Effect of grape maturity on the carbohydrate composition of red sparkling wines

Póster presentado en el 10th International Symposium of Enology (OENO 2015), celebrado en Burdeos del 19 de junio al 1 de julio de 2015.The authors thank the INIA for financing this study through the projects RTA2012-00092-C02-01 (with FEDER funds). Leticia Martínez thanks the Consejería de Educación del Gobierno de La Rioja for the FPI-CAR grant.Peer Reviewe

Mouse models of primary aldosteronism: from physiology to pathophysiology

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a common form of endocrine hypertension that is characterized by the excessive production of aldosterone relative to suppressed plasma renin levels. PA is usually caused by either a unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma or bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. Somatic mutations have been identified in several genes that encode ion pumps and channels that may explain the aldosterone excess in over half of aldosterone-producing adenomas, whereas the pathophysiology of bilateral adrenal hyperplasia is largely unknown. A number of mouse models of hyperaldosteronism have been described that recreate some features of the human disorder although none replicate the genetic basis of human PA. Animal models that reproduce the genotype-phenotype associations of human PA are required to establish the functional mechanisms that underlie the endocrine autonomy and deregulated cell growth of the affected adrenal and for preclinical studies of novel therapeutics. Herein, we discuss the differences in adrenal physiology across species and describe the genetically-modified mouse models of PA that have been developed to date

The Trypanosoma cruzi nucleic acid binding protein Tc38 presents changes in the intramitochondrial distribution during the cell cycle

Background: Tc38 of Trypanosoma cruzi has been isolated as a single stranded DNA binding protein with high specificity for the poly [dT-dG] sequence. It is present only in Kinetoplastidae protozoa and its sequence lacks homology to known functional domains. Tc38 orthologues present in Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania were proposed to participate in quite different cellular processes. To further understand the function of this protein in Trypanosoma cruzi, we examined its in vitro binding to biologically relevant [dT-dG] enriched sequences, its expression and subcellular localization during the cell cycle and through the parasite life stages.Results: By using specific antibodies, we found that Tc38 protein from epimastigote extracts participates in complexes with the poly [dT-dG] probe as well as with the universal minicircle sequence (UMS), a related repeated sequence found in maxicircle DNA, and the telomeric repeat. However, we found that Tc38 predominantly localizes into the mitochondrion. Though Tc38 is constitutively expressed through non-replicating and replicating life stages of T. cruzi, its subcellular localization in the unique parasite mitochondrion changes according to the cell cycle stage. in epimastigotes, Tc38 is found only in association with kDNA in G1 phase. From the S to G2 phase the protein localizes in two defined and connected spots flanking the kDNA. These spots disappear in late G2 turning into a diffuse dotted signal which extends beyond the kinetoplast. This later pattern is more evident in mitosis and cytokinesis. Finally, late in cytokinesis Tc38 reacquires its association with the kinetoplast. in non-replicating parasite stages such as trypomastigotes, the protein is found only surrounding the entire kinetoplast structure.Conclusions: the dynamics of Tc38 subcellular localization observed during the cell cycle and life stages support a major role for Tc38 related to kDNA replication and maintenance.FIRCAFondo Clemente Estable (DICyT)FAPESConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)PROSULPEDECIBAAMSUD-PasteurFac Ciencias, Lab Interacc Mol, Montevideo, UruguayFac Med, Dept Genet, Montevideo, UruguayFac Ciencias, Dept Biol Celular & Mol, Montevideo, UruguayInst Invest Biol Clemente Estable Montevideo Urug, Dept Neurobiol Celular & Mol, Montevideo, UruguayUniv Nacl Gen San Martin, CONICET, INTECH, Inst Invest Biotecnol, Buenos Aires, DF, ArgentinaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, São Paulo, BrazilSUNY Buffalo, Dept Microbiol & Immunol, Buffalo, NY 14260 USAInst Biol Mol Parana, Curitiba, Parana, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, São Paulo, BrazilFIRCA: R03 TW05665-01Fondo Clemente Estable (DICyT): 7109Web of Scienc

