La imagen de célula: el caso de las fibras musculares representadas por alumnos universitarios

En las ciencias morfológicas las imágenes son indispensables para el desarrollo del conocimiento conceptual y operan como elementos significantes. En el caso de la enseñanza de la histología, las representaciones gráficas tienen tanta relevancia como las descripciones escritas y pueden emplearse para evaluar la comprensión de los distintos temas. El presente trabajo se propone analizar las representaciones de las células musculares humanas (lisas y estriadas) como parte de un examen parcial de un grupo de alumnos universitarios. Se clasifican las respuestas en tres categorías respecto de la naturaleza del obstáculo encontrado (si concierne al nivel de organización, al concepto del tipo de célula, o a inconvenientes en la noción de las dimensiones) y se plantean explicaciones posibles para los resultados obtenidos.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Varietalidad y etiquetado: Porcentaje mínimo de cortes de vinos wine varietals and labelling

Se evaluaron 95 vinos experimentales, cosecha 2016, tanto en su estado puro (100%) como a distintos porcentajes de combinación (90; 85; 80; 75; 60%), con el fin determinar el porcentaje mínimo de una variedad que debe tenerse en cuenta en un corte de vino etiquetado como “variedad única”. Los respectivos cortes de las variedades bajo estudio (Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonarda, Syrah, Merlot, Tempranillo, y Aspirant Bouchet) fueron supeditados al Análisis Descriptivo Cualitativo (se evaluaron 6 atributos olfativos/gustativos), y al Análisis Discriminativo Comparativo (2 repeticiones y 14 determinaciones), contando con un panel de expertos de tipo descriptivo (N = 7). Finalmente los datos sensoriales fueron analizados a través de la Prueba del Signo con diseño de muestras apareadas, a través del cual, la mayoría de los cortes de vinos por debajo del 85% mostraron diferencias significativas (P < 0.05) con respecto al vino patrón (100%). Esto es, se identifica organolépticamente aquella variedad que se encuentra en mayor proporción, cuando el vino está constituido con un mínimo de 85% de dicha variedad

A disordered region retains the full protease inhibitor activity and the capacity to induce CD8+ T cells in vivo of the oral vaccine adjuvant U-Omp19

U-Omp19 is a bacterial protease inhibitor from Brucella abortus that inhibits gastrointestinal and lysosomal proteases, enhancing the half-life and immunogenicity of co-delivered antigens. U-Omp19 is a novel adjuvant that is in preclinical development with various vaccine candidates. However, the molecular mechanisms by which it exerts these functions and the structural elements responsible for these activities remain unknown. In this work, a structural, biochemical, and functional characterization of U-Omp19 is presented. Dynamic features of U-Omp19 in solution by NMR and the crystal structure of its C-terminal domain are described. The protein consists of a compact C-terminal beta-barrel domain and a flexible N-terminal domain. The latter domain behaves as an intrinsically disordered protein and retains the full protease inhibitor activity against pancreatic elastase, papain and pepsin. This domain also retains the capacity to induce CD8+ T cells in vivo of U-Omp19. This information may lead to future rationale vaccine designs using U-Omp19 as an adjuvant to deliver other proteins or peptides in oral formulations against infectious diseases, as well as to design strategies to incorporate modifications in its structure that may improve its adjuvanticity.Fil: Darriba, María Laura. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Pueblas Castro, Celeste. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Coria, Lorena M. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Bruno, Laura. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Cerutti, María Laura. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Chemes, Lucía B. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Cassataro, Juliana. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Pasquevich, Karina A. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Darriba, María Laura. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (EByN); Argentina.Fil: Pueblas Castro, Celeste. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (EByN); Argentina.Fil: Coria, Lorena M. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (EByN); Argentina.Fil: Bruno, Laura. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (EByN); Argentina.Fil: Cerutti, María Laura. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (EByN); Argentina.Fil: Chemes, Lucía B. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (EByN); Argentina.Fil: Cassataro, Juliana. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (EByN); Argentina.Fil: Pasquevich, Karina A. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (EByN); Argentina.Fil: Otero, Lisandro H. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Plataforma Argentina de Biología Estructural y Metabolómica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Klinke, Sebastián. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Plataforma Argentina de Biología Estructural y Metabolómica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Rasia, Rodolfo M. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario. Plataforma Argentina de Biología Estructural y Metabolómica; Argentina

