Development of a novel equine influenza virus live-attenuated vaccine

H3N8 equine influenza virus (EIV) is an important and significant respiratory pathogen of horses. EIV is enzootic in Europe and North America, mainly due to the suboptimal efficacy of current vaccines. We describe, for the first time, the generation of a temperature sensitive (ts) H3N8 EIV live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) using reverse-genetics approaches. Our EIV LAIV was attenuated (att) in vivo and able to induce, upon a single intranasal administration, protection against H3N8 EIV wild-type (WT) challenge in both a mouse model and the natural host, the horse. Notably, since our EIV LAIV was generated using reverse genetics, the vaccine can be easily updated against drifting or emerging strains of EIV using the safety backbone of our EIV LAIV as master donor virus (MDV). These results demonstrate the feasibility of implementing a novel EIV LAIV approach for the prevention and control of currently circulating H3N8 EIVs in horse populations

1,3-Bis(carboxymethyl)imidazolium Chloride as a Metal-Free and Recyclable Catalyst for the Synthesis of N-Allylanilines by Allylic Substitution of Alcohols

The 1,3-bis(carboxymethyl)imidazolium chloride, which is easily and in a straightforward manner prepared readily from starting materials in multigram scale, is employed as catalyst in the synthesis of N-allylanilines by allylic substitution of alcohols with anilines. This metal-free catalyst allows the reaction to be carried out under mild reaction conditions (80 °C and air open vessel) and proved to be efficient for a diversity of anilines and allylic alcohols, providing exclusively the product of N-substitution independently of the substituents in the aniline reactant. The process described is simple and effective, allowing N-allylanilines to be obtained in preparative scale [e.g., 3.30 g of N-(1,3-diphenylallyl)-4-nitroaniline]. The catalyst could be reused up to 15 cycles without loss of activity, proving its robustness.This work was financially supported by the University of Alicante (VIGROB-285) and the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (CTQ2015-66624-P). M.A.S. thanks the Spanish Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte for a predoctoral fellowship (FPU15/06040)

Combination of extrusion and cyclodextrin glucanotransferase treatment to modify wheat flours functionality

This research aims to vary functional properties of native and extruded wheat flours combining cyclodextrin glucanotransferase and extrusion treatments. The level of released cyclodextrins (CD) was assessed, besides the microstructure, crystallinity, pasting properties and starch hydrolysis of the flours. Photomicrographs of enzymatically treated flours suggested the production of fragile structures that broke easily. Enzymatic hydrolysis was significantly higher in extruded flours, as confirmed the CD levels, being predominant the γ-CD followed by α-CD, whereas very low β-CD values were obtained probably due to the formation of CD–lipid complexes, as suggested X-ray diffractometry results. Both extruded and native samples showed very low viscosity and flat pasting profile consequence of the enzyme hydrolytic activity on the starch chains. Enzymatically treated flours (native and extruded) showed higher hydrolysis rates at the early hydrolysis stage, and extruded flours exhibited higher fractal exponent h in agreement with the extended crystalline structures resulting from enzymatic treatment.This study was financially supported by Junta de Castilla y León (Spain, Project VA054A12-2) and the Generalitat Valenciana (Spain, Project Prometeo 2012/064). The authors are also grateful to Molendum Ingredients and Novozymes for supplying the raw materials. MM Martínez and A Dura would like to thank predoctoral fellowship from Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport and Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, respectively.Peer reviewe

Scale for environmental attitude in physical aActivities in natural environments

La realización de actividades físico-deportivas en el medio natural debe conllevar una actitud de respeto hacia el medioambiente entre los participantes. El objetivo de este artículo es diseñar y validar un instrumento para valorar la actitud ambiental generada en este tipo de prácticas en ámbitos formativos. El cuestionario se concretó en 16 ítems con 5 opciones de respuesta (1, Nada de acuerdo; 5, Muy de acuerdo). Para la validación de la escala se contó con una muestra de 162 estudiantes universitarios de titulaciones relacionadas con la actividad física y el deporte (grado o máster en Ciencias de la Actividad Física y el Deporte), que han cursado alguna asignatura relacionada con las actividades físicas en el medio natural. La fiabilidad obtenida con el α de Cronbach fue de 0.75. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que la escala de actitudes hacia el medioambiente en la práctica de actividades físico-deportivas en el medio natural es un instrumento válido y fiable para valorar la actitud hacia el medioambiente en la participación en actividades físico-deportivas en el medio natural, desde un modelo ecológico. Las conclusiones extraídas, tras su construcción, indican la conveniencia de revisar si las actividades físicas en el medio natural se desarrollan desde una perspectiva sostenible para que, en el caso de que no sea así, se apliquen las estrategias necesarias para su transformaciónEngaging in physical-sport activities in nature should lead to an attitude of respect for the environment among participants. The objective of this article is to design and validate an instrument to assess the environmental attitude generated in this kind of practice within the sphere of training. The questionnaire has 16 items with 5 response choices (1, totally disagree to 5, totally agree). To validate the scale, a sample was used of 162 university students in degrees related to physical activity and sport (Bachelor’s or Master’s in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences) who were taking a course related to physical activities in nature. The reliability obtained with the Cronbach’s α was 0.75. The results show that the scale of attitudes towards the environment in the practice of physical-sport activities in nature is a valid, reliable instrument from an ecological model. After its construction, the conclusions extracted indicate the advisability of checking whether physical activities in nature are carried out from a sustainable perspective so that if they are not, the strategies needed to transform them can be applie

