Farming-up coastal fish assemblages through a massive aquaculture escape event

We investigated the changes on the mean trophic level of fish assemblages across different spatiotemporal scales, before and after a massive escape event occurred off La Palma (Canary Islands), which resulted in the release of 1.5 million fish (mostly Dicentrarchus labrax) into the wild. The presence of escaped fish altered significantly the mean trophic level of fish assemblages in shallow coastal waters. This alteration was exacerbated by the massive escape. A nearby marine protected area buffered the changes in mean trophic level but exhibited the same temporal patterns as highly fished areas. Moreover, escaped fish exploited natural resources according to their total length and possibly, time since escapement. New concerns arise as a “farming up” process is detected in shallow coastal fish assemblages where marine aquaculture is established

Molecular recognition of an acyl–enzyme intermediate on the lipase B from <i>Candida antarctica</i>

This investigation provides evidence of the acyl enzyme species involved in the interaction of R/Sketoprofen with the lipase B from Candida antarctica. The interaction between the profen and the enzyme was studied by in situ time-resolved ATR-FTIR under both static and transient conditions. Particularly, modulation excitation spectroscopy (MES) with phase sensitive detection (PSD) allowed us to univocally distinguish the signals belonging to the interaction between ketoprofen and the enzyme from the strong background signals. These experimental tools coupled with theoretical DFT analysis allowed us to propose various species derived from the interaction of ketoprofen with serine through H bonding (without reaction) and the acyl enzyme species (ester bond formation) which are the intermediates in the biocatalytic assisted esterification and hydrolysis using lipases.Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias AplicadasFacultad de Ciencias Exacta

Evaluation of the Biological Activity of Soil in a Gradient Concentration of Arsenic and Lead in Villa de la Paz, San Luis Potosi, Mexico

The mining industry has generated different sources of pollution and effects in human and ecosystem health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect in gradient of the biological activity of the soil derived from the contamination by lead and arsenic. A linear transect was conducted from the tailings in Villa de la Paz to a reference site 10 km away against wind direction and runoff. The parameters that were analyzed in the soil samples included As, Pb, pH, organic matter, electrical conductivity, soil respiration, and soil enzymes. As concentrations ranged from 4.7 to 463.2 mg/kg, while those of lead ranged from 171.7 to 2319.0 mg/kg. The changes in the physicochemical parameters and in the biological activity of the soil were stronger within the first 100 m of distance from the tailings. The pattern of inhibition of biological activity was: urease>β-glucosidase>arylsulfatase> dehydrogenase>phosphatase>respiration. Strong negative relationships were observed among biological activities and arsenic (from 86.5 to 96%). Metals and covariables jointly explain the 89.2% of variability of the effect in the biological activities. This study provides a field baseline that could be part of a long-term monitoring and remediation program

Risk for cardiovascular disease associated with metabolic syndrome and its components: a 13-year prospective study in the RIVANA cohort

Background We aimed to investigate the association of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its single components with cardiovascular risk and estimated their impact on the prematurity of occurrence of cardiovascular events using rate advancement periods (RAPs). Methods We performed prospective analyses among 3976 participants (age range: 35–84, 55% female) in the Vascular Risk in Navarre (RIVANA) Study, a Mediterranean population-based cohort. MetS was defined based on the modified criteria of the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the International Diabetes Federation. The primary endpoint was major cardiovascular event (a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, or mortality from cardiovascular causes). Secondary endpoints were incidence of non-fatal myocardial infarction and non-fatal stroke, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality. Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for potential confounders, were fitted to evaluate the association between MetS and its single components at baseline with primary and secondary endpoints. Results During a median follow-up of 12.8 years (interquartile range, 12.5–13.1), we identified 228 primary endpoint events. MetS was associated with higher risk of incidence of major cardiovascular event, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, but was neither associated with higher risk of myocardial infarction nor stroke. Compared with participants without MetS, the multivariable hazard ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]) among participants with MetS was 1.32 (1.01–1.74) with RAP (95% CI) of 3.23 years (0.03, 6.42) for major cardiovascular event, 1.64 (1.03–2.60) with RAP of 3.73 years (0.02, 7.45) for cardiovascular mortality, and 1.45 (1.17–1.80) with RAP of 3.24 years (1.21, 5.27) for all-cause mortality. The magnitude of the associations of the single components of MetS was similar than the predicted by MetS. Additionally, for each additional trait of MetS, incidence of major cardiovascular event relatively increased by 22% (1.22, 95% CI 1.09–1.36) with RAP of 2.31 years (0.88, 3.74). Conclusions MetS was independently associated with CVD risk, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Components of the MetS were associated with similar magnitude of increased CVD, which suggests that MetS was not in excess of the level explained by the presence of its single components. Further research should explore the association of different combinations of the components of MetS with CVD