A β-mannanase with a lysozyme-like fold and a novel molecular catalytic mechanism

The enzymatic cleavage of β-1,4-mannans is achieved by endo-β-1,4-mannanases, enzymes involved in germination of seeds and microbial hemicellulose degradation, and which have increasing industrial and consumer product applications. β- Mannanases occur in a range of families of the CAZy sequence-based glycoside hydrolase (GH) classification scheme including families 5, 26, and 113. In this work we reveal that β- mannanases of the newly described GH family 134 differ from other mannanase families in both their mechanism and tertiary structure. A representative GH family 134 endo-β-1,4-mannanase from a Streptomyces sp. displays a fold closely related to that of hen egg white lysozyme but acts with inversion of stereochemistry. A Michaelis complex with mannopentaose, and a product complex with mannotriose, reveal ligands with pyranose rings distorted in an unusual inverted chair conformation. Ab initio quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics metadynamics quantified the energetically accessible ring conformations and provided evidence in support of a 1C4 → 3H4 ‡ → 3S1 conformational itinerary along the reaction coordinate. This work, in concert with that on GH family 124 cellulases, reveals how the lysozyme fold can be co-opted to catalyze the hydrolysis of different polysaccharides in a mechanistically distinct manner

Inquiry-based Science Education. A systematic review of Spanish production

Ante la creciente relevancia otorgada a la enseñanza basada en indagación tanto en el ámbito internacional como nacional, este artículo pretende aunar aquellos trabajos referentes a esta línea de investigación publicados entre 2007-2017 en las revistas españolas del área de Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales. Se han revisado 1941 artículos, incluyéndose 55 de ellos tras la aplicación de los criterios de selección establecidos, todo ello según las directrices de la Declaración PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). Los resultados muestran cuáles son los autores más prolíficos, la evolución de la producción científica, las etapas educativas consideradas, los tipos de estudios, sus diseños y las implicaciones educativas de su aplicación en las aulas. A la luz de estos, podemos concluir que no abundan autores o autoras con una excelsa producción referente a esta temática, pues esta línea de investigación es aún incipiente en España.Además, la atención dedicada a las distintas etapas educativas por la investigación en Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales no es equitativa, siendo las grandes perjudicadas las etapas de Educación Infantil y Primaria. Existen más artículos de naturaleza teórica que empírica, dado que queda patente la falta de estudios experimentales que testen este enfoque de enseñanza. No obstante, las implicaciones educativas derivadas de las publicaciones españolas son similares a las internacionales. Finalmente, hemos de abogar por un incremento de los estudios dirigidos a evaluar los beneficios de la enseñanza basada en indagación en las diferentes etapas educativas, incidiendo en las etapas de Educación Infantil y Primaria.Due to the growing importance given to teaching based on inquiry both at the international and national level, this article aims to further work related to this line of research published between 2007 and 2017 in the Spanish area of Didactic of Experimental Sciences. We reviewed 1941 articles, including 55 criteria for the selection, all according to the guidelines of the PRISMA statement (Elements of preferred reports for systematic reviews and meta-analyzes). The results show the most prolific authors, the evolution of scientific production, the educational stages considered, the types of studies, the designs and the educational implications of their application in the classrooms. In light of these, we can conclude that there are not many authors with an excellent production regarding this subject, because this research’s line is still incipient in Spain. The attention devoted to the different educational stages by research in Didactic of Experimental Sciences is not equitable, being the big ones harmed the stages of Infantile and Primary Education. There are more articles of a theoretical nature than empirical ones, given the lack of experimental studies that prove this teaching approach is patent. However, the educational implications derived from Spanish publications are similar to international ones. Finally, we have support the increasing of the studies aimed at evaluating the benefits of teaching based on inquiry in the different educational stages, focusing on the stages of Pre-school Education and Primary Education

Skunk River Review 2012, vol 24

https://openspace.dmacc.edu/skunkriver/1015/thumbnail.jp

¿Es posible la felicidad en estudiantes universitarios?: un estudio no paramétrico

