INFLUENCIA DE LA SABINA (JUNIPERUS THURIFERA) SOBRE EL ESTRATO HERBÁCEO EN FUNCIÓD E LA ORIENTACIÓN

The effect of Juniperus thurifera on its nearest herbaceous layer has been studied. Samplings have been canied out from the bottom of ten trees taken at random, with 25 cm side squares in the four principal directions. Data have been compared by affinity and principal components factorial analisys. u and y diversity have been determinated too. Homogeneity is higher in the specific composition close to the tree with few dominant species adapted to the special conditions created by trees. Mainly, these species are Bromus erectus, and Brachypodium pinnatum subsp. rupestre. As distance to the tree increases, this effect decreases and diversity rises up. This increase is generaly progresive since the firts samplings. Northerm results show the importance of tree shadow effect on the herbaceous layer.Se estudia el efecto de la sabina (Juniperus thurifera) sobre el estrato herbáceo más próximo a ella. Para ello se realizan inventarios con una unidad de muestreo cuadrada de 25 cm de lado, según transecciones en los cuatro rumbos principales a partir de la base de 10 árboles, elegidos aleatoriamente. Los datos así obtenidos se comparan mediante un análisis de afinidad y un análisis factorial en componentes principales. También se determina la diversidad u y y. Se observa una mayor homogeneidad en la composición específica de la vegetación más cercana al árbol, con pocas especies muy adaptadas a las especiales condiciones creada,por él y por tanto dominantes. Entre ellas destacan Bromus erectus y Brachypodium pinnatum subsp. rupestre. Al aumentar la distancia al árbol disminuye el efecto de dominancia, incrementándose la diversidad. Este aumento se manifiesta generalmente de modo progresivo desde los primeros inventarios. La particular importancia del efecto de sombra, dentro del conjunto de complejos factores mediante los cuales el árbol influye sobre el estrato herbáceo, se pone de manifiesto por una mayor y más clara influencia en dirección norte

The effect of human factors (cutting, burning and uprooting) on experimental heatland plots

Regeneration response after prescribed burning, cutting and uprooting in experimental heatland plots dominated by Erica autralis subsp. aragonensis, was studied. The highest percentage cover of annual species was observed two years after the treatment. From that moment the therophytes tended to decrease and were replaced by perennial species natural to the community. The temporal heterogeneity calculated shows the greatest changes in the initial stages. Regeneration was by an autosuccession process, slower in the case of the uprooted plots due to the greatest impact.[fr] On étudie la réponse de la régénération après brûlage, coupe et l'arrachage dans les parcelles expérimentales de bruyère avec dominance de E. australis subsp. aragonensis. On observe un plus grand pourcentage de couverture d'espèces annuelles après deux ans de traitements. À partir de ce moment, les therophytes diminuent, et sont remplacées par des espèces pérennes, propres de la communauté. Grâce au calcul de l'hétérogénéité temporelle, on met en évidence les changements les plus importants lors des les premières étapes. La régénération se produit par un processus d'autosuccession, avec une récupération plus lente, car l'arrachage a été très drastique. [es] Se estudia la respuesta de regeneración tras quema, corta y arranque en parcelas experimentales de brezal, con dominio de E. australis subsp. aragonensis (L). Se observa el mayor porcentaje de cobertura de especies anuales a los dos años de los tratamientos. A partir de ese momento, las terófitas tienden a disminuir, siendo sustituidas por especies perennes, propias de la comunidad. Mediante el cálculo de la heterogeneidad temporal se ponen de manifiesto los mayores cambios en las etapas iniciales. La regeneración se produce por un proceso de autosucesión, siendo el arranque más drástico por tanto muestra de una recuperación más lenta

Influencia del calor y del aclarado sobre la germinación de Cistus laurifolius y Cistus ladanifer

