Historic exposure to herbivores, not constitutive traits, explains plant tolerance to herbivory in the case of two Medicago species (Fabaceae)

Altres ajuts: Direcció General de Política Universitària i Recerca (Govern de les Illes Balears) FPI/1925/2016Mechanisms that allow plants to survive and reproduce after herbivory are considered to play a key role in plant evolution. In this study, we evaluated how tolerance varies in species with different historic exposure to herbivores considering ontogeny. We exposed the range-restricted species Medicago citrina and its closely related and widespread species M. arborea to one and two herbivory simulations (80 % aerial biomass loss). Physiological and growth parameters related to tolerance capacity were assessed to evaluate constitutive values (without herbivory) and induced tolerance after damage. Constitutive traits were not always related to greater tolerance, and each species compensated for herbivory through different traits. Herbivory damage only led to mortality in M. citrina; adults exhibited root biomass loss and increased oxidative stress after damage, but also compensated aerial biomass. Despite seedlings showed a lower death percentage than adults after herbivory in M. citrina, they showed less capacity to recover control values than adults. Moderate tolerance to M. arborea herbivory and low tolerance to M. citrina is found. Thus, although the constitutive characteristics are maintained in the lineage, the tolerance of plants decreases in M. citrina. That represents how plants respond to the lack of pressure from herbivores in their habitat

Acceptability of meat with different levels of boar taint compounds for Spanish and English consumers.

Postprint (published version

Facing new EU policies towards animal welfare improvement. The relative importance of pig castration

Postprint (published version

Quin pollastre mejareu aquest Nadal?

El pollastre forma part de la nostra gastronomia en les Festes de Nadal. Us deixem un petit resum sobre les races autòctones catalanes, per si en voleu gaudir durant les festes de Nadal

Anàlisi del metabolisme ambiental de nuclis turístics litorals : el cas de Menorca

L'objectiu del present estudi és l'anàlisi del metabolisme energètic associat a nuclis turístics litorals de l'illa de Menorca (Mediterrani occidental) i el grau d'autosuficiència a partir d'energies renovables. La caracterització dels nuclis i la definició del perfil del turista s'ha realitzat mitjançant SIG i informació de qualitat a partir d'enquestes. Els principals resultats mostren que els nuclis turístics de Menorca tenen unes emissions associades entre 213 i 318 kg de CO2 per estada. De mitjana, el recorregut del turista fins a la illa (mobilitat externa) és de 1334 km (representant el 80% de les emissions), mentre que la mobilitat interna durant l'estada és de 22 km. A diari, cada turista consumeix entre 8 i 26 kWh d'electricitat, consum que es podria satisfer en un 100% amb la instal·lació de sistemes fotovoltaics a les cobertes del nucli.El objetivo del presente estudio es el análisis del metabolismo energético asociado a los núcleos turísticos litorales de la isla de Menorca (Mediterráneo occidental) y el grado de autosuficiencia a partir de energías renovables. La caracterización de los núcleos y la definición del perfil del turista se ha realizado mediante el SIG e información de cualidad obtenida de las entrevistas. Los principales resultados muestran que los núcleos turísticos de Menorca tienen unas emisiones asociadas de entre 213 y 318 kg de CO2 por estancia. De media, el recorrido del turista para llegar en la isla (movilidad externa) es de 1334 km (el cual representa el 80% de las emisiones totales), mientras que la movilidad interna durante la estancia es de 22 km. A diario, cada turista consume entre 8 i 26 kWh de electricidad, consumo que se podría satisfacer en un 100% con la instalación de sistemas fotovoltaicos en las cubiertas del núcleo.The aim of the present study is the analysis of the energetic metabolism related to the costal tourism nuclei on the island of Minorca (western Mediterranean) and the self-sufficient degree based on renewable energy. The characterization of the nuclei and the definition of tourism profile has been created using GIS and quality information from the interviews. The main results show that the tourism nuclei of Minorca have associated emissions between 213 and 318 kg of CO2 on stay. On average, the tourism route to arrive on the island ( external mobility) is 1334 km ( theese represents the 80% of the emissions), while the internal mobility during the stay is 22km. Every day, each tourist consumes between 8 and 26 kWh of electricity, that consum could be satisfied in a 100% with the installation of photovoltaic systems on the roofs of the nuclei.Lo scopo del presente articolo è l'analisi del metabolismo energetico nei nuclei turistici costieri dell'isola di Minorca (Mediterraneo occidentale) e il grado d'autosufficienza energetica basata sulle energie rinnovabili. La caratterizzazione dei nuclei e la definizione del profilo del turista si è sviluppato con l'utilizzo del GIS e attraverso informazioni di qualità ricavate dalle interviste. I principali risultati mostrano che nei nuclei turistici di Minorca ogni turista ha delle emissioni associate di 213 e 318 kg di CO2 per ogni periodo di soggiorno. In media, il percorso del tursita fino all'isola (mobilità esterna) è di 1334 km (rappresentando l'80% delle emissioni totali), mentre la mobilità interna durante il periodo di soggiorno è di 22 km. Quotidianamente, ogni turista consuma fra 8 e 26 kWh d'elletricità; tale quantità energètica potrebbe essere soddisfata al 100% dall'installazione d'impianti fotovoltaici sui tetti del nucleo

