Rèseaux urbains en Amèrique Latine: Nouveaux enjeux dáprès la connexion aèrienne des villes

The paper introduces the situation of Latin American urban system, analyzing the growth population, using primarily air transportation as an indicator of territorial structure and cohesion. Air transportation connectivity measures are recently used, as well, to assess the inclusion of the nodes on the global arena, as it is also the purpose of this study. Permanencies and changes in the Latin American and Caribbean urban system will be highlight using quantitative methodologies based on descriptive statistical operations. The aim of our work will be to identify those nodes that burst on the urban scene and those destined to play a global role as main linkages between the region and the world.El trabajo presenta la situación actual del sistema urbano latinoamericano mediante el análisis de su evolución demográfica y utiliza el transporte aéreo como un indicador significativo de la vertebración y la cohesión regional. También se utilizan medidas de conectividad aérea para valorar la inserción de los nodos latinoamericanos en el escenario global. Mediante metodologías cuantitativas basadas en operaciones de estadística descriptiva se ponen de manifiesto los cambios y permanencias que se han producido en el sistema urbano de América Latina y del Caribe durante las últimas décadas, con objeto de identificar nuevas relevancias en el sistema urbano y la existencia de nodos que tienden a cumplir, cada vez más, una función global, actuando como centros de conexión necesaria entre esta región y el resto del mundo.Ce travail présente l’actualité du réseau urbain latinoaméricain d’après l’analyse de la dinamique démographique récente et du transport aérien comme indicateur de l’articulation regionale. On s’aide de certaines mesures de liaisons aériennes à la fin de découvrir le branchement des nodes latinoaméricains dans un scénario mondial. D’après une méthodologie quantitative qui se sers de l’estatistique descriptive on essaie de relever des changements ou des permanences à l’intérieur des systèmes urbains lors des dernières décennies à l’object d’envisager de nouvelles significations pour les villes dans un contexte de mondialisation

Down-regulation of a pectin acetylesterase gene modifies strawberry fruit cell wall pectin stracture and increases fruit firmness

Antisense-mediated down-regulation of several fruit-specific genes has previously demonstrated how the cell wall disassembly in strawberry fruit is mediated by a series of enzymes that act sequentially (Posé et al. 2011). An interesting example, the silencing of the polygalacturonase gene FaPG1, was also related with a significant increase of the post-harvest strawberry fruit firmness (Posé et al. 2013). Our research group has isolated a pectin acetylesterase gene, FaPAE1, which expression is enhanced during strawberry ripening. The main goal of this work was to elucidate the role of the degree of acetylation in cell wall integrity and fruit firmness through the antisense-mediated down-regulation of FaPAE1 in strawberry plants. Several transgenics lines were generated and 5 of them produced fruits 5-15% firmer than controls. Cell wall from ripe fruits was isolated from two independent transgenic lines and a control line, and sequentially extracted with different solvents (PAW, H2O, CDTA, Na2CO3). Modifications in fraction yield, its sugar composition and the degree of acetylation in each fraction were determined. Higher amounts of CDTA and Na2CO3 fractions were obtained in transgenic fruits, suggesting a decreased pectin solubilization as results of FaPAE1 silencing. Accordingly, the degree of acetylation of the Na2CO3-soluble pectins was greater in the transgenic lines than the control, but the opposite result was found in pectins from the CDTA fraction. These results suggest that PAE is preferentially active in pectis that are tightly bound to the cellulose-hemicellulose network and its activity could reduce the complexity of the cell wall structure, allowing that other hydrolytic enzymes could access the pectin chains. Thus, the increased fruit firmness observed in the transgenic FaPAE1 lines could be attributed to the direct effect of the silencing of the PAE enzyme and also to the indirect effect that the increase of the degree of acetylation of pectins has on the activity of other enzymes involved in the cell wall degradation. * Posé et al. (2011). Genes, Genomes and Genomics, 5 (Special Issue 1):40-48 * Posé et al. (2013). Plant Physiology, 150: 1022-1032 We acknowledge support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and competitivity and Feder EU Funds (grant reference AGL2011-24814), FPI fellowships support for SP (BES-2006-13626) and CP (BES-2009027985), and grant "Ramón y Cajal" support for AJMA (RYC-2011-08839).Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Globalización, movilidad y análisis de conectividad aérea: una herramienta para la práctica interdisciplinar

