Use of thermographic imaging to screen for drought-tolerant genotypes in Brachypodium distachyon

Thermal imaging has been used to evaluate the response to drought and warm temperatures in a collection of Brachypodium distachyon lines adapted to varied environmental conditions. Thermographic records were able to separate lines from contrasting rainfall regimes. Genotypes from dryer environments showed warmer leaves under water deficit, which suggested that decreased evapotranspiration was related to a more intense stomatal closure. When irrigated and under high temperature conditions, drought-adapted lines showed cooler leaves than lines from wetter zones. The consistent, inverse thermographic response of lines to water stress and heat validates the reliability of this method to assess drought tolerance in this model cereal. It additionally supports the hypothesis that stomatal-based mechanisms are involved in natural variation for drought tolerance in Brachypodium. The study further suggests that these mechanisms are not constitutive but likely related to a more efficient closing response to avoid dehydration in adapted genotypes. Higher leaf temperature under water deficit seems a dependable criterion of drought tolerance, not only in B. distachyon but also in the main cereal crops and related grasses where thermography can facilitate high-throughput preliminary screening of tolerant materials

Highly conductive microporous carbon fibers by electrospinning of lignin/phosphoric acid/ethanol solutions

This contribution reports the preparation of electrospun lignin-based carbon fibers at different carbonization temperatures and the influence of heat treatments at temperatures ranging from 900 to 1600 ºC. The influence of the addition of phosphoric acid in the initial electrospinning solution on the structural ordering, electrical conductivity and porosity development of the final carbon fibers is studied in detail. Alcell lignin fibers were electrospun using a coaxial electrospinning device following the procedure previously reported by our research group. Electrospun H3PO4-lignin fibers were prepared in the same device by addition of phosphoric acid to the lignin solution using mass ratios of 0.1 and 0.3. The electrospun fibers were stabilized in air at 200 ºC, using a slow heating rate and carbonized under inert atmosphere at temperatures between 500 and 900 ºC. In addition, the fibers carbonized at 900 ºC were heat treated at temperatures between 1200 and 1600 ºC. The high temperature heat treatment removes most of the heteroatoms (O, P) for both carbon fibers. However, the surface area of the phosphorous containing carbon fibers is mostly preserved after the heat treatment, while a large porosity shrinkage is observed for the pure lignin-derived fibers. Thus, microporous carbon fibers with large electrical conductivity values have been obtained by heat treatment at 1600 ºC of P-containing electrospun carbon fibers.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Joint strengthening by external bars on RC beam-column joints

[EN] Column strengthening is a very common practice for improving the seismic performance of reinforced concrete frame structures or repairing damage after a seismic event. Several methods are employed for column strengthening, which can improve column strength by preventing its shear, bending or compression failure. However, not all methods allow column strengthening connections between adjacent floors, thus the beam-column joint strength could be limited by the column-joint interface capacity. This work aimed to analyse two joint strengthening designs, for which an experimental campaign of eight full-scale beam-column joints strengthened with steel caging, and subjected to cyclic and gravity loads, was carried out. As access to joint panels is very complex in existing structures, joint strengthening consists of external solutions: vertical or diagonal bars and capitals connecting columns. The results showed that these techniques significantly increased beam-column joint strength and highlighted that failure can be undesirably transferred to the joint. Vertical bars prevented the bending failure of the column-joint interface, but failure occurred at the joint in this study. Diagonal bars can also prevent joint failure.The authors wish to thank the financial support provided by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness with Research Projects BIA 2008-06268 and RTI2018-099091-B-C22.Ruiz Pinilla, JG.; Cladera, A.; Pallarés Rubio, FJ.; Calderón García, PA.; Adam, JM. (2022). Joint strengthening by external bars on RC beam-column joints. Journal of Building Engineering. 45:1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2021.1034451144

Bases genéticas, moleculares y bioquímicas del envejecimiento auditivo ¿Qué nos enseñan los modelos experimentales