Synchrotron Radiation-Fourier transformed infrared microspectroscopy (μSR-FTIR) reveals multiple metabolism alterations in microalgae induced by cadmium and mercury

Toxic metals such as cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) represent a threat to photosynthetic organisms of polluted aquatic ecosystems, and knowledge about mechanisms of toxicity is essential for appropriate assessment of environmental risks. We used Synchrotron Radiation-Fourier Transformed Infrared microspectroscopy (μSR-FTIR) to characterise major changes of biomolecules caused by Cd and Hg in the model green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. μSR-FTIR showed several metabolic alterations in different biochemical groups such as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids in a time-dose dependent manner, with the strongest changes occurring at concentrations above 10 μM Cd and 15 μM Hg after short-term (24 h) treatments. This occurred in a context where metals triggered intracellular oxidative stress and chloroplast damage, along with autophagy induction by overexpressing AUTOPHAGY-RELATED PROTEIN 8 (ATG8). Thin layer chromatography analysis confirmed that toxic metals promoted remarkable changes in lipid profile, with higher degree of esterified fatty acid unsaturation as detected by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Under Cd stress, there was specifically higher unsaturation of free fatty acids, while Hg led to stronger unsaturation in monogalactosyldiacylglycerol. μSR-FTIR spectroscopy proved as a valuable tool to identify biochemical alterations in microalgae, information that could be exploited to optimise approaches for metal decontaminationWork supported by the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) (Spain) (projects AGL2014–53771-R and AGL2017–87591-R). The FTIR experiments were performed at MIRAS beamline at ALBA Synchrotron with the collaboration of ALBA staff and supported by travel grants for experiments No 2016091860 and 201702211

Estudios catalíticos y moleculares de la esterificación de ibuprofeno y ketoprofeno con glicerol

Se investigó la esterificación de ibuprofeno y ketoprofeno racémicos con glicerol catalizada por el biocatalizador comercial Novozym® 435. Las reacciones tipo “batch” se llevaron a cabo a una temperatura de 45°C, usando 2-propanol como solvente. Se estudiaron varias relaciones molares profeno:glicerol

Estudios catalíticos y moleculares de la esterificación de ibuprofeno y ketoprofeno con glicerol

Se investigó la esterificación de ibuprofeno y ketoprofeno racémicos con glicerol catalizada por el biocatalizador comercial Novozym® 435. Las reacciones tipo “batch” se llevaron a cabo a una temperatura de 45°C, usando 2-propanol como solvente. Se estudiaron varias relaciones molares profeno:glicerol.Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicada

Identificación de intermediario de reacción de la enzima lipasa B de candida antarctica

Las lipasas (EC 3.1.1.3, triacilglicerol hidrolasas) son enzimas hidrolíticas ampliamente usadas en numerosas reacciones y procesos industriales debido a su habilidad para catalizar diversas reacciones.Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicada

Identificación de intermediario de reacción de la enzima lipasa B de candida antarctica

Las lipasas (EC 3.1.1.3, triacilglicerol hidrolasas) son enzimas hidrolíticas ampliamente usadas en numerosas reacciones y procesos industriales debido a su habilidad para catalizar diversas reacciones.Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicada

Identificación de intermediario de reacción de la enzima lipasa B de candida antarctica

Las lipasas (EC 3.1.1.3, triacilglicerol hidrolasas) son enzimas hidrolíticas ampliamente usadas en numerosas reacciones y procesos industriales debido a su habilidad para catalizar diversas reacciones.Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicada