Exploring the relationship between gene expression and topological properties of Arabidopsis thaliana interactome network.

The aim of this study is to integrate and link up transcriptomic data with biological networks approaches. The main objective was to determinate the correlation of transcriptomic profiles with PPI topology, seeking to demonstrate relational or structural patterns within the network internal organization

Effect of brewing time and temperature on antioxidant capacity and phenols of white tea: relationship with sensory properties

White tea is highly consumed due to its sensory properties and health benefits, although most scientific reports don’t include the analysis of both properties. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to unravel the best brewing conditions for optimal extraction of the bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity, while realising the best sensory properties. Infusions of eighty commercial teas (sold in bags or leaves) were obtained at different time-temperature ratios, studying bioactive compounds (caffeine and individual catechins), antioxidant capacity and sensory analysis. Brewing at 98ºC for 7 min was the best condition to obtain a high content of antioxidant polyphenols and pleasant sensory properties. Those teas sold in bags give rise to tea brews with almost double antioxidant capacity. In conclusion, it is very important to link sensory and chemical data to obtain optimal sensorial quality and the highest healthy properties in white tea infusions.This work was supported by project AGL2014-53895-R from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER)

Indicadores e índices de calidad en suelos rojos bajo sistemas naturales y cultivados

Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron: determinar indicadores de calidad de suelo, desarrollar índices funcionales y aplicar índices utilizados en la bibliografía, a fin de evaluar su sensibilidad para detectar los cambios producidos por el desmonte y posterior uso agrícola en Oxisoles del departamento de Oberá (Misiones). Se empleó un diseño completamente al azar, con tres tratamientos: Selva (S), cultivo de maíz con labranza convencional (Zea mays L.) (M) y cultivo de Té (Camellia sinensis L.) (T). Se muestrearon 12 lotes por tratamiento a 0-0,10; 0,10-0,20 y 0,20-0,30 m. Las variables evaluadas fueron: respiración (RES), densidad aparente (Da), textura, pH, materia orgánica total (MO) y particulada (MOP), nitrógeno total (Nt) y potencialmente mineralizable (NPM). Se determinaron los índices: MOP/MO, NPM/Nt, NPM/MOP, MO/Li+Arc, MOP/RES y las relaciones de estratificación del carbono orgánico del suelo (COSr1, COSr2) y del potencial de mineralización del nitrógeno (NPMr1, NPMr2). Los resultados se analizaron mediante ANOVA, Test LSD (p < 0,05), y correlación de Pearson. Los indicadores: Da, RES, MO, Nt, y NPM y los índices NPM/Nt, MO/Li+Arc, NPM/MOP, IRC, IMC, COSr1, COSr2, permitieron diferenciar suelos bajo sistemas naturales de cultivados. La Da, la RES y el índice COSr2 resultaron más sensibles, diferenciando también sistemas agrícolas: cultivo perenne de anual, indicando a este último como el más degradante. Si bien resultan necesarias más investigaciones, estos resultados indicarían que suelos de alta calidad, presentarían un índice de estratificación COSr1 >2 y un COSr2 >1,5 por lo que valores menores indicarían pérdida de calidad. El índice MOP/RES desarrollado detectó diferencias en la calidad de MOP y su ciclado, resultando los suelos vírgenes y bajo cultivo perenne, sin remoción de suelo (T), con un ciclado más lento que los suelos bajo cultivo anual (M).The objectives of this study were to determine soil quality (SQ) indicators, develop proper soil quality indices and apply the indices from the literature so as to assess their sensitivity in detecting the SQ changes caused by deforestation and agricultural use in Oxisols at Oberá (Misiones), where rainforests have been removed and replaced with annual and perennial crops. The experimental design was completely randomized with three treatments: tropical forest (S), corn crop under conventional tillage (Zea Mays L.) (M) and tea crop (Camellia sinensis L.) (T). Twelve plots were sampled from each treatment at 0-0,10; 0,10-0,20 and 0,20-0,30 m depths. The following variables were evaluated on the soil samples: respiration (RES), bulk density (Da), texture, pH, organic matter (MO), particulate organic matter (MOP), total nitrogen (Nt), and potentially mineralizable nitrogen (NPM). The following indices were determined: MOP/MO, NPM/Nt, NPM/MOP, MO/Li+Arc, MOP/RES, and the stratification ratios of soil organic carbon (COSr1, COSr2) and of nitrogen mineralization potential (NPMr1, NPMr2). All data were analyzed through ANOVA, means were separated by the LSD Test (p < 0,05), and a Pearson correlation was performed. Soil indicators Da, RES, MO, Nt and NPM, and indices NPM/Nt, MO/Li+Arc, NPM/MOP, IRC, IMC, COSr1 and COSr2 revealed statistical differences between soils under natural systems and cultivated soils. Indicators Da and RES, and index COSr2 turned out to be more sensitive; they showed differences between perennial and annual cropping systems, the latter causing higher soil degradation. Even though further research is needed, the results obtained from this study would indicate that high quality soils have a stratification ratio COSr1 >2 and COSr2 >1,5; lower values would therefore suggest loss of SQ. The elaborated ratio MOP/RES showed differences in MOP quality and its cycling, indicating that in virgin soils and perennial cropping systems without removal of soil (T), the cycling is slower than in soils under annual crops (M)

