Marianne Moore's multicultural poetry : a case of resistance

En este ensayo se pone de manifiesto que la obra de la poeta modernista \ud norteamericana Mariamie Moore (1887-1972) es fruto y síntesis de un estudio minucioso de la diversidad cultural. Su voz poética surge descentrada a través de una prolija erudición en campos tan distantes y diversos como la historia, la geografía, el arte, la música, la zoología otras disciplinas. La ingente variedad de datos y propuestas culturales que muestran las obras de Moore son un manifiesto poético de resistencia al llamado "sueño insular" de los Estados Unidos. A través del análisis de obras tan carismáticas como "Sojourn in the Whale" (1917),\ud "The Labors of Hercules" (1921). "Virginia Britannia" (1935) y "Tom Pool at Jamaica" (1953) se descubre, por un lado, una profunda critica femenina sobre el aislamiento cultural y, por otro, una visión integradora de los elementos enriquecedores que aportan otras culturas a la sociedad norteamericana

The ‘Botanical Triad’: The Presence of Insectary Plants Enhances Natural Enemy Abundance on Trap Crop Plants in an Organic Cabbage Agro-Ecosystem

Habitat manipulation through the incorporation of non-crop plants such as trap crops (to lure pests away from the cash crop) and insectary plants (to provide resources for natural enemies) into agro-ecosystems is an ecological approach to pest management. In a field-scale study, we quantified the effects of integrating the use of trap crops with insectary plants as a novel method to control pest herbivores in an organic cabbage agro-ecosystem. We hypothesized that pests would be concentrated in the trap crop habitat and suppressed by insectary-subsidized natural enemies in situ. We documented arthropod abundance (both adults and immature stages) associated with (1) two insectary plant species (sweet alyssum, Lobularia maritima, and buckwheat, Fagopyrum esculentum) either alone or in combination; (2) a trap crop mixture of mighty mustard (Brassica juncea), red Russian kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala), and glossy collards (Brassica oleracea var. italica), and (3) cabbage cash crop (Brassica oleracea var. capitata). Trap crops were more attractive to pests than the cash crop. On a per-plant basis, densities of the herbivores Evergestis rimosalis, Trichoplusia ni, and Plutella xylostella were 154, 37, and 161× greater on the kale trap crop than on the cabbage cash crop, and 54, 18, and 89× greater on the collards trap crop than on the cash crop. Insectary plants contributed to the consumption of pests that aggregated on the trap crop. Parasitism of E. rimosalis by the braconid wasp Cotesia orobenae was significantly increased, and the abundance of eggs and larvae of the predatory coccinellid beetle Coleomegilla maculata was greater on the trap crop in the presence of insectary plants compared to trap crops that lacked insectary plants. The ‘Botanical Triad’ of cash crop, trap crop, and insectary plants represents a new type of agro-ecosystem manipulation that integrates ecosystem service providers (e.g., predators and parasitoids) within the cropping system

Engineered bacteria as therapeutic agents

Although bacteria are generally regarded as the causative agents of infectious diseases, most bacteria inhabiting the human body are non-pathogenic and some of them can be turned, after proper engineering, into ‘smart’ living therapeutics of defined properties for the treatment of different illnesses. This review focuses on recent developments to engineer bacteria for the treatment of diverse human pathologies, including inflammatory bowel diseases, autoimmune disorders, cancer, metabolic diseases and obesity, as well as to combat bacterial and viral infections. We discuss significant advances provided by synthetic biology to fully reprogram bacteria as human therapeutics, including novel measures for strict biocontainment.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) (BIO2014- 60305R and BIO2011-26689), BACFITERed (SAF2014-56716-REDT)Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid (S2010-BMD-2312)La Caixa FoundationMINECO (BES-2009-02405)Peer reviewe

Characterization of corneal structure in keratoconus

Producción CientíficaThe increasing volume of patients interested in refractive surgery and the new treatment options available for keratoconus have generated a higher interest in achieving a better characterization of this pathology. The ophthalmic devices for corneal analysis and diagnosis have experienced a rapid development during the past decade with the implementation of technologies such as the Placido-disk corneal topography and the introduction of others such as scanning-slit topography, Scheimpflug photography, and optical coherence tomography, which are able to accurately describe not only the geometry of the anterior corneal surface but also that of the posterior surface, as well as pachymetry and corneal volume. Specifically, anterior and posterior corneal elevation, corneal power, pachymetry maps, and corneal coma-like aberrometry data provide sufficient information for an accurate characterization of the cornea to avoid misleading diagnoses of patients and provide appropriate counseling of refractive surgery candidates

Contrasting Behavioral and Electrophysiological Responses of Eucryptorrhynchus scrobiculatus and E. brandti (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to Volatiles Emitted from the Tree of Heaven, Ailanthus altissima

