A role for Phospholipase D in Drosophila embryonic cellularization

BACKGROUND: Cellularization of the Drosophila embryo is an unusually synchronous form of cytokinesis in which polarized membrane extension proceeds in part through incorporation of new membrane via fusion of apically-translocated Golgi-derived vesicles. RESULTS: We describe here involvement of the signaling enzyme Phospholipase D (Pld) in regulation of this developmental step. Functional analysis using gene targeting revealed that cellularization is hindered by the loss of Pld, resulting frequently in early embryonic developmental arrest. Mechanistically, chronic Pld deficiency causes abnormal Golgi structure and secretory vesicle trafficking. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that Pld functions to promote trafficking of Golgi-derived fusion-competent vesicles during cellularization

Efecto del propionato de calcio en la fermentación in vitro de dietas a base de sorgo

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of calcium propionate (CaPr) on in vitro ruminal fermentation using a factorial arrangement 2 x 2 evaluating CaPr (0 vs. 1%) and grain level (55 vs. 65%). There was a CaPr x Grain interaction in the volume of gas produced (V; p = 0.04). Addition of CaPr prolonged Lag time (1.4 vs. 1.04 h; P<0.01), and increasing the grain level also prolonged Lag time (1.56 vs. 0.89 h; p < 0.03) and gas production rate (0.046 vs. 0.041 h-1; P<0.04). However, there were no differences in CH4, CO2, acetate, propionate and butyrate concentrations. Therefore, the addition of calcium propionate in a diet with 55 or 66% of grain increased Lag phase but it is not affected fermentation pattern or methane losses.El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar in vitro el efecto de la adición de propionato de Ca (PrCa). El diseño experimental fue completamente al azar con un arreglo factorial 2x2; PrCa (0 o 1%) y grano (55 o 65%). Se encontró diferencias (p>0,05) entre tratamientos para volumen de gas, pero la tasa de producción de gas no fue diferente (p<0,05), se observó un efecto por parte del grano (p<0,04). La adición de PrCa prolongó el tiempo Lag (1,4 vs. 1.04 h; P<0,01) y aumentando el nivel de grano también prolongó la fase Lag (1,56 vs. 0,89 h; P<0,03) y la tasa de producción de gas (0,046 vs. 0,041 h-1; P <0,04). Sin embargo, no hubo diferencias en la concentración de CH4 y CO2, ni de propionato, acetato y butirato. La adición de propionato de calcio a una dieta con 55 o 65% de grano prolonga la fase Lag pero no afecta el patrón de fermentación o las pérdidas de metano.Fil: Miranda, Luis Alberto. Universidad Autónoma Chapingo (México)Fil: Lee-Rangel, Héctor Aarón. Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. Facultad de AgronomíaFil: Mendoza-Martínez, Germán David.Fil: Crosby-Galván, María Magdalena. Colegio de Postgraduados. Campus Montecillo (México)Fil: Relling, Alejandro Enrique. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias VeterinariasFil: Pinos-Rodríguez, Juan Manuel. Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. Facultad de AgronomíaFil: Rojo Rubio, Rolando . Universidad Autónoma del Estado de MéxicoFil: González Hernandez, Milagros. Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. Facultad de Agronomí

