Analyzing Modern Biomolecules: The Revolution of Nucleic-Acid Sequencing-Review

Recent developments have revolutionized the study of biomolecules. Among them are molecular markers, amplification and sequencing of nucleic acids. The latter is classified into three generations. The first allows to sequence small DNA fragments. The second one increases throughput, reducing turnaround and pricing, and is therefore more convenient to sequence full genomes and transcriptomes. The third generation is currently pushing technology to its limits, being able to sequence single molecules, without previous amplification, which was previously impossible. Besides, this represents a new revolution, allowing researchers to directly sequence RNA without previous retrotranscription. These technologies are having a significant impact on different areas, such as medicine, agronomy, ecology and biotechnology. Additionally, the study of biomolecules is revealing interesting evolutionary information. That includes deciphering what makes us human, including phenomena like non-coding RNA expansion. All this is redefining the concept of gene and transcript. Basic analyses and applications are now facilitated with new genome editing tools, such as CRISPR. All these developments, in general, and nucleic-acid sequencing, in particular, are opening a new exciting era of biomolecule analyses and applications, including personalized medicine, and diagnosis and prevention of diseases for humans and other animals

Rendimiento agronómico de ocho cultivares de yacón (Smallanthus sonchifolius [Poepp. & Endl.] H. Rob.) provenientes del norte peruano

Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) is a promising crop due to the nutraceutical properties of its roots and leaves. The objective of the study was to evaluate the fresh root and dry matter yield of eight yacon cultivars from northern Peru. The cultivars (treatments) were planted in a randomized complete block design, with three replications. Planting was carried out at 0.5 m between plants and 1.0 m between rows. The following variables were evaluated: number, fresh weight and total dry weight of roots, number, fresh weight and dry weight of commercial roots, fresh weight and dry weight of crown, fresh weight and dry weight of foliage, plant height, number of stems, leaf area at full flowering, allocation of dry matter to the three parts of the plant (roots, crown and foliage) and harvest index. Analysis of variance was performed for all variables and Tukey's test at 5 % for the variables that showed statistically significant differences. Highly significant differences were found among cultivars for fifteen variables related to yield and the cultivars with better performance were identified according to potential utility: I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VIII for total root weight; I, II, IV, V, VIII for commercial root weight; II, IV and VIII for commercial root dry matter. Dry matter allocation was mainly toward the crown (47 % to 65 %) and the harvest index ranged from 22 % to 40 %. Sixteen simple correlations between the variables under study were highly significant (p ≤ 0.01). The germplasm under study showed high potential to be used in productivity improvement.El yacón (Smallanthus sonchifolius) es un cultivo promisorio por las propiedades nutracéuticas de sus raíces y hojas. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el rendimiento de raíces frescas y materia seca de ocho cultivares de yacón del norte peruano. Los cultivares (tratamientos) fueron sembrados en diseño de bloques completos al azar, con tres repeticiones. La siembra se realizó a 0,5 m entre plantas y 1,0 m entre surcos. Se evaluaron las variables:  número, peso fresco y peso seco total de raíces, número, peso fresco y peso seco de raíces comerciales, peso fresco y peso seco de la corona, peso fresco y peso seco del follaje, altura de planta, número de tallos, área foliar en plena floración, asignación de la materia seca a las tres partes de la planta (raíces, corona y follaje) e índice de cosecha. Se realizó el análisis de varianza para todas las variables y la prueba de Tukey al 5 %, para las variables que resultaron con diferencias estadísticamente significativas. Se encontraron diferencias altamente significativas entre cultivares, para quince variables relacionadas con el rendimiento y se identificaron los mejores cultivares según la utilidad potencial: I, II, III, IV, V, VI y VIII para peso total de raíces; I, II, IV, V, VIII para peso de raíces comerciales; II, IV y VIII para materia seca de raíces comerciales. La asignación de la materia seca fue principalmente hacia la corona (47 % a 65 %) y el índice de cosecha fluctuó de 22 % a 40 %. Dieciséis correlaciones simples entre las variables en estudio, resultaron altamente significativas (p ≤ 0,01). El germoplasma en estudio mostró alto potencial para su uso en el mejoramiento de la productividad

Contenido de antocianinas en coronta y brácteas de seis cultivares de maíz morado (Zea mays L.) del Perú

Se evaluó el contenido de antocianinas de la coronta y las brácteas de seis cultivares de maíz morado (Zea mays L.): INIA 601, INIA 615, PM-581, UNC 47, Canteño y Morado mejorado en seis localidades. El diseño experimental fue de bloques al azar con cuatro repeticiones por cultivar. Las muestras constaron de 0,30 g de coronta y 0,40 de brácteas molidas. La cuantificación de antocianinas se efectuó de acuerdo al método de Fuleki y Francis (1968). Se realizó un ANOVA y las medias de los tratamientos se compararon con la prueba de Duncan. Se observó significación estadística (p < 0,05) para los seis cultivares en el contenido de antocianinas en coronta y brácteas. Los cultivares INIA 601, UNC 47 y Morado mejorado destacaron, con valores de 6,10% a 6,38% de antocianinas para coronta y 2,01% a 2,92% de antocianinas para brácteas

The number of tree species on Earth.

