Francisco Varela y el desarrollo de las Ciencias cognitivas en América Latina

El objetivo principal de este trabajo es entender de forma cualitativa el desarrollo y la situación actual de las ciencias cognitivas en Latinoamérica, así como valorar el impacto del pensamiento y la obra de Francisco Varela dentro de este contexto. Para lograr este objetivo aplicamos un cuestionario abierto y analizamos los sitios web y el tipo de publicaciones generadas por 16 investigadores que se desempeñan en algún área de las ciencias cognitivas en México, Colombia, Chile, España y Francia. Como resultado general encontramos que el pensamiento de Francisco Varela tanto en Latinoamérica como en Europa permea una parte importante de las ciencias cognitivas actuales, especialmente en las áreas de la Filosofía y Neurociencias.The main goal of this article is to expose and understand, in a qualitative fashion, the development and current situation of Cognitive Science in Latin America, and to assess the impact of Francisco Varela’s thought and work therein. With this in mind, we have applied an open questionnaire and have analyzed web pages and research work from 16 scholars that are involved in some area of Cognitive Science in Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Spain and France. The results indicate that Francisco Varela’s intellectual legacy is currently found in Cognitive Science in both Europe and Latin America, especially in the areas of Philosophy and Neuroscience.O objetivo principal deste trabalho é entender de forma qualitativa o desenvolvimento e a situação atual das ciências cognitivas em Latino América, assim como valorar o impacto do pensamento e a obra de Francisco Varela dentro deste contexto. Para lograr este objetivo nos aplicamos um questionário aberto e analisamos os sítios web e o tipo de publicações geradas por 16 pesquisadores que se desempenham numa área qualquer das ciências cognitivas no México, Colômbia, Chile, Espanha e França. Como resultado geral encontramos que o pensamento de Francisco Varela tanto em Latino América como na Europa permeia una parte importante das ciências cognitivas atuais, especialmente nas áreas da Filosofia e das Neurociências

Performance of the \u3ci\u3eLeucaena leucocephala\u3c/i\u3e–\u3ci\u3eMegathyrsus maximus\u3c/i\u3e cv Mombasa System and Local Range Grazed by Pelibuey Ewe-Lambs

Mombasa grass and leucaena have shown an excellent agronomic performance grown in tropical semi-arid ranges, the objective of this study was to compare the agronomic performance of Leucaena-Mombasa grown as a silvopastoral system at two leucaena plant densities (10000 and 15000 plants ha-1) and of Pelibuey ewe-lambs grazing it against native unimproved tropical semi-arid range of the state of Morelos, México. Experimental design was a completely random with two replications. Unimproved native range was mainly deciduous shrubs and mixed herbaceous plants (Poaceae and Asteraceae). Stocking rate was the same across treatments and grazing lasted all rainy season. Of the agronomic variables determined, both Leucaena-Mombasa systems showed the same (p\u3e 0.05) forage on-offer total and expressed as herbage-allowance but 29 and 15% higher (p≤ 0.05) respectively than the unimproved native range. Leucaena-Mombasa at the highest leucaena density showed the highest harvest rate, 22 and 50% higher (p≤ 0.05) than the registered at the lower density and unimproved native range, respectively. Unimproved native range herbaceous layer showed 40% higher (p≤ 0.05) crude protein content than the layer at both Leucaena-Mombasa systems; tree fodder was only different (p\u3c 0.05) in in vitro dry matter digestibility, tree fodder from both Leucaena-Mombasa systems was 32% higher (p≤ 0.05) than that of unimproved native range. Ewe-lambs grazing any of the Leucaena-Mombasa systems showed a daily weight gain 1.5 times higher (p\u3c 0.05) than those grazing the unimproved native range. It was concluded that Leucaena-Mombasa system is an option to improve agronomic and animal performances compare to unimproved tropical native range

Bio-plastic polymers from renewable sources = Bio-plásticos de polímeros a partir de fuentes renovables

Biopolymers are useful in the industry due to its elastic properties and sustainability as replacements of non-renewable polymers. In this article, bioplastics were produced and characterized using chitosan (CH), sodium alginate (SA), and galactomannan (GAL) from insects (Hermetia illucens), brown algae (Macrocystis pyrifera) and seeds (Leucaena leucocephala), respectively. The structure of biopolymers was observed by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and characterized by viscosity at different concentrations. The developed bioplastics were characterized by color and mechanical properties (texture). The results were compared to standard samples (commercial). The FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of the typical structure (footprint) for the obtained polymers. The SA showed significantly higher viscosity for all concentrations compared to the standard and the other polymers. The bioplastics strength was similar among CH, SA and GAL for all concentrations; only SA (0,5%) demonstrated higher strength than the standard. For color measurements, hue value indicated a red-yellowish color and the chrome increased directly proportional with polymer concentration. The observed properties suggest that these sustainable sources might be an alternative to bioplastic production, which can be extended to functionalization and molecular interactions for broad applications in different industries

