No Accession-Specific Effect of Rhizosphere Soil Communities on the Growth and Competition of Arabidopsis thaliana Accessions

Soil communities associated with specific plant species affect individual plants' growth and competitive ability. Limited evidence suggests that unique soil communities can also differentially influence growth and competition at the ecotype level. Previous work with Arabidopsis thaliana has shown that accessions produce distinct and reproducible rhizosphere bacterial communities, with significant differences in both species composition and relative abundance. We tested the hypothesis that soil communities uniquely affect the growth and reproduction of the plant accessions with which they are associated. Specifically, we examined the growth of four accessions when exposed to their own soil communities and the communities generated by each of the other three accessions. To do this we planted focal accessions inside a ring of six plants that created a “background” soil community. We grew focal plants in this design in three separate soil treatments: non-sterile soil, sterilized soil, and “preconditioned” soil. We preconditioned soil by growing accessions in non-sterile soil for six weeks before the start of the experiment. The main experiment was harvested after seven weeks of growth and we recorded height, silique number, and dry weight of each focal plant. Plants grown in the preconditioned soil treatment showed less growth relative to the non-sterile and sterile soil treatments. In addition, plants in the sterile soil grew larger than those in non-sterile soil. However, we saw no interaction between soil treatment and background accession. We conclude that the soil communities have a negative net impact on Arabidopsis thaliana growth, and that the unique soil communities associated with each accession do not differentially affect growth and competition of study species

PROGRAM OF IMPROVEMENT OF PHONOLOGICAL CONSCIOUSNESS

Este estudio se basa en la puesta en marcha de un programa de mejora de la conciencia fonológica para facilitar el inicio del aprendizaje de la lectura. En primer lugar, se realizó una prueba para conocer el nivel de conciencia fonológica de un grupo de alumnos de 5 años. Tras esta prueba se distribuyeron a los alumnos en dos grupos (experimental y control). Después de trabajar el programa de mejora con el grupo experimental, se volvió a pasar la prueba a todos los participantes, con el fin de observar si las grandes diferencias que existían entre los alumnos desaparecen.This study is based on the implementation of a program to improve phonological awareness to facilitate the beginning of learning to read. In the first place, a test was carried out to know the level of phonological awareness of a group of 5-year-old students. After this test they were distributed to the students in two groups (experimental and control). After working the improvement program with the experimental group, the test was passed again to all the participants, in order to see if the great differences that existed between the students disappear

La muerte súbita en el deporte. Registro en el Estado español

Introducción y objetivos: Este trabajo investiga las causas de muerte súbita en España recogidas a través del Registro Nacional de Muerte Accidental y Súbita en Deportistas. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo y prospectivo de 180 casos de muerte desde el año 1995 hasta la fecha actual. Resultados: Ciento ochenta casos de muerte súbita: 164 varones, 12 mujeres (4 no determinados). Deportes: fútbol (40), ciclismo (39), atletismo (24), fútbol sala y deportes de frontón (8 cada uno) y educación física (7). Las causas más frecuentes han sido: enfermedad ateromatosa coronaria (48), la miocardiopatía arritmogénica (11), la miocardiopatía hipertrófica (9), las anomalías coronarias congénitas (5), la hipertrofia ventricular izquierda idiopática (4) y la estenosis valvular aórtica (4). En mayores de 30 años (96): enfermedadb ateromatosa coronaria (73,43%), miocardiopatía arritmogénica (6,25%) y miocardiopatía hipertrófica (4,68%). En los fallecidos de 30 años o menos (84): miocardiopatía arritmogénica (13,72%), la miocardiopatía hipertrófica (11,76%), anomalías coronarias congénitas (9,8%), la hipertrofia ventricular izquierda idiopática (7,84%) y estenosis valvular aórtica (5,88%). En estas edades la mayoría de las muertes fueron de origen indeterminado (27,45%). Conclusiones: Dificultad para obtener datos completos de muerte súbita en deportistas en nuestro país, que muestran una importante incidencia en jóvenes y en adultos de la quinta década. Los deportes más implicados son fútbol, ciclismo y atletismo. Causa más frecuente en mayores de 30 años: enfermedad ateromatosa coronaria, y en menores de 30 años: la muerte inexplicada en corazón estructuralmente normal es lo más frecuente. Es necesario profundizar en la obtención de los datos de las muertes súbitas en deportistas a través de este registro

