A new species of Bracon (Braconidae: Braconinae) from central Mexico, probable parasitoid of a weevil that feeds on roots of Argemone ochroleuca Sweet (Papaveraceae)

A new species of the braconine genus Bracon (subgenus Bracon), B. hidalguensis sp. nov., is described from the locality of Tasquillo in the state of Hidalgo, central Mexico. The new species was reared from roots of Argemone ochroleuca Sweet (Papaveraceae), where specimens of the weevil species Conotrachelus leucophaeus (Champion) (Curculionidae) were also obtained and thus probably it represents its host. The new Bracon species was characterised molecularly with DNA barcoding (COI) and a fragment of the variable D2–3 region of the nuclear ribosomal 28S gene.Fil: Rosa, Jaime Solis de la. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Facultad de Ciencias; MéxicoFil: Martinez, Juan Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa; ArgentinaFil: Benites, Pilar. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Facultad de Ciencias; MéxicoFil: Hernández Cumplido, Johnattan. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Facultad de Ciencias; MéxicoFil: Zaldívar Riverón, Alejandro. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Facultad de Ciencias; Méxic

Long-term impact of deficit irrigation on the physical quality of berries in ‘Crimson Seedless’ table grapes

A 3-year study examined the effects of DI strategies on some physical quality attributes of ‘Crimson Seedless’ table grape following harvest, after 28 days of cold storage at 0ºC and after an additional shelf life period of 3 d at 15ºC. Control vines were irrigated to ensure non-limiting water conditions (110% of crop evapotranspiration, ETc), whereas RDI and PRD treatments received 35% less water during post-veraison. The null irrigation treatment (NI) only received natural precipitation (72 % less water than the Control). Total yield and physical quality at harvest were not significantly affected by RDI or PRD. Only the NI treatment, with the worst sensory scores, decreased berry size. After cold storage, increased berry shattering within the PRD treatment was correlated with the lower ABA at the time of harvest. Neither RDI nor PRD had a significant effect on berry quality at the end of cold storage and retail period. Sensory results were similar in RDI and PRD, both providing grapes more acceptable to consumers than the control. Thus, it is possible to decrease irrigation amount by ~30 % of table grapes without adversely affecting berry physical quality.This work was supported by the projects (AGL2010-19201-C04-04) and (FP7-KBBE-2009-3-245159). M.R. Conesa acknowledges her FPU fellowship of the MICINN

Default mode network components and its relationship with anomalous self-experiences in schizophrenia: A rs-fMRI exploratory study

Producción CientíficaAnomalous self-experiences (ASEs) in schizophrenia have been under research for the last 20 years. However, no neuroimage studies have provided insight of the possible biological underpinning of ASEs. In this novel approach, the connectivity within the default mode network, calculated through a ROI-based analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging data, was correlated to the ASEs scores assessed by the Inventory of Psychotic-Like Anomalous Self-Experiences (IPASE) in a sample of 22 schizophrenia patients. The Pearson's correlation coefficients between IPASE scores and intrahemispheric connectivity of the parahippocampal gyrus with the isthmus cingulate cortex in both hemispheres, and right parahippocampal gyrus with the right rostral anterior cingulate cortex were positive and significant suggesting a relation between hyperactive functional connectivity and anomalous self-experiences intensity. Prior literature reported these areas to have a role in self-processing and consciousness as well as being anatomically connected. Further research with larger sample size and comparison with controls are needed to confirm the relationship of this connectivity with anomalous self-experiences.Instituto de Salud Carlos III (beca ID PI18/00178)Junta de Castilla y León (Dirección Regional de Salud de Castilla y León - grant ID GRS 2121/A/20)Junta de Castilla y León” and the European Social Fund (grant IDs VA-183-18 to IFL, VA-223-19 to RMBR

RNA Binding Protein Regulation and Cross-Talk in the Control of AU-rich mRNA Fate

mRNA metabolism is tightly orchestrated by highly-regulated RNA Binding Proteins (RBPs) that determine mRNA fate, thereby influencing multiple cellular functions across biological contexts. Here, we review the interplay between six well-known RBPs (TTP, AUF-1, KSRP, HuR, TIA-1, and TIAR) that recognize AU-rich elements (AREs) at the 3′ untranslated regions of mRNAs, namely ARE-RBPs. Examples of the links between their cross-regulations and modulation of their targets are analyzed during mRNA processing, turnover, localization, and translational control. Furthermore, ARE recognition can be self-regulated by several factors that lead to the prevalence of one RBP over another. Consequently, we examine the factors that modulate the dynamics of those protein-RNA transient interactions to better understand the final consequences of the regulation mediated by ARE-RBPs. For instance, factors controlling the RBP isoforms, their conformational state or their post-translational modifications (PTMs) can strongly determine the fate of the protein-RNA complexes. Moreover, mRNA specific sequence and secondary structure or subtle environmental changes are also key determinants to take into account. To sum up, the whole understanding of such a fine tuned regulation is a challenge for future research and requires the integration of all the available structural and functional data by in vivo, in vitro and in silico approaches.España, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad BFU2015-71017-PEspaña, Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte FPU013/04373, FPU016/0151

