Coil 1, PF1), China (PF6, feeders, CC), Japan (TF), Europe (TF and PF), and USA (Central Solenoid, CS). This program includes a set of mockups manufactured according to the process to be used for the coils and submitted to different tests. They include mechanical testing of materials, electrical tests of full size joint samples, destructive microscopic examination of the joint mockups, and mechanical testing of the full size joint mockups. All tests are carried out in specialized laboratories qualified for this type of work. This paper describes the main items of the qualification program, the tests performed, and the acceptance criteria. The test results are reported and compared to the criteria.

Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research / A 887, 150 - 168 (2018). doi:10.1016/j.nima.2018.01.016, A highly granular electromagnetic calorimeter with scintillator strip readout is being developed for future linear collider experiments. A prototype of 21.5 $X_0$depth and $180 \times 180$ $mm^2$ transverse dimensions was constructed, consisting of 2160 individually read out $10\times 45\times 3$ $mm^3$ scintillator strips. This prototype was tested using electrons of 2–32 $Ge V$ at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility in 2009. Deviations from linear energy response were less than 1.1%, and the intrinsic energy resolution was determined to be $(12.5\pm 0.1(stat.)\pm 0.4(syst.))\%$ $/$ $\sqrt{E[Ge V]}\oplus \left( 1.2\pm 0.1(stat.)_{-0.7}^{+0.6}(syst.)\right)\%$, where the uncertainties correspond to statistical and systematic sources, respectively., Published by North-Holland Publ. Co., Amsterdam

Das abdominale Aortenaneurysma (AAA) ist eine tagliche klinische Herausforderung fur den Gefaschirurgen. In den letzten Jahren sind viele pathologische Veranderungen der Aneurysmawand im Vergleich zur nativen Aorta gut untersucht und deren Bedeutung in ein Modell zur Aneurysmaprogression eingeordnet worden. Diese modellhafte Theorie wird anhand einer Ubersichtsarbeit vorgestellt. Charakteristische Veranderungen im AAA umfassen eine verbreiterte Tunica media und veranderte Extrazellularmatrix, veranderte Hamodynamik und Krafte auf die Aortenwand, luminale Thrombusbildung, Phanotypwechsel glattmuskularer Zellen, Angiogenese sowie akute und chronische Entzundungsherde. Diese bedingen Veranderungen der Gleichgewichte von Krafteverteilung und Matrixsynthese in der Aortenwand, sodass Areale mit hoher biologischer Aktivitat und reduzierter mechanischer Belastbarkeit entstehen. Die klinisch bekannten Risikofaktoren Nikotinabusus, Dyslipidamie, mannliches Geschlecht, Alter und genetische Pradisposition haben definierte biologische Effekte, die die Gefaswand zusatzlich schwachen. Zum Unterschied zwischen rupturierten und intakten Aneurysmen ist keine klare Aussage moglich. Ebenso ist die initiale Ursache der Aneurysmaentstehung weiterhin unklar. Ein besseres Verstandnis der multifaktoriellen Pathogenese des AAA ist erforderlich um translationale Ansatze zur nichtchirurgischen Therapie und eine patientenindividuelle Risikostratifizierung zu ermoglichen. Die Forschung an humanen Aneurysmaproben ist auch in der endovaskularen Ara notig und erlaubt die Identifikation spezifischer beteiligter Pathomechanismen.

Die chronisch arterielle Ischamie der unteren Extremitaten stellt ein alltagliches Problem in gefaschirurgischen Kliniken dar. In Deutschland sind etwa 3 % aller Hospitalisierungen auf eine periphere arterielle Verschlusskrankheit (PAVK) zuruckzufuhren, wobei vor allem die kritischen Ischamien stark zunehmen. Die Folgen der chronischen Ischamie reichen von eingeschrankter Gehstrecke bis hin zum Verlust der Extremitat. Am Anfang stehen Stressfaktoren wie Hyperlipidamie (LDL), freie Radikale, arterielle Hypertonie, Infektionen oder subklinische Entzundungen, die die Endothelhomoostase storen. Es kommt zu einer Dysfunktion des Endothels mit erhohter Durchlassigkeit. Zellen des Immunsystems werden angelockt und wandern in die Gefaswand ein, wo sie zum Abbau von Matrixkomponenten und zur Destabilisierung des Plaques fuhren. Durch Anderung des Phanotyps von glatten Muskelzellen und Makrophagen entstehen osteoklastenahnliche Zellen, die zu Verhartungen in der Gefaswand fuhren. Ab einer Gefaswandstarke von etwa 100 μm wird durch den Sauerstoffmangel Hypoxie induzierter Faktor (HIF-1α) verstarkt exprimiert, was zu einem Anstieg an Wachstumsfaktoren wie VEGF („vascular endothelial growth factor“) fuhrt. Dadurch wird die Angiogenese als Kapillarenbildner gefordert, reicht aber nicht aus, um eine stenosierte Arterie zu kompensieren. Arteriogenese bezeichnet das Wachstum von bereits vorhandenen Kollateralgefasen. Die treibenden Krafte sind der Druckgradient vor und hinter der Stenose sowie die Scherkrafte, die auf die Gefaswande einwirken. Bei voranschreitender Stenosierung konnen die Kompensationsfahigkeiten uberfordert werden und es kommt zu einer manifesten Hypoxie im Gewebe mit Ruckbildung der gewonnenen Gefasstrukturen/Kollateralkreislaufen und Gewebsatrophie.

