Perceived quality of life and the specific physical activities by the elderly

Se analizaron indicadores de salud con respecto a la percepción de la calidad de vida (CVRS) mediante el cuestionario Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) y parámetros cinemáticos manifestados en el movimiento press banca (12 kilos) como predictores de las adaptaciones neurofisiológicas que se producen con la actividad física. Se trataron valores de potencia, de velocidad, aceleraciones, fuerza y variables temporales. Se utilizaron dos grupos, uno activo, de práctica física habitual (12H, 6M, 68,4±5,6 años, 1,65±0,074m, 74,57±15,41kg, BMI 26,93±4,02; act/sem 4,5±1,65h.), y otro sedentario (16H, 7M, 69 ± 7,07 años, 1,67 ± 0,072m, 74,95 ± 7,4kg, BMI 26,84±2,78) Se encontraron diferencias significativas (p<0,05;gl=1,39;dz=0,5). El grupo considerado activo se percibe con mejor calidad de vida y manifiesta de manera más rápida y con mayor fuerza el movimiento solicitado. Las conclusiones son relevantes para posteriores estudios que se centren en la pérdida de propiedades neuromusculares acompañada a la falta de práctica y al efecto del envejecimiento.Quality of life related to health indicators (QLRH) were analyzed by means of the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire and the specified kinetic parameters of the bench press movement (12 kg) as predictors of the neurophysiological adaptations produced by physical activity. These were the values of power, velocity, acceleration, strength and temporal variables. Two groups were studied: the first group was active, undertaking regular physical activity (12 male; 6 female; 68,4±5,6 years; 1,65±0,074m; 74,57±15,41kg; BMI 26,93±4,02; weekly activity 4,5±1,65h.); the second group was sedentary (16 male; 7 female; 69±7,07 years; 1,67±0,072m; 74,95±7,4kg; BMI 26,84±2,78). Significant differences were found (p<0,05;df=1,39;dz=0,5). The group regarded as active considered itself as having a better quality of life and was able to perform the requested movement with greater speed and strength. The conclusions are relevant for future studies that centre on the loss of neuromuscular properties accompanied by a lack of physical activity and the effects of aging

Heterologous expression of the yeast Tpo1p or Pdr5p membrane transporters in Arabidopsis confers plant xenobiotic tolerance

This deposit is composed by the main article plus the supplementary materials of the publication.Soil contamination is a major hindrance for plant growth and development. The lack of effective strategies to remove chemicals released into the environment has raised the need to increase plant resilience to soil pollutants. Here, we investigated the ability of two Saccharomyces cerevisiae plasma-membrane transporters, the Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS) member Tpo1p and the ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) protein Pdr5p, to confer Multiple Drug Resistance (MDR) in Arabidopsis thaliana. Transgenic plants expressing either of the yeast transporters were undistinguishable from the wild type under control conditions, but displayed tolerance when challenged with the herbicides 2,4-D and barban. Plants expressing ScTPO1 were also more resistant to the herbicides alachlor and metolachlor as well as to the fungicide mancozeb and the Co(2+), Cu(2+), Ni(2+), Al(3+) and Cd(2+) cations, while ScPDR5-expressing plants exhibited tolerance to cycloheximide. Yeast mutants lacking Tpo1p or Pdr5p showed increased sensitivity to most of the agents tested in plants. Our results demonstrate that the S. cerevisiae Tpo1p and Pdr5p transporters are able to mediate resistance to a broad range of compounds of agricultural interest in yeast as well as in Arabidopsis, underscoring their potential in future biotechnological applications.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia grants: (EXPL/AGR-PRO/1013/2013, PTDC/BIA-PLA/1084/2014, SFRH/BPD/44640/2008, SFRH/BPD/81221/2011, PD/BD/105735/2014, PD/00133/2012, SFRH/BD/92552/2013, UID/BIO/04565/2013, UID/Multi/04551/2013). Programa Operacional Regional de Lisboa 2020 grant: (Project N. 007317).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Arabidopsis SR45 splicing factor, a negative regulator of sugar signaling, modulates SNF1-related protein kinase 1 (SnRK1) stability