Commercial Laurus nobilis L. and Syzygium aromaticum L. Men. & Perry essential oils against post-harvest phytopathogenic fungi on rice

[EN] Rice is exposed in the field and in stored conditions to a great variety of fungi that can cause a lot of diseases with potential risk to consumers. In the present study, the chemical composition of commercial Laurus nobilis L. and Syzygium aromaticum L. Merr. & Perry essential oils and antifungal activity against five pathogenic fungi isolated from Mediterranean rice grains has been investigated. Thirty-seven compounds accounting for more than 99.5% of the total essential oil were identified by GC and GC/MS. 1,8-Cineole (51.95%), alpha-terpinyl acetate (12.93%) and the monoterpene hydrocarbon sabinene (9.56%) were the main compounds in bay leaf essential oil, while the phenylpropanoid eugenol (88.58%), and the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons beta-caryophyllene (8.13%) and alpha-humulene (2.35%) were found in clove essential oil. Clove essential oils at 300 mu g/mL showed more antifungal effect than bay leaf essential oil against all tested strains. S. aromaticum essential oil showed the best antifungal activity towards Fusarium graminearum and similar antifungal activity compared to pure eugenol against all tested phytopathogenic fungi. In inoculated rice grain, clove essential oil significantly reduced the fungal infection in food so S. aromaticum essential oil could be a good alternative as preservative in stored rice grain. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This study has been financed by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad; Subdireccion General de Proyectos de Investigacion; Convocatoria de Ayudas a Proyectos de I+D+i; Research Challenges; Programme-oriented Societal Challenges 2014-2017, reference number AGL2013-42989-R-AR.Santamarina Siurana, MP.; Rosello Caselles, J.; Gimenez, S.; Blazquez Ferrer, MA. (2016). Commercial Laurus nobilis L. and Syzygium aromaticum L. Men. & Perry essential oils against post-harvest phytopathogenic fungi on rice. LWT - Food Science and Technology. 65:325-332. doi:10.1016/j.lwt.2015.08.040S3253326

Estudos da forma da galáxia utilizando as linhas espectrais do hidrogênio neutro e do monóxido de carbono

Este texto reúne, analisa e discute os resultados de algumas pesquisas já realizadas nas frequências das linhas de 21 cm do HI e de 2.6 mm do CO interestelar, no período compreendido entre 1965 e 1986, sobre o problema de determinar a forma da Galáxia

Study of ultrasonically enhanced chemical cleaning of SWRO membranes at pilot plant scale

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Desalination and water treatment on 2017, available online: http://doi.org/10.5004/dwt.2017.21312[EN] Fouling accumulated on reverse osmosis (RO) membranes during operation is one of the main problems affecting seawater desalination processes. This phenomenon causes a deterioration of the permselective properties of the membranes, which turns into a loss of performance of the process and costs increase. Conventionally, recovery of the process performance in desalination plants is carried out periodically by means of physical and chemical cleaning stages. However, conventional cleaning does not manage to recover completely the membrane properties and eventually can damage the membrane materials. New membrane cleaning techniques have been developed in order to improve this recovery. Ultrasound (US) radiation, which has shown to be an interesting technique during filtration since it avoids fouling deposition and allows to lengthen the period between cleaning stages, is proposed as an alternative technique to remove membrane fouling. This work investigates the effect of the combination of chemical cleaning methods and US application to clean a RO membrane from a desalination plant. The experiments performed were able to determine the best operating conditions to carry out the US cleaning protocol. Sodium hydroxide 2% w/v and sodium dodecyl sulphate 4% w/v solutions at 25 degrees C were used, as they showed the highest recovery of the membrane properties in the chemical cleaning tests. Results showed that cleaning by US had a positive effect on the membrane selectivity (increase by 15.2%), and a low significant effect on its permeability. The utilization of the chemical cleaning combined with US improved the permeate flux considerably, without modifying salt rejection index in a significant way. Among the two cleaning solutions tested, the best results in terms of permeability and selectivity of the cleaned membrane, were those obtained by the US procedure using NaOH 2% w/v cleaning solution at 25 degrees C.The authors wish to thank Abengoa Water, S.L. for the financial support given to this research, through the project "Cleaning and re-use of reverse osmosis membranes in desalination plants", which belongs to the CENIT-Tecoagua research project, funded as well by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.García-Fayos, B.; Arnal Arnal, JM.; Gimenez Anton, AC.; Alvarez Blanco, S.; Sancho, M. (2017). Study of ultrasonically enhanced chemical cleaning of SWRO membranes at pilot plant scale. Desalination and Water Treatment. 88:1-7. doi:10.5004/dwt.2017.20840S178