Planeamiento estratégico de la Provincia de Huallaga

El plan estratégico para la Provincia de Huallaga tiene como objetivo establecer las estrategias que le permitan ser reconocida como un referente de desarrollo de una economía sostenible y de alta relación con la biodiversidad, para lograr, en el largo plazo, ser una provincia social y económicamente competitiva, donde sus habitantes cuenten con servicios de agua, saneamiento, comunicaciones, salud y educación de calidad. Para conseguir estos objetivos se han replanteado actividades como el turismo y la agroindustria, de manera que sirvan de impulso y contribuyan a mejorar las deficiencias en infraestructura que hoy día se constituyen en una de las mayores debilidades para el crecimiento de la zona. Para la elaboración del presente estudio se utilizó el modelo de planeamiento estratégico diseñado por el profesor Fernando D’Alessio Ipinza. Luego de la evaluación externa e interna y de acuerdo con la visión de la provincia proyectada al año 2035, se establecieron 10 Objetivos de Largo Plazo (OLP). Posteriormente, con la elaboración de la matriz de Fortalezas, Oportunidades, Debilidades y Amenazas (FODA) se generaron 18 estrategias y después de un análisis de las diferentes matrices que plantea la metodología empleada, se retuvieron 7 estrategias. Asimismo, para alcanzar los OLP se han planteado 46 Objetivos de Corto Plazo (OCP) y 11 políticas que corresponden a cada una de las estrategias retenidas. Finalmente, a pesar de la situación actual de la provincia, se considera que existe un gran potencial de desarrollo, ya que, además de contar con una importante diversidad biológica, también posee como ventaja comparativa el complejo arqueológico del Gran Saposoa, el cual se convertirá en la principal ventaja competitiva y en el ingrediente principal para desarrollar un turismo arqueológico y cultural, que se complementará con el turismo ecológico impulsando un nuevo clúster de turismo en el norte del país, ampliando la oferta nacional a diferentes zonas geográficas y culturalesThe aim of the strategic plan for the Huallaga Province is to determine the strategies that will enable it to be recognized as a development referent of a sustainable economy that is highly related to biodiversity, in order to become in the long run a socially and economically competitive province, where the people have all the basic services, including running water, sewage, good communications, health care and quality education. In order to achieve these objectives, tourism and agro-industrial activities have been reassessed so as to be used as a springboard and contribute to the overcoming of the deficiencies in infrastructure that today constitute one of the main shortcomings for the growth of the area. To carry out this study, the strategic planning model designed by professor Fernando D’Alessio Ipinza was used. After doing the external and internal evaluation and according to the province’s vision projected to the year 2035, ten Long-Term Objectives (LTO) were set up. Then, after analyzing the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT matrix), 18 strategies were generated, which were shortlisted to 7 after the application of the various matrixes proposed by the methodology used. Likewise, in order to achieve the LTOs 46 Short-Term Objectives (STO) were established, as well as 11 policies that correspond to each of the strategies retained. Finally, despite the province’s current situation, it was concluded that there is a great potential for development, since, besides having a significant biological diversity, the Gran Saposoa archeological site constitutes the main comparative advantage and will become the main competitive advantage and the major ingredient in the development of archeological and cultural tourism that will complement the ecological tourism boosting a new tourism cluster in the north of the country by spreading the national offer to different geographical and cultural zonesTesi

Very high energy proton peak flux model

Solar energetic particles (SEPs) pose a serious radiation hazard to spacecraft and astronauts. The highest energy SEPs are a significant threat even in heavily shielded applications. We present a new probabilistic model of very high energy differential peak proton fluxes. The model is based on GOES/HEPAD observations between 1986 and 2018, i.e., covering very nearly three complete solar cycles. The SEP event list for the model was defined using a statistical criterion derived by setting the possibility of false detection of an event to 1%. The peak flux distributions were calculated for the interpolated energies 405 MeV, 500 MeV and 620 MeV, and modelled with exponentially cut off power law functions. The HEPAD data were cleaned and corrected using a "bow-tie" method which is based on the response functions of the HEPAD channels P8-P10 found in the instrument calibration reports. The results of the model are available to the Space Weather community as a web-based tool at the ESA's Space Situational Awareness Programme Space Weather Service Network

Weight-related quality of life in spanish obese subjects suitable for bariatric surgery is lower than in their North American counterparts: a case–control study

Multicenter study[Abstract] Background: Obesity impairs quality of life, but the perception of the impairment could be different from one country to another. The purpose was to compare weight-related quality of life (QOL) between cohorts from Spain and North America. Methods: A cross-sectional case-control study was performed between two populations. Four hundred Spanish and 400 North American obese subjects suitable for bariatric surgery closely matched for race, gender, age, and body mass index (BMI) were included. Two non-obese control groups matched for gender, age, and BMI from each population were also evaluated (n = 400 in each group). The participants completed the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite (IWQOL-Lite) questionnaire, a measure of weight-related QOL. Results: Spanish morbidly obese patients showed poorer QOL than their North American counterparts in physical function, sexual life, work, and total score. By contrast, Spanish non-obese control subjects reported better QOL in all domains than their North American counterparts. Women, both in Spain and North America, reported reduced QOL compared to men on the domain of self-esteem. In addition, North American women reported reduced QOL on the sexual life domain compared to men. BMI correlated negatively with all domains of QOL except for self-esteem in both national groups. Conclusions: Spanish obese subjects suitable for bariatric surgery report poorer weight-related quality of life than their North American counterparts, and obese women, regardless of nationality, perceive a reduced quality of life compared to men

Efecto del propionato de calcio en la fermentación in vitro de dietas a base de sorgo

