An assessment of voltammetry on disposable screen printed electrodes to predict wine chemical composition and oxygen consumption rates

The present work aimed at determining the applicability of linear sweep voltammetry coupled to disposable carbon paste electrodes to predict chemical composition and wine oxygen consumption rates (OCR) by PLSmodeling of the voltammetric signal. Voltammetric signals were acquired in a set of 16 red commercial wines. Samples were extensively characterized including SO2, antioxidant indexes, metals and polyphenols measured by HPLC. Wine OCRs were calculated by measuring oxygen consumption under controlled oxidation conditions. PLS-Regression models were calculated to predict chemical variables and wine OCRs from first order difference voltammogram curves. A significant number of fully validated models predicting chemical variables from voltammetric signals were obtained. Interestingly, monomeric and polymerized anthocyanins can be differently predicted from the first and second wave of the first derivative of voltammograms, respectively. This fast, cheap and easy-to-use approach presents an important potential to be used in wineries for rapid wine chemical characterization

Embryo transfer manipulation cause gene expression variation in blastocysts that disrupt implantation and offspring rates at birth in rabbit

[EN] Objective: In the current study we aimed to evaluate the effect of embryo transfer on gene expression during pre-implantation development and its consequences on implantation rate, offspring rate at birth and embryonic and fetal losses in the rabbit model.This research was supported by the projects: Spanish Research project AGL2014-53405-C2-1-P Comision Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CICYT) and Generalitat Valenciana research program (Prometeo II 2014/036).Saenz De Juano Ribes, MDLD.; Marco Jiménez, F.; Vicente Antón, JS. (2016). Embryo transfer manipulation cause gene expression variation in blastocysts that disrupt implantation and offspring rates at birth in rabbit. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 207:50-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2016.10.049S505520

Cryosurvival of rabbit embryos obtained after superovulation with corifollitropin alfa with or without LH

[EN] The efficiency of an embryo bank depends on provision of optimal conditions for recovery, cryopreservation and transfer to a breed or strain. In this sense, increasing the number of embryos available using superovulation should improve the cryobank efficiency. However, vagueness of response to conventional protocols to control or increase ovarian response and the quality of oocytes and embryos and their cryotolerance remain a challenge. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of corifollitropin alpha (CTP) and a recombinant human FSH (rhFSH), alone or supplemented with rhLH, on embryo cryosurvival by in vitro development and OCT4 and NANOG mRNA abundance at blastocyst stage and offspring rate. In vitro development of vitrified embryos was not significantly affected by superstimulation with or without rhLH supplementation, resulting in similar development rates to those of the control groups (fresh and vitrified embryos from non-superstimulated donor does). Blastocysts developed from vitrified embryos showed higher levels of OCT4 transcript abundance than fresh control, while NANOG transcript abundance was only higher in the blastocysts developed from vitrified embryos after superstimulation treatment in comparison with control groups. The implantation and offspring rates at birth were negatively affected by supplementation with rhLH. Both rhFSH or CTP vitrified embryo groups showed an implantation rate similar to those of the control groups, but an offspring rate lower than control. In conclusion, embryos produced using corifollitropin alpha did not compromise the cryosurvival of vitrified embryos in the rabbit. In addition, this study points out the negative effect of rhLH supplementation in terms of offspring rate on embryo vitrification.This research was supported by the projects: Spanish Research project AGL2014-53405-C2-1-P Comision Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CICYT) and Generalitat Valenciana research programme (Prometeo II 2014/036). English text version revised by N. Macowan English Language Service.Vicente Antón, JS.; Viudes De Castro, MP.; Cedano-Castro, JI.; Marco-Jiménez, F. (2018). Cryosurvival of rabbit embryos obtained after superovulation with corifollitropin alfa with or without LH. Animal Reproduction Science. 192:321-327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2018.03.034S32132719

