Cognitive impairment induced by delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol occurs through heteromers between cannabinoid CB1 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound of marijuana, induces numerous undesirable effects, including memory impairments, anxiety, and dependence. Conversely, THC also has potentially therapeutic effects, including analgesia, muscle relaxation, and neuroprotection. However, the mechanisms that dissociate these responses are still not known. Using mice lacking the serotonin receptor 5-HT2A, we revealed that the analgesic and amnesic effects of THC are independent of each other: while amnesia induced by THC disappears in the mutant mice, THC can still promote analgesia in these animals. In subsequent molecular studies, we showed that in specific brain regions involved in memory formation, the receptors for THC and the 5-HT2A receptors work together by physically interacting with each other. Experimentally interfering with this interaction prevented the memory deficits induced by THC, but not its analgesic properties. Our results highlight a novel mechanism by which the beneficial analgesic properties of THC can be dissociated from its cognitive side effects

Archaeogenomic distinctiveness of the Isthmo-Colombian Area

The recently-enriched genomic history of Indigenous groups in the Americas is still meagre concerning continental Central America. Here, we report ten pre-Hispanic (plus two early colonial) genomes and 84 genome-wide profiles from seven groups presently living in Panama. Our analyses reveal that pre-Hispanic demographic events contributed to the extensive genetic structure currently seen in the area, which is also characterized by a distinctive Isthmo-Colombian Indigenous component. This component drives these populations on a specific variability axis and derives from the local admixture of different ancestries of northern North American origin(s). Two of these ancestries were differentially associated to Pleistocene Indigenous groups that also moved into South America leaving heterogenous genetic footprints. An additional Pleistocene ancestry was brought by UPopI, a still unsampled population that remained restricted to the Isthmian area, expanded locally during the early Holocene, and left genomic traces up to the present day

Bioformulation of microbial biocontrol agents for a sustainable agriculture

The application of microbial based biopesticides has become a sustainable alternative to the use of chemicals to prevent yield losses due to plant pathogens. However, microbial based biopesticides are often unsuccessfully formulated and do not meet the demanding regulatory standards required by the agencies, which hinders their commercialization. Hence, an outline on the approaches to attain more effective formulations might be useful for the development of future more effective products. With this aim, this chapter reports the current state of biocontrol strategies and describes the principles of microbial biocontrol formulations. Emphasis is placed on techniques and tools available for the development and characterisation of microbial products. To provide glimpses on the possible formulations, the different existing additives, carriers, inoculation techniques and formulation types are exhaustively reviewed. Finally, requirements and principles for efficacy evaluation of plant protection products in the European Union are include

Archaeogenomic distinctiveness of the Isthmo-Colombian area

The recently enriched genomic history of Indigenous groups in the Americas is still meager concerning continental Central America. Here, we report ten pre-Hispanic (plus two early colonial) genomes and 84 genome-wide profiles from seven groups presently living in Panama. Our analyses reveal that pre-Hispanic demographic events contributed to the extensive genetic structure currently seen in the area, which is also characterized by a distinctive Isthmo-Colombian Indigenous component. This component drives these populations on a specific variability axis and derives from the local admixture of different ancestries of northern North American origin(s). Two of these ancestries were differentially associated to Pleistocene Indigenous groups that also moved into South America, leaving heterogenous genetic footprints. An additional Pleistocene ancestry was brought by a still unsampled population of the Isthmus (UPopI) that remained restricted to the Isthmian area, expanded locally during the early Holocene, and left genomic traces up to the present day

Health-related quality of life and mental health in the medium-term aftermath of the Prestige oil spill in Galiza (Spain): a cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In 2002 the oil-tanker <it>Prestige </it>sank off the Galician coast. This study analyzes the effect of this accident on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and mental health in the affected population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using random sampling stratified by age and sex, 2700 residents were selected from 7 coastal and 7 inland Galician towns. Two exposure criteria were considered: a) residential exposure, i.e., coast versus interior; and b) individual exposure-unaffected, slightly affected, or seriously affected-according to degree of personal affectation. SF-36, GHQ-28, HADS and GADS questionnaires were used to assess HRQoL and mental health. Association of exposure with suboptimal scores was summarized using adjusted odds ratios (OR) obtained from logistic regression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>For residential exposure, the SF-36 showed coastal residents as having a lower likelihood of registering suboptimal HRQoL values in physical functioning (OR:0.69; 95%CI:0.54–0.89) and bodily pain (OR:0.74; 95%CI:0.62–0.91), and a higher frequency of suboptimal scores in mental health (OR:1.28; 95%CI:1.02–1.58). None of the dimensions of the other questionnaires displayed statistically significant differences.</p> <p>For individual exposure, no substantial differences were observed, though the SF-36 physical functioning dimension rose (showed better scores) with level of exposure (91.51 unaffected, 93.86 slightly affected, 95.28 seriously affected, p < 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Almost one and a half years after the accident, worse HRQoL and mental health levels were not in evidence among subjects exposed to the oil-spill. Nevertheless, some of the scales suggest the possibility of slight impact on the mental health of residents in the affected areas.</p

