Genetic resources and product diversification in a transitioning coffee agroecosystem in Mecayapan, Veracruz, Mexico

Objective: To analyze a coffee agroecosystem in agroecological transition, as an alternative for the use and conservation of resources. For this, an agroecological design was carried out associated with three legumes and one cucurbit in coffee cultivation. Design/methodology/approach: Collection and identification of genetic resources present in the agroecosystem, agroecological design associated with three legumes and one cucurbit in coffee cultivation; zig-zag soil sampling for physical, chemical, and biological analyses, data analysis using JASP version 0.16.2. Results: Identification of 42 species of weeds with various uses, as well as the criteria for association of species according to use, the soil analyzes showed that there is a significant connection between micronutrients and nitrogen-fixing bacteria, the variable Boron has influence in the development of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Limitations on study/implications: The results are applicable to the agroecological model in transition that is presented. Findings/conclusions: Coffee agroecosystems in agroecological transition are slow processes, but they contribute to improving soil conditions. They allow the reappearance of weed species with some use. There is a significant correlation between Boron and the development of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, likewise the physical properties have a direct relationship with their development. Keywords: agroecology, transition, agroecosystemObjective: To analyze a coffee agroecosystem undergoing an agroecological transition —considered as an alternative for the efficient use and the conservation of resources— through an agroecological association design with three legumes and one cucurbit in coffee cultivation. Design/Methodology/Approach: Collection and identification of genetic resources found in the agroecosystem; agroecological association design with three legumes and one cucurbit in a coffee crop; zig-zag soil sampling for physical, chemical, and biological analyses; data analysis using JASP software version 0.16.2. Results: We identified 42 weed species with various uses within the coffee agroecosystem, as well as the criteria for the association of species according to use. The soil analysis showed a significant correlation between micronutrients and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The boron variable also influences the growth of such bacteria. Study Limitations/Implications: The results apply to the agroecological model in transition presented. Findings/Conclusions: Agroecological transition in coffee agroecosystems is slow but contributes to improving soil conditions. It also allows for the reappearance of usable weed species. There is a significant correlation between boron and the development of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Likewise, the physical properties of soil have a direct impact on the growth of such bacteri

Novel chimeric proteins mimicking SARS-CoV-2 spike epitopes with broad inhibitory activity

SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein mediates virus attachment to the cells and fusion between viral and cell membranes. Membrane fusion is driven by mutual interaction between the highly conserved heptad-repeat regions 1 and 2 (HR1 and HR2) of the S2 subunit of the spike. For this reason, these S2 regions are interesting therapeutic targets for COVID-19. Although HR1 and HR2 have been described as transiently exposed during the fusion process, no significant antibody responses against these S2 regions have been reported. Here we designed chimeric proteins that imitate highly stable HR1 helical trimers and strongly bind to HR2. The proteins have broad inhibitory activity against WT B.1 and BA.1 viruses. Sera from COVID-19 convalescent donors showed significant levels of reactive antibodies (IgG and IgA) against the HR1 mimetic proteins, whereas these antibody responses were absent in sera from uninfected donors. Moreover, both inhibitory activity and antigenicity of the proteins correlate positively with their structural stability but not with the number of amino acid changes in their HR1 sequences, indicating a conformational and conserved nature of the involved epitopes. Our results reveal previously undetected spike epitopes that may guide the design of new robust COVID-19 vaccines and therapies.This work was supported by grants CV20.26565 from the Consejería de Economía y Conocimiento, Junta de Andalucía (Spain), PID2019.107515RB.C21 from the Spanish State Research Agency (SRA/10.13039/501100011033), and co-funded by ERDF/ESF, “A way to make Europe”/“Investing in your future”. The work performed in C.M.'s laboratory was supported by grants from ANRS (Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le SIDA et les hépatites virales), the Investissements d'Avenir program managed by the ANR under reference ANR-10-LABX-77 and EHVA (No. 681032, Horizon 2020). Work in S.B.'s laboratory was supported by grants from the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) (ANR-11-LABX-0070_TRANSPLANTEX), the INSERM (UMR_S 1109), the Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), all the University of Strasbourg (IDEX UNISTRA), the European Regional Development Fund (European Union) INTERREG V program (project no. 3.2 TRIDIAG) and MSD-Avenir grant AUTOGEN. We are grateful to the Spanish Radiation Synchrotron Source (ALBA), Barcelona, Spain and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), Grenoble, France, for the provision of time and staff assistance at XALOC (ALBA) and ID30B and ID23-2 (ESRF) beamlines during diffraction data collection. We thank María Carmen Salinas-García for her assistance in carrying out the crystallization screenings. We also thank Pilar González-García for helping us with the statistical analysis

