Improving genetic analysis of corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata with single- And multiple-trait spatial-competition models

Environmental heterogeneity and/or genetic and environmental competition were quantified on two growth traits, diameter at breast height and total height, and wood density in a progeny trial of Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata. Three single-trait mixed models with random spatial and/or competition effects were compared to a standard analysis by analyzing fit, dispersion parameters, accuracy of breeding values, genetic gains, and ranking of trees. In addition, a multiple-trait spatial-competition model was fitted to estimate correlations among direct and indirect additive genetic effects, and to explore relations between traits. Single-trait analyses with spatial and/or competition effects outperformed the standard model. However, the performance of these models depended on the sensitivity of each trait to detect each effect. Direct-indirect genetic correlations from the multiple-trait spatial-competition model showed inverse and strong relations among growth traits and wood density, suggesting that growth traits can be affected by competition and environmental heterogeneity, but also wood density might be influenced by these effects. The approach proposed was useful to improve the genetic analysis of the species as well as to gain an understanding of the genetic relations between traits under the influence of environmental heterogeneity and competition.Fil: Hernández, Mariano Agustín. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: López, Juan Adolfo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Cappa, Eduardo Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Recursos Biológicos; Argentin

Effect of CO2, H2O and SO2 in the ceria-catalyzed combustion of soot under simulated diesel exhaust conditions

The effect of CO2, H2O and SO2 in the Ce0.73Zr0.27O2 and Ce0.64Zr0.27Nd0.09O2 catalyzed combustion of soot with NOx + O2 has been studied. Combustion experiments performed in a fix-bed reactor with soot-catalyst mixtures prepared in loose contact mode showed that CO2, H2O and SO2 lower the activity of both catalysts, and the inhibiting effect follows the trend SO2 > H2O > CO2. Regardless the gas mixture composition, the catalytic activity for soot combustion of Ce0.64Zr0.27Nd0.09O2 is equal or higher to that of Ce0.73Zr0.27O2 because Nd3+ doping seems to promote the participation of the active oxygen mechanism together with the NO2-assisted mechanism in the catalytic combustion of soot. The maximum soot combustion rate achieved during a Ce0.64Zr0.27Nd0.09O2-catalyzed reaction in NOx/O2/CO2/H2O/N2 is about three times higher than that of the uncatalyzed combustion, and this catalyst also improves the CO2 selectivity. In situ DRIFTS experiments showed that CO2, H2O and SO2 compete with NOx for the adsorption sites on the catalysts’ surface. CO2 partially impedes the catalytic oxidation of NO to NO2, affecting much more to the Nd3+-containing catalyst; however, the contribution of the active oxygen mechanism seems to remain relevant in this case. H2O also hinders the catalytic oxidation of NO to NO2 on both catalysts, and therefore the catalytic combustion of soot, because delays the formation of nitrogen reaction intermediates on the catalysts’ surface and favors the formation of more stable nitrogen surface species than in a H2O-free gas stream. For both catalysts, SO2 chemisorption (with sulfate formation) is even able to remove nitrogen surface groups previously formed by NOx chemisorption, which significantly inhibits the catalytic oxidation of NO to NO2 and the catalytic combustion of soot.Financial support of Generalitat Valenciana (Project Prometeo 2009/047), the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Project CTQ2012-30703), and the UE (FEDER funding)

