An efficient triose phosphate synthesis and distribution in wheat provides tolerance to higher field temperature

High temperatures in the field hinder bread wheat high yield production, mainly because of the adverse effects of heat over photosynthesis. The Yaqui Valley, the main wheat producer region in Mexico, is a zone prone to have temperatures over 30 °C. The aim of this work was to test the flag leaf photosynthetic performance in ten bread wheat genotypes grown under high temperatures in the field. The study took place during two seasons (2019-2020 and 2020-2021). In each season, control seeds were sown in December, while heat-stressed were sown in late January to subject wheat to heat stress (HS) during the grain filling stage. HS reduced Grain yield from 20 to 58 % in the first season. HS did not reduce chlorophyll content and light-dependent reactions were unaffected in any of the tested genotypes. Rubisco, chloroplast fructose 1,6-biphosphatase (FBPase), and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activities were measured spectrophotometrically. Rubisco activity did not decrease under HS in any of the genotypes. FBPase activity was reduced by HS indicating that triose phosphate flux to starch synthesis was reduced, while SPS was not affected, and thus, sucrose synthesis was maintained. HS reduced aerial biomass in the ten chosen genotypes. Genotypes SOKWB.1, SOKWB.3, and BORLAUG100 maintained their yield under HS, pointing to a potential success in their introduction in this region for breeding heat-tolerant bread wheat

Differences in epicuticular wax layer in tulip can influence resistance to Botrytis tulipae

Botrytis tulipae is one of the major diseases of tulip. The pathogen is a necrotroph and infection normally results in host cell death, resulting in serious damage to plant tissues and culminating in rotten plants. Several defense strategies are required to counter attack this aggressive invader. Two different methods were used to proof if tulip wax layer had an influence on Botrytis resistance. Wet inoculation method (standard method) with removal of wax layer and dry inoculation method with no removal of wax layer were applied in cultivars Christmas Marvel, Leen van der Mark and Ile de France. The wet inoculation showed that Christmas Marvel was susceptible, Leen van der Mark was partial resistant and Ile de France was resistant. However, when dry method was applied in the same cultivars the level of resistance changed, leading to an increase of the level of resistance in Christmas Marvel, a decrease in Ile de France and equal levels in Leen van der Mark compared to the wet method. These results suggest that wet and dry inoculation altered the level of resistance, meaning that differences in the epicuticular wax layer provides an extra defense strategy against the pathogen in Christmas Marvel, enhanced infection in Ile de France and it had no effect in Leen van der Mark. Moreover, differences in the amount of wax layer in several species of the genus Tulipa are present. In general T. fosteriana is more susceptible to B. tulipae than T. gesneriana. The results showed that T. fosteriana had less wax layer than T. gesneriana. However, there was no complete correlation between amount of wax layer and resistance in all tested cultivar

Impact of Extreme Obesity and Diet-Induced Weight Loss on the Fecal Metabolome and Gut Microbiota

Scope: A limited number of human studies have characterized fecal microbiota and metabolome in extreme obesity and after diet-induced weight loss. Methods and results: Fecal samples from normal-weight and extremely obese adults and from obese participants before and after moderate diet-induced weight loss are evaluated for their interaction with the intestinal adenocarcinoma cell line HT29 using an impedance-based in vitro model, which reveals variations in the interaction between the gut microbiota and host linked to obesity status. Microbiota composition, short chain fatty acids, and other intestinal metabolites are further analyzed to assess the interplay among diet, gut microbiota, and host in extreme obesity. Microbiota profiles are distinct between normal-weight and obese participants and are accompanied by fecal signatures in the metabolism of biliary compounds and catecholamines. Moderate diet-induced weight loss promotes shifts in the gut microbiota, and the primary fecal metabolomics features are associated with diet and the gut–liver and gut–brain axes. Conclusions: Analyses of the fecal microbiota and metabolome enable assessment of the impact of diet on gut microbiota composition and activity, supporting the potential use of certain fecal metabolites or members of the gut microbiota as biomarkers for the efficacy of weight loss in extreme obesity

