Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Ground-Based RGB Indices to Assess Agronomic Performance of Wheat Landraces and Cultivars in a Mediterranean-Type Environment

The adaptability and stability of new bread wheat cultivars that can be successfully grown in rainfed conditions are of paramount importance. Plant improvement can be boosted using effective high-throughput phenotyping tools in dry areas of the Mediterranean basin, where drought and heat stress are expected to increase yield instability. Remote sensing has been of growing interest in breeding programs since it is a cost-effective technology useful for assessing the canopy structure as well as the physiological traits of large genotype collections. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of a 4-band multispectral camera on-board an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and ground-based RGB imagery to predict agronomic traits as well as quantify the best estimation of leaf area index (LAI) in rainfed conditions. A collection of 365 bread wheat genotypes, including 181 Mediterranean landraces and 184 modern cultivars, was evaluated during two consecutive growing seasons. Several vegetation indices (VI) derived from multispectral UAV and ground-based RGB images were calculated at different image acquisition dates of the crop cycle. The modified triangular vegetation index (MTVI2) proved to have a good accuracy to estimate LAI (R2 = 0.61). Although the stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that grain yield and number of grains per square meter (NGm2) were the agronomic traits most suitable to be predicted, the R2 were low due to field trials were conducted under rainfed conditions. Moreover, the prediction of agronomic traits was slightly better with ground-based RGB VI rather than with UAV multispectral VIs. NDVI and GNDVI, from multispectral images, were present in most of the prediction equations. Repeated measurements confirmed that the ability of VIs to predict yield depends on the range of phenotypic data. The current study highlights the potential use of VI and RGB images as an efficient tool for high-throughput phenotyping under rainfed Mediterranean conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Improving in-season wheat yield prediction using remote sensing and additional agronomic traits as predictors

The development of accurate grain yield (GY) multivariate models using normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) assessments obtained from aerial vehicles and additional agronomic traits is a promising option to assist, or even substitute, laborious agronomic in-field evaluations for wheat variety trials. This study proposed improved GY prediction models for wheat experimental trials. Calibration models were developed using all possible combinations of aerial NDVI, plant height, phenology, and ear density from experimental trials of three crop seasons. First, models were developed using 20, 50 and 100 plots in training sets and GY predictions were only moderately improved by increasing the size of the training set. Then, the best models predicting GY were defined in terms of the lowest Bayesian information criterion (BIC) and the inclusion of days to heading, ear density or plant height together with NDVI in most cases were better (lower BIC) than NDVI alone. This was particularly evident when NDVI saturates (with yields above 8 t ha-1) with models including NDVI and days to heading providing a 50% increase in the prediction accuracy and a 10% decrease in the root mean square error. These results showed an improvement of NDVI prediction models by the addition of other agronomic traits. Moreover, NDVI and additional agronomic traits were unreliable predictors of grain yield in wheat landraces and conventional yield quantification methods must be used in this case. Saturation and underestimation of productivity may be explained by differences in other yield components that NDVI alone cannot detect (e.g. differences in grain size and number).This study was funded by the projects AGL2015-65351-R, PID2019-109089RB-C31 and TED2021-131606B-C21 of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. AG-R was funded by a Margarita Salas post-doctoral contract from the Spanish Ministry of Universities affiliated to the Research Vice-Rector of the University of Barcelona. VRRY was funded by a pre-doctoral contract from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (PRE2020-092369). The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or manuscript preparation.The authors acknowledge the contribution of the CERCA Program (Generalitat de Catalunya). The authors acknowledge Andrea Lopez, Ezequiel Arqué, Jordi Companys, and Josep Millera for their technical contributions to the experimental setup of field trials.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

¿La primera orfebrería del nordeste de la Península Ibérica? Nuevas aportaciones a partir de la cuenta áurea de Cau del Tossal Gros (Torroella del Montgrí, Baix Empordà, Girona)

