Biostimulant effects of lanthanum (La) on crop growth, yield, and quality

Objective: To analyze the various effects that the use of La as an inorganic biostimulant has on growth, yield and quality of different crop plants. Design/methodology/approach: A search in recent literature related to the effects of lanthanum on various economically important crops was conducted. Subsequently, the most relevant information was selected, analyzed and grouped by type of effect. Results: The addition of lanthanum at low doses has been tested in different crop plants. It has been proven that La increases growth, development and quality in various species. Likewise, positive effects have been reported in germination, in the absorption of nutrients, in mitigating the deficiencies of some essential elements, as well as in the promotion of physiological and biochemical responses. Limitations/implications of the study: The analyzed results have been generated in a great diversity of plant species, under different production systems, with dissimilar doses, as well as with different sources and application methods. This situation represents a challenge, since it hinders the possibility to issue general recommendations. Findings/conclusions: Lanthanum improves yield and quality, as well as some physiological, biochemical and nutritional responses in different crops of economic importance

Fermentación in vitro de consorcios bacterianos celulolíticos ruminales de búfalos de agua en sustratos fibrosos

Objetivo. Determinar las variables fermentativas in vitro de un consorcio bacteriano celulolítico (CBC) aislado de una búfala de agua en cocultivo con bacterias ruminales totales (BRT) en sustratos fibrosos. Materiales y métodos. Un CBC se aisló de fluido ruminal de una búfala de agua en medios selectivos celulolíticos. El diseño experimental fue un diseño completamente al azar con arreglo factorial 3x2, los factores fueron tratamientos [BRT, CBC y un cocultivo (BRT + CBC)] y sustratos (pasto pangola y rastrojo de maíz). La producción de gas total y metano (CH4) se midieron a diferentes intervalos de tiempo. Además, se estimó pH, nitrógeno amoniacal (N-NH3), degradación de materia seca (DMS) y de fibra detergente neutro (DFDN), y la población de bacterias totales a 72 h de incubación. Resultados. El cocultivo produjo mayor (p≤0.05) cantidad de gas a las 3, 6 y 24 h en ambos sustratos. A las 48 y 72 h, el cocultivo produjo mayor (p≤0.05) gas en pasto cobra. El cocultivo y las BRT no presentaron diferencias (p>0.05) en la producción de CH4 a 48 y 72 h, y en DMS y DFDN (p>0.05). En el pasto cobra, la concentración de N-NH3 con el cocultivo fue mayor (p≤0.05) que con BRT. Conclusión La producción de gas y degradación de materia seca de los consorcios bacterianos celulolíticos procedentes del rumen de una búfala de agua muestran que son una alternativa para mejorar la fermentación de carbohidratos estructurales del pasto cobra cuando se cocultivan con bacterias ruminales bovinas

Silicon increases seed weight and initial seedling growth of maize under non-stress conditions, and improves the index of velocity of germination under salt stress conditions

Salinity is one of the most critical factors affecting agriculture worldwide. The application of beneficial elements like silicon (Si) is one of the alternatives to mitigate its effects. In this research, we evaluated the effect of Si applied during seed imbibition on mitigating the negative effects caused by salinity during the germination and initial growth phases of maize (Zea mays L.) SB-308 seedlings. Seed pre-treatment during the imbibition was made with 0.0-, 1.5- and 3.0-mM Si. Afterwards, seeds that were imbibed were placed in plastic containers and treated with 0, 80, 160, and 240 mM NaCl. The evaluated concentrations of Si and NaCl gave rise to 12 treatments. Pre-treated seeds with 3 mM Si had an increase of weight after imbibition, 5.1% higher than the control. The treatments obtained from combining NaCl and Si levels did not affect the total and relative germination. The radicle length increased by 13.6% with 3 mM Si compared to the control. Conversely, it was lower with increasing salinity. These trends were observed in plant height. The interaction of the study factors produced an increase in the radicle length in the interval from 0 to 160 mM NaCl, when the Si dose was increased. However, there were no significant differences among equal levels of salinity without Si. It is concluded that Si increased the absorption of water during the imbibition and raised the index of velocity of germination under salinity, except in the dose 240 mM NaCl. Likewise, the pre-treatment of seeds with Si tends to increase radicle length under saline conditions