Tolerance to stress in wheat

Achieving tolerance to stress is one of the main objectives of wheat breeding, and genes or chromosomal regions with positive effects on tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses need to be identified. The interaction between defence signaling pathways mediated by several phythormones is an important mechanism for regulating defence responses against various types of pathogens and herbivories. The response of bread wheat, Triticum aestivum (2n=6x=42) to greenbug attack or to exogenous application of the stress-induced hormones ethylene (E), jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA) or ABA was analysed. In recent years, several components regulating the cross-talk between SA, JA and ET pathways have been identified. Treatment of plants with these hormones results in enhanced resistance to biotic challenge. However, the underlying physiological mechanisms are not well understood. Some of the main wheat physiological pathways affected by the cross-talk between biotic stress and stress-induced hormones are described below.Fil: Castro, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Fisiología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Fisiología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Gimenez, Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Fisiología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Fisiología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Tocho, Erica Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Fisiología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Fisiología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Tacaliti Terlera, María Silvia. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Barragán, Mariana. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Bottini, Ambrosio Rubén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Snape, John. John Innes Centre; Reino Unid

Health management in the State of S. Paulo, Brazil

The shared management put into effect by the Ações Integradas de Saúde (Integrated Health Actions) in the State of S. Paulo (Brazil), in the early 80s is analysed. The relevant data were collected from the minutes of the meetings of the Comissão Interinstitutional de Saúde (Interinstitucional Health Commitee). The data collected show the most frequent subjects discussed by the members at the meetings, the number of members related to each of the different government levels, in addition to the kind of resolutions taken at the meetings. The data analysis has demonstrated that important changes took place in public health management in the State of S. Paulo in the decade in question. The shared management process was replaced by one in which government powers were clearly divided a towards the end of the 80s. Those changes have led the public health members from each level of governmental administration to give up the common goals and the shared negociations among them.Foi analisado o processo de gerenciamento colegiado implementado pelas Ações Integradas de Saúde (AIS), no Estado de São Paulo, na década de 80. A base de dados foi constituída por informações coletadas junto à Comissão Interinstitucional de Saúde (CIS-SP). Foram também investigadas a participação dos diversos representantes, as decisões e as resoluções originadas nessa instância de gerenciamento do sistema de saúde. A análise conjunta das informações coletadas mostrou que houve mudança substancial no papel de gerenciamento do setor saúde no Estado, principalmente a partir de 1987. O processo de gestão colegiada, iniciada com as AIS, foi sendo substituído paulatinamente pela gestão única, com a separação nítida das responsabilidades entre os níveis de governo municipal, estadual e federal. Esta mudança dificultou o processo de negociação e de definição de objetivos comuns entre os responsáveis pela política de saúde, que vinham sendo constituídos no Estado desde as AIS.Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Saúde Pública Departamento de Saúde Materno-InfantilEscola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de EnfermagemPontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas Faculdade de EnfermagemUniversidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Saúde PúblicaUniversidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências HumanasUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de EnfermagemSciEL

Investigation of marine temperature changes across temporal and spatial Gradients: Providing a fundament for studies on the effects of warming on marine ecosystem function and biodiversity

A current critical issue in climate change studies is how temperature changes and shifts on different spatial and temporal scales can affect organisms in terms of trends, variability and frequency of extremes. In this paper, we analysed marine temperature data on different temporal and spatial scales. We related the sea surface temperature data from the Helgoland Roads Time Series, one of the most important and detailed long-term in situ marine ecological time series, to the Sylt Roads, North Sea, Germany, Europe, North Atlantic and Northern Hemisphere surface temperatures. All time series showed a distinct upwards shift in temperature in the late 1980s, early 1990s, with positive trends in overall for the period between 1962 and 2019 ranging from 1 to 2 °C over 57 years. We quantified changes in temperature variability by comparing the years before and after 1990, on both long-term and seasonal scales. At Helgoland and Sylt, an increase in the number of warmer days in summer and a decrease in extremely cold days in winter are the new characteristics of the temperature pattern after 1990; higher than expected temperatures now also occur earlier during the year. For these locations, we observed the highest trends overall, i.e. of around 0.3 °C/decade. The observed bimodal shape of the probability density functions, characterized by winter and summer modes, had become more heterogeneous, with the cold mode peak moving to higher values and the steepness to the peak increasing, which is a consequence of a decrease in extremely cold days. North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) large-scale phenomena had no significant correlations or, for the NAO, were limited to the winter season at the regional and local scales. The closest landmass (mainland Germany) temperature was highly correlated with the North Sea sites. Taken together, our results suggest that marine pelagic ecosystems and their species are subject to temperature shifts with similar patterns but with variations in magnitude at the different scales. Temperature is one of the main drivers of species diversity and distribution, and this manifests on different spatial and temporal scales depending on population growth, life stages, cycles and habitat. Accordingly, we here present the temperature changes on the appropriate spatio-temporal scales, and thus provide the suitable and useful fundament for studies on the effects of warming on marine ecosystem function and biodiversity