Los bosques marinos de profundidad

8 pages[EN] Below the active region of primary producers to a depth of 11 km the oceans are full of life. Marine forests are to be found there, composed of the greatest diversity of species and animal organisms. They feed off the many particles coming from the upper layers and give protection to the young and provide them with food. Nowadays, riddled with disease, they have practically been destroyed by the trawling equipment of boats. This is most tragic, if one bears in mind that they are around 50 years old with a low fertility rate, which rarely exceeds 20 per cent[ES] La vida en los océanos se estructura como una cadena trófica donde los productores primarios autotróficos, los que necesitan la luz para vivir, se encuentran situados en las zonas más superficiales iluminadas. Lo que antes se conocía como vida vegetal ahora se sabe que está formado por un amplio conjunto de microorganismos, de macroalgas y fanerógamas, que tienen en común los orgánulos de sus células, como los cloroplastos, que les permiten obtener la energía de la luz solar. Toda la actividad biológica de estos organismos autotróficos se concentra, aproximadamente, por encima de los 100 metros de profundidad en el Mediterráneo, donde la irradiancia (energía lumínica) es superior al 5% de la incidente en la superficie. Se trata también de la capa superior de la columna de agua, donde los vientos y corrientes que forman parte de la máquina hidrodinámica la mezclan y transportan los nutrientes disueltos en el agua y favorecen que lleguen a los organismos. El conjunto de mecanismos físicos y químicos de esta zona superficial del mar hace que los organismos autotróficos crezcan continua y rápidamente y que sean la base de las cadenas tróficas marinas. De estos organismos viven los herbívoros y, en un escalafón trófico posterior, carnívoros y otros seres que viven tanto en la columna de agua como en el fondo marino[CAT] La vida als oceans s’estructura com una cadena tròfica on els productors primaris autotròfics, els que necessiten la llum per viure, es troben situats en les zones més superficials il·luminades. Allò que abans es coneixia com a vida vegetal ara se sap que és format per un ampli conjunt de microorganismes, de macroalgues i fanerògames, que tenen en comú els orgànuls de les seves cèl·lules, com ara els cloroplasts, que els permeten obtenir l’energia de la llum solar. Tota l’activitat biològica d’aquests organismes autotròfics es concentra, aproximadament, per sobre dels 100 metres de fondària al Mediterrani, on la irradiància (energia lumínica) és superior al 5% de la incident en superfície. Es tracta també de la capa superior de la columna d’aigua, on els vents i corrents que formen part de la màquina hidrodinàmica la barregen i transporten i afavoreixen que arribin els nutrients dissolts en l’aigua cap als organismes. El conjunt de mecanismes físics i químics d’aquesta zona superficial del mar fa que els organismes autotròfics creixin contínuament i ràpidament i que siguin la base de les cadenes tròfiques marines. D’aquests organismes en viuen els herbívors i, en un escalafó tròfic posterior, carnívors i altres éssers que viuen tant a la columna d’aigua com al fons maríPeer Reviewe

Polycystin-2 (TRPP2) regulation by Ca2+ is effected and diversified by actin-binding proteins

Calcium regulation of Ca2+-permeable ion channels is an important mechanism in the control of cell function. Polycystin-2 (PC2, TRPP2), a member of the transient receptor potential superfamily, is a nonselective cation channel with Ca2+ permeability. The molecular mechanisms associated with PC2 regulation by Ca2+ remain ill-defined. We recently demonstrated that PC2 from human syncytiotrophoblast (PC2hst) but not the in vitro translated protein (PC2iv), functionally responds to changes in intracellular (cis) Ca2+. In this study we determined the regulatory effect(s) of Ca2+-sensitive and -insensitive actin-binding proteins (ABPs) on PC2iv channel function in a lipid bilayer system. The actin-bundling protein α-actinin increased PC2iv channel function in the presence of cis Ca2+, although instead was inhibitory in its absence. Conversely, filamin that shares actin-binding domains with α-actinin had a strong inhibitory effect on PC2iv channel function in the presence, but no effect in the absence of cis Ca2+. Gelsolin stimulated PC2iv channel function in the presence, but not the absence of cis Ca2+. In contrast, profilin that shares actin-binding domains with gelsolin, significantly increased PC2iv channel function both in the presence and absence of Ca2+. The distinct effect(s) of the ABPs on PC2iv channel function demonstrate that Ca2+ regulation of PC2 is actually mediated by direct interaction(s) with structural elements of the actin cytoskeleton. These data indicate that specific ABP-PC2 complexes would confer distinct Ca2+-sensitive properties to the channel providing functional diversity to the cytoskeletal control of transient receptor potential channel regulation.Fil: Cantero, Maria del Rocio. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontologia. Cátedra de Biofísica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Cantiello, Horacio Fabio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontologia. Cátedra de Biofísica; Argentin

