Cinnamic acid, ethanol and temperature interaction on coumarate decarboxylase activity and the relative expression of the putative cd gene in D. bruxellensis

Dekkera bruxellensis is one of the main contaminating yeasts in wine due to its ability to metabolize cinnamic acids into volatile phenols. This yeast metabolizes p-coumaric acid into 4-vinylphenol through a coumarate decarboxylase (CD) and then transforms it into to 4-ethylphenol (EF) through a vinylphenol reductase. In this work we investigated the influence of the interaction between the concentration of p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid and ethanol as well as growth temperature on the production of CD activity and the expression of a putative gene that codes for this enzymatic activity. For this, a Box Behnken experimental design was used. The concentration of p-coumaric acid (5-26 ppm) and ferulic acid (3-9 ppm) alone did not show any significant effect on any of the studied response variables. However, the interaction between (ethanol concentration * cinnamic acid concentration) and (ethanol concentration * temperature) had a significant statistical effect on the production of CD activity. Additionally, a higher growth temperature negatively affected the expression of the putative cd gene and the production of CD activity. This is the first work that studies the effect of cinnamic acids on the production of CD activity and the relative expression of its putative gene, using natural concentrations of cinnamic acid found in wine

Gene expression of specific enological traits in wine fermentation

Background: Wine fermentation is a dynamic process and yeast has a precise genic regulation system that allow them to coordinate the gene transcription levels. However, the fermentation stage at which there is a great variation in the genic expression associated to a particular enological trait is often unknown and there are no simple experimental approaches to define it. Results: To identify the most adequate stage in which to evaluate the expression of the genes associated to specific enological traits we identified three stages of fermentation using the industrial strain EC1118. These stages, called early (0-16.4 hrs), middle (16.4-88.7 hrs) and late (88.7 hrs onwards), were characterized according to changes in the speed of CO2 production. The greatest nitrogen consumption velocity (1.016 g/L h) was achieved in the early stage. The most significant changes in the consumption of sugar and ethanol production acceleration occurred in the middle stage, and the greatest velocity of ethanol production (0.043%/h) and fructose consumption (0.338 g/L h) occurred in the late stage. The expression profiles for a set of genes characteristic of these processes were clearly defined during the stages of fermentation: identifying a peak for the genes related to the consumption of nitrogen during the early stage, followed by an increase in the expression of genes related to the consumption of sugars in the middle stage. Finally, during the late stage there is a decrease in the expression of genes involved in the consumption of sugar, except for HXT3 the levels of which remain high. Conclusions: The kinetic and transcriptional profiles of the enological traits under study are clearly distinct and each is associated to a particular stage of the fermentation. Our results confirm that CO2 production is a simple parameter to estimate the stages of the fermentation. Therefore, using the kinetics of CO2 loss it is possible to select the most adequate moment to study the expression of genes associated to the main enological traits: sugar consumption and production of nitrogen and ethanol

Nutritional condition and gonad development of juvenile and subadult California spiny lobster Panulirus interruptus in two habitats

The nutritional condition of juveniles and subadults of the California spiny lobster (Panulirus interruptus) from 2 sites along the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula, near each other but with contrasting environmental conditions were compared. The northern site presents subtropical environmental conditions and the southern has semi-temperate. The hepatosomatic and blood refractive indices and proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates from the hepatopancreas in 62 lobsters were assayed. Gonad development of the lobsters between the 2 sites was compared. The hepatosomatic index and lipids of the lobsters at each site were different. The nutritional condition indices are affected by gonad development tied to the reserves needed for maturation of the gonads. Nutritional condition and gonad development are strongly related to environmental conditions. This is key to efforts in spiny lobster fishery management.Se analizó la condición nutricional y el desarrollo gonádico de juveniles y sub-adultos de langosta roja (Panulirus interruptus) en 2 sitios de la Península de Baja California cercanos geográficamente, pero con condiciones ambientales contrastantes, el más norteño con condiciones subtropicales y el sureño con condiciones semitempladas. Se estimaron el índice hepatosomático y el índice refractivo de la sangre, y se cuantificaron las proteínas, lípidos y carbohidratos del hepatopáncreas en 62 langostas. Adicionalmente, se comparó el desarrollo gonádico de los organismos en ambos sitios. El índice hepatosomático y la cuantificación de lípidos mostraron que la condición nutricional de los organismos fue diferente en cada sitio. Se observó que los índices de condición nutricional son afectados por el desarrollo gonádico debido al uso de reservas para la maduración de las gónadas. La condición nutricional y el desarrollo gonádico están fuertemente relacionados con las condiciones ambientales donde se encuentran las langostas, lo cual es información útil para el manejo de la pesquería de P. interruptus

Comparison of ecological diversity and species composition of macroalgae, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fish assemblages between two tropical rocky reefs

