Microsatellite markers in Spanish lime (Melicoccus bijugatus Jacq., Sapindaceae), a neglected Neotropical fruit crop

Spanish lime (Melicoccus bijugatus Jacq.) is aNeotropical fruit tree cultivated, mainly, in orchards for self-consumption or local sale. The genus Melicoccus includes other nine species with edible fruits, some of these species are at risk of extinction. Like for the vast majority of tropical fruit trees, there is no information on the genetic diversity of Spanish lime and its related species, and this is mostly due to the lack of molecular markers. The objectives of this study were to present the first microsatellite markers developed for Spanish lime, testing its usefulness on a sample of cultivated accessions, as well as its transferability to Huaya India (M. oliviformis). To do this, we performed high-throughput sequencing of microsatellite-enriched libraries of Spanish lime using Roche 454, assembled 9567 DNA contig sequences and identified 10,117 microsatellites. After screening 384 of those microsatellites on four DNA samples, 31 polymorphic markers were used to screen 25 accessions of Spanish lime and five of Huaya India collected in Yucatan, Mexico. Genetic diversity was low in Spanish lime (A = 20.61, HE = 0.38) and similar for both sexes of this species. Neighbor-Joining and PCoA analyses clearly discriminated between the two Melicoccus species studied. Nine of the markers showed unique alleles for Huaya India. The set of microsatellite markers developed has a great potential to generate information in relation to conservation genetics, improvement of elite cultivars and breeding programs for Spanish lime and related species

Colaboración Universidad/Administración: Sesión PBL (Practic Based Learning) para la notificación de preparados cosméticos y dermofarmacéuticos al CPNP (Cosmetic Products Notification Portal) para estudiantes del máster de Demofarmácia y Cosmetología (título propio de la universidad de Barcelona)

Podeu consultar la Vuitena trobada de professorat de Ciències de la Salut completa a: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/66524La notificación de toda nueva formulación cosmética al CPNP es obligatoria para poder proceder a su producción y posterior comercialización a nivel europeo. Dicha notificación es informática e implica cumplimentar una información completa acerca de ingredientes, formulación, aspectos legales, etc. en base a las especificaciones legales fijads por el Reglamento Europeo de productos cosméticos (CE1223/2009, DOUE nº342, de 22/12). El acceso a dicho portal implica el registro de la empresa productora del cosmético. Por ello y afin de que los estudiantes de tercer ciclo puedan practicar simulaciones de comunicación al CPNP, guiadas y comentadas por parte de tutores expertos, cuestión que les resultará de gran utilidad en el dia a dia de la actividad profesional para la que se están formando, se propuso al Area Funcional de Sanidad de la Subdelegación del Gobierno en Cataluña, la consecución de un acceso como empresa de elaboración de cosméticos simulada, a nombre de Facultad de Farmacia de la Universidad de Barcelona para el acceso a dicho aplicativo. Ello ha permitido la realización de una sesión práctica en la que se siguen paso a paso las diferentes etapas de la notificación para un ejemplo propuesto por el profesor, y ha permitido la práctica individualizada por parte de los 18 alumnos de la actual promoción del Máster de diferentes casos reales, lo que sirve de “reválida” de los conocimientos adquiridos en las diferentes áreas formativas, cuyo fin es el de capacitar a dichos estudiantes para poder realizar la totalidad de las etapas de I+D de un cosmético, que obviamente concluyen con la comunicación del mismo al CPNP. Este es asimismo el objetivo que se les plantea para la realización y valoración de sus correspondientes proyectos finales

Genetic diversity of Huaya India (\u3ci\u3eMelicoccus oliviformis\u3c/i\u3e Kunth), a neglected Neotropical fruit crop

Currently, some species of Sapindaceae are important fruit crops worldwide. The Huaya India (Meliccocus oliviformis, Sapindaceae) is a neglected Neotropical fruit tree consumed locally in the Maya Lowlands of Mexico, where it exists in both wild and domesticated forms. Our objective was to evaluate the genetic diversity of the Huaya India in its possible domestication area and thus generate knowledge that serves as the basis for a commercial management. A total of 450 individuals collected from 15 natural vegetation sites and 15 Maya villages, were characterized using nine microsatellite loci and population genetics approaches were applied. STRUCTURE, Neighbor-Joining and PCoA analyses suggested the existence of three main groups: 1) one composed by 14 natural vegetation sites, 2) one integrated by 10 Maya villages plus one natural vegetation site, 3) one composed by five Maya villages. At the species level, genetic differentiation was high (FST = 0.562) and gene flow was low (Nm = 0.395); between genetic groups, differentiation was low and gene flow was high. Genetic diversity was low at the level species (HE = 0.19) and higher in the group composed for only natural vegetation sites. When we considered only two groups (natural vegetation sites vs Maya villages) to explore a possible bottleneck as a consequence of human management, the natural vegetation sites showed higher, and significant, genetic diversity (HE = 0.231) than the Maya villages (HE = 0.152). This study can serve as a basis to develop management strategies for Huaya India in the Maya Lowlands of Mexico, but without compromising its conservation

