THE ROLE OF AtGEN1 IN ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA MEIOTIC RECOMBINATION

During prophase of meiosis I, homologous chromosomes pair, synapse and exchange DNA by recombining through crossovers (COs). Recombination is necessary in many organisms for correct chromosome segregation, and thus fertility, including in humans and the plant Arabidopsis thaliana (Osman et al., 2011). The enzyme(s) that resolves what is thought to be the main intermediate DNA structure of recombination, a double Holliday junction (dHJ), remains elusive in most eukaryotes including in Arabidopsis. Three nuclear endonucleases have been found resolve eukaryotic HJs in vitro: Mus81-Mms4 (EME), Slx1-Slx4 and, Yen1/GEN1. AtMUS81 generates about 15% of all COs (Berchowitz et al., 2007), while the two homologs of the SLX1-SLX4 complex have been identified but remain to be characterized (At2g30350 and At5g43210). In humans Mus81-Mms4 (EME), Slx1-Slx4 have been found to work in the same pathway, which is separate from GEN1’s activity (reviewed by (West et al., 2015)). Arabidopsis has two Yen1/GEN1orthologs: AtGEN1 (At1g01880) and AtSEND1 (At3g48900). Two recent studies in Arabidopsis have characterized these genes. Bauknecht and Kobbe demonstrated that both AtGEN1 and AtSEND1 have dHJ resolving activity in vitro (Bauknecht and Kobbe, 2014). Olivier et. al went more deeply into understanding the role of AtGEN1 and AtSEND1 in DNA repair and meiosis (Olivier et al., 2015). This is the first characterization of these genes in Arabidopsis and revealed that knockout of AtGEN1 and AtSEND1 single and double mutants do not show growth defects, sensitivity to DNA damage or infertility. They also demonstrated that the combined loss of AtMUS81 and AtSEND1 leads to severe developmental defects, while the same is not the case upon the loss of AtMUS81 and AtGEN1. They also found that AtSEND1 is an important backup in genome stability upon the loss of AtMUS81. In this study we investigate whether AtGEN1 has a role in Arabidopsis HR. Our preliminary data shows that insertional T-DNA mutant alleles of AtGEN1 have altered recombination frequencies, thus AtGEN1 may be involved in HJ resolution in Arabidopsis meiotic recombination.Master of Scienc

Sustancias inhibitorias producidas por microorganismos presentes en el vino

58 p.La búsqueda de sustancias inhibidoras producidas por microorganismo, hoy en día es una herramienta bastante empleada en la industria alimenticia, debido a que estos productos biológicos tienen menos efectos adversos que los aditivos químicos para la preservación de los alimentos. El objetivo de este trabajo es describir las sustancias con capacidad inhibitoria producidas por microorganismos que probablemente afectan a bacterias y levaduras que provocan efectos indeseables en el vino. Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica actualizada sobre los principales aspectos de los compuestos con actividad inhibitoria que son capaces de producir las bacterias y levaduras que se encuentran formando parte de la microbiota normal del vino. Se describe como estas sustancias podrían ejercer un rol beneficioso para la industria vitinícola impidiendo la colonización de microorganismos indeseables, productores de distintos metabolitos que afectan la calidad organoléptica del vino

