Role of Integrated Approaches in Water Resources Management: Antofagasta Region, Chile

: Water is essential for the survival of all living beings and plays a significant role in the growth of any country′s economy. At present, water depletion and pollution are a serious challenge due to anthropogenic, geogenic and climate change activities worldwide, including in Chile. The Antofagasta region is located in northern Chile and is the heart of its mining industry, playing a significant role in the country′s economy. The Antofagasta region′s main challenge is water shortage and contamination. Due to it, the region′s local population is facing major difficulties in obtaining the necessary water for domestic, industrial, irrigation, and other uses. Therefore, a water resources management plan is essential for the region to maintain a sustainable environment. Considering the above points, significant parameters, such as slope, aspect, elevation, hillshade, drainage, drainage density and river basin—maps of the Antofagasta region prepared using the digital elevation model (DEM) data in geographic information system (GIS) environment. Besides, a pollution risk level assessment of the study area′s cities/villages done using GIS application. The important created maps and the identification of pollution risk of cities/villages of the present study could provide significant information to policymakers and help them make a suitable water management plan for the are

Epidemic of tuberculosis in a high school in Northern Sardinia

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission among high school student and teacher populations in a high school in Northern Sardinia. Tuberculin skin-test screening, chest-X-rays, QuantiFERON-TB Gold, microbiological examination, spoligotyping and variable numbers of tandem repeats (VNTR) analysis of M. tuberculosis isolates were performed. This study indicates the effectiveness of the epidemiological investigation

Tuberculosis in Sardinia: An investigation into the relationship between natives and immigrants

AbstractObjective/background: Tuberculosis (TB) has had a recrudescence in the last few decades in Italy as a result of many factors, among which migration from countries where TB is endemic is one of them. In Sardinia, a major island of Italy, there was no knowledge of the mechanisms of transmission of TB in the immigrant subpopulation and the impact it may have on the native subpopulation and on the community as a whole. Therefore, a molecular epidemiological study was carried out to get a clearer picture of the number and genetic features of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated from immigrants and from natives in Sardinia. Methods: Two groups of clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis, one collected from immigrants and the other one from Sardinians, were analyzed in this study. The genotyping was executed through the variable number tandem repeat-mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units technique and a first-line antimycobacterial drug-susceptibility test was also carried out. Results: Thirty-six clinical isolates from immigrants and 25 from Sardinians were analyzed. Variable number tandem repeat-mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units technique showed that all of them belonged to different strains and there was a quite high allelic diversity among them. Moreover, data collected allowed the finding of, with a good approximation, the phylogenetic relations among the strains isolated and the best-known phylogenetic groups. Conclusion: The study pointed out that since every strain is different, there was no TB transmission in any of the subpopulations and between immigrants and natives. This showed that the presence of immigrants was not a risk factor for contracting TB in the community

p53-sensitive epileptic behavior and inflammation in Ft1 hypomorphic mice

Epilepsy is a complex clinical condition characterized by repeated spontaneous seizures. Seizures have been linked to multiple drivers including DNA damage accumulation. Investigation of epilepsy physiopathology in humans imposes ethical and practical limitations, for this reason model systems are mostly preferred. Among animal models, mouse mutants are particularly valuable since they allow conjoint behavioral, organismal, and genetic analyses. Along with this, since aging has been associated with higher frequency of seizures, prematurely aging mice, simulating human progeroid diseases, offer a further useful modeling element as they recapitulate aging over a short time-window. Here we report on a mouse mutant with progeroid traits that displays repeated spontaneous seizures. Mutant mice were produced by reducing the expression of the gene Ft1 (AKTIP in humans). In vitro, AKTIP/Ft1 depletion causes telomere aberrations, DNA damage, and cell senescence. AKTIP/Ft1 interacts with lamins, which control nuclear architecture and DNA function. Premature aging defects of Ft1 mutant mice include skeletal alterations and lipodystrophy. The epileptic behavior of Ft1 mutant animals was age and sex linked. Seizures were observed in 18 mutant mice (23.6% of aged ≥ 21 weeks), at an average frequency of 2.33 events/mouse. Time distribution of seizures indicated non-random enrichment of seizures over the follow-up period, with 75% of seizures happening in consecutive weeks. The analysis of epileptic brains did not reveal overt brain morphological alterations or severe neurodegeneration, however, Ft1 reduction induced expression of the inflammatory markers IL-6 and TGF-β. Importantly, Ft1 mutant mice with concomitant genetic reduction of the guardian of the genome, p53, showed no seizures or inflammatory marker activation, implicating the DNA damage response into these phenotypes. This work adds insights into the connection among DNA damage, brain function, and aging. In addition, it further underscores the importance of model organisms for studying specific phenotypes, along with permitting the analysis of genetic interactions at the organismal level