The find of a gold biconvex bead from Tossal Gros burial cave (Torroella de Montgrí, Girona) represents the first example of this type known in the Iberian Peninsula. These beads are common in the south of France and are dated to the Late Neolithic. With the aim of establishing their production process, we applied SEM-EDS, radiology and use-wear analysis. The results show the high technological complexity of the bead, which is unparalleled in prehistoric Iberia. The radiocarbon dating of the site by three AMS dates and associated materials confirm a date to the end of 4th - beginning of 3rd millennia cal BC. Comparisons with the available data concerning the earliest Northeast Iberian metallurgy allows an assessment of the possible origin, use and social value of this particular golden bead.La cuenta bitroncocónica de oro localizada en la cueva sepulcral de Cau del Tossal Gros (Torroella de Montgrí, Baix Empordà, Girona) constituye la primera de este tipo conocida en la Península Ibérica. Estas cuentas son comunes en yacimientos del sur de Francia y se fechan de forma relativa en el Neolítico Final. Con el objetivo de establecer su proceso de producción se han realizado análisis de composición, radiológicos y traceológicos. Los resultados muestran la gran complejidad tecnológica de la pieza, sin paralelos conocidos en la Prehistoria peninsular. La datación radiocarbónica del yacimiento mediante tres fechas AMS y los materiales recuperados confirman una cronología de finales del IV-inicios del III milenio cal ANE. Finalmente, la comparación con los datos disponibles sobre la primera metalurgia del nordeste de la Península Ibérica permite proponer el posible origen, uso y valor social de esta peculiar cuenta áurea

Alterações nos compartimentos hídricos e energéticos do organismo durante a greve de fome

Prolonged total food deprivation in non-obese adults is rare, and few studies have documented body composition changes in this setting. In a group of eight hunger strikers who refused alimentation for 43 days, water and energy compartments were estimated, aiming to assess the impact of progressive starvation. Measurements included body mass index (BMI), triceps skinfold (TSF), arm muscle circumference (AMC), and bioimpedance (BIA) determinations of water, fat, lean body mass (LBM), and total resistance. Indirect calorimetry was also performed in one occasion. The age of the group was 43.3±6.2 years (seven males, one female). Only water, intermittent vitamins and electrolytes were ingested, and average weight loss reached 17.9%. On the last two days of the fast (43rd-44th day) rapid intravenous fluid, electrolyte, and vitamin replenishment were provided before proceeding with realimentation. Body fat decreased approximately 60% (BIA and TSF), whereas BMI reduced only 18%. Initial fat was estimated by BIA as 52.2±5.4% of body weight, and even on the 43rd day it was still measured as 19.7±3.8% of weight. TSF findings were much lower and commensurate with other anthropometric results. Water was comparatively low with high total resistance, and these findings rapidly reversed upon the intravenous rapid hydration. At the end of the starvation period, BMI (21.5±2.6 kg/m²) and most anthropometric determinations were still acceptable, suggesting efficient energy and muscle conservation. Conclusions: 1) All compartments diminished during fasting, but body fat was by far the most affected; 2) Total water was low and total body resistance comparatively elevated, but these findings rapidly reversed upon rehydration; 3) Exaggerated fat percentage estimates from BIA tests and simultaneous increase in lean body mass estimates suggested that this method was inappropriate for assessing energy compartments in the studied population; 4) Patients were not morphologically malnourished after 43 days of fasting; however, the prognostic impact of other impairments was not considered in this analysis.A privação total e prolongada de alimentos em adultos não-obesos é raramente vista, e poucos estudos documentaram as modificações da composição corpórea neste contexto.Num grupo de oito casos de greve de fome durante 43 dias, procedeu-se à estimativa dos compartimentos hídricos e energéticos, visando averiguar a influência sobre os mesmos da desnutrição progressiva.Os métodos incluiram índice de massa corporal (IMC), prega cutânea do tríceps (PCT), circunferência muscular do braço, e determinação através da bioimpedância (BIA) da água, massa gorda, massa magra e resistência corpórea total..A calorimetria indireta foi realizada em uma ocasião apenas.A idade do grupo era de 43,3± 6,2 anos (sete homens, uma mulher), somente água e ocasionais eletrólitos e vitaminas foram ingeridos no jejum, e a perda de peso média foi de 17,9%. Por volta do 43º dia da greve iniciou-se a reposição venosa rápida de fluidos, vitaminas e eletrólitos,antes de se prosseguir com a realimentação.A gordura corporal diminuiu em aproximadamente 60% (BIA e PCT), ao passo que o IMC caiu apenas 18%.A estimativa da gordura total inicial por BIA foi de 52,2± 5,4% do peso corporal, e mesmo no 43º dia do evento o valor calculado era de 19,7± 3,8% do peso.Os valores correspondentes deduzidos da PCT mostraram-se substancialmente inferiores, e mais compatíveis com os demais índices antropométricos. A água corporal revelou-se inicialmente contraída, com resistência elevada,sendo que estes achados se reverteram rapidamente por ocasião da hidratação venosa rápida.Quando do término da greve de fome o IMC (21,5± 2,6 kg/m²) e outras variáveis antropométricas revelavam-se numericamente aceitáveis, sugerindo eficiente conservação de musculatura e energia na fase de dieta zero.Conclui-se que: 1) Todos os compartimentos orgânicos se contrairam na greve de fome, porém o tecido adiposo foi de longe o mais afetado; 2) A água corporal mostrou-se reduzida com elevada resistência total, mas estes achados inverteram-se prontamente mediante hidratação parenteral; 3) O encontro de gordura total excessiva e de aumento da massa magra com o avançar do jejum sugerem que as leituras de BIA são inapropriadas para esta população e fornecem resultados incoerentes; 4) Com base nos parâmetros expostos os doentes não estavam morfologicamente desnutridos ao cabo de 43 dias, todavia não foram aqui avaliados outros transtornos de considerável importância prognóstica

