FAIR Begins at home: Implementing FAIR via the Community Data Driven Insights

Arguments for the FAIR (Findable, Accesible, Inter-operable and Reusable) principles of science have mostly been based on appeals to values. However, the work of onboarding diverse researchers to make efficient and effective implementations of FAIR requires different appeals. In our recent effort to transform the institution into a FAIR University by 2025, here we report on the experiences of the Community of Data Driven Insights (CDDI), a interfaculty initiative where all university-wide research data service providers are joined together to support researchers and research groups (e.g. see research showcase example here) with all aspects concerning research data management. CDDI aims to turn all digital objects within Maastricht University (UM) into FAIR Digital Objects (FDO) and by disclosing the progress and challenges of implementing FDOs (e.g. see CDDI OSF repo: https://osf.io/398cz/), we hope to shed light on the process in a way that might be useful for other institutions in Europe and elsewhere. We initially identified 5 challenges for FDO implementation. These challenges were first a matter of reshaping the culture of science making practices to fit the FAIR principles. Additionally, it required an educational awareness within the scientific communities, and finally financial and technical tools to actually facilitate the transition to FAIR practices of science making. These perspectives show the complex dimensions of FAIR principles and FDO implementation to researchers across disciplines in a single university

Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Total Alkaloid Extract from Fumaria capreolata

Fumaria capreolata is used in traditional medicine in North Africa for its gastrointestinal and anti-inflammatory activities. The present study investigates the effects of total alkaloids extracted from the aerial parts of Fumaria capreolata (AFC) on LPS-induced production of proinflammatory mediators (IL-6, IL-1β, iNOS, TNF-α, COX-2, and MIP-2) in RAW264.7 cells. AFC significantly reduced the inflammatory response inhibiting the production of nitric oxide (NO) and IL-6 in a dose-dependent manner, without affecting the viability of cells, and downregulated mRNA expression of proinflammatory key players: IL-6, IL-1β, iNOS, TNF-α, and COX-2. AFC antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties were also evaluated on the acetic acid- and formalin-induced pain models in mice. AFC oral administration significantly inhibited acetic acid-induced writhes and reduced formalin-induced paw licking time. Therefore, AFC may be a potential candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as colitis and arthritis

Flavonoids in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Review

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the intestine that compromises the patients’ life quality and requires sustained pharmacological and surgical treatments. Since their etiology is not completely understood, non-fully-efficient drugs have been developed and those that have shown effectiveness are not devoid of quite important adverse effects that impair their long-term use. In this regard, a growing body of evidence confirms the health benefits of flavonoids. Flavonoids are compounds with low molecular weight that are widely distributed throughout the vegetable kingdom, including in edible plants. They may be of great utility in conditions of acute or chronic intestinal inflammation through different mechanisms including protection against oxidative stress, and preservation of epithelial barrier function and immunomodulatory properties in the gut. In this review we have revised the main flavonoid classes that have been assessed in different experimental models of colitis as well as the proposed mechanisms that support their beneficial effects.This work was supported by Junta de Andalucia (P10-AGR-6826 and CTS 164) and by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (AGL2015-67995-C3-3-R) with funds from the European Union.The CIBER-EHD is funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III

Restauración por recolonización de especies nativas en pasturas sembradas en ambientes semiáridos en Patagonia