The deposited article is a post-print version and has been submitted to peer review.This publication hasn't any creative commons license associated.This deposit is composed by the main article, and it hasn't any supplementary materials associated.The ability to sense and respond to sugar signals allows plants to cope with environmental and metabolic changes by adjusting growth and development accordingly. We previously reported that the SR45 splicing factor negatively regulates glucose signaling during early seedling development in Arabidopsis thaliana Here, we show that under glucose-fed conditions, the Arabidopsis sr45-1 loss-of-function mutant contains higher amounts of the energy-sensing SNF1-Related Protein Kinase 1 (SnRK1) despite unaffected SnRK1 transcript levels. In agreement, marker genes for SnRK1 activity are upregulated in sr45-1 plants, and the glucose hypersensitivity of sr45-1 is attenuated by disruption of the SnRK1 gene. Using a high-resolution RT-PCR panel, we found that the sr45-1 mutation broadly targets alternative splicing in vivo, including that of the SR45 pre-mRNA itself. Importantly, the enhanced SnRK1 levels in sr45-1 are suppressed by a proteasome inhibitor, indicating that SR45 promotes targeting of the SnRK1 protein for proteasomal destruction. Finally, we demonstrate that SR45 regulates alternative splicing of the Arabidopsis 5PTase13 gene, which encodes an inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase previously shown to interact with and regulate the stability of SnRK1 in vitro, thus providing a mechanistic link between SR45 function and the modulation of degradation of the SnRK1 energy sensor in response to sugars.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia grants: (PTDC/BIA-PLA/3937/2012, PTDC/BIA-PLA/1084/2014, SFRH/BPD/80073/2011, SFRH/BPD/94796/2013); EMBO Installation Program: (EMBO-Proj.1984); Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A procedure to assess the spatial variability in the importance of abiotic factors affecting distributions: the case of world freshwater fishes

Understanding the factors shaping species' distributions is a key longstanding topic in ecology with unresolved issues. The aims were to test whether the relative contribution of abiotic factors that set the geographical range of freshwater fish species may vary spatially and/or may depend on the geographical extent that is being considered. The relative contribution of factors, to discriminate between the conditions prevailing in the area where the species is present and those existing in the considered extent, was estimated with the instability index included in the R package SPEDInstabR. We used 3 different extent sizes: 1) each river basin where the species is present (local); 2) all river basins where the species is present (regional); and 3) the whole Earth (global). We used a data set of 16,543 freshwater fish species with a total of 845,764 geographical records, together with bioclimatic and topographic variables. Factors associated with temperature and altitude show the highest relative contribution to explain the distribution of freshwater fishes at the smaller considered extent. Altitude and a mix of factors associated with temperature and precipitation were more important when using the regional extent. Factors associated with precipitation show the highest contribution when using the global extent. There was also spatial variability in the importance of factors, both between species and within species and from region to region. Factors associated with precipitation show a clear latitudinal trend of decreasing in importance toward the equator

Predicting the effects of climate change on future freshwater fish diversity at global scale

The aim of the present study was to predict future changes in biodiversity attributes (richness, rarity, heterogeneity, evenness, functional diversity and taxonomic diversity) of freshwater fish species in river basins around the world, under different climate scenarios. To do this, we use a new methodological approach implemented within the ModestR software (NOO3D) which allows estimating simple species distribution predictions for future climatic scenarios. Data from 16,825 freshwater fish species were used, representing a total of 1,464,232 occurrence records. WorldClim 1.4 variables representing average climate variables for the 1960¿1990 period, together with elevation measurements, were used as predictors in these distribution models, as well as in the selection of the most important variables that account for species distribution changes in two scenarios (Representative Concentration Pathways 4.5 and 6.0). The predictions produced suggest the extinction of almost half of current freshwater fish species in the coming decades, with a pronounced decline in tropical regions and a greater extinction likelihood for species with smaller body size and/or limited geographical ranges.We acknowledge institutional support from the Unit of Information Resources for Research at the Unit of Information Resources for Research at the "Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas" (CSIC) for the article-processing charges contribution

Uso de las nuevas tecnologías en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de las asignaturas de estructuras

Mediante esta ponencia se pretende hacer hincapié en que las tradicionales clases presenciales de las asignaturas de Estructuras de la Edificación, I y II, se pueden complementar con el uso de programas informáticos: de simulaciones multimedia, y los de cálculo y/o dimensionamiento de elementos estructurales; los cuales permiten que la transmisión de contenidos teóricos y prácticos, a los alumnos, se realice de una forma más amena, concisa y clara. Es de destacar que el uso de las nuevas tecnologías, es una de las herramientas con las que podemos contar para reforzar el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje que nos demandará la nueva titulación de Ingeniero de Edificación; todo esto dentro del nuevo Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior, que estamos por iniciar.Consejo General de la Arquitectura Técnica de Españ

Proyección de costos de un bus articulado con motor dedicado a gas natural para ser utilizado en los sistemas de transporte masivo de colombia

