Cyanobacteria as biocatalysts for the production of volatile hydrocarbons

The genetic engineering of cyanobacteria is seen as a promising strategy to develop future photosynthetic microbial cell factories capable of generating carbon-based compounds from water, CO2 and solar energy. This synthetic biology approach has already given insight to the strategic re-design of endogenous cellular metabolism, with the diversion of fixed carbon towards specific end products being the main goal. However, such technology is still at research level and several drawbacks need to be overcome before economic viability is achieved. Commonly encountered problems include the genetic instability of heterologous genes, low enzyme efficiency, and a lack of promoters, which are suited to strong and flexible gene expression in cyanobacteria. In this work, the performance of different promoters in cyanobacteria was evaluated through the heterologous expression of the ethylene-forming enzyme (EFE) from Pseudomonas syringae. In this way, EFE, which catalyzes the synthesis of ethylene, was successfully employed as a non-invasive reporter protein. The rate of ethylene accumulation in the headspace of sealed cultures indicated the strength and inducibility of the tested promoters. To study the genetic instability of heterologous pathways, efe was also used as a model system. Expression of efe in Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 has been reported as being unstable due to gene truncation at CGATG sites, resulting in a loss of ethylene production. Apparently, in later publications, such instability was by-passed via efe codon optimization and expression in Synechocystis PCC 6803. The need for codon optimization and the avoidance of associated mutational elements was re-evaluated and, demonstrated that these modifications were unnecessary for a sustained and stable production of ethylene. Furthermore, the cause of the genetic instability previously reported in Synechococcus efe mutants was identified and, developed stable efe mutants for this strain. To gain new insight to the catalytic performance in enzyme efficiency, the aldehyde deformylating oxygenase (ADO) enzyme from cyanobacteria was used. ADO is able to produce Cn-1 hydrocarbons from their aldehyde precursors. However, it has poor catalytic activity. An in vivo method was developed for the comparison of five ADO orthologs in E. coli. Results identified ADO-specific differences in regards to catalytic performance and substrate specificity, which may help future ADO engineering strategies and improve the efficiency of hydrocarbon production

Follow-up in healthy schoolchildren and in adolescents with DOWN syndrome: psycho-environmental and genetic determinants of physical activity and its impact on fitness, cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory biomarkers and mental health; the UP&DOWN Study

[Background] An objective diagnosis of sedentary behaviour as well as of the physical activity and fitness levels in youth and to better understand how lifestyle is associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors and other phenotypes is of clinical and public health interest, and might be informative for developing intervention studies focused on the promotion of physical activity in these population. The aim of this methodological paper is to describe the design and assessment in the UP&DOWN study. [Methods/Design] The UP&DOWN study is a multi-center follow-up design where 2225 Spanish primary and secondary schoolchildren from Cadiz and Madrid, respectively, as well as 110 Spanish adolescents with Down syndrome from Madrid and Toledo were recruited to be assessed. Nine main measurement categories are assessed: i) socio-demographic and early determinants; ii) environmental determinants; iii) physical activity and sedentary behaviour; iv) health-related fitness; v) blood pressure and resting heart rate; vi) mental health; vii) dietary patterns; viii) blood samples; and ix) genetic analysis. During the 3-yr follow-up study, socio-demographic and early determinants, and genetic analysis are only assessed in the first year. Blood sampling is assessed in the first year and the third year (2nd follow-up), and all the other measurements are assessed every year. [Discussion] The findings of the UP&DOWN study may help the Health Information Systems and policy makers to identify the target population for primary prevention and health promotion policies, and to develop and test preventive strategies. Moreover, these data will allow following the trends at population level, as well as to modify/adapt/create new evidence-based physical activity guidelines at national level. The findings will also serve as a scientific platform for interventional studies.This study was supported by the DEP 2010-21662-C04-00 (DEP 2010-21662-C04-01, DEP 2010-21662-C04-02, DEP 2010-21662-C04-03, DEP 2010-21662-C04-04) RYC-2010-05957 grants from the National Plan for Research, Development and Innovation (R + D + i) MICINN

Aquous extract of Euphorbia lactea Haw as local alternative for the control of Plutella xylostella L. in cabbage

The work was developed in the municipality of Abreus, Cienfuegos province between January and February 2013. The objective was to determine the effectiveness of the watery extract of Euphorbia lactea Haw for the control of Plutella xylostella L. in the cabbage crop (Brassica oleracea L.). Bioprepared was obtained fractioning pieces among 3 to 5 cm of young shafts of E. lactea in mature plants of 2 - 3 m of height. 3 kg of the vegetable fractions was deposited in 10 L of water, (proportion 0,3 kg L-1), remaining the mixture in rest during 24 hours. It was removed twice a day in favor of the pointers of the clock. The pH was evaluated at the beginning, and at 24 hours to the bioprepared and to the different concentrations of the watery extract. Concentrations were compared at 12,5 %, 25 %, 50 %, with a control or witness without treatment, as much in laboratory as in field, against larvae of P. xylostella. The watery extracts of E. lactea obtained the highest larvacide effect in the first 24 hours, being the L1 larval stadiums more susceptible. The watery extract E. lactea in proportions of 0,3 kg L-1 to the concentrations of the 25 % and 50 % achieves technical effectiveness against P. xylostella under laboratory and field conditions, without manifesting toxicity to the cabbage crop