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar in vitro el efecto de la adición de propionato de Ca (PrCa). El diseño experimental fue completamente al azar con un arreglo factorial 2x2; PrCa (0 o 1%) y grano (55 o 65%). Se encontró diferencias (p0,05) entre tratamientos para volumen de gas, pero la tasa de producción de gas no fue diferente (p0,05), se observó un efecto por parte del grano (p0,04). La adición de PrCa prolongó el tiempo Lag (1,4 vs. 1.04 h; P0,01) y aumentando el nivel de grano también prolongó la fase Lag (1,56 vs. 0,89 h; P0,03) y la tasa de producción de gas (0,046 vs. 0,041 h-1; P 0,04). Sin embargo, no hubo diferencias en la concentración de CH4 y CO2, ni de propionato, acetato y butirato. La adición de propionato de calcio a una dieta con 55 o 65% de grano prolonga la fase Lag pero no afecta el patrón de fermentación o las pérdidas de metano.The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of calcium propionate (CaPr) on in vitro ruminal fermentation using a factorial arrangement 2 x 2 evaluating CaPr (0 vs. 1%) and grain level (55 vs. 65%). There was a CaPr x Grain interaction in the volume of gas produced (V; p = 0.04). Addition of CaPr prolonged Lag time (1.4 vs. 1.04 h; P<0.01), and increasing the grain level also prolonged Lag time (1.56 vs. 0.89 h; p < 0.03) and gas production rate (0.046 vs. 0.041 h-1; P<0.04). However, there were no differences in CH4, CO2, acetate, propionate and butyrate concentrations. Therefore, the addition of calcium propionate in a diet with 55 or 66% of grain increased Lag phase but it is not affected fermentation pattern or methane losses.Instituto de Genética Veterinari

Sexual behavior and drug consumption among young adults in a shantytown in Lima, Peru

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Risky sexual behaviors of young adults have received increasing attention during the last decades. However, few studies have focused on the sexual behavior of young adults in shantytowns of Latin America. Specifically, studies on the association between sexual behaviors and other risk factors for sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV/AIDS transmission, such as the consumption of illicit drugs or alcohol are scarce in this specific context.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study participants were 393 men and 400 women between 18 and 30 years of age, from a shantytown in Lima, Peru. Data were obtained via survey: one section applied by a trained research assistant, and a self-reporting section. Logistic regression was used to estimate associations between use of any illicit drug, high-risk sexual behaviors and reported STI symptoms, adjusting for alcohol consumption level and various socio-demographic characteristics.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among men, age of sexual debut was lower, number of lifetime sexual partners was higher, and there were higher risk types of sexual partners, compared to women. Though consistent condom use with casual partners was low in both groups, reported condom use at last intercourse was higher among men than women. Also, a lifetime history of illicit drug consumption decreased the probability of condom use at last sexual intercourse by half. Among men, the use of illicit drugs doubled the probability of intercourse with a casual partner during the last year and tripled the probability of reported STI symptoms.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Drug consumption is associated with high-risk sexual behaviors and reported STI symptoms in a Lima shantytown after controlling for alcohol consumption level. Development of prevention programs for risky sexual behaviors, considering gender differences, is discussed.</p

Comparison of adjuvant gemcitabine and capecitabine with gemcitabine monotherapy in patients with resected pancreatic cancer (ESPAC-4): a multicentre, open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND: The ESPAC-3 trial showed that adjuvant gemcitabine is the standard of care based on similar survival to and less toxicity than adjuvant 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid in patients with resected pancreatic cancer. Other clinical trials have shown better survival and tumour response with gemcitabine and capecitabine than with gemcitabine alone in advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. We aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine and capecitabine compared with gemcitabine monotherapy for resected pancreatic cancer. METHODS: We did a phase 3, two-group, open-label, multicentre, randomised clinical trial at 92 hospitals in England, Scotland, Wales, Germany, France, and Sweden. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older and had undergone complete macroscopic resection for ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (R0 or R1 resection). We randomly assigned patients (1:1) within 12 weeks of surgery to receive six cycles of either 1000 mg/m(2) gemcitabine alone administered once a week for three of every 4 weeks (one cycle) or with 1660 mg/m(2) oral capecitabine administered for 21 days followed by 7 days' rest (one cycle). Randomisation was based on a minimisation routine, and country was used as a stratification factor. The primary endpoint was overall survival, measured as the time from randomisation until death from any cause, and assessed in the intention-to-treat population. Toxicity was analysed in all patients who received trial treatment. This trial was registered with the EudraCT, number 2007-004299-38, and ISRCTN, number ISRCTN96397434. FINDINGS: Of 732 patients enrolled, 730 were included in the final analysis. Of these, 366 were randomly assigned to receive gemcitabine and 364 to gemcitabine plus capecitabine. The Independent Data and Safety Monitoring Committee requested reporting of the results after there were 458 (95%) of a target of 480 deaths. The median overall survival for patients in the gemcitabine plus capecitabine group was 28·0 months (95% CI 23·5-31·5) compared with 25·5 months (22·7-27·9) in the gemcitabine group (hazard ratio 0·82 [95% CI 0·68-0·98], p=0·032). 608 grade 3-4 adverse events were reported by 226 of 359 patients in the gemcitabine plus capecitabine group compared with 481 grade 3-4 adverse events in 196 of 366 patients in the gemcitabine group. INTERPRETATION: The adjuvant combination of gemcitabine and capecitabine should be the new standard of care following resection for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Sexual uses of alcohol and drugs and the associated health risks: A cross sectional study of young people in nine European cities

