The importance of early parenting for later child outcomes: A study with Spanish families with children with disabilities

Children with different disability conditions have varied developmental trajectories, which perhaps influences parent-child interaction. For these and all infants, an optimal home environment that includes good parenting and positive parent-child interactions predicts better developmental outcomes (Spiker et al., 2005). Interventions using a family-centered, parenting-focused approach result in better parenting behavior that contributes to improved early child development (Avellar & Suplee, 2013; Roggman & Cardia, 2016). Information on parent-child interaction patterns is needed to guide intervention in natural contexts of families (Fuligni & Brooks-Gunn, 2013). Parent-child interaction data were collected from 44 mothers and 35 fathers interacting with their children (23 to 47 months) who had a disability and were in one of eight Spanish Early Interventions Centers. Mothers and fathers, separately, auto-recorded 10-minute play sessions at home. Parental interactions were assessed using PICCOLO (Roggman et al., 2013), a standardized measure of parenting. Two independent observers coded the interactions; strong intra-class correlation coefficients were found (.82 to .97 for mothers, .77 to .89 for fathers). The BSID-III scales (Bayley, 2015) assessed children’s development. Mothers scored slightly higher than did fathers. Scores varied by PICCOLO domains but were consistent with other PICCOLO studies of typical developing children (Roggman et al., 2013). Mother and father’s scores correlated indicating that the higher the scores of mothers in any dimension correlated with those of the parents combined. Positive significant Pearson correlations were found between parenting and child’s development with different patterns of father and mother domains predicting better language and cognitive outcomes. Although barriers to optimal parenting need further investigation, PICCOLO can be a useful tool to support optimal parenting.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Characteristics of areas affected by fire in 2005 at Parque Nacional de Torres del Paine (Chile) as assessed from multispectral images

El uso de sensores remotos para la evaluación de la severidad es una de los aspectos más importantes en el estudio de grandes incendios, así como la aplicación de los resultados para el proceso de restauración. En este trabajo se ha estudiado la aplicación de imágenes de los sensores Landsat ETM+ y ASTER para evaluar la vegetación previa, la superficie recorrida por el fuego y los daños producidos por el incendio ocurrido en el año 2005 en el Parque Nacional de Torres del Paine (Chile). Los resultados obtenidos indican que el índice delta NBR es bastante versátil para evaluar la superficie afectada, estimada en este caso en 17.138 ha, así como la severidad de los daños (Fiabilidad = 81,5 %; κ = 0,73). Por otro lado, se ha confirmado la adecuación del uso de imágenes Landsat ETM+ para mejorar la calidad de los mapas de vegetación previa a la ocurrencia del fuego (Fiabilidad = 79,5 %; κ = 0,75). La combinación de esta información se ha podido aplicar para apoyar la restauración del área afectada por el incendio. Sin embargo, los resultados también han mostrado algunas limitaciones de los sensores, en particular en la definición de ecosistemas con representaciones superficiales pequeñas y/o fragmentadas, lo cual sugiere que el uso de sensores de mayor resolución espacial puede mejorar los productos cartográficos finales y, por tanto, la calidad de los trabajos de restauración.The use of remote sensors is one of the most important aspects in the study of large fires for an assessment of their severity, as well as the application of the results to the restoration process. This work has studied the application of images from the Landsat ETM + ASTER sensors in order to evaluate the prior vegetation, the surface burned and the damage caused by a fire occurring in 2005 in the National Park of Torres del Paine (Chile). The results obtained indicate that the delta NBR index is reasonably versatile for evaluating the affected surface, in this case estimated at 17.138 ha, as well as the damage severity (Reliability = 81.5 %; κ = 0.73). In addition, the suitability of using Landsat ETM+ images to improve the quality of maps of vegetation prior to the fire (Reliability = 79.5 %; κ = 0.75.) has been confirmed. It has been possible to apply a combination of this information to assist in the restoration of the fire-affected area. However, the results have also shown some limitations in the sensors, particularly in the definition of ecosystems with small and/or fragmented surface representations, which suggests that the use of sensors with a greater spatial resolution could improve the final cartographic products, and, therefore, the quality of the restoration works

20 años conservando semillas en el Banco de Germoplasma de la Flora Silvestre de la Generalitat Valenciana

Han pasado más de dos décadas desde que se realizaron las primeras recolecciones de semillas de especies de flora rara, endémica y/o amenazada con fines conservacionistas por parte de la administración autonómica valenciana, cuya actuación técnica se desarrolla a través del Servicio de Vida Silvestre (SVS) de la Generalitat ValencianaLas actividades aquí indicadas han sido cofinanciadas por la Comisión Europea a través de programas LIFE, FEOGA, FEADER y FEDER en la Comunidad Valencian

Structural and biochemical characterization of NarE, an iron-containing ADP-ribosyltransferase from Neisseria meningitidis.