InSAR-Based Early Warning Monitoring Framework to Assess Aquifer Deterioration

Aquifer surveillance is key to understanding the dynamics of groundwater reservoirs. Attention should be focused on developing strategies to monitor and mitigate the adverse consequences of overexploitation. In this context, ground surface deformation monitoring allows us to estimate the spatial and temporal distribution of groundwater levels, determine the recharge times of the aquifers, and calibrate the hydrological models. This study proposes a methodology for implementing advanced multitemporal differential interferometry (InSAR) techniques for water withdrawal surveillance and early warning assessment. For this, large open-access images were used, a total of 145 SAR images from the Sentinel 1 C-band satellite provided by the Copernicus mission of the European Space Agency. InSAR processing was carried out with an algorithm based on parallel computing technology implemented in cloud infrastructure, optimizing complex workflows and processing times. The surveillance period records 6-years of satellite observation from September 2016 to December 2021 over the city of Chillan (Chile), an area exposed to urban development and intensive agriculture, where ~80 wells are located. The groundwater flow path spans from the Andes Mountain range to the Pacific Ocean, crossing the Itata river basin in the Chilean central valley. InSAR validation measurements were carried out by comparing the results with the values of continuous GNSS stations available in the area of interest. The performance analysis is based on spatial analysis, time series, meteorological stations data, and static level measurements, as well as hydrogeological structure. The results indicate seasonal variations in winter and summer, which corresponds to the recovery and drawdown periods with velocities > −10 mm/year, and an aquifer deterioration trend of up to 60 mm registered in the satellite SAR observation period. Our results show an efficient tool to monitor aquifer conditions, including irreversible consolidation and storage capacity loss, allowing timely decision making to avoid harmful exploitation

Childhood-Onset Ataxia

Childhood presentations of ataxia can often be challenging to diagnose. Recognising ataxia is especially difficult in young children, the most frequent reason for consultation is walking instability and loss of balance. Clinical presentations tend to be heterogeneous; key considerations may vary based on the age of onset, time course, and associated manifestations. Ataxias can be acute, intermittent, chronic non-progressive, or chronic progressive conditions. Acute ataxias are mostly acquired conditions (post-infectious or immune-mediated). Intermittent ataxias may be secondary to genetic channelopathies or metabolic diseases. Non-progressive chronic ataxias are mostly related to cerebellar malformations and progressive chronic ataxias are usually secondary to genetic variants, which in children are usually autosomal recessive conditions. A complete medical history and a detailed physical examination are essential for an adequate approach. Treatment of a child with ataxia depends on the aetiology. One of the most important challenges is to identify the treatable causes

Social networks and traditional metrics of impact in pulmonary medicine journals: a correlation study

Introduction: The Scimago Journal Rank (SJR) impact factor is extensively used. However, as the Internet has become widely available, new metrics are coming into play. Our research aims to determine whether a correlation  between the SJR impact factor and metrics reflecting social media activity does exist.Materials and methods: We have used pulmonary medicine journals indexed in the SJR. Variables of social network usage have been extracted from verified accounts. Bivariate analyses have been performed with the Mann-Whitney U tests, the correlation between social media-derived variables and the SJR impact factor have been assessed with the Spearman correlation coefficient. Results are presented before and after adjustment for the years since the creation of the accounts.Results: From 130 journals, 38 had at least one social network account, Twitter being the most commonly used (22.85%). The H index was higher in journals with social network accounts (Median 60 vs 17; p < 0.01). The global correlation between the SJR and the number of followers on Twitter revealed moderate agreement (r = 0.46; p < 0.01), which was excellent in open access journals (rs = 0.90; p < 0.05).Conclusions: The use of social networks is directly correlated with traditional indicators of scientific impact. The joint use of alternative and traditional metrics may be useful for journals in order to generate strategies aiming to increase their audience, as well as for researchers when deciding about the best option of disseminating their articles

Optimal array arrangement of oscillating wave surge converters: an analysis based on three devices

Wave farms consist of arrays of wave energy converters. However, ocean waves perturbed by one device will interact with its neighbouring devices, which can lead to more or less power yielded than operating the devices in isolation. Therefore, it is of significant interest to study the optimal layout and spacing to deploy multiple devices. In this work, a validated high-fidelity computational approach is used to study the optimal arrays of three oscillating wave surge converters by systematically varying the array arrangement in different wave conditions. The simulations demonstrate the wave interaction with multiple dynamic bodies and how this affects the overall power output. Furthermore, novel empirical rules are derived to design the optimal constructive layout for three devices in a given wave condition, and this can be extended to cases of numerous devices