One of the most fundamental questions in ecology is how many species inhabit the Earth. However, due to massive logistical and financial challenges and taxonomic difficulties connected to the species concept definition, the global numbers of species, including those of important and well-studied life forms such as trees, still remain largely unknown. Here, based on global ground-sourced data, we estimate the total tree species richness at global, continental, and biome levels. Our results indicate that there are ∼73,000 tree species globally, among which ∼9,000 tree species are yet to be discovered. Roughly 40% of undiscovered tree species are in South America. Moreover, almost one-third of all tree species to be discovered may be rare, with very low populations and limited spatial distribution (likely in remote tropical lowlands and mountains). These findings highlight the vulnerability of global forest biodiversity to anthropogenic changes in land use and climate, which disproportionately threaten rare species and thus, global tree richness

The number of tree species on Earth.

One of the most fundamental questions in ecology is how many species inhabit the Earth. However, due to massive logistical and financial challenges and taxonomic difficulties connected to the species concept definition, the global numbers of species, including those of important and well-studied life forms such as trees, still remain largely unknown. Here, based on global ground-sourced data, we estimate the total tree species richness at global, continental, and biome levels. Our results indicate that there are ∼73,000 tree species globally, among which ∼9,000 tree species are yet to be discovered. Roughly 40% of undiscovered tree species are in South America. Moreover, almost one-third of all tree species to be discovered may be rare, with very low populations and limited spatial distribution (likely in remote tropical lowlands and mountains). These findings highlight the vulnerability of global forest biodiversity to anthropogenic changes in land use and climate, which disproportionately threaten rare species and thus, global tree richness

Efecto de los antimaláricos sobre los diferentes dominios del índice de daño SLICC en pacientes de la cohorte GLADEL

Objetivos: estimar el efecto de los antimaláricos (AM) sobre los diferentes dominios del índice de daño SLICC (SDI). Métodos: se estudiaron pacientes con diagnóstico clínico reciente (≤2 años) de lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) de la cohorte GLADEL

4to. Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad. Memoria académica

Este volumen acoge la memoria académica de la Cuarta edición del Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad, CITIS 2017, desarrollado entre el 29 de noviembre y el 1 de diciembre de 2017 y organizado por la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana (UPS) en su sede de Guayaquil. El Congreso ofreció un espacio para la presentación, difusión e intercambio de importantes investigaciones nacionales e internacionales ante la comunidad universitaria que se dio cita en el encuentro. El uso de herramientas tecnológicas para la gestión de los trabajos de investigación como la plataforma Open Conference Systems y la web de presentación del Congreso http://citis.blog.ups.edu.ec/, hicieron de CITIS 2017 un verdadero referente entre los congresos que se desarrollaron en el país. La preocupación de nuestra Universidad, de presentar espacios que ayuden a generar nuevos y mejores cambios en la dimensión humana y social de nuestro entorno, hace que se persiga en cada edición del evento la presentación de trabajos con calidad creciente en cuanto a su producción científica. Quienes estuvimos al frente de la organización, dejamos plasmado en estas memorias académicas el intenso y prolífico trabajo de los días de realización del Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad al alcance de todos y todas

The IDENTIFY study: the investigation and detection of urological neoplasia in patients referred with suspected urinary tract cancer - a multicentre observational study

Objective To evaluate the contemporary prevalence of urinary tract cancer (bladder cancer, upper tract urothelial cancer [UTUC] and renal cancer) in patients referred to secondary care with haematuria, adjusted for established patient risk markers and geographical variation. Patients and Methods This was an international multicentre prospective observational study. We included patients aged ≥16 years, referred to secondary care with suspected urinary tract cancer. Patients with a known or previous urological malignancy were excluded. We estimated the prevalence of bladder cancer, UTUC, renal cancer and prostate cancer; stratified by age, type of haematuria, sex, and smoking. We used a multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression to adjust cancer prevalence for age, type of haematuria, sex, smoking, hospitals, and countries. Results Of the 11 059 patients assessed for eligibility, 10 896 were included from 110 hospitals across 26 countries. The overall adjusted cancer prevalence (n = 2257) was 28.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 22.3–34.1), bladder cancer (n = 1951) 24.7% (95% CI 19.1–30.2), UTUC (n = 128) 1.14% (95% CI 0.77–1.52), renal cancer (n = 107) 1.05% (95% CI 0.80–1.29), and prostate cancer (n = 124) 1.75% (95% CI 1.32–2.18). The odds ratios for patient risk markers in the model for all cancers were: age 1.04 (95% CI 1.03–1.05; P < 0.001), visible haematuria 3.47 (95% CI 2.90–4.15; P < 0.001), male sex 1.30 (95% CI 1.14–1.50; P < 0.001), and smoking 2.70 (95% CI 2.30–3.18; P < 0.001). Conclusions A better understanding of cancer prevalence across an international population is required to inform clinical guidelines. We are the first to report urinary tract cancer prevalence across an international population in patients referred to secondary care, adjusted for patient risk markers and geographical variation. Bladder cancer was the most prevalent disease. Visible haematuria was the strongest predictor for urinary tract cancer