The arogenate dehydratase ADT2 is essential for seed development in Arabidopsis

Phenylalanine (Phe) biosynthesis in plants is a key process, as Phe serves as precursor of proteins and phenylpropanoids. The prephenate pathway connects chorismate, final product of the shikimate pathway, with the biosynthesis of Phe and Tyr. Two alternative routes of Phe biosynthesis have been reported: one depending of arogenate, and the other of phenylpyruvate. Whereas the arogenate pathway is considered the main route, the role of the phenylpyruvate pathway remains unclear. Here, we report that the deficiency in ADT2, a bifunctional arogenate dehydratase (ADT)/ prephenate dehydratase (PDT) enzyme, causes embryo arrest and seed abortion. This result makes a clear distinction between the essential role of ADT2 and the five remaining ADTs from Arabidopsis, which display mostly overlapping functions. We have found that PHA2, a monofunctional PDT from yeast, restores the adt2 phenotype when is targeted within the plastids, but not when is expressed in the cytosol. Similar results can be obtained by expressing ADT3, a monofunctional ADT. These results suggest that Phe can be synthesized from phenylpyruvate or arogenate when the bifunctional ADT2 is replaced by other ADT or PDT enzymes during seed formation, highlighting the importance of Phe for embryo development, and providing further insights into the plasticity of Phe biosynthesis.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

ADAPTS: An Intelligent Sustainable Conceptual Framework for Engineering Projects

This paper presents a conceptual framework for the optimization of environmental sustainability in engineering projects, both for products and industrial facilities or processes. The main objective of this work is to propose a conceptual framework to help researchers to approach optimization under the criteria of sustainability of engineering projects, making use of current Machine Learning techniques. For the development of this conceptual framework, a bibliographic search has been carried out on the Web of Science. From the selected documents and through a hermeneutic procedure the texts have been analyzed and the conceptual framework has been carried out. A graphic representation pyramid shape is shown to clearly define the variables of the proposed conceptual framework and their relationships. The conceptual framework consists of 5 dimensions; its acronym is ADAPTS. In the base are: (1) the Application to which it is intended, (2) the available DAta, (3) the APproach under which it is operated, and (4) the machine learning Tool used. At the top of the pyramid, (5) the necessary Sensing. A study case is proposed to show its applicability. This work is part of a broader line of research, in terms of optimization under sustainability criteria.Telefónica Chair “Intelligence in Networks” of the University of Seville (Spain

Regulation Of The Interurban Coach Services In Brazil

Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies. Faculty of Economics and Business. The University of Sydne

Biochemical regulation of arginine biosynthesis in plants

Arginine plays a relevant role in plant metabolism due to its importance as building block of proteins but also as precursor of multiple secondary metabolites, polyamines and nitric oxide. Importantly, arginine frequently plays an essential role as a major nitrogen storage form in seeds and other vegetative tissues and its mobilization provides an efficient flux of nitrogen for different physiological processes [1][2][3]. Despite its importance, the biochemical regulation and kinetics of the enzymes involved in arginine biosynthesis remains poorly characterized in plants. In this work, we provide new knowledge about the biochemical regulation of the three enzymes involved in the last steps of the arginine pathway: ornithine transcarbamoylase (OTC), argininosuccinate synthetase (ASSY), and argininosuccinate lyase (ASL). Our results indicate that these enzymes are regulated by the concentration of different amino acids and metabolites, including arginine, suggesting that feedback regulatory loops could play and important role in the homeostasis of this amino acid. Besides, these regulatory mechanisms seem to have been subjected to a progressive refinement during the evolution of land plants, pointing towards a coevolution with the higher requirements of arginine in seed plants.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Multidisciplinary teaching of Biotechnology and Omics sciences