Contrasting parental roles shape sex differences in poison frog space use but not navigational performance.

Sex differences in vertebrate spatial abilities are typically interpreted under the adaptive specialization hypothesis, which posits that male reproductive success is linked to larger home ranges and better navigational skills. The androgen spillover hypothesis counters that enhanced male spatial performance may be a byproduct of higher androgen levels. Animal groups that include species where females are expected to outperform males based on life-history traits are key for disentangling these hypotheses. We investigated the association between sex differences in reproductive strategies, spatial behavior, and androgen levels in three species of poison frogs. We tracked individuals in natural environments to show that contrasting parental sex roles shape sex differences in space use, where the sex performing parental duties shows wider-ranging movements. We then translocated frogs from their home areas to test their navigational performance and found that the caring sex outperformed the non-caring sex only in one out of three species. In addition, males across species displayed more explorative behavior than females and androgen levels correlated with explorative behavior and homing accuracy. Overall, we reveal that poison frog reproductive strategies shape movement patterns but not necessarily navigational performance. Together this work suggests that prevailing adaptive hypotheses provide an incomplete explanation of sex differences in spatial abilities

Aspectos didácticos en la formación de traductores para el ámbito económico e institucional

Este trabajo tiene que ver con uno de los objetivos perseguidos, en el marco del Proyecto Redes de Investigación en Docencia Universitaria del Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación de la Universidad de Alicante, por la red 2986 "Planificación docente y uso de COMENEGO (Corpus Multilingüe de Economía y Negocios) en la enseñanza de la traducción económica e institucional", relacionado, en concreto, con las metodologías docentes en traducción económica. Se presenta una síntesis de una serie de comunicaciones que se pronunciaron en el Congreso Internacional de Traducción Económica, Comercial, Financiera e Institucional, celebrado en la Facultad de Filosofía y Letras de la Universidad de Alicante a finales de mayo de 2014

New approaches for the identification of KChIP2 ligands to study the KV4.3 channelosome in atrial fibrillati

Resumen del trabajo presentado en el VIII Congreso Red Española de Canales iónico, celebrado en Alicante (España) del 24 al 27 de mayo de 2022.Ion channels are macromolecular complexes present in the plasma membrane and in intracellular organelles of the cells, where they play important functions. The dysfunction of these channels results in several disorders named channelopathies, which represent a challenge for study and treatment.[1] We are focused on voltage-gated potassium channels, specifically on KV4.3. Kv4.3 is expressed in smooth muscle, heart and brain. Within the heart, Kv4.3 channels generate the transient outward potassium current (ITO). However, ITO characteristics are only observed when Kv4.3 assemble with accessory subunits as KChIP2 and DPP6. KV4.3 channelosome play a key role in atrial fibrillation (AF),the most common cardiac arrhythmia, with an estimated prevalence in the general population of 1.5–2%. However, current antiarrhythmic drugs for AF prevention have limited efficacy and considerable potential for adverse effects.[2] KChIP2 (Potassium Channel Interacting Protein 2) belongs to the calcium binding protein superfamily. It is the KChIP member predominantly expressed in heart and a key regulator of cardiac action potential duration. The identification of novel KChIP2 ligands could be useful to understand the role of KV4.3 channelosome in AF and it could help to discover new treatments for AF. [3] In this regard, structure-based virtual screening could be an important tool to accelerate the identification of novel KChIP2 ligands. In this communication, we will describe a multidisciplinary approach that, starting with a structurebased virtual screening, followed by an iterative process of synthesis/biological evaluation/docking studies, has led to the identification of new KChIP2 ligands.PID2019-104366RB-C21, PID2019-104366RB-C22, PID2020-114256RB-I00 and PID2020-119805RB-I00 grants funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033; and PIE202180E073 and 2019AEP148 funded by CSIC. C.V.B. holds PRE2020-093542 FPI grant funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. PGS was recipient of an FPU grant (FPU17/02731). AB-B holds BES-2017-080184 FPI grant and A.P-L.holds RYC2018-023837-I grant both funded by MCIN/ AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by “ESF Investing in your future

