Insulin controls clock gene expression in the liver of goldfish probably via Pi3k/Akt pathway

The liver circadian clock plays a pivotal role in driving metabolic rhythms, being primarily entrained by the feeding schedule, although the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of insulin as an intake signal mediating liver entrainment in fish. To achieve this, the expression of clock genes, which form the molecular basis of endogenous oscillators, was analyzed in goldfish liver explants treated with insulin. The presence of insulin directly increased the abundance of per1a and per2 transcripts in the liver. The dependency of protein translation for such insulin effects was evaluated using cycloheximide, which revealed that intermediate protein translation is seemingly unnecessary for the observed insulin actions. Furthermore, the putative interaction between insulin and glucocorticoid signaling in the liver was examined, with the results suggesting that both hormones exert their effects by independent mechanisms. Finally, to investigate the specific pathways involved in the insulin effects, inhibitors targeting PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK were employed. Notably, inhibition of PI3K/AKT pathway prevented the induction of per genes by insulin, supporting its involvement in this process. Together, these findings suggest a role of insulin in fish as a key element of the multifactorial system that entrains the liver clock to the feeding schedule.Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. PID2019-103969RB-C32Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. PID2019-103969RB-C31Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431B 2022/01Universidad Complutense de Madrid | Ref. CT42/18-CT43-1

Caracterización de los mecanismos que median la muerte celular inducida por diferentes tipos de acetogeninas de annonacaeas en líneas tumorales humanas

Tesis doctoral inédita. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología Molecular. Fecha de lectura: 11/2/201

Las Doncellas Nobles. Un proyecto educativo entre la continuidad y la ruptura durante el período franquista

This article addresses the life and educational experiences of a generation of women educated at the Real Colegio de Doncellas Nobles (Royal College of Noble Maidens) in Toledo, a private and religious institution founded in 1551 and a pioneer in the exclusive training of women. Former students, through long-silenced oral testimonies, reconstruct their experiences to explore the nature, origin and evolution of the educational project developed at the centre from the 1940s to the 1960s. Despite the limitations of the study, the research adds to previous literature a new and privileged approach to the centre’s history, showing the singularities, continuities and ruptures of the formative model for women during this turbulent period.Este artículo aborda las experiencias vitales y educa­tivas de una generación de mujeres educada en el Real Colegio de Doncellas Nobles de Toledo; una institución de carácter priva­do y religioso fundada en el año 1551 y pionera en la formación exclusiva de las mujeres. A partir de los testimonios orales de antiguas alumnas se reconstruyen sus vivencias, a través de re­cuerdos silenciados durante décadas, para explorar la naturaleza, origen y evolución del proyecto educativo del centro desarrolla­do desde la década de los cuarenta a los sesenta del siglo XX. A pesar de las limitaciones propias de un estudio de esta natura­leza, la investigación añade a la bibliografía previa una nueva y privilegiada aproximación a la historia del centro, evidenciando tanto las singularidades como las continuidades y rupturas del modelo formativo de las mujeres durante ese convulso período

Time-Lag in Feeding Schedule Acts as a Stressor That Alters Circadian Oscillators in Goldfish