The aim of this study is to determine if the increase of the temperature of the soil while a wildfire improves the germination of Cistus laurifolius and Cistus ladanifer. Laboratory experiments were carried out by heating the seeds to different temperatures and at different periods of time. On the other hand, the regeneration of both species in the field was studied in experimental plots that were subjected to prescribed burning, as well as to cutting of the aerial biomass. Cistus ladanifer regrows better than Cistus laurifolius. The answer, in terms of seedling number, is also better in the burnt plots than in the cut. The height in each case follows different patterns. The field results agree with those of the laboratory.[es] El objetivo de este estudio es determinar si el aumento de temperatura que se produce en el suelo durante los incendios favorece la germinación de las semillas de Cistus laurliolius y Cistus ladanifer. Se realizan ensayos de germinación en el laboratorio, calentando las semillas a diferentes temperaturas durante distintos tiempos. Paralelamente, se estudia la regeneración de ambas especies en condiciones de campo, en parcelas experimentales sometidas a quema controlada y corta de la biomasa aérea. Cistus ladanifer se regenera mejor que Cistus laurifolius, en términos de número de plántulas, y mejor en las parcelas quemadas que en las cortadas. La altura en cada caso sigue patrones diferentes. Los resultados de campo concuerdan con los de laboratorio. [fr] L'objectif de cette étude consiste à déterminer l'augmentation de la température dans le sol pendant les incendies favorise la germination des semences de Cistus laurifolius et Cistus ladanifer. On a réalisé des essais de germination au laboratoire, en faisant chauffer les semences à plusieurs températures pendant des temps différents. En même temps on a étudié la régénération de ces deux espèces sur le terrain, dans des parcelles expérimentales soumises à un brûlage contrôlé et court de la biomasse aérienne. Cistus ladanifer se régénère mieux que Cistus laurifolius, en ce qui concerne le nombre de plantules, et mieux dans les parcelles brûlées que dans celles coupées. La hauteur a suivi des modèles différents. Les résultats de terrain concordent avec ceux obtenus au laboratoire

Active compounds and distinctive sensory features provided by American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) extract in a new functional milk beverage

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) has recognized neurocognitive effects, and a ginsenoside-rich extract of the root of the plant has been shown to improve cognitive functions in young adults. This study aimed at assessing the chemical and sensory profiles of a UHT-treated, low-lactose functional milk containing American ginseng. Individual ginsenosides in the milk were analyzed by HPLC. Descriptive sensory analysis was performed by a trained panel to quantitatively document sensory changes resulting from the addition of ginseng and the UHT process on flavored and unflavored milks. Consumer acceptance of the product was also investigated. Total ginsenoside content in the UHT-treated milk enriched with the ginseng extract after UHT process treatment was 7.52. mg/100. g of milk, corresponding to a recovery of 67.6% compared with the content in the unprocessed extract. The intake of 150 to 300. mL of this ginseng-enriched milk provides the amount of total ginsenosides (11.5 to 23. mg) necessary to improve cognitive function after its consumption. Both the presence of ginsenosides and their thermal treatment affected some sensory properties of the milk, most notably an increase in bitterness and metallic taste, the appearance of a brownish color, and a decrease in milky flavor. Levels of brown color, bitterness, and metallic taste were highest in the industrially processed ginseng-enriched milk. The bitterness attributable to ginseng extract was reduced by addition of vanilla flavor and sucralose. A consumer exploratory study revealed that a niche of consumers exists who are willing to consume this type of product.The financial support of the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain (Madrid, Spain) for the project SENIFOOD (CENIT Programme) and for the contract with A. Tárrega (Juan de la Cierva Programme) is acknowledged. We gratefully acknowledge Juan Duato Aguilar, from Naturex Spain S.L. (Quart de Poblet, Spain), for his valuable technical support

Transhumant Sheep grazing enhances ecosystem multifunctionality in productive mountain grasslands: a case study in the Cantabrian Mountains

.Understanding the effects of traditional livestock grazing abandonment on the ability of mountain grasslands to sustain multiple ecosystem functions (ecosystem multifunctionality; EMF) is crucial for implementing policies that promote grasslands conservation and the delivery of multiple ecosystem services. In this study, we evaluated the effect of short- and long-term transhumant sheep abandonment on EMF through a grazing exclusion experiment in a grassland of the Cantabrian Mountains range (NW Spain), where transhumant sheep flocks graze in summer. We considered four key ecosystem functions, derived from vegetation and soil functional indicators measured in the field: (A) biodiversity function, evaluated from total plant species evenness, diversity and richness indicators; (B) forage production function, evaluated from cover and richness of perennial and annual herbaceous species indicators; (C) carbon sequestration function, evaluated from woody species cover and soil organic carbon indicators; and (D) soil fertility function, evaluated from NH4C-N, NO3-N, P and K content in the soil. The EMF index was calculated by integrating the four standardized ecosystem functions through an averaging approach. Based on linear mixed modeling we found that grazing exclusion induced significant shifts in the considered individual ecosystem functions and also on EMF. Long-term livestock exclusion significantly hindered biodiversity and forage production functions, but enhanced the carbon sequestration function. Conversely, the soil fertility function was negatively affected by both short- and long-term grazing exclusion. Altogether, grazing exclusion significantly decreased overall EMF, especially in long-term livestock exclusion areas, while the decline in EMF in short-term exclusions with respect to grazed areas was marginally significant. The results of this study support the sustainability of traditional transhumance livestock grazing for promoting the conservation of grasslands and their ecosystem function in mountain regions.S