A review on viral metagenomics in extreme environments

Viruses are the most abundant biological entities in the biosphere, and have the ability to infect Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryotes. The virome is estimated to be at least ten times more abundant than the microbiome with 107 viruses per milliliter and 109 viral particles per gram in marine waters and sediments or soils, respectively. Viruses represent a largely unexplored genetic diversity, having an important role in the genomic plasticity of their hosts. Moreover, they also play a significant role in the dynamics of microbial populations. In recent years, metagenomic approaches have gained increasing popularity in the study of environmental viromes, offering the possibility of extending our knowledge related to both virus diversity and their functional characterization. Extreme environments represent an interesting source of both microbiota and their virome due to their particular physicochemical conditions, such as very high or very low temperatures and >1 atm hydrostatic pressures, among others. Despite the fact that some progress has been made in our understanding of the ecology of the microbiota in these habitats, few metagenomic studies have described the viromes present in extreme ecosystems. Thus, limited advances have been made in our understanding of the virus community structure in extremophilic ecosystems, as well as in their biotechnological potential. In this review, we critically analyze recent progress in metagenomic based approaches to explore the viromes in extreme environments and we discuss the potential for new discoveries, as well as methodological challenges and perspectives

Smoking cessation opportunities in severe mental illness (tobacco intensive motivational and estimate risk — TIMER—): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

There is an increased risk of premature death in people with severe mental illness (SMI). Respiratory disorders and cardiovascular disease are leading causes of increased mortality rates in these patients, and tobacco consumption remains the most preventable risk factor involved. Developing new tools to motivate patients towards cessation of smoking is a high priority. Information on the motivational value of giving the lung age and prevention opportunities is unknown in this high-risk population. In the context of community care, screening and early detection of lung damage could potentially be used, together with mobile technology, in order to produce a prevention message, which may provide patients with SMI with a better chance of quitting smoking.This study receives funding by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, Instituto Carlos III (FIS PI16/00802)

Handbook of Active Ageing and Quality of Life: From Concepts to Applications

La edición de este libro estuvo a cargo de Fermina Rojo-Pérez y Gloria Fernández-Mayoralas.El documento adjunto contiene la cubierta, portada e índice del libro.This handbook presents an overview of studies on the relationship of active ageing and quality of life. It addresses the new challenges of ageing from the paradigm of positive ageing (active, healthy and successful) for a better quality of life. It provides theoretical perspectives and empirical studies, including scientific knowledge as well as practical experiences about the good ageing and the quality of later life around the world, in order to respond to the challenges of an aged population. The handbook is structured in 4 sections covering theoretical and conceptual perspectives, social policy issues and research agenda, methods, measurement instrument-scales and evaluations, and lastly application studies including domains and geographical contexts.Peer reviewe

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to <90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], >300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

Nitrogen supply and shading affect morphology and composition of the essential oil in marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)

Terrestrial plants are constantly exposed to multiple environmental signals that influence their metabolism. Among these signals, nitrogen (N) nutrition and light affect importantly diverse metabolic and physiological processes. Herewith the effects of N nutrition (8.47, 12.71 and 16.94 mg · L−1 N) and shading percentages (0 and 70%) on plant morphology and chemical composition of the essential oil of marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) ‘Inca’ were assessed. Increasing N levels enhanced the number of secondary branches and the flower diameter, while shading reduced height of side branches, number of primary branches and opened flower buds. In leaves, flowers and stems, 15 different compounds were identified. In leaves, low and medium N levels and high light level increased the synthesis of ocimene, limonene and piperitone. As well, medium and high N doses, independently of the light level, stimulated the synthesis of caryophyllene and β-phellandrene in leaves. Nevertheless, increasing N doses and shading level decreased the synthesis of β-myrcene and α-pinene in leaves. In flowers, medium N level and high light intensity increased the synthesis of trans-pinene. Piperitone and verbenone were identified only in flowers of plants with high N doses and lower light intensity. In the stems, caryophyllene, piperitone and β-farnesene were more abundant with medium and high N levels. The interaction of study factors differentially affected both morphological variables and the composition of essential oil among organs studied. Therefore, N nutrition and light intensity are key factors that modify the morphology and composition of the essential oil in T. erecta