Implicación del factor de transcripción Nrf2 en trastornos depresivos

Tesis doctoral inédita leída en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Farmacología y Terapéutica. Fecha de lectura: 14 de Septiembre de 2012

Management of coastal dunes affected by shrub encroachment: are rabbits an ally or an enemy of restoration?

In coastal dunes, shrub encroachment disrupts natural disturbance, and reduces habitat heterogeneity and species composition. In this paper, we implemented a pilot scale trial aimed at restoring coastal dunes affected by the encroachment by the shrub Retama monosperma (hereinafter Retama) as well as strengthening the populations of Thymus carnosus (regionally cataloged as ‘Critically Endangered’). A total 3 ha of Retama shrub was clearcut in two sites with different Retama cover (54 and 72%). The effect of rabbits on vegetation recovery was assessed by placing exclosures both in treated and untreated plots in Spring, 2015. Plant composition, species richness and diversity were evaluated two years after treatments (with and without Retama clearing, and with and without rabbit exclusion). Retama clearing alone did not allow the recovery of plant composition typical of gray dunes two-years after treatments, but resulted in a biodiversity loss within the Retama understorey when rabbits were present. However, Retama clearing resulted in a significant vigor improvement of T. carnosus in the site with the highest density of Retama. Rabbit exclusion significantly increased species richness and Shannon-Wiener diversity index, and allowed the recovery of plant composition typical of gray dunes. The results suggest that shrub encroachment caused by Retama has a long-lasting negative impact on dune vegetation and that periodic clearing should be combined with rabbit exclusion at least during early restoration stages of dune vegetation. To recover the population of T. carnosus, Retama should be prevented from reaching high cover and periodic clearing without rabbit exclusion is suggested

Induction of water stress in major Solanum crops: a review on methodologies and their application for identifying drought tolerant materials

[EN] The genus Solanum encompasses several economically important vegetable crops, such as tomato, potato, and eggplant, which are crucial for ensuring food security. Higher temperatures and reduced precipitation are becoming more frequent due to climate change in numerous regions, fostering drought spells and the likelihood of water stress in Solanum crops resulting in decreased yields. Appropriate evaluation techniques are required by researchers and breeders to evaluate the impact of drought on the performance of Solanum crops and identify more tolerant genotypes. This review examines the most important approaches for inducing water stress in Solanum crops, such as withholding irrigation, adjusting field capacity levels, applying evapotranspiration criteria, and utilizing polyethylene glycol as an osmotic agent. We highlight the benefits and drawbacks of each method, enabling researchers and breeders to choose the most suitable conditions for their specific objectives and goals. Additionally, we address the challenges of combining water stress with other types of stress that frequently occur simultaneously in the field and the effects that biostimulants can have in mitigating water stress in Solanum crops. We also provide an in-depth analysis of the impact of water deficit on growth and biomass, as well as on physiological and biochemical traits, and new phenotyping tools that allow the study of stress tolerance in the three major crops belonging to the Solanum genus. Finally, the review discusses the possibility of utilizing wild species to improve water stress tolerance in these Solanum crops.This work was supported by grant CIPROM/2021/020 from Conselleria d'Innovacio, Universitats, Ciencia i Societat Digital (Generalitat Valenciana, Spain) as well as by the Horizon Europe program, project "Promoting a Plant Genetic Resource Community for Europe (PRO -GRACE), project number n. 101,094,738. This study also forms part of the AGROALNEXT program and was supported by MCIN with funding from European Union NextGenerationEU (PRTR-C17.I1) and by Generalitat Valenciana. Martin Flores is grateful to Conselleria d'Innovacio, Ciencia i Societat Digital de la Generalitat Valenciana for a pre-doctoral grant within the Santiago Grisolia program (GRISOLIAP/2021/151). Pietro Gramazio is grateful to Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion for a post-doctoral grant (RYC2021-031,999-I) funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501,100,011,033 and the European Union through NextGenerationEU/PRTR.Flores-Saavedra, MI.; Plazas Ávila, MDLO.; Vilanova Navarro, S.; Prohens Tomás, J.; Gramazio, P. (2023). Induction of water stress in major Solanum crops: a review on methodologies and their application for identifying drought tolerant materials. Scientia Horticulturae. 318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2023.11210531

Evaluación del modelo de formación de mentores a través de la modalidad b-learning

Our research is focused on reporting the behavior of the Collaborative Mentoring Model of Reflection and action in type b-learning, training of junior faculty mentors and novice. We performed a case study for a better approximation of the complexity of the phenomenon being studied, making specific analysis of the concrete reality of the experiences gathered from teachers participating in the “Graduate Training Support Mentoring for Beginning Teachers”, offered in formb-learning, from the Catholic University of Temuco and CPEIP, in 2009. Evaluative information collected from the various elements that constitute the collaborative mentoring model of reflection and action applied inconsidering b-learning mode: actors, platform, modules, purpose and rules, we conclude that b-learning mode opens teachers a learning space that enables multi-modal collaborative and reflective learning. In addition, speeds and enhances the interaction of teachers and can create a new culture of teacher professional development.Esta investigación se interesa en dar cuenta del comportamiento del modelo de mentoría colaborativo de reflexión en y sobre la acción en modalidad b-learning, en la formación de mentores del profesorado novel y principiante. Se realiza un estudio de casos para una mejor aproximación a la complejidad del fenómeno estudiado, efectuando análisis específicos de la realidad concreta recogida de las experiencias del profesorado participante en el Diplomado de Formación de Mentores para el Apoyo de Profesores Principiantes, ofrecido en modalidad b-learning por la Universidad Católica de Temuco y el CPEIP,2 durante el 2009. De la información evaluativa recogida de los distintos elementos que constituyen el modelo de mentoría colaborativa de reflexión en y sobre la acción aplicado en modalidad b-learning, se consideran: los actores, la plataforma, los módulos, los propósitos y las reglas. Se concluye que la modalidad b-learning abre al profesorado un espacio de formación multimodal que posibilita el aprendizaje colaborativo y reflexivo. Además, agiliza y enriquece la interacción del profesorado, generando una nueva cultura de desarrollo profesional docente

