213 research outputs found
Transcriptome profiling of grapevine seedless segregants during berry development reveals candidate genes associated with berry weight
Indexación: Web of Science; PubMedBackground
Berry size is considered as one of the main selection criteria in table grape breeding programs. However, this is a quantitative and polygenic trait, and its genetic determination is still poorly understood. Considering its economic importance, it is relevant to determine its genetic architecture and elucidate the mechanisms involved in its expression. To approach this issue, an RNA-Seq experiment based on Illumina platform was performed (14 libraries), including seedless segregants with contrasting phenotypes for berry weight at fruit setting (FST) and 6–8 mm berries (B68) phenological stages.
Results
A group of 526 differentially expressed (DE) genes were identified, by comparing seedless segregants with contrasting phenotypes for berry weight: 101 genes from the FST stage and 463 from the B68 stage. Also, we integrated differential expression, principal components analysis (PCA), correlations and network co-expression analyses to characterize the transcriptome profiling observed in segregants with contrasting phenotypes for berry weight. After this, 68 DE genes were selected as candidate genes, and seven candidate genes were validated by real time-PCR, confirming their expression profiles.
Conclusions
We have carried out the first transcriptome analysis focused on table grape seedless segregants with contrasting phenotypes for berry weight. Our findings contributed to the understanding of the mechanisms involved in berry weight determination. Also, this comparative transcriptome profiling revealed candidate genes for berry weight which could be evaluated as selection tools in table grape breeding programs.http://bmcplantbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12870-016-0789-
Field theories with anisotropic scaling in 2D, solitons and the microscopic entropy of asymptotically Lifshitz black holes
Field theories with anisotropic scaling in 1+1 dimensions are considered. It
is shown that the isomorphism between Lifshitz algebras with dynamical
exponents z and 1/z naturally leads to a duality between low and high
temperature regimes. Assuming the existence of gap in the spectrum, this
duality allows to obtain a precise formula for the asymptotic growth of the
number of states with a fixed energy which depends on z and the energy of the
ground state, and reduces to the Cardy formula for z=1. The holographic
realization of the duality can be naturally inferred from the fact that
Euclidean Lifshitz spaces in three dimensions with dynamical exponents and
characteristic lengths given by z, l, and 1/z, l/z, respectively, are
diffeomorphic. The semiclassical entropy of black holes with Lifshitz
asymptotics can then be recovered from the generalization of Cardy formula,
where the ground state corresponds to a soliton. An explicit example is
provided by the existence of a purely gravitational soliton solution for BHT
massive gravity, which precisely has the required energy that reproduces the
entropy of the analytic asymptotically Lifshitz black hole with z=3.
Remarkably, neither the asymptotic symmetries nor central charges were
explicitly used in order to obtain these results.Comment: 17 pages, no figures, references corrected and update
Olive Oil effectively mitigates ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Osteoporosis, a reduction in bone mineral density, represents the most common metabolic bone disease. Postmenopausal women are particularly susceptible to osteoporosis when their production of estrogen declines. For these women, fracture is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted to evaluate the protective effects of olive oil supplementation against osteoporosis in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We studied adult female Wistar rats aged 12-14 months, divided into three groups: sham-operated control (SHAM), ovariectomized (OVX), and ovariectomized rats supplemented with extravirgin olive oil (Olive-OVX) orally for 12 weeks; 4 weeks before ovariectomy and 8 weeks after. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected. Plasma levels of calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitrates were assayed. Specimens from both the tibia and the liver were processed for light microscopic examination. Histomorphometric analysis of the tibia was also performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The OVX-rats showed a significant decrease in plasma calcium levels, and a significant increase in plasma ALP, MDA, and nitrates levels. These changes were attenuated by olive oil supplementation in the Olive-OVX rats. Light microscopic examination of the tibia of the OVX rats revealed a significant decrease in the cortical bone thickness (CBT) and the trabecular bone thickness (TBT). In addition, there was a significant increase in the osteoclast number denoting bone resorption. In the Olive-OVX rats these parameters were markedly improved as compared to the OVX group. Examination of the liver specimens revealed mononuclear cellular infiltration in the portal areas in the OVX-rats which was not detected in the Olive-OVX rats.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Olive oil effectively mitigated ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats, and is a promising candidate for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.</p
Linking Employee Stakeholders to Environmental Performance: The Role of Proactive Environmental Strategies and Shared Vision
Drawing on the natural-resource-based view (NRBV), we propose that employee stakeholder integration is linked to environmental performance through firms’ proactive environmental strategies, and that this link is contingent on shared vision. We tested our model with a cross-country and multi-industry sample. In support of our theory, results revealed that firms’ proactive environmental strategies translated employee stakeholder integration into environmental performance. This relationship was pronounced for high levels of shared vision. Our findings demonstrate that shared vision represents a key condition for advancing the corporate greening agenda through proactive environmental strategies. We discuss implications for the CSR and the environmental management literatures, with a particular focus on the NRBV and stakeholder integration debates
Pulmonary Abnormalities in Mice with Paracoccidioidomycosis: A Sequential Study Comparing High Resolution Computed Tomography and Pathologic Findings
