The Open Cluster Chemical Abundances from Spanish Observatories survey (OCCASO)

We present the motivation, design and current status of the Open Cluster Chemical Abundances from Spanish Observatories survey (OCCASO). Using the high resolution spectroscopic facilities available at Spanish observatories, OCCASO will derive chemical abundances in a sample of 20 to 25 open clusters older than 0.5 Gyr. This sample will be used to study in detail the formation and evolution of the Galactic disc using open clusters as tracers.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, Highlights of Spanish Astrophysics VIII, Proceedings of the XI Scientific Meeting of the Spanish Astronomical Society held on September 8 - 12, 2014, in Teruel, Spain. A. J. Cenarro, F. Figueras, C. Hern\'andez-Monteagudo, J. Trujillo, and L. Valdivielso (eds.

Natación artística en niñas: antropometría, genotipo y rendimiento deportivo.

En cada deporte es importante optimizar peso y composición corporal y la genética y los datos antropométricos pueden influir en rendimiento deportivo y salud, sobre todo en deportistas menores. Este estudio analiza 60 nadadoras artísticas entre 9 y 17 años, divididas en tres grupos de edad: ≤12, 13-15 y 16-17 años. Se realizó un análisis de medidas antropométricas, edad de menarquia, genotipo relacionado con rendimiento (gen ACTN3) y resultados deportivos, con objetivo de relacionar estos parámetros entre sí en los grupos de edad. Las nadadoras de mayor edad mostraron tendencia a portar el genotipo heterocigoto RX de ACTN3. En este estudio, la práctica de este deporte podría tener impacto en índice de masa corporal, pliegue tricipital, peso y edad de menarquia. La mayor prevalencia del genotipo heterocigoto ACTN3 R577X podría ofrecer una ventaja, pero el rendimiento en competición de las nadadoras artísticas tuvo poca relación con sus medidas antropométricas.post-print680 K

RNA-Seq analysis of ileocecal valve and peripheral blood from Holstein cattle infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis revealed dysregulation of the CXCL8/IL8 signaling pathway

17 páginas, 5 tablas, 5 figuras.Paratuberculosis is chronic granulomatous enteritis of ruminants caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). Whole RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) is a promising source of novel biomarkers for early MAP infection and disease progression in cattle. Since the blood transcriptome is widely used as a source of biomarkers, we analyzed whether it recapitulates, at least in part, the transcriptome of the ileocecal valve (ICV), the primary site of MAP colonization. Total RNA was prepared from peripheral blood (PB) and ICV samples, and RNA-Seq was used to compare gene expression between animals with focal or diffuse histopathological lesions in gut tissues versus control animals with no detectable signs of infection. Our results demonstrated both shared, and PB and ICV-specific gene expression in response to a natural MAP infection. As expected, the number of differentially expressed (DE) genes was larger in the ICV than in the PB samples. Among the DE genes in the PB and ICV samples, there were some common genes irrespective of the type of lesion including the C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8/IL8), apolipoprotein L (APOLD1), and the interferon inducible protein 27 (IF127). The biological processes (BP) enriched in the PB gene expression profiles from the cows with diffuse lesions included the killing of cells of other organism, defense response, immune response and the regulation of neutrophil chemotaxis. Two of these BP, the defense and immune response, were also enriched in the ICV from the cows with diffuse lesions. Metabolic analysis of the DE genes revealed that the N-glycan biosynthesis, bile secretion, one-carbon pool by folate and purine metabolism were significantly enriched in the ICV from the cows with focal lesions. In the ICV from cows with diffuse lesions; the valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation route, purine metabolism, vitamin digestion and absorption and the cholesterol routes were enriched. Some of the identified DE genes, BP and metabolic pathways will be studied further to develop novel diagnostic tools, vaccines and immunotherapeutics.This work was supported by grants from the Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA) and by European Funds for Regional Development (FEDER) (INIA RTA2014-00009-C02 and RTA2018-094192). The study is partially funded by the Principado de Asturias (PCTI 2018-2020, GRUPIN: IDI2018-000237). Maria Canive and Cristina Blanco-Vazquez are recipients of INIA fellowships. The authors thank ASTEGA Veterinary services for their assistance on sample collection. We are also grateful to Kyle Hearn for the careful editing of the manuscript

Rv2577 of mycobacterium tuberculosis Is a virulence factor with dual phosphatase and phosphodiesterase functions