Some aspects of the ecology and the biology of Asyndetus sp. bioregulator of the housefly

A predator insect larvae and eggs of Musca domestica L. (housefly) reported in the municipality Passenger Aguada, Cienfuegos. The present investigation was carried out with the objective to evaluate some aspects of the ecology and the biology of Asyndetus sp. as effective biorregulator on the populations of domestic fly inAgricultural units. It was determined the duration and the dimensions of the development states: egg, larva, pustule and adult of the insect, where 100 individuals were evaluated, as well as, the influence on the environmental conditions on the populations of Asyndetus sp. the bioregulator action of the development the populations of domestic fly in their natural media and the flight capacity of the adults of the predator. The results reveal that Asyndetus sp. carries out the predator action on the larva states and adult. The results reveal that Asyndetus sp. performs the depredations in the states larval and adult fly with a duration of 7 and 17 days for larval and adult states, respectively. The biorregulator activity is effective, so, it constitutes an efficient and stable depredator reaching up to 11 predators for prey relationships. The establishment of Asyndetus sp. allowed save for the elaboration center “The Galleon” 3600 CUC annually for no use of chemical control for the domestic fly, helping the protection to the environment and the health of the workers of the unit

Adverse Effects in Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Hospitalized at the University Clinical Hospital

(1) Background: Providing the patient with the health care they need in a personalized and appropriate manner and without adverse effects (AEs) is a part of quality of care and patient safety. The aim of this applied research project was the assessment of AEs as a clinical risk in patients with high social vulnerability such as persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (PwIDD). (2) Methods: A retrospective epidemiological cohort study was performed on exposed and unexposed groups (the control group) in order to estimate the incidence of AEs in PwIDDs and assess their importance for this category of patients. (3) Results: AEs were observed with a frequency of 30.4% (95% CI) in the PwIDD exposed group, with significant differences to the unexposed group (p = 0.009). No differences were observed with regards to gender. Age was as a marker of care risk, with the highest incidence of AEs in the group of 60–69 years. (4) Conclusions: PwIDDs have a high risk of suffering AEs while receiving health care assistance due to their high social and clinical vulnerability. Health care practitioners must therefore be aware of these results and keep these observations in mind in order to carry out personalized, preventive, competent, effective, and safe medical care

Objectively measured and self-reported leisure-time sedentary behavior and academic performance in youth: The UP&DOWN Study

The objective of this study was to examine the associations of objectively measured and self-reported sedentary behavior during leisure time with academic performance and patterns of sedentary behavior with academic performance. This study was conducted with 1146 youth aged 12.5 ± 2.5 years in Spain during 2011–2012. Leisure-time sedentary behavior during out-of-school hours was assessed by accelerometry and self-report. Academic performance was assessed through school grades.Evaluación de la interacción entre genética y actividad física en el estado físico y la salud en escolares y adolescentes con Síndrome de Down: estudio de seguimiento a tres años Plan Nacional de I+D+i. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Ref. DEP2010-21662-C04-02).2.893 JCR (2015) Q1, 24/151 Medicine, general & internal, 34/172 Public, environmental & occupational healthUE

Perceived environment in relation to objective and self-reported physical activity in Spanish youth. The UP&DOWN study

The aims of the present study were to assess the association of environmental perception with objective and self-reported physical activity (PA) and the relation between environmental perception and meeting PA recommendations on children and adolescents. A sample of 1520 youth (770 boys) aged 8-18 years (12.1 ± 2.5 years) from the UP&DOWN study were included in the data analyses. Environmental perception was assessed with the short adapted version of the ALPHA environmental questionnaire. PA was objectively (accelerometers) and self-reported measured (PA Questionnaire for Children, Patient-centered Assessment and Counseling for Exercise Questionnaire and Finnish PA Index). Linear regression models were used to assess the association of environmental perception with PA. Bivariate logistic regression models were used to assess differences between environmental perception and meeting PA recommendations. Environmental perception was positively associated with both objective and self-reported PA. Some differences were found in the association of environmental perception and PA between sex-and age-specific groups. Youth who perceived a more favourable environment were more likely to meet PA recommendations (at least 60 min · day− 1 of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA)). Results suggest that environmental perceptions of children and adolescents may play an important role in achieving higher levels of PA.Plan Nacional de I+D+I MICINN (DEP 2010-21662-C04- 00)2.539 JCR (2016) Q2, 17/81 Sport Sciences1.280 SJR (2016) Q1, 31/280 Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, 18/195 Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation, 29/127 Sports ScienceNo data IDR 2016UE

Universidad y sociedad: comunicación e integración en empresas e instituciones públicas y organizaciones no lucrativas. Nuevas aplicaciones

Depto. de Teorías y Análisis de la ComunicaciónFac. de Ciencias de la InformaciónFALSEsubmitte