Development of a new method for D-xylose detection and quantification in urine, based on the use of recombinant xylose dehydrogenase from Caulobacter crescentus.

The gene xylB from Caulobacter crescentus has been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli providing a high yield of xylose dehydrogenase (XylB) production and excellent purity (97%). Purified recombinant XylB showed an absolute dependence on the cofactor NAD+ and a strong preference for d-xylose against other assayed mono and disaccharides. Additionally, XylB showed strong stability when stored as freeze-dried powder at least 250 days both at 4 °C and room temperature. In addition, more than 80% of the initial activity of rehydrated freeze-dried enzyme remained after 150 days of incubation at 4 °C. Based on these characteristics, the capability of XylB in d-xylose detection and quantification was studied. The linearity of the method was maintained up to concentrations of d-xylose of 10 mg/dL and the calculated limits of detection (LoD) and quantification (LoQ) of xylose in buffer were 0.568 mg/dL and 1.89 mg/dL respectively. Thus, enzymatic detection was found to be an excellent method for quantification of d-xylose in both buffer and urine samples. This method can easily be incorporated in a new test for the diagnosis of hypolactasia through the measurement of intestinal lactase activity.This work was supported by a grant from Venter Pharma SL (Spain) and partially supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Grant MAT2015-65184-C2-2-R, MINECO/FEDER).Peer reviewe

Detection of growth-related QTLs in turbot (Scophtalmus maximux)

Background The turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) is a highly appreciated European aquaculture species. Growth related traits constitute the main goal of the ongoing genetic breeding programs of this species. The recent construction of a consensus linkage map in this species has allowed the selection of a panel of 100 homogeneously distributed markers covering the 26 linkage groups (LG) suitable for QTL search. In this study we addressed the detection of QTL with effect on body weight, length and Fulton's condition factor. Results Eight families from two genetic breeding programs comprising 814 individuals were used to search for growth related QTL using the panel of microsatellites available for QTL screening. Two different approaches, maximum likelihood and regression interval mapping, were used in order to search for QTL. Up to eleven significant QTL were detected with both methods in at least one family: four for weight on LGs 5, 14, 15 and 16; five for length on LGs 5, 6, 12, 14 and 15; and two for Fulton's condition factor on LGs 3 and 16. In these LGs an association analysis was performed to ascertain the microsatellite marker with the highest apparent effect on the trait, in order to test the possibility of using them for marker assisted selection. Conclusions The use of regression interval mapping and maximum likelihood methods for QTL detection provided consistent results in many cases, although the high variation observed for traits mean among families made it difficult to evaluate QTL effects. Finer mapping of detected QTL, looking for tightly linked markers to the causative mutation, and comparative genomics are suggested to deepen in the analysis of QTL in turbot so they can be applied in marker assisted selection programs

Feasibility analysis of energy harvesting with piezoelectric devices in oceano graphic buoys

This document shows the study carried out to demonstrate the feasibility of using piezoelectric devices in oceanographic buoys, as generators of electric power for feeding the buoy system. One of the basic problems in an application of this type is to supply electrical power to the systems of the buoy. But the realisation of prototypes and especially their test in real conditions, for their validation, are extremely expensive. Therefore, a good solution is to demonstrate, previously, the viability of the system. This requires real data on movements, accelerations, etc., but in this particular case, these data are available for carrying out previous R & D projects that have given rise to developments that are currently located on operational oceanographic buoys. . With all this we have been able to carry out a study that demonstrates the interest of this technology.Peer Reviewe

Acclimation of biochemical and diffusive components of photosynthesis in rice, wheat and maize to heat and water deficit:implications for modeling photosynthesis

