Suitability of Substrate for Laboratory Studies with the Subterranean Termite Reticulitermes grassei (Clément) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Two substrates, sand and vermiculite, were tested in rearing laboratory experiments with Reticulitermes grassei at different culture periods (2, 4 and 6 weeks). Although information is available regarding procedures to keep species of Reticulitermes in lab, none of them is referred to the Mediterranean termite R. grassei. The suitability of substratum was assessed in terms of survival of termites. The highest survival rate was in the experiment with sand and short-time duration, but after six weeks exposure, survival was significantly lower on this substrate. These differences among substrates were not significant for any of the treatments

Selenium recovery from wastewater by the green microalgae Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus sp.

Selenium (Se) is an important element for many living organisms and its supplementation may be needed in food, feed, and soil to make up for its deficiency. At the same time, high selenium concentrations can harm the environment, thus its management in sewage and the study of its removal from waste streams are important. Microalgae-based systems may be used for wastewater treatment and nutrients recovery, while producing biomass for bioproducts or bioenergy. In this study, Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus sp. grown in urban wastewater with different selenium concentrations (50–1000 µg Se/L) were evaluated for their resistance and selenium removal/recovery efficiency. Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus sp. were able to remove up to 43 and 52 % of Se from wastewater, respectively. Chlorella vulgaris accumulated up to 323 mgSe/kg DW (in urban wastewater with 1000 µg Se/L). The Se-rich biomass produced may be applied to the supplementation of animal feed or used for biofortification of crops.This research was supported by the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) through the SFI Research Professorship Programme Innovative Energy Technologies for Biofuels, Bioenergy and a Sustainable Irish Bioeconomy (IETSBIO3; grant number 15/RP/2763) the Research Infrastructure research grant Platform for Biofuel Analysis (Grant Number 16/RI/3401). Ivet Ferrer and Enrica Uggetti are grateful to the Government of Catalonia (Consolidated Research Group 2017 SGR 1029) and Enrica Uggetti acknowledges the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (RYC2018-025514-I).Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Consuming Two Eggs per Day, as Compared to an Oatmeal Breakfast, Increases Plasma Ghrelin while Maintaining the LDL/HDL Ratio

Eggs contain high quality protein, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, yet regular consumption is still met with uncertainty. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the effects of consuming two eggs per day or a heart-healthy oatmeal breakfast on biomarkers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and satiety measures in a young, healthy population. Fifty subjects participated in a randomized crossover clinical intervention; subjects were randomly allocated to consume either two eggs or one packet of oatmeal per day for breakfast for four weeks. After a three-week washout period, participants were allocated to the alternative breakfast. Fasting blood samples were collected at the end of each intervention period to assess plasma lipids and plasma ghrelin. Subjects completed visual analog scales (VAS) concurrent to dietary records to assess satiety and hunger. Along with an increase in cholesterol intake, there were significant increases in both low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol following the egg consumption period (p \u3c 0.01). However, there was no difference in the LDL/HDL ratio, a recognized biomarker of CVD risk, nor in the plasma glucose, triglycerides or liver enzymes, between diet periods. Several self-reported satiety measures were increased following the consumption of eggs, which were associated with lower plasma ghrelin concentrations (p \u3c 0.05). These results demonstrate that compared to an oatmeal breakfast, two eggs per day do not adversely affect the biomarkers associated with CVD risk, but increase satiety throughout the day in a young healthy population

Unravelling opportunities, synergies, and barriers for enhancing silvopastoralism in the Mediterranean

Silvopastoral systems combine wood perennials with forage and livestock. These multipurpose wood-pasture habitats represent an important part of European bio-cultural and ecological heritage. However, their gradual disappearance due to processes of farm abandonment and intensification as well as forestry abandonment threatens biodiversity conservation and bio-cultural heritages. The behaviours of forest owners and livestock farmers determine the success of silvopastoral systems since a productive coherence between forest management and livestock grazing is required for their optimal functioning. In this study, we investigate the livestock farmers’ and forest owners’ attitudes and opinions towards wood pasture grazing and their relationship with structural factors and farming objectives in two Spanish regions. We used data collected through surveys to identify opportunities, synergies, and barriers in the integration of these actors in joint silvopastoralism. The results reveal a relationship between production objectives and positive attitudes towards silvopastoralism and the environmental functions provided by this activity, in both farmers and forest owners. Cattle farmers express a greater economic interest in wood pastures, as compared to sheep farmers who perceive more difficulties in using them. Acknowledgement of the role of grazing in landscape maintenance is positively correlated with a wide spectrum of objectives of forest owners, from the economic-productivist to the more altruistic profiles. The most synergies are found between cattle farmers and small forest owners for joint silvopastoral management. However, the incorporation of sheep grazing is advisable for the sustainable management of these systems, and hence additional efforts may be required to integrate such farming systems into silvopastoral management. As it currently stands, the EU Common Agricultural Policy appears to be inadequate for maintaining silvopastoral systems.The research leading to these results received funding from the Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA) (Spain) under Grant Agreement No RTA-2017-00036-C01-0

