Ordenamiento de las comunidades vegetales herbáceas del departamento Rosario (Prov. Santa Fe, Argentina)

The data collected from some herbaceus communities of the Department of Rosario which were already published in a previous paper, have been analyzed by a more objective ordination method; correspondence analysis (or reciprocal averaging). The latter ordained the “relevés” along two gradiente which were correlated with the topography of the sampled area. The major gradient was associated to soil salinity, whereas the secondary one corresponded with soil moisture. It is shown that the classical phytosociological analysis, although subjective, yields sound and reproducible resulte.The data collected from some herbaceus communities of the Department of Rosario which were already published in a previous paper, have been analyzed by a more objective ordination method; correspondence analysis (or reciprocal averaging). The latter ordained the “relevés” along two gradiente which were correlated with the topography of the sampled area. The major gradient was associated to soil salinity, whereas the secondary one corresponded with soil moisture. It is shown that the classical phytosociological analysis, although subjective, yields sound and reproducible resulte

Vegetation changes in a field abandoned after a wheat crop

The natural vegetation of well drained fields of Southern Santa Fe (Argentina) are a different kind of communities characterized by the abundance of several species of Stipa. When agricultural lands are abandoned, they are often recolonized by the original vegetation. The object of this paper is to analize the first ten years of secondary succession on a field under a long time of agriculture abandoned after a wheat crop. On the first year, wheat with annual weeds (Chenopodium album and Portulaca oleracea) appeared. After the first year, one plot was colonized by Baccharis salicifolia and the others by Carduus acanthoides, Cerastium glomeratum, Ammi majus, etc. The last years constitute another stage where diversity is reduced and a strong dominance of Baccharis salicifolia or Carduus acanthoides becomes visible. Johnson grass appeared at the begining of the succession and stayed for the whole period with high abundance values. So far no species of the natural communities have established on this field, possibly because not enough time has elapsed yet or because they are absent from the seed bank or in the neighbourhood.The natural vegetation of well drained fields of Southern Santa Fe (Argentina) are a different kind of communities characterized by the abundance of several species of Stipa. When agricultural lands are abandoned, they are often recolonized by the original vegetation. The object of this paper is to analize the first ten years of secondary succession on a field under a long time of agriculture abandoned after a wheat crop. On the first year, wheat with annual weeds (Chenopodium album and Portulaca oleracea) appeared. After the first year, one plot was colonized by Baccharis salicifolia and the others by Carduus acanthoides, Cerastium glomeratum, Ammi majus, etc. The last years constitute another stage where diversity is reduced and a strong dominance of Baccharis salicifolia or Carduus acanthoides becomes visible. Johnson grass appeared at the begining of the succession and stayed for the whole period with high abundance values. So far no species of the natural communities have established on this field, possibly because not enough time has elapsed yet or because they are absent from the seed bank or in the neighbourhood.The natural vegetation of well drained fields of Southern Santa Fe (Argentina) are a different kind of communities characterized by the abundance of several species of Stipa. When agricultural lands are abandoned, they are often recolonized by the original vegetation. The object of this paper is to analize the first ten years of secondary succession on a field under a long time of agriculture abandoned after a wheat crop. On the first year, wheat with annual weeds (Chenopodium album and Portulaca oleracea) appeared. After the first year, one plot was colonized by Baccharis salicifolia and the others by Carduus acanthoides, Cerastium glomeratum, Ammi majus, etc. The last years constitute another stage where diversity is reduced and a strong dominance of Baccharis salicifolia or Carduus acanthoides becomes visible. Johnson grass appeared at the begining of the succession and stayed for the whole period with high abundance values. So far no species of the natural communities have established on this field, possibly because not enough time has elapsed yet or because they are absent from the seed bank or in the neighbourhood

Simultaneous Isolation of Circulating Nucleic Acids and EV-Associated Protein Biomarkers From Unprocessed Plasma Using an AC Electrokinetics-Based Platform.

The power of personalized medicine is based on a deep understanding of cellular and molecular processes underlying disease pathogenesis. Accurately characterizing and analyzing connections between these processes is dependent on our ability to access multiple classes of biomarkers (DNA, RNA, and proteins)-ideally, in a minimally processed state. Here, we characterize a biomarker isolation platform that enables simultaneous isolation and on-chip detection of cell-free DNA (cfDNA), extracellular vesicle RNA (EV-RNA), and EV-associated proteins in unprocessed biological fluids using AC Electrokinetics (ACE). Human biofluid samples were flowed over the ACE microelectrode array (ACE chip) on the Verita platform while an electrical signal was applied, inducing a field that reversibly captured biomarkers onto the microelectrode array. Isolated cfDNA, EV-RNA, and EV-associated proteins were visualized directly on the chip using DNA and RNA specific dyes or antigen-specific, directly conjugated antibodies (CD63, TSG101, PD-L1, GPC-1), respectively. Isolated material was also eluted off the chip and analyzed downstream by multiple methods, including PCR, RT-PCR, next-generation sequencing (NGS), capillary electrophoresis, and nanoparticle size characterization. The detection workflow confirmed the capture of cfDNA, EV-RNA, and EV-associated proteins from human biofluids on the ACE chip. Tumor specific variants and the mRNAs of housekeeping gene PGK1 were detected in cfDNA and RNA isolated directly from chips in PCR, NGS, and RT-PCR assays, demonstrating that high-quality material can be isolated from donor samples using the isolation workflow. Detection of the luminal membrane protein TSG101 with antibodies depended on membrane permeabilization, consistent with the presence of vesicles on the chip. Protein, morphological, and size characterization revealed that these vesicles had the characteristics of EVs. The results demonstrated that unprocessed cfDNA, EV-RNA, and EV-associated proteins can be isolated and simultaneously fluorescently analyzed on the ACE chip. The compatibility with established downstream technologies may also allow the use of the platform as a sample preparation method for workflows that could benefit from access to unprocessed exosomal, genomic, and proteomic biomarkers