In the last years, there was a great boom in the Omics fields that have developed as multidisciplinary sciences. They use laboratory techniques related to Biology and Chemistry but also Bioinformatics tools. However, the developmental progress of these disciplines has led that much of undergraduate studies related to Biology have curricula that become outdated. From this point of view, it is necessary to focus the students to the fundamentals and techniques of complementary disciplines that will be essentials for the understanding of the Omics sciences. In the present work, we have developed a new teaching approach for Biochemistry, Biology and Bioinformatics students. They formed interdisciplinary working groups. These groups have prepared and presented communications about different techniques or methods in Molecular Biology, Omics or Bioinformatics participating in a technical meeting. This learning strategy “I do and I learn” has enabled to the students a first contact with the scientific communication including the approach to the scientific literature to acquire technical knowledge. The cooperation between students from different disciplines has enriched their point of view and even has been used in some practical master’s works.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Electric field and solvent model for Electrochemical SERS: excited-state and enhancement tuning

Being SERS a promising technique due to it potentially combining the well-known characterization prowess of Raman with the high sensitivity arising from nanoparticle-associated enhancement, 1 understanding the mechanisms due to which SERS differs from Normal Raman is key to accomplish effective applications of this technique. Following the consensus about the theoretical background that stablishes the enhancement mechanisms in SERS, 2 and focusing on electrode potential as a variable in Electrochemical (EC) SERS, for our work we have studied Pyridine (Py) SERS spectra modelling an EC-SERS nanostructured surface through an Ag 6 cluster in different orientations, with an electric field parallel to the Ag 6 -Py axis reproducing electrode potential, as depicted in Figure 1. The objective of such model is to simulate Pyridine SERS spectra and rationalizing these results based on well-established properties, accounting for symmetry considerations, coupling terms and the influence of the solvent on the system to carry out a straightforward understanding of SERS enhancement mechanisms. Our results are able to effectively reproduce the main relative intensities of Pyridine SERS spectra, shedding light on the influence of the aforementioned properties on the calculated lineshapes and intensities.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

La expresión artística infantil en el desarrollo de competencias comunicativas

No aplicaLa presente monografía suscrita a la línea de investigación Infancias, Educación y Diversidad, se desarrolla a través de proceso de indagación bibliográfica, enfocado hacia las distintas problemáticas originadas alrededor del desarrollo de la comunicación infantil. Este trabajo se realiza con el propósito de explicitar la manera en que las distintas expresiones o manifestaciones artísticas, inciden en los procesos de adquisición del lenguaje y su funcionalidad e importancia de estos en la construcción de competencias comunicativas en el niño, entendiendo así el papel que el Arte tiene en la dinámica pedagógica y la adquisición de saberes. La metodología se desarrolla a través del análisis documental sobre las líneas temáticas determinadas, y el reconocimiento de los aportes que tales teorías suministran al campo de la educación. La consulta y estudio de los teóricos seleccionados nos insta a confirmar que las actividades artísticas son fundamentales en la promoción y desarrollo de competencias comunicativas en distintos campos de formación, brindando los soportes conceptuales necesarios para la creación de enlaces transversales que permitan que el elemento comunicación sea determinante en el aprendizaje de saberes universales. A través de la practica artística y el fomento de la creatividad como factor fundamental en el manejo de técnicas variadas de desempeño en el arte, los estudiantes podrán recrear espacios de dinámica comunicativa, que les permitirá una mayor comprensión del lenguaje en sus distintas manifestaciones, facilitando así el desarrollo de habilidades de comunicación que redunden en la buena socialización e interacción con los demás.The actual monography inner to the research line “childhoods, education and diversity”, develops through processes of bibliographic search, focused to the different problematics around the development of the child communication. This work gets with the intention to show the ways and the importance that the different artistic forms of expression affects into the processes about acquisition of the language, and the functionality and importance of these in the build of communicative competences in the children, getting then about the functions that the arts have into the pedagogic dynamics, and in the acquisition of knowledge. The methodology develops through of documentary analysis about the specific thematic lines and the recognition of the contributions that the theory offers to the educative context. The search and study about the select theorists invite us to confirm that, the artistic activities are fundamental in the promotion and develop of communicative competences in different formative fields, offering a necessary conceptual support to the creation of frameworks that permits the communication element being a determinant in the learning of universal knowledge. Through the artistic practice and the promote of the creativity as a fundamental factor in the management of techniques around the arts develop, the students can recreate spaces of communicative dynamics, that promotes a better compression of the language in their different manifestations, and facilities the develop of communication abilities, that traduce in the correct mood of socialization and interaction with the people