Abstract NarE is a 16 kDa protein identified from Neisseria meningitidis, one of the bacterial pathogens responsible for meningitis. NarE belongs to the family of ADP-ribosyltransferases (ADPRT) and catalyzes the transfer of ADP-ribose moieties to arginine residues in target protein acceptors. Many pathogenic bacteria utilize ADP-ribosylating toxins to modify and alter essential functions of eukaryotic cells. NarE is further the first ADPRT which could be shown to bind iron through a Fe-S center, which is crucial for the catalytic activity. Here we present the NMR solution structure of NarE, which shows structural homology to other ADPRTs. Using NMR titration experiments we could identify from Chemical Shift Perturbation data both the NAD binding site, which is in perfect agreement with a consensus sequence analysis between different ADPRTs, as well as the iron coordination site, which consists of 2 cysteines and 2 histidines. This atypical iron coordination is also capable to bind zinc. These results could be fortified by site-directed mutagenesis of the catalytic region, which identified two functionally crucial residues. We could further identify a main interaction region of NarE with antibodies using two complementary methods based on antibody immobilization, proteolytic digestion, and mass spectrometry. This study combines structural and functional features of NarE providing for the first time a characterization of an iron-dependent ADPRT

Tendencias estacionales y anuales en las poblaciones de campo de la mosca mediterránea de la fruta, Ceratitis capitata, en cítricos del Mediterráneo: comparación de dos áreas geográficas en el este de España

[EN] Seasonal and annual trends in Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) populations were analyzed to determine the factors that influence population fluctuations in the field. Adult flies were monitored along 2003-07 in two citrus areas in eastern Spain with similar climate, Valencia and Tarragona. Adults were present throughout the study period, even in winter. The initial annual population increase was related to previous winter and spring temperatures. Captures started to increase in April-May and usually reached a peak in July. This peak corresponded to the maximum capture period in Valencia, but not in Tarragona, where there was usually a second peak in autumn, with capture levels similar to the first peak. Gravid females were found throughout the year, even in overwintering populations of medfly. The availability of other host fruit species in the vicinity of the citrus groves may explain the differences in annual abundance and distribution of captures between the two areas studied.[ES] Se analizó la evolución estacional de las poblaciones de Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) para determinar los factores que influencian sus fluctuaciones poblacionales en campo. Se muestreó la población de adultos entre 2003 y 2007 en dos áreas citrícolas del este de España con clima similar, Valencia y Tarragona. Se encontraron adultos a lo largo de todo el periodo de estudio, incluso en invierno. El primer incremento anual de la población estuvo relacionado con las temperaturas previas del invierno y la primavera. Las capturas comenzaron a incrementarse en abril-mayo y generalmente alcanzaron un máximo en julio. Este máximo correspondió al máximo periodo de capturas en Valencia, pero no en Tarragona, donde hubo generalmente un segundo máximo en otoño, con niveles de captura similares al primer máximo. Se encontraron hembras grávidas a lo largo de todo el año, incluso en las poblaciones invernantes de mosca de la fruta. La disponibilidad de otras especies de frutales hospedantes cercanas a las parcelas de cítricos puede explicar las diferencias en abundancia anual y distribución estacional de capturas entre las dos áreas estudiadas.We would like to thank Rafel Monfort for his help with the field work. This research was funded by a project from the Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), of Spain’s Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Project RTA03- 103-C6). We thank also Alejandro Tena for useful comments on early drafts of the manuscript.Martinez-Ferrer, MT.; Navarro Campos, C.; Campos Rivela, JM.; Marzal Moreno, C.; Fibla, JM.; Bargues Desolmes, L.; García Mari, F. (2010). Seasonal and annual trends in field populations of Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, in Mediterranean citrus groves: comparison of two geographic areas in eastern Spain. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research. 8(3):757-765. https://doi.org/10.5424/sjar/2010083-1275S7577658