The Boom of cohabitation in Colombia and in the Andean Region : social and spatial patterns

In this chapter we use census microdata to document the rise in cohabitation in Colombia and in the Andean countries of Ecuador, Bolivia, Perú and Venezuela over the last four decades. We use multilevel logistic regression models to examine the effect of individual and contextual variables on cohabitation. We show the individual and contextual effects of social stratification, ethnicity and religion on cohabitation. Cohabitation levels follow a negative gradient with education and vary according to ethnic background. The Bolivian, Ecuadorian and Peruvian censuses reveal that the two largest ethnic groups (i.e. the Quechua and Aymara) have, controlling for other characteristics, the lowest incidence of cohabitation. By contrast, Afro-American populations show the highest levels of cohabitation. The joint use of individual- and contextual-level explanatory variables is sufficient to account for the majority of Bolivia's internal diversity regarding cohabitation, but not sufficient to account for the internal diversity identified in Colombia, Peru or Ecuador. Even after controls, residence in the Andes mountain areas continues to be a factor associated with lower levels of cohabitation. This invites further investigations on how the institutionalization of marriage occurred in the Andes

Influencia de la adición, en diferentes proporciones, de rocas silíceas opalinas al cemento portland

En este trabajo se estudia la influencia de la presencia de rocas silíceas opalinas, procedentes de las provincias de Salamanca, Zamora y Avila, en las propiedades de los cementos mixtos fabricados con cemento portland y proporciones variables de estas rocas utilizadas como adiciones activas. La caracterización de estos materiales y el estudio de las propiedades de los cementos preparados revelan la capacidad puzolánica de las rocas opalinas, y su singularidad respecto a otras puzolanas naturales, así como su posibilidad de empleo en la fabricación de cementos con adiciones.En este trabajo se estudia la influencia de la presencia de rocas silíceas opalinas, procedentes de las provincias de Salamanca, Zamora y Avila, en las propiedades de los cementos mixtos fabricados con cemento portland y proporciones variables de estas rocas utilizadas como adiciones activas. La caracterización de estos materiales y el estudio de las propiedades de los cementos preparados revelan la capacidad puzolánica de las rocas opalinas, y su singularidad respecto a otras puzolanas naturales, así como su posibilidad de empleo en la fabricación de cementos con adiciones

Immunometabolic Profile Associated with Progressive Damage of the Intestinal Mucosa in Adults Screened for Colorectal Cancer: Association with Diet

Environmental factors such as diet and lifestyle have been shown to influence the development of some intestinal mucosal lesions that may be precursors of colorectal cancer (CRC). The presence of these alterations seems to be associated with misbalanced immunological parameter levels. However, it is still unclear as to which immunological parameters are altered in each phase of CRC development. In this work, we aimed to study the potential relationships of immunological and metabolic parameters with diet in a CRC-related lesion context. Dietary information was obtained using an annual semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) from 93 volunteers classified via colonoscopy examination according to the presence of intestinal polyps or adenocarcinoma. Cytokines, chemokines, and adipokines were determined from serum samples. We observed a reduction in adiponectin according to the damage to the mucosa, accompanied by an increase and decrease in C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) and resistin, respectively, in CRC cases. The presence of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the polyp group was associated with higher tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) concentrations. Vegetables were directly correlated with adiponectin and resistin levels, while the opposite occurred with red meat. A bioactive compound, soluble pectin, showed a negative association with TNF-α. Future dietary strategies could be developed to modulate specific immunological parameters in the context of CRC

Virucidal action mechanism of alcohol and divalent cations against human adenovirus

Hygiene and disinfection practices play an important role at preventing spread of viral infections in household, industrial and clinical settings. Although formulations based on >70% ethanol are virucidal, there is a currently a need to reformulate products with much lower alcohol concentrations. It has been reported that zinc can increase the virucidal activity of alcohols, although the reasons for such potentiation is unclear. One approach in developing virucidal formulations is to understand the mechanisms of action of active ingredients and formulation excipients. Here, we investigated the virucidal activity of alcohol (40% w/v) and zinc sulfate (0.1% w/v) combinations and their impact on a human adenovirus (HAdV) using, nucleic acid integrity assays, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We observed no difference in virucidal activity (5 log10 reduction in 60 min) against between an ethanol only based formulation and a formulation combining ethanol and zinc salt. Furthermore, TEM imaging showed that the ethanol only formulation produced gross capsid damage, whilst zinc-based formulation or formulation combining both ethanol and zinc did not affect HAdV DNA. Unexpectedly, the addition of nickel salt (5 mM NiCl2) to the ethanol-zinc formulation contributed to a weakening of the capsid and alteration of the capsid mechanics exemplified by AFM imaging, together with structural capsid damage. The addition of zinc sulfate to the ethanol formulation did not add the formulation efficacy, but the unexpected mechanistic synergy between NiCl2 and the ethanol formulation opens an interesting perspective for the possible potentiation of an alcohol-based formulation. Furthermore, we show that AFM can be an important tool for understanding the mechanistic impact of virucidal formulation