The question, Is happiness possible in university students? guides the present quantitative research aimed at 237 students (men and women) of the University of the Autonomous Regions of the Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast. This Research is based on a descriptive design, applying the Alarcon’s scale of happiness (2006) taking into account the variables of gender, age, ethnicity and years of study. For this, different types of analysis were performed, among them: internal consistency of the questionnaire, the analysis of main components, and a study of correlations between the categories applying the Kolmogorov normality tests, the Mann-Whitney U test, test from Wilcoxon, Kruskal Wallis, and the Friedman test, using the SPSS statistical package. The results show that happiness in university students is possible taking into account that it is merely subjective in people and, around it, different elements are included that make it possible. In this sense, it is concluded that the variables ethnicity, age, gender and years of study do not have a direct relationship with the state of happiness of the students, since they are not determinants to define this state in the human being.La pregunta ¿es posible la felicidad en estudiantes universitarios? guía la presente investigación cuantitativa dirigida a 237 estudiantes (hombres y mujeres) de la Universidad de las Regiones Autónomas de la Costa Caribe Nicaragüense. Investigación que está sustentada en un diseño descriptivo, aplicando la escala de felicidad de Alarcón (2006) tomando en consideración las variables de género, edad, etnia y años de estudio. Para ello, se realizó diferentes tipos de análisis, entre estos: de consistencia interna del cuestionario, el análisis de componentes principales, y un estudio de correlaciones entre las categorías aplicando las pruebas de normalidad de Kolmogorov, la prueba U de Mann-Whitney, prueba de Wilcoxon, Kruskal Wallis, y la prueba de Friedman, utilizando el paquete estadístico de SPSS. Los resultados demuestran que la felicidad en estudiantes universitarios sí es posible tomando en cuenta que la misma es meramente subjetiva en las personas y, a su alrededor se engloban diferentes elementos que la hacen posible. En este sentido, se concluye que las variables etnia, edad, género y años de estudio no tienen una relación directa con el estado de felicidad de los estudiantes, pues no son determinantes para definir este estado en el ser humano

Central blood pressure and pulse wave velocity: relationship to target organ damage and cardiovascular morbidity-mortality in diabetic patients or metabolic syndrome. An observational prospective study. LOD-DIABETES study protocol

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diabetic patients show an increased prevalence of non-dipping arterial pressure pattern, target organ damage and elevated arterial stiffness. These alterations are associated with increased cardiovascular risk.</p> <p>The objectives of this study are the following: to evaluate the prognostic value of central arterial pressure and pulse wave velocity in relation to the incidence and outcome of target organ damage and the appearance of cardiovascular episodes (cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, chest pain and stroke) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p><b>Design</b>: This is an observational prospective study with 5 years duration, of which the first year corresponds to patient inclusion and initial evaluation, and the remaining four years to follow-up.</p> <p><b>Setting</b>: The study will be carried out in the urban primary care setting.</p> <p><b>Study population</b>: Consecutive sampling will be used to include patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes between 20-80 years of age. A total of 110 patients meeting all the inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria will be included.</p> <p><b>Measurements</b>: Patient age and sex, family and personal history of cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular risk factors. Height, weight, heart rate and abdominal circumference. Laboratory tests: hemoglobin, lipid profile, creatinine, microalbuminuria, glomerular filtration rate, blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, blood insulin, fibrinogen and high sensitivity C-reactive protein. Clinical and 24-hour ambulatory (home) blood pressure monitoring and self-measured blood pressure. Common carotid artery ultrasound for the determination of mean carotid intima-media thickness. Electrocardiogram for assessing left ventricular hypertrophy. Ankle-brachial index. Retinal vascular study based on funduscopy with non-mydriatic retinography and evaluation of pulse wave morphology and pulse wave velocity using the SphygmoCor system. The medication used for diabetes, arterial hypertension and hyperlipidemia will be registered, together with antiplatelet drugs.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The results of this study will help to know and quantify the prognostic value of central arterial pressure and pulse wave velocity in relation to the evolution of the subclinical target organ damage markers and the possible incidence of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01065155</p