Defensive changes in maize leaves induced by feeding of Mediterranean corn borer larvae

Bioassays raw data. (XLSX 33 kb

Stem girdling evidences a trade-off between cambial activity and sprouting and dramatically reduces plant transpiration due to feedback inhibition of photosynthesis and hormone signaling

The photosynthesis source-sink relationship in young Pinus canariensis seedlings was modified by stem girdling to investigate sprouting and cambial activity, feedback inhibition of photosynthesis, and stem and root hydraulic capacity. Removal of bark tissue showed a trade-off between sprouting and diameter growth. Above the girdle, growth was accelerated but the number of sprouts was almost negligible, whereas below the girdle the response was reversed. Girdling resulted in a sharp decrease in whole plant transpiration and root hydraulic conductance. The reduction of leaf area after girdling was strengthened by the high levels of abscisic acid found in buds which pointed to stronger bud dormancy, preventing a new needle flush. Accumulation of sugars in leaves led to a coordinated reduction in net photosynthesis (AN) and stomatal conductance (gS) in the short term, but later (gS below 0.07 mol m(-2) s(-1)) AN decreased faster. The decrease in maximal efficiency of photosystem II (FV/FM) and the operating quantum efficiency of photosystem II (?PSII) in girdled plants could suggest photoprotection of leaves, as shown by the vigorous recovery of AN and ?PSII after reconnection of the phloem. Stem girdling did not affect xylem embolism but increased stem hydraulic conductance above the girdle. This study shows that stem girdling affects not only the carbon balance, but also the water status of the plant

Serum vitamin d and metabolic risc factors in a group of spanish schoolchildren

Objetivo: Analizar la situación nutricional en vitamina D y su relación con diferentes factores de riesgo asociados al síndrome metabólico (SM) en un grupo de escolares españoles. Materiales y métodos: Se ha estudiado un colectivo de 314 escolares con edades comprendidas entre 8 y 13 años, residentes en A Coruña, Barcelona, Madrid, Sevilla y Valencia. Se recogieron datos antropométricos de peso, talla, circunferencias de cintura, cadera y pliegue tricipital, datos de tensión arterial y en suero se valoraron los niveles de glucosa, triglicéridos, HDL-c y 25-hidroxicolecalciferol (25(OH)D). Teniendo en cuenta el criterio de Cook se ha establecido la presencia de los siguientes factores de riesgo de SM: glucosa ≥100 mg/dL; perímetro de cintura ≥P90; triglicéridos >P90, HDL ≤P10; y presión arterial sistólica o diastólica >P90. Resultados: Los niveles séricos de 25(OH)D medios fueron de 23.0±8.6 ng/mL. Un 47,1% tuvo niveles indicadores de hipovitaminosis (20-30 ng/mL) y el 35% tuvo deficiencia de la vitamina (<20 ng/mL). Comparado con los escolares del primer cuartil, los del segundo tienen un menor riesgo de tener triglicéridos elevados (OR=0.50 [CI=0.25-0.99] y los del tercero, menor riesgo de tener triglicéridos y tensión arterial elevada (0.60[CI=0.42- 0.86] y 0.50 [CI=0.32-0.79], respectivamente). Conclusión: La prevalencia de deficiencia de vitamina D es elevada en este colectivo de escolares españoles. Bajos niveles de vitamina D sérica se asocian con un mayor riesgo de presentar triglicéridos y tensión arterial elevada.Objective: To analyze the vitamin D status and its relationship with metabolic syndrome (MS) risk factors in a group of Spanish schoolchildren. Material and methods: A group of 314 Spanish schoolchildren (8-13 years old) from A Coruña, Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Valencia were studied. Anthropometric data on weight, height, waist and hip circumferences, and triceps skinfold, as well as blood pressure data were collected. Serum levels of glucose, triglycerides, HDL-c and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25 (OH) D) were assessed. Following Cook criterion, the following MS risk factors were defined: glucose ≥100 mg/dL; ≥P90 waist circumference; triglycerides> P90, HDL ≤P10; and sistolic and/or diastolic blood pressure > P90. Results: Mean serum 25(OH)D were 23.0±8.6 ng/mL. Forty seven percent of children had hypovitaminosis (20- 30 ng/mL) and 35% had vitamin deficiency (<20 ng/mL). Compared to the first tertile, children in the second tertile have a lower risk of elevated triglycerides (OR = 0.50 [CI = 0.25 to 0.99]; those in the the third tertile had lower risk of high blood pressure and triglycerides (0.60 [CI = 0.42 -0.86] and 0.50 [CI = 0.32 to 0.79], respectively). Conclusion: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is high in this group of Spanish schoolchildren. Low serum levels of vitamin D are associated with an increased risk of elevated triglycerides and blood pressure.Fil: de Piero Belmonte, Alexia Juliana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez Rodríguez, Elena. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; EspañaFil: González Rodríguez, Liliana Guadalupe. Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio; España. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; EspañaFil: Ortega Anta, Rosa María. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; EspañaFil: López Sobaler, Ana María. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Españ

Single longitudinal mode lasers by using artificially controlled backscattering erbium doped fibers

In this work, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a new distributed short linear cavity fiber laser. At one of the cavity ends, fabricated by a commercial femtosecond fiber laser chirped pulse amplifier, an artificially controlled backscattering erbium doped fiber section has been connected. This distributed reflector acts also as a saturable absorber, leading to the generation of tunable and switchable single longitudinal-mode laser emissions. The distributed reflector consists of 9 micro-drilled sections of about 1cm each one and randomly spread throughout 2 meters of highly doped erbium fiber. The total length of the fiber laser is 9.5 m and the laser shows a single mode behavior at all the emitted wavelengths. Using this new kind of reflecting saturable absorber, single and multiple single-mode emissions can be obtained. The achieved laser presents a pump threshold as low as 45 mW and shows up to 8 different single-mode emission lines with an optical signal to noise ratio of 45dB.This work was supported in part by the MINECO/AEI (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad/Agencia Estatal de Investigación), Spain, under Grant TEC2016-76021-C2-1-R, Grant TEC2016-76021-C2-2-R, and Grant PID2019-107270RB; in part by the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte of Spain under Grant FPU2018/02797, and in part by the Projects for Young Researches UPNA 2019 (Universidad Publica de Navarra) and FEDER Funds (European Regional Development Fund)