Ultra late onset group B streptococcal sepsis with acute renal failure in a child with urethral obstruction: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Group B streptococci are a well-known cause of early and late onset sepsis. In neonates and older children gram-negative bacteria are mostly found in urinary tract infections and urosepsis. In adults predisposing factors for group B streptococci urinary tract infection may include diabetes mellitus and chronic renal failure.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present a rare case of a five-month-old Caucasian boy with ultra late onset urosepsis and acute renal failure caused by group B streptococci serotype V. Excretion urography showed a subvesical obstruction that consequently was surgically corrected after antibiotic treatment of the acute infection.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Group B streptococci serotype V, urogenitary tract malformations, previous hospitalization and medical interventions may be important risk factors for the development of ultra late onset Group B streptococci sepsis in non-neonates.</p

Perspectives of Cognitive Impairment and Behavioral Disturbances in Parkinson’s Disease Dementia

Parkinson’s disease dementia is a critical stage of the disease because that has a negative impact on the quality of life and functional independence in activities daily living. How the cognition progress to dementia is a key to be explored. The cognitive impairment shows two profiles: cortical (memory encoding, visuospatial abilities, and language) and subcortical, with a dysexecutive syndrome that includes deficits in recognition memory, attention processes, and visual perception as well as visual hallucinations and cognitive fluctuations. Behavioral problems such as apathy, anxiety, depression, and impulse control disorders take a significant part in the loss of autonomy and progression of the disease. To detect the risk of Parkinson’s disease dementia development, the integral evaluation of patients in all stages of the disease should consider the interplay of genetic and epigenetic factors, motor subtypes, and non-motor symptoms (NMS) in order to implement different therapeutics and supportive strategies when they are likely to have efficacy

a cross-sectional study

Objectives We determined the seroprevalence and correlates of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women in Aguascalientes City, Mexico. Design A cross-sectional survey. Setting Pregnant women were enrolled in the central Mexican city of Aguascalientes. Participants We studied 338 pregnant women who attended prenatal care in 3 public health centres. Primary and secondary outcome measures Women were examined for IgG/IgM antibodies to T. gondii by using commercially available enzyme immunoassays, and an avidity test. Multiple analyses were used to determine the association of T. gondii seropositivity with the characteristics of the pregnant women. Results Of the 338 pregnant women studied, 21 (6.2%) had IgG antibodies to T. gondii, and 1 (4.8%) of them was also positive for IgM antibodies to T. gondii. Avidity of IgG antibodies to T. gondii was high in the IgM-positive sample. Logistic regression analysis of sociodemographic, behavioural and housing variables showed that T. gondii seropositivity was associated with white ethnicity (OR=149.4; 95% CI 10.8 to 2054.1; p<0.01), not washing hands before eating (OR=6.41; 95% CI 1.73 to 23.6; p=0.005) and use of latrine (OR=37.6; 95% CI 4.63 to 306.31; p=0.001). Conclusions Results demonstrate that pregnant women in Aguascalientes City have a low seroprevalence of T. gondii infection. However, this low prevalence indicates that most pregnant women are at risk for a primary infection. Factors associated with T. gondii exposure found in this study, including food hygiene, may be useful to determine preventive measures against T. gondii infection and its sequelae

Solar and Interplanetary Turbulence: Lagrangian Coherent Structures

Talk delivered in 22nd EGU General Assembly, held online 4-8 May, 2020, id.4289, https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2020/EGU2020-4289.html.-- https://www.egu2020.eu/The dynamics of solar and interplanetary plasmas is governed by coherent structures such as current sheets and magnetic flux ropes which are responsible for the genesis of intermittent turbulence via magnetic reconnections in solar supergranular junctions, solar coronal loops, the shock-sheath region of an interplanetary coronal mass ejection, and the interface region of two interplanetary magnetic flux ropes. Lagrangian coherent structures provide a new powerful technique to detect time- or space-dependent transport barriers, and objective (i.e., frame invariant) kinematic and magnetic vortices in space plasma turbulence. We discuss the basic concepts of Lagrangian coherent structures in plasmas based on the computation of the finite-time Lyapunov exponent, the Lagrangian averaged vorticity deviation and the integrated averaged current deviation, as well as their applications to numerical simulations of MHD turbulence and space and ground observations.With funding from the Spanish government through the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation SEV-2017-070