Tuberculosis, a lung disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is one of the ten leading causes of death worldwide affecting mainly developing countries. Mtb can persist and survive inside infected cells through modulation of host antibacterial attack, i.e., by avoiding the maturation of phagosome containing mycobacteria to more acidic endosomal compartment. In addition, bacterial phosphatases play a central role in the interplay between host cells and Mtb. In this study, we characterized the Rv2577 of Mtb as a potential alkaline phosphatase/phosphodiesterase enzyme. By an in vitro kinetic assay, we demonstrated that purified Rv2577 expressed in Mycobacterium smegmatis displays both enzyme activities, as evidenced by using the artificial substrates p-NPP and bis-(p-NPP). In addition, a three-dimensional model of Rv2577 allowed us to define the catalytic amino acid residues of the active site, which were confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis and enzyme activity analysis, being characteristic of a member of the metallophosphatase superfamily. Finally, a mutation introduced in Rv2577 reduced the replication of Mtb in mouse organs and impaired the arrest of phagosomes containing mycobacteria in early endosomes; which indicates Rv2577 plays a role in Mtb virulence

Rv2577 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a virulence factor with dual phosphatase and phosphodiesterase functions

Tuberculosis, a lung disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is one of the ten leading causes of death worldwide affecting mainly developing countries. Mtb can persist and survive inside infected cells through modulation of host antibacterial attack, i.e., by avoiding the maturation of phagosome containing mycobacteria to more acidic endosomal compartment. In addition, bacterial phosphatases play a central role in the interplay between host cells and Mtb. In this study, we characterized the Rv2577 of Mtb as a potential alkaline phosphatase/phosphodiesterase enzyme. By an in vitro kinetic assay, we demonstrated that purified Rv2577 expressed in Mycobacterium smegmatis displays both enzyme activities, as evidenced by using the artificial substrates p-NPP and bis-(p-NPP). In addition, a three-dimensional model of Rv2577 allowed us to define the catalytic amino acid residues of the active site, which were confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis and enzyme activity analysis, being characteristic of a member of the metallophosphatase superfamily. Finally, a mutation introduced in Rv2577 reduced the replication of Mtb in mouse organs and impaired the arrest of phagosomes containing mycobacteria in early endosomes; which indicates Rv2577 plays a role in Mtb virulence.Instituto de BiotecnologíaFil: Forrellad, Marina Andrea. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Blanco, Federico Carlos. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Marrero Diaz de Villegas, Rubén. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Vazquez, Cristina Lourdes. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Yaneff, Agustín. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Elizabeth Andrea. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Gutierrez, Maximiliano Gabriel. The Francis Crick Institute, Host-Pathogen Interactions in Tuberculosis Laboratory; Reino UnidoFil: Durán, Rosario. Institut Pasteur de Montevideo; Uruguay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable; UruguayFil: Villarino, Andrea. Universidad de la República (UdelaR). Facultad de Ciencias. Sección Bioquímica; UruguayFil: Bigi, Fabiana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas; Argentin

Spatial and temporal distribution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex infection in Eurasian badger (Meles meles) and cattle in Asturias, Spain

Trabajo presentado al: 69th Wildlife Disease Association and 14th European Wildlife Disease Association Conference. Cuenca, Spain. p. 66. 31 agosto-2 septiembre

La intertextualidad desde las relaciones del extratexto y el intertexto en el poemario Ismaelillo

El presente trabajo comparte un contenido de gran importancia para los estudios literarios, pues se encauza el análisis literario desde el tratamiento a las relaciones intertextuales que se entrelazan dentro de este sistema textual en el texto, a través de un enfoque que permite establecer las intervinculaciones del texto literario con su extratexto y su intertexto. Sus autores ofrecen fundamentos teóricos sobre este recurso didáctico y ejemplifican cómo se puede realizar el análisis literario a partir de una lectura intertextual al poemario Ismaelillo; asimismo ofrecen indicaciones de carácter metodológico sobre cómo desarrollarlo y establecerlo dentro del análisis literario.El presente trabajo comparte un contenido de gran importancia para los estudios literarios, pues se encauza el análisis literario desde el tratamiento a las relaciones intertextuales que se entrelazan dentro de este sistema textual en el texto, a través de un enfoque que permite establecer las intervinculaciones del texto literario con su extratexto y su intertexto. Sus autores ofrecen fundamentos teóricos sobre este recurso didáctico y ejemplifican cómo se puede realizar el análisis literario a partir de una lectura intertextual al poemario Ismaelillo; asimismo ofrecen indicaciones de carácter metodológico sobre cómo desarrollarlo y establecerlo dentro del análisis literario