Within the marine environment, the rocky shores are recognized for their high species diversity and particularly transitional zones represent areas of biotic mix, promoted by historical and ecological natural variations that allow the presence of taxa from different regions and which present dissimilar biological traits. An extensive survey describes the benthic macroalgae, macroinvertebrates (molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms), and fish assemblages at two rocky reefs, Islas Marietas and near Tehuamixtle, in a tropical-temperate transitional zone in the Pacific waters of central Mexico using traditional ecological indices (richness, diversity, and evenness) and complementary taxonomic distinctness indices. Biological material inside each of ten randomly-chosen quadrants (25 × 25 cm) placed along two 50 m transects oriented parallel to the coastline, between 6 and 2 m depth was collected. From field collections, 204 species were identified: macroalgae (22), molluscs (55), crustaceans (78), echinoderms (11), and fish (38). The structure of macroalgae, macroinvertebrates and fishes was similar between sites. Species of macroalgae, molluscs, and fishes were more diverse in summer; crustaceans and echinoderms were more diverse in winter. Our results and the literature suggest a latitudinal pattern of lower seasonal changes in echinoderms and crustaceans at high latitudes, as compared to southern regions of the Mexican tropical Pacific.En el medio marino, las costas rocosas son reconocidas por su alta diversidad de especies y particularmente las zonas de transición representan áreas de mezcla biótica, provocado por las variaciones naturales históricas y ecológicas que permiten la presencia de taxones de diferentes regiones y que presentan rasgos biológicos diferentes. Un estudio intensivo permitió describir los ensambles de macroalgas, macroinvertebrados (moluscos, crustáceos y equinodermos) y de peces en dos arrecifes rocosos: Islas Marietas y Tehuamixtle, en la zona de transición tropical-templado en el norte del Pacífico de México, utilizando índices ecológicos tradicionales (riqueza, diversidad y uniformidad) y complementando con índices de distinción taxonómica. Se colectó el material biológico de 10 cuadrantes (25 × 25 cm) ubicados aleatoriamente a lo largo de dos transectos de 50 m paralelos a la línea de costa, a una profundidad de entre 6 y 12 m. Se identificaron 204 especies: 22 macroalgas, 55 moluscos, 78 crustáceos, 11 equinodermos y 38 peces. La estructura de la comunidad de macroalgas, macroinvertebrados y peces fue similar entre los sitios. Macroalgas, moluscos y peces fueron más diversos en verano y crustáceos y equinodermos fueron más diversos en el invierno. Los resultados y la literatura sugieren un patrón latitudinal de menores cambios estacionales en equinodermos y crustáceos en las altas respecto a bajas latitudes en el Pacífico mexicano

Plasmonic Au@Pd Nanorods with Boosted Refractive Index Susceptibility and SERS Efficiency: A Multifunctional Platform for Hydrogen Sensing and Monitoring of Catalytic Reactions

Palladium nanoparticles (NPs) have received tremendous attention over the years due to their high catalytic activity for various chemical reactions. However, unlike other noble metal nanoparticles such as Au and Ag NPs, they exhibit poor plasmonic properties with broad extinction spectra and less scattering efficiency, and thus limiting their applications in the field of plasmonics. Therefore, it has been challenging to integrate tunable and strong plasmonic properties into catalytic Pd nanoparticles. Here we show that plasmonic Au@Pd nanorods (NRs) with relatively narrow and remarkably tunable optical responses in the NIR region can be obtained by directional growth of Pd on penta-twinned Au NR seeds. We found the presence of bromide ions facilitates the stabilization of facets for the directional growth of Pd shell to obtain Au@Pd nanorods (NR) with controlled length scales. Interestingly, it turns out the Au NR supported Pd NRs exhibit much narrow extinction compared to pure Pd NRs, which makes them suitable for plasmonic sensing applications. Moreover, these nanostructures display, to the best of our knowledge, one of the highest ensemble refractive index sensitivity values reported to date (1067 nm per refractive index unit, RIU). Additionally, we showed the application of such plasmonic Au@Pd NRs for localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)-based sensing of hydrogen both in solution as well as on substrate. Finally, we demonstrate the integration of excellent plasmonic properties in catalytic palladium enables the <i>in situ</i> monitoring of a reaction progress by surface-enhanced Raman scattering. We postulate the proposed approach to boost the plasmonic properties of Pd nanoparticles will ignite the design of complex shaped plasmonic Pd NPs to be used in various plasmonic applications such as sensing and <i>in situ</i> monitoring of various chemical reactions

Procedimiento para incrementar la conductividad el\ue9ctrica de un material de carbono mesoporoso ordenado y material obtenibile a partir de dicho procedimiento

