Nitric oxide molecular targets: reprogramming plant development upon stress

[EN] Plants are sessile organisms that need to complete their life cycle by the integration of different abiotic and biotic environmental signals, tailoring developmental cues and defense concomitantly. Commonly, stress responses are detrimental to plant growth and, despite the fact that intensive efforts have been made to understand both plant development and defense separately, most of the molecular basis of this trade-off remains elusive. To cope with such a diverse range of processes, plants have developed several strategies including the precise balance of key plant growth and stress regulators [i.e. phytohormones, reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and reactive oxygen species (ROS)]. Among RNS, nitric oxide (NO) is a ubiquitous gasotransmitter involved in redox homeostasis that regulates specific checkpoints to control the switch between development and stress, mainly by post-translational protein modifications comprising S-nitrosation of cysteine residues and metals, and nitration of tyrosine residues. In this review, we have sought to compile those known NO molecular targets able to balance the crossroads between plant development and stress, with special emphasis on the metabolism, perception, and signaling of the phytohormones abscisic acid and salicylic acid during abiotic and biotic stress responses

Use of Bayesian Modeling to Determine the Effects of Meteorological Conditions, Prescribed Burn Season, and Tree Characteristics on Litterfall of Pinus nigra and Pinus pinaster Stands

Research Highlights: Litterfall biomass after prescribed burning (PB) is significantly influenced by meteorological variables, stand characteristics, and the fire prescription. Some of the fire-adaptive traits of the species under study (Pinus nigra and Pinus pinaster) mitigate the effects of PB on litterfall biomass. The Bayesian approach, tested here for the first time, was shown to be useful for analyzing the complex combination of variables influencing the effect of PB on litterfall. Background and Objectives: The aims of the study focused on explaining the influence of meteorological conditions after PB on litterfall biomass, to explore the potential influence of stand characteristic and tree traits that influence fire protection, and to assess the influence of fire prescription and fire behavior. Materials and Methods: An experimental factorial design including three treatments (control, spring, and autumn burning), each with three replicates, was established at two experimental sites (N = 18; 50 × 50 m$^2$ plots). The methodology of the International Co-operative Program on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests (ICP forests) was applied and a Bayesian approach was used to construct a generalized linear mixed model. Results: Litterfall was mainly affected by the meteorological variables and also by the type of stand and the treatment. The effects of minimum bark thickness and the height of the first live branch were random. The maximum scorch height was not high enough to affect the litterfall. Time during which the temperature exceeded 60 °C (cambium and bark) did not have an important effect. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that meteorological conditions were the most significant variables affecting litterfall biomass, with snowy and stormy days having important effects. Significant effects of stand characteristics (mixed and pure stand) and fire prescription regime (spring and autumn PB) were shown. The trees were completely protected by a combination of low-intensity PB and fire-adaptive tree traits, which prevent direct and indirect effects on litterfall. Identification of important variables can help to improve PB and reduce the vulnerability of stands managed by this method

Eleccion de la aparamenta y sistemas de proteccion de una subestacion de traccion de la linea de alta velocidad

Se realiza el estudio de corrientes para seleccionar la aparamenta de alta tensión y sus protecciones en una subestación de tracción de la línea de alta velocidad

Estado del arte de las Investigaciones en Proyectos Ambientales Escolares (PRAE) en Colombia