Propiedades psicométricas de la versión española de la escala Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS)

La Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) es una escala sencilla y de rápida administración que evalúa, de forma global, la capacidad disposicional de un individuo de estar atento y consciente de la experiencia del momento presente en la vida cotidiana. La escala es un autoinfome unifactorial de 15 ítems con visión del constructo mindfulness centrada en la variable atención/consciencia. El instrumento puede ser utilizado en sujetos con o sin experiencia en meditación y es ampliamente utilizado en investigación. Con el objetivo de establecer las propiedades psicométricas de la MAAS, se administró a un total de 385 sujetos, 201 pertenecientes a una muestra clínica y 184 a una muestra control de estudiantes universitarios. Los análisis psicométricos de la versión española de la MAAS muestran buenas propiedades, tanto en términos de validez como de fiabilidad. El instrumento presentó una buena validez convergente con la Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) así como discriminante respecto a la clínica depresiva. Así mismo obtuvo unos buenos índices de fiabilidad (α de Cronbach de 0,89), una buena estabilidad temporal y replica la estructura unifactorial original que agrupa el 42,8% de la varianza total. Los resultados obtenidos resultan congruentes con los estudios realizados con la versión en inglés del instrumento. La MAAS es un instrumento de simple y rápida administración que nos permite evaluar la capacidad general de mindfulness de un individuo y que puede ser utilizado tanto en la investigación clínica como en sujetos sanos

Propiedades psicométricas de la versión española de la Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale

Introducción La Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale (PHLMS) es un cuestionario breve que evalúa 2 componentes clave de la atención plena: la conciencia en el momento presente y la aceptación. El presente estudio evalúa las propiedades psicométricas de la versión española de la PHLMS tanto en una muestra control de estudiantes universitarios como en población con patología psiquiátrica. Material y métodos Se administró la versión española de la PHLMS a 395 voluntarios (256 con patología psiquiátrica y 139 estudiantes). Resultados El análisis factorial exploratorio de la versión española de la PHLMS apoya la solución bifactorial de la versión original con una varianza explicada del 44,02%. La escala presentó una adecuada fiabilidad (α de Cronbach de 0,81 a 0,86). La PHLMS mostró una adecuada validez convergente con los otros cuestionarios de atención plena y aceptación y una validez divergente de la clínica depresiva y ansiosa comparable a la de la versión original. Conclusiones La versión española de la PHLMS presenta adecuadas propiedades psicométricas y puede ser utilizada para medir 2 componentes constituyentes de la atención plena -i.e. conciencia y aceptación- tanto en el ámbito clínico como en investigació

