1,934 research outputs found

    Transcriptomics and molecular evolutionary rate analysis of the bladderwort (Utricularia), a carnivorous plant with a minimal genome

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The carnivorous plant <it>Utricularia gibba </it>(bladderwort) is remarkable in having a minute genome, which at ca. 80 megabases is approximately half that of <it>Arabidopsis</it>. Bladderworts show an incredible diversity of forms surrounding a defined theme: tiny, bladder-like suction traps on terrestrial, epiphytic, or aquatic plants with a diversity of unusual vegetative forms. <it>Utricularia </it>plants, which are rootless, are also anomalous in physiological features (respiration and carbon distribution), and highly enhanced molecular evolutionary rates in chloroplast, mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal sequences. Despite great interest in the genus, no genomic resources exist for <it>Utricularia</it>, and the substitution rate increase has received limited study.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here we describe the sequencing and analysis of the <it>Utricularia gibba </it>transcriptome. Three different organs were surveyed, the traps, the vegetative shoot bodies, and the inflorescence stems. We also examined the bladderwort transcriptome under diverse stress conditions. We detail aspects of functional classification, tissue similarity, nitrogen and phosphorus metabolism, respiration, DNA repair, and detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Long contigs of plastid and mitochondrial genomes, as well as sequences for 100 individual nuclear genes, were compared with those of other plants to better establish information on molecular evolutionary rates.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The <it>Utricularia </it>transcriptome provides a detailed genomic window into processes occurring in a carnivorous plant. It contains a deep representation of the complex metabolic pathways that characterize a putative minimal plant genome, permitting its use as a source of genomic information to explore the structural, functional, and evolutionary diversity of the genus. Vegetative shoots and traps are the most similar organs by functional classification of their transcriptome, the traps expressing hydrolytic enzymes for prey digestion that were previously thought to be encoded by bacteria. Supporting physiological data, global gene expression analysis shows that traps significantly over-express genes involved in respiration and that phosphate uptake might occur mainly in traps, whereas nitrogen uptake could in part take place in vegetative parts. Expression of DNA repair and ROS detoxification enzymes may be indicative of a response to increased respiration. Finally, evidence from the bladderwort transcriptome, direct measurement of ROS <it>in situ</it>, and cross-species comparisons of organellar genomes and multiple nuclear genes supports the hypothesis that increased nucleotide substitution rates throughout the plant may be due to the mutagenic action of amplified ROS production.</p

    Evaluation of Suitable Lands for Elaeis guineensis Jacq. Using Geographic Information Systems in the Sierra Region, Tabasco, Mexico

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    Objective: The objective was to evaluate the edaphic aptitude of Elaeis guineensis J. at a semi-detailed level (scale 1: 50000) in Plains and Terrazas de Tabasco (PTT). Design/methodology/approach: The edaphic requirements consisted of a semi-detailed soil map. The evaluation of the edaphic aptitude was based on the agroecological zoning methodology proposed by FAO, and the final 1: 50000 scale map was designed with the algebra mapping tool with the ArcGis Geographic Information System. Results: The Gleysols, Fluvisols, Luvisols and Lixisols groups dominate the PTT, with 65.1%, 16.2%, 6.3% and 4% respectively. 79.95% of the soils have zero aptitude towards oil palm. Limitations on study/implications: In the economy of the Mexican Southeast, oil palm is the eighth most important perennial crop above cocoa, in this scenario it is possible the expansion of plantations in the country, therefore, it is important to comply with internal regulations and carry. Findings/conclusions: The limiting factor to establish Elaeis guineensis plantations in the plains and terraces of Tabasco, Mexico, is the internal drainage of the Gleysols soils.Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the edaphic suitability of Elaeis guineensis at a semi-detailed scale (1:50000), in the Plains and Terraces of Tabasco, Mexico (PTT). Design/Methodology/Approach: The edaphic requirements consisted of a semi-detailed soil map. The evaluation of the edaphic suitability was based on the agroecological zoning methodology proposed by FAO and the final 1:50000 scale map was developed using the algebra mapping tool with the ArcGis® Geographic Information System. Results: The Gleysols, Fluvisols, Luvisols, and Lixisols groups dominate the PTT, with 65.1, 16.2, 6.3, and 4%, respectively. Most of the soils (79.95%) have zero suitability for oil palm. Study Limitations/Implications: Oil palm is the eighth most important perennial crop (over cocoa) for the economy of southeastern Mexico. In this scenario, the expansion of plantations in the country is a possibility; therefore, complying with internal regulations and carry is important. Findings/Conclusions: The internal drainage of Gleysols soils limits the establishment of E. guineensis plantations in the plains and terraces of Tabasco, Mexico