Dinosaur Speed Demon: The Caudal Musculature of Carnotaurus sastrei and Implications for the Evolution of South American Abelisaurids

In the South American abelisaurids Carnotaurus sastrei, Aucasaurus garridoi, and, to a lesser extent Skorpiovenator bustingorryi, the anterior caudal ribs project at a high dorsolateral inclination and have interlocking lateral tips. This unique morphology facilitated the expansion of the caudal hypaxial musculature at the expense of the epaxial musculature. Distinct ridges on the ventrolateral surfaces of the caudal ribs of Aucasaurus garridoi are interpreted as attachment scars from the intra caudofemoralis/ilio-ischiocaudalis septa, and confirm that the M. caudofemoralis of advanced South American abelisaurids originated from a portion of the caudal ribs. Digital muscle models indicate that, relative to its overall body size, Carnotaurus sastrei had a substantially larger M. caudofemoralis than any other theropod yet studied. In most non-avian theropods, as in many extant sauropsids, the M. caudofemoralis served as the primary femoral retractor muscle during the locomotive power stroke. This large investment in the M. caudofemoralis suggests that Carnotaurus sastrei had the potential for great cursorial abilities, particularly short-burst sprinting. However, the tightly interlocking morphology of the anterior caudal vertebrae implies a reduced ability to make tight turns. Examination of these vertebral traits in evolutionary context reveals a progressive sequence of increasing caudofemoral mass and tail rigidity among the Abelisauridae of South America

Unlipidated Outer Membrane Protein Omp16 (U-Omp16) from Brucella spp. as Nasal Adjuvant Induces a Th1 Immune Response and Modulates the Th2 Allergic Response to Cow's Milk Proteins

The discovery of novel mucosal adjuvants will help to develop new formulations to control infectious and allergic diseases. In this work we demonstrate that U-Omp16 from Brucella spp. delivered by the nasal route (i.n.) induced an inflammatory immune response in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and lung tissues. Nasal co-administration of U-Omp16 with the model antigen (Ag) ovalbumin (OVA) increased the amount of Ag in lung tissues and induced OVA-specific systemic IgG and T helper (Th) 1 immune responses. The usefulness of U-Omp16 was also assessed in a mouse model of food allergy. U-Omp16 i.n. administration during sensitization ameliorated the hypersensitivity responses of sensitized mice upon oral exposure to Cow's Milk Protein (CMP), decreased clinical signs, reduced anti-CMP IgE serum antibodies and modulated the Th2 response in favor of Th1 immunity. Thus, U-Omp16 could be used as a broad Th1 mucosal adjuvant for different Ag formulations.Laboratorio de Investigaciones del Sistema Inmun

Discovery of new colonies by Sentinel2 reveals good and bad news for emperor

The distribution of emperor penguins is circumpolar, with 54 colony locations currently reported of which 50 are currently extant as of 2019. Here we report on eight newly discovered colonies and confirm the rediscovery of three breeding sites, only previously reported in the era before Very High Resolution satellite imagery was available, making a total of 61 breeding locations. This represents an increase of ~20% in the number of breeding sites, but, as most of the colonies appear to be small, they may only increase the total population by around 5–10%. The discoveries have been facilitated by the use of Sentinel2 satellite imagery, which has a higher resolution and more efficient search mechanism than the Landsat data previously used to search for colonies. The small size of these new colonies indicates that considerations of reproductive output in relation to metabolic rate during huddling is likely to be of interest. Some of the colonies exist in offshore habitats, something not previously reported for emperor penguins. Comparison with recent modelling results show that the geographic locations of all the newly found colonies are in areas likely to be highly vulnerable under business‐as‐usual greenhouse gas emissions scenarios, suggesting that population decreases for the species will be greater than previously thought

