Application of Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) for Macronutrients Analysis in Alfalfa (\u3ci\u3eMedicago sativa\u3c/i\u3e L.)

Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy was used to assess the mineral composition of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) as a tool for nutritional diagnosis. One hundred and ninety four (n = 194) samples of alfalfa from different locations representing a wide range of soils were used. Samples were reflectance scanned in a NIRS 6500 (NIRSystems, USA) instrument. The coefficients of determination (R2) of the regression estimate of the concentration of nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and sulphur and the errors in cross validation (SECV) were 0.93 (SECV: 1.6), 0.95 (SECV: 1.3), 0.93 (SECV: 1.9), 0.88 (SECV: 2.8), 0.82 (SECV: 1.9) and 0.75 (SECV: 4.7) respectively. The best NIRS predictions were obtained for calcium and nitrogen, meanwhile the poorest was obtained for sulphur

Phosphorus, Sulphur and Micronutrients on Grassland Improvement with White Clover (\u3ci\u3eTrifolium repens\u3c/i\u3e L.) on Basaltic Soils in Uruguay

Grasslands improvement with legumes is a promising technology for increasing forage quality and productivity on basaltic soils, but requires the correction of nutrient deficiencies. Phosphorus is a key element, but usual techniques of soil analysis are not good predictors. An experimental work was conducted in the northern region of the country. Evaluating the response of an improvement with white clover to P. Citric Acid showed a good association between soil P status and legume behavior. In addition there was a positive trend in forage production, in relation to S application, even though this effect was only significant in legume yield during the second year. Neither Mo nor B resulted in significant effects on forage yield. Results should be considered as preliminary, due to climatic problems that limited the experimental work

Toxicidad de la ciclosporina A y efecto de la S-adenodilmetionina

This work was supported in part by grants from Junta de Castilla y Le—n and Europharma S.A. (Madrid, Spain). The authors thank Boehringer-Europharma S.A. and Sandoz A.G. (Basel, Switzerland) for the kind gift of the SAMe and cyclosporine A, respectively. A.I.G. is a Postdoctoral Fellowship of Boehringer-Europharma S.A. (Madrid).We studied the simultaneous changes undergone by the main indicators of hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and diabetogenicity in rats treated with cyclosporine A (CyA) for one, two, three and four weeks, using the dose of 10 and 20 mg/kg/day. The effects of the drug on the biliary excretion of several biliary compounds as well as on the bile flow fractions - dependent and independent- of the biliary secretion of bile acids and glutathione were also studied. A further aim of this research was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) against the action of CyA. Our results show that CyA treatment alters hepatic, renal and pancreatic functions rapidly and simultaneously; the changes were slightly more intense with the higher dose but they did not become more pronounced when the treatment was prolonged for 4 weeks. The cholestatic effect of the drug is a multifactorial phenomena and develops accompanied by simultaneous decreases in the biliary secretion of bile acids, lipid, glutathione and proteins. SAMe plus CyA cotreatment antagonizes the main hepatotoxic effects of CyA in this species. This hepatoprotective effect of SAMe could be related to its regulatory function as regards membrane lipid composition and fluidity and to its key role in promoting the hepatic synthesis of thiol compounds.Hemos estudiado los cambios simultáneos experimentados por los principales indicadores de hepatotoxicidad, nefrotoxicidad y diabetogenicidad en ratas tratadas con ciclosporina A (CyA) durante una, dos, tres y cuatro semanas, utilizando dósis de 10 y 20 mg/kg/día. También fueron estudiados los efectos de la droga sobre la excreción biliar de varios compuestos biliares, así como sobre las fracciones de flujo biliar –dependiente e independiente- de la secreción biliar de ácidos biliares y glutation. Otro objetivo de este estudio fue la evaluación del efecto hepatoprotector de la S-Adenosilmetionina (SAMe) frente a la acción de la CyA. Nuestros resultados mostraron que el tratamiento con CyA alteran las funciones hepática, renal y pancreática rápida y simultáneamente; los cambios cambios fueron ligeramente más intensos con una dosis más alta pero no se volvieron más pronunciados cuando el tratamiento se prolongó hasta las cuatro semanas. El efecto colestático de la droga es un fenómeno multifactorial y se desarrolla junto a una disminución de la secreción biliar de ácidos biliares, lípidos, glutation y proteinas. El tratamiento conjunto de SAMe y CyA antagoniza los principales efectos hepatotóxicos del CyA en estas especies. Este efecto hepatoprotector del SAMe podría estar relacionado con su función reguladora al preservar la composición y fluidez de la membrana lipídica y con su papel clave en la promoción de la síntesis de componentes tiol

