Determination of Soluble Sugars in Arabidopsis thaliana Leaves by Anion Exchange Chromatography

Determination of soluble sugars is basic for the study of carbon metabolism in plants. Soluble sugar quantitation can be achieved by enzymatic methods implying different coupled reactions. Here we describe a simple method that allows rapid determination of the most abundant soluble sugars (glucose, fructose and sucrose) in Arabidopsis leaves by anion exchange chromatography. We have applied this method to study the levels of soluble sugars during the photoperiodic transition to flowering (Ortiz-Marchena et al., 2014).España, MINECO projects CSD2007-00057, BIO2008-02292, and BIO2011-28847-C02-00España, Junta de Andalucía P06-CVI-01450 and P08-AGR-0358

Purification of Starch Granules from Arabidopsis Leaves and Determination of Granule-Bound Starch Synthase Activity

Starch constitutes the most important carbon reserve in plants and is composed of branched amylopectin and linear amylose. The latter is synthesized exclusively by the Granule-Bound Starch Synthase (GBSS, EC 2.4.1.21). Here we report a readily reproducible, specific and highly sensitive protocol, which includes the isolation of intact starch granules from Arabidopsis thaliana leaves and the subsequent determination of GBSS activity. We have applied this method to study GBSS activity in diurnal cycles in vegetative growth and during the photoperiodic transition to flowering in Arabidopsis (Tenorio et al., 2003; Ortiz-Marchena et al., 2014).España,MINECO CSD2007-00057, BIO2008-02292, and BIO2011-28847-C02-00España, Junta de Andalucía P06-CVI-01450 and P08-AGR-0358

Planificación y desarrollo del ecoturismo

Proyecto de la CICY

Gobernabilidad territorial para cohesión y paz.

Este proyecto se propone como un eje de fortalecimiento de las actividades territoriales con la institucionalidad y las victimas dentro del marco del programa manos a la paz, el cual pertenece al convenio entre el programa de las naciones unidas para el desarrollo (PNUD), gobernación del Valle del Cauca y alcaldía de toro en el cual se pretende llevar a cabo diferentes mecanismos de fortalecimiento institucional y comunitaria través de actividades más incluyentes y participativas en el marco de la construcción de paz territorial. Las estrategias planteadas en este proyecto giran en torno a: promoción de la participación de la población víctima del conflicto armado y de los jóvenes del municipio, ejercicios de construcción de memoria histórica, reparaciones simbólicas, y la construcción de una cultura de paz; serán algunas de las actividades que harán parte del proceso de fortalecimiento y articulación de redes territoriales de víctimas y con ello, facilitar la participación activa y efectiva de la comunidad. Todo esto con el fin de implementar y desarrollar el modelo de gestión territorial para la paz del departamento del Valle del Cauca. Se espera que con la puesta en marcha del presente proyecto, la comunidad toresana, bajo las medidas encargadas para el restablecimiento de derechos humanos, fortalecimiento de la capacidad institucional y participación de la comunidad; logre minimizar las secuelas causadas por el conflicto armado y en esa medida se le otorguen herramientas que permitan visionarse un futuro más prometedor en medio de la nueva era del posconflicto en Colombia

Nanopatterned Graphene on a Polymer Substrate by a Direct Peel-off Technique

: A graphene (Gr) on a polyimide (PI) polymer film (Gr−PI film), obtained by a direct peel-off technique, is proposed and investigated. Thanks to its high transparency, electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and chemical durability, the Gr−PI film is an ideal substrate for flexible electronic and optoelectronic devices, including transistors, lightemitting diodes, and plasmonic antennas. It is obtained using a straightforward method. After spin coating and curing a PI film on Gr previously grown on Cu, one can separate the Gr−PI film from the Cu foil thanks to the difference in the adhesive energy between the Gr−Cu and Gr−PI interfaces. The resulting Gr−PI film shows an average electrical sheet resistance ranging from 520 to 860 Ω/sq and a very high optical transmission (>90%), which have allowed the demonstration of a transparent heater. The surface morphology of the Gr−PI film follows that of the Cu foil, with the latter maintaining its surface properties and allowing in this way its reuse in subsequent chemical vapor deposition growth. The mePeer ReviewedPostprint (author’s final draft

Deficits in executive functions but not in decision making under risk in individuals with problematic social-network use.

