Immunochemical study of a transforming growth factor-α-related protein in the chicken kidney

Immunochemical study of a transforming growth factor-α-related protein in the chicken kidney. A number of polypeptides are involved in renal growth and physiology. Both transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) protein and mRNA are expressed in kidney cells during embryonic and adult stages, and exert mitogenic activity on kidney cells in culture. We studied the immunolocalization of a TGF-α-related protein at the ultrastructural level and found it in the basolateral membranes of dark cells from distal tubules of the chicken kidney. By Western blotting techniques, we identified a protein complex composed of at least two TGF-α immunoreactive subunits of 40 and 88 kDa, respectively. Both subunits were sensitive to elastase digestion, and released TGF-α immunoreactive products. In addition, TGF-α immunoreaction was found in primary culture of chicken kidney cells. These findings suggest that the TGF-α-related protein complex plays a very specific role in proliferation and/or differentiation of kidney cells

Shallow Lakes of the Mexican Central Plateau: Assessing their Health Condition with Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Sentinel Organisms

In the Mexican Central Plateau (MCP), due to their long history of geologic instability, numerous fluvial systems that were blocked formed extensive shallow lakes. Environmental conditions of this area have favored the agricultural land use and the settlement of great industrial corridors and cities. Human activities in MCP are largely sustained by intense water use that has led to a high deterioration in the water bodies of this area. We analyze the water quality of two selected shallow lakes of the MCP: Yuriria Lake and Xochimilco Lake and early warning biomarkers of native sentinel species of each lake. Both studied lakes are influenced by the input of complex mixtures of pollutants. We assess water quality index and a set of oxidative stress biomarkers in native endemic species of each lake. Results showed that the input of xenobiotics and changes in the periods of dry and rains in the shallow lakes studied provoke a stronger response in sentinel organisms because dilution effects are minimal in a small water column. Furthermore, resuspension of sediments in shallow lakes can release pollutants to the water column that could exert damage to the health condition of the aquatic biota compromising the survival of endemic sensitive species

Calibrating and Validating the Biomonitoring Working Party (BMWP) Index for the Bioassessment of Water Quality in Neotropical Streams

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Calibrating and Validating the Biomonitoring Working Party (BMWP) Index for the Bioassessment of Water Quality in Neotropical Streams

The Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) is among the most used bioassessment indices for aquatic ecosystems quality assessment, which assigns scores to each macroinvertebrate taxa according to their sensitivity to organic pollution. However, BMWP scores must be calibrated to each geographical and ecological conditions. In this study, we obtain statistically derived scores of sensitivity for macroinvertebrates taxa from Neotropical Mexican rivers, Apatlaco and Chalma-Tembembe rivers, Balsas Basin. We obtained water samples and aquatic macroinvertebrates in four sampling campaigns (dry and rainy seasons). Physicochemical parameters and the abundances of the aquatic macroinvertebrates were used for the BMWP index calibration, which was performed in steps obtaining: the physicochemical quality index (Pcq), incorporation of abundances classes of macroinvertebrates taxa in the corresponding Pcq interval and the determination of bioindication values for each macroinvertebrate family. The BMWP calibrated index was validated and tested for the geographical range extension. The BMWP scores for Chalma-Tembembe River (located in agricultural areas) showed bad polluted to regular and moderated polluted categories. The urban river zone of Apatlaco River showed: bad, very polluted to very bad categories. The BMWP calibrated is a suitable biomonitoring tool, allowing the detection of those zones that needs urgently a management and recovery plan

Measurement of the effective B-S(0) -> K+K- lifetime

A measurement of the effective B0 s → K + K − lifetime is presented using approximately 37 pb−1 of data collected by LHCb during 2010. This quantity can be used to put constraints on contributions from processes beyond the Standard Model in the B0 s meson system and is determined by two complementary approaches a