Estudio comparativo de la influencia de las fibras en la retracción de los morteros reciclados

Construction and demolition waste can be used as a substitution of natural aggregate in mortar and concrete elaboration. A poorer quality of recycled aggregates generally has negative impact on mortar properties. Shrinkage is one of the properties that experiences worse outcome due to the higher absorption of recycled aggregates. This research evaluates the potential shrinkage of mortars elaborated with recycled concrete aggregates both with and without fibres addition, as well as the relation between moisture loss and shrinkage caused by mortar drying process using a capacitive sensor of the authors’ own design. Two different mortar dosages 1:3 and 1:4 and three fiber types: polypropylene fiber, fiberglass and steel fiber, in different proportions were used. Obtained results show that the use of polypropylene fiber improves the recycled mortars performance against shrinkage in 0.2%. Moreover, a clear relation between dry shrinkage and moisture loss was observed.Los Residuos de Construcción y Demolición pueden ser usados como sustitución de los áridos naturales en la fabricación de morteros y hormigones. La peor calidad de los áridos reciclados empeora de manera general las propiedades de los morteros, siendo la retracción una de las que más se ve afectada. Esta investigación, estudia la retracción de los morteros elaborados con arena reciclada de hormigón con y sin adicción de fibras, así como la relación existente entre la perdida de humedad y la retracción por secado mediante un sensor capacitivo de diseño propio. Se han empleado dos dosificaciones diferentes 1:3 y 1:4 y tres tipos de fibras: polipropileno, vidrio y acero, en distintas proporciones. Los resultados muestran que la adición de fibras de polipropileno en un 0,2% mejora significativamente la retracción en los morteros reciclados. Además, se ha obtenido una relación clara entre la retracción por secado y la perdida de humedad

Neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) localizes to the cytokinetic machinery during cell division

The neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) is a constituent of the inflammasome and a key component of the innate immune system. Here we use immunofluorescence to position NAIP within the cytokinetic apparatus, contiguous to chromosomal passenger complex (CPC), Centralspindlin, PRC1 and KIF4A. During metaphase, NAIP accumulates in the mitotic spindle poles and is shown in spindle microtubules; in anaphase NAIP is detected in the middle of the central spindle. At the end of cytokinesis, NAIP is localized in the outlying region of the stem body, the center of the intercellular bridge formed between daughter cells prior to cellular abscission. We also describe the sustained presence of NAIP mRNA and protein throughout the cell cycle with a significant increase observed in the G2/M phase. Consistent with a role for NAIP in cytokinesis, NAIP overexpression in HeLa cells promotes the acquisition of a multinuclear phenotype. Conversely, NAIP siRNA gene silencing results in an apoptotic lethal phenotype. Our confocal and super resolution stimulated-emission-depletion (STED) examination of mammalian cell cytokinesis demonstrate a potential new role for NAIP in addition to anti-apoptotic and innate immunology functions.This work was supported by operating grants from FightSMA, The SMA Foundation, The Canadian Gene Cure Foundation, CIHR and Families of SMA to A.M

Training the Trainers in Embedding Assessment Literacy into Module Design: A Case Study of a Collaborative Transcreation Project