A C subunit of the plant nuclear factor NF-Y required for rhizobial infection and nodule development affects partner selection in the common bean-Rhizobium etli Symbiosis

Legume plants are able to interact symbiotically with soil bacteria to form nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Although specific recognition between rhizobia and legume species has been extensively characterized, plant molecular determinants that govern the preferential colonization by different strains within a single rhizobium species have received little attention. We found that the C subunit of the heterotrimeric nuclear factor NF-Y from common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) NF-YC1 plays a key role in the improved nodulation seen by more efficient strains of rhizobia. Reduction of NF-YC1 transcript levels by RNA interference (RNAi) in Agrobacterium rhizogenes-induced hairy roots leads to the arrest of nodule development and defects in the infection process with either high or low efficiency strains. Induction of three G2/M transition cell cycle genes in response to rhizobia was impaired or attenuated in NF-YC1 RNAi roots, suggesting that this transcription factor might promote nodule development by activating cortical cell divisions. Furthermore, overexpression of this gene has a positive impact on nodulation efficiency and selection of Rhizobium etli strains that are naturally less efficient and bad competitors. Our findings suggest that this transcription factor might be part of a mechanism that links nodule organogenesis with an early molecular dialogue that selectively discriminates between high- and low-quality symbiotic partners, which holds important implications for optimizing legume performance.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of the leaves of Plantago australis L. (Plantaginaceae)

The present study was designed to explore the total phenols and flavonoids content in leaf fractions of Plantago australis L., and their radical scavenging activity by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The free radical scavenging abilities of fractions were determined as: ethyl acetate fraction > crude extract > butanolic fraction > chloroformic fraction. Besides having the highest radical scavenging activity, the ethyl acetate fraction also obtained the highest total phenols and flavonoids contents. Chemical profile of this fraction was obtained by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with photodiode array detector. The comparison with the literature for the ultraviolet espectra for the chromatographic peaks allowed finding compounds similar to neolignins, cinnamic acids derivates, flavonoid (luteolin 7-glycoside) and anthocyanic pigments.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of the leaves of Plantago australis L. (Plantaginaceae)

The present study was designed to explore the total phenols and flavonoids content in leaf fractions of Plantago australis L., and their radical scavenging activity by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The free radical scavenging abilities of fractions were determined as: ethyl acetate fraction > crude extract > butanolic fraction > chloroformic fraction. Besides having the highest radical scavenging activity, the ethyl acetate fraction also obtained the highest total phenols and flavonoids contents. Chemical profile of this fraction was obtained by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with photodiode array detector. The comparison with the literature for the ultraviolet espectra for the chromatographic peaks allowed finding compounds similar to neolignins, cinnamic acids derivates, flavonoid (luteolin 7-glycoside) and anthocyanic pigments.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Transcriptional regulators of legume-rhizobia symbiosis: Nuclear Factors Ys and GRAS are two for tango