El objetivo del presente trabajo es mostrar los resultados del estudio comparativo de costos entre dos buses articulados que operan con diferentes combustibles, gas natural comprimido y diesel. Los resultados se utilizarán para establecer la viabilidad económica de la implementación de flotas de este tipo de buses en los sistemas de transporte masivo de las grandes ciudades colombianas. La proyección se realizó siguiendo las recomendaciones de operación y mantenimiento dadas por los fabricantes de los buses. Posteriormente se consideran tres costos importantes: motor e indispensables, combustible y mantenimiento preventivo. Para este estudio se supone la vida útil de los buses como de 10 años, y se plantean dos escenarios diferentes para la evolución de los precios del combustible. Los resultados muestran que los costos de operación y mantenimiento tienen un comportamiento similar entre ambas tecnologías, aún cuando los costos asociados al mantenimiento preventivo son menores para el bus alimentado con gas natural, en contraste con el análisis de los costos de motor e indispensables.Sin embargo es importante anotar que la mayor influencia sobre los costos de operación y mantenimiento recae en el comportamiento del precio de los combustibles. El artículo describe la naturaleza y estructura de los diferentes costos implementados en el estudio y la contribución de cada uno en el análisis económico, obteniendo así los costos de operación y mantenimiento para las dos tecnologías

Testing of the CHEMTAX program in contrasting Neotropical lakes, lagoons, and swamps

ABSTRACT: The problem using the CHEMTAX program in freshwater environments is that the few matrices of pigment ratios available have not been tested in a wide range of environments. Sixteen Amazonian, Andean, and Caribbean lakes, lagoons, and swamps were sampled over a year. The aim was to determine if it was possible to obtain a reliable matrix of input pigment ratios that may be used in freshwater habitats with different environmental conditions. There were no clear differences among regions for most of the ratios of marker pigments to Chlorophyll a (Chl a) in most of the phytoplankton groups. Only the zeaxanthin/Chl a ratio showed clear variations among areas. The estimates for the mean relative contribution of each phytoplankton group calculated for the pigment ratios obtained in each separate habitat and season were very similar to the estimates calculated using the average pigment ratio obtained for all habitats and seasons. Our study suggests that the matrix of the average pigment ratio obtained in this study can be used to estimate phytoplankton class abundances with the CHEMTAX program in freshwater habitats with different limnological conditions

Comparative evaluation of some limnological characteristics of six lentic environments of Colombia

RESUMEN: Este estudio propuso evaluar algunas características limnológicas de seis ambientes leníticos de Colombia ubicados en un gradiente altitudinal de las regiones Caribe, Andina y Amazónica. Estos ambientes presentan diferente origen, tipo y variabilidad climática, física y química, esto es una evidencia de que en los ambientes ecuatoriales, como los de Colombia, varían entre sí y requieren un enfoque local enlazado con patrones regionales y geográficos que influencian la limnología del sistema. Los ambientes estudiados corresponden a ciénagas y lagos de inundación de tierras bajas y lagos de alta montaña, los cuales fueron monitoreados en diferentes estaciones y momentos hidrológicos; los resultados fueron analizados en torno a sus diferencias ambientales y tróficas. La ubicación altitudinal y en consecuencia el tipo, origen, morfometría y condición hidroclimática que afecta los seis sistemas promueven cambios significativos en el régimen de precipitación, la temperatura, nivel y transparencia del agua, la concentración de nutrientes, el oxígeno disuelto, el pH, la conductividad eléctrica y la clorofila a.ABSTRACT: This study proposed to evaluate some limnological characteristics of six lentic environments in Colombia located at the altitudinal gradient in Caribbean, Andean and Amazon regions. These environments have different origin, type and physic, chemic and climatic variability. This is clear evidence that equatorial environments, like the ones found in Colombia presents variation among them and requires a local approach linked with regional and geographical patterns which influences the limnology of system. The studied environments correspond to high mountain lakes and lowland floodplain, which were monitored in different hydrological seasons and times and the results were reviewed with respect to their environmental and trophic differences. Altitudinal location and therefore the type, origin, morphometry and hydroclimatic conditions which affects the six systems, promotes significant changes in the precipitation regime, temperature, level and water transparency, nutrients concentrations, dissolved oxygen, pH, electrical conductivity and chlorophyll a

Plan estratégico de ciencia, tecnología e innovación (PEDCTI) para el departamento del Amazonas

Este plan es estratégico y vislumbra los aportes que la ciencia, la tecnología y la innovación pueden hacer en un horizonte de 20 años, dando prioridad a los recursos del Sistema Regional de Regalías sin ser la única fuente de financiación. Este plan contempla no sólo una visión temporal expresada en programas, y proyecto de corto, mediano y largo plazo, sino que sus ejes apuntan a aquellas áreas de la ciencia y la tecnología que recojan los componentes centrales de los principios aquí propuestos: Disminución de desigualdades regionales, búsqueda del buen vivir, creación de capacidades y sustentabilidad. Debe apuntar a disminuir en el mediano plazo la desigualdad entre el departamento del Amazonas y otras regiones más consolidadas en materia de conocimiento, fortaleciendo la formación de talento humano, la construcción de otras capacidades no referidas a talento humano, la investigación y la innovación