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) affects one in three people older than 65 years and is the most prevalent sensorineural deficit. This type of hearing loss precedes and accelerates the onset of cognitive impairment and is associated with an increased risk for neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer disease. The onset and progression of ARHL is influenced by genetic factors, which are still poorly understood, and environmental factors, which in particular include exposure to excessive noise and ototoxic substances. At present, no effective drug treatments are available for ARHL prevention or treatment, and therefore research in this field is a priority. In the research field, animal models offer a crucial tool for i) identifying new genes associated with ARHL, ii) understanding the cellular and molecular basis of auditory ageing and iii) defining new therapeutic targets and evaluating candidate treatments.La presbiacusia afecta a una de cada tres personas mayores de 65 años y constituye el déficit neurosensorial más prevalente. Antecede a la aparición de la fragilidad cognitiva, la acelera y se asocia con un mayor riesgo de padecer enfermedades neurodegenerativas como la demencia o el Alzheimer. La aparición y evolución de la presbiacusia están influidas por factores genéticos, todavía poco conocidos, y ambientales, entre los que destacan la exposición a ruido excesivo o a sustancias ototóxicas. En la actualidad no disponemos de tratamientos farmacológicos eficaces para prevenir o tratar la presbiacusia, por lo que la investigación en este campo es prioritaria. En este contexto, los modelos animales son una herramienta esencial para: a) identificar nuevos genes de presbiacusia, b) comprender las bases celulares y moleculares del envejecimiento auditivo, y c) definir nuevas dianas terapéuticas y evaluar posibles tratamientos

Molluscs collected with otter trawl in the northern Alboran Sea: main assemblages, spatial distribution and environmental linkage

Molluscan assemblages of circalittoral and bathyal soft bottoms of the northern Alboran Sea were studied using an experimental otter trawl. Samples of fauna were collected from 190 hauls during four MEDITS surveys carried out in spring between 2012 and 2015 at depths ranging from 30 to 800 m. Measurements of water column variables (temperature and salinity) and sediment samples were taken in the same locations where faunistic sampling was carried out. A total of 101 species grouped in 55 families were recorded. Cephalopods were the most abundant group, with Abralia veranyi dominating in abundance, Octopus vulgaris in biomass and Illex coindetii and Todarodes sagittatus being the most frequently collected species. Multivariate analyses carried out separately with abundance data of demersal species, benthic species, bivalves, gastropods and cephalopods as well as of all molluscs, generally resulted in three main molluscan assemblages corresponding to a shelf assemblage (30-200 m depth), an upper slope assemblage (201-350 m depth), and a middle slope assemblage (351-800 m depth). PERMANOVA test revealed that significant differences of different groups of molluscs in relation to depth were more acute than to geographical sectors of the Alboran Sea (eastern, central, eastern and insular sectors). Abundance, biomass and species richness decreased with depth with a clear dominance of cephalopods in the slope. Significant geographical differences were mainly detected for demersal and benthic species as well as for gastropods and cephalopods between the insular sector (Alboran Island) and the western and eastern continental sectors. Both depth and temperature were the most influencing variables in the different CCA analyses using datasets of molluscs with different life styles and from different classes, but sedimentological variables displayed a more acute significant relationship with the benthic molluscs than with the demersal ones

Gestión y Aplicación de Metadatos Asociados al Tráfico Multimedia en Videoconferencia 3D

En los terminales multimedia de nueva generación se están incorporando cada vez más funcionalidades capaces de generar información adicional que enriquece la comunicación audiovisual en sí misma. Esta nueva información adicional, metainformación o metadatos, deberán poder ser gestionados y transmitidos de forma independiente pero sincronizados con el propio flujo multimedia. En este trabajo se presenta una arquitectura que permite resolver el problema identificado y que ha sido implementada con éxito en el proyecto CENIT VISION, dando soporte a diversos servicios de valor añadido asociados a una Videoconferencia 3D inmersiva: interacción con el usuario, grabación de sesiones, gestión de calidad, etc. La misma solución también tiene aplicación en otros entornos del sector multimedia como publicidad personalizada para IPTV, y de otros, como videovigilancia

A Luminescent MOF Based on Pyrimidine-4,6-dicarboxylate Ligand and Lead(II) with Unprecedented Topology

In the present work, we report on a 3D MOF of {[Pb5(μ3-OH)(μ3-NO3)3(μ6-pmdc)3]·H2O}n formula (pmdc = pyrimidine-4,6-dicarboxylate) synthesized by an oven-heated, solvent-free procedure. The large connectivity afforded by the three ligands in their coordination to lead(II) ions grows cubic building units characterized by a central Pb atom with an unusual coordination index of 12 and 6 pmdc ligands occupying the faces. These cubic units are linked to one another giving rise to a quite condensed structure that represents an unprecedented topology showing the (4·62)6(43)2(45·610)3(45·68·82)6(46·69)6(612·83) point symbol. The crystalline material has been characterized by routine physico-chemical techniques to confirm its purity, and its thermal behaviour has been also studied by thermogravimetric and thermodiffractometric analyses. The solid presents a greenish blue photoluminescent emission based on pmdc ligands, as revealed by time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT) calculations, which is substantially more intense than in the free H2pmdc ligand according to its improved quantum yield. The emissive capacity of the material is further analysed according to decreasing temperature of the polycrystalline sample, finding that sizeable, long-lasting phosphorescence is present.This research was funded by Gobierno Vasco/Eusko Jaurlaritza (IT1755-22, IT1722-22 and IT1500-22) and Junta de Andalucía (ProyExcel_00386 and FQM-394). This publication is also part of the I+D+i projects of PGC2018-102052-A-C22 and PGC2018-102052-B-C21 codes, funded by MCIN/ AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ and “FEDER Una manera de hacer Europa”

