Spain Coastal purse seine sardine fishery - Moroccan Atlantic coast waters, South zones B and C, 2011

Inventario de las pesquerías españolas en el área CECAF. Descripción de la pesca española de cerco costero de sardina en aguas de la costa Atlántica de Marruecos, Sur zonas B y C, 2011: visión general, localización, actividad pesquera (área de pesca, recursos explotados, especies objetivo, especies acompañantes, tipo de barco, segmento de flota, estacionalidad, duración de las mareas, puertos e indicadores de la pesquería), uso y mercados, gestión (marco jurisdiccional, régimen de gestión), estado y tendencias y fuentes de información

Spain Purse seine small pelagic fish fishery - Canary Islands waters, 2011

Inventario de las pesquerías españolas en el área CECAF. Descripción de la pesca española de cerco de pequeños pelágicos en las islas de canarias, 2011: visión general, localización, actividad pesquera (área de pesca, recursos explotados, especies objetivo, especies acompañantes, tipo de barco, segmento de flota, estacionalidad, duración de las mareas, puertos e indicadores de la pesquería), uso y mercados, gestión (marco jurisdiccional, régimen de gestión), estado y tendencias y fuentes de información

Investigations on anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus Linnaeus, 1758) by the IEO (Instituto Español de Oceanografía) in the northern and central eastern Atlantic

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Functional Improvement of Human Cardiotrophin 1 Produced in Tobacco Chloroplasts by Co-Expression with Plastid Thioredoxin m

Human cardiotrophin 1 (CT1), a cytokine with excellent therapeutic potential, was previously expressed in tobacco chloroplasts. However, the growth conditions required to reach the highest expression levels resulted in an impairment of its bioactivity. In the present study, we have examined new strategies to modulate the expression of this recombinant protein in chloroplasts so as to enhance its production and bioactivity. In particular, we assessed the effect of both the fusion and co-expression of Trx m with CT1 on the production of a functional CT1 by using plastid transformation. Our data revealed that the Trx m fusion strategy was useful to increase the expression levels of CT1 inside the chloroplasts, although CT1 bioactivity was significantly impaired, and this was likely due to steric hindrance between both proteins. By contrast, the expression of functional CT1 was increased when co-expressed with Trx m, because we demonstrated that recombinant CT1 was functionally active during an in vitro signaling assay. While Trx m/CT1 co-expression did not increase the amount of CT1 in young leaves, our results revealed an increase in CT1 protein stability as the leaves aged in this genotype, which also improved the recombinant protein’s overall production. This strategy might be useful to produce other functional biopharmaceuticals in chloroplasts

Some comments on the high energy emission from regions of star formation beyond the galaxy

Regions that currently are or have been subject to a strong process of star formation are good candidates to be intense gamma-ray and neutrino emitters. They may even perhaps be sites where ultra high energy cosmic rays are produced. Outside the Galaxy, the more powerful sites of star formation are found within very active galaxies such as starbursts (SGs) and Luminous or Ultra-Luminous Infrared Galaxies (LIRGs or ULIRGs). Some general characteristic of these objects are herein reviewed from the point of view of their possible status as high energy emitters. Revised estimations of the high energy gamma-ray yield of Arp 220 are presented.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figures. Solicited Brief Review prepared for Modern Physics Letters

Essential Role of TGF-β/Smad Pathway on Statin Dependent Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Regulation

BACKGROUND: The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase inhibitors (also called statins) exert proven beneficial effects on cardiovascular diseases. Recent data suggest a protective role for Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-beta) in atherosclerosis by regulating the balance between inflammation and extracellular matrix accumulation. However, there are no studies about the effect of statins on TGF-beta/Smad pathway in atherosclerosis and vascular cells. METHODOLOGY: In cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) statins enhanced Smad pathway activation caused by TGF-beta. In addition, statins upregulated TGF-beta receptor type II (TRII), and increased TGF-beta synthesis and TGF-beta/Smad-dependent actions. In this sense, statins, through Smad activation, render VSMCs more susceptible to TGF-beta induced apoptosis and increased TGF-beta-mediated ECM production. It is well documented that high doses of statins induce apoptosis in cultured VSMC in the presence of serum; however the precise mechanism of this effect remains to be elucidated. We have found that statins-induced apoptosis was mediated by TGF-beta/Smad pathway. Finally, we have described that RhoA inhibition is a common intracellular mechanisms involved in statins effects. The in vivo relevance of these findings was assessed in an experimental model of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E deficient mice: Treatment with Atorvastatin increased Smad3 phosphorylation and TRII overexpression, associated to elevated ECM deposition in the VSMCs within atheroma plaques, while apoptosis was not detected. CONCLUSIONS: Statins enhance TGF-beta/Smad pathway, regulating ligand levels, receptor, main signaling pathway and cellular responses of VSMC, including apoptosis and ECM accumulation. Our findings show that TGF-beta/Smad pathway is essential for statins-dependent actions in VSMCs

National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic (vol 13, 517, 2022) : National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic (Nature Communications, (2022), 13, 1, (517), 10.1038/s41467-021-27668-9)

Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2022.In this article the author name ‘Agustin Ibanez’ was incorrectly written as ‘Augustin Ibanez’. The original article has been corrected.Peer reviewe

National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic.

Changing collective behaviour and supporting non-pharmaceutical interventions is an important component in mitigating virus transmission during a pandemic. In a large international collaboration (Study 1, N = 49,968 across 67 countries), we investigated self-reported factors associated with public health behaviours (e.g., spatial distancing and stricter hygiene) and endorsed public policy interventions (e.g., closing bars and restaurants) during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic (April-May 2020). Respondents who reported identifying more strongly with their nation consistently reported greater engagement in public health behaviours and support for public health policies. Results were similar for representative and non-representative national samples. Study 2 (N = 42 countries) conceptually replicated the central finding using aggregate indices of national identity (obtained using the World Values Survey) and a measure of actual behaviour change during the pandemic (obtained from Google mobility reports). Higher levels of national identification prior to the pandemic predicted lower mobility during the early stage of the pandemic (r = -0.40). We discuss the potential implications of links between national identity, leadership, and public health for managing COVID-19 and future pandemics