List of Species as recorded by Canadian and EU Bottom Trawl Surveys in Flemish Cap

13 páginas, 1 tabla.-- Scientific Council MeetingA list of species has been prepared with all records in each haul of both Canadian (1977-1985) and EU (1988-2002 and 2003-2012) bottom trawl surveys. Even though sampling intensity and taxonomic interest changed with time, the three periods can be considered almost homogeneous. Main change occurred when the EU survey increased the depth range, from 730 to 1460 meters depth, and all invertebrates were recorded.Peer reviewe

PS/PMMA-CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots Hybrid Nanofibers for VOCs Sensors

Hybrid nanofibers containing CdSe/ZnS quantum dots have been produced by electrospinning of hybrid latexes to characterize the electro‐optical behavior of this novel luminescent sensing material. The latexes are synthesized by seeded semi‐batch emulsion polymerization yielding cross‐linked core‐shell PS/QDs/PMMA particles with efficiently encapsulated quantum dots guaranteeing a good optical stability. Addition of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or polyethylene oxide (PEO) to the latexes is necessary to produce polymeric dispersions suitable for electrospinning manufacture of the nanometric fibers. The optimized polymeric dispersions are successfully electrospun obtaining fluorescent nanofibers in both cases. The hybrid nanofibers are sensitive to selected solvents (acetone, methanol and THF) and present positive response making them good candidates for the production of VOC sensors.Basque Government IT999-16 and ELKARTEK KK-2016/00030 and KK-2017/00089 and the Spanish Government (Ministerio de Economía y competitividad Project CTQ2014-59016-P and TEC2015-63838-C3-3-R. Alicia de San Luis acknowledges de Spanish Government for the scholarliship (FPI-MICINN 2012). The sGIKER UPV/EHU is also aknowledged for the elctron microscopy facilities of the Gipuzkoa unit

Tracing Water Sources and Fluxes in a Dynamic Tropical Environment: From Observations to Modeling

Código de proyecto: Isotope Network for Tropical Ecosystem Studies (ISONet). Producción relacionada con el Observatorio del Agua y Cambio Global (OACG).Tropical regions cover approximately 36% of the Earth’s landmass. These regions are home to 40% of the world’s population, which is projected to increase to over 50% by 2030 under a remarkable climate variability scenario often exacerbated by El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and other climate teleconnections. In the tropics, ecohydrological conditions are typically under the influence of complex land-ocean-atmosphere interactions that produce a dynamic cycling of mass and energy reflected in a clear partition of water fluxes. Here, we present a review of 7 years of a concerted and continuous water stable isotope monitoring across Costa Rica, including key insights learned, main methodological advances and limitations (both in experimental designs and data analysis), potential data gaps, and future research opportunities with a humid tropical perspective. The uniqueness of the geographic location of Costa Rica within the mountainous Central America Isthmus, receiving moisture inputs from the Caribbean Sea (windward) and the Pacific Ocean (complex leeward topography), and experiencing strong ENSO events, poses a clear advantage for the use of isotopic variations to underpin key drivers in ecohydrological responses. In a sequential approach, isotopic variations are analyzed from moisture transport, rainfall generation, and groundwater/surface connectivity to Bayesian and rainfall-runoff modeling. The overarching goal of this review is to provide a robust humid tropical example with a progressive escalation from common water isotope observations to more complex modeling outputs and applications to enhance water resource management in the tropics.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigaciones Geofísicas (CIGEFI)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de FísicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Sociales::Facultad de Ciencias Sociales::Escuela de Geografí

Some inferences on the mechanism of atmospheric gas/particle partitioning of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) at Zaragoza (Spain)