In Colombia, since 1974 the incorporation of environmental education in the formal educational sector begins; since 2002, the country has had the National Environmental Education Policy (PNEA) that directs School Environmental Projects (PRAE) in basic and secondary education institutions that were originally instituted in Decree 1743 of 1994. The objective of this article is to present a review of the state of the fiel of the investigations carried out around the School Environmental Projects (PRAE) to visualize a general panorama of them, the emerging research fields and the knowledge gaps in this regard. This is not a review of the PRAE but of the investigations that have been carried out whose object of investigation has been the PRAE. To achieve this objective, a search was made for scientific articles that were published in internet databases since 2002 (date on which the PNEA is issued) using the concept of "Environmental Educational Project" as the main descriptor. A preliminary classification of the articles was carried out according to their main objectives and six categories were found. It was found that the largest number of publications have been made on "proposals" and "characterizations and diagnoses" and those with the fewest publications are those on "Evaluation proposals" and "mainstreaming experiences".En Colombia, desde 1974 se inicia la incorporación de la educación ambiental en el sector formal educativo; desde el 2002 el país cuenta con la Política Nacional de Educación Ambiental (PNEA) que direcciona los Proyectos Ambientales Escolares (PRAE) en las instituciones de educación básica y media que fueron instituidos originalmente en el decreto 1743 de 1994. El objetivo de éste artículo es presentar una revisión del estado del arte de las investigaciones realizadas alrededor de los Proyectos Ambientales Escolares (PRAE) para visualizar un panorama general de las mismas, los campos investigativos emergentes y los vacíos de conocimiento frente a este respecto. Esta no es una revisión de los PRAE  sino de las investigaciones que se han llevado a cabo cuyo objeto de investigación hayan sido los PRAE. Para lograr este objetivo, se realizó la búsqueda de artículos científicos y tesis publicados en bases de datos de internet desde el 2002 (fecha en la cual es emitida la PNEA) utilizando como descriptor principal el concepto de “Proyecto Educativo Ambiental”. Se realizó una clasificación preliminar de los artículos de acuerdo con sus objetivos principales y se encontraron seis categorías. Se encontró que la mayor cantidad de publicaciones se han realizado sobre “propuestas” y “caracterizaciones y diagnósticos” y las de menos publicaciones son las de “Propuestas de evaluación” y “experiencias de transversalización”

Mercados clásicos: una aplicación en estructura de conjuntos y lógica difusa

Esta investigación tiene por finalidad una aplicación de la teoría microeconómica a los conceptos fundamentales del economista clásico Richard Cantillon, explicando cómo los mercados pueden hacer converger o divergir los precios a sus niveles naturales, dependiendo esto, de los procesos de aprendizaje evolutivos que tengan sus agentes (productores y consumidores) a través del tiempo. Se utilizarán conceptos de teoría de conjuntos y lógica difusa para formalizar algunos temas relacionados con funciones cognitivas y relaciones de preferencia. / Abstract. This research aims at an application of microeconomic theory to the fundamental concepts of Richard Cantillon, explaining how markets can converge make prices or diverge to their natural levels, which depends on the evolutionary learning process of agents (producers and consumers) over time. We use concepts of set theory and fuzzy logic to formalize some issues related to cognitive functions and preference relations

Impactos y consecuencias en el sector azucarero en Colombia a partir del TLC con la Unión Europea

La presente investigación tiene por finalidad analizar el impacto en Colombia del tratado de libre comercio con la Unión Europea, respecto a la dinámica del sector azucarero en Colombia, como producto de consumo interno y de exportación. Se analizan los aspectos de producción, competitividad y posibles cambios estructurales que se puedan presentar sobre este sector frente a los nuevos retos contemplados en el mercado mundial. Para ello se estima un sistema de ecuación de oferta y un modelo VAR-X, utilizando la información mensual de enero de 2000 a febrero de 2012, reportada por Asocaña y la FAO. Se concluye que el sector se encuentra apto para responder ante el acuerdo comercial, y representaría beneficios económicos importantes para la nación. AbstractThis research aims to analyze the impact on Colombia of the Free Trade Agreement with the European Union, regarding the dynamics of the sugar sector in Colombia, both as a product of domestic consumption and export. It discusses the aspects of production, competitiveness and possible structural changes that may occur on this sector regarding the new challenges set out in the world market. To do this, it is estimated a supply equation system and a model VAR-X, using monthly data from January 2000 to February 2012, reported by Asocaña and FAO. It is concluded that industry is able to respond to the trade agreement, and represent significant economic benefits for the nation

Density of water adsorbed on bentonites: determination and effect on microstructural void ratio modelling

The ability of helium gas displacement pycnometry to characterise the reduction of adsorbed water density with increasing bentonite water content was tested. For this purpose, after obtaining the grain density (which was assumed to be constant), an intensive campaign of 45 experiments was carried out with two bentonites for a total of 90 determinations, obtaining very consistent water density results. Furthermore, the water retention curve of one of the two bentonites was fully characterised by 95 tests with a chilled-mirror dew-point psychrometer. The water content results were used to determine the microstructural void ratio, both assuming a constant water density and considering the variation of the adsorbed water density obtained with the helium pycnometer. It was verified that with the constant value, by assuming a lower water density (1 g/cm3) than the experimental (values of 1.20 g/cm3 were obtained under hygroscopic conditions), higher values of microstructural void ratios are predicted, up to 15% greater for a relative humidity of 70% (0.46 instead of 0.40). For higher relative humidities the comparison loses its consistency, since the presence of capillary water cannot be disregarded, and the calculation of the microstructural void ratio is based on the assumption that the water present in bentonite is mainly in the form of adsorbed water. However, this does not compromise the analysis performed, as the results obtained for lower relative humidity values provide enough information to demonstrate the relevance of the errors that can occur when deriving models of the microstructural void ratio without taking into account the variation of the density of adsorbed water.This study was funded by the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha and the European Regional Development Fund (European Union) through project SBPLY/19/180501/000222.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

