La palomilla resinera Synanthedon cardinalis (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) y su distribución en el centro de Veracruz, México

The objective of this study was to evaluate the damage and distribution of Synanthedon cardinalis in the central region of the state of Veracruz. Two plantations, on which the insect was present, located on the Cerro de la Galaxia in the municipality of Xalapa, Veracruz, were studied. On these plantations, were determined whether the trees had died because of attack by the insect. Attacked and healthy trees were counted and number of resin lumps, tree height, and DBH were recorded. To determine altitudinal distribution of the pitch moth, pine stands and restoration sites at different altitudes were visited. We found that in plantation I, 11 trees died because of the insect, while in plantation II only eight had died. In plantation I, 17 standing trees were recorded; of these, 82.35% were affected by the pitch moth. In plantation II, 94.4% were affected by the insect and eight had been killed by the pest. Tree height varied from 6.3 to 23 m and DBH was 0.82 to 1.67 m in plantation I, while in plantation II, height was 3 to 11 m and DBH was 0.44 to 1.15 m. No significant association between tree height and number of resin lumps per tree was found. The volume affected in the two sites was 17,492 m³. For the first time, S. cardinalis is recorded in P. teocote. In terms of altitudinal distribution, the insect was found between 1420 and 3006 m in the central region of the state of Veracruz.El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el daño y la distribución de Synanthedon cardinalis en la zona centro del estado de Veracruz. Para ello se ubicaron dos plantaciones con presencia del insecto en el Cerro de la Galaxia, localizado en el municipio de Xalapa, Veracruz, donde se determinó si los árboles habían muerto por el ataque del insecto, además se registró el número de grumos, árboles atacados y sanos, la altura del árbol y el DAP. Para conocer la distribución altitudinal de la palomilla resinera se visitaron rodales de especies de pinos a diferentes pisos altitudinales, así como en sitios de restauración. Se encontró que en la plantación I, 11 árboles murieron a causa del insecto, en tanto que en la plantación II sólo ocho. En la plantación I, se registraron 17 árboles en pie, de los cuales el 82.35 % estuvo afectado por la palomilla resinera, en tanto que en la plantación II el 94.4 % estuvo afectado por el insecto y ocho árboles murieron a causa de la plaga. La altura de los árboles varió de 6.3 a 23 m y el DAP de 0.82 a 1.67 m en la plantación I, en tanto que en la plantación II la altura fue de 3 a 11 m y el DAP de 0.44 a 1.15 m. No se encontró una asociación significativa entre la altura de los árboles y el número de grumos por árbol. La afectación de volumen en ambos sitios fue de 17, 492 m³. Se reporta por primera a S. cardinalis en P. teocote. Además, el insecto fue registrado desde los 1420 a los 3006 metros de altitud en la región centro del estado de Veracruz

Augmented acquisition of cocaine self-administration and altered brain glucose metabolism in adult female but not male rats exposed to a cannabinoid agonist during adolescence

Marijuana consumption during adolescence has been proposed to be a stepping stone for adult cocaine addiction. However, experimental evidence for this hypothesis is missing. In this work we chronically injected male and female Wistar rats with either the cannabinoid agonist CP 55,940 (CP; 0.4 mg/kg) or its corresponding vehicle. Adult acquisition (seven 30 min daily sessions) and maintenance (fourteen 2 h daily sessions) of cocaine self administration (1 mg/kg), food reinforced operant learning under conditions of normal (ad libitum access to food), and high motivation (food restriction schedule) were measured. Additionally, brain metabolic activity was analyzed by means of [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. During the acquisition phase, female CP treated rats showed a higher rate of cocaine self administration as compared to vehicle treated females and males; no differences were found between both male groups. This effect disappeared in the maintenance phase. Moreover, no differences among groups were evident in the food reinforced operant task, pointing to the cocaine specific nature of the effect seen in self administration rather than a general change in reward processing. Basal brain metabolic activity also changed in CP treated females when compared to their vehicle treated counterparts with no differences being found in the males; more specifically we observed a hyper activation of the frontal cortex and a hypo activation of the amygdalo entorhinal cortex. Our results suggest that a chronic exposure to cannabinoids during adolescence alters the susceptibility to acquire cocaine self administration, in a sex specific fashion. This increased susceptibility could be related to thechanges in brain metabolic activity induced by cannabinoids during adolescenceThis work was supported by Grants FIS G03/05 (Red de Trastornos Adictivos), BSO2001-1099, FIS 01-05-01, Plan Nacional sobre Drogas (PNSD) 2001–2003, PNSD 2004–2007, GR-SAL/0260/2004 to EA and Grants INT/2012/ 2002, CB06/01/0079, and CENIT (2006–2009) to MDPublicad

Mycelial disturbance stimulates the formation of sporomes of edible ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with two neotropical pines

Objective: To determine the effect of mycelial disturbance on the formation of sporomes of two edible ectomycorrhizal fungi of great biocultural relevance in Mexico (Laccaria laccata and Hebeloma leucosarx) associated to two Neotropical pines with economic and ecological importance, Pinus greggii and P. montezumae. Design/Methodology/Approach: Spore inoculum was produced using ground pilei of the evaluated ectomycorrhizal fungi; each pine plant was inoculated with 107 to 108 fungal spores. A completely randomized experimental design was used with four treatments and six replicates per treatment for each pine species, having a total of 48 experimental units, each one consisting in an inoculated tree. During two years the sporome production was evaluated in the treatments with and without mycelial disturbance. The duration of the experiment, since seed germination, was 5 years. Results: The mycelial disturbance originated a higher formation of sporomes in both fungal species, regardless of the associated tree species. The highest sporome formation was recorded in plants inoculated with H. leucosarx compared to those inoculated with L. laccata in both pine species. Mycelial disturbance, originated a higher number of sporomes in Pinus greggii compared to P. montezumae. Study Limitations/Implications: The evaluation of factors influencing sporome formation in edible ectomycorrhizal fungi requires long term experiments. Findings/Conclusions: This study shows for the first time that mycelial disturbance increases sporome formation in Neotropical ectomycorrhizal fungi. Additionally, a differential influence of the fungal and tree species on the number of produced sporomes was found. These findings shed some light on potential cultivation methods for edible ectomycorrhizal mushroom

Source code and simulation data for the prediction of the electrodeposition mechanism of nanostructured metallic coatings

This data article presents a simulation model based on quantum mechanics and energy potentials for obtaining simulation data that allows, from the perspective of materials informatics, the prediction of the electrodeposition mechanism for forming nanostructured metallic coatings. The development of the research is divided into two parts i) the formulation (Quantum mechanical model and Corrected model for electron prediction; using a modified Schrödinger equation) and ii) the implementation of the theoretical prediction model (Discretization of the model). For the simulation process, the finite element method (FEM) was used considering the equation of electric potential and electroneutrality with and without the inclusion of quantum leap. We also provide the code to perform QM simulations in CUDA®, and COMSOL® software, the simulation parameters, and data for two metallic arrangements of chromium nanoparticles (CrNPs) electrodeposited on commercial steel substrate. (CrNPs-AISI 1020 steel and CrNPs-A618 steel). Data collection shows the direct relationship between applied potential (VDC), current (A), concentration (ppm), and time (s) for the homogeneous formation of the coating during the electrodeposition process, as estimated by the theoretical model developed. Their potential reuse data is done to establish the precision of the theoretical model in predicting the formation and growth of nanostructured surface coatings with metallic nanoparticles to give surface-mechanical properties

Aquaculture—Production System and Waste Management for Agriculture Fertilization—A Review

Aquaculture is the fastest growing animal food production sector worldwide and is becoming the main source of aquatic animal foodstuff for human consumption. However, the aquaculture sector has been strongly criticized for its environmental impacts. It can cause discharge and accumulation of residual nutrients in the areas surrounding the production farms. This is because, of the total nutrients supplied to production ponds, only 30% are converted into product, while the rest is usually discharged into the environment to maintain water quality in aquaculture culture systems, thereby altering the physic-chemical characteristics of the receiving water. In contrast, this same accumulation of nutrients is gaining importance within the agricultural sector, as it has been reported that the main nutrients required by plants for their development are found in this aquaculture waste. The purpose of this review article is to indicate the different aquaculture production systems, the waste they generate, as well as the negative effects of their discharge into the environment. Biofiltration and bioremediation processes are mentioned as alternatives for aquaculture waste management. Furthermore, the state of the art in the treatment and utilization of aquaculture waste as a mineral source for agricultural nutrition through biodigestion and biomineralization processes is described. Finally, aquaponics is referred to as a biological production approach that, through efficient use of water and recycling of accumulated organic nutrients in aquaculture systems, can contribute to addressing the goals of sustainable aquaculture development

Fatty acid composition and some physicochemical characteristics of <em>Sterculia apetala</em> seed oils

In the tropical rain forests of southeastern Mexico, the use of <em>Sterculia mexicana</em> and <em>Sterculia apetala</em> seed oils for human and animal nutrition is common. However, the seeds contain cyclopropene fatty acids, whose consumption is related with beneficial as well as detrimental physiological effects. The aim of this study was to determine the fatty acid profile and the physicochemical characteristics of <em>S. apetala</em> seed oil and to evaluate the effect of roasting on both aspects. Cyclopropenoic fatty acids, sterculic acid and malvalic acid were identified in the natural and roasted seed oils. The major component in the seed oil was sterculic acid, as has been reported for <em>Sterculia mexicana</em> and <em>Sterculia foetida</em>. The roasting process modified some physicochemical properties and the fatty acid composition of the seed oil, particularly by decreasing its content of sterculic acid. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the fatty acid composition of <em>S. apetala</em> seed oil.<br><br>En zonas tropicales del sureste de México, el uso de semillas de <em>Sterculia mexicana</em> y <em>Sterculia apetala</em> es común para consumo humano y animal. Sin embargo, dichas semillas contienen ácidos grasos ciclopropenoicos, los cuales se les ha relacionado tanto con efectos fisiológicos beneficiosos como adversos para la salud. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar el perfil de ácidos grasos y las características fisicoquímicas de la especie <em>S. apetala</em>, así como la evaluación del aceite sometido a un proceso de tostado. Se identificaron ácidos grasos ciclopropenoicos como el ácido estercúlico y malválico, en el aceite natural y tostado. Para las especies <em>S. mexicana</em> y <em>S. foetida</em>, el componente mayoritario en las semillas fue el ácido estercúlico. El proceso de tostado modificó algunas propiedades fisicoquímicas y la composción de los ácidos grasos, especificamente disminuyó el contenido de ácido estercúlico. Para nuestro conocimiento, este es la primera información publicada sobre la composición de los ácidos grasos de la especie <em>S. apetala</em>