Embryo vitrification in rabbits: Consequences for progeny growth

[EN] The objective of this research is to examine if there are any effects of the rederivation procedures on rabbit growth pattern and on weight of different organ in adults. For this purpose, three experiments were conducted on two different groups of animals (control group and vitrified transferred group) to evaluate the possible effect of embryo manipulation (vitrification and transfer procedures) on future growth traits. The first experiment studies body weight from 1 to 9 weeks of age from the two groups. The second experiment describes the growth curve of progeny from experimental groups and analyzes their Gompertz curve parameters, including the estimation of adult body weight. The third experiment has been developed to study if there are any differences in different organ weight in adult males from the two experimental groups. In general, the results indicate that rederivation procedures had effect on the phenotypic expression of growth traits. The results showed that rabbit produced by vitrification and embryo transfer had higher body weight in the first four weeks of age than control progeny. Results from body weight (a parameter) and b parameter estimated by fitting the Gompertz growth curve did not show any difference between experimental groups. However, differences related with growth velocity (k parameter of the Gompertz curve) were observed among them, showing that the control group had higher growth velocity than the vitrified transferred group. In addition, we found that liver weight at 40th week of age exhibits significant differences between the experimental groups. The liver weight was higher in the control males than in the VF males. Although the present results indicate that vitrification and transfer procedures might affect some traits related with growth in rabbits, further research is needed to assess the mechanisms involved in the appearance of these phenotypes and if these phenotypes could be transferred to the future progeny.This study was supported by the Generalitat Valenciana research program (Prometeo II 2014/036) and Spanish Research Projects (CICYT AGL2011-29831-C03-01; AGL2014-53405-C2-1-P). Lavara R. acknowledges the partial support received from Generalitat Valenciana under VALid+ program (APOST/2014/034) and from Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness under subprogramme "Formacion posdoctoral" (FPDI-2013-16707).Lavara García, R.; Baselga Izquierdo, M.; Marco Jiménez, F.; Vicente Antón, JS. (2015). Embryo vitrification in rabbits: Consequences for progeny growth. Theriogenology. 84(5):674-680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.04.025S67468084

EVALUACIÓN DE LA IMPLEMENTACIÓN DE LOS CURSOS NASE EN PANAMÁ 2011-2021

NASA (Network for Astronomy School Education) was created in the General Assembly of IAU in Rio de Janeiro in 2009. Its purpose was to train teachers in the teaching of astronomy using cheap and easy to obtain materials. So that this area could be instructed in an interactive way with the help of workshops designed by specialists in the field. Formally speaking, NASE courses start in 2010, with some pilot courses occurring in 2009, in Panama they begin in 2011. Ten years after the start of NASE Panama, we present a hindsight analysis, with the objective of letting others know its condition and the experience that has grown in science teachers, specifically in astronomy. From its beginning until now our country has had a total of 12 editions, 27 trained instructors, and more than 200 educators in different regions.NASE (Network for Astronomy School Education) se constituyó en la Asamblea General de la IAU en Río de Janeiro en 2009 con el propósito de entrenar docentes en la enseñanza de la astronomía usando materiales baratos y fáciles de conseguir para lograr una enseñanza más interactiva esto a través de diversos talleres diseñados por expertos en el área.  Formablemente los cursos NASE comienzan a dictarse a partir del 2010, aunque en el 2009 se realizaron algunos cursos pilotos, en Panamá estos cursos comienzan a dictarse a partir del 2011. A más de diez años de los inicios de los cursos NASE en Panamá, presentamos un análisis en retrospectiva, nuestro objetivo es dar a conocer el estado de los cursos en nuestro país, así como la experiencia que se ha logrado en la formación docente en el área de ciencia, específicamente en astronomía. El curso NASE desde su inicio en nuestro país se han un total de 12 ediciones, se han formado 27 instructores y se han capacitado más de 200 educadores de diferentes regiones del país

Role of Embryonic and Maternal Genotype on Prenatal Survival and Foetal Growth in Rabbit