This paper explores the interconnected relationship between Geography and Social Anthropology in the study of social and spatial phenomena. It argues that the informed and combined use of quantitative and qualitative research techniques, like air connectivity analysis and ethnographic fieldwork, are fundamental in the understanding of socioeconomic globalization processes, and particularly in those characterized by mobility. The study of air mobility in Mexico highlights the existence of multi-scalar and multi-functional patterns of relations that are vital to explain the situated dynamics of the social and territorial relations that have followed the country’s adoption of neoliberal policies. And specifically, to analyze processes as regional adjustments, labour migration, tourism, development and underdevelopment, spatial fixation, as well as homogenization and cultural hybridization.Este trabajo explora la interconexión entre enfoques y metodologías procedentes de la Geografía y de la Antropología Social con vistas al estudio de fenómenos sociales y espaciales. Plantea cómo la utilización conjunta e informada de técnicas de investigación cuantitativas, como los análisis de conectividad área, y cualitativas, como el trabajo de campo etnográfico, resulta fundamental para el entendimiento de procesos de globalización socio-económica marcados por la movilidad. El estudio de la movilidad aérea en México revela la existencia de patrones de relaciones multi-escalares y multi-funcionales que son clave para explicar la dinámica de relaciones sociales y territoriales concretas en el contexto de la inserción mexicana en las políticas neoliberales. Concretamente, para analizar los impactos locales de reajustes en el ordenamiento regional, las migraciones laborales, el turismo, los procesos de desarrollo/subdesarrollo así como los procesos de uniformización y de hibridación cultural

Distance of the alveolar antral artery from the alveolar crest. Related factors and surgical considerations in sinus floor elevation

In a variable proportion of maxillary sinuses alveolar antral artery is located close to the residual ridge, increasing the chances for haemorrhagic complications during sinus floor elevation procedures. Retrospective observational study of CBCT explorations performed for implant-treatment planning. The upper first molar area was selected for this study. The relative uncertainty (standard deviation of the measurement divided by its mean and expressed as a percentage from 0% to 100%) was chosen for determining the observational errors. For modeling the chances of AAA detection, the generalized additive models (GAM) approach was chosen. A total of 240 maxillary sinuses were studied (46.25% males) whose median median age was 58 years old (IQR: 52-66). Univariate models showed that the chances for an AAA-alvelar crest distance ?15mm increase in wider sinuses with lower, subsinusally edentulous crests. When distance is considered as a continuous variable, the best mutivariate model showed an explained deviance of 67% and included AAA diameter, distance AAA-sinus floor, sinus width, and shape, height and width of the residual ridge. Thinner AAAs are found closer to the crest (within the ?15mm safe distance). Bearing in mind the inclusion criteria and the limitations of this investigation, it is concluded that there is a high proportion of maxillary sinuses where AAA describes a course close to the alveolar crest (?15mm), which was classically considered a safe distance for SFE. This position is related to the presence of atrophic crests (depressed ridge form) and wide maxillary sinuses where the distance of the vessel to the floor of the sinus is small. This information may permit a better surgical planning of SFE procedures

Efecto del silenciamiento de genes que codifican poligalacturonasas sobre el reblandecimiento del fruto de fresa asociado a la maduración

La degradación de las pectinas de la pared celular mediada por poligalacturonasas juega un papel clave en el reblandecimiento de la fresa. Así, el silenciamiento del gen FaPG1 incrementa la firmeza del fruto maduro y alarga su vida postcosecha. Además de FaPG1, en fresa se ha descrito otro gen que codifica una poligalacturonasa específica de maduración, FaPG2. Con el fin de profundizar en el papel de estos genes, se han obtenido plantas transgénicas con el gen FaPG2 silenciado (líneas BPG), así como plantas con FaPG1 y FaPG2 silenciados (líneas ABPG), obtenidas mediante retransformación de una línea antiFaPG1 (APG29) que mostraba un fuerte silenciamiento del gen y un incremento en la firmeza de fruto. Se obtuvieron 24 líneas BPG y 15 ABPG. Estas plantas, junto con la línea APG29 y controles sin transformar, fueron analizadas durante 3 años consecutivos. El 50% de las líneas BPG mostraron mayor firmeza de fruto rojo que el control sin transformar, aunque el incremento en firmeza fue similar al obtenido en la línea APG29. Todas las líneas dobles transformantes dieron frutos de mayor firmeza que el control, siendo los valores ligeramente superiores a los de la línea APG29 en alguna de ellas. A nivel de expresión, las líneas BPG seleccionadas mostraron un silenciamiento del gen FaPG2 que varió entre el 60-70%, e inesperadamente, un silenciamiento significativo de FaPG1, a pesar de la baja homología entre ambos genes. El silenciamiento de FaPG1 en las líneas ABPG fue superior al 95%; sin embargo, el silenciamiento de FaPG2 fue similar al obtenido en las plantas BPG. Estos resultados confirman el papel clave de las poligalacturonasas en el reblandecimiento de la fresa y sugieren la existencia de una regulación compleja en la expresión de ambos genes. Este trabajo ha sido financiado por el proyecto AGL2011-24814 y Fondos FEDERUniversidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