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a fungal infection caused by the dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. It occurs preferentially in rural workers in whom the disease is severe and may cause incapacitating pulmonary sequelae. Assessment of disease progression and treatment outcome normally includes chest x-rays or CT studies. Existing experimental PCM models have focused on several aspects, but none has done a radiologic or image follow-up evaluation of pulmonary lesions considered as the fungus primary target. In this study, the lungs of mice infected with fungal conidia were studied sequentially during the chronic stage of their experimental mycosis by noninvasive high resolution medical computed tomography, and at time of sacrifice, also by histopathology to characterize pulmonary abnormalities. Three basic lung lesion patterns were revealed by both techniques: nodular-diffuse, confluent and pseudo-tumoral which were located mainly around the hilus thus accurately reflecting the situation in human patients. The experimental design of this study decreases the need to sacrifice a large number of animals, and serves to monitor treatment efficacy by means of a more rational approach to the study of human pulmonary diseases. The findings we are reporting open new avenues for experimental research, increase our understanding of the mycosis pathogenesis and consequently have repercussions in patients' care
The insulin-like growth factor system is modulated by exercise in breast cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abbreviations: CI, Confidence interval; ELISA, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; IGF, Insulin-like growth factors;
IGFBP, Insulin-like growth factor binding protein; MD, Mean difference; PEDro, Physiotherapy evidence database;
RCT, Randomized controlled trials; SD, Standard deviation.Background: Insulin-like growth factors (IGF´s) play a crucial role in controlling cancer cell proliferation,
differentiation and apoptosis. Exercise has been postulated as an effective intervention in improving cancerrelated
outcomes and survival, although its effects on IGF´s are not well understood. This meta-analysis aimed
to determine the effects of exercise in modulating IGF´s system in breast cancer survivors.
Methods: Databases of PuMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.
gov, SPORTDiscus, LILACS and Scopus were systematically searched up to November 2014. Effect estimates were
calculated through a random-effects model of meta-analysis according to the DerSimonian and Laird method.
Heterogeneity was evaluated with the I2 test. Risk of bias and methodological quality were evaluated using the
PEDro score.
Results: Five randomized controlled trials (n = 235) were included. Most women were post-menopausal. Highquality
and low risk of bias were found (mean PEDro score = 6.2 ± 1). Exercise resulted in significant improvements
on IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-I, IGFBP-3, Insulin and Insulin resistance (P < 0.05). Non-significant differences were found for
Glucose. Aerobic exercise improved IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and Insulin. No evidence of publication bias was detected by
Egger´s test (p = 0.12).
Conclusions: Exercise improved IGF´s in breast cancer survivors. These findings provide novel insight regarding the
molecular effects of exercise on tumoral microenvironment, apoptosis and survival in breast cancer survivors
Effects of an exercise program on hepatic metabolism, hepatic fat, and cardiovascular health in overweight/obese adolescents from Bogotá, Colombia (the HEPAFIT study): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Background: A considerable proportion of contemporary youth have a high risk of obesity-related disorders such
as cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Although there is consistent
evidence for the positive effects of physical activity on several health aspects, most adolescents in Colombia are
sedentary. It is, therefore, important to implement strategies that generate changes in lifestyle. The HEPAFIT study
aims to examine whether a 6-month exercise program has benefits for hepatic fat content and cardiovascular health
outcomes among overweight/obese adolescents from Bogotá, Colombia.
Methods/design: Altogether, 100 hundred overweight/obese, sedentary adolescents (aged 11–17 years) attending two
public schools in Bogotá, Colombia, will be included in a parallel-group randomized controlled trial. Adolescents will be
randomly assigned to an intervention group following one of four curricula: (1) the standard physical education
curriculum (60 min per week of physical activity, n = 25) at low-to-moderate intensity; (2) a high-intensity physical
education curriculum (HIPE, n = 25), consisting of endurance and resistance games and non-competitive activities,
such as running, gymkhanas, lifting, pushing, wrestling, or hauling, for 60-min sessions, three times per week, with
an energy expenditure goal of 300 to 500 kcal/session at 75–85% maximum heart rate (HRmax); (3) a low-to-moderate
intensity physical education curriculum (LIPE, n = 25) consisting of endurance and resistance games and non-competitive
activities (e.g., chasing, sprinting, dribbling, or hopping) for 60-min sessions, three times per week with an energy
expenditure goal of 300 kcal/session at 55–75% HRmax; and (4) a combined HIPE and LIPE curriculum (n = 25).
The HIPE, LIPE, and combined interventions were performed in addition to the standard physical education curriculum.
The primary outcome for effectiveness is liver fat content, as measured by the controlled attenuation parameter 1
week after the end of the intervention program.
Discussion: The translational focus may be suitable for collecting new information in a school setting on the
possible effects of physical activity interventions to reduce liver fat content and to improve metabolic profiles
and the cardiometabolic health of overweight/obese adolescents. This may lead to the more efficient use of
school physical education resources.The HEPAFIT study was carried out with the financial support of Instituto
Colombiano para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y la Tecnología “Francisco José
de Caldas” COLCIENCIAS (code 59700 and no 122277757900). Katherine
González-Ruíz receive a scholarship from Universidad del Rosario, Colombia,
Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, to do a Doctorate. This article
presents independent research commissioned by COLCIENCIAS under its
Program Grants for Applied Research funding scheme (Convocatoria 777–2017)
Dietary phytochemicals and neuro-inflammaging: from mechanistic insights to translational challenges
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