Genetic studies in sunflower broomrape

Much research has been conducted to identify sources of genetic resistance to sunflower broomrape (Orobanche cumana Wallr.) and to study their mode of inheritance. However, studies on the parasite have been scarce. This manuscript reviews three genetic studies in sunflower broomrape. First, the inheritance of the absence of pigmentation in a natural mutant of this species with yellow plant color phenotype was studied. In a first stage, lines from the unpigmented mutant and a normally pigmented population were developed by several generations of self-pollination. Plants of both lines were crossed and the F1, F2, and F3 generations were evaluated. The results indicated that plant pigmentation is controlled by a partially dominant allele at a single locus. Second, the unpigmented mutant was used to evaluate outcrossing potential of the species. Two experiments in which single unpigmented plants were surrounded by normally pigmented plants were conducted under pot and field conditions. The cross-fertilization rate was estimated as the percentage of F1 hybrids in the progenies of unpigmented plants, which averaged 21.5% in the pot and 28.8% in the field experiment. The results indicated that, under the conditions of this study, the species was not strictly self-pollinated. Finally, the inheritance of avirulence was studied in crosses of plants from lines of O. cumana races E and F, developed by several generations of self-pollination. The F1 and F3 generations were evaluated on the differential line P-1380 carrying the race-E resistance gene Or5. The results suggested that race E avirulence and race F virulence on P-1380 are allelic and controlled by a single locus, which confirmed the gene-for-gene theory for the O. cumana-sunflower interaction.The manuscript reviews research partially funded by Fundación Ramón Areces, Madrid. The contribution of Dr. Enrique Quesada Moraga, entomologist from the University of Córdoba, Spain, to taxonomic classification of pollinators is gratefully acknowledged. R. Pineda-Martos was the recipient of a PhD fellowship from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) (JAEPre_08_00370)Peer Reviewe

Niosomes based on synthetic cationic lipids for gene delivery: The influence of polar head-groups on the transfection efficiency in HEK-293, ARPE-19 and MSC-D1 cells

We designed niosomes based on three lipids that differed only in the polar-head group to analyze their influence on the transfection efficiency. These lipids were characterized by small-angle X-ray scattering before being incorporated into the niosomes which were characterized in terms of pKa, size, zeta potential, morphology and physical stability. Nioplexes were obtained upon the addition of a plasmid. Different ratios (w/w) were selected to analyze the influence of this parameter on size, charge and the ability to condense, release and protect the DNA. In vitro transfection experiments were performed in HEK-293, ARPE-19 and MSC-D1 cells. Our results show that the chemical composition of the cationic head-group clearly affects the physicochemical parameters of the niosomes and especially the transfection efficiency. Only niosomes based on cationic lipids with a dimethyl amino head group (lipid 3) showed a transfection capacity when compared with their counterparts amino (lipid 1) and tripeptide head-groups (lipid 2). Regarding cell viability, we clearly observed that nioplexes based on the cationic lipid 3 had a more deleterious effect than their counterparts, especially in ARPE-19 cells at 20/1 and 30/1 ratios. Similar studies could be extended to other series of cationic lipids in order to progress in the research on safe and efficient non-viral vectors for gene delivery purposes.This project was partially supported by the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU (UFI 11/32), the National Council of Science and Technology (CONAYT), Mexico, Reg. # 217101, the Spanish Ministry of Education (Grant CTQ2010-20541, CTQ2010-14897), the Basque Government (Department of Education, University and Research, predoctoral BFI-2011-2226 grant), the Generalitat de Catalunya (2009SGR208, 2009SGR1331) and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Technical and human support provided by SGIker (UPV/EHU) is gratefully acknowledged. Authors also wish to thank the intellectual and technical assistance from the platform for Drug Formulation (NANBIOSIS) CIBER-BBN.Peer reviewe

Biogeography and evolution of seeder and resprouter forms of Erica coccinea (Ericaceae) in the fire-prone Cape fynbos

The genus Erica represents the epitome of plant biodiversity in the South African Cape fynbos with over 700 species. This genus is composed of seeder and resprouter species, but both species diversity and endemism are strongly linked to the seeder habit and concentrated in the southwestern Cape Floristic Region (CFR). Erica coccinea is a relatively abundant and widespread fynbos species whose most remarkable morphological feature is the existence of distinct seeder and resprouter forms, frequently—but not always—in disjunct populations. Both higher within- population genetic diversity and among-population differentiation have been found in seeders, most likely as a consequence of the shorter generation times and faster population turnovers. Resprouters, despite being less diverse, are suspected to be ancestral. However, no solid evidence has yet been provided for the ancestrality of the resprouter form, or for the demographic processes that have determined the current distribution of genetic diversity in both regeneration forms. Here, we used microsatellites and sequences of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacers to describe the phylogeographic structure of seeder and resprouter E. c occinea populations and provide good evidence for the ancestral status of the resprouter form and the comparatively high rates of molecular evolution in derived seeder populations. We also reveal that mixed populations, where both seeder and resprouter individuals co-occur, were originated by secondary contacts. This study highlights the role of fire in driving accelerated diversification in seeder lineages of highly speciose CFR fynbos taxa