Diesel soot combustion catalysts: review of active phases

The most relevant information about the different active phases that have been studied for the catalytic combustion of soot is reviewed and discussed in this article. Many catalysts have been reported to accelerate soot combustion, including formulations with noble metals, alkaline metals and alkaline earth metals, transition metals that can accomplish redox cycles (V, Mn, Co, Cu, Fe, etc.), and internal transition metals. Platinum catalysts are among those of most interest for practical applications, and an important feature of these catalysts is that sulphur-resistant platinum formulations have been prepared. Some metal oxide-based catalysts also appear to be promising candidates for soot combustion in practical applications, including ceria-based formulations and mixed oxides with perovskite and spinel structures. Some of these metal oxide catalysts produce highly reactive active oxygen species that promote efficient soot combustion. Thermal stability is an important requirement for a soot combustion catalyst, which precludes the practical utilisation of several potential catalysts such as most alkaline metal catalysts, molten salts, and metal chlorides. Some noble metal catalysts are also unstable due to the formation of volatile oxides (ruthenium, iridium, and osmium).The authors are grateful for the financial support received from Generalitat Valenciana (Project Prometeo 2009/047), the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Project no. CTQ2012-30703), and the EU (FEDER)

Survey to evaluate the proficiency in the use of antibacterial drugs in shrimp farming in the state of Sonora, Mexico

Antibiotic drugs (ABD) are often used in shrimp farms to treat the disease when a bacterial diagnosis is presumed. This scenario was the impetus to carry out a field survey to define how ABD are employed in the State of Sonora, the second largest producer of shrimp in Mexico. Twenty‐nine farms were surveyed through their general managers. According to interviews conducted, the most frequent bacterial diseases that were treated with antibiotics in 2020 were: Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (65%), vibriosis (51%), and Necrotizing hepatopancreatitis bacterium (41%). The most common ABDs were enrofloxacin, oxytetracycline and florfenicol, and drug preparations employed were often intended for non‐aquaculture species, mainly poultry, and pigs. The main criteria for selecting a given antibiotic was a direct recommendation, followed by the market price. Neither pharmacokinetics nor pharmacodynamics nor harvesting withdrawal time were taken into account. The absence of protocols to safeguard the health and integrity of workers was detected, training programs for the responsible use of ABD were not encountered, and no data on bacterial resistance to ABD is available in this region. It is concluded that at least formal studies to define the pharmacokinetics of antibiotics are needed to rationalize their use in shrimp production

Intracellular proton pumps as targets in chemotherapy: V-ATPases and cancer

Cancer cells show a metabolic shift that makes them overproduce protons; this has the potential to disturb the cellular acid-base homeostasis. However, these cells show cytoplasmic alkalinisation, increased acid extrusion and endosome-dependent drug resistance. Vacuolar type ATPases (V-ATPases), toghether with other transporters, are responsible to a great extent for these symptoms. These multisubunit proton pumps are involved in the control of cytosolic pH and the generation of proton gradients (positive inside) across endocellular membrane systems like Golgi, endosomes or lysosomes. In addition, in tumours, they have been determined to play an important role in the acidification of the intercellular medium. This importance makes them an attractive target for control of tumour cells. In the present review we portray the major characteristics of this kind of proton pumps, we provide some recent insights on their in vivo regulation, an overview of the consequences that V-ATPase inhibition carries for the tumour cell, such as cell cycle arrest or cell death, and a brief summary of the studies related to cancer made recently with commercially available inhibitors for this kind of proton pump. Some new approaches to affect V-ATPase function are also suggested in the light of recent knowledge on the regulation of this proton pump.Junta de Andalucía PAIDI BIO-261 P07-CVI-3082Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación BFU2007-61887 BFU2010-1562

Suplementação de grãos de destilação secos com solúveis melhora a utilização de grama tropical de baixa qualidade para novilhos de corte