Translator trainers are being asked to respond in their course and module design to a variety of changing requirements, including institutional, professional and pedagogical ones. This paper proposes a way that translator trainers can respond to two sets of these new requirements. The first are those for a widening conception of translation brought about by the rapid globalisation of markets and the needs for intercultural mediators (Katan, 2016; Massey et al., 2017; Massey & Wieder, 2019). Indeed, Katan finishes the paper with the startling statement ‘There is really no question about it: if T/Is are going to survive they must make the transcreational turn’ (ibid.: 378). The second set of requirements comes from the process of articulating what attributes a graduate should possess and how these attributes are developed (Hughes, 2010). As the Higher Education Academy (HEA, 2012; see also Elkington, 2016) state, one way to ensure that the graduate skills are developed is through new assessment practices based on assessment for learning and assessment literacy. New assessment practices mean that assessment ‘does not just contribute to learning at university, but develops learning and evaluative skills essential for employment and lifelong learning’ (ibid.: 10). This paper offers translation trainers an approach to module design which can address both these sets of demands. The module is designed with a collaborative transcreation project at its core and has incorporated assessment literacy into the design. The study is supported with quantitative and qualitative data gained from a survey of participating students. By introducing the case study of our module design and linking the design to the underlying theories which informed it, the paper provides trainers with a set of concepts which could be applied to their own curricula needs in order to future proof their students in the changing employment market

Sampling Scarab Beetles in Tropical Forests: The Effect of Light Source and Night Sampling Periods

Light traps have been used widely to sample insect abundance and diversity, but their performance for sampling scarab beetles in tropical forests based on light source type and sampling hours throughout the night has not been evaluated. The efficiency of mercury-vapour lamps, cool white light and ultraviolet light sources in attracting Dynastinae, Melolonthinae and Rutelinae scarab beetles, and the most adequate period of the night to carry out the sampling was tested in different forest areas of Costa Rica. Our results showed that light source wavelengths and hours of sampling influenced scarab beetle catches. No significant differences were observed in trap performance between the ultraviolet light and mercury-vapour traps, whereas these two methods caught significantly more species richness and abundance than cool white light traps. Species composition also varied between methods. Large differences appear between catches in the sampling period, with the first five hours of the night being more effective than the last five hours. Because of their high efficiency and logistic advantages, we recommend ultraviolet light traps deployed during the first hours of the night as the best sampling method for biodiversity studies of those scarab beetles in tropical forests

Estudio del comportamiento de los morteros reciclados frente al ruido de impacto

Currently there is a wide range of systems and materials that are used as impact noise absorbers, offering good performance avoiding the transmission of vibration through the forgings. In this research, four centimeters thick sheets of mortar were fabricated using four types of different aggregates combined with different typologies of insulation. Taking advantage of the minor density of mortars elaborated with recycled aggregates, it was proposed to substitute 100% of natural aggregates with recycled aggregates in order to fabricate mortars used in floating slab systems, as they offer more efficient solution from the acoustic point of view. The mortars elaborated with ceramic and mixed recycled aggregate presents the best solution to mitigate impacts produced on the surface reducing up to 20% of speed of impact transmission compared to mortars elaborated with natural aggregates.En la actualidad existe una amplia gama de sistemas y materiales que se emplean como atenuadores del ruido de impacto, ofreciendo buenas prestaciones a la hora de evitar la transmisión de vibraciones a través de los forjados. En este trabajo, se han elaborado placas de mortero de cuatro centímetros de espesor con cuatro tipos de árido diferentes combinados con distintas tipologías de aislamiento. Aprovechando la menor densidad de los morteros elaborados con árido reciclado, se ha llevado a cabo una investigación en la que se propone sustituir el 100% del árido natural por árido reciclado para la fabricación de morteros empleados en el sistema de losa flotante, ya que ofrecen una solución más eficiente desde el punto de vista acústico. Los morteros elaborados con áridos reciclados de cerámica y mixto los que presentan la solución óptima para atenuar impactos producidos sobre la superficie, reduciendo hasta en un 20% la velocidad de transmisión de impactos frente a sus homólogos elaborados con árido natural