A core collection of modified strawberry germplasm as a resource tool for funghi infection and fruit texture studies

Strawberry has been extensively used as a model organism for functional genomics of genes related with fungi infection (Amil-Ruiz et al, 2011) and fruit ripening, specially fruit texture (Posé et al, 2011). These studies implied the genetic transformation and subsequent characterization of a wide range of traits, resulting in a considerable number of lines being created and more or less extensively studied. A preliminary data survey was performed previous publications, laboratory notebooks and project reports. Main categories and the relevant features (like cultivar, transgene sequence, germplasm availability, plant phenotype, experiment results, etc) were identified, establishing the appropriate relationships. The project followed the Chado schema used by the GMOD initiative http://www.gmod.org. The germplasm collection currently hosts two strawberry cultivar (Camarosa and Chandler), nine transgenic lines with resistance genes against fungi infections and over a dozen for fruit texture related genes. Collected information includes in vitro and in planta leaf symptomatology and fungus spore germination, as well as gene expression for each transgene, plant production, fruit color, shape and firmness. Data on cell wall fractionation, pectin and soluble sugars quantification, FT-IR and size exclusion chromatography, AFM pectin structure characterization and Immunohistological analysis. The intrinsic value of these studies makes necessary to preserve both the germplasm and the data generated, and to make it available to the community for further study and reuse. Community driven formats will facilitate the use of the data in new. studies. The present project aims to increase the value of the transgenic strawberry plants in the collection, using standard data formats and open source tools to facilitate access to the research and breeding communities as well as to facilitate the distribution of the germplasm.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. AGL2011-2481

Pyridazino-pyrrolo-quinoxalinium salts as highly potent and selective leishmanicidal agents targeting trypanothione reductase

Fifteen pyridazino-pyrrolo-quinoxalinium salts were synthesized and tested for their antiprotozoal activity against Leishmania infantum amastigotes. Eleven of them turned out to be leishmanicidal, with EC50 values in the nanomolar range, and displayed low toxicity against the human THP-1 cell line. Selectivity indices for these compounds range from 10 to more than 1000. Compounds 3b and 3f behave as potent inhibitors of the oxidoreductase activity of the essential enzyme trypanothione disulfide reductase (TryR). Interestingly, binding of 3f is not affected by high trypanothione concentrations, as revealed by the noncompetitive pattern of inhibition observed when tested in the presence of increasing concentrations of this substrate. Furthermore, when analyzed at varying NADPH concentrations, the characteristic pattern of hyperbolic uncompetitive inhibition supports the view that binding of NADPH to TryR is a prerequisite for inhibitor-protein association. Similar to other TryR uncompetitive inhibitors for NADPH, 3f is responsible for TryR-dependent reduction of cytochrome c in a reaction that is typically inhibited by superoxide dismutase.Comunidad de MadridMinisterio de Economía y CompetitividadMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidade

New augmentation strategy in depression: Galanin (1-15) enhances the behavioral effects of Fluoxetine in the olfactory bulbectomy rat.