First observation of Bs→Ds2∗+Xμν decays

Using data collected with the LHCb detector in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV, the semileptonic decays B0 s → D+ s Xμ−ν and B0 s → D0 K + Xμ−ν are detected. Two struc- tures are observed in the D0 K + mass spectrum at masses consistent with the known D s1(2536)+ and D∗ s2(2573)+ mesons. The measured branching fractions relative to the total B0 s semileptonic rate are B(B0 s → D∗+ s2 Xμ−ν)/B(B0 s → Xμ−ν) = (3.3 ± 1.0 ± 0.4)%, and B(B0 s → D+ s1 Xμ−ν)/B(B0 s → Xμ−ν) = (5.4 ± 1.2 ± 0.5)%, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. This is the first observation of the D∗+ s2 state in B0 s decays; we also measure its mass and widt

The differentiated effects of CSR actions in the service industry

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to attempt to explain why the impact of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives may be different and/or more important in service firms compared to manufacturing firms. CSR is becoming a common strategy, hence its extensive research. Central to it is the analysis of the effect of CSR on a firm’s performance, whose outcome depends on firm-specific and industry-related factors. Design/methodology/approach – The event study methodology is applied to all the 248 companies that have ever traded on the Spanish Stock Market between 1990 and 2007. A regression analysis examines potential different effects of CSR on service and goods firms. Findings – The results show that CSR activities have a positive impact on firm performance that is higher for service firms than for manufacturing firms. Actions related to the environment, responsible labor relationships and good corporate governance are especially important in the service context. Research limitations/implications – This research is focused on shareholders’ performance, but it does not consider other stakeholders, such as real consumer behavior or employees’ commitment and productivity. Practical implications – Service firms are likely to gain from focusing on some CSR activities (environment, employees and good corporate governance) and should use their responsible behavior as a valuable tool for public relations and differentiation in the market. Originality/value – This article is the first attempt to empirically test and explain why the relationship between CSR and firm performance may be different (more positive) for service vs manufacturing firms.The authors would like to thank the Spanish Ministry of Science for financially supporting this research under Contract No. ECO2008-05487

Violencia intrafamiliar en el municipio de Apía entre junio de 2008 y junio de 2010

T 362.829 2 A94;40 p.Principales causas sociales, económicas y culturales que generaron la violencia intrafamiliar y los distintos efectos causados al núcleo familiar en el municipio de Apía durante el mes de junio de 2008 y el mes de junio de 2010, así como las soluciones que la misma comunidad propone para acabar con este flagelo que día a día viene afectando los hogares no solo apianos sino de todo el mundo.Universidad Libre de Pereir

Affective Profiles and Anxiety or Non-Anxiety-Related Reasons for School Refusal Behavior: Latent Profile Analysis in Spanish Adolescents

Little has been studied on the relationship between affect and school problems related with attendance. This study aims to identify different affective profiles and to determine whether these profiles differ from each other based on the four functional conditions of school refusal behavior. Participants comprised 1,816 Spanish adolescents aged 15–18 years (M = 16.39; SD = 1.05). The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children-Short Form and the School Refusal Assessment Scale-Revised for Children (SRAS-R-C) were administered. Latent profile analysis revealed five affective profiles: low affective profile, self-fulfilling profile, low positive affect profile, self-destructive profile, and high affective profile. The self-destructive profile revealed the highest average scores in the first three factors of the SRAS-R-C, whereas the high affective profile reached the highest average score in the fourth factor. On the contrary, the self-fulfilling profile obtained the lowest average scores in the first two factors of the SRAS-R-C, whereas the low affective profile revealed the lowest average scores in the last two factors. Findings suggest the relevance of developing more adaptative affective profiles, such as the self-fulfilling profile, which would contribute to diminishing school attendance problems.This research was funded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and Fondos FEDER with grant number RTI2018-098197-B-I00 awarded to José M. García-Fernández and Project GV/2019/075 awarded to CG

Evidence for the decay B0→J/ψω and measurement of the relative branching fractions of B0s meson decays to J/ψη and J/ψη′

First evidence of the B0 → J/ψω decay is found and the B0 s → J/ψη and B0 s → J/ψη decays are studied using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb−1 collected by the LHCb experiment in proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 7 TeV.