The circadian system controls temporal homeostasis in all vertebrates. The light-dark (LD) cycle is the most important zeitgeber (“time giver”) of circadian system, but feeding time also acts as a potent synchronizer in the functional organization of the teleost circadian system. In mammals is well known that food intake during the rest phase promotes circadian desynchrony which has been associated with metabolic diseases. However, the impact of a misalignment of LD and feeding cycles in the entrainment of fish circadian oscillators is largely unknown. The objective of this work was to investigate how a time-lag feeding alters temporal homeostasis and if this could be considered a stressor. To this aim, goldfish maintained under a 12 h light-12 h darkness were fed at mid-photophase (SF6) or mid-scotophase (SF18). Daily rhythms of locomotor activity, clock genes expression in hypothalamus, liver, and head kidney, and circulating cortisol were studied. Results showed that SF6 fish showed daily rhythms of bmal1a and clock1a in all studied tissues, being in antiphase with rhythms of per1 genes, as expected for proper functioning clocks. The 12 h shift in scheduled feeding induced a short phase advance (4–5-h) of the clock genes daily rhythms in the hypothalamus, while in the liver the shift for clock genes expression rhythms was the same that the feeding time shift (∼12 h). In head kidney, acrophases of per genes underwent a 12-h shift in SF18 animals, but only 6 h shift for clock1a. Plasma cortisol levels showed a significant daily rhythm in animals fed at SF6, but not in SF18 fish fed, which displayed higher cortisol values throughout the 24-h. Altogether, results indicate that hypothalamus, liver, and head kidney oscillate in phase in SF6 fish, but these clocks are desynchronized in SF18 fish, which could explain cortisol alterations. These data reinforce the hypothesis that the misalignment of external cues (daily photocycle and feeding time) alters fish temporal homeostasis and it might be considered a stressor for the animals

Antioxidant poly (lactic acid) films with rice straw extract for food packaging applications

[EN] Antioxidant PLA films incorporating 2%, 4% and 6% of phenol-rich extract from rice straw (RS) were obtained by melt blending and compression-moulding. Aqueous RS extract was obtained by a combined ultrasound-reflux heating method and characterised as to its total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity. The effect of the extract ratio on the functional properties of the films was analysed, as well as the release kinetics of antioxidants in food simulants (ethanol 10% and 50%). Extract incorporation slightly reduced the strength of the polymer matrix, stretchability, resistance to break, barrier capacity and thermostability, while films became brownish and gained antioxidant capacity. Phenolic compounds from the extract were effectively released into food simulants, depending on the extract concentration, the food simulant and contact time. The radical scav-enging capacity of the films reached asymptotic values from about 150 h contact time, and films with 6% of the extract exhibited similar values for both simulants. So, PLA films with approximately 6% of extract could be used as biodegradable active packaging material with antioxidant capacity in both aqueous foods (simulant A) and more fatty products (simulant D1). Further studies are required to verify the antioxidant efficiency of the films in real foods.This work was supported by the Agencia Estatal de Investi gacion through project PID2019-105207RB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by Generalitat Valenciana [grant number GrisoliaP/2019/115] . Funding for open access charge: CRUE-Universitat Polite`cnica de Vale`ncia.Vieira-De Freitas, PA.; Bas Gil, NJ.; González Martínez, MC.; Chiralt, A. (2022). Antioxidant poly (lactic acid) films with rice straw extract for food packaging applications. Food Packaging and Shelf Life. 34:1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fpsl.2022.1010031123

Water content-water activity-glass transition temperature relationships of spray-dried borojó as related to changes in color and mechanical properties

The water content-water activity-glass transition temperature relationships of commercial spray-dried borojó powder, with and without maltodextrin, have been studied as related to changes in color and mechanical properties. The GAB and Gordon and Taylor models were well fitted to the sorption and glass transition data, respectively. The Boltzman equation adequately described the evolution of the mechanical parameter characterized in the samples with the difference between the experimental temperature and the glass transition temperature (T g) of the sample. The color of the samples showed a sigmoid change with water activity. The changes in the mechanical properties of borojó powder related to collapse development started when the sample moved to the rubbery state and began to be significant at about 10 °C above T g. The increase in the molecular mobility from this point on also favors browning reactions. Maltodextrin presence slows the caking kinetics but induces color changes to spray-dried borojó powderThe authors thank the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo regional (FEDER) for the financial support throughout Project AGL2010-22176 and the Project UTCH-NUFFIC (NPT/COL/073) for the grant given to LH Mosquera.Mosquera, LH.; Moraga Ballesteros, G.; Fernández De Córdoba Castellá, PJ.; Martínez Navarrete, N. (2011). Water content-water activity-glass transition temperature relationships of spray-dried borojó as related to changes in color and mechanical properties. Food Biophysics. 6(3):397-406. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11483-011-9215-2S39740663L.H. Mosquera, G. Moraga, N. Martínez-Navarrete, J Food Eng 9, 72 (2010). doi: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2009.09.017V. Truong, B.R. Bhandari, T. Howe, J Food Eng 71, 55 (2005). doi: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2004.10.017B. Bhandari, Glass transition in relation to stickiness during spray drying (Academic Sterling, London, 2001), p. 64Y. Roos, Phase transitions in foods (Academic, New York, 1995), p. 360P. Saragoni, J.M. Aguilera, P. Bouchon, Food Chem 104, 122 (2007). doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2007.11.066C.K. Pua, N. Sheikh Abd. Hamid, C.P. Tanm, H. Mirhosseini, R. Abd. Rahman, G. Rusul, J Food Eng 89, 419 (2008). doi: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2008.05.023V.R.N. Telis, N. Martínez-Navarrete, LWT Food Sci Technol 43, 744 (2010)L. Greenspan, J Res Natl Inst Stand 81, 89 (1977). IDS: DM875W.E.L. Spiess, W.R. Wolf, in Physical properties of foods, ed by F. Escher, B. Hallstrom, H.S. Mefert, W.E.L. Spiess, G. Woss. (Applied Sci, New York, 1983), p. 65C. Van den Berg, S. Bruin, in Water activity and its estimation in food systems: theoretical aspects, ed by L.B. Rockland, G.T. Stewart (Academic Press, London, 1981), p. 43M. Gordon, J.S. Taylor, J Appl Chem 2, 493 (1952). doi: 10.1002/jctb.5010020901GV.R.N. Telis, N. Martínez-Navarrete, Food Biophys 4, 83 (2009). doi: 10.1007/s11483-003-9104-0G. Moraga, N. Martínez-Navarrete, A. Chiralt, J Food Eng 62, 315 (2004). doi: 10.1016/S0260-8774(03)00245-0C.I. Beristain, E. Azuara, E.J. Vernon-Carter, J Food Sci 67, 211 (2002). IDS: 522JPB.R. Bandhari, R.W. Hartel, in Encapsulated and food powder, ed by C. Onwulata, R.P. Konstance (Marcel Dekker, New York, 2005), p. 216N. William, Estadística para Ingenieros y Científicos (MacGraw-Hill, Mexico, 2006), p. 120A.L. Gabas, V.R.N. Telis, P.J.A. Sobral, J. Telis-Romero, J Food Eng 82, 246 (2007). doi: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2007.02.029M.A. Silva, P.J.A. Sobral, T.G. Kieckbusch, J Food Eng 77, 426 (2006). doi: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2005.07.009MdK Haque, Y.H. Ross, Innov Food Sci Emerg Technol 7, 1–2 (2006). doi: 10.1016/j.ifset.2004.12.004J.M. Aguilera, J.M. del Valle, M. Karel, Trends Food Sci Technol 8, 149 (1995). doi: 10.1016/S0924-2244(00)89023H. Levine, L. Slade, Cryoletters 9, 21 (1988). IDS: M1923Y.H. Ross, J Food Eng 24, 339 (1995). doi: 10.1016/0260-8774(95)90050-LG. Barbosa-Canovas, E. Ortega-Rivas, P. Juliano, H. Yan, Food powders: physical properties, processing and functionality (Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publisher, New York, 2005), p. 372K.D. Foster, J.E. Bronlund, A.H.J. Paterson, J Food Eng 77, 997 (2006). doi: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2005.08.028E. Venir, M. Munari, A. Tonizzo, E.J. Maltini, Food Eng 81, 27 (2007). doi: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2006.10.004N.C. Acevedo, C. Schebor, P. Buera, J Food Eng 77, 1108 (2006). doi: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2005.08.045N.C. Acevedo, C. Schebor, P. Buera, Food Chem 108, 900 (2008). doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2007.11.057J. Ahmed, U.S. Shivhareb, P. Singhc, Food Chem 84, 605 (2004). doi: 10.1016/S0308-8146(03)00285-1L. Hang-Ing Ling, J. Birch, M. Lim, Int J Food Sci Technol 40, 921 (2005). doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2621.2005.0099