Constitutive Ret signaling leads to long-lasting expression of amphetamine-induced place conditioning via elevation of mesolimbic dopamine

Addictive drugs enhance dopamine release in the striatum, which can lead to compulsive drug-seeking after repeated exposure. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is an important regulator of midbrain dopamine neurons, and may play a mechanistic role in addiction-related behaviors. To elucidate the components of GDNF-signaling that contribute to addiction-related behaviors of place preference and its extinction, we utilized two genetically modified GDNF mouse models in an amphetamine induced conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm and evaluated how the behavioral findings correlate with dopamine signaling in the dorsal and ventral striatum. We utilized two knock-in mouse strains to delineate contributions of GDNF and Ret signaling using MEN2B mice (constitutively active GDNF receptor Ret), and GDNF hypermorphic mice (enhanced endogenous GDNF expression). The duration of amphetamine-induced CPP was greatly enhanced in MEN2B mice, but not in the GDNF hypermorphic mice. The enhanced duration of CPP was correlated with increased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression and dopamine content in the ventral striatum. Together, our results suggest that downstream components of GDNF signaling, in this case Ret, may mediate persistent drug-seeking behavior through increased TH expression and dopamine levels in the mesolimbic dopamine neurons. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

An Evaluation of Landmark-Based Methods to Explore Tooth Score Morphology: A Case Study on Felids and Hyenids

Taphonomic studies aim to identify the modifying agents that intervene in bone assemblages found at archaeopaleontological sites. Carnivores may modify, accumulate, or scavenge skeletal parts inflicting tooth marks, including scores, on the cortical surface. Several works have studied tooth score morphology to discern which carnivore group modified the bone assemblages, achieving different results. In the present study, different methods based on the use of landmarks and semilandmarks have been tested to describe and analyze the score profile cross-sections of spotted and brown hyenas, leopards, and lions. According to our results, the already published seven-landmark method is useful in order to differentiate between carnivore species from different families (e.g., felids and hyenids). Meanwhile, felid species (e.g., leopards and lions) cannot be consistently distinguished using any of the methods tested here. In contrast, hyenid species can be morphologically differentiated. On the other hand, the use of semilandmarks does not generally improve morphological characterization and distinction, but low numbers of landmarks and the inclusion of the score’s deepest point might provide the best results when semi-automatic semilandmark models are preferred to avoid sampling biases.The grant IJC2020-043576-I funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the “European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR” has been awarded to M.C.A. The grant RYC2021-034813-I funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the European Union “NextGenerationEU”/PRTR has been awarded to M.Á.M.-G. During the development of the present work, J.A. was funded by the Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea [ESPDOC21/05]. L.A.C. is funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities by an FPI Predoctoral grant PRE2019-089411 associated with project RTI2018-099850-B-I0

Early adversity and 5-HTT-BDNF genes: new evidences of gene-environment interactions on depressive symptoms in a general population

Adverse childhood experiences have been described as one of the major environmental risk factors for depressive disorder. Likewise, the deleterious impact of early traumatic experiences on depression seems to be moderated by individual genetic variability. Serotonin transporter (5-HTT) and the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) seem to modulate the effect of childhood adversity on adult depression, although inconsistencies across studies have been found. Moreover, the GxE interaction concerning the different types of childhood adversity remains poorly understood. The aim of this study is to analyse the putative interaction between the 5-HTT gene (5- HTTLPR polymorphism), BDNF gene (Val66Met polymorphism) and childhood adversity in accounting for adult depressive symptoms Method A sample of 534 healthy individuals filled in self-report questionnaires of depressive symptomatology [the Symptom Check List 90 Revised (SCL-90-R)] and different types of childhood adversities [the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ)]. The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism (5-HTT gene) and the Val66Met polymorphism (BDNF gene) were genotyped in the whole sample. Results Total childhood adversity (β=0.27, p<0.001), childhood sexual abuse (CSA; β=0.17, p<0.001), childhood emotional abuse (β=0.27,p<0.001) and childhood emotional neglect (β=0.22, p<0.001) had an impact on adult depressive symptoms. CSA had a greater impact on depressive symptoms in Met allele carriers of the BDNF gene than in the Val/Val group (F=5.87, p<0.0001), and in S carriers of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism (5-HTT gene) (F=5.80, p<0.0001). Conclusions Childhood adversity per se predicted higher levels of adult depressive symptoms. In addition, BDNF Val66Met and 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms seemed to moderate the effect of CSA on adult depressive symptom

