A model species for agricultural pest genomics: the genome of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The Colorado potato beetle is one of the most challenging agricultural pests to manage. It has shown a spectacular ability to adapt to a variety of solanaceaeous plants and variable climates during its global invasion, and, notably, to rapidly evolve insecticide resistance. To examine evidence of rapid evolutionary change, and to understand the genetic basis of herbivory and insecticide resistance, we tested for structural and functional genomic changes relative to other arthropod species using genome sequencing, transcriptomics, and community annotation. Two factors that might facilitate rapid evolutionary change include transposable elements, which comprise at least 17% of the genome and are rapidly evolving compared to other Coleoptera, and high levels of nucleotide diversity in rapidly growing pest populations. Adaptations to plant feeding are evident in gene expansions and differential expression of digestive enzymes in gut tissues, as well as expansions of gustatory receptors for bitter tasting. Surprisingly, the suite of genes involved in insecticide resistance is similar to other beetles. Finally, duplications in the RNAi pathway might explain why Leptinotarsa decemlineata has high sensitivity to dsRNA. The L. decemlineata genome provides opportunities to investigate a broad range of phenotypes and to develop sustainable methods to control this widely successful pest

Sistema Manchester: tempo empregado na classificação de risco e prioridade para atendimento em uma emergência

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar o tempo que antecede e o tempo empregado na classificação de risco, na prioridade para atendimento e no destino dos pacientes 24 horas após a admissão em uma Emergência. Métodos Coorte retrospectiva que incluiu adultos classificados pelo Sistema Manchester de Classificação de Risco na maior Emergência do sul do país em 2012. Os dados foram disponibilizados em forma de planilha eletrônica e analisados de acordo com suas características e distribuição. Resultados Dos 139.556 atendimentos, metade dos pacientes chegou à classificação no tempo preconizado (7; IQR: 2 – 20 minutos), sendo classificados em dois (IQR: 1 – 3) minutos. As classificações de menor prioridade e as altas hospitalares (88,4%) foram mais frequentes que hospitalizações (11,4%) e óbitos (0,2%). Conclusão O tempo envolvido em atividades que antecedem o primeiro atendimento médico permaneceu dentro do preconizado. A proporção de classificações de menor prioridade e as altas, 24 horas após a classificação, foram elevadas

New designs for MRI contrast agents

New designs for Magnetic Resonance Imaging contrast agents are presented. Essentially, they all are host-guest inclusion complexes between γ-cyclodextrins and polyazamacrocycles of gadolinium (III) ion. Substitutions have been made to the host to optimise the host-guest association. Molecular mechanics calculations have been performed, using the UFF force field for metals, to decide on the suitability of the substitutions, and to evaluate the host-guest energies of association. Interesting general conclusions have been obtained, concerning the improvement of Magnetic Resonance Imaging contrast agents; namely, a set of rational methodologies have been deduced to improve the association between the gadolinium (III) chelates and the cyclodextrins, and their efficiency is demonstrated with a large set of substituted complexes, opening new doors to increase the diagnostic capabilities of Magnetic Resonance Imaging