Red de investigación en docencia universitaria de la UA: “Universidad, Docencia, Género e Igualdad” (II)

La Red de investigación en docencia universitaria “Universidad, docencia, genero e igualdad” persigue avanzar en la calidad e innovación de las enseñanzas universitarias a partir de la inclusión de la perspectiva de género. Se busca dar cumplimiento a las directrices generales de los nuevos planes de estudio respecto del principio de igualdad de oportunidades entre hombres y mujeres en la formación universitaria (Real Decreto 1393/2007. BOE nº 260, 30 de octubre de 2007). En la tercera edición de la Red, y dada su composición multidisciplinar, se desarrollaron dos líneas de investigación: por un lado, se continuó trabajando en el mantenimiento del “Portal web con recursos docentes con perspectiva de género”, proyecto financiado por el Instituto de la Mujer (PACUI, 2012) e iniciado en el curso 2012-2013, incrementándose en un 36% la colección de recursos; y, por otro, se inició una nueva línea de investigación con la que se busca desarrollar una herramienta informática de ayuda para la redacción de textos con lenguaje inclusivo

Linking land cover changes in the subalpine and montane belts to changes in a torrential river.

Channel cbanges are the consequence of cbanges in sediment yield from the slopes and in the connectivity between slopes and channels bccause of distinct land use and climate inJpacts. In Ibis study, we investigated the characteristics and evolution of a short reach in the headwater of the !juez River, central-soutbem Pyrenees. Assessment of a series of sedimentar)' and geomorphic structures confirtned major cbanges to the valley boUom, mainly related to changes in the intensity of human activity. 'The oldest sedimentar)' structure is a terrace leve! located 3 10 4 m above the current alluvial plain. General deforestation, overgrazing and recwring tires in the montane belt ( 1100-1600 m a.sJ.) have led 10 increased soil erosioo and connectivity, and to tbe triggering of debris llows thal have been deposited on the fluvial tmace. Woody fragments from within the debris llows were dated using acceleraror mass spectrOmetry '"e radiocaroon tcchniques (AMS), yielding ages between 1 00 and 115 cal years BP, whicb coincides with tbe period of maximum deforestalion and human density in the Pyrenees. Depopulation and fannland abaodonment since tbe beginning of tbe 2001 oenrury has resulled in generalliJcod natural and artificial reforestation, a shrinkage of the eroded arcas aod a decline in connectivi¡y bdween slopes and the channel. 1be rnost impor1an1 consequence has been cbannel incision and oarrowing, and the development of a sedimed annour !ayer. Active sedimenl b8llSpOI1 is continui.Qg, although there has been a decrease in sed.iment yield from the slopes. Copyright O 2014 John Wiley & Soos, Ltd

NSD2 contributes to oncogenic RAS-driven transcription in lung cancer cells through long-range epigenetic activation

The histone methyltransferase NSD2/WHSC1/MMSET is overexpressed in a number of solid tumors but its contribution to the biology of these tumors is not well understood. Here, we describe that NSD2 contributes to the proliferation of a subset of lung cancer cell lines by supporting oncogenic RAS transcriptional responses. NSD2 knock down combined with MEK or BRD4 inhibitors causes co-operative inhibitory responses on cell growth. However, while MEK and BRD4 inhibitors converge in the downregulation of genes associated with cancer-acquired super-enhancers, NSD2 inhibition affects the expression of clusters of genes embedded in megabase-scale regions marked with H3K36me2 and that contribute to the RAS transcription program. Thus, combinatorial therapies using MEK or BRD4 inhibitors together with NSD2 inhibition are likely to be needed to ensure a more comprehensive inhibition of oncogenic RAS-driven transcription programs in lung cancers with NSD2 overexpression.This work was supported by Eli Lilly and Company. We would like to thank the Genomics and Flow Cytometry units at the CNIO for technical help, C. Pantoja and the CNIO-Lilly Cell Signaling Therapies Laboratory for sharing protocols and reagents.S