Background: Species composition of plant communities is shaped by the interplay between dispersal limitation, environmental filters and stochastic events.Aims: The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of dispersal limitation and environmental filtering on tree recruitment. To accomplish this, we employed the unified neutral theory of biodiversity and biogeography to examine migration within the metacommunity, defined as a set of interacting local communities linked by the dispersal of multiple potentially interacting species.Methods: We sampled 12,975 individuals with dbh ≥ 1 cm in 26 1-ha permanent plots, including habitats of terra firme, transitional forests, várzea and campinarana, on the upper Madeira River, Brazilian Amazon.Results: Campinarana drew individuals from outside the metacommunity species pool at a mean probability of recruitment of 0.06, a much lower probability than terra firme (0.31), transitional (0.21) and várzea forests (0.22). Environmental variables, such as water table depth, soil texture and fertility, were related to differences in community assembly.Conclusions: Species abundance distribution and diversity patterns of plant assemblages in a large river landscape in the Amazon highlight the importance of environmental heterogeneity that conditions beta-diversity. The high variation in recruitment probabilities from the metacommunity species pool to local communities suggests high habitat variability in the process of maintaining patterns of local diversity.

We report a measurement of the D⁰ and D⁺ lifetimes using D⁰→K⁻π⁺ and D⁺→K⁻π⁺π⁺ decays reconstructed in e⁺e⁻→[Formula: see text] data recorded by the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB asymmetric-energy e⁺e⁻ collider. The data, collected at center-of-mass energies at or near the Υ(4S) resonance, correspond to an integrated luminosity of 72 fb⁻¹. The results, τ(D⁰)=410.5±1.1(stat)±0.8(syst) fs and τ(D⁺)=1030.4±4.7(stat)±3.1(syst) fs, are the most precise to date and are consistent with previous determinations.

Inga (Caesalpinioideae) is the type genus of the Ingeae tribe in the mimosoid clade. It comprises about 300 species, all trees or treelets, and has an exclusively neotropical distribution, with Brazil as its main center of diversity. In this study, we analyzed the diversity of 40 strains of rhizobia isolated from root nodules collected from ten species of Inga belonging to different types of vegetation in Brazil. Sequences of their housekeeping genes (dnaK, recA, rpoB, gyrB and glnII), 16S rRNA genes, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, as well as their symbiosis-essential genes (nodC and nifH) were used to characterize them genetically. The ability of the rhizobia to form nodules on Inga spp., and on the promiscuous legume siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum) was also evaluated. A multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) combined with an analysis of the ITS region showed that the isolates were distributed into four main groups (A-D) within the large genus Bradyrhizobium. Analysis of the nodC and nifH genes showed that the isolates formed a separate branch from all described species of Bradyrhizobium, except for B. ingae. Most of the tested isolates formed nodules on siratro and all isolates tested nodulated Inga spp. Our results suggest a unique co-evolutionary history of Bradyrhizobium and Inga and demonstrate the existence of potential new species of microsymbionts nodulating this important and representative genus of leguminous tree from the Caesalpinioideae mimosoid clade.

The redox transformations of arsenic (As) in lakes are thought to be mainly controlled by algal/microbial processes. We tested if photochemical oxidation could also be a significant redox process in northern freshwater systems. We exposed filtered natural water samples from four northern mine-impacted lakes (Northwest Territories, Canada) and three unimpacted ponds (Nunavik, Canada) to simulated solar radiation, and followed As(III) oxidation. During short-term incubation experiments (less than 8 h), all samples amended with As(III) displayed a rapid photooxidation (ca. 0.06-0.27 h−1) whereas no significant oxidation was observed in the dark. This photooxidation process was controlled by UV radiation, was influenced by short-lived oxidants and was partly driven by the concentrations of organic matter. Natural As complexes in unamended water samples were more rapidly photooxidized than in samples with As(III) amendments. Addition of goethite or simulation of snowmelt did not alter photooxidation rates significantly. Overall, these results imply that photooxidation of As should be considered as a potentially significant mechanism controlling inorganic As speciation in aquatic systems. This is particularly true for northern systems affected by mining activities and by changes of inputs of organic matter related to climate change.