Los invencibles hechos de don Quijote de la Mancha : entremés famoso

Copia digital. Valladolid : Junta de Castilla y León. Consejería de Cultura y Turismo, 2012-2013Precede al tít: Curiosidad bibliográfic

Independence in daily activities after stroke among occupational therapy patients and Its relationship with unilateral neglect

[Abstract] More research is needed to better understand the impact of occupational therapy (OT) in stroke patients and syndromes of unilateral neglect (UN) and anosognosia. A prospective, observational, longitudinal design was conducted on a sample of 27 OT patients. The objectives were to examine: (1) the presence of UN and anosognosia; (2) the functional outcomes; and (3) the association of UN at baseline with functional status at discharge from OT. The outcomes were Barthel (functional independence) and the Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI). The baseline proportion of participants with UN was 33% according to the Star Cancellation Test (STC), and 48.1% according to the Catherine Bergego Scale (CBS) therapist-version. There was a significant difference between the therapist and participant-rated CBS scores (p = 0.004). Functional independence improved significantly between the initial and final assessments (p < 0.001); the effect size (r) was large (r = 0.61). There was a significant improvement in RMI scores (p < 0.001), which was large in size (r = 0.59). Both the STC and CBS-therapist scores were significantly correlated with the Barthel (p < 0.001, p = 0.005, respectively) and with the RMI (p = 0.004, p = 0.028, respectively). The participants substantially enhanced their functional status skills. UN and anosognosia were common problems, and neglect was associated with worse OT program outcomes

Análise comparativa da função pulmonar de ratos usando uma nova técnica de intubação e a traqueostomia

Vários estudos utilizam a intubação orotraqueal ou traqueostomia para coleta de dados na função pulmonar de ratos. Devido à dificuldade de realização da intubação, a traqueostomia é mais comumente utilizada. Conhecendo esta dificuldade, este trabalho demonstra uma nova maneira de realizar a técnica de intubação e compara as variáveis de função pulmonar obtidas por intubação ou traqueostomia. Para a análise de nossa nova técnica de intubação, foram utilizados 30 ratos, e para a análise comparativa dos dados da função pulmonar obtidos pelo uso de nossa técnica de intubação e traqueotomia, 16 ratos foram utilizados, divididos em dois grupos. O grupo T foi submetido a traqueostomia. O grupo de IT foi submetido inicialmente a intubação e, esperada sua recuperação, uma semana depois foi novamente submetido a intubação, que foi então chamado de grupo IT-1W. Nossa técnica de intubação é realizada com a ajuda de uma cunha, cama inclinada e transiluminação percutânea. Nenhum animal morreu durante o procedimento de intubação, e cerca de 77% dos animais foram intubados na primeira tentativa. Não foram obtidas diferenças estatisticamente significativas nas variáveis de função pulmonar entre os grupos. Nossa técnica de intubação é facilmente aprendida e reproduzida. As implicações de tal técnica podem ser generalizadas para todos os laboratórios que lidam com a intubação de ratos.Several studies use intubation or tracheostomy for data collection in lung function of rats. Due to the difficulty of performing intubation, tracheostomy is most commonly used. Knowing this difficulty, this paper demonstrates a new way to perform the intubation technique and compares pulmonary function variables obtained using intubation or tracheostomy. For the analysis of our new technique of intubation, 30 rats were used, and the comparative analysis of lung function data obtained through the use of our technique of intubation and tracheostomy, 16 rats were used, divided into two groups. The T group underwent tracheostomy. The IT group underwent initial intubation and, awaiting recovery, a week later was again subjected to intubation group, which was then called IT-1W. Our intubation technique is performed with the aid of a wedge, inclined bed and percutaneous transillumination. No animals died during the intubation procedure, and about 77% of the animals were intubated at the first attempt. We did not obtain statistically significant differences in the pulmonary function variables between the groups. Our intubation technique is easily learned and reproduced. The implications of such a technique can be generalized to all laboratories dealing with intubation of rats.