C7β-Methyl Analogues of the Orvinols:The Discovery of Kappa Opioid Antagonists with Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ Peptide (NOP) Receptor Partial Agonism and Low, or Zero, Efficacy at Mu Opioid Receptors

Buprenorphine is a successful analgesic and treatment for opioid abuse, with both activities relying on its partial agonist activity at mu opioid receptors. However, there is substantial interest in its activities at the kappa opioid and nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide receptors. This has led to an interest in developing compounds with a buprenorphine-like pharmacological profile but with lower efficacy at mu opioid receptors. The present article describes aryl ring analogues of buprenorphine in which the standard C20-methyl group has been moved to the C7β position, resulting in ligands with the desired profile. In particular, moving the methyl group has resulted in far more robust kappa opioid antagonist activity than seen in the standard orvinol series. Of the compounds synthesized, a number, including <b>15a</b>, have a profile of interest for the development of drug abuse relapse prevention therapies or antidepressants and others (e.g., <b>8c</b>), as analgesics with a reduced side-effect profile

Validation of Massachusetts General Hospital-Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (MGH-SFQ) in a Spanish population

Objetivo: Dada la ausencia de estudios psicométricos del Massachusetts General Hospital-Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (MGH-SFQ) en España, se plantea llevar a cabo su validación en la población española, examinando su fiabilidad y validez (de constructo y convergente). Diseño: Estudio descriptivo transversal. Emplazamiento: Población general. Realizado en 20 provincias españolas. Participantes: Muestra de 3.050 sujetos (45,41% varones y 54,59% mujeres), seleccionados mediante procedimiento no probabilístico por cuotas, con edades comprendidas entre 18 y 83 años (media = 41,51; DE = 13,45). Mediciones: Versiones españolas del MGH-SFQ, Sexual Assertiveness Scale, Sexual Desire Inventory e Index of Sexual Satisfaction. Resultados: El MGH-SFQ mostró una estructura unidimensional que explica un 71,35% de la varianza en la muestra de varones y un 83,56% en la de mujeres, alcanzando una fiabilidad de consistencia interna de 0,90 y 0,93, respectivamente. Asimismo, presenta una adecuada validez convergente al correlacionar sus puntuaciones con la asertividad para iniciar actividades sexuales, el deseo sexual diádico y la satisfacción sexual. El MGH-SFQ reveló también capacidad para identificar un mayor porcentaje de mujeres que de hombres con disfunciones sexuales y para detectar un incremento en su prevalencia a medida que aumenta la edad. Conclusiones: La versión española del MGH-SFQ se presenta como un autoinforme fiable y válido para la evaluación de las disfunciones sexuales en España. Sus bondades psicométricas, junto con su brevedad y sencillez en la aplicación, le convierten en un instrumento idóneo para identificar dificultades en el funcionamiento sexual en general o en alguna de las fases de la respuesta sexual en particular.Objective: Due to the lack of psychometric studies using the Massachusetts General Hospital-Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (MGH-SFQ) in Spain, its Spanish validation is proposed in the present study, by analysing its reliability and validity. Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Setting: General population. Conducted in 20 provinces. Participants: The sample consisted of 3,050 participants (45.41% men and 54.59% women) and was selected using a quota convenience sampling procedure. They ranged in age from 18 to 83 years-old (M = 41.51; SD = 13.45). Main measurements: Spanish versions of the MGH-SFQ, Sexual Assertiveness Scale, Sexual Desire Inventory, and Index of Sexual Satisfaction. Results: The MGH-SFQ showed a single dimensional structure, which explained 71.35% of variance in men and 83.56% in women. Reliability values were .90 and .93, respectively. Convergent validity was adequate as their scores were positively correlated to initiation sexual assertiveness, dyadic sexual desire, and sexual satisfaction. The MGH-SFQ identified that females showed more sexual dysfunctions than males, and detected more sexual dysfunctions as age increases. Conclusions: The Spanish validation of the MGH-SFQ is a reliable and valid self-reporting questionnaire to assess sexual dysfunctions in Spain. Its psychometric goodness of fit, together with its brevity and ease of use, make it a useful instrument to detect overall, as well as particular sexual dysfunctions.Este trabajo forma parte del Proyecto de Investigación SEJ2007-61824 financiado por el Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación