Nitrogen metabolism in forest trees

NITROGEN METABOLISM IN FOREST TREES Francisco Cánovas, Concepción Ávila, Fernando N de la Torre, Rafael Cañas, Belén Pascual. Universidad de Málaga Email:[email protected] Forests are essential components of the ecosystems covering approximately one-third of the Earth’s land area and playing a fundamental role in the regulation of terrestrial carbon sinks. Forest trees are also of significant economic importance, as they are used for timber and paper production worldwide. A sustainable management of forest resources is needed to preserve natural forest and to meet the increasing international demands in the production of wood and the other forest-derived products. New advances and developments in biotechnology will contribute to accelerate the domestication of important traits for forest productivity. It is critical to identify the fundamental constraints on forest productivity to addressing these constraints with modern genomic tools. Nitrogen availability extremely low in forest ecosystems, and consequently, forest trees have evolved adaptive mechanism and biotic interactions to guarantee the strict economy of this essential nutrient. Nitrogen assimilation and recycling play a key role in the tree growth and biomass production and we firmly believe that knowledge on nitrogen metabolism will lead to approaches aimed at increasing forest productivity. In our laboratory, we are interested in studying nitrogen metabolism and its regulation the conifer maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton), a forest tree species of great economic and ecological importance in the Mediterranean area and relevant model for conifer genomic research in Europe. Current research efforts are focused on improving the understanding of the response of conifer trees to ammonium availability and the transcriptional control of ammonium assimilation into amino acids. An overview and update of our research programme will be presented and discussed. Research supported by Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and Junta de Andalucía (Grants BIO2012-33797, PLE2009-016 and research group BIO-114).Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Laser floating zone growth: Overview, singular materials, broad applications, and future perspectives

The Laser Floating Zone (LFZ) technique, also known as Laser-Heated Pedestal Growth (LHPG), has been developed throughout the last several decades as a simple, fast, and crucible-free method for growing high-crystalline-quality materials, particularly when compared to the more conventional Verneuil, Bridgman-Stockbarger, and Czochralski methods. Multiple worldwide efforts have, over the years, enabled the growth of highly oriented polycrystalline and single-crystal high-melting materials. This work attempted to critically review the most representative advancements in LFZ apparatus and experimental parameters that enable the growth of high-quality polycrystalline materials and single crystals, along with the most commonly produced materials and their relevant physical properties. Emphasis will be given to materials for photonics and optics, as well as for electrical applications, particularly superconducting and thermoelectric materials, and to the growth of metastable phases. Concomitantly, an analysis was carried out on how LFZ may contribute to further understanding equilibrium vs. non-equilibrium phase selectivity, as well as its potential to achieve or contribute to future developments in the growth of crystals for emerging applications

Factors affecting interactions between sulphonate-terminated dendrimers and proteins: A three case study

This work proposes a deep study on the interactions between sulphonate-terminated carbosilane dendrimers and proteins. Three different proteins with different molecular weights and isoelectric points were employed and different pHs, dendrimer concentrations and generations were tested. Variations in fluorescence intensity and emission wavelength were used as protein-dendrimer interaction probes. Interaction between dendrimers and proteins greatly depended on the protein itself and pH. Other important issues were the dendrimer concentration and generation. Protein-dendrimer interactions were favored under acidic working conditions when proteins were positively charged. Moreover, in general, high dendrimer generations promoted these interactions. Modeling of protein-dendrimer interactions allowed to understand the different behaviors observed for every protein. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Effects of bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) and its inhibitor, Noggin, on in vitro maturation and culture of bovine preimplantation embryos

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>BMP4 is a member of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) superfamily and Noggin is a potent BMP inhibitor that exerts its function by binding to BMPs preventing interactions with its receptors. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of BMP4 and Noggin, on oocytes <it>in vitro </it>maturation (m experiments) and embryos <it>in vitro </it>development (c experiments) of bovine.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>For m experiments, COCs were collected from slaughterhouse ovaries and <it>in vitro </it>matured in TCM with 100 ng/ml of either BMP4 or Noggin. After 24 h, the nuclear stage of the oocytes was determined by staining with Hoechst 33342. In addition, RT-qPCR was performed on MII oocytes to study the relative concentration of <it>ZAR1, GDF9, BAX, MATER </it>and <it>HSP70 </it>transcripts. Treated oocytes were submitted to parthenogenic activation (PA) or <it>in vitro </it>fertilization (IVF) and cultured in CR2. For c experiments, non-treated matured oocytes were submitted to PA or IVF to generate embryos that were exposed to 100 ng/ml of BMP4 or Noggin in CR2 until day nine of culture. Cleavage, blastocyst and hatching rates, expression pattern of the transcription factor Oct-4 in blastocysts and embryo cell number at day two and nine post-activation or fertilization were evaluated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that Noggin, as BMP4, did not affect oocyte nuclear maturation. Noggin supplementation up-regulated the expression of <it>HSP70 and MATER </it>genes in matured oocytes. Moreover, BMP4 during maturation increased the proportion of Oct-4 positive cells in parthenogenic embryos. On the other hand, when Noggin was added to embryo culture medium, developmental rates of parthenogenic and <it>in vitro </it>fertilized embryos were reduced. However, BMP4 addition decreases the development only for <it>in vitro </it>fertilized embryos. BMP4 and Noggin during culture reduced the proportion of Oct-4-expressing cells.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results show that BMP4 is implicated in bovine oocytes maturation and embryo development. Moreover, our findings demonstrate, for the first time, that a correct balance of BMP signaling is needed for proper pre-implantation development of bovine embryos.</p

Technical and economical study of two tropical leguminous forages to feed dairy cows in the NW region of Dominican Republic

Two tropical leguminous forages are used as a partial substitute of the concentrate feed to milk production and its viability in the Northwest region of Dominican Republic is studied. Twelve dairy cows are used (crosses between Holstein and Brown Swiss and Jersey) in a fully random experimental design, with three treatments and four repetitions. In treatment I feed supplementation was 8 kg of concentrate per cow and day; while, in treatment II animals were fed with 4 kg of concentrate and 5 kg DM of leguminous forages. Treatment III supplementation was 4 kg of concentrate and a grass-leguminous forage mixture ad libitum. The experiment was carried out during 10 weeks and an individual milk production control was realised every day during this time. Results don"t show significant differences (p³0,05) for individual production neither accumulated one respecting the three proposed treatments. The study of gross margin according to treatment don’t show significant differences (p³0,05). However, simulation analysis of scenes for treatment I shows a high sensibility to modify the price of variable factor (concentrate). On the other hand, the treatment II showed superior margin and high stability to the price variation for inputs and outputs, and so was the treatment of choice in all the scenes simulated independently of milk and concentrate prices.Se estudió la utilización de leguminosas forrajeras tropicales como sustitutivo parcial del concentrado en la producción lechera y su viabilidad en la región noroeste de la República Dominicana. Se utilizan 12 vacas lecheras (cruces de Holstein con Pardo Suizo y Jersey) en un diseño experimental aleatorio con tres tratamientos y cuatro repeticiones. En el tratamiento I se suplementa con 8 kg de concentrado por vaca y día; en tanto que, en el tratamiento II se suplementan con 4 kg de concentrado y 5 kg de materia seca (MS) de una leguminosa forrajera tropical. En el tratamiento III se aporta una suplementación de 4 kg de concentrado y una asociación de una gramínea y otra leguminosa tropical ad libitum. La experiencia se desarrolló durante 10 semanas y cada día se realizó el control lechero individual. Los resultados muestran la ausencia de diferencias significativas (p³0,05) en la producción individual y acumulada respecto a los tres tratamientos propuestos. Al enfrentar el margen bruto respecto al tratamiento no se observan diferencias significativas (p³0,05). No obstante el análisis de simulación de escenarios muestra que el tratamiento I es muy sensible a la modificación del precio del factor variable (concentrado). Por otro lado, el tratamiento II presenta margen superior y alta estabilidad ante la variación de los precios de los insumos/productos y se muestra como tratamiento de elección en todos los escenarios simulados independientemente de los precios de la leche y el concentrado

Human capital as a factor of growth and employment at the regional level. The case of Spain