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Young people in European countries are experiencing high levels of alcohol and drug use and escalating levels of sexually transmitted infections. Individually these represent major public health priorities. Understanding of the association between sex and substance use, and specifically the strategic roles for which young people utilise substances to facilitate sexual activity, remains limited.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Respondent driven sampling methodology was used in nine European cities to survey 1,341 16–35 year olds representing youth and younger adults who routinely engage in nightlife. Participants self-completed questionnaires, designed to gather demographic, social, and behavioural data on historic and current substance use and sexual behaviour.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Respondents reported strategic use of specific substances for different sexual purposes. Substances differed significantly in the purposes for which each was deployed (e.g. 28.6% of alcohol users use it to facilitate sexual encounters; 26.2% of cocaine users use it to prolong sex) with user demographics also relating to levels of sexual use (e.g. higher levels of: ecstasy use by males to prolong sex; cocaine use by single individuals to enhance sensation and arousal). Associations between substance use and sex started at a young age, with alcohol, cannabis, cocaine or ecstasy use before age 16 all being associated with having had sex before the age of 16 (odds ratios, 3.47, 4.19, 5.73, 9.35 respectively). However, sexes differed and substance use under 16 years was associated with a proportionately greater increase in early sex amongst girls. Respondents' current drug use was associated with having multiple sexual partners. Thus, for instance, regular cocaine users (c.f. never users) were over five times more likely to have had five or more sexual partners in the last 12 months or have paid for sex.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>An epidemic of recreational drug use and binge drinking exposes millions of young Europeans to routine consumption of substances which alter their sexual decisions and increase their chances of unsafe and regretted sex. For many, substance use has become an integral part of their strategic approach to sex, locking them into continued use. Tackling substances with both physiological and psychological links to sex requires approaching substance use and sexual behaviour in the same way that individuals experience them; as part of the same social process.</p

Revealing the Functions of the Transketolase Enzyme Isoforms in Rhodopseudomonas palustris Using a Systems Biology Approach

BACKGROUND: Rhodopseudomonas palustris (R. palustris) is a purple non-sulfur anoxygenic phototrophic bacterium that belongs to the class of proteobacteria. It is capable of absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide and converting it to biomass via the process of photosynthesis and the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle. Transketolase is a key enzyme involved in the CBB cycle. Here, we reveal the functions of transketolase isoforms I and II in R. palustris using a systems biology approach. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: By measuring growth ability, we found that transketolase could enhance the autotrophic growth and biomass production of R. palustris. Microarray and real-time quantitative PCR revealed that transketolase isoforms I and II were involved in different carbon metabolic pathways. In addition, immunogold staining demonstrated that the two transketolase isoforms had different spatial localizations: transketolase I was primarily associated with the intracytoplasmic membrane (ICM) but transketolase II was mostly distributed in the cytoplasm. Comparative proteomic analysis and network construction of transketolase over-expression and negative control (NC) strains revealed that protein folding, transcriptional regulation, amino acid transport and CBB cycle-associated carbon metabolism were enriched in the transketolase I over-expressed strain. In contrast, ATP synthesis, carbohydrate transport, glycolysis-associated carbon metabolism and CBB cycle-associated carbon metabolism were enriched in the transketolase II over-expressed strain. Furthermore, ATP synthesis assays showed a significant increase in ATP synthesis in the transketolase II over-expressed strain. A PEPCK activity assay showed that PEPCK activity was higher in transketolase over-expressed strains than in the negative control strain. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Taken together, our results indicate that the two isoforms of transketolase in R. palustris could affect photoautotrophic growth through both common and divergent metabolic mechanisms