Influence of coffee/water ratio on the final quality of espresso coffee

Espresso coffee is a polyphasic beverage in which the physico-chemical and sensory characteristics obviously depend on both the selection of ground roasted coffee and the technical conditions of the percolation process. The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of the coffee/water ratio on the physico-chemical and sensory quality of espresso coffee. Furthermore, the influence of botanical varieties (Arabica and Robusta) and the type of roast (conventional and torrefacto) on the selection of coffee/water ratio was studied. The relationship between pH and the perception of acidity intensity is discussed in relation to the influence of the coffee/water ratio, type of coffee and roast. The optimisation of other technical parameters in previous studies seemed to minimise the influence of an increase in the coffee/water ratio on the extraction of soluble and solid compounds. In fact, only some sensory attributes, such as bitterness, astringency and burnt, acrid and earthy/musty flavours were proposed as relevant to the selection of 6.5 g 40 mL(-1) or 7.5 g 40 mL(-1) in conventional roasted coffees (Arabica 100% and Robusta blend), and 6.5 g 40 mL(-1) in torrefacto roasted coffees. On the other hand, the addition of sugar during the roasting process in torrefacto roast coffees seemed to contribute to a higher generation of acids, melanoidins and other compounds by the Maillard reaction or caramelisation, which led us to select the lowest coffee/water ratio

Caffeic acid decomposition products: antioxidants or pro-oxidants?

The potential of phenol antioxidants to suffer decomposition reactions leading to the formation of products exerting pro-oxidant activity was studied. A hydroalcoholic solution containing caffeic acid was assessed for antioxidant and pro-oxidant activity during heating at 90 degrees C to simulate the heat maintenance of the coffee brews in thermos. Decomposition products were also evaluated by HPLC analysis. In the early steps of caffeic acid decomposition. a decrease in antioxidant capacity was detected, associated to a significant increase in pro-oxidant activity because the development of pro-oxidant compounds. On further heating, an increase in antioxidant activity associated to a decrease in pro-oxidant molecules previously formed and the formation of polymers with higher antioxidant activity was observed. A mechanistic route of caffeic acid decomposition under thermal conditions according to the HPLC analysis was proposed. This study clearly showed that caffeic acid, a well known antioxidant, may also act as pro-oxidant due to thermal decomposition

Susceptibility of Phoenix roebelenii to Xylella fastidiosa

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Plant Health Panel analysed a dossier submitted by Costa Rica Authorities to reach a conclusion on the host status of Phoenix roebelenii for Xylella fastidiosa. The Panel wishes first to stress the difficulties faced in providing compelling evidence for the non-susceptibility status of any particular plant species. The Panel acknowledges that the listing of P. roebelenii as a host of X. fastidiosa rests on a single report from California. Because isolation of X. fastidiosa from some hosts can be difficult, the Panel considers that the failure to isolate X. fastidiosa from P. roebelenii cannot be used to totally discard the detection of X. fastidiosa by ELISA and PCR. The Panel concludes that the detection of X. fastidiosa by two independent techniques provides sufficient evidence, although not totally conclusive, for the listing of P. roebelenii as a X. fastidiosa host plant. Concerning the survey data provided in the Costa Rican dossier, the Panel wishes to stress that such surveys cannot demonstrate the non-host status but can only provide a probability bound, upper estimate of the proportion of infected plants in the field. In the present case, and assuming all survey parameters to be optimal, the 95% confidence incidence threshold obtained is 0.2%, leaving the possibility that close to 25,000 P. roebelenii plants could be infected but undetected in the country. Accepting a scenario of local, non-systemic infection of P. roebelenii by X. fastidiosa would further increase uncertainties. In addition, the absence of data on the vector infection pressure further affects the ability to derive meaningful information on the P. roebelenii host status from the survey data. Appropriately conducted mechanical and/or vector-mediated inoculation experiments are critical to reach a more solid conclusion on the X. fastidiosa host status of P. roebelenii

Characterization of the genetic structure and diversity of maize (Zea mays L) landrace populations from Mexico

Maize (Zea mays L) is a globally important crop. In Mexico, its center of origin and diversity, it forms part of the culture and staple diet of present-day towns. This condition has allowed the development of a large number of maize landraces. In southern Mexico, in the states of Yucatán, Quintana Roo, Campeche and Chiapas, little attention has been given to the diversity potential that landraces represent in order to make best use of them. This work therefore characterized the genetic structure and diversity of 16 maize landrace populations from the southern region of Mexico using ISSR markers. A total of 69 loci were generated with 100% polymorphism. The analysis revealed the formation of two groups with geographical and genetic origins in the Yucatán Peninsula and the state of Chiapas. Wide genetic diversity was found for the entire sample of assessed populations (He = 0.40 and I = 0.54), as well as in the groups formed (He = 0.36, I = 0.52 and He = 0.35, I = 0.50 respectively). At the population level within each group, the populations that formed the Yucatán Peninsula group had greater mean diversity values than in the Chiapas group (He = 0.33, I = 0.36 and He = 0.32, I = 0.35 respectively). Based on this information, it is recommended to develop in-situ conservation programs and to increase the existing ex-situ collections in the region that allow us to enhance the germplasm of the maize landraces of Mexico in breeding programs

Evaluation of spent coffee obtained from the most common coffeemakers as a source of hydrophilic bioactive compounds

The main hydrophilic antioxidant compounds (3-, 4-, and 5-monocaffeoylquinic and 3,4-, 3,5-, and 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acids, caffeine, and browned compounds, including melanoidins) and the antioxidant capacity (Folin-Ciocalteu, ABTS, DPPH, Fremy's salt, and TEMPO) were evaluated in Arabica and Robusta spent coffee obtained from the preparation of coffee brews with the most common coffeemakers (filter, espresso, plunger, and mocha). All spent coffee grounds, with the exception of those from the mocha coffeemaker, had relevant amounts of total caffeoylquinic acids (6.22-13.24 mg/g of spent coffee), mainly dicaffeoylquinic acids (3.31-5.79 mg/g of spent coffee), which were 4-7-fold higher than in their respective coffee brews. Caffeine ranged from 3.59 to 8.09 mg/g of spent coffee. The antioxidant capacities of the aqueous spent coffee extracts were 46.0-102.3% (filter), 59.2-85.6% (espresso), and <42% (plunger) in comparison to their respective coffee brews. This study obtained spent coffee extracts with antioxidant properties that can be used as a good source of hydrophilic bioactive compounds

Effects on short term outcome of non-invasive ventilation use in the emergency department to treat patients with acute heart failure: A propensity score-based analysis of the EAHFE Registry

Objective: To assess the effects of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in emergency department (ED) patients with acute heart failure (AHF) on short term outcomes. Methods: Patients from the EAHFE Registry (a multicenter, observational, multipurpose, cohort-designed database including consecutive AHF patients in 41 Spanish EDs) were grouped based on NIV treatment (NIV+ and NIV–groups). Using propensity score (PS) methodology, we identified two subgroups of patients matched by 38 covariates and compared regarding 30-day survival (primary outcome). Interaction was investigated for age, sex, ischemic cardiomyopathy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, AHF precipitated by an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), AHF classified as hypertensive or acute pulmonary edema (APE), and systolic blood pressure (SBP). Secondary outcomes were intensive care unit (ICU) admission; mechanical ventilation; in-hospital, 3-day and 7-day mortality; and prolonged hospitalization (>7 days). Results: Of 11, 152 patients from the EAHFE (age (SD): 80 (10) years; 55.5% women), 718 (6.4%) were NIV+ and had a higher 30-day mortality (HR = 2.229; 95%CI = 1.861–2.670) (p 85 years, p < 0.001), AHF associated with ACS (p = 0.045), and SBP < 100 mmHg (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found in the secondary endpoints except for more prolonged hospitalizations in NIV+ patients (OR = 1.445; 95%CI = 1.122–1.862) (p = 0.004). Conclusion: The use of NIV to treat AHF in ED is not associated with improved mortality outcomes and should be cautious in old patients and those with ACS and hypotension