New approaches for the identification of KChIP2 ligands to study the KV4.3 channelosome in atrial fibrillati

Resumen del trabajo presentado en el VIII Congreso Red Española de Canales iónico, celebrado en Alicante (España) del 24 al 27 de mayo de 2022.Ion channels are macromolecular complexes present in the plasma membrane and in intracellular organelles of the cells, where they play important functions. The dysfunction of these channels results in several disorders named channelopathies, which represent a challenge for study and treatment.[1] We are focused on voltage-gated potassium channels, specifically on KV4.3. Kv4.3 is expressed in smooth muscle, heart and brain. Within the heart, Kv4.3 channels generate the transient outward potassium current (ITO). However, ITO characteristics are only observed when Kv4.3 assemble with accessory subunits as KChIP2 and DPP6. KV4.3 channelosome play a key role in atrial fibrillation (AF),the most common cardiac arrhythmia, with an estimated prevalence in the general population of 1.5–2%. However, current antiarrhythmic drugs for AF prevention have limited efficacy and considerable potential for adverse effects.[2] KChIP2 (Potassium Channel Interacting Protein 2) belongs to the calcium binding protein superfamily. It is the KChIP member predominantly expressed in heart and a key regulator of cardiac action potential duration. The identification of novel KChIP2 ligands could be useful to understand the role of KV4.3 channelosome in AF and it could help to discover new treatments for AF. [3] In this regard, structure-based virtual screening could be an important tool to accelerate the identification of novel KChIP2 ligands. In this communication, we will describe a multidisciplinary approach that, starting with a structurebased virtual screening, followed by an iterative process of synthesis/biological evaluation/docking studies, has led to the identification of new KChIP2 ligands.PID2019-104366RB-C21, PID2019-104366RB-C22, PID2020-114256RB-I00 and PID2020-119805RB-I00 grants funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033; and PIE202180E073 and 2019AEP148 funded by CSIC. C.V.B. holds PRE2020-093542 FPI grant funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. PGS was recipient of an FPU grant (FPU17/02731). AB-B holds BES-2017-080184 FPI grant and A.P-L.holds RYC2018-023837-I grant both funded by MCIN/ AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by “ESF Investing in your future

Efecto del manejo de los residuos de cosecha de la caña de azúcar (Saccharum spp. híbrido) sobre el rendimiento de campo en Veracruz, México | Effect of management of the harvest wastes of sugar cane (Saccharum spp. hybrid) on the field performance in Veracruz, Mexico