Processing and characterisation of Calcium SulfoAluminate (CSA) eco-cements coated with a hybrid organo-inorganic material for photocatalytic applications

On the one hand, Calcium SulfoAluminate (CSA) eco-cements are receiving increasing attention since their manufacture produces up to 40% less CO2 than ordinary Portland cement (OPC). In addition, they show interesting properties such as high early-age strengths, short setting times, impermeability, sulfate and chloride corrosion resistance and low alkalinity. On the other hand, water treatment is a key issue and it will become much more important in the decades ahead. We have developed a photocatalytic material capable to degrade contaminants in water, under both UVA and visible radiations. In both cases, it works more effectively than nano-TiO2 (Evonik P25). The environmental benefits of the use of CSA eco-cements with a photocatalyst are two folds: the photocatalytic treatment of contaminated water, and lower CO2 emissions because of the use of eco-cements rather than OPC. However, before preparing the coating, different parameters need to be under control. This includes the effect of the photocatalyst onto the eco-cement (setting time, phase assemblage, and so on), and the effect of the eco-cement on the photocatalyst. This work deals with the processing and characterisation of coatings onto CSA eco-cement pastes, including rheological behaviour, setting time, adhesion, and so on.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. This work has been supported by Junta de Andalucía (Spain) through P11-FQM-7517 and P12-FQM-1656 research grants and FEDER/University of Málaga (FC14-MAT-23). Dr. I. Santacruz thanks a Ramón y Cajal fellowship, RYC-2008-03523

NESTING INFORMATION FOR THE BROWN-WINGED SCHIFFORNIS (SCHIFFORNIS TURDINA)

We present a description of the nest, eggs and limited incubation behavior for the Brown-winged Schiffornis (Schiffornis turdina), a member of the taxonomically challenging Schiffornis taxon, currently included in the family Tityridae. The nest was an open cup, located in a natural crevice between tree roots, and made up largely of dead leaves and dark rootlets. The nest contained two pale cream-colored eggs with black and dark purple blotches. An adult spent 66.45% of the daytime incubating the eggs. The incubation was interrupted by the preda- tion of the incubating adult by a mouse opossum (Marmosa sp.). Overall, the nest and egg characteristics, clutch size and incubation patterns resembled the available nesting information for other Schiffornis species. However, more detailed information about the natural history is needed to understand the nesting biology for the genus Schiffornis and therein lies the importance of long-term studies

Solanaceae diversity in South America and its distribution in Argentina

Solanaceae is one of the most diverse families in the Americas, particularly in Argentina where it represents the fourth family in terms of species number. Although checklists for most South American countries have been published, some are outdated and there has been no analysis of Solanaceae diversity at country level. We present an updated summary of Solanaceae diversity in South America, an analysis of its distribution in Argentina, and preliminary conservation assessments for all species endemic to Argentina. Regression analyses were used for evaluating the ratio between taxa/area and endemic/total species, multivariate ordering methods were used to analyze the relationships between Argentine ecoregions, and the IUCN criteria were applied for conservation assessments. Results show that Solanaceae comprises 1611 species in South America. The highest diversity is in Peru, which, together with Ecuador, possesses more diversity than expected for the area; Chile and Brazil have the greatest percentage of endemic species. In Argentina, the Chaco ecoregion hosts the highest number of taxa, but largest number of endemic species is found in the Monte ecoregion. According to the IUCN criteria, 28 endemic species from Argentina are considered threatened. We discuss South American countries and Argentine ecoregions in terms of conservation priorities.Fil: Palchetti, Maria Virginia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Cantero, Juan Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria; ArgentinaFil: Barboza, Gloria Estela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; Argentin