The Use of Rock Shelters During the Early Neolithic in the North of Alicante (Spain). The Site of Penya Roja de Catamarruc (Alicante, Spain) as a Case Study

The first Neolithic communities settled in the East of the Iberian Peninsula developed a complex strategy of land occupation. These strategies evolved as their social, demographic, and economic bases were transformed. In this paper, we focus on the analysis of archaeological sites located under rock shelters, which were recurrently occupied throughout the Early Neolithic. To deepen this analysis, we reviewed the archaeological record of Penya Roja de Catamarruc (Planes, Alicante), as well as other sites of similar characteristics. This information, combined with different spatial analyses – prominence, visibility, and capacity of use of the soils – allowed us to define a series of patterns of occupation and exploitation of the territory of the first Neolithic communities. This study highlights the importance of the forest as a resource related not only to hunting and gathering as traditionally seen, but also to shepherding.Part of the results of this research are in the framework of the doctoral thesis of SMA, who has a training contract with the Vice-Rectorate for Research of the University of Alicante (UAFPU2018-045)

El paganismo cristiano: oxímoron en Eco y Narciso de Calderón de la Barca

Aproximación a la vida y obra de Calderón de la Barca, incidiendo en aquellos aspectos que pueden ayudar a entender su teatro mitológico, así como un repaso por los tratados y textos de la época medieval, canónicos para los autores posteriores a la hora de tratar la mitología y, finalmente, búsqueda de los elementos cristianos en la obra Eco y Narciso

Social interaction diagrams analysis in virtual contexts for a reinterpretation of relationships at the school

Las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC) se han convertido en recursos comunicativos que permiten múltiples formas de relaciones interpersonales. En la Sociedad del Conocimiento, donde las TIC juegan un papel fundamental, las interacciones sociales no sólo afectan a los contextos presenciales, sino también a los virtuales. Diversos estudios han analizado las frecuencias de interacción virtual y su relación con las relaciones interpersonales presenciales. Sin embargo, hay una falta de información sobre la manera de los jóvenes interactúan en el contexto virtual, sus objetivos y la influencia de otros actores. Un estudio reciente analiza el papel de las TIC y las redes sociales en los hábitos de comunicación social en las relaciones sociales de estudiantes españoles de Secundaria, con especial énfasis en la influencia de los amigos y la red de contactos. ¿Interaccionamos realmente con todos estos contactos? ¿Dónde están los límites de la calidad de la interacción social de los jóvenes? Estas y otras preguntas son respondidas en este trabajo, mediante el uso de mapas de interacción social en la presencialidad y la virtualidad, a partir de las relaciones identificadas por los alumnos de Educación Secundaria. Para concluir, a partir del análisis e interpretación de estos mapas de interacción se realiza una reinterpretación de las relaciones en la escuela y las implicaciones educativas que estas pueden poner de manifiesto.The Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have emerged as communicative resources which allow multiple ways of interpersonal relations. In the Society of Knowlegdge, where ICTs play a fundamental role, social interactions are not only subjected to present contexts but also to virtual ones. Several works have analyzed the frequencies of virtual interaction and their relation with the present interpersonal relations. However, there is a lack of information about the way young people interact in the virtual context, their objectives and the influence of other actors. A recent study analyzes the role of ICT's and social networks in the communication habits ans social relations in spanish students of Secondary School, with special emphasis on their influence of the friends and contacts network. Do we actually interact with all our contacts? Where are the limits of the social interaction quality in young people? These and other questions are answered in this work, using social interaction maps in the presence and technological spheres, using the information obtained from students of Secondary School level. This study allows re-interprete the relationships at school and their educative implications

Salinity regulation of copepod egg production in a large microtidal estuary

Salinity is a key variable for ecological processes in estuaries. Acartia tonsa is a typical estuarine copepod whose responses to salinity have been thoroughly studied in the laboratory. However, results cannot be extrapolated to the field, and formal comparisons between lab and field responses to salinity were not attempted. Here we compare lab-based with field copepod egg production rates (EPR) from the Río de la Plata estuary (RPE), with focus on A. tonsa. Field work was conducted between 2009 and 2011 in the mixing zone of the RPE. Water temperature, salinity and chlorophyll-a varied over ample ranges (temperature: 10.54 - 24.56ºC, salinity: 2.83 - 32.99, chlorophyll-a: 0.62 - 7.27 mg m-3). A. tonsa was the strongly dominant species. EPR ranged between 6.7 and 95.7 eggs female-1 day-1, and correlated to salinity, temperature (weakly), but not to chlorophyll. The relationship between A. tonsa’s EPR (EPRAT) and salinity was consistent with that obtained under laboratory conditions: a humped pattern with a maximum at intermediate salinities. However, differences were also evident, e.g., higher EPRAT was measured in the field. We speculate that discrepancies derive from nutritional differences between field and reference (laboratory) data sets. Besides salinity, food quality and quantity may be first order drivers of A. tonsa’s productivity in the RPE

The Pursuit of External Knowledge in Eco-Innovation. Analysis of the Agri-Food Sector in Spain

The research about the search for opportunities through open cooperation strategies points to an exchange of knowledge among a certain number of sources, aimed at sustaining competitive advantage. From this new vision emerges the paradigm of open innovation, which has prompted a change in the organization of resources, information filtering, and rapid absorptive capacity. Awareness of climate problems and external societal pressures can motivate companies to create new technologies and new forms of cooperation to avoid environmental problems. Based on a survey of Spanish agri-food firms, we find that the depth of external sources of innovation increases environmental improvement in a U-shaped relationship