MiR-9-5p suppresses pro-fibrogenic transformation of fibroblasts and prevents organ fibrosis by targeting NOX4 and TGFBR2

© 2015 The Authors. Uncontrolled extracellular matrix (ECM) production by fibroblasts in response to injury contributes to fibrotic diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation is involved in the pathogenesis of IPF. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) stimulates the production of NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4)-dependent ROS, promoting lung fibrosis (LF). Dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been shown to contribute to LF. To identify miRNAs involved in redox regulation relevant for IPF, we performed arrays in human lung fibroblasts exposed to ROS. miR-9-5p was selected as the best candidate and we demonstrate its inhibitory effect on TGF-β receptor type II (TGFBR2) and NOX4 expression. Increased expression of miR-9-5p abrogates TGF-β1-dependent myofibroblast phenotypic transformation. In the mouse model of bleomycin-induced LF, miR-9-5p dramatically reduces fibrogenesis and inhibition of miR-9-5p and prevents its anti-fibrotic effect both in vitro and in vivo. In lung specimens from patients with IPF, high levels of miR-9-5p are found. In omentum-derived mesothelial cells (MCs) from patients subjected to peritoneal dialysis (PD), miR-9-5p also inhibits mesothelial to myofibroblast transformation. We propose that TGF-β1 induces miR-9-5p expression as a self-limiting homeostatic response.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) SAF 2012-31338 (SL), SAF 2013-47611 (MLC) and CSD 2007-00020 (SL), Instituto de Salud Carlos III REDinREN RD12/0021/0009 (SL and LGB) and FIS PS12/00094 (LGB), Comunidad de Madrid “Fibroteam” S2010/BMD-2321 (SL and MLC) and Fundación Renal “Iñigo Alvarez de Toledo” (SL), all from Spain. Supported by European Cooperation in Science and Research COST actions BM-1203 (EU-ROS) and BM-1005 (ENOGAS) (SL). The CBMSO receives institutional support from Fundación “Ramón Areces”.Peer Reviewe

Comparing assembly strategies for third-generation sequencing technologies across different genomes

The recent advent of long-read sequencing technologies, such as Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) and Oxford Nanopore technology (ONT), has led to substantial accuracy and computational cost improvements. However, de novo whole-genome assembly still presents significant challenges related to the computational cost and the quality of the results. Accordingly, sequencing accuracy and throughput continue to improve, and many tools are constantly emerging. Therefore, selecting the correct sequencing platform, the proper sequencing depth and the assembly tools are necessary to perform high-quality assembly. This paper evaluates the primary assembly reconstruction from recent hybrid and non-hybrid pipelines on different genomes. We find that using PacBio high-fidelity long-read (HiFi) plays an essential role in haplotype construction with respect to ONT reads. However, we observe a substantial improvement in the correctness of the assembly from high-fidelity ONT datasets and combining it with HiFi or short-reads.Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga / CBU

Disadvantageous decision-making as a predictor of drop-out among cocaine-dependent individuals in long-term residential treatment

Background: The treatment of cocaine-dependent individuals (CDI) is substantially challenged by high drop-out rates, raising questions regarding contributing factors. Recently, a number of studies have highlighted the potential of greater focus on the clinical significance of neurocognitive impairments in treatment-seeking cocaine users. In the present study, we hypothesized that disadvantageous decision-making would be one such factor placing CDI at greater risk for treatment drop-out. Methods: In order to explore this hypothesis, the present study contrasted baseline performance (at treatment onset) on two validated tasks of decision-making, the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and the Cambridge GambleTask (CGT) in CDI who completed treatment in a residentialTherapeutic Community (TC) (N=66) and those who dropped out ofTC prematurely (N=84). Results: Compared to treatment completers, CDI who dropped out ofTC prematurely did not establish a consistent and advantageous response pattern as the IGT progressed and exhibited a poorer ability to choose the most likely outcome on the CGT. There were no group differences in betting behavior. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that neurocognitive rehabilitation of disadvantageous decision-making may have clinical benefits in CDI admitted to long-term residential treatment programs