Background: The tendency to strive for immediate gratification by neglecting potential negative long-term outcomes characterizes addictive behaviors, such as substance use or gaming disorder. Problematic socialnetwork use is currently discussed as another potential addictive behavior, which is considered to result from an imbalance between affective and cognitive processes, indicated by traits such as increased impulsivity and/ or decreased executive functions and decision-making abilities. Methods: This study investigates the respective functions in social-network users by use of the Cards and Lottery Task (CLT) – a decision-making task under risk conditions in which options contain conflicting immediate and long-term outcomes at the same time. A sample of German and Spanish participants (N = 290) performed the CLT aswell as the Modified Card Sorting Test (MCST), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), the short Internet Addiction Test specified for social-networking (sIAT-SNS), and screeners on other potentially problematic behaviors. Results: Comparing extreme groups based on sIAT-SNS scores (1SD above/below mean), individuals with problematic social-network use (n = 56), as compared to those with non-problematic social-network use (n = 50), showed increased attentional impulsivity and reduced executive functions. No differences were observed in decision-making performance. Conclusion: The findings indicate that problematic social-network use is related to attentional rather than general decision-making deficits. Furthermore, problematic social-network use is likely to co-occurwith other problematic Internet-use behaviors, particularly gaming or shopping.pre-print455 K

Decision Making and Risk Propensity in Individuals with Tendencies towards Specific Internet-Use Disorders.

The uncontrolled use of specific Internet applications is increasingly recognized as a mental health issue. Gaming disorder, which is one subtype of specific Internet-use disorders (sIUDs), has been included in the ICD-11 as disorder due to addictive behaviors. Addictive disorders are assumed to be accompanied by cognitive deficits as indicated by weaker performance in executive function and risky decision-making tasks. This study investigates risky decision-making in individuals with tendencies towards sIUDs including gaming, online buying-shopping, and social-networksuse disorders. A total of 293 individuals participated in the study. Based on specific screening instruments, the participants were assigned to a group with tendencies towards sIUD or a control group. Participants completed a risky decision-making task and questionnaires assessing risk-taking propensity, impulsivity, psychopathology, and perceived stress. The group with sIUD tendencies showed higher attentional impulsivity and higher levels of depression and anxiety compared to the control group. The groups did not differ in decision making and risk propensity. Decision making did not have significant effects on sIUD symptoms. Risk for developing sIUDs does not appear to be accompanied by altered general decision-making tendencies. Rather, psychological (pre-)load and attentional deficits appear to be relevant features in uncontrolled use of the Internet.post-print673 K

Mejoramiento de las propiedades biológicas del suelo con la incorporación de microorganismos rizosféricos, para el incremento de la productividad en el cultivo de la cebolla en Llano Grande y Tierra Blanca de Cartago