    Experimental and Theoretical Study of Bi2O2Se Under Compression

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    We report a joint experimental and theoretical study of the structural, vibrational, elastic, optical, and electronic properties of the layered high-mobility semiconductor Bi2O2Se at high pressure. A good agreement between experiments and ab initio calculations is observed for the equation of state, the pressure coefficients of the Raman-active modes and the bandgap of the material. In particular, a detailed description of the vibrational properties is provided. Unlike other Sillén-type compounds which undergo a tetragonal to collapsed tetragonal pressure-induced phase transition at relatively low pressures, Bi2O2Se shows a remarkable structural stability up to 30 GPa; however, our results indicate that this compound exhibits considerable electronic changes around 4 GPa, likely related to the progressive shortening and hardening of the long and weak Bi–Se bonds linking the Bi2O2 and Se atomic layers. Variations of the structural, vibrational, and electronic properties induced by these electronic changes are discussed

    Ordered helium trapping and bonding in compressed arsenolite: Synthesis of As4O6 2He

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    Compression of arsenolite has been studied from a joint experimental and theoretical point of view. Experiments on this molecular solid at high pressures with different pressure-transmitting media have been interpreted thanks to state-of-the-art ab initio calculations. Our results confirm arsenolite as one of the most compressible minerals and provide evidence for ordered helium trapping above 3 GPa between adamantane-type As4O6 cages. Our calculations indicate that, at relatively small pressures, helium establishes rather localized structural bonds with arsenic forming a compound with stoichiometry As4O6 center dot 2He. All properties of As4O6 center dot 2He are different from those of parent As4O6. In particular, pressure-induced amorphization, which occurs in arsenolite above 15 GPa, is impeded in As4O6 center dot 2He, thus resulting in a mechanical stability of As4O6 center dot 2He beyond 30 GPa. Our work paves the way to explore the formation of alternative compounds by pressure-induced trapping and reaction of gases, small atomic or molecular species, in the voids of molecular solids containing active lone electron pairs.We acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Consolider Ingenio 2010 Program (Project No. MAT2015-71070-REDC). The work was also supported by Spanish MINECO under Projects No. MAT2014-46649-C4-1/2/3-P and from Vicerrectorado de Investigacion de la Universitat Politecnica de Valencia under Projects No. SP20140701 and No. SP20140871. Supercomputer time has been provided by the Red Espanola de Supercomputacion (RES) and the MALTA cluster. J.A.S. acknowledges Juan de la Cierva fellowship program for his financial support. A.M. and P.R.-H. acknowledge S. Munoz Rodriguez for providing them with a data parsing application. A.L.J.P. acknowledges financial support through Brazilian CNPq (Project No. 201050/2012-9).Sans Tresserras, JÁ.; Manjón Herrera, FJ.; Popescu, C.; Cuenca Gotor, VP.; Gomis, O.; Muñoz, A.; Rodríguez Hernández, P.... (2016). Ordered helium trapping and bonding in compressed arsenolite: Synthesis of As4O6 2He. Physical review B: Condensed matter and materials physics. 93(5):054102 - 1-054102 - 5. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.93.054102S054102 - 1054102 - 593

    Revisiting the epidemiology of bloodstream infections and healthcare-associated episodes: results from a multicentre prospective cohort in Spain (PRO-BAC Study)

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    PROBAC REIPI/GEIH-SEIMC/SAEI Group.The epidemiology of bloodstream infections (BSIs) is dynamic as it depends on microbiological, host and healthcare system factors. The aim of this study was to update the information regarding the epidemiology of BSIs in Spain considering the type of acquisition. An observational, prospective cohort study in 26 Spanish hospitals from October 2016 through March 2017 including all episodes of BSI in adults was performed. Bivariate analyses stratified by type of acquisition were performed. Multivariate analyses were performed by logistic regression. Overall, 6345 BSI episodes were included; 2510 (39.8%) were community-acquired (CA), 1661 (26.3%) were healthcare-associated (HCA) and 2056 (32.6%) hospital-acquired (HA). The 30-day mortality rates were 11.6%, 19.5% and 22.0%, respectively. The median age of patients was 71 years (interquartile range 60–81 years) and 3656 (58.3%; 95% confidence interval 57.1–59.6%) occurred in males. The proportions according to patient sex varied according to age strata. Escherichia coli (43.8%), Klebsiella spp. (8.9%), Staphylococcus aureus (8.9%) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (7.4%) were the most frequent pathogens. Multivariate analyses confirmed important differences between CA and HCA episodes, but also between HCA and HA episodes, in demographics, underlying conditions and aetiology. In conclusion, we have updated the epidemiological information regarding patients’ profiles, underlying conditions, frequency of acquisition types and aetiological agents of BSI in Spain. HCA is confirmed as a distinct type of acquisition.This work was financed by grants from Plan Nacional de I+D+i 2013–2016, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Subdirección General de Redes y Centros de Investigación Cooperativa, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades [PI16/01432] and the Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI) [RD16/0016/0001; RD16/0016/0008], co‐financed by the European Development Regional Fund ‘A way to achieve Europe’, Operative program Intelligent Growth 2014–2020

