Geografía: desarrollo local y regional

El propósito que plantea este editorial es mostrar cómo, una serie de tendencias geográficas, históricas, políticas, económicas y hasta epistemológicas, han convergido durante los últimos años para construir un nuevo paradigma del desarrollo, de suma importancia para la geografía y para su intervención en lo que respecta al territorio. La necesidad de insertar el desarrollo local en el marco territorial regional, nacional y supranacional puede obtener de la acción profesional de los geógrafos, una contribución fundamental.Fil: Conte, Analia Silvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Historia y Ciencias Humanas; Argentin

Estudio de la producción de ácido linoleico conjugado por cepas de lactobacillus y enterococcus de distintos orígenes

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a mixture of isomers of linoleic acid with conjugated double bonds. Several studies related the isoforms of CLA with beneficial effects such as anticarcenogenic activity, antiatherogenic activity, the ability to reduce body fat or to improve immune system function. Ruminal bacteria are the main responsible for CLA production. However other bacteria are also able to produce CLA from linoleic acid, such as Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus and Lactobacillus sp. The aim of this research was to evaluate the ability of several strains of Lactobacillus and Enterococcus isolated from different sources to produce CLA in order to use them for the production of functional foods. The results showed that the cis-9,trans-11 CLA isomer was the dominant one in all the strains studied. Lactobacillus gasseri LM21 was the main producer when incubated in anaerobiosis for 48 hours

oxidative potential of selected pm components

The role of the single PM components in inducing the catalytic generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), has not yet been clarified. Different a-cellular assay are currently used in the literature for the determination of the PM oxidative potential (OP), which is considered as a predictive index of its capacity to generate ROS in biological organisms. In order to better understand the existing correlations between PO and PM generated by specific emission sources, the water soluble and insoluble fractions of seven dust coming from specific sources were chemically characterised and analysed by three PO assays: the dithiothreitol (DTT, the acid ascorbic (AA) and the 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin (DCFH) assays. PO and chemical data were elaborated by principal constituent analysis. The three methods responded in a very different way to each dust; they are then no-interchangeable and probably none of them is able to correctly predict the ROS generation in biological organisms. DTT was particularly sensitive to organic compounds, while AA was mostly influenced by inorganic components. DCFH results are more difficult to interpret and need to be further deepened. Furthermore, the results confirmed the important role played by the insoluble components of dusts in generating oxidative processes

Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of new resveratrol-related dimers containing the benzo[b]furan framework and evaluation of their radical scavenger activities

The chemo-enzymatic synthesis and the evaluation of radical scavenger performance of resveratrolrelated dimers with antioxidative power have been investigated. The dimeric compounds, containing the benzo[b]furan framework, were prepared via an oxidative dimerization catalyzed by a laccase from Trametes versicolor, followed by a treatment with the organic oxidant DDQ. This methodology can be useful for the synthesis of various 2,3-diarylbenzo[b]furans derivates, a class of compound that exhibits a wide range of biological activities

The Site of Lesion in Hearing Loss: Advances in Otoneuroradiology

The last decade has witnessed significant advances in imaging of the middle and inner ear and the auditory pathways. High resolution computerized tomography (CT) scanners and new magnetic resonance (MR) sequences have been implemented in clinical practice as valuable supportive tools for the Audiologist in the identification of the site of lesion and for the surgical planning by the Otologist. The purpose of this chapter is to review the current advanced methods of neuroradiological evaluation of patients with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), either congenital or acquired, especially focusing on the assessment of candidates to cochlear implantation (CI), with plenty of explicative images

Continuous enzyme-coupled assay of phosphate- or pyrophosphate-releasing enzymes

A coupled enzyme assay able to monitor the kinetics of reactions catalyzed by phosphate- or pyrophosphate-releasing enzymes is presented here. The assay is based on the concerted action of inorganic pyrophosphatase (PPase), purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNPase), and xanthine oxidase (XOD). In the presence of phosphate, PNPase catalyzes the phosphorolysis of inosine, generating hypoxanthine, which is oxidized to uric acid by XOD. The uric acid accordingly formed can be spectrophotometrically monitored at 293 nm, taking advantage of a molar extinction coefficient which is independent of pH between 6 and 9. The coupled assay was tested using DNA polymerases as a model system. The activity of Klenow enzyme was quantitatively determined, and it was found in agreement with the corresponding activity determined by traditional methods. Moreover, the continuous coupled assay was used to determine K-m and V-max of Klenow enzyme, yielding values in good agreement with previous observations. Finally, the coupled assay was also used to determine the activity of partially purified DNA polymerases, revealing its potential use to monitor purification of phosphate- or pyrophosphate-releasing enzymes

Investigating a Benzofurane Derivative Binding Site on Human CLC-5

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Chromosomal loci important for cotyledon opening under UV-B in Arabidopsis thaliana

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Understanding of the genetic architecture of plant UV-B responses allows extensive targeted testing of candidate genes or regions, along with combinations of those genes, for placement in metabolic or signal transduction pathways.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Composite interval mapping and single-marker analysis methods were used to identify significant loci for cotyledon opening under UV-B in four sets of recombinant inbred lines. In addition, loci important for canalization (stability) of cotyledon opening were detected in two mapping populations. One candidate locus contained the gene <it>HY5</it>. Mutant analysis demonstrated that HY5 was required for UV-B-specific cotyledon opening.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Structured mapping populations provide key information on the degree of complexity in the genetic control of UV-B-induced cotyledon opening in Arabidopsis. The loci identified using quantitative trait analysis methods are useful for follow-up testing of candidate genes.</p

Turning technological relatedness into industrial strategy: The productivity effects of Smart Specialisation in Europe

In this paper we explore the impact of place-based innovation policy in Europe. We focus on the effects of Smart Specialisation strategies on the labour productivity of regional economies. We design an analytical framework that takes into account the entrepreneurial discovery process through which the policy is implemented, and connect the technological relatedness of regions with their specialisation choices. We use an IV estimation approach capable of handling endogeneity problems, and apply it to an extensive dataset of 102 NUTS2 regions extracted from the European Commission Smart Specialisation Portal. The results show that Smart Specialisation strategies increase labour productivity as long as the priorities are set in sectors related to pre-existing technological capabilities, indicating the fundamental importance of path-dependency in diversification choices. The findings deepen our understanding of regional development and innovation strategies, and have relevant implications for the implementation of appropriate policy instruments