A dynamical measure of the black hole mass in a quasar 11 billion years ago.

Tight relationships exist in the local Universe between the central stellar properties of galaxies and the mass of their supermassive black hole (SMBH)1-3. These suggest that galaxies and black holes co-evolve, with the main regulation mechanism being energetic feedback from accretion onto the black hole during its quasar phase4-6. A crucial question is how the relationship between black holes and galaxies evolves with time; a key epoch to examine this relationship is at the peaks of star formation and black hole growth 8-12 billion years ago (redshifts 1-3)7. Here we report a dynamical measurement of the mass of the black hole in a luminous quasar at a redshift of 2, with a look back in time of 11 billion years, by spatially resolving the broad-line region (BLR). We detect a 40-µas (0.31-pc) spatial offset between the red and blue photocentres of the Hα line that traces the velocity gradient of a rotating BLR. The flux and differential phase spectra are well reproduced by a thick, moderately inclined disk of gas clouds within the sphere of influence of a central black hole with a mass of 3.2 × 108 solar masses. Molecular gas data reveal a dynamical mass for the host galaxy of 6 × 1011 solar masses, which indicates an undermassive black hole accreting at a super-Eddington rate. This suggests a host galaxy that grew faster than the SMBH, indicating a delay between galaxy and black hole formation for some systems.

Evaluation of the acute and sublethal toxicity of Mancozeb in Pacamã (Lophiosilurus alexandri).

The toxic potential of dithiocarbamates fungicides widely used in world agriculture is well known, among which Mancozeb is one of the most used. This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity of Mancozeb, determining the LC50% of the product and the behavioral and histological changes observed in fish of the Pacamã species through acute and sublethal toxicity tests. The first experiment was carried out on Pacamã fingerlings exposed to dosages of 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8mg/L of Mancozeb under the form ManzateWG®, for a total period of 96 hours in the acute experiment, and in the second experiment, fish were subjected to concentrations of 1/10 of those used in the acute experiment (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8mg/L, respectively), for 15 days in total. The 50% lethal concentration of ManzateWG® was calculated at the end of the acute experiment, presenting a value of 2.29mg/L at 96h for Pacamã fingerlings. A behavioral assessment was carried out through daily observation of the fish during both experiments, and an increase in mucus production was observed, as well as atypical social behavior in those exposed to the toxic agent. Histopathological evaluation was performed on livers collected after the end of the sublethal experiment, and the main hepatic alterations observed were cytoplasmic vacuolization, inflammatory infiltrate, and necrosis. Mancozeb has toxic potential and is capable of generating behavioral changes, as well as increasing the risk of liver damage in Pacamãs exposed to this compound.

Spatio-temporal dynamics of phytoplankton community in a well-mixed temperate estuary (Sado Estuary, Portugal).

Estuaries are highly productive ecosystems, which are strongly affected by several anthropogenic pressures. Phytoplankton is a key element for assessing the ecological quality status in these transitional waters. Moreover, understanding physico-chemical and biological drivers is crucial to disentangle their effect on the structure of phytoplankton community. The present work aims to study the effect of the main physico-chemical drivers on the phytoplankton community structure and dynamics in a temperate well-mixed estuary (Sado Estuary). Four sampling stations were analyzed monthly in three regions of the estuary, from 2018 to 2019. Surface water samples were collected to analyze the phytoplankton community and several concomitant physico-chemical parameters. Temperature, turbidity, salinity, and nutrients availability were the drivers that best explained the spatio-temporal patterns observed in the phytoplankton community. The upper estuary was characterized by higher phytoplankton cell abundances and biomass. Three phytoplankton groups stood out in the characterization of the estuarine assemblages: diatoms, cryptophytes, and dinoflagellates. Diatoms were the dominant group most of the year, being dominated by small cell species (single and chain-forming) upstream, and by larger chain-forming species downstream. Cryptophytes had a high contribution to the community in the inner regions of the estuary, while dinoflagellates contributed more for the community composition downstream, where high abundances of harmful algal species were sporadically found. Previous studies on the phytoplankton community dynamics in this estuary are limited to the 1990s. Thus, the present study provides insight into changes in the dominant phytoplankton groups of the Sado Estuary in the last 25 years, namely an increase in cryptophytes over diatoms in the inner estuarine regions, and an increase in dinoflagellates near the estuary mouth.

The role of feedback projections in feature tuning and neuronal excitability in the early primate visual system.