    Associations between eating speed, diet quality, adiposity, and cardiometabolic risk factors

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    Objective: To assess the associations between eating speed, adiposity, cardiometabolic risk factors, and diet quality in a cohort of Spanish preschool-children. Study design: A cross-sectional study in 1371 preschool age children (49% girls; mean age, 4.8 ± 1.0 years) from the Childhood Obesity Risk Assessment Longitudinal Study (CORALS) cohort was conducted. After exclusions, 956 participants were included in the analyses. The eating speed was estimated by summing the total minutes used in each of the 3 main meals and then categorized into slow, moderate, or fast. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were fitted to assess the β-coefficient, or OR and 95% CI, between eating speed and body mass index, waist circumference, fat mass index (FMI), blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and lipid profile. Results: Compared with participants in the slow-eating category, those in the fast-eating category had a higher prevalence risk of overweight/obesity (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.8-4.4; P < .01); larger waist circumference (β, 2.6 cm; 95% CI, 1.5-3.8 cm); and greater FMI (β, 0.3 kg/m2; 95% CI, 0.1-0.5 kg/m2), systolic blood pressure (β, 2.8 mmHg; 95% CI, 0.6-4.9 mmHg), and fasting plasma glucose levels (β, 2.7 mg/dL, 95% CI, 1.2-4.2 mg/dL) but lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet (β, −0.5 points; 95% CI, −0.9 to −0.1 points). Conclusions: Eating fast is associated with higher adiposity, certain cardiometabolic risk factors, and lower adherence to a Mediterranean diet. Further long-term and interventional studies are warranted to confirm these associations

    Revista de Vertebrados de la Estación Biológica de Doñana

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    Catálogo descriptivo de los anfibios y reptiles de CubaEvolución estacional de la comunidad de aves en un robledal de Sierra NevadaComposición de la comunidad de aves en pinares del Parque Nacional de Doñana (suroeste de España).Alimentación de la pagaza piconegra (Gelochelidon nilotica) en las marismas del GuadalquivirContaminación xenobiótica del Parque Nacional de Doñana. III. Residuos de insecticidas organoclorados, bifenilos policlorados y metales pesados en ciconiformesAlimentación de la lechuza común Tyto alba en la cuenca del Duero, EspañaEstudio de una población rural de (Mus musculus L.) I. La probabilidad de captura y la estima numéricLa reproducción en Gazella dorcasIncidencia del Nemátodo parásito Skrjabingylus Leuckart, 1842 sobre el Mustela en España.Desplazamientos de ungulados silvestres a través de una zona de ecotono en Doñana.Etograma de la cabra montés (Capra pyrenaica) y comparación con otras especies.Sobre comportamiento agresivo de Triturus marmoratus en época de celoEmbarrancamiento masivo de ejemplares de tortuga lad (Dermochelys coriacea L.) en las costas de Ceuta (España, norte de África)Sobre un ejemplar melánico de Podarcis hispanica (Steindachner, 1870)Nuevos datos sobre la distribución de cuatro especies de reptiles en la provincia de Cádiz.Algunos datos sobre la nidificación de Ciconia nigra L. en sierra Morena (S. España)Observación del halcón de Eleonor (Falco eleonorae) en el centro de EspañaNueva localidad de cría del pájaro moscón (Remiz pendulinus) en la Península IbéricaRegistro de aves en el sur de BoliviaNidificación del paiño de Madeira Oceanodroma castro (Harcourt, 1851) en las Islas Canarias.Observación primaveral de Phalaropus fulicarius L. en el SO de EspañaNuevos datos sobre la presencia del nóctulo gigante Nyctalus lasiopterus (Chiroptera, vespertilionidae) en EspañaNote sur l'alimentation de Martes martes a Menorca (Baleares).Peer reviewe
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