Eucryptorrhynchus scrobiculatus and E. brandti (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are host-specific pests of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (Sapindales: Simaroubaceae), causing extensive damage to the host. There are no effective attractants available for pest management. The main aim of this study was to explore the role of host plant-derived volatiles in the behavioral response of both weevil species. In a field experiment, both weevil species showed positive response to phloem, and there was no preference for phloem associated with healthy or injured trees. Significantly more E. brandti adults responded to the olfactory treatments compared to E. scrobiculatus. In a large-arena experiment, both males and females of E. scrobiculatus significantly preferred phloem from the tree trunk while adults of E. brandti responded in significantly greater numbers to tree limbs than to any other parts of host. Females and males of E. scrobiculatus responded positively to all parts of host tested in the Y-tube bioassay, while E. brandti adults were only attracted by the phloem from healthy and injured trees. There were dissimilar electroantennographic responses to compounds such as 1-hexanol and (1S)-(−)-β-pinene between the two weevil species. This study represents the first report documenting behavioral and electrophysiological responses of E. scrobiculatus and E. brandti to volatiles from various parts of A. altissima and findings may aid efforts to develop attractants

Biochronological data for the Early Pleistocene site of Quibas (SE Spain) inferred from rodent assemblage

In this paper, the rodent fauna from the Early Pleistocene of Gruta1 (Quibas karstic complex, Murcia, SE Spain) is described. The assemblage includes one arvicoline (Allophaiomys sp.), two murines (Apodemus ex gr. mystacinus-epimelas, Castillomys rivas) and one glirid (Eliomys quercinus). The rodent assemblage indicates an age very close to the age of Fuente Nueva 3 and Barranco León 5 in the Guadix-Baza Basin, and Sima del Elefante in the Atapuerca karstic complex, between ca. 1.2-1.4

"The Spanish Student" y "La Gitanilla" : del convencionalismo a la rebeldía

The Spanish Student (1843) by Henry Wadswprth Longfellow is a play based on Miguel de Cervantes's novel La gitanilla (1612). Both works present a Gypsy girl who stniggles for surviving in a non-Gypsy male-dominated society. Two ideas are going to be developed throughout the texts: the young Gypsy's honour and the Gypsies'role in Spanish society. On the one hand, Cervantes portrays a self-confident Gypsy girl who wants to be respected by men, and a proud Gypsy community whose only goal is to be accepted by society. On the other hand, Longfellow depicts a very insecure girl,concemed about pubiic judgement on her virtue and a Gypsy community devoted to stealing and plundering. Consequently, two attitudes are observed in these authors: Cervantes's nonconservative and challenging position vs. Longfellow's conventional romantic view of the Gypsies in Spain

"The Spanish Student" y "La Gitanilla" : del convencionalismo a la rebeldía

The Spanish Student (1843) by Henry Wadswprth Longfellow is a play based on Miguel de Cervantes's novel La gitanilla (1612). Both works present a Gypsy girl who stniggles for surviving in a non-Gypsy male-dominated society. Two ideas are going to be developed throughout the texts: the young Gypsy's honour and the Gypsies'role in Spanish society. On the one hand, Cervantes portrays a self-confident Gypsy girl who wants to be respected by men, and a proud Gypsy community whose only goal is to be accepted by society. On the other hand, Longfellow depicts a very insecure girl,concemed about pubiic judgement on her virtue and a Gypsy community devoted to stealing and plundering. Consequently, two attitudes are observed in these authors: Cervantes's nonconservative and challenging position vs. Longfellow's conventional romantic view of the Gypsies in Spain

The Success of Plain People’s Produce Auctions and Partnership with Missouri Extension

The number of produce auctions led by plain Anabaptist producers has surged since the mid-1990s. Typically grower-owned, these businesses are centralized facilities providing a wholesale market to area growers for a diverse group of buyers. For growers seeking an adequate living from growing produce, these facilities help reduce marketing time and product transportation, and provide frequent sales events that guarantee payment. As such, they have developed into a solid and long-standing market for local produce. However, plain growers have experienced challenges trying new crops or scaling up production. This article details how Missouri Extension assisted plain farmers with their challenges through modifications needed for effective engagement. Outreach efforts have been reminiscent of Extension in the earlier part of the twentieth-century, which employed farm visits and tours, direct mailings, and small group gatherings. Service delivery focus has included pest control, produce food safety, effective communication, and business innovation. Extension also worked with the Clark, Missouri, produce auction to adapt to challenges presented by the new federal food safety requirements. An analysis using the U.S. Census of Agriculture data documents that farms associated with produce auctions became critical to fresh vegetable production in Missouri. Market share doubled from 2007 to 2017 (from 13% to 26%). This demonstrates that the auction infrastructure has become a regionally important supply chain channel for fresh produce. [Abstract by authors.