Knowledge and perceptions of food sustainability in a Spanish university population

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at its core. Besides tackling climate change and the fight to reduce inequality, the SDG number 12 is specifically focused to develop strategies toward food sustainability. The aim of this study, aligned with SDG number 12, was to analyze the level of knowledge and perceptions of food sustainability in a university community from Spain. A descriptive cross-sectional study, based on an online questionnaire, was carried out between July and November 2021 with convenience sampling. The survey included 28 items and was distributed among students, teachers, researchers and administrative staff from a Spanish university. A total of 1,220 participants completed the survey. 70.4% of the respondents heard about the environmental impact of food and more than 50% were aware of the existence of the SDGs. The different aspects related to diet that concerned them the most were food waste, plastic usage, and environmental impact. They reported that a sustainable diet should be mainly based on local and seasonal products and with a low environmental impact as well as no or the minimum food waste. When asked if they were following a sustainable diet, 77% answered affirmatively. Moreover, the food groups more involved in a sustainable diet should be vegetables and fruits, olive oil, legumes, and whole grains. Regarding food waste, 60% of the surveyed population claimed to generate it at home, with the use of leftovers and planning shopping and meals being some of the most important domestic actions to avoid it. Further initiatives must be implemented to increase the level of knowledge as well as to raise the awareness on the importance to translate it into individual and collective actions that allow a shift toward more sustainable practices

The role of genetic variability in the GABRA6, 5-HTT and BDNF genes in anxiety-related traits

Objective:  The aims of this study were to test the individual association of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4), the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene (BDNF) and the GABAAα6 receptor subunit gene (GABRA6) with anxiety-related traits and to explore putative gene-gene interactions in a Spanish healthy sample. Method:  A sample of 937 individuals from the general population completed the Temperament and Character Inventory questionnaire to explore Harm Avoidance (HA) dimension; a subsample of 553 individuals also filled in the Big Five Questionnaire to explore the Neuroticism dimension. The whole sample was genotyped for the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism (SLC6A4 gene), the Val66Met polymorphism (BDNF gene) and the T1521C polymorphism (GABRA6 gene). Results:  Homozygous individuals for the T allele of the T1512C polymorphism presented slightly higher scores for HA than C allele carriers (F = 2.96, P = 0.019). In addition, there was a significant gene-gene interaction on HA between the 5-HTTLPR and Val66Met polymorphisms (F = 3.4, P = 0.009). Conclusion:  GABRA6 emerges as a candidate gene involved in the variability of HA. The effect of a significant gene-gene interaction between the SLC6A4 and BDNF genes on HA could explain part of the genetic basis underlying anxiety-related traits

Filamin C variants are associated with a distinctive clinical and immunohistochemical arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy phenotype

Background: Pathogenic variants in the filamin C (FLNC) gene are associated with inherited cardiomyopathies including dilated cardiomyopathy with an arrhythmogenic phenotype. We evaluated FLNC variants in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) and investigated the disease mechanism at a molecular level. Methods: 120 gene-elusive ACM patients who fulfilled diagnostic criteria for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) were screened by whole exome sequencing. Fixed cardiac tissue from FLNC variant carriers who had died suddenly was investigated by histology and immunohistochemistry. Results: Novel or rare FLNC variants, four null and five variants of unknown significance, were identified in nine ACM probands (7.5%). In FLNC null variant carriers (including family members, n = 16) Task Force diagnostic electrocardiogram repolarization/depolarization abnormalities were uncommon (19%), echocardiography was normal in 69%, while 56% had >500 ventricular ectopics/24 h or ventricular tachycardia on Holter and 67% had late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI). Ten gene positive individuals (63%) had abnormalities on ECG or CMRI that are not included in the current diagnostic criteria for ARVC. Immunohistochemistry showed altered key protein distribution, distinctive from that observed in ARVC, predominantly in the left ventricle. Conclusions: ACM associated with FLNC variants presents with a distinctive phenotype characterized by Holter arrhythmia and LGE on CMRI with unremarkable ECG and echocardiographic findings. Clinical presentation in asymptomatic mutation carriers at risk of sudden death may include abnormalities which are currently non-diagnostic for ARVC. At the molecular level, the pathogenic mechanism related to FLNC appears different to classic forms of ARVC caused by desmosomal mutations. Keywords: ARVC; Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy; Filamin C variants; Immunohistochemistry; Late gadolinium enhancement