A general assumption in visual neuroscience is that basic receptive field properties such as orientation and direction selectivity are constructed within intrinsic neuronal circuits and feedforward projections. In addition, it is assumed that general neuronal excitability and responsiveness in early visual areas is to a great extent independent of feedback input originating in areas higher in the stream. Here, we review the contribution of feedback projections from MT, V4 and pulvinar to the receptive field properties of V2 neurons in the anesthetized and paralyzed monkey. Importantly, our results contradict both of these assumptions. We separately inactivated each of these three brain regions using GABA pressure injections, while simultaneously recording V2 single unit activity before and hours after inactivation. Recordings and GABA injections were carried out in topographically corresponding regions of the visual field. We outline the changes in V2 activity, responsiveness and receptive field properties for early, mid and late post-injection phases. Immediately after injection, V2 activity is globally suppressed. Subsequently, there is an increase in stimulus-driven relative to spontaneous neuronal activity, which improves the signal-to-noise coding for the oriented moving bars. Notably, V2 tuning properties change substantially relative to its pre-injection selectivity profile. The resulting increase or decrease in selectivity could not be readily predicted based on the selectivity profile of the inactivated site. Finally, V2 activity rebounds before returning to it pre-injection profile Our results show that feedback projections profoundly impact neuronal circuits in early visual areas, and may have been heretofore largely underestimated in their physiological role.

Middle eastern genetic legacy in the paternal and maternal gene pools of Chuetas.

Chuetas are a group of descendants of Majorcan Crypto-Jews (Balearic Islands, Spain) who were socially stigmatized and segregated by their Majorcan neighbours until recently; generating a community that, although after the seventeenth century no longer contained Judaic religious elements, maintained strong group cohesion, Jewishness consciousness, and endogamy. Collective memory fixed 15 surnames as a most important defining element of Chueta families. Previous studies demonstrated Chuetas were a differentiated population, with a considerable proportion of their original genetic make-up. Genetic data of Y-chromosome polymorphism and mtDNA control region showed, in Chuetas' paternal lineages, high prevalence of haplogroups J2-M172 (33%) and J1-M267 (18%). In maternal lineages, the Chuetas hallmark is the presence of a new sub-branching of the rare haplogroup R0a2m as their modal haplogroup (21%). Genetic diversity in both Y-chromosome and mtDNA indicates the Chueta community has managed to avoid the expected heterogeneity decrease in their gene pool after centuries of isolation and inbreeding. Moreover, the composition of their uniparentally transmitted lineages demonstrates a remarkable signature of Middle Eastern ancestry-despite some degree of host admixture-confirming Chuetas have retained over the centuries a considerable degree of ancestral genetic signature along with the cultural memory of their Jewish origin.

Size-dependent influence of NOx on the growth rates of organic aerosol particles.

Atmospheric new-particle formation (NPF) affects climate by contributing to a large fraction of the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). Highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOMs) drive the early particle growth and therefore substantially influence the survival of newly formed particles to CCN. Nitrogen oxide (NOx) is known to suppress the NPF driven by HOMs, but the underlying mechanism remains largely unclear. Here, we examine the response of particle growth to the changes of HOM formation caused by NOx. We show that NOx suppresses particle growth in general, but the suppression is rather nonuniform and size dependent, which can be quantitatively explained by the shifted HOM volatility after adding NOx. By illustrating how NOx affects the early growth of new particles, a critical step of CCN formation, our results help provide a refined assessment of the potential climatic effects caused by the diverse changes of NOx level in forest regions around the globe.

Paracoccidioidomycosis of the Central Nervous System: CT and MR Imaging Findings.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Paracoccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection mainly caused by the thermodimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides. The purpose of our study was to demonstrate the neuroimaging findings from 24 patients with CNS paracoccidioidomycosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis focusing on the radiologic characteristics of CNS paracoccidioidomycosis. The 24 selected patients underwent MR imaging and/or CT, and the diagnosis was made by the presence of typical neuroimaging features, combined with fungus isolation, a serologic test, or the presence of disseminated disease. RESULTS: Headache was the most common neurologic symptom, while the pseudotumoral form was the most common pattern. The number of lesions ranged from 1 to 11, with most localized on the frontal lobe with >2-cm lesions. CT showed mainly hypoattenuating lesions, whereas MR imaging demonstrated mainly hyposignal lesions on T1WI and T2WI. Furthermore, ring enhancement was present in most patients. The "dual rim sign" on SWI occurred in 100% of our patients with lesions of >2 cm. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of CNS paracoccidioidomycosis is difficult. Nevertheless, imaging examinations can play an important role in the diagnosis and evaluation of the disease.