Influence of Satisfaction, Expectations and Perception of Performance on University Dropout during the Pandemic

[Resumen] El abandono universitario es un área de investigación creciente debido a las diversas consecuencias negativas que puede acarrear. Se trata de un fenómeno complejo en el que intervienen múltiples variables, entre ellas factores emocionales-motivacionales. Algunas de estas variables, como la satisfacción con la educación superior y las expectativas de la titulación, son especialmente relevantes entre los estudiantes de primer curso, y más aún en un contexto de virtualidad forzada, como ha sido el caso de la crisis del COVID-19. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar la relación entre las variables emocionales-motivacionales y la intención de abandono entre un grupo de estudiantes, así como evaluar la percepción de su rendimiento académico durante la pandemia. La muestra del estudio estuvo formada por 513 estudiantes de primer y segundo curso de diferentes titulaciones de Ciencias Sociales y Ciencias de la Salud de dos universidades públicas españolas. Se utilizó un cuestionario ad hoc para medir la intención de abandono y su relación con una serie de variables. Se realizaron análisis descriptivos y modelización en árbol de decisión. Los resultados revelan que las variables predictoras más significativas para explicar la intención de abandono son la satisfacción con la elección de la titulación, las expectativas y el aprendizaje de conocimientos relevantes para su futuro profesional. También se encontró que la percepción de los estudiantes de que su rendimiento académico había disminuido durante el COVID-19 era uno de los predictores del abandono.[Abstract] University dropout is a growing area of research owing to the diverse negative consequences it can entail. It is a complex phenomenon involving multiple variables, including emotional-motivational factors. Some of these variables, such as satisfaction with higher education and expectations of the degree, are especially relevant among first-year students, and even more so in a context of forced virtualization, as has been the case during the COVID-19 crisis. The aim of this study is to analyse the relationship between emotional-motivational variables and dropout intention among a group of students, and to assess their perception of their academic performance during the pandemic. The sample for the study comprised 513 first- and second-year students from different Social Sciences and Health Sciences degrees at two Spanish public universities. An ad hoc questionnaire was used to measure dropout intention and its relationship with a series of variables. Descriptive analyses and decision tree modelling were performed. The results reveal that the most significant predictor variables to explain dropout intention are satisfaction with degree choice, expectations, and learning knowledge that is relevant to their professional future. Students’ perception that their academic performance had decreased during COVID-19 was also found to be one of the predictors of dropout

Application of microsatellite markers to the management of farmed stocks of turbot Scophthalmus maximus (L., 1758)

In the present study, eight microsatellite loci were used to estimate genetic relatedness and pedigree determination in turbot Scophthalmus maximus (L., 1758). Through genotypic analysis of broodstocks and their progenies, from two different turbot hatcheries, the capacity of these loci to correctly classify individuals as related or non-related was examined. Relatedness coefficients among related and non-related individuals presented means close to those theoretically expected, and the percentages of related individuals included in all relatedness coefficients found to be below the R = 0 value ranged from 0% (hatchery A) to 29 % (hatchery B). The identification of both parents for each individual was possible in more than 80 % of the cases from hatchery A, but only 41% of those from hatchery B.Se utilizaron ocho loci microsatélites en la estimación de relaciones genéticas y determinación de pedigríes en rodaballo Scophthalmus maximus (L., 1758). Mediante el análisis de los genotipos de reproductores y descendientes de dos piscifactorías se investigó la capacidad de los loci para clasificar correctamente a los individuos como emparentados o no. Las distribuciones de los coeficientes de relación genética (R) entre individuos emparentados y no relacionados exhiben medias cercanas a las esperadas teóricamente y el porcentaje de individuos emparentados que forman el total de coeficientes de relación genética que se encuentran por debajo del valor R = 0 oscilan entre el 0 % (estación A) y el 29 % (estación B). Así mismo, la identificación correcta de ambos parentales para cada descendiente fue posible en más del 80 % de los casos en la estación A y en sólo el 41 % en la estación B.Instituto Español de Oceanografí