The impact of the combined effects of heat stress, increased vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and water deficit on the physiology of major crops needs to be better understood to help identify the expected negative consequences of climate change and heat waves on global agricultural productivity. To address this issue, rice, wheat and maize plants were grown under control temperature (CT, 25°C, VPD 1.8 kPa), and a high temperature (HT, 38°C, VPD 3.5 kPa), both under well-watered (WW) and water deficit (WD) conditions. Gas-exchange measurements showed that, in general, WD conditions affected the leaf conductance to CO2, while growth at HT had a more marked effect on the biochemistry of photosynthesis. When combined, HT and WD had an additive effect in limiting photosynthesis. The negative impacts of the imposed treatments on the processes governing leaf gas-exchange were species-dependent. Wheat presented a higher sensitivity while rice and maize showed a higher acclimation potential to increased temperature. Rubisco and PEPC kinetic constants determined in vitro at 25°C and 38°C were used to estimated Vcmax, Jmax and Vpmax in the modeling of C3 and C4 photosynthesis. The results here obtained reiterate the need to use species-specific and temperature-specific values for Rubisco and PEPC kinetic constants for a precise parameterization of the photosynthetic response to changing environmental conditions in different crop species

Sexualidad y diversidad funcional. Un enfoque a través de historias de vida

En este trabajo se presenta una investigación biográfico-narrativa basada en Historias de vida en torno a la sexualidad de cuatro personas de la Asociación de Síndrome de Down de Sevilla y Provincia. Mediante la realización de entrevistas en profundidad a los protagonistas y a otras voces como las de sus familiares se pretende visibilizar sus experiencias y vivencias respecto al desarrollo de su sexualidad; analizar el abordaje de la sexualidad en su contexto y estudiar la necesidad de tratar esta temática especialmente desde el punto de vista educativo. Los resultados se estructuran en un análisis transversal de las barreras y ayudas que los participantes identifican en su desarrollo sexual. Para el análisis se utilizó el programa MAXQDA 12. Como conclusión general destacamos la necesidad de incorporar la Educación Sexual en el Diseño Curricular Base ofreciendo una visión normalizada e incorporando la voz de las personas en situación de diversidad funcional.This project presents a biographical-narrative research based on life histories concerning the sexuality of four people of the Down’s Syndrome Association in Seville and Province. By means of in depth interviews of the protagonists and their family members. It shows their personal experiencies respect to their sexuality development. Besides analizing their sexuality in a particular context and studyng the need to treat this subject matter specially from the educational point of view. The results are structured a transverse analysis of analyzing in general the barriers and support participants identify in his sexual development. For the analysis there was in use the program MAXQDA 12. As general conclusion we emphasize the need to incorporate the Sexual Education in the Curriculum development Base offering a vision normalized and incorporating the voice of the persons in situation of functional diversity

Quantitative flow cytometry to measure viral production using infectious pancreatic necrosis virus as a model: a preliminary study

In recent decades, flow cytometry (FCM) has become an important tool in virology, due to its applications in viral replication and viral-cell interactions, as well as its capacity to quantify proteins (qFCM). In the present study, we have designed and evaluated a qFCM procedure for the in vitro analysis and quantification of fish viral proteins, using the infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) as a model. We have also tested its use for viral titration and adapted the MARIS (method for analysing RNA following intracellular sorting) method for simultaneous quantification of viral RNA expression in infected cells. The procedure has proved to be repeatable and reproducible to an acceptable level, although to ensure reproducibility, the repetition of standard curves is inevitable. Regarding its use for viral quantification, a direct relationship (by a second-degree polynomial regression) between viral titres and Molecules of Equivalent Soluble Fluorochrome (MESF) was observed. Finally, the results support the use of this technology, not only for virus quantification, but also to study viral replication from a quantitative approachS

BEI Inactivated Vaccine Induces Innate and Adaptive Responses and Elicits Partial Protection upon Reassortant Betanodavirus Infection in Senegalese Sole

