First use of a compound-specific stable isotope (CSSI) technique to trace sediment transport in upland forest catchments of Chile.

Land degradation is a problem affecting the sustainability of commercial forest plantations. The identification of critical areas prone to erosion can assist this activity to better target soil conservation efforts. Here we present the first use of the carbon-13 signatures of fatty acids (C14 to C24) in soil samples for spatial and temporal tracing of sediment transport in river bodies of upland commercial forest catchments in Chile. This compound-specific stable isotope (CSSI) technique was tested as a fingerprinting approach to determine the degree of soil erosion in pre-harvested forest catchments with surface areas ranging from 12 to 40ha. For soil apportionment a mixing model based on a Bayesian inference framework was used (CSSIAR v.2.0). Approximately four potential sediment sources were used for the calculations of all of the selected catchments. Unpaved forestry roads were shown to be the main source of sediment deposited at the outlet of the catchments (30-75%). Furthermore, sampling along the stream channel demonstrated that sediments were mainly comprised of sediment coming from the unpaved roads in the upper part of the catchments (74-98%). From this it was possible to identify the location and type of primary land use contributing to the sediment delivered at the outlet of the catchments. The derived information will allow management to focus efforts to control or mitigate soil erosion by improving the runoff features of the forest roads. The use of this CSSI technique has a high potential to help forestry managers and decision makers to evaluate and mitigate sources of soil erosion in upland forest catchments. It is important to highlight that this technique can also be a good complement to other soil erosion assessment and geological fingerprinting techniques, especially when attempting to quantify (sediment loads) and differentiate which type of land use most contributes to sediment accumulation

Exploring Relationship between Perception Indicators and Mitigation Behaviors of Soil Erosion in Undergraduate Students in Sonora, Mexico

Soil erosion represents a critical socio-economic and environmental hazard for Mexico and the world. Given that soil erosion is a phenomenon influenced by human activities, it is essential to know the level of cultural perspectives on this matter. An instrument with eight scales was applied to 275 university students from a northwestern Mexican city, which measured the knowledge about soil erosion, self-efficacy in solving the problem, future perspectives, perceived consequences, obstacles to addressing soil erosion, and mitigation intentions and behaviors. To analyze the relationship between the scales and the intentions and behaviors of soil erosion mitigation, a model of structural equations was tested. In summary, the participants know the problem of soil erosion, its impacts, and recognize risks to human and environmental health. They also know their important role within soil conservation; however, they identified significant obstacles to action. This study determined that each indicator has a correlation with soil erosion mitigation intentions except for the obstacles. The indicators that had the greatest positive relationship in mitigation intentions were knowledge, self-efficacy, and the perspective of the future. The implications of these results open the landscape to the creation of efficient strategies to mitigate soil erosion in this region and Mexico.</jats:p

Is diet partly responsible for differences in COVID-19 death rates between and within countries?

Correction: Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Article Number: 44 DOI: 10.1186/s13601-020-00351-w Published: OCT 26 2020Reported COVID-19 deaths in Germany are relatively low as compared to many European countries. Among the several explanations proposed, an early and large testing of the population was put forward. Most current debates on COVID-19 focus on the differences among countries, but little attention has been given to regional differences and diet. The low-death rate European countries (e.g. Austria, Baltic States, Czech Republic, Finland, Norway, Poland, Slovakia) have used different quarantine and/or confinement times and methods and none have performed as many early tests as Germany. Among other factors that may be significant are the dietary habits. It seems that some foods largely used in these countries may reduce angiotensin-converting enzyme activity or are anti-oxidants. Among the many possible areas of research, it might be important to understand diet and angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) levels in populations with different COVID-19 death rates since dietary interventions may be of great benefit.Peer reviewe

Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity

Biofouling of FeNP-coated SWRO membranes with bacteria isolated after pre-treatment in the Sea of Cortez

Commercial seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) membranes were coated with iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) and biofouled with a bacterium strain isolated from the Sea of Cortez, Mexico. This strain was selected and characterized, as it was the only cultivable strain in pretreated seawater. Molecular identification of the strain showed that it belongs to Bacillus halotolerans MCC1. This strain was Gram positive with spore production, and was susceptible to Fe+2 toxicity with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.8 g L−1. Its biofouling potential on both uncoated and FeNP coated reverse osmosis (RO) membranes was measured via biofilm layer thickness, total cell count, optical density and organic matter. The FeNP-coated RO membrane presented a significant reduction in biofilm cake layer thickness (>90%), total cells (>67%), optical density (>42%) and organic matter (>92%) with respect to an uncoated commercial membrane. Thus, Bacillus halotolerans MCC1 shows great potential to biofoul RO membranes as it can pass through ultrafiltration membranes due to its spore producing ability; nonetheless, FeNP-coated membranes represent a potential alternative to mitigate RO membrane biofouling

A modified CTAB and Trizol® protocol for high-quality RNA extraction from whole wheat seedlings, including rhizosphere