Test of the Einstein Equivalence Principle near the Galactic Center Supermassive Black Hole.

During its orbit around the four million solar mass black hole Sagittarius A* the star S2 experiences significant changes in gravitational potential. We use this change of potential to test one part of the Einstein equivalence principle: the local position invariance (LPI). We study the dependency of different atomic transitions on the gravitational potential to give an upper limit on violations of the LPI. This is done by separately measuring the redshift from hydrogen and helium absorption lines in the stellar spectrum during its closest approach to the black hole. For this measurement we use radial velocity data from 2015 to 2018 and combine it with the gravitational potential at the position of S2, which is calculated from the precisely known orbit of S2 around the black hole. This results in a limit on a violation of the LPI of |ß_{He}-ß_{H}|=(2.4±5.1)×10^{-2}. The variation in potential that we probe with this measurement is six magnitudes larger than possible for measurements on Earth, and a factor of 10 larger than in experiments using white dwarfs. We are therefore testing the LPI in a regime where it has not been tested before.

Optimizing the information increase through the addition of relatives and genetic markers in identification and kinship cases.

In kinship testing powerful statistical results are usually obtained when genetic information is required to be shared between a set of individuals, under the assumption of one of the hypotheses. This is the case when the hypotheses parenthood or identity are compared with the hypothesis of no relatedness, even when only a pair of individuals is analyzed. In this work we will consider kinship problems where the sharing of genetic information is not required when a pair of individuals is analyzed, such as is the case of the hypotheses full-siblings or avuncular. Statistical evaluation was computed through the quantification of likelihood ratios, assuming the genotypic configuration of 100,000 simulated families, for each of the kinship problems analyzed: full-siblings vs. unrelated, full-siblings vs. half-siblings, half-siblings vs. unrelated, avuncular vs. unrelated, first cousins vs. unrelated, and half-first cousins vs. unrelated. For each of the six studied cases we have obtained results allowing us to weight the informative power impact of increasing the number of markers and of the addition of an extra individual, considering (a.) the use of different sets of STRs (from 8 to 35), and (b.) the introduction of a third undoubted relative. Based on these results we were able to provide recommendations for each case both on the minimal number of STRs to be used and on the third relative whose genetic analysis should be privileged.

Parental chronic widespread pain and the association with chronic widespread pain in adult offspring: Family-linkage data from the Norwegian HUNT Study.

BACKGROUND: Individuals experiencing chronic widespread pain (CWP) have greater disability and poorer quality of life compared to those with other chronic painful conditions; although research identifying risk factors for CWP is lacking. We aimed to investigate whether parental CWP increases the risk of offspring CWP, and if offspring body mass index (BMI) and leisure time physical activity modify this association. METHODS: We included 6589 parent-offspring trios participating in the Norwegian HUNT Study in 1995-1997 and 2006-2008. Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odd ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals, CIs) as estimates of relative risk for offspring CWP. We analysed the joint effect of parental CWP and offspring BMI or leisure time physical activity on offspring risk of CWP and calculated the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI). RESULTS: In total, 886 (13.5%) offspring developed CWP during follow-up. Having one (OR = 1.23, 95% CI, 1.05-1.44) or both parents with CWP (OR = 1.89, 95% CI, 1.50-2.38) increased the risk of offspring CWP. In analyses of joint effects, ORs were 1.84 (95% CI, 1.31-2.56) and 3.35 (95% CI, 1.94-5.77) in normal weight and obese offspring, respectively, when both parents had CWP. The estimate of RERI suggested some synergistic effect (RERI = 1.19, 95% CI, -0.68 to 3.05), although precision was low. Risk of CWP was similar in active (OR = 2.05, 95% CI, 1.56-2.70) and inactive (OR = 1.96, 95% CI, 1.31-2.91) offspring when both parents had CWP. CONCLUSION: Parental CWP increases the risk of CWP in adult offspring, particularly if both parents have CWP and offspring are obese. This highlights a familial predisposition for CWP and an important target group for preventive measures. SIGNIFICANCE: The parent-offspring transmission of CWP is stronger in obese offspring (particularly when both parents have CWP). This study is the first to investigate the interaction between modifiable lifestyle factors, familial factors and CWP.