El presente trabajo se realizó en el Central Azucarero El Potrero, Veracruz, México, utilizando la variedad CP 72-2086, evaluando cuatro tratamientos en franjas comparativas: 1) Caña quemada con requema, 2) Caña quemada sin requema, 3) Caña cruda sin quema de residuos y 4) Caña cruda con quema de residuos, con cuatro repeticiones. El estudio se inició con la cosecha del segundo retoño (resoca 1) y concluyó con la cosecha del tercer retoño (resoca 2). Se evaluaron las variables: Población, altura y diámetro de tallos, a los cuatro, ocho y doce meses de edad, mientras el rendimiento de campo se obtuvo al momento de la cosecha, junto al porcentaje de sacarosa. Al evaluar los resultados obtenidos a los cuatro meses de edad se determinó que en la variable población de tallos, la cosecha de la caña cruda sin la quema de los residuos, alcanzó los valores más bajos, siendo significativamente inferior al resto de los tratamientos; a los ocho meses de edad no se encontró diferencias significativas entre los tratamientos en número de tallos ni en la altura, por lo que el efectoperjudicial inicial de la no quema de los residuos había desaparecido, mientras el diámetro fue superior en el tratamiento Caña cruda sin quema de residuos. Al evaluar las toneladas de caña por hectárea se determinó que la cosecha en crudo sin la quema de los residuos, fue la mejor y el tratamiento de la cosecha en crudo y posteriormente la quema de los residuos, fue el de más bajo rendimiento de campo.Palabras clave: Residuos cosecha, quema, caña de azúcarABSTRACTThis research work was carried out at El Potrero Sugar Cane Factory in Veracruz, Mexico, using the variety CP 72-2086, evaluating four treatments in comparative strips: 1) Burned sugar cane with re-burning, 2) Burnt sugar cane without reburning, 3) Raw sugar cane without burning of waste and 4) Raw sugar cane with burning of waste with four replications. The work was started with the harvest of the second shoot (re-shoot 1), and concluded with the harvest of the third shoot (re-shoot 2). The variables evaluated were: Population, height and stem diameter, at four, eight and twelve months of age; while the yield field was obtained at the moment of the harvest, together with the sugar percentage. On evaluating the obtained results at four months of age, it was determined that in the variable population of stems, the raw sugar cane harvest without the burning of the waste, it reached the lowest values, being significantly inferior to the rest of the treatments; at eight months of age there was no significant differences between the treatments neither in number of stems nor in height, therefore the initial harmless effect of the non-burning of waste had disappeared, meanwhile the diameter was superior in the raw Sugar Cane treatment without burning of waste. On evaluating the sugar cane tones by hectare it wasdetermined that the raw harvest and afterwards the burning of the waste, was the lowest field performance.Key words: Harvest waste, burning, sugar cane

Modulation of KV4.3-KChIP2 Channels by IQM-266: Role of DPP6 and KCNE2

The transient outward potassium current (Itof) is generated by the activation of KV4 chan- nels assembled with KChIP2 and other accessory subunits (DPP6 and KCNE2). To test the hypothesis that these subunits modify the channel pharmacology, we analyzed the electrophysiological effects of (3-(2-(3-phenoxyphenyl)acetamido)-2-naphthoic acid) (IQM-266), a new KChIP2 ligand, on the currents generated by KV4.3/KChIP2, KV4.3/KChIP2/DPP6 and KV4.3/KChIP2/KCNE2 channels. CHO cells were transiently transfected with cDNAs codifying for different proteins (KV4.3/KChIP2, KV4.3/KChIP2/DPP6 or KV4.3/KChIP2/KCNE2), and the potassium currents were recorded using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. IQM-266 decreased the maximum peak of KV4.3/KChIP2, KV4.3/KChIP2/DPP6 and KV4.3/KChIP2/KCNE2 currents, slowing their time course of inactivation in a concentration-, voltage-, time- and use-dependent manner. IQM-266 produced an increase in the charge in KV4.3/KChIP2 channels that was intensified when DPP6 was present and abolished in the presence of KCNE2. IQM-266 induced an activation unblocking effect during the applica- tion of trains of pulses to cells expressing KV4.3/KChIP2 and KV4.3/KChIP2/KCNE2, but not in KV4.3/KChIP2/DPP6 channels. Overall, all these results are consistent with a preferential IQM-266 binding to an active closed state of Kv4.3/KChIP2 and Kv4.3/KChIP2/KCNE2 channels, whereas in the presence of DPP6, IQM-266 binds preferentially to an inactivated state. In conclusion, DPP6 and KCNE2 modify the pharmacological response of KV4.3/KChIP2 channels to IQM-266.This publication is the results of the: Grants SAF2016-75021-R (to C.V.), RTI2018-097189-B- C22 (to M.M.-M.) and BIO2017-89523-R (to A.A.) funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”; Grants PID2019-104366RB-C21 (to C.V.), PID2019-104366RB- C22 (to M.G.-R.), PID2020-114256RB-I00 (to A.O. and J.A.G.-V.), PID2020-119805RB-I00 (to A.A.) funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033; Grant A-FQM-386-UGR20 funded by FEDER/Junta de Andalucía-Consejería de Transformación Económica, Industria, Conocimiento (to J.A.G.-V.); Grant CB/11/00222 funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III CIBERCV (to C.V.); Grants PIE202180E073 (to M.M.-M. and M.G.-R.), PIE201820E104 and 2019AEP148 (to C.V.) funded by Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Grants BES-2017-080184 (to A.d.B.-B.), BES-2010-036573 (to P.C.), PRE2018- 083280 (to M.D.-M.) and RYC2018-023837-I (to A.P.-L.) funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ESF Investing in your future”; Grant FPU17/02731 (to P.G.S.) funded by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.Peer reviewe

Influence of taste disorders on dietary behaviors in cancer patients under chemotherapy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>To determine the relationship between energy and nutrient consumption with chemosensory changes in cancer patients under chemotherapy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We carried out a cross-sectional study, enrolling 60 subjects. Cases were defined as patients with cancer diagnosis after their second chemotherapy cycle (n = 30), and controls were subjects without cancer (n = 30). Subjective changes of taste during treatment were assessed. Food consumption habits were obtained with a food frequency questionnaire validated for Mexican population. Five different concentrations of three basic flavors --sweet (sucrose), bitter (urea), and a novel basic taste, umami (sodium glutamate)-- were used to measure detection thresholds and recognition thresholds (RT). We determine differences between energy and nutrient consumption in cases and controls and their association with taste DT and RT.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>No demographic differences were found between groups. Cases showed higher sweet DT (6.4 vs. 4.4 μmol/ml; p = 0.03) and a higher bitter RT (100 vs. 95 μmol/ml; <it>p </it>= 0.04) than controls. Cases with sweet DT above the median showed significant lower daily energy (2,043 vs.1,586 kcal; p = 0.02), proteins (81.4 vs. 54 g/day; <it>p </it>= 0.01), carbohydrates (246 vs.192 g/day; <it>p </it>= 0.05), and zinc consumption (19 vs.11 mg/day; <it>p </it>= 0.01) compared to cases without sweet DT alteration. Cases with sweet DT and RT above median were associated with lower completion of energy requirements and consequent weight loss. There was no association between flavors DT or RT and nutrient ingestion in the control group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Changes of sweet DT and bitter RT in cancer patients under chemotherapy treatment were associated with lower energy and nutrient ingestion. Taste detection and recognition thresholds disorders could be important factors in malnutrition development on patients with cancer under chemotherapy treatment.</p

Cosmic CARNage I: on the calibration of galaxy formation models

We present a comparison of nine galaxy formation models, eight semi-analytical, and one halo occupation distribution model, run on the same underlying cold dark matter simulation (cosmological box of comoving width 125h−1 Mpc, with a dark-matter particle mass of 1.24 × 109h−1M) and the same merger trees. While their free parameters have been calibrated to the same observational data sets using two approaches, they nevertheless retain some ‘memory’ of any previous calibration that served as the starting point (especially for the manually tuned models). For the first calibration, models reproduce the observed z = 0 galaxy stellar mass function (SMF) within 3σ. The second calibration extended the observational data to include the z = 2 SMF alongside the z ∼ 0 star formation rate function, cold gas mass, and the black hole–bulge mass relation. Encapsulating the observed evolution of the SMF from z = 2 to 0 is found to be very hard within the context of the physics currently included in the models. We finally use our calibrated models to study the evolution of the stellar-to-halo mass (SHM) ratio. For all models, we find that the peak value of the SHM relation decreases with redshift. However, the trends seen for the evolution of the peak position as well as the mean scatter in the SHM relation are rather weak and strongly model dependent. Both the calibration data sets and model results are publicly available