Rebrote después de incendio e inversión reproductiva en Erica cinerea y E. vagans

Se estudió el crecimiento anual y la distribución de recursos de clones control y de rebrotes en áreas incendiadas y en zonas control en Erica vagans y E. cinerea, encontrándose que no existen diferencias significativas entre ambas especies. Sin embargo, el crecimiento de los rebrotes tras el incendio fue superior al estimado en los controles. La asignación reproductiva en el rebrote después de incendios disminuyó en ambas especies, sobre todo en E. cinerea. Los patrones de asignación reproductiva dependientes del tamaño que aparecen en los controles no se encuentran en el rebrote, lo cual sugiere una asignación reproductiva plástica.Post-fire growth and annual growth of control branches were studied in Erica vagans and E. cinerea in two northem Spain localities. The dry weight of the resprouts was greater than that of the control branches. However, neither growth of the control branches nor resprouts differed among species. Reproductive allocation did not show differences among species, but significantly decreased in burned areas, specially in E. cinerea. Reproductive allocation was size-dependent in control branches, but this pattem did not appear in the resprouts. This variations suggest a flexible reproductive strategy

Tree species effects on soil microbial community composition and greenhouse gases emissions in a Mediterranean ecotone forest

Resumen de una presentación realizada en: I Simposio sobre Interacciones Planta-Suelo (ICA-CSIC, Madrid, 25-26 Febrero 2016)Over recent decades in the Iberian Peninsula, altitudinal shifts from Pinus sylvestris L. to Quercus pyrenaica Willd species has been observed as a consequence of Global Change, meaning changes in temperature, precipitation, land use and forestry. The forest conversion from pine to oak can alter the litter quality and quantity provided to the soil and thereby the soil microbial community composition and functioning. Since soil microbiota plays an important role in organic matter decomposition, and this in turn is key in biogeochemical cycles and forest ecosystems productivity, the rate in which forests produce and consume greenhouse gases can be also affected by changes in forest composition. In other words, changes in litter decomposition will ultimately affect downstream carbon and nitrogen dynamics although this impact is uncertain. In order to predict changes in carbon and nitrogen stocks in Global Change scenarios, it is necessary to deepen the impact of vegetation changes on soil microbial communities, litter decomposition dynamics (priming effect) and the underlying interactions between these factors. To test this, we conducted a full-factorial transplant microcosms experiment mixing both fresh soils and litter from Pyrenean oak, Scots pine and mixed stands collected inside their transitional area in Central Spain. The microcosms consisted in soil cylinders inside Kilner jars used as chambers inside an incubator. In this experiment, we investigated how and to what extent the addition of litter with different quality (needles, oak leaves and mixed needlesleaves) to soil inoculums with contrasting soil microbiota impact on soil (i) CO2, NO, N2O and CH4 efflux rates, (ii) total organic carbon and nitrogen and (iii) dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen. Furthermore, we assessed if these responses were controlled by changes in the microbial community structure using the PLFA analyses prior and after the incubation period of 54 days.Peer reviewe

Efecto de la pre-digestión del sustrato sobre la fermentación in vitro en conejos

Los trabajos de fermentacion realizados en conejos empleando la tecnica de produccion de gas in vitro desarrollada por Menke et al. (1979) presentan grandes variaciones en lo que se refiere a los inoculos utilizados, el procesado de los sustratos, la relacion inoculo/sustrato y los modelos matematicos de ajuste. En muchos trabajos, los sustratos solo son molidos (Calabro et al., 1999; Bovera et al., 2006), mientras que en otros se utiliza el residuo insoluble procedente de una pre-digestion in vitro donde se Simula la digestion del estomago e intestino delgado (Bindelle et a/. 2007; Rodriguez-Romero et al., 2011). Sin embargo, al estudiar la fermentacion de alimentos fibrosos seria interesante conservar en la muestra la fraccion de la fibra que se solubiliza en el intestino delgado (Abad-Guaman et al., 2015). Por otra parte, en conejos se ha observado que el nivel y tipo de fibra de la dieta de los donantes influye sobre la fermentacion in vitro (Rodriguez-Romero et al., 2011). El presente trabajo compara la fermentacion in vitro de diferentes sustratos cuando se realiza una pre-digesti6n o se incuba directamente el sustrato utilizando cecotrofos procedentes de gazapos alimentados con dos niveles de fibra soluble (FS)

Cerebroespinal fluid control of neurogenesis induced by retinoic acid during early brain development