Evaluation of Anthocyanin Production in White and Purple Maize (Zea mays L.) Using Methyl Jasmonate, Phosphorus Deficiency and High Concentration of Sucrose

Anthocyanins are plants metabolites that are recognized by its red/purple coloration produced in flowers, seeds and leaves. These molecules are potentially important to the industry for its antioxidant capacity, disease prevention and as a natural dye. Currently, the production of anthocyanins is carried out using in vitro culture of Vitis vinifera and its yield is increased by using elicitors or stress factors. Zea mays is relevant due to its high content of cyanidin-3-β-glucoside anthocyanin. In the present study the production of cyanidin-3-β-glucoside was evaluated with different mechanisms of elicitation using in vivo and in vitro culture of purple and white maize varieties. The highest callus induction (85%) for white maize was obtained in MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/L of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, while for purple maize (93%) was obtained in N6 medium with 2 mg/L of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, using germinated seed as explant for both varieties. Methyl jasmonate was evaluated as an elicitation tool, however no cyanidin-3-β-glucoside was found to be accumulated or produced in vitro. In contrast, using germinated seeds and radicle tissue, elicitation using phosphorus deficiency treatment produced the highest cyanidin-3-β-glucoside accumulation (0.06 mg g−1) in white maize. No elicitation and further production of anthocyanins was found when purple maize were used using this method. Therefore, in vivo elicitation in white maize is a potential method to produce a stable anthocyanin that could be optimized for future applications

Sneddon syndrome a case report and literature review

Sneddon’s syndrome (SS) is characterized by livedo racemosa (LR) or reticularis and recurrent ischemic strokes. At the skin and brain level a non-inflammatory thrombotic vasculopathy is observed. Almost 80% of cases are women around 40 years old. The most accepted etiological proposal is an autoimmune and inflammatory mechanism versus the presence of thrombophilia. Neurological manifestations occur in 3 phases: prodromal symptoms (headache, dizziness, and vertigo), recurrent strokes, and early-onset dementia. Livedo racemosa has been reported to precede strokes by more than 10 years. Treatment is mainly based on secondary prophylaxis preventing a stroke with antiplatelet and antithrombotic agents. The neuropsychiatric prognosis is relatively poor with deficits in concentration, attention, visual perception, and visuospatial skills

Economic Feasibility of Passive Strate gies for Energy Efficient Envelopes of Mass-Built Housing in Hot -Dry Climate

The authors thank the Autonomous University of Baja California and the Master and Doctorate program in Architecture, Urbanism and Design (MyDAUD) for the support provided to carry out this study, the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACyT) for the scholarship provided for the completion of master’s degree studies, as well as the RUBA construction company.The building and construction industry represents 36% of the world’s final energy use and 39% of carbon emissions, while the residential sector is responsible for 22% of total energy consumption and 17% of carbon emissions. Therefore, energy consumption reduction measures are required by this sector, without affecting the living conditions of its occupants. In Baja California, Mexico, the more commonly used construction systems in mass-built housing are concrete block walls and cast in place insulated reinforced concrete roof deck. These systems negatively affect comfort conditions, especially in hot summer periods, and therefore increase energy consumption, particularly in areas with an hot-dry climate, such as Mexicali, Baja California. The objective of this article is to determine the cost-benefit of two passive design strategies applied in the housing envelope, which are thermal insulation and ventilated facade. A commercial model of mass-built housing was taken as a benchmark case. Building energy simulations were carried out with the Design Builder® program, whereby the performance of the house was evaluated without passive design strategies (benchmark case) and with applied strategies, that is, variations in thickness and position of the materials that make up the layers of the walls and roof. Additionally, the net present value (NPV) criterion was used to obtain the costs and benefits of the design strategies. The results show the differences in cooling demand, indoor operative temperature, and the total costs, in Mexican pesos, of the application of the strategies; the results show that there are significant energy savings, which contribute to reducing carbon emissions to the environment and provide economic savings for the user