Hepatitis E virus infection of slaughtered healthy pigs in Brazil.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging pathogen that can be transmitted through contaminated raw or undercooked meat derived from domestic pigs. HEV infections have been documented among pig herds, pig products and environmental samples raising concern about the spread of the virus. HEV genotypes 3 and 4 are considered zoonotic and have been linked to human cases. HEV was detected in 51 of 335 bile samples (15.2%) from healthy pigs in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Phylogenetic analysis of partial sequences from ORF1 and ORF2 regions yielded discordant results, assigning isolates to subtypes 3c and 3i, respectively, suggesting intragenotypic HEV recombination.

A GHEP-ISFG collaborative study on the genetic variation of 38 autosomal indels for human identification in different continental populations.

A collaborative effort was carried out by the Spanish and Portuguese Speaking Working Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (GHEP-ISFG) to promote knowledge exchange between associate laboratories interested in the implementation of indel-based methodologies and build allele frequency databases of 38 indels for forensic applications. These databases include populations from different countries that are relevant for identification and kinship investigations undertaken by the participating laboratories. Before compiling population data, participants were asked to type the 38 indels in blind samples from annual GHEP-ISFG proficiency tests, using an amplification protocol previously described. Only laboratories that reported correct results contributed with population data to this study. A total of 5839 samples were genotyped from 45 different populations from Africa, America, East Asia, Europe and Middle East. Population differentiation analysis showed significant differences between most populations studied from Africa and America, as well as between two Asian populations from China and East Timor. Low FST values were detected among most European populations. Overall diversities and parameters of forensic efficiency were high in populations from all continents.

Occipital blood-brain barrier permeability is an independent predictor of visual outcome in type 2 diabetes, irrespective of the retinal barrier: A longitudinal study.

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in type 2 diabetic patients has been previously shown to be altered in certain brain regions such as the basal ganglia and the hippocampus. Because of the histological and functional similarities between the BBB) and the blood-retinal barrier (BRB), we aimed to investigate how the permeability of both barriers predicts visual outcome. We included 2 control groups (acute unilateral stroke patients, n = 9; type 2 diabetics without BRB leakage n = 10) and a case study group of type 2 diabetics with established BRB leakage (n = 17). We evaluated sex, age, disease duration, metabolic impairment, retinopathy grade and BBB permeability as predictors of visual acuity at baseline, 12  and 24 months in the type 2 diabetics without BRB leakage group and the case study group. We have also explored differences in BBB permeability in the occipital lobe and frontal lobe in the 3 different groups. Ktrans (volume transfer coefficient) and Vp (fractional plasma volume) were estimated. The BBB permeability parameter Vp was higher in the case study group compared to the unaffected hemisphere of the stroke patient control group, suggesting vascular dynamics were changed in the occipital lobe of type 2 diabetics with established BRB leakage. These patients showed a significant correlation between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels and occipital and frontal Ktrans . We report for the first time that occipital BBB permeability is an independent predictor of visual acuity at baseline, as well as at 12 and 24 months, in type 2 diabetics with established BRB leakage. Our results suggest that occipital BBB permeability might be an independent biomarker for visual impairment in patients with established BRB leakage.

Genetic portrait of Jewish populations based on three sets of X-chromosome markers: Indels, Alu insertions and STRs.

Population genetic data for 53 X-chromosome markers (32 X-indels, 9 X-Alu insertions and 12 X-STRs) are reported for five populations with Jewish ancestry (Sephardim, North African Jews, Middle Eastern Jews, Ashkenazim, and Chuetas) and Majorca, as the host population of Chuetas. Genetic distances between these populations demonstrated significant differences, except between Sephardic and North African Jews, with the Chuetas as the most differentiated group, in accordance with the particular demographic history of this population. X-chromosome analysis and a comparison with autosomal data suggest a generally sex-biased demographic history in Jewish populations. Asymmetry was found between female and male effective population sizes both in the admixture processes between Jewish communities, and between them and their respective non-Jewish host populations. Results further show that these X-linked markers are highly informative for forensic purposes, and highlight the need for specific databases for differentiated Jewish populations.

Ureaplasma urealyticum and U. parvum in sexually active women attending public health clinics in Brazil.