We use statistical techniques to quantify the effects of school attainment on individual wages, participation rates and employment probabilities in Spain, and to measure the contribution of education to labour productivity at the regional level. These estimates are then combined with data on private and public expenditure on education and with information on taxes and social benefits to construct measures of the private and social returns to schooling, to explore the effects of public policies on private incentives to invest in human capital, and to analyse the long-term effects of schooling on public finances. The results are used, together with estimates of the returns to alternative assets, to draw some tentative conclusions regarding the adequacy of the aggregate investment patterns observed in the regions of Spain, and to identify changes in the design of national and EU cohesion and growth policies that may help enhance their effectiveness

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Decorated with Carbosilane Dendrons as New Non-viral Oligonucleotide Delivery Carriers

A novel nanosystem based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles covered with carbosilane dendrons grafted on the external surface of the nanoparticles is reported. This system is able to transport single-stranded oligonucleotide into cells, avoiding an electrostatic repulsion between the cell membrane and the negatively charged nucleic acids thanks to the cationic charge provided by the dendron coating under physiological conditions. Moreover, the presence of the highly ordered pore network inside the silica matrix would make possible to allocate other therapeutic agents within the mesopores with the aim of achieving a double delivery. First, carbosilane dendrons of second and third generation possessing ammonium or tertiary amine groups as peripheral functional groups were prepared. Hence, different strategies were tested in order to obtain their suitable grafting on the outer surface of the nanoparticles. As nucleic acid model, a single-stranded DNA oligonucleotide tagged with a fluorescent Cy3 moiety was used to evaluate the DNA adsorption capacity. The hybrid material functionalised with the third generation of a neutral dendron showed excellent DNA binding properties. Finally, the cytotoxicity as well as the capability to deliver DNA into cells, was tested in vitro by using a human osteoblast-like cell line, achieving good levels of internalisation of the vector DNA/carbosilane dendron-functionalised material without affecting the cellular viability

Study of non-covalent interactions on dendriplex formation: Influence of hydrophobic, electrostatic and hydrogen bonds interactions

The interaction of a double stranded small interference RNA (siRNA Nef) with cationic carbosilane dendrimers of generations 1-3 with two different ammonium functions at the periphery ([-NMe2R](+), R=Me, (CH2)(2)OH) has been studied by experimental techniques (zeta potential, electrophoresis, single molecule pulling experiments) and molecular dynamic calculations. These studies state the presence of different forces on dendriplex formation, depending on generation and type of ammonium group. Whilst for higher dendrimers electrostatic forces mainly drive the stability of dendriplexes, first generation compounds can penetrate into siRNA strands due to the establishment of hydrophobic interactions. Finally, in the particular case of first generation dendrimer [G(1)O(3)(NMe2(CH2)(2)OH))(6)](6+); the presence of hydroxyl groups reinforces dendriplex stability by hydrogen bonds formation. However, since these small dendrimers do not cover the RNA, only higher generation derivatives protect RNA from degradation.University of Alcalá; Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN); Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón; Universitat de Barcelon

Burden of disease in young population of a colombian health insurance company

To estimate the burden of disease of population between 10-24 years old enrolled in the SER JOVEN program of a Colombian insurance company using disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). Incidences were estimated from the administrative claims data of Mutual SER EPS. The ICD-10 codes of the main diagnosis were identified and regrouped according to the categories of diseases reported in the global burden of disease (GBD) study. To estimate the years of life lost (YLL), the difference between the age of death and the life expectancy at that age was obtained in a reference mortality population. The years lived with disability (YLD) were obtained by multiplying the estimated morbidity and the disability weights of the GBD 2017. DALYs were calculated by adding YLD and YLLs. We used the information of 512 patients insured to Mutual SER-EPS between 10-24 years, who died during January 2015 to December 2017 from all causes, and the healthcare registers of young people aged 10-24 years residing in 21 municipalities where Mutual SER EPS has presence. In the studied population, premature deaths and disability produced 5,355 DALYs, for 2017. Of these, 67.1% (3,591) of the burden of disease was due to non-communicable causes; followed by communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases (15.9%). The remaining 17% were due to unintentional and vital injuries and unclassified causes. The specific causes with the highest reported burden were substance use disorders and mental disorders, and this relationship remained constant between 2015-2017. In both sexes the first cause was non-communicable diseases; in men, injuries; and in women, communicable, maternal, neonatal diseases. In the analyzed population there was a considerable burden of disease associated with mental disorders and substance use. It is recommended to implement effective strategies that allow prioritizing the diseases that generate the greatest burden