[EN] The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of maternal and embryonic genotype on prenatal survival and foetal growth during pregnancy. Embryos were recovered at 48 h of gestation from two different donor lines (R = 46 and A = 40) and transferred to nulliparous recipient does (26 R and 24 A). Each recipient doe received six embryos into one oviduct from line R, and six embryos form line A into the other. Laparoscopy was performed at Day 14 to determine implantation rate. Recipient females were slaughter at Days 14, 24 and 30 (12, 24, and 14, respectively) to determine the number of live foetuses and the weight of live foetuses, foetal placenta and maternal placenta. A transcriptome analysis was performed to search for differences between foetal placentas at Days 14 and 24 of development. Prenatal survival at Days 14, and 24 was affected by embryonic genotype and determined by maternal genotype at Day 30. Foetal weight at Day 14 was influenced by both genotypes, being the weight higher for group A/A (0.29 0.01 g vs 0.19 0.01 g, for group R/R). However, both genotypes were determinant for foetal placenta weight at Day 24, while those genotypes affected maternal placenta weight at Day 30. Nevertheless, no differences in foetal placenta at transcriptome level and progesterone and IGF-I plasma levels in recipient does were found. In conclusion, results indicate that the influence of embryo and maternal genotype on the prenatal survival and growth seems to be changing over gestation.Naturil Alfonso, C.; Marco Jiménez, F.; Jiménez Trigos, ME.; Saenz De Juano Ribes, MDLD.; Viudes De Castro, MP.; Lavara García, R.; Vicente Antón, JS. (2015). Role of Embryonic and Maternal Genotype on Prenatal Survival and Foetal Growth in Rabbit. Reproduction in Domestic Animals. (50):312-320. doi:10.1111/rda.12493S3123205

EVALUACIÓN DE LA IMPLEMENTACIÓN DE LOS CURSOS NASE EN PANAMÁ 2011-2021

NASE (Network for Astronomy School Education) se constituyó en la Asamblea General de la IAU en Río de Janeiro en 2009 con el propósito de entrenar docentes en la enseñanza de la astronomía usando materiales baratos y fáciles de conseguir para lograr una enseñanza más interactiva esto a través de diversos talleres diseñados por expertos en el área.  Formablemente los cursos NASE comienzan a dictarse a partir del 2010, aunque en el 2009 se realizaron algunos cursos pilotos, en Panamá estos cursos comienzan a dictarse a partir del 2011. A más de diez años de los inicios de los cursos NASE en Panamá, presentamos un análisis en retrospectiva, nuestro objetivo es dar a conocer el estado de los cursos en nuestro país, así como la experiencia que se ha logrado en la formación docente en el área de ciencia, específicamente en astronomía. El curso NASE desde su inicio en nuestro país se han un total de 12 ediciones, se han formado 27 instructores y se han capacitado más de 200 educadores de diferentes regiones del país

Bone mineral density, body composition, and metabolic health of very low birth weight infants fed in hospital following current macronutrient recommendations during the first 3 years of life

The present study longitudinally evaluated growth, bone mineral density, body composition, and metabolic health outcome in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants whose in-hospital target nutrient intake was within recent recommendations. From six months to three years, bone mineral density (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, DXA), body composition, and metabolic health outcome were compared with a reference group of term infants. The aim was to test whether in-hospital achieved weight gain until 36 weeks of gestation (light or appropriate for term equivalent age; LTEA or ATEA) predicts later growth, bone mineral density (BMD), abdominal obesity, or metabolic health outcomes such as insulin resistance, relative to term infants, during the first three years of life. Target in-hospital energy and protein intake was not achieved. Growth in weight, length and head circumference, mid arm circumference, adiposity, fat free mass (FFM), and bone mineralization in VLBW infants was less than those in term infants and influenced by nutritional status at discharge. Preterm infants had poorer motor and cognitive outcomes. Post-discharge body composition patterns indicate FFM proportional to height but lower fat mass index in LTEA preterm infants than term infants, with no evidence of increased truncal fat in preterm infants. The hypothesis of early BMD catch-up in VLBW infants after discharge was not supported by the present data. The clinical significance of these findings is unclear. The data may suggest a reduced obesity risk but an increased osteoporosis risk. Since postnatal growth restriction may have permanent negative health effects, LTEA VLBW infants would especially appear to benefit from targeted preventive interventions. Further follow-up of the infants is required.This research was partially funded by the ‘Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria’ (grant number PI041631