Transcription factors are DNA binding proteins that regulate gene expression. The nitrogen fixing symbiosis established between legume plants and soil bacteria is a complex interaction, in which plants need to integrate signals derived from the symbiont and the surrounding environment to initiate the developmental program of nodule organogenesis and the infection process. Several transcription factors that play critical roles in these processes have been reported in the past decade, including proteins of the GRAS and NF-Y families. Recently, we reported the characterization of a new GRAS domain containing-protein that interacts with a member of the C subunit of the NF-Y family, which plays an important role in nodule development and the progression of bacterial infection during the symbiotic interaction. The connection between transcription factors of these families highlights the significance of multimeric complexes in the fabulous capacity of plants to integrate and respond to multiple environmental stimuli.Instituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia Molecula

NIPK, a protein pseudokinase that interacts with the C subunit of the transcription factor NF-Y, is involved in rhizobial infection and nodule organogenesis

Heterotrimeric Nuclear Factor Y (NF-Y) transcription factors are key regulators of the symbiotic program that controls rhizobial infection and nodule organogenesis. Using a yeast two-hybrid screening, we identified a putative protein kinase of Phaseolus vulgaris that interacts with the C subunit of the NF-Y complex. Physical interaction between NF-YC1 Interacting Protein Kinase (NIPK) and NF-YC1 occurs in the cytoplasm and the plasma membrane. Only one of the three canonical amino acids predicted to be required for catalytic activity is conserved in NIPK and its putative homologs from lycophytes to angiosperms, indicating that NIPK is an evolutionary conserved pseudokinase. Post-transcriptional silencing on NIPK affected infection and nodule organogenesis, suggesting NIPK is a positive regulator of the NF-Y transcriptional complex. In addition, NIPK is required for activation of cell cycle genes and early symbiotic genes in response to rhizobia, including NF-YA1 and NF-YC1. However, strain preference in co-inoculation experiments was not affected by NIPK silencing, suggesting that some functions of the NF-Y complex are independent of NIPK. Our work adds a new component associated with the NF-Y transcriptional regulators in the context of nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.Fil: Clua, Joaquin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Rípodas, Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Roda, Carla Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Battaglia, Marina Esther. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Zanetti, María Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Blanco, Flavio Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentin

Environmental stratification by analysis of genotype x environment interaction in maize

O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar a estratificação de ambientes de cultivo de milho nos Estados do Paraná, Minas Gerais  e Bahia, por diferentes métodos, bem  como determinar o grau de  associação  e divergência entre os métodos de estratificação. Foram avaliados quatro métodos: o tradicional de Lin; o de dissimilaridade ambiental; o de decomposição da interação genótipo x ambiente (GxA) em partes simples e complexa; e o de análise de fatores. Esses métodos foram aplicados a 48 híbridos experimentais de milho, avaliados em 11 ambientes de cultivo nos três Estados, divididos em dois conjuntos de experimentos. Além dos híbridos, foram avaliadas seis cultivares comerciais, utilizadas como testemunhas, comuns aos dois conjuntos. Verificou-se a predominância de interação GxA do tipo complexa. A decomposição da interação GxA em partes simples e complexa e a análise de fatores são métodos fortemente associados entre si, mas moderadamente associados aos demais. Além disso, esses métodos são mais rigorosos no processo de estratificação ambiental e ponderam de maneira mais eficiente a magnitude da interação GxA.The objective of this work was to perform the stratification of maize cropping environments in Paraná, Minas Gerais, and Bahia States, Brazil, using different methods, and to determine association and divergence levels between the stratification methods. Four methods were evaluated: the Lin’s traditional one; the one of environmental dissimilarity; the genotype x environment (GxE) interaction decomposition in simple and complex parts; and the factor analysis. These methods were applied to 48 maize experimental hybrids, evaluated in 11 cropping environments in the three Brazilian states, divided into two sets of experiments. Besides the hybrids, six commercial cultivars, common to both sets, were used as controls. Genotype x environment interaction was predominantly complex. The decomposition of GxE interaction in simple and complex parts and the stratification by factor analysis were strongly associated to each other, and moderately associated to the other methods. Furthermore, these methods are more rigorous in the stratification process, weighting more efficiently the magnitude of the GxE interaction