Producción CientíficaEmbryonic-cerebrospinal fluid (E-CSF) plays crucial roles in early brain development including the control of neurogenesis. Although FGF2 and lipoproteins present in the E-CSF have previously been shown to be involved in neurogenesis, the main factor triggering this process remains unknown. E-CSF contains all-trans-retinol and retinol-binding protein involved in the synthesis of retinoic acid (RA), a neurogenesis inducer. In early chick embryo brain, only the mesencephalic-rombencephalic isthmus (IsO) is able to synthesize RA. Here we show that in chick embryo brain development: (1) E-CSF helps to control RA synthesis in the IsO by means of the RBP and all-trans-retinol it contains; (2) E-CSF has retinoic acid activity, which suggests it may act as a diffusion pathway for RA; and (3) the influence of E-CSF on embryonic brain neurogenesis is to a large extent due to its involvement in RA synthesis. These data help to understand neurogenesis from neural progenitor cells2015-05-2

Significado paleoambiental de las calcretas terciarias de la Fosa de Teruel. Microestructura e isótopos estables.

Laminar and nodular calcretes in the Teruel Graben are from Palaeogene to Pleistocene in age. These calcretes developed under the influence of the same source rocks and groundwaters, so differences in their microstructure and isotope composition must be related to differences in host rock, climate, vegetation and time of development. The laminar calcretes formed on hard substrates or on coarse detrital deposits. Alveolar septal structures, root tubes, calcified organic filaments and root cells are common. Underside coatings and fibrous vadose cements occur around gravel clasts. Spherulites formed in association with bacterial mats in ponded waters that dried out, and are preserved only at the top of the youngest calcretes. Nodular calcretes developed on fine detrital substrates. The nodules consist of micrite and show desiccation cracks and mottling, micritic coatings, alveolar septal structures and root traces. Microcodium occurs only in calcretes of Palaeogene age. The stable isotope composition covers a wide range: -8.23 <δ180<-4.29 ‰ PDB and -7.29<δ13C<-3.42 ‰ PDB. These calcretes formed under semi-arid conditions with prevailing C3 vegetation. No clear shift in δ13C values, which might indicate an increase of C4 vegetation, was found during the Miocene or the transit to the Pliocene

Las fuentes documentales y el estudio de las prácticas alimenticias en sociedades cazadoras, recolectoras y pescadoras del litoral del río de la Plata durante el Holoceno tardío

The analysis of the social practices linked to environmental management in general, and food processing in particular, is one of the topics studied by our research team on the coast of the río de la Plata. We use different lines of evidence to approach this topic, including pottery studies, archaeofaunal, archaeobotanical, archaeometric, and ethnobotanical analysis; and experimental and actualistic studies. This paper aims to integrate the results of those studies, with the analysis of the documentary sources produced by European travelers at the río de la Plata basin during the 16th century, who were exploring the use, processing, storage, and consumption of indigenous food resources. We also assessed the uses and functions of technology, particularly pottery, and its links with the culinary processes, and we were able to identify mentions of the use of plant and animal resources, such as fish and terrestrial mammals, and the preparation of fishmeal and butter for storage.El análisis de las prácticas sociales vinculadas al manejo del entorno en general y al procesamiento de alimentos en particular es uno de los objetivos de investigación del equipo de trabajo en el litoral del río de la Plata. Esta temática se aborda desde distintas líneas de investigación, tales como estudios cerámicos, análisis arqueofaunísticos, arqueobotánicos y etnobotánicos, arqueométricos, métodos experimentales y actualísticos. El objetivo del presente trabajo es articular los resultados de estos estudios con el análisis de las fuentes documentales producidas durante el siglo XVI por expedicionarios europeos en la cuenca del río de la Plata, donde se busca explorar la utilización de los recursos alimenticios autóctonos, su procesamiento, almacenamiento y consumo. Asimismo, se pretende indagar sobre los usos y funciones de la tecnología, particularmente la cerámica, y su relación en los procesos culinarios. En tal sentido, se identificaron menciones del uso de recursos vegetales y animales, como peces y mamíferos terrestres, y la preparación de harina y manteca de pescado para su almacenamiento