Xilotecnia of the wood of Acacia schaffneri from the state of hidalgo, Mexico

The genus Acacia spp belongs to the family Leguminosae, with more than 1300 species distributed naturally in all continents except Europe. In Mexico there are 85 species, of which 46 are endemic, most located in arid and semiarid regions, being Acacia coulteri and Acacia farnesiana the most widely distributed. The aim of this study was to determine the technological characteristics of the wood of Acacia schaffneri. To determine the anatomical characteristics, the methodology of Autonomous Chapingo University’s wood anatomy laboratory was used; for the physical properties, standards NOM EE-117-1981 and NMX-EE-167-1983 were used, and in calculating the mechanical properties the mathematical formulas were employed. The wood is reddish brown and has interlocked grain with diffuse porosity, aliform confluent parenchyma and in confluent bands, and crystals and gums. The proportion of cells was 11,87% vessel elements, 50,65% fibers 27,76% axial parenchyma and 9,81% ray parenchyma. Basic density was 880 kg/m3, tangential, radial, axial and volumetric shrinkage values were 10,57%; 4,97%; 0,10% and 15,82 % respectively, and fiber saturation point was 19,97%. The mechanical properties were very high, so it can be used in the manufacture of floors and in building constructions

Láser Raman para Terapia Láser

Las fibras láser ofrecen grandes ventajas sobre otros tipos de láseres, por lo que en la actualidad los láseres de fibra son muy utilizados en áreas tales como: telecomunicaciones, procesado de materiales, procesamiento de señales y medicina, usando diferentes medios de ganancia, esquemas de bombeo y diseño de cavidades. Las características de este tipo de láseres los hacen sumamente atractivos entre las que se pueden mencionar: su tamaño pequeño debido a que las fibras son del tamaño de un cabello, tienen un umbral de daño muy alto, ofrecen una excelente disipación del calor, además de no tener límites de ancho de banda lo cual permite mayor eficiencia en el uso de la luz de bombeo, presentan una gran calidad de haz, así como una muy buena estabilidad con respecto a los cambios de temperatura y la longitud de onda de emisión

Socioeconomic Inequalities and Toothbrushing Frequency among Schoolchildren Aged 6 to 12 Years in a Multi-Site Study of Mexican Cities: A Cross-Sectional Study

Periodic toothbrushing is the most common, effective, and reliable way to mechanically remove biofilm from oral tissues. The objective of the present study was to determine the association between toothbrushing frequency and socioeconomic position for schoolchildren between 6 and 12 years of age in four cities in Mexico. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 500 Mexican schoolchildren between 6 and 12 years of age from public schools in four Mexican cities. Questionnaires were administered to the parents/guardians of the schoolchildren to obtain the variables included in the study. The dependent variable was toothbrushing frequency, dichotomized as: 0 = less than twice a day and 1 = at least twice a day. The analysis was performed in Stata. The average age of the schoolchildren was 8.9 1.9 years; 50.4% were female. The prevalence of toothbrushing was 52.8% (at least twice a day) (95% CI = 48.457.1). In the multivariate model, the variables associated (p < 0.05) with toothbrushing frequency were older age of the schoolchild (OR = 1.14); younger age of the mother (OR = 0.93); being a girl (OR = 1.70); being enrolled in Seguro Popular (OR = 0.69); being in a household that was owned (OR = 2.43); and being a schoolchild who lived in a home that owned a car (OR = 1.31). The prevalence of toothbrushing at least twice a day was just over 50% in these Mexican children. We found demographic and socioeconomic variables to be associated with toothbrushing. Based on socioeconomic variables that were associated with toothbrushing frequency—such as health insurance, home ownership and the household owning a car—the results of the present study confirm the existence of health inequalities in toothbrushing frequency

NGS-Based Molecular Karyotyping of Multiple Myeloma: Results from the GEM12 Clinical Trial

Simple Summary Multiple Myeloma (MM) is considered an incurable chronic disease, which prognosis depends on the presence of different genomic alterations. To accomplish a complete molecular diagnosis in a single essay, we have designed and validated a capture-based NGS approach to reliably identify pathogenic mutations (SNVs and indels), genomic alterations (CNVs and chromosomic translocations), and IGH rearrangements. We have observed a good correlation of the results obtained using our capture panel with data obtained by both FISH and WES techniques. In this study, the molecular classification performed using our approach was significantly associated with the stratification and outcome of MM patients. Additionally, this panel has been proven to detect specific IGH rearrangements that could be used as biomarkers in patient follow-ups through minimal residual disease (MRD) assays. In conclusion, we think that MM patients could benefit from the use of this capture-based NGS approach with a more accurate, single-essay molecular diagnosis. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has greatly improved our ability to detect the genomic aberrations occurring in multiple myeloma (MM); however, its transfer to routine clinical labs and its validation in clinical trials remains to be established. We designed a capture-based NGS targeted panel to identify, in a single assay, known genetic alterations for the prognostic stratification of MM. The NGS panel was designed for the simultaneous study of single nucleotide and copy number variations, insertions and deletions, chromosomal translocations and V(D)J rearrangements. The panel was validated using a cohort of 149 MM patients enrolled in the GEM2012MENOS65 clinical trial. The results showed great global accuracy, with positive and negative predictive values close to 90% when compared with available data from fluorescence in situ hybridization and whole-exome sequencing. While the treatments used in the clinical trial showed high efficacy, patients defined as high-risk by the panel had shorter progression-free survival (p = 0.0015). As expected, the mutational status of TP53 was significant in predicting patient outcomes (p = 0.021). The NGS panel also efficiently detected clonal IGH rearrangements in 81% of patients. In conclusion, molecular karyotyping using a targeted NGS panel can identify relevant prognostic chromosomal abnormalities and translocations for the clinical management of MM patients