En Patagonia austral el sobrepastoreo provoca cambios irreversibles en los pastizales. La sucesión secundaria en pasturas comerciales podría promover parcialmente la recuperación de especies nativas. Se estudiaron lotes laboreados y sembrados con pasturas perennes, sobre pastizales de Festuca gracillima con suelos franco-arenoso (sitio Fg) y arbustales de Lepidophyllum cupressiforme con suelos salino-sódicos (sitio Mv). Las pasturas (100-500 ha) fueron: nuevas (1 año desde la siembra sitio Fg; 7 años sitio Mv), intermedias (11) y antiguas (16). Se evaluó la vegetación con 3 transectos de 500 puntos por lote y las características químicas del suelo (0-20 cm). Un análisis de correspondencia canónica ordenó las transectos de vegetación según las propiedades del suelo y en el sitio Fg se agruparon además por antigüedad, esto no ocurrió en Mv. En Fg, la sucesión inició con especies introducidas (Agropyron sp. y Dactylis glomerata), luego se instalaron gramíneas y hierbas nativas (Poa spiciformis, Deschampsia patula y Carex andina) y; finalmente, gramíneas psamófilas nativas (Pappostipa chrysophylla y Pappostipa ibarii). Como resultado los dos sitios recuperaron parcialmente cobertura y diversidad de nativas, lo que aporta evidencia de resiliencia y potencial de regeneración natural en estos pastizales semiáridos luego del laboreo y siembra.In the Magellan Steppe of south Patagonia, degradation of Festuca grasslands leads to dwarf shrub steppes in an irreversible way, but a secondary succession following a disturbance such as plowing and seeding may aid the restoration. We studied degraded Festuca gracillima grasslands (Fg site) and Lepidophyllum cupressiforme shrublands in salty nitric soils (MV site) that had been plowed, seeded, and seasonally grazed thereafter with sheep. The pastures (100-500 ha) were: recent (1 year in Fg and 7 yrs in Mv), intermediate (11 yrs), and old (16 yrs). Vegetation was assessed using 3 500-point transects in each pasture and 0-20 cm soil samples were obtained and analyzed in a laboratory. A Canonical Correspondence analysis using soil and vegetation properties arranged transects of the Fg site according to age since sowing, but this did not happen in Mv. In Fg introduced Agropyron sp. and Dactylis glomerata dominated initially but grasses and native forbs were recruited subsequently (Poa spiciformis, Deschampsia patula and Carex andina) and finally some psamophyle grasses were incorporated (Pappostipa chrysophylla and Pappostipa ibarii). Cover and diversity were partially recovered in this relatively short time, showing that these semiarid rangelands retain resilience and restoration potential after a disturbance.EEA Santa CruzFil: Ferrante, Daniela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina.Fil: Ferrante, Daniela. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral. Unidad Académica Río Gallegos; Argentina.Fil: Álvarez Bento, Javier. Productor ganadero. Estancia Ea. Punta Loyola. Santa Cruz; Argentina.Fil: Vivar Miranda, María Eugenia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina.Fil: Oliva, Gabriel Esteban. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina.Fil: Oliva, Gabriel Esteban. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral. Unidad Académica Río Gallegos; Argentina.Fil: Utrilla, Víctor Ricardo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz. Grupo Producción Agropecuaria; Argentina.Fil: Utrilla, Víctor Ricardo. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral. Unidad Académica Río Gallegos. Santa Cruz; Argentina

Intraventricular neurocysticercosis in a migrant from Honduras

We report in Madrid (Spain) a case of intraventricular neurocysticercosis in a migrant from Choluteca (Honduras) confirmed by epidemiological, radiological and microbiological criteria.S

Monitoreo de indicadores de degradación en mallines bajo pastoreo ovino en el Sur de Santa Cruz

Los principales disturbios que afectan los mallines en Patagonia están vinculados con alteraciones en su dinámica hídrica y el pastoreo intensivo y continuo durante períodos prolongados (Raffaele, 1999). Estos disturbios fueron provocando en éstos ambientes procesos de degradación por disminución de la cobertura aérea vegetal, erosión hídrica por escurrimiento superficial resultante en surcos y cárcavas, salinización debido a la alta evaporación de agua y compactación del suelo por efecto del pisoteo animal (Bonvissutto et al., 1992; Del Valle, 1993). Existen antecedentes de indicadores cuantitativos de deterioro para los mallines de Santa Cruz, a partir de claves objetivas para la caracterización cuantitativa del nivel de deterioro o condición de los mallines como herramienta para la toma de decisiones al momento de planificar su uso (Suárez et al., 2010; Ormaechea et al., 2010). Sin embargo, es importante determinar las causas que resultan en distintas condiciones de degradación considerando variables de la vegetación, suelo y agua. Estos estudios deberían colaborar en generar acciones de mitigación que resulten en un uso ganadero más sustentable del pastizal, suelo y agua de éstos ambientes (Bran, 2009).EEA Santa CruzFil: Utrilla, Víctor Ricardo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz. Grupo Producción Agropecuaria; Argentina.Fil: Utrilla, Víctor Ricardo. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral. Unidad Académica Río Gallegos; Argentina.Fil: Andrade, Miguel Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; ArgentinaFil: Andrade, Miguel Alberto. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral. Unidad Académica Río Gallegos; Argentina.Fil: Billoni, Sabrina L. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral. Unidad Académica Río Gallegos; Argentina.Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina.Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral; Argentina.Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Sturzenbaum, Maria Virginia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina.Fil: Rogel, Bibiana. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral. Unidad Académica Río Gallegos; Argentina