Indicadors d'investigació de l'Institut de Recerca i Innovació Educativa. IRIE 2008-2012

El present informe recull la recerca educativa realitzada pels grups consolidats de l’Institut de Recerca i Innovació Educativa (IRIE) durant el període previ a la seva creació (2008-2012). Aquesta producció ha conformat la massa crítica que ha fet possible la creació de l’Institut i és el fruit del treball de cent cinquanta-vuit investigadors, integrats en onze grups de recerca. L’informe presenta les línies de recerca que desenvolupen i els principals productes de la seva tasca. Durant aquest període s’han dut a terme cent seixanta-sis projectes i contractes de recerca amb finançament estatal i quaranta-un projectes i contractes internacionals, i s’ha rebut un finançament total de 8.478.372,65 €. S’han publicat quatre-cents cinquanta-dos articles en revistes –cent seixanta-vuit dels quals indexats en bases d’impacte– i sis-cents seixanta-sis capítols o llibres científics. Al mateix temps s’han seguit formant nous investigadors en educació, ja que s’han llegit setanta-dues tesis doctorals. L’anàlisi d’aquests indicadors ens permet saber l’estat de la qüestió de la recerca educativa més especialitzada a les Illes Balears i tenir elements per a determinar el potencial investigador de l’IRIE per als propers anys.El presente informe recoge la investigación educativa realizada por los grupos consolidados del Institut de Recerca i Innovació Educativa (IRIE) durante el período previo a su creación (2008- 2012). Esta producción ha conformado la masa crítica que ha hecho posible la creación del instituto y es fruto del trabajo de 158 investigadores, integrados en once grupos de investigación. El informe presenta las líneas de investigación que desarrollan y los principales productos de su labor. Durante este período se han llevado a cabo 166 proyectos y contratos de investigación con financiación estatal y 41 proyectos y contratos internacionales; se ha recibido una financiación total de 8.478.372,65 €. Se han publicado 452 artículos en revistas –186 de los cuales indexados en bases de impacto– y 666 capítulos o libros científicos. Al mismo tiempo se ha seguido formando a nuevos investigadores en educación, ya que se han leído 72 tesis doctorales. El análisis de estos indicadores nos permite conocer el estado de la cuestión de la investigación educativa más especializada en las Illes Balears y tener elementos para determinar el potencial investigador del IRIE para los próximos años.This report contains the educational research provided by consolidated groups of the IRIE (Institute of Research and Educational Innovation) in the run-up to the Institute’s creation (2008-2012). This production has shaped the critical mass that has made possible the creation of the Institute and is the outcome of the work of 158 researchers consisting of 11 research groups. The report presents the lines of research and the main products of researchers task. During this time, 166 projects and research contracts with government funding and 41 projects and international contracts were achieved, with a total funding of 8.478.372,65 €. 452 articles in magazines –186 of them indexed in impact databases– and 666 chapters or scientific books have been published. At the same time, new educational researchers have been trained and 72 doctoral theses have been read. The analysis of these indicators allows us to know the state of play of the most specialized educational research in the Balearic Islands and to have items to determine the research potential of the IRIE for the coming years

Atherosclerotic plaque destabilization in Mice: A comparative study

Atherosclerosis-Associated diseases are the main cause ofmortality and morbidity in western societies. The progression of atherosclerosis is a dynamic process evolving from early to advanced lesions thatmay become rupture-prone vulnerable plaques. Acute coronary syndromes are the clinical manifestation of life-Threatening thrombotic events associated with high-risk vulnerable plaques. Hyperlipidemic mouse models have been extensively used in studying the mechanisms controlling initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. However, the understanding of mechanisms leading to atherosclerotic plaque destabilization has been hampered by the lack of proper animalmodelsmimicking this process. Although various mouse models generate atherosclerotic plaques with histological features of human advanced lesions, a consensus model to study atherosclerotic plaque destabilization is still lacking. Hence, we studied the degree and features of plaque vulnerability in different mouse models of atherosclerotic plaque destabilization and find that the model based on the placement of a shear stress modifier in combination with hypercholesterolemia represent with high incidence the most human like lesions compared to the other models