Gas-particle partitioning of pollutants is an important mechanism determining atmospheric processing and its impact to environmental and human health. In this paper, the gas-particle partitioning of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) has been studied with the aim of determining the main mechanism of PAH partitioning in Zaragoza (Spain) aerosols. To reach this goal, the ambient concentrations of PAH (gas and particle phase) collected in this city for one year period (2003-2004) have been analyzed. The partitioning between the particle and gas phases was studied according to three different models: the Junge adsorption model, the absorption into the organic matter model using the octanol-air (KOA) partition coefficient and the absorption into the organic matter plus the adsorption onto the soot carbon model using the soot-air (KSA) partition coefficients. Experimental gas/particle partition coefficients (KP) correlated well with the subcooled liquid vapour pressures (P0 L) of PAH but with slopes higher than the expected value of - 1. Experimental Kp values were well fit to the modelled ones when, in addition to absorption into organic matter, adsorption onto the soot carbon was considered. It could be concluded that the main partition mechanism in Zaragoza aerosols was explained by adsorption onto the soot carbon. However, Kp modelled values were affected by the different thermodynamic parameters related to soot types. The influence of the organic matter and elemental carbon fractions on the Kp modelling was also studied. The different particle characteristics, local factors, the presence of non exchangeable fraction and non equilibrium were considered like main keys to explain deviations of the experimental Kp values from predictions according to models.Authors would like to thank the Government of Aragón (DGA) for the grant to M.T.C and the Spanish Government for the JAE doctoral contract to J.M.L and for the Juan de la Cierva contract to M.V.N.Peer reviewe

Nitric oxide from inflammatory origin impairs neural stem cell proliferation by inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor signaling

Neuroinflammation is characterized by activation of microglial cells, followed by production of nitric oxide (NO), which may have different outcomes on neurogenesis, favoring or inhibiting this process. In the present study, we investigated how the inflammatory mediator NO can affect proliferation of neural stem cells (NSCs), and explored possible mechanisms underlying this effect. We investigated which mechanisms are involved in the regulation of NSC proliferation following treatment with an inflammatory stimulus (lipopolysaccharide plus IFN-gamma), using a culture system of subventricular zone (SVZ)-derived NSCs mixed with microglia cells obtained from wild-type mice (iNOS(+/+)) or from iNOS knockout mice (iNOS(-/-)). We found an impairment of NSC cell proliferation in iNOS(+/+) mixed cultures, which was not observed in iNOS(-/-) mixed cultures. Furthermore, the increased release of NO by activated iNOS(+/+) microglial cells decreased the activation of the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway, which was concomitant with an enhanced nitration of the EGF receptor. Preventing nitrogen reactive species formation with MnTBAP, a scavenger of peroxynitrite (ONOO-), or using the ONOO- degradation catalyst FeTMPyP cell proliferation and ERK signaling were restored to basal levels in iNOS(+/+) mixed cultures. Moreover, exposure to the NO donor NOC-18 (100 mu M), for 48 h, inhibited SVZ-derived NSC proliferation. Regarding the antiproliferative effect of NO, we found that NOC-18 caused the impairment of signaling through the ERK/MAPK pathway, which may be related to increased nitration of the EGF receptor in NSC. Using MnTBAP nitration was prevented, maintaining ERK signaling, rescuing NSC proliferation. We show that NO from inflammatory origin leads to a decreased function of the EGF receptor, which compromised proliferation of NSC. We also demonstrated that NO-mediated nitration of the EGF receptor caused a decrease in its phosphorylation, thus preventing regular proliferation signaling through the ERK/MAPK pathway.Foundation for Science and Technology, (FCT, Portugal); COMPETE; FEDER [PEst-C/SAU/LA0001/2013-2014, PEst-OE/EQB/LA0023/2013-2014, PTDC/SAU-NEU/102612/2008, PTDC/NEU-OSD/0473/2012]; FCT, Portugal [SERH/BPD/78901/2011, SERH/BD/38127/2007, SFRH/BD/77903/2011, SFRH/BD/79308/2011]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

All-in-one construct for genome engineering using Cre-lox technology

Mycoplasma genitalium is an appealing model of a minimal cell and synthetic biology study, and it was one of the first organisms whose genome was fully sequenced and chemically synthesized. Despite its usefulness as a model organism, many genetic tools well established for other microorganisms are not currently available in mycoplasmas. We have developed several vectors to adapt the Cre-lox technology for genome engineering in M. genitalium, providing an all-in-one construct that could be also useful to obtain unmarked genetic modifications in many other slow growing microorganisms. This construct contains a modified promoter sequence based in TetR system that exhibits an enhanced control on Cre recombinase expression, virtually abolishing the presence of this recombinase in the absence of inducer. This allows to introduce the Cre recombinase gene and the desired genetic modification in a single transformation step. In addition, this inducible promoter may be a very promising tool for a wide range of molecular applications