Soil Fungal Diversity and Ecology Assessed Using DNA Metabarcoding along a Deglaciated Chronosequence at Clearwater Mesa, James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula

We studied the fungal diversity present in soils sampled along a deglaciated chronosequence from para- to periglacial conditions on James Ross Island, north-east Antarctic Peninsula, using DNA metabarcoding. A total of 88 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were detected, dominated by the phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and Mortierellomycota. The uncommon phyla Chytridiomycota, Rozellomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Zoopagomycota and Basidiobolomycota were detected. Unknown fungi identified at higher hierarchical taxonomic levels (Fungal sp. 1, Fungal sp. 2, Spizellomycetales sp. and Rozellomycotina sp.) and taxa identified at generic and specific levels (Mortierella sp., Pseudogymnoascus sp., Mortierella alpina, M. turficola, Neoascochyta paspali, Penicillium sp. and Betamyces sp.) dominated the assemblages. In general, the assemblages displayed high diversity and richness, and moderate dominance. Only 12 of the fungal ASVs were detected in all chronosequence soils sampled. Sequences representing saprophytic, pathogenic and symbiotic fungi were detected. Based on the sequence diversity obtained, Clearwater Mesa soils contain a complex fungal community, including the presence of fungal groups generally considered rare in Antarctica, with dominant taxa recognized as cold-adapted cosmopolitan, endemic, saprotrophic and phytopathogenic fungi. Clearwater Mesa ecosystems are impacted by the effects of regional climatic changes, and may provide a natural observatory to understand climate change effects over time

Evidence for Avian Intrathoracic Air Sacs in a New Predatory Dinosaur from Argentina

Background: Living birds possess a unique heterogeneous pulmonary system composed of a rigid, dorsally-anchored lung and several compliant air sacs that operate as bellows, driving inspired air through the lung. Evidence from the fossil record for the origin and evolution of this system is extremely limited, because lungs do not fossilize and because the bellow-like air sacs in living birds only rarely penetrate (pneumatize) skeletal bone and thus leave a record of their presence. Methodology/Principal Findings: We describe a new predatory dinosaur from Upper Cretaceous rocks in Argentina, Aerosteon riocoloradensis gen. et sp. nov., that exhibits extreme pneumatization of skeletal bone, including pneumatic hollowing of the furcula and ilium. In living birds, these two bones are pneumatized by diverticulae of air sacs (clavicular, abdominal) that are involved in pulmonary ventilation. We also describe several pneumatized gastralia (‘‘stomach ribs’’), which suggest that diverticulae of the air sac system were present in surface tissues of the thorax. Conclusions/Significance: We present a four-phase model for the evolution of avian air sacs and costosternal-driven lung ventilation based on the known fossil record of theropod dinosaurs and osteological correlates in extant birds: (1) Phase I—Elaboration of paraxial cervical air sacs in basal theropods no later than the earliest Late Triassic. (2) Phase II—Differentiation of avian ventilatory air sacs, including both cranial (clavicular air sac) and caudal (abdominal air sac) divisions, in basal tetanurans during the Jurassic. A heterogeneous respiratory tract wit

Policy design for the Anthropocene

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Nature Research via the DOI in this recordToday, more than ever, ‘Spaceship Earth’ is an apt metaphor as we chart the boundaries for a safe planet1. Social scientists both analyse why society courts disaster by approaching or even overstepping these boundaries and try to design suitable policies to avoid these perils. Because the threats of transgressing planetary boundaries are global, long-run, uncertain and interconnected, they must be analysed together to avoid conflicts and take advantage of synergies. To obtain policies that are effective at both international and local levels requires careful analysis of the underlying mechanisms across scientific disciplines and approaches, and must take politics into account. In this Perspective, we examine the complexities of designing policies that can keep Earth within the biophysical limits favourable to human life.Stockholm Resilience CentreBECC - Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing ClimateMistra Carbon Exi