Analizying MOOCs from an educational perspective in Spain

ABSTRACT: This article is the result of a Teaching Innovation Project funded by the University of Cantabria’s Vice-Rectorate for Teaching Staff. Its goals are to analyze the phenomenon of MOOCs with pedagogical criteria and to develop a Best Practice Guide. The project was developed by the Universities of Cantabria and Oviedo, all the work was divided into three phases: 1) Theoretical review and the design of classroom activities, 2) The implementation of classroom activities and analysis of the main results and 3) The development of a MOOC Best Practice Guide. The results of the second phase at the University of Cantabria are presented here. They demonstrate the need to introduce these massive open online courses into degree programmes in Education, updating higher education studies and providing valuable knowledge for understanding the educational potential (not just technological or financial) of this online training

Histone Deacetylase 9 Activates IKK to Regulate Atherosclerotic Plaque Vulnerability

Rationale: Arterial inflammation manifested as atherosclerosis is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Genome-wide association studies have identified a prominent role of histone deacetylase 9 (HDAC9) in atherosclerosis and its clinical complications including stroke and myocardial infarction. Objective: To determine the mechanisms linking HDAC9 to these vascular pathologies and explore its therapeutic potential for atheroprotection. Methods and Results: We studied the effects of Hdac9 on features of plaque vulnerability using bone marrow reconstitution experiments and pharmacological targeting with a small molecule inhibitor in hyperlipidemic mice. We further employed two-photon and intravital microscopy to study endothelial activation and leukocyte-endothelial interactions. We show that hematopoietic Hdac9 deficiency reduces lesional macrophage content whilst increasing fibrous cap thickness thus conferring plaque stability. We demonstrate that HDAC9 binds to IKKα and β resulting in their deacetylation and subsequent activation, which drives inflammatory responses in both macrophages and endothelial cells. Pharmacological inhibition of HDAC9 with the class IIa HDAC inhibitor TMP195 attenuates lesion formation by reducing endothelial activation and leukocyte recruitment along with limiting pro-inflammatory responses in macrophages. Transcriptional profiling using RNA-Seq revealed that TMP195 downregulates key inflammatory pathways consistent with inhibitory effects on IKKβ. TMP195 mitigates the progression of established lesions and inhibits the infiltration of inflammatory cells. Moreover, TMP195 diminishes features of plaque vulnerability and thereby enhances plaque stability in advanced lesions. Ex vivo treatment of monocytes from patients with established atherosclerosis reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β and IL-6. Conclusions: Our findings identify HDAC9 as a regulator of atherosclerotic plaque stability and IKK activation thus providing a mechanistic explanation for the prominence of HDAC9 as a vascular risk locus in genome-wide association studies. Its therapeutic inhibition may provide a potent lever to alleviate vascular inflammation

Environmental and self-sufficiency assessment of the energy metabolism of tourist hubs on Mediterranean Islands : the case of Menorca (Spain)

SostenipraEnergy performance of island tourism has been analyzed in the literature. However, tourist services tend to concentrate in tourist hubs, especially where mass tourism predominates (e.g., Mediterranean), and the energy metabolism of these systems has not yet been assessed. The present paper models and estimates the energy metabolism of tourist hubs in the Menorca Island (Spain) by integrating social, geographical and environmental methods. Mobility (both external and internal) and consumption of lodging services were characterized through surveys to users (tourists) and business managers. An environmental assessment evaluated CO₂ emissions, and energy self-sufficiency potential was estimated via GIS data. The results indicate that, on average, a tourist consumes 4756 MJ with associated emissions of 277 kg of CO₂ per stay (20 days on average). Of all the energy flows, external mobility contributes the most to total emissions (77%). For every day spent in a tourist hub, a tourist consumes between 29 MJ and 93 MJ in lodging services, consumption that could be 100% satisfied by photovoltaic systems, and these systems would result in positive effects for the island. Sustainable tourism management might focus on promoting environmentally friendly transportation, energy efficient practices, and environmental communication through ecolabeling