Physicochemical and sensorial properties of grapefruit jams as affected by processing

Jam is an effective and tasty way of preserving fruit. Jam processing procedures as well as storage conditions and duration are important factors for jam quality. Traditional jam processing involves the application of severe thermal treatments that imply undesirable changes in the product quality characteristics such as colour, texture, flavour and nutritional and functional value. In this work, osmotic dehydration (OD) and/or microwave energy (MW) was proven as adequate to obtain jam with the typical characteristics of water content, degree Brix, pH and water activity of jam obtained by conventional thermal heating. The sensory evaluation carried out to compare the product showed that samples submitted to more intense heating treatments (conventional or MW) had significantly higher scores in colour saturation, brightness, grapefruit taste and extensibility than OD or OD+MW ones. As deduced from the obtained results, OD treatment prevents grapefruit colour changes, and mild MW heating contributes to increase the consistency and decrease the extensibility of the obtained jam. In this way, OD+MW jam was preferred by assessors mainly due to its higher consistency. The sample obtained by this procedure was stable during storage.The authors would like to thank the Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia for the financial support given throughout the Project AGL 2005-05994. The language revision of this paper was funded by the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Spain.Igual Ramo, M.; García Martínez, EM.; Camacho Vidal, MM.; Martínez Navarrete, N. (2013). Physicochemical and sensorial properties of grapefruit jams as affected by processing. Food and Bioprocess Technology. 6(1):177-185. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11947-011-0696-2S17718561AENOR (2009). Sensory analysis. Methodology. Paired comparison test. UNE-EN-ISO 5495.AOAC. (2000). 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Modulation of the endocannabinoids N-Arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) on Executive Functions in Humans

Animal studies point to an implication of the endocannabinoid system on executive functions. In humans, several studies have suggested an association between acute or chronic use of exogenous cannabinoids (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and executive impairments. However, to date, no published reports establish the relationship between endocannabinoids, as biomarkers of the cannabinoid neurotransmission system, and executive functioning in humans. The aim of the present study was to explore the association between circulating levels of plasma endocannabinoids N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and executive functions (decision making, response inhibition and cognitive flexibility) in healthy subjects. One hundred and fifty seven subjects were included and assessed with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test; Stroop Color and Word Test; and Iowa Gambling Task. All participants were female, aged between 18 and 60 years and spoke Spanish as their first language. Results showed a negative correlation between 2-AG and cognitive flexibility performance (r = −.37; p<.05). A positive correlation was found between AEA concentrations and both cognitive flexibility (r = .59; p<.05) and decision making performance (r = .23; P<.05). There was no significant correlation between either 2-AG (r = −.17) or AEA (r = −.08) concentrations and inhibition response. These results show, in humans, a relevant modulation of the endocannabinoid system on prefrontal-dependent cognitive functioning. The present study might have significant implications for the underlying executive alterations described in some psychiatric disorders currently associated with endocannabinoids deregulation (namely drug abuse/dependence, depression, obesity and eating disorders). Understanding the neurobiology of their dysexecutive profile might certainly contribute to the development of new treatments and pharmacological approaches

Early phase of plasticity-related gene regulation and SRF dependent transcription in the hippocampus

Hippocampal organotypic cultures are a highly reliable in vitro model for studying neuroplasticity: in this paper, we analyze the early phase of the transcriptional response induced by a 20 \ub5M gabazine treatment (GabT), a GABA-Ar antagonist, by using Affymetrix oligonucleotide microarray, RT-PCR based time-course and chromatin-immuno-precipitation. The transcriptome profiling revealed that the pool of genes up-regulated by GabT, besides being strongly related to the regulation of growth and synaptic transmission, is also endowed with neuro-protective and pro-survival properties. By using RT-PCR, we quantified a time-course of the transient expression for 33 of the highest up-regulated genes, with an average sampling rate of 10 minutes and covering the time interval [10 3690] minutes. The cluster analysis of the time-course disclosed the existence of three different dynamical patterns, one of which proved, in a statistical analysis based on results from previous works, to be significantly related with SRF-dependent regulation (p-value<0.05). The chromatin immunoprecipitation (chip) assay confirmed the rich presence of working CArG boxes in the genes belonging to the latter dynamical pattern and therefore validated the statistical analysis. Furthermore, an in silico analysis of the promoters revealed the presence of additional conserved CArG boxes upstream of the genes Nr4a1 and Rgs2. The chip assay confirmed a significant SRF signal in the Nr4a1 CArG box but not in the Rgs2 CArG box