Major depression is the largest contributor to global disability by years lived with disability. Selective serotonergic reuptake inhibitors, including fluoxetine (FLX), are the most commonly used antidepressant for the treatment of major depression. However, they are effective for remission in only 30% of patients. Recently, we observed that the N-terminal fragment of Galanin [GAL(1-15)] enhanced the antidepressant effects of FLX in naïve animals. In this work, we have analyzed in an animal model of depression, the olfactory bulbectomy (OBX) rats, the effect of GAL(1-15) on FLX-mediated responses in the forced swimming test (FST) and the sucrose preference test (SPT), tests related with despair and anhedonic behaviours. We have also studied the corticosterone levels in OBX rats after the coadministration of GAL(1-15)+FLX. Groups of rats received a subchronic pattern of FLX(10mg/Kg) alone or in combination with GAL(1-15)(1nmol)15min before the tests. Blood samples for corticosterone assay were collected 1h after the treatments. One-way ANOVA followed by Fisher ́s least significant difference test was used. Our results show that GAL(1-15) decreases the immobility time by 50% (p<0.05) and increases the swimming time by 30% (p<0.01) compared with FLX in the FST, and in the SPT reversed the effects of the OBX procedure increasing the sucrose intake (p<0.05) and preference (p<0.05). The coadministration of GAL(1-15)(1nmol)+FLX(10mg/kg) also reduced the OBX-increased corticosterone levels by approximately 50% (p<0.05). In conclusion, these novelty results suggest using GAL(1-15) in combination with FLX as a novel strategy fortreating depression.Supported by Spanish Ministry of Economy PID2020-114392RB-I00, PDC2021-121566-I00; Junta de Andalucia P20_00026, PI-0083-2019 and UMA18-FEDERJA-008. Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Influence of the oceanographic conditions during spring 2003 on the transport of the Prestige tanker fuel oil to the Galician coast

Hydrographic data collected during the cruise HIDROPRESTIGE were combined with meteorological and dynamic data provided by remote sensors and drifting/moored buoys, to describe the surface circulation of the Northern Iberian basin in March–April 2003. Sea surface winds transported the floating Prestige oil slicks from the sinking area to the continental slope off the Rías Baixas in 1/2 month: the surface current intensity was 2% of the wind intensity and it was rotated clockwise 5 from the wind direction. Mesoscale cyclonic and anticyclonic structures west of 10º W increased the residence time of oil patches in the Northern Iberian basin, as compared with the expected southwards flow of the Iberian current (IC). On the other hand, the Iberian poleward current (IPC) formed a marked surface front with coastal waters, preventing the entry of fuel oil into the rías. PAHs in the surface layer during the cruise were <0.5 ug L- 1, except in the Galicia bank ( 1 ug L- 1; where the Prestige tanker was still leaking) and the vicinity of Cape Fisterra ( 1.5 ug L -1; where the convergence front between the IPC and coastal waters vanished)

Tuning melatonin receptor subtype selectivity in oxadiazolone-based analogues: Discovery of QR2 ligands and NRF2 activators with neurogenic properties

New multi-target indole and naphthalene derivatives containing the oxadiazolone scaffold as a bioisostere of the melatonin acetamido group have been developed. The novel compounds were characterized at melatonin receptors MT1R and MT2R, quinone reductase 2 (QR2), lipoxygenase-5 (LOX-5), and monoamine oxidases (MAO-A and MAO-B), and also as radical scavengers. We found that selectivity within the oxadiazolone series can be modulated by modifying the side chain functionality and coplanarity with the indole or naphthalene ring. In phenotypic assays, several oxadiazolone-based derivatives induced signalling mediated by the transcription factor NRF2 and promoted the maturation of neural stem-cells into a neuronal phenotype. Activation of NRF2 could be due to the binding of indole derivatives to KEAP1, as deduced from surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments. Molecular modelling studies using the crystal structures of QR2 and the KEAP1 Kelch-domain, as well as the recently described X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) structures of chimeric MT1R and MT2R, provided a rationale for the experimental data and afforded valuable insights for future drug design endeavoursThe authors gratefully acknowledge the following financial supports: Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities; Spanish Research Agency; and European Regional Development Funds (grants RTI2018-093955-B-C21 and SAF2015-64948-C2-1-R to M.I.R.-F.; RTI2018-095793-B-I00 to M.G.L., SAF2015-64629-C2- 2-R to F.G.), General Council for Research and Innovation of the Community of Madrid and European Structural Funds (grant B2017/BMD-3827 e NRF24ADCM), Health Institute Carlos III (Miguel Servet II ProgramCP16/00014 and grant PI17/01700 to R.L.). CH-A and P.M. thank their PhD fellowships from Spanish Ministry of Education (MEC, PhD grant FPU16/01704 and mobility grant FPUEST17/00233 to CH-A and FPU13/03737 to P.M.)