Cannabinoid receptor CB2 drives HER2 pro-oncogenic signaling in breast cancer

Pharmacological activation of cannabinoid receptors elicits antitumoral responses in different models of cancer. However, the biological role of these receptors in tumor physio-pathology is still unknown. We analyzed CB2 cannabinoid receptor protein expression in two series of 166 and 483 breast tumor samples operated in the University Hospitals of Kiel, Tübingen and Freiburg between 1997 and 2010. CB2 mRNA expression was also analyzed in previously published DNA microarray datasets. The role of CB2 in oncogenesis was studied by generating a mouse line that expresses the HER2 rat ortholog (neu) and lacks CB2, and by a variety of biochemical and cell biology approaches in human breast cancer cells in culture and in vivo, upon modulation of CB2 expression by si/shRNAs and overexpression plasmids. CB2-HER2 molecular interaction was studied by co-localization, coimmunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assays. We show an association between elevated CB2 expression in HER2+ breast tumors and poor patient prognosis. We also demonstrate that genetic inactivation of CB2 impairs tumor generation and progression in MMTV-neu mice. Moreover, we show that HER2 upregulates CB2 expression by activating the transcription factor ELK1 via the ERK cascade, and that an increased CB2 expression activates the HER2 prooncogenic signaling machinery at the level of the tyrosine kinase c-SRC. Finally, HER2 and CB2 form heteromers in cancer cells. Our findings reveal an unprecedented role of CB2 as a pivotal regulator of HER2 pro-oncogenic signaling in breast cancer, and suggest that CB2 may be a biomarker with prognostic value in these tumors

Gradients of genetic diversity and differentiation across the distribution range of a Mediterranean coral: Patterns, processes and conservation implications

Aim: How historical and contemporary eco-evolutionary processes shape the patterns of genetic diversity and þÿdifferentiation across species distribution range remain Focusing on the orange stony coral, Astroides calycularis, we (a) characterized the pattern of neutral genetic diversity across the distribution range; (b) gave insights into the underlying processes; and (c) discussed conservation implications with emphasis on a national park located on a hotspot of genetic diversity. Location: South Mediterranean Sea and Zembra National Park. Methods: We combined new data from 12 microsatellites in 13 populations located in the Centre and in the Western Periphery of the distribution range with a published dataset including 16 populations from the Western and Eastern Peripheries. We analysed the relationship among parameters of genetic diversity (He, Ar(g)) and structure (population-specific FST) and two measures of geographic peripherality. We compared two estimators of pairwise genetic structure (GST, DEST) across the distribution range. The evolutionary and demographic history of the populations following the Last Glacial Maximum was reconstructed using approximate Bayesian computations and maximum-likelihood analyses. We inferred the contemporary connectivity among populations from Zembra National Park and with the neighbouring area of Cap Bon. Results: We demonstrate a decrease in genetic diversity and an increase in genetic differentiation from the Centre to the Eastern and Western Peripheries of the distribution range. Populations from Zembra show the highest genetic diversity reported in the species. We identified a spillover effect towards Cap Bon. Main conclusions: The patterns of genetic diversity and þÿdifferentiation are most likely explained by the postglacial range expansion hypothesis rather than the þÿ central peripheral hypothesis. Enforcement of conservatio

Amygdala where art thou?

The commentary of Morriss et al. on our recent meta-analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) fear/threat extinction studies in humans (Fullana et al., 2018) raises some important issues for future research in the field. In essence, they argue that the lack of consistent evidence for amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) involvement in these studies, as summarized by meta-analysis, might be partly due to the fact that very few of these studies have provided appropriate analyses of time-varying neural responses, which Morriss et al. contend should be the gold standard

Gestió de la documentació dels projectes final d’estudis (carrera, màsters i graus) a través d’ATENEA

Projecte presentat al 3r Premi a la Qualitat de la Gestió Universitària, convocat pel Consell Social de la UP