Insulin regulates neurovascular coupling through astrocytes

Mice with insulin receptor (IR)-deficient astrocytes (GFAP-IR knockout [KO] mice) show blunted responses to insulin and reduced brain glucose uptake, whereas IRdeficient astrocytes show disturbed mitochondrial responses to glucose. While exploring the functional impact of disturbed mitochondrial function in astrocytes, we observed that GFAP-IR KO mice show uncoupling of brain blood flow with glucose uptake. Since IR-deficient astrocytes show higher levels of reactive oxidant species (ROS), this leads to stimulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1¿ and, consequently, of the vascular endothelial growth factor angiogenic pathway. Indeed, GFAP-IR KO mice show disturbed brain vascularity and blood flow that is normalized by treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC). NAC ameliorated high ROS levels, normalized angiogenic signaling and mitochondrial function in IR-deficient astrocytes, and normalized neurovascular coupling in GFAP-IR KO mice. Our results indicate that by modulating glucose uptake and angiogenesis, insulin receptors in astrocytes participate in neurovascular coupling.We are thankful to M.Garcia and R. Cañadas for technical support. This work was funded by Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED) (Instituto de Salud CarlosIII, Spain) to I.T.A., A.G., and T.I.; an Inter-CIBER project (PIE14/00061) to I.T.A.that forms part of the projects PID2019-104376RB-I00 (I.T.A.) and RTI2018-094887-B-I00 (M.N.) funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033; a grant from Junta de Andalucia Consejería de Economía y Conocimiento (P18-RT-2233 to A.G.) cofinanced by Programa Operativo FEDER 2014–2020; a grant from Instituto de Salud Carlos III Spain (cofinanced by FEDER funds from the European Union; PI21/00915 to A.G.); Grant PID2020-115218RB-I00 to T.I. funded by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación/Agencia Española de Investigación (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033); and a grant from Comunidad de Madrid through the European Social Fund (ESF)–financed programme Neurometabolismo-Comunidad de Madrid (NEUROMETAB-CM) (B2017/BMD-3700 to I.T.A.and T.I.). M.N. was also supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Ramón y Cajal RYC-2016-20414). J.P.-U. was contracted by CIBERNED

Influence of radiation and TiO2 concentration on the hydroxyl radicals generation in a photocatalytic LED reactor. Application to dodecylbenzenesulfonate degradation

One of the main issues associated to the development of photocatalysis is the lack of adequate indexes that allow the comparison of the results obtained in different experimental setup designs. The hydroxyl radicals (o OH) generation rate is a key factor to determine the overall oxidation rate. In this work, using a Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) reactor aimed to maximize light ef?ciency and minimize energy consumption, the o OH generated have been determined as a function of the radiation and catalyst concentration following an indirect method based on the reaction between o OH and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to produce formaldehyde. Finally, the methodology has been applied to analyze the degradation kinetics of the anionic surfactant dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBS), frequently used in shampoo formulations and detergents for washing machines. We propose a method based on the indirect determination of o OH radicals generation rate that allows the assessment and comparison of the kinetics of photocatalytic oxidation of pollutants.Financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and from FEDER funds (projects CTM2012-33917 and CTQ2012-31639) are gratefully acknowledged

Seven Ulmus minor clones tolerant to Ophiostoma novo-ulmi registered as forest reproductive material in Spain

The Spanish elm programme began in 1986 in response to the devastating impact of Dutch elm disease on natural elm stands and urban trees. Its main objectives were to conserve remaining genetic resources and select and breed tolerant native elm genotypes. After 27 years of work conducting susceptibility trials on thousands of elm genotypes, the first seven tolerant Ulmus minor trees are now being registered by the Spanish Environmental Administration. This paper presents the results of the susceptibility tests on these clones and their distinctive genetic, morphological and phenological features. In all susceptibility trials the commercial “Sapporo Autumn Gold” clone, which is highly tolerant to O. novo-ulmi, was used as a control. The registered clones were named “Ademuz”, “Dehesa de la Villa”, “Majadahonda”, “Toledo”, “Dehesa de Amaniel”, “Retiro” and “Fuente Umbría”. The most tolerant clone was “Dehesa de Amaniel”, as its wilting values were below 5% during the two consecutive inoculation trials performed in Madrid. “Fuente Umbría”, tested over four consecutive years in Guadalajara and Palencia, was the Spanish clone with the most reliable tolerance level to O. novo-ulmi. The “Ademuz” and “Majadahonda” clones had the highest ornamental scores and are promising trees for use in urban environments and tree breeding for ornamental quality. These two genotypes showed a later bud burst phenology than the other U. minor clones, demonstrating suitability to areas with late frost events. The Spanish programme aims to substantially increase the range of tolerant native elms through new selections and crossings to gain a better understanding of the genetic basis of resistance

Ulmus laevis in the Iberian Peninsula: a review of its ecology and conservation

European white elm (Ulmus laevis Pallas) populations are scarce, small and fragmented in the Iberian Peninsula. Due to these characteristics the indigenous status of the species in the region has been questioned, whilst the species? role in Iberian riparian forest ecology has been neglected. Herein we review past studies regarding this species? distribution and ecology in the Iberian Peninsula, with special emphasis on the establishment of conservation priorities. We first present a collection of palaeogeographic, historic and genetic data suggesting that the Iberian Peninsula was a glacial refuge for U. laevis. Secondly, we analyse U. laevis distribution in relation to soil physico- chemical properties and water availability in Spain. Following this, we focus on the reproductive biology of the species, and investigate the effect of masting and empty seed production on predation and regeneration establishment. Finally, based on this knowledge, we propose conservation policies for U. laevis in the Iberian Peninsula