Proyecto de Investigación (Código: 1510098) Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica. Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Extensión (VIE). Dirección de Proyectos. Escuela de Biología, 2019Este proyecto de investigación cumple con el objetivo 2: Poner fin al hambre, lograr la seguridad alimentaria y la mejora de la nutrición y promover la agricultura sostenible y la meta 4: Asegurar la sostenibilidad de los sistemas de producción de alimentos y aplicar prácticas agrícolas resilientes que aumenten la productividad y la producción, contribuyan al mantenimiento de los ecosistemas, fortalezcan la capacidad de adaptación al cambio climático, los fenómenos meteorológicos extremos, las sequías, las inundaciones y otros desastres, y mejoren progresivamente la calidad del suelo y la tierra.La cebolla es un cultivo hortícola de mucha importancia para el país, en especial para las pequeñas economías y encadenamientos productivos de mercado interno. El proyecto consistió en la evaluación de varias especies de Trichoderma sp para observar el efecto sobre el rendimiento, elongación de las raíces y sus efectos sobre la interacción con las células del cultivo y su recomendación para futuras siembras de cebolla. En el proyecto se realizó un análisis microbiológico del suelo de las parcelas, en donde se evidencio la presencia de microorganismos patógenos al cultivo de la cebolla, además de una baja presencia de microorganismos benéficos, debido a la alta utilización de agroquímicos y al bajo porcentaje de materia orgánica. Además, se evaluó el efecto de la aplicación de varias especies de Trichodermas sp a almácigos de cebolla y a plantación, en donde se comprobó que T..asperellum es la especie que presentó los mejores rendimientos y mayor desarrollo radicular. En los ensayos in vitro T. harzianum es la especie que presenta la mayor elongación de raíz, seguido por T virens, pero a nivel de campo T. asperellum es la que presenta una mayor elongación radical. A nivel celular se demostró que los tratamientos con Trichoderma sp, las células alcanzan un mayor grosor y una mayor madurez que el control. El objetivo de esta investigación fue mejorar las propiedades biológicas del suelo con la incorporación de microorganismos rizosféricos para el incremento de la productividad en el cultivo de la cebolla en Llano Grande y Tierra Blanca de Cartag

p75NTR antagonists attenuate photoreceptor cell loss in murine models of retinitis pigmentosa

ProNGF signaling through p75NTR has been associated with neurodegenerative disorders. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) comprises a group of inherited retinal dystrophies that causes progressive photoreceptor cell degeneration and death, at a rate dependent on the genetic mutation. There are more than 300 mutations causing RP, and this is a challenge to therapy. Our study was designed to explore a common mechanism for p75NTR in the progression of RP, and assess its potential value as a therapeutic target. The proNGF/p75NTR system is present in the dystrophic retina of the rd10 RP mouse model. Compared with wild-type (WT) retina, the levels of unprocessed proNGF were increased in the rd10 retina at early degenerative stages, before the peak of photoreceptor cell death. Conversely, processed NGF levels were similar in rd10 and WT retinas. ProNGF remained elevated throughout the period of photoreceptor cell loss, correlating with increased expression of α2-macroglobulin, an inhibitor of proNGF processing. The neuroprotective effect of blocking p75NTR was assessed in organotypic retinal cultures from rd10 and RhoP mouse models. Retinal explants treated with p75NTR antagonists showed significantly reduced photoreceptor cell death, as determined by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay and by preservation of the thickness of the outer nuclear layer (ONL), where photoreceptor nuclei are located. This effect was accompanied by decreased retinal-reactive gliosis and reduced TNFα secretion. Use of p75NTR antagonist THX-B (1,3-diisopropyl-1-[2-(1,3-dimethyl-2,6-dioxo-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-purin-7-yl)-acetyl]-urea) in vivo in the rd10 and RhoP mouse models, by a single intravitreal or subconjunctival injection, afforded neuroprotection to photoreceptor cells, with preservation of the ONL. This study demonstrates a role of the p75NTR/proNGF axis in the progression of RP, and validates these proteins as therapeutic targets in two different RP models, suggesting utility irrespective of etiology.Fil: Platón-Corchado, María. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; EspañaFil: Barcelona, Pablo Federico. Mc Gill University. Lady Davis Research Intitute; Canadá. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Jmaeff, Sean. Mc Gill University. Lady Davis Research Intitute; CanadáFil: Marchena, Miguel. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; EspañaFil: Hernández-Pinto, Alberto M.. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; EspañaFil: Hernández-Sánchez, Catalina. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; EspañaFil: Saragovi, H. Uri. Mc Gill University. Lady Davis Research Intitute; CanadáFil: de la Rosa, Enrique J. Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas; Españ