Relationship between osmolality and in vitro viability in pepper (Capsicum annuum) microspores

[ES] La obtención de híbridos es la base del actual sistema de producción de semillas para la agricultura convencional. Para conseguir híbridos, anteriormente se necesita generar líneas puras, lo que es muy costoso en tiempo y recursos utilizando los abordajes convencionales basados en la autofecundación y selección. Como alternativa a esto, la obtención de dobles haploides androgénicos por cultivo in vitro es cada vez más buscada para abaratar costes y acelerar los procesos de producción de diversas líneas vegetales. Debido a ello, el interés por estudiar los factores que influyen en la inducción de androgénesis y la obtención de dobles haploides mediante cultivo in vitro ha aumentado considerablemente ya que se trata de un proceso nada sencillo y muy influenciado por las condiciones tanto externas como internas, que todavía debe ser optimizado para algunas especies de interés agronómico. De esta forma, se han obtenido resultados interesantes en cuanto a los factores que afectan al correcto desarrollo e inducción de las microsporas, como puede ser el fondo genético de las plantas donantes de las que provienen, así como las condiciones de crecimiento de las plantas donantes, el estadio de desarrollo de las microsporas o las condiciones en las cuales se lleve a cabo el cultivo in vitro. No obstante, el contexto osmótico del cultivo es un factor que, pese a formar parte de las condiciones de cultivo y que podría influir significativamente en la androgénesis, apenas ha sido estudiado. Es por ello por lo que el objetivo principal de este trabajo es estudiar la relación existente entre la viabilidad de las microsporas cuando son cultivadas in vitro, la osmolalidad interna de dichas microsporas, y la osmolalidad externa, esto es, la osmolalidad del medio de cultivo in vitro en el que son cultivadas las microsporas. Los resultados de este trabajo sugieren una relación entre la osmolalidad y la viabilidad, ya que según aumenta la osmolalidad de las microsporas, la viabilidad disminuye. De esta forma, se está en condiciones de plantear un estudio sobre las condiciones que afectan los cultivos de microsporas de Capsicum annuum para poder, más tarde, elaborar protocolos optimizados para su inducción de la embriogénesis.[EN] Production of hybrids is the basis of the current seed production system for conventional agriculture. In order to obtain them, it is previously necessary to generate pure lines, which is expensive and time-consuming when conventional approaches based on self-fertilization and selection are used. As an alternative to this, production of androgenic doubled haploids by in vitro culture is increasingly demanded in order to reduce costs and speed up the process of pure line production. As a result of this, the interest in studying the factors that influence the induction of androgenesis and production of doubled haploids by in vitro culture has increased considerably. It is a complex procedure very influenced by external and internal conditions that still has to be optimized for some species of agronomic interest. In this way, interesting results have been obtained regarding the factors that affect the correct development and induction of microspores such as the genetic background of the donor plants they come from, as well as the growth conditions of the donor plants, the stage of development of the microspores or the conditions in which the in vitro culture was carried out. Nevertheless, the osmotic context of the culture is a factor that, despite being part of the culture conditions, and being able to influence this process significantly, has been barely studied. For this reason, the main objective of this work was to study the relationship between the viability of microspores when cultivated in vitro, the internal osmolality of these microspores and the external osmolality, that is, the osmolality of the in vitro culture medium in which microspores are cultivated. The results of this work suggest a relationship between osmolality and viability, since the osmolality of microspores increases as viability decreases. In this way, it is possible to carry out a study on the conditions affecting the cultures of microspores of Capsicum annuum in order to be able, later on, to elaborate optimized protocols for their induction towards embryogenesis.[CA] L'obtenció d'híbrids és la base de l'actual sistema de producció de llavors per a l'agricultura convencional. Per a aconseguir híbrids, anteriorment es necessita generar línies pures, la qual cosa és molt costosa en temps i recursos utilitzant els abordatges convencionals basats en l'autofecundació i selecció. Com a alternativa a açò, l'obtenció de dobles haploides androgénicos per cultiu in vitro és cada vegada més buscada per a abaratir costos i accelerar els processos de producció de diverses línies vegetals. A causa d'això, l'interés per estudiar els factors que influïxen en la inducció d'androgénesis i l'obtenció de dobles haploides per mitjà de cultiu in vitro ha augmentat considerablement ja que es tracta d'un procés res senzill i molt influenciat per les condicions tant externes com internes, que encara ha de ser optimitzat per a algunes espècies d'interés agronòmic. D'esta manera, s'han obtingut resultats interessants quant als factors que afecten el correcte desenrotllament i inducció de les microsporas, com pot ser el fons genètic de les plantes donants de què provenen, així com les condicions de creixement de les plantes donants, l'estadi de desenrotllament de les microsporas o les condicions en les quals es duga a terme el cultiu in vitro. No obstant això, el context osmòtic del cultiu és un factor que, a pesar de formar part de les condicions de cultiu i que podria influir significativament en l'androgénesis, a penes ha sigut estudiat. És per això pel que l'objectiu principal d'este treball és estudiar la relació existent entre la viabilitat de les microsporas quan són cultivades in vitro, l’osmolalitat interna d’aquestes microspores, i l’osmolalitat externa, açò és, l’osmolalitat del medi de cultiu in vitro en el que són cultivades les microspores. Els resultats d'este treball hem vist que clarament hi ha una relació entre l’osmolalitat i la viabilitat, ja que segons augmenta l’osmolalitat de les microspores, la viabilitat disminuïx. D’aquesta manera, s'està en condicions de plantejar un estudi sobre les condicions que afecten els cultius de microspores de Capsicum annuum per a poder, més tard, elaborar protocols optimitzats per a la seua inducció de l'embriogènesi.Tomas Buch Belenguer, I. (2019). Relationship between osmolality and in vitro viability in pepper (Capsicum annuum) microspores. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/12679

Optical sensing of the fatigue damage state of CFRP under realistic aeronautical load sequences

Abstract: We present an optical sensing methodology to estimate the fatigue damage stateof structures made of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), by measuring variations on the surface roughness. Variable amplitude loads (VAL), which represent realistic loads during aeronautical missions of fighter aircraft (FALSTAFF) have been applied to coupons until failure. Stiffness degradation and surface roughness variations have been measured during the life of the coupons obtaining a Pearson correlation of 0.75 between both variables. The data were compared with a previous study for Constant Amplitude Load (CAL) obtaining similar results. Conclusions suggest that the surface roughness measured in strategic zones is a useful technique for structural health monitoring of CFRP structures, and that it is independent of the type of load applied. Surface roughness can be measured in the field by optical techniques such as speckle, confocal perfilometers and interferometry, among others

The Raman Laser Spectrometer for the ExoMars Rover Mission to Mars

The Raman Laser Spectrometer (RLS) on board the ESA/Roscosmos ExoMars 2020 mission will provide precise identification of the mineral phases and the possibility to detect organics on the Red Planet. The RLS will work on the powdered samples prepared inside the Pasteur analytical suite and collected on the surface and subsurface by a drill system. Raman spectroscopy is a well-known analytical technique based on the inelastic scattering by matter of incident monochromatic light (the Raman effect) that has many applications in laboratory and industry, yet to be used in space applications. Raman spectrometers will be included in two Mars rovers scheduled to be launched in 2020. The Raman instrument for ExoMars 2020 consists of three main units: (1) a transmission spectrograph coupled to a CCD detector; (2) an electronics box, including the excitation laser that controls the instrument functions; and (3) an optical head with an autofocus mechanism illuminating and collecting the scattered light from the spot under investigation. The optical head is connected to the excitation laser and the spectrometer by optical fibers. The instrument also has two targets positioned inside the rover analytical laboratory for onboard Raman spectral calibration. The aim of this article was to present a detailed description of the RLS instrument, including its operation on Mars. To verify RLS operation before launch and to prepare science scenarios for the mission, a simulator of the sample analysis chain has been developed by the team. The results obtained are also discussed. Finally, the potential of the Raman instrument for use in field conditions is addressed. By using a ruggedized prototype, also developed by our team, a wide range of terrestrial analog sites across the world have been studied. These investigations allowed preparing a large collection of real, in situ spectra of samples from different geological processes and periods of Earth evolution. On this basis, we are working to develop models for interpreting analog processes on Mars during the mission. Key Words: Raman spectroscopy—ExoMars mission—Instruments and techniques—Planetary sciences—Mars mineralogy and geochemistry—Search for life on Mars. Astrobiology 17, 627–65

Phosphorylated Nucleolin Interacts with Translationally Controlled Tumor Protein during Mitosis and with Oct4 during Interphase in ES Cells

BACKGROUND: Reprogramming of somatic cells for derivation of either embryonic stem (ES) cells, by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), or ES-like cells, by induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell procedure, provides potential routes toward non-immunogenic cell replacement therapies. Nucleolar proteins serve as markers for activation of embryonic genes, whose expression is crucial for successful reprogramming. Although Nucleolin (Ncl) is one of the most abundant nucleolar proteins, its interaction partners in ES cells have remained unidentified. METHODOLOGY: Here we explored novel Ncl-interacting proteins using in situ proximity ligation assay (PLA), colocalization and immunoprecipitation (IP) in ES cells. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We found that phosphorylated Ncl (Ncl-P) interacted with translationally controlled tumor protein (Tpt1) in murine ES cells. The Ncl-P/Tpt1 complex peaked during mitosis and was reduced upon retinoic acid induced differentiation, signifying a role in cell proliferation. In addition, we showed that Ncl-P interacted with the transcription factor Oct4 during interphase in human as well as murine ES cells, indicating of a role in transcription. The Ncl-P/Oct4 complex peaked during early stages of spontaneous human ES cell differentiation and may thus be involved in the initial differentiation event(s) of mammalian development. CONCLUSIONS: Here we described two novel protein-protein interactions in ES cells, which give us further insight into the complex network of interacting proteins in pluripotent cells

OPTICAL DESIGN AND BREADBOARD OF THE RAMAN SPECTROMETER FOR MMX

This paper reports the laboratory confirmation of an optical design for a 0.2 numerical aperture confocal miniaturized, ruggedized Raman visible light spectroscope (RAX) to be borne by an autonomous rover landed on the martian moon, Phobos

Gut microbiota functions: metabolism of nutrients and other food components

The diverse microbial community that inhabits the human gut has an extensive metabolic repertoire that is distinct from, but complements the activity of mammalian enzymes in the liver and gut mucosa and includes functions essential for host digestion. As such, the gut microbiota is a key factor in shaping the biochemical profile of the diet and, therefore, its impact on host health and disease. The important role that the gut microbiota appears to play in human metabolism and health has stimulated research into the identification of specific microorganisms involved in different processes, and the elucidation of metabolic pathways, particularly those associated with metabolism of dietary components and some host-generated substances. In the first part of the review, we discuss the main gut microorganisms, particularly bacteria, and microbial pathways associated with the metabolism of dietary carbohydrates (to short chain fatty acids and gases), proteins, plant polyphenols, bile acids, and vitamins. The second part of the review focuses on the methodologies, existing and novel, that can be employed to explore gut microbial pathways of metabolism. These include mathematical models, omics techniques, isolated microbes, and enzyme assays

In situ science on Phobos with the Raman spectrometer for MMX (RAX): preliminary design and feasibility of Raman meausrements

Mineralogy is the key to understanding the origin of Phobos and its position in the evolution of the Solar System. In situ Raman spectroscopy on Phobos is an important tool to achieve the scientifc objectives of the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission, and maximize the scientifc merit of the sample return by characterizing the mineral composition and heterogeneity of the surface of Phobos. Conducting in situ Raman spectroscopy in the harsh environment of Phobos requires a very sensitive, compact, lightweight, and robust instrument that can be carried by the compact MMX rover. In this context, the Raman spectrometer for MMX (i.e., RAX) is currently under development via international collaboration between teams from Japan, Germany, and Spain. To demonstrate the capability of a compact Raman system such as RAX, we built an instrument that reproduces the optical performance of the fight model using commercial of-the-shelf parts. Using this performance model, we measured mineral samples relevant to Phobos and Mars, such as anhydrous silicates, carbonates, and hydrous minerals. Our measurements indicate that such minerals can be accurately identifed using a RAX-like Raman spectrometer. We demonstrated a spectral resolution of approximately 10 cm−1, high enough to resolve the strongest olivine Raman bands at ~820 and ~850 cm−1, with highly sensitive Raman peak measurements (e.g., signal-to-noise ratios up to 100). These results strongly suggest that the RAX instrument will be capable of determining the minerals expected on the surface of Phobos, adding valuable information to address the question of the moon’s origin, heterogeneity, and circum-Mars material transport

Sobre funciones casi-lineales diferenciables y aplicaciones a la teoria de la informacion generalizada, logica polivalente y sintesis de juicios

Centro de Informacion y Documentacion Cientifica (CINDOC). C/Joaquin Costa, 22. 28002 Madrid. SPAIN / CINDOC - Centro de Informaciòn y Documentaciòn CientìficaSIGLEESSpai

FLuorescence EXplorer (FLEX): an optimised payload to map vegetation photosynthesis from space

The FLuorescence EXplorer (FLEX) mission proposes to launch a satellite for the global monitoring of steady-state chlorophyll fluorescence in terrestrial vegetation. Fluorescence is a sensitive probe of photosynthetic function in both healthy and physiologically perturbed vegetation, and a powerful non-invasive tool to track the status, resilience, and recovery of photochemical processes and moreover provides important information on overall photosynthetic performance with implications for related carbon sequestration. The early responsiveness of fluorescence to atmospheric, soil and plant water balance, as well as to atmospheric chemistry and human intervention in land usage makes it an obvious biological indicator in improving our understanding of Earth system dynamics. The amenability of fluorescence to remote, even space-based observation qualifies it to join the emerging suite of space-based technologies for Earth observation. FLEX would encompass a three-instrument array for measurement of the interrelated features of fluorescence, hyperspectral reflectance, and canopy temperature. FLEX would involve a space and ground-truthing program of 3-years duration and would provide data formats for research and applied science