Nervous necrosis virus (NNV), the causative agent of viral encephalopathy and retinopathy (VER), is one of the most threatening viruses affecting marine and freshwater fish species worldwide. Senegalese sole is a promising fish species in Mediterranean aquaculture but also highly susceptible to NNV and VER outbreaks, that puts its farming at risk. The development of vaccines for aquaculture is one of best tools to prevent viral spread and sudden outbreaks, and virus inactivation is the simplest and most cost-effective method available. In this work, we have designed two inactivated vaccines based on the use of formalin or binary ethylenimine (BEI) to inactivate a reassortant NNV strain. After vaccination, the BEI-inactivated vaccine triggered the production of specific IgM-NNV antibodies and stimulated innate and adaptive immune responses at transcriptional level (rtp3, mx, mhcii and tcrb coding genes). Moreover, it partially improved survival after an NNV in vivo challenge, reducing the mid-term viral load and avoiding the down-regulation of immune response post-challenge. On the other hand, the formalin-inactivated vaccine improved the survival of fish upon infection without inducing the production of IgM-NNV antibodies and only stimulating the expression of herc4 and mhcii genes (in head-kidney and brain, respectively) during the vaccination period; this suggests that other immune-related pathways may be involved in the partial protection provoked. Although these vaccines against NNV showed encouraging results, further studies are needed to improve sole protection and to fully understand the underlying immune mechanismThis work was supported by grant RTI2018-094687-B-C21 from MICIU (Spain) co-funded by FEDERS

Morphological variation in a secondary contact between divergent lineages of brown trout (Salmo trutta) from the Iberian Peninsula

The aim of this study was to analyze the morphological variation of brown trout (Salmo trutta) in the Duero basin, an Atlantic river basin in the Iberian Peninsula, where a spatial segregation of two divergent lineages was previously reported, based on isozyme, microsatellite and mtDNA data. In these studies, two divergent pure regions (Pisuerga and Lower-course) and several hybrid populations between them were identified. Morphological variation was evaluated in 11 populations representative of the genetic differentiation previously observed in the Duero basin, using multivariate analysis on 12 morphometric and 4 meristic traits. A large differentiation between populations was observed (interpopulation component of variance: 41.8%), similar to that previously detected with allozymes and microsatellites. Morphometric differentiation was also reflected by the high classification success of pure and hybrid individuals to their respective populations, using multivariate discriminant functions (94.1% and 79.0%, respectively). All multivariate and clustering analyses performed demonstrated a strong differentiation between the pure regions. The hybrid populations, though showing large differentiation among them, evidenced an intermediate position between the pure samples. Head and body shape traits were the most discriminant among the morphometric characters, while pectoral rays and gillrakers were the most discriminant among the meristic traits. These results confirmed the high divergence of the brown trout from the Duero basin and suggest some traits on which selection could be acting to explain the spatial segregation observed.This study was supported by a Spanish Government grant (REN2001-3051) and by a contract with the Castilla-León Government (SC-132/02)S

Diseño de Estrategias de Marketing Móvil para las PyMES de la Ciudad de Milagro

Este proyecto tiene la finalidad, de dar a conocer estrategias que les permitan a las Pequeñas y MedianasEmpresas desarrollarse, crecer y mejorar su rentabilidad, a través de una comunicación directacon sus clientes. Los niveles de ventas y aceptación de productos actualmente están muy relacionadascon el uso del marketing móvil, el cual ha tenido una constante evolución a nivel mundial, donde lospropietarios y consumidores han logrado beneficiarse de los avances tecnológicos, se proporciona alos clientes información personalizada sensible a la hora y el lugar, para promocionar bienes, serviciose ideas de los administradores o dueños de los negocios. Los resultados obtenidos en esta investigaciónrealizada a través de encuestas, muestran en forma gráfica las tendencias de la población hacia el usodel marketing móvil, esto permite establecer una propuesta basada en la estrategias del marketing móvilpara las PyMES de la ciudad de Milagro, a través del uso de los dispositivos e internet, cuyo objetivoes fidelizar e incrementar el número de clientes.Palabras Clave: PyMES, marketing móvil, dispositivos móvil, fidelización