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of corn dried distiller´s grains (DDGS) supplementation on feed intake, total tractdigestibility, and ruminal fermentation of beef steers fed low-quality Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus, cv. Gatton panic). TwelveBraford crossbred steers were housed in individual pens (n = 4 steers/treatment), provided with three levels of DDGS supplement: 0%, 0.6%,or 1.2% BW. Steers were blocked by live weight and randomly assigned to treatments within the block. Corn DDGS supplementation increasedtotal OM intake (21.55, 40.23, and 56.69 g/kg BW0.75) and tract OM digestibility (46.33, 49.03, and 72.39 % DM). Total tract digestible OM,CP, NDF and EE intake also increase in response to DDGS supplementation. Forage OM intake decreased when supplementation level reached1.2 % BW. Also, ruminal pH decreased with DDGS supplementation level (6.88, 6.47, and 6.27). No differences were observed in total volatilefatty acids (VFA) concentration; however, the molar proportion of acetate decreased (77.98, 73.90, and 67.29 % Total VFA) as well as acetate:propionate ratio (4.38, 3.48, and 2.74). On the contrary, propionate proportions increased (18.32, 21.86, and 24.81 % Total VFA). Levels ofammonia and lactate were within suggested values for optimal fermentation and bacterial growth. Low-quality grass supplementation withcorn DDGS increased total OM intake and digestibility. Also, DDGS inclusion favorably altered volatile fatty acids profile by reducing theacetate to propionate ratio regarding forage-only diets.O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da suplementação com grãos de destilação secos de milho com solúveis (DDGS) no consumo, digestão e fermentação ruminal de novilhos de corte alimentados com capim-da-índia de baixa qualidade (Megathyrsus maximus, cv. Gatton panic). Doze novilhos mestiços Braford foram alojados em baias individuais (n = 4 novilhos / tratamento), fornecidos com três níveis de suplemento de DDGS: 0%, 0,6% ou 1,2% PV. Os novilhos foram bloqueados pelo peso vivo e atribuídos aleatoriamente aos tratamentos dentro do bloco. A suplementação com DDGS de milho aumentou o consumo de matéria orgânica total (21,55, 40,23 e 56,69 g / kg PV0,75), a digestibilidade da matéria orgânica (46,33, 49,03 e 72,39% MS) e o consumo de todos os nutrientes digestíveis. O consumo de matéria orgânica da forragem diminuiu quando o nível de suplementação atingiu 1,2% PV. Além disso, o pH ruminal diminuiu com o nível de suplementação com DDGS (6,88, 6,47 e 6,27). Não foram observadas diferenças na concentração de ácidos graxos voláteis totais, no entanto, a proporção molar de acetato diminuiu (77,98, 73,90 e 67,29% de AGV total), bem como a relação acetato: propionato (4,38, 3,48 e 2,74). Pelo contrário, as proporções de propionato aumentaram (18,32, 21,86 e 24,81% Total de AGV). Os níveis de amônia e lactato estavam dentro dos valores sugeridos para fermentação ideal e crescimento bacteriano. A suplementação de gramíneas de baixa qualidade com DDGS de milho aumentou o consumo e a digestibilidade da MO total. Além disso, a inclusão de DDGS alterou favoravelmente o perfil de ácidos graxos voláteis, reduzindo a proporção de acetato para propionato em relação às dietas apenas com forragem.Fil: Hernández, Olegario. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: López, Agustín. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Agronomía y Agroindustrias; ArgentinaFil: García, Elisa Mariana. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Agronomía y Agroindustrias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Nazareno, Mónica Azucena. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Agronomía y Agroindustrias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Arroquy, Jose Ignacio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Cesáreo Naredo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Intraorganellar acidification by V-ATPases: a target in cellproliferation and cancer therapy

V-ATPases are multicomponent proton pumps involved in the acidification of singlemembrane intracellular compartments such as endosomes and lysosomes. They couple thehydrolysis of ATP to the translocation of one to two protons across the membrane. Acidification ofthe lumen of single membrane organelles is a necessary factor for the correct traffic of membranesand cargo to and from the different internal compartments of a cell. Also, V-ATPases are involved inregulation of pH at the cytosol and, possibly, extracellular milieu. The inhibition of V-ATPases hasbeen shown to induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in tumour cells and, therefore, chemicals thatbehave as inhibitors of this kind of proton pumps have been proposed as putative treatment agentsagainst cancer. The present review will summarize the major types of V-ATPase inhibitors and theirmechanisms of action and put them in relation to the patents registered so far for the treatment of cancer.Junta de Andalucía PAIDI BIO-261 P07-CVI-3082Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación BMC2007-6188