Ureaplasma urealyticum and U. parvum have been associated with genital infections. The purpose of this study was to detect the presence of ureaplasmas and other sexually transmitted infections in sexually active women from Brazil and relate these data to demographic and sexual health, and cytokines IL-6 and IL-1ß. Samples of cervical swab of 302 women were examined at the Family Health Units in Vitória da Conquista. The frequency of detection by conventional PCR was 76·2% for Mollicutes. In qPCR, the frequency found was 16·6% for U. urealyticum and 60·6% U. parvum and the bacterial load of these microorganisms was not significantly associated with signs and symptoms of genital infection. The frequency found for Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Gardnerella vaginalis and Chlamydia trachomatis was 3·0%, 21·5%, 42·4% and 1·7%, respectively. Higher levels of IL-1ß were associated with control women colonized by U. urealyticum and U. parvum. Increased levels of IL-6 were associated with women who exhibited U. parvum. Sexually active women, with more than one sexual partner in the last 3 months, living in a rural area were associated with increased odds of certain U. parvum serovar infection.

Morphological study of the eye bulb of the hammerhead shark, Sphyrna lewini (Elasmobranch: Carcharhinidae) / Estudio morfológico del bulbo ocular del tiburón martillo, Sphyrna lewini (Elasmobranch: Carcharhinidae)

The hammerhead sharks shows a head laterally expanded with eyes and nostrils on the edges, which gives the species a hammer appearance. Another strand of studies indicates that the hypothesis of head shape alterations for better adaptions in the sensorial system with the development of structures associated to binocular sight and others sensorial organs. Given the variety of characteristics, the study aim was to describe the anatomical constitution of the hammerhead shark eye bulb. The bulb and its annexes exenteration was performed, and further dissection; the morphological description of the muscle insertions and eye bulb components were based on direct observation and were further photographed and catalogued. The eye bulb fragments and its annexes were histological technical. Between the sclera and the choroid it was possible to observe, by the electronical scanning microscopy, the thin layer called supra-choroid, in this region, spaces often filled by lymphatic vessels allied to a matrix formed by loose conjunctive tissue are found. In the choroid, a layer which is rich in blood vessels, loose conjunctive tissue and collagen fibers, was observed, besides pigmentary cells full of melanin in its interior, which result in its layer's dark color. Ciliary body is a choroid's dilatation; it has the aspect of a thick ring in finger-like shape, pigmented, covering the sclera surface and containing pigmentary cells. The crystalline capsule, which shows an acellular covering that, is hyaline and homogeneous. In the electronical scanning microscopy, it was observed that the capsule is extremely thick especially in the anterior face. The capsule is very elastic, constituted mainly by thin lamellae of collagenous fibers, as illustrated by the electronically scanning microscopy. Anatomic variations related mainly to the position of the eye bulb in the skull, fibrous tunica and lens call the attention and must be related to its habitat.

El tiburón martillo tiene la cabeza lateralmente expandida con los ojos y la nariz en sus márgenes. Estudios indican que alteraciones de la forma de la cabeza de estos animales son adaptaciones que mejoran el desarrollo del sistema sensorial y estructuras asociadas a la visión binocular y otros órganos sensoriales. Dada la variedad de características, el objetivo del estudio fue describir la constitución anatómica del bulbo ocular. Se disecó el bulbo ocular junto a sus anexos. La descripción morfológica de las inserciones musculares y componentes del bulbo ocular se basaron en la observación directa, siendo éstas fotografiadas y catalogadas. Entre la esclera y la coroides se observó através de microscopía electrónica de barrido, una delgada capa supra-coroides, y vasos linfáticos junto a la matriz formada por tejidos conectivos. La coroides, era abundante en vasos sanguíneos y fibras de tejido conectivo. Se observaron escasas células pigmentarias llenas de melanina, lo que se asemeja a un anillo en forma de dedo, de manera que cubren la superficie de la esclera y células que contienen pigmentos. En la cápsula del lente, fue posible observar un recubrimiento celular, hialino y homogéneo. En la microscopía electrónica de barrido, se observó una cápsula muy gruesa, principalmente en la región frontal. La cápsula elástica,estaba constituida por láminas delgadas, principalmente, por fibras de colágeno. Se concluyó que el bulbo ocular de estos animales posee variaciones anatómicas relacionadas, principalmente, con la posición del bulbo ocular en el cráneo, túnica fibrosa y lente, lo que puede estar directamente relacionado con su hábitat.