El trébol subterráneo en algunas estaciones de la zona centro de España. Ensayos preliminares sobre su respuesta a la sombra y a las bajas temperaturas

Se han estudiado poblaciones de trébol subterráneo pertenecientes a las ssp. subterraneum y ssp. brachycalycinum Katz. et Morley en localidades de la zona centro de España, de las que se exponen algunas de sus características ecológicas. Se estudiaron varios caracteres morfológicos y se observó que el material de la ssp. brachycalycinum era bastante homogéneo dentro de cada población, a diferencia de lo que sucedía en las poblaciones pertenecientes a la ssp. subterraneum. De los caracteres morfológicos evaluados, el porte y el tamaño de los foliólos son mayores en las poblaciones de la ssp. brachycalycinum que en las de la ssp. subterraneum. El número de ramas es muy variable en el material de ambas subespecies. Con semillas recogidas en estas localidades se efectuó un ensayo de germinación. Los porcentajes de semillas germinadas estuvieron comprendidos entre 31 y 82 %; las diferencias entre poblaciones eran marcadas. Se estudió la influencia de la sombra sobre caracteres morfológicos de plantas de las poblaciones consideradas y de los cultivares australianos más conocidos en España. La hoja es el órgano más afectado en los cuatro caracteres estudiados en el material de las dos subespecies. Al considerar la influencia de la sombra sobre los caracteres morfológicos utilizados para la diagnosis de formas, los coeficientes de correlación de Spearman no fueron significativos para ninguno de ellos, lo que apoya su valor diagnóstico en las condiciones de trabajo de campo. Se estimó el comportamiento respecto a las bajas temperaturas de las poblaciones autóctonas y de los cultivares, teniendo en cuenta la nascencia, las plantas que prosperaron y la floración. Al considerar las plantas que prosperaron se observó que las respuestas de los cultivares australianos eran muy diferentes, mientras que las de las poblaciones autóctonas fueron más parecidas. El material que soportó mejor el frío pertenecía a la ssp. subterraneu

Estudio comparativo de dos subespecies de “Trifolium subterraneum L” , basado en caracteres de interés taxonómico y agrícola

Hemos estudiado la variación de once caracteres vegetativos de interés taxonómico y agrícola, en dos subespecies de Trifolium subterraneum L., mediante los coeficientes de variación. Se observó que seis de los caracteres poseen menor variabilidad en la ssp. brachycalycinum que en la ssp. subterraneum, sobresaliendo la pelosidad del haz, la longitud del peciolo y el tamaño de los foliolos por ser de variabilidad notablemente más baja. Los caracteres restantes tienen una variabilidad aproximadamente del mismo orden en las dos subespecies. Hemos comparado mediante un test de t las medias de los caracteres a nivel subespecífico, encontrando que, con una sola excepción, grosor de las ramas principales, las diferencias son significativas en todos ellos. Las formas autóctonas más representadas y los cultivares australianos se han comparado entre sí a nivel subespecífico, utilizando la totalidad de los caracteres, mediante coeficientes de correlación de orden de Spearman, rs, empleados como índices de similitud. Se ha encontrado mayor homogeneidad dentro del material de la ssp. Brachycalycinum que dentro del de la ssp. subterraneum

Development of good practice guidance for quantification of thermal-hydraulic code model input uncertainty

International audienceTaking into account uncertainties is a key issue in nuclear power plant safety analysis using best estimate plus uncertainty methodologies. It involves two main types of treatment depending on the variables of interest: input parameters or system response quantity. The OECD/NEA PREMIUM project devoted to the first type of variables has shown that inverse methods for input uncertainty quantification can exhibit strong user-effect. One of the main reasons was the lack of a clear guidance to perform a reliable analysis. This work is precisely devoted to the development of a first good practice guidance document for quantification of thermal-hydraulic code model input uncertainty. The developments have been done in the framework of the OECD/NEA SAPIUM project (January 2017-September 2019). This paper provides a summary of the main project outcome. Recommendations and open issues for future developments are also given