Monte Carlo Simulation of a Modified Chi Distribution Considering Asymmetry in the Generating Functions: Application to the Study of Health-Related Variables

[EN] Random variables in biology, social and health sciences commonly follow skewed distributions. Many of these variables can be represented by exGaussian functions; however, in practice, they are sometimes considered as Gaussian functions when statistical analysis is carried out. The asymmetry can play a fundamental role which can not be captured by central tendency estimators such as the mean. By means of Monte Carlo simulations, the effect of a small asymmetry in the generating functions of the chi distribution is studied. To this end, the k generating functions are taken as exGaussian functions. The limits of this approximation are tested numerically for the practical case of three health-related variables: one physical (body mass index) and two cognitive (verbal fluency and short-term memory). This work is in line with our previous works on a physics-inspired mathematical model to represent the reaction times of a group of individuals.This researchwas partially funded by grant number RTI2018-102256-B-I00 of MINECO/FEDER (Spain). N. Ortigosa acknowledges the support from Generalitat Valenciana under grant Prometeo/2017/102, and from Spanish MINECO under grant MTM2016-76647-P.Ortigosa, N.; Orellana-Panchame, M.; Castro-Palacio, JC.; Fernández De Córdoba, P.; Isidro, J. (2021). Monte Carlo Simulation of a Modified Chi Distribution Considering Asymmetry in the Generating Functions: Application to the Study of Health-Related Variables. Symmetry (Basel). 13(6):1-12. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym1306092411213

A simple, fast and accurate screening method to estimate maize (Zea mays L) tolerance to drought at early stages

There is a great need for the selection of plants with higher drought tolerance, so that fast and effective techniques to identify variations in drought tolerance are mandatory for screening large numbers of genotypes. This work presents a protocol for easy and reliable assessment of responses of maize genotypes to water stress conditions imposed during early stages of development. Three experiments using 11 commercial maize hybrids under four levels of water stress were carried out: i) germination, ii) seedling growth, and iii) early growth bioas- says. Constant and uniform water stress was imposed using solutions of polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000). Plant material was evaluated for several morphological, physiological and biochemical traits and monitored for photosynthetic efficiency. Principal component analysis (PCA) of these joint experiments revealed that germination percentage, early root development and stomatal conductance were the most useful traits for discriminating maize hybrids according to their tolerance to water stress. A subsequent greenhouse assay performed with two hybrids with contrasting responses under soil drying conditions validated the previous results. According to our results, the key of drought tolerance was a rapid response of stomatal conductance, which allowed a longer survival to stress even under severe desiccation. This work provides the researcher with a simple and reliable screening method that could be implemented as a decision support tool in the selection of the most suitable genotypes for cultivation in areas where water availability is a problem, as well as for the selection of tolerant genotypes to early drought in breeding programs

A geographical distribution database of the genus Dysdera in the Canary Islands (Araneae, Dysderidae)

The ground-dweller spider genus Dysdera shows very high species richness on the oceanic archipelago of the Canary Islands, providing one of the most outstanding examples of island radiation among spiders, only paralleled by Tetragnatha spiders on the Hawaiian archipelago. A georeferenced database of the 48 Dysdera species occurring in the Canary Islands was assembled to facilitate ongoing and future research on this remarkable lineage. All species are endemic to the archipelago except for the cosmopolitan Dysdera crocata. The dataset consists of 794 distributional records documented from 1971 to 2015, each locality being represented only once per species. Distribution maps are provided for each species, along with basic diversity and distribution information. The database and geographical maps included in this article stand for the most updated, accurate and complete information on the distribution of the spider genus Dysdera in the Canary Islands