Procedimiento para incrementar la conductividad el\ue9ctrica de un material de carbono mesoporoso ordenado y material obtenible a partir de dicho procedimiento. La presente invenci\uf3n se refiere a un procedimiento para incrementar la conductividad el\ue9ctrica de un material de carbono mesoporoso ordenado (CMK-3) obtenido mediante la t\ue9cnica de nanomoldeo, donde dicho procedimiento comprende tratar t\ue9rmicamente en atm\uf3sfera inerte dicho material de carbono mesoporoso ordenado. Asimismo, es objeto de la invenci\uf3n el material obtenible a partir de dicho procedimiento, un procedimiento para la obtenci\uf3n de un electrocatalizador a partir de dicho material y su uso para la obtenci\uf3n de un ensamblaje membrana/electrod

Diversidad de ma\uedz en la sierra sur de Oaxaca, M\ue9xico: conocimiento y manejo tradicional

The state of Oaxaca represents an important pool of maize in Mexico. Previous studies have indicated the presence of many local varieties and agronomic races, mainly at the Northern Sierra and Central Valleys. The Southern Sierra has not been studied, in spite of the presence of indigenous Zapotec communities, which cultivate maize, among other crops, and have preserved local varieties. The present study is focused on the following questions: Which is the maize diversity, in terms of traditional varieties and agronomic races, in the Zapotec region of Los Loxicha? Does Maize diversity follow a pattern of distribution along an altitudinal interval? Which practices promote, and maintain this diversity? To answer these questions, we conducted a study within five municipalities at the Southern part of Oaxaca. During 2007, structured interviews were applied to 930 farmers in order to obtain a descriptive process of seed management. Morphological characterization of agronomic races was based on ear specimens obtained from a sample of 375 "milpas", with 20 plants per "milpa". High levels of local maize diversity were recorder, with 36 traditional varieties belonging to 10 races. Races exhibited differences in terms of phenotypic variation, and altitudinal distribution, and some could indicate local adaptation. People practice some ancestral management of ear and seed selection, thus maintaining differentiation among varieties and agronomic races. Nevertheless, sowing many local varieties in the same field, promotes gene flow and introgression among them, maintaining, and promoting phenotypic and genetic diversity.El estado de Oaxaca representa un importante acervo de maíz en México. Estudios previos han indicado la presencia de muchas variedades locales y razas agronómicas en la Sierra Norte y Valles Centrales. La Sierra Sur ha sido poco estudiada a pesar de la presencia de comunidades indígenas zapotecas, las cuales cultivan maíz, entre otras especies, y han preservado las variedades locales. El presente estudio responde a las siguientes preguntas: ¿cuál es la diversidad de maíz en términos de variedades tradicionales y razas agronómicas en la región zapoteca de Los Loxicha?, ¿la diversidad de maíz sigue un patrón de distribución a lo largo de un gradiente altitudinal?, ¿cuáles prácticas promueven y mantienen esta diversidad? Para contestar estas preguntas se realizó un estudio en cinco municipios de la Sierra Sur de Oaxaca. Durante 2007 se aplicaron entrevistas estructuradas a 930 agricultores para describir el proceso de manejo de semilla. La caracterización morfológica de las razas agronómicas se basó en muestras de mazorcas obtenidas en 375 milpas, con 20 plantas por milpa. Se encontraron altos niveles de diversidad local de maíz, con 36 variedades tradicionales correspondientes a 10 razas agronómicas. Las razas exhibieron diferencias en términos de variación fenotípica, distribución altitudinal y algunas muestran adaptación local. Los agricultores practican algunas formas de manejo ancestral para la selección de mazorcas y semillas, manteniendo, así, ciertos niveles de diferenciación entre las variedades y las razas agronómicas. Sin embargo, al sembrar diferentes variedades dentro de la misma parcela, se promueve el flujo génico y la introgresión entre ellas, manteniendo y promoviendo la diversidad fenotípica y genética

Reduced Cancer Incidence in Huntington's Disease: Analysis in the Registry Study

Background: People with Huntington's disease (HD) have been observed to have lower rates of cancers. Objective: To investigate the relationship between age of onset of HD, CAG repeat length, and cancer diagnosis. Methods: Data were obtained from the European Huntington's disease network REGISTRY study for 6540 subjects. Population cancer incidence was ascertained from the GLOBOCAN database to obtain standardised incidence ratios of cancers in the REGISTRY subjects. Results: 173/6528 HD REGISTRY subjects had had a cancer diagnosis. The age-standardised incidence rate of all cancers in the REGISTRY HD population was 0.26 (CI 0.22-0.30). Individual cancers showed a lower age-standardised incidence rate compared with the control population with prostate and colorectal cancers showing the lowest rates. There was no effect of CAG length on the likelihood of cancer, but a cancer diagnosis within the last year was associated with a greatly increased rate of HD onset (Hazard Ratio 18.94, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Cancer is less common than expected in the HD population, confirming previous reports. However, this does not appear to be related to CAG length in HTT. A recent diagnosis of cancer increases the risk of HD onset at any age, likely due to increased investigation following a cancer diagnosis