The influence of the polar head-group of synthetic cationic lipids on the transfection efficiency mediated by niosomes in rat retina and brain

The development of novel non-viral delivery vehicles is essential in the search of more efficient strategies for retina and brain diseases. Herein, optimized niosome formulations prepared by oil-in water (o/w) and film-hydration techniques were characterized in terms of size, PDI, zeta potential, morphology and stability. Three ionizable glycerol-based cationic lipids containing a primary amine group (lipid 1), a triglycine group (lipid 2) and a dimethylamino ethyl pendent group (lipid 3) as polar head-groups were part of such niosomes. Upon the addition of pCMS-EGFP plasmid, nioplexes were obtained at different cationic lipid/DNA ratios (w/w). The resultant nioplexes were further physicochemically characterized and evaluated to condense, release and protect the DNA against enzymatic digestion. In vitro experiments were performed to evaluate transfection efficiency and cell viability in HEK-293, ARPE-19 and PECC cells. Interestingly, niosome formulations based on lipid 3 showed better transfection efficiencies in ARPE-19 and PECC cells than the rest of cationic lipids showed in this study. In vivo experiments in rat retina after intravitreal and subretinal injections together with in rat brain after cerebral cortex administration showed promising transfection efficiencies when niosome formulations based on lipid 3 were used. These results provide new insights for the development of non-viral vectors based on cationic lipids and their applications for efficient delivery of genetic material to the retina and brain. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.This project was partially supported by the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU (UFI 11/32), the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT), Mexico, Reg. # 217101, the Spanish Ministry of Education (Grant CTQ2010-20541, CTQ2010- 14897), the Basque Government (Department of Education, University and Research, predoctoral BFI-2011-2226 grant) and by Spanish grants MAT2012-39290-C02-01 and IPT-2012-0574- 300000. Technical and human support provided by SGIker (UPV/ EHU) is gratefully acknowledged. Authors also wish to thank the intellectual and technical assistance from the ICTS “NANBIOSIS”, more specifically by the Drug Formulation Unit (U10) of the CIBER in Bioengineering, Biomaterials & Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN) at the University of Basque Country (UPV/EHU).Peer reviewe

Review of the effects of protection in marine protected areas: current knowledge and gaps

The effectiveness of marine protected areas (MPAs) and the conservation of marine environments must be based on reliable information on the quality of the marine environment that can be obtained in a reasonable timeframe. We reviewed studies that evaluated all aspects related to the effectiveness of MPAs in order to describe how the studies were conducted and to detect fields in which research is lacking. Existing parameters used to evaluate the effectiveness of MPAs are summarised. Two-hundred and twenty-two publications were reviewed. We identified the most commonly used study subjects and methodological approaches. Most of the studies concentrated on biological parameters. Peer reviewed studies were based on control vs. impact design. BACI and mBACI designs were used in very few studies. Through this review, we have identified gaps in the objectives assigned to MPAs and the way in which they have been evaluated. We suggest some guidelines aimedat improving the assessment of the effects of protection in MPAs

Review of the effects of protection in marine protected areas: current knowledge and gaps

The effectiveness of marine protected areas (MPAs) and the conservation of marine environments must be based on reliable information on the quality of the marine environment that can be obtained in a reasonable timeframe. We reviewed studies that evaluated all aspects related to the effectiveness of MPAs in order to describe how the studies were conducted and to detect fields in which research is lacking. Existing parameters used to evaluate the effectiveness of MPAs are summarised. Two–hundred and twenty–two publications were reviewed. We identified the most commonly used study subjects and methodological approaches. Most of the studies concentrated on biological parameters. Peer reviewed studies were based on control vs. impact design. BACI and mBACI designs were used in very few studies. Through this review, we have identified gaps in the objectives assigned to MPAs and the way in which they have been evaluated. We suggest some guidelines aimed at improving the assessment of the effects of protection in MPAsRevisión de los efectos de la protección en las áreas marinas protegidas: conocimiento y deficiencias actuales.— La efectividad de las áreas marinas protegidas (AMPs) y la conservación del medio ambiente marino debe basarse en información fiable sobre la calidad del medio marino que pueda obtenerse en un plazo de tiempo razonable. Se revisaron estudios que evalúan aspectos relacionados con la efectividad de las AMPs con el fin de describir cómo se realizaron los estudios y detectar donde existen vacíos en la investigación. En este estudio se enumeran los parámetros existentes para evaluar la efectividad de las AMPs. Se revisaron 224 publicaciones. Identificamos los objetos de estudio más utilizados y los enfoques metodológicos. La mayoría de los estudios se centran en el estudio de parámetros biológicos. Los estudios publicados se basaron en el diseño control frente a impacto. En muy pocos estudios se utilizaron diseños de muestreo BACI y mBACI. A través de esta revisión, se han identificado deficiencias en los objetivos de las AMPs y en la manera como han sido evaluados. Como conclusión sugerimos algunas pautas para mejorar la evaluación de los efectos de la protección en estas zonasPublicado