Efecto de la crisis económica sobre el consumo de psicofármacos en Asturias

ResumenObjetivoEvaluar si la crisis económica de 2008ha comportado cambios en la evolución del consumo de ansiolíticos, hipnótico-sedantes y antidepresivos en Asturias.MétodoEstudio descriptivo y de utilización de medicamentos durante 2003-2013. Se calcularon las dosis diarias definidas por 1000 habitantes/día (DHD) de ansiolíticos, hipnótico-sedantes y antidepresivos. Se obtuvieron coeficientes de regresión lineal (b) de las DHD de la etapa precrisis (2003-2008) y de la etapa de crisis (2009-2013).ResultadosEl consumo de ansiolíticos creció un 40,25%, el de hipnóticos un 88,11% y el de antidepresivos un 80,93%. Para los ansiolíticos: b-(2003-2008)=4,38 DHD/año y b-(2009-2013)=1,08 DHD/año. Para los hipnótico-sedantes: b-(2003-2008)=2,30 DHD/año y b-(2009-2013)=0,40 DHD/año. Para los antidepresivos: b-(2003-2008)=5,79 DHD/año y b-(2009-2013)=2,83 DHD/año.ConclusionesEl incremento del consumo para los tres subgrupos en la época de crisis fue menor que en la época precrisis. No se confirma que la crisis económica haya influido aumentando el consumo de estos medicamentos.AbstractObjectiveTo assess whether the economic crisis of 2008 has changed the consumption of anxiolytics, hypnotics-sedatives and antidepressants in Asturias (Spain).MethodWe conducted a descriptive study of drug use from 2003 -2013. The defined daily doses of 1000 inhabitants per day (DHD) were calculated for anxiolytics, hypnotics-sedatives and antidepressants. Linear regression coefficients (b) of the DHD were obtained for the pre-crisis period (2003-2008) and the crisis period (2009-2013).ResultsThe consumption of anxiolytics increased by 40.25%, that of hypnotics by 88.11% and that of antidepressants by 80.93%. For anxiolytics: b-(2003-2008)=4.38 DDI/year and b-(2009-2013)=1.08 DDI/year. For hypnotics-sedatives: b-(2003-2008)=2.30 DDI/year and b-(2009-2013)=0.40 DDI/year. For antidepressants: b-(2003-2008)=5.79 DDI/year and b-(2009-2013)=2.83 DDI/year.ConclusionsThe rise in consumption of the three subgroups during the crisis period was lower than that of the pre-crisis period. This study does not confirm the influence of the economic crisis on the rise in consumption of these drugs

Functional correlates of response inhibition in impulse control disorders in Parkinson’s disease

Available online 11 September 2021.Impulse control disorder is a prevalent side-effect of Parkinson’s disease (PD) medication, with a strong negative impact on the quality of life of those affected. Although impulsivity has classically been associated with response inhibition deficits, previous evidence from PD patients with impulse control disorder (ICD) has not revealed behavioral dysfunction in response inhibition. In this study, 18 PD patients with ICD, 17 PD patients without this complication, and 15 healthy controls performed a version of the conditional Stop Signal Task during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Whole-brain contrasts, regions of interest, and functional connectivity analyses were conducted. Our aim was to investigate the neural underpinnings of two aspects of response inhibition: proactive inhibition, inhibition that has been prepared beforehand, and restrained inhibition, inhibition of an invalid inhibitory tendency. We observed that, in respect to the other two groups, PD patients with ICD exhibited hyperactivation of the stopping network bilaterally while performing proactive inhibition. When engaged in restrained inhibition, they showed hyperactivation of the left inferior frontal gyrus, an area linked to action monitoring. Restrained inhibition also resulted in changes to the functional co-activation between inhibitory regions and left inferior parietal cortex and right supramarginal gyrus. Our findings indicate that PD patients with ICD completed the inhibition task correctly, showing altered engagement of inhibitory and attentional areas. During proactive inhibition they showed bilateral hyperactivation of two inhibitory regions, while during restrained inhibition they showed additional involvement of attentional areas responsible for alerting and orienting.This work was supported by grants from the Carlos III Institute of Health (PI11/02109) and the ERA-Neuron program (PIM2010ERN- 0033). Additionally, the authors received the following grants and honoraria: T.E.-P. received a grant from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (BES-2016-079489). P.M.P.-A. was supported by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (RYC-2014-15440), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PGC2018-093408-B-I00), and the Fundación Tatiana Pérez de Guzmán el Bueno. I.N.-G. was the recipient of a Rio Hortega grant (CM16/00033) from the Carlos III Institute of Health. I.N.-G. received honoraria from Zambon and TEVA for travel and accommodation to attend scientific meetings. M.C.R.-O. received financial support for her research from national and local government institutions in Spain (Carlos III Institute of Health, Basque Country Government, Diputacion Foral Guipuzcoa, and CIBERNED). M.C.R.-O. received honoraria from Zambon, Bial, and Boston Scientific for lectures, travel, and accommodation to attend scientific meetings. BCBL acknowledges support from the Basque Government through the BERC 2018-2021 program

Functional correlates of response inhibition in impulse control disorders in Parkinson’s disease

Available online 11 September 2021.Impulse control disorder is a prevalent side-effect of Parkinson’s disease (PD) medication, with a strong negative impact on the quality of life of those affected. Although impulsivity has classically been associated with response inhibition deficits, previous evidence from PD patients with impulse control disorder (ICD) has not revealed behavioral dysfunction in response inhibition. In this study, 18 PD patients with ICD, 17 PD patients without this complication, and 15 healthy controls performed a version of the conditional Stop Signal Task during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Whole-brain contrasts, regions of interest, and functional connectivity analyses were conducted. Our aim was to investigate the neural underpinnings of two aspects of response inhibition: proactive inhibition, inhibition that has been prepared beforehand, and restrained inhibition, inhibition of an invalid inhibitory tendency. We observed that, in respect to the other two groups, PD patients with ICD exhibited hyperactivation of the stopping network bilaterally while performing proactive inhibition. When engaged in restrained inhibition, they showed hyperactivation of the left inferior frontal gyrus, an area linked to action monitoring. Restrained inhibition also resulted in changes to the functional co-activation between inhibitory regions and left inferior parietal cortex and right supramarginal gyrus. Our findings indicate that PD patients with ICD completed the inhibition task correctly, showing altered engagement of inhibitory and attentional areas. During proactive inhibition they showed bilateral hyperactivation of two inhibitory regions, while during restrained inhibition they showed additional involvement of attentional areas responsible for alerting and orienting.This work was supported by grants from the Carlos III Institute of Health (PI11/02109) and the ERA-Neuron program (PIM2010ERN- 0033). Additionally, the authors received the following grants and honoraria: T.E.-P. received a grant from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (BES-2016-079489). P.M.P.-A. was supported by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (RYC-2014-15440), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PGC2018-093408-B-I00), and the Fundación Tatiana Pérez de Guzmán el Bueno. I.N.-G. was the recipient of a Rio Hortega grant (CM16/00033) from the Carlos III Institute of Health. I.N.-G. received honoraria from Zambon and TEVA for travel and accommodation to attend scientific meetings. M.C.R.-O. received financial support for her research from national and local government institutions in Spain (Carlos III Institute of Health, Basque Country Government, Diputacion Foral Guipuzcoa, and CIBERNED). M.C.R.-O. received honoraria from Zambon, Bial, and Boston Scientific for lectures, travel, and accommodation to attend scientific meetings. BCBL acknowledges support from the Basque Government through the BERC 2018-2021 program

IL-1R and inflammasomes mediate early pulmonary protective mechanisms in respiratory brucella abortus infection

Brucella spp. infection is frequently acquired through contaminated aerosols. The role of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in the early pulmonary response to respiratory Brucella infection is unknown. As shown here, IL-1β levels in lung homogenates and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of mice intratracheally inoculated with B. abortus were increased at 3 and 7 days p.i. At 7 days p.i., pulmonary CFU numbers were higher in IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) knockout (KO) mice than in wild type (WT) mice. At different times p.i. CFU in lungs and BALF were higher in mice lacking some inflammasome components (caspase-1, AIM2, NLRP3) than in WT mice. At 2 days p.i. pulmonary levels of IL-1b and CXCL1 (neutrophils chemoattractant) were lower in caspase-1/11 KO mice. At day 3 p.i., neutrophils counts in BALF were lower in caspase-1/11 KO mice than in WT mice. During in vitro infections, IL-1β secretion was lower in alveolar macrophages from caspase-1/11, NLRP3 or AIM2 KO mice than in WT controls. Similarly, IL-1β production by B. abortus-infected alveolar epithelial cells was reduced by pretreatment with a specific caspase-1 inhibitor. This study shows that IL-1R, probably through IL-1β action, and the NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasomes are involved in pulmonary innate immune protective mechanisms against respiratory B. abortus infection.Fil: Hielpos, María Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, Andrea Giselle. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Falivene, Juliana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Alonso Paiva, Iván Mathias. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Muñoz González, Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Ferrero, Mariana Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Campos, Priscila C.. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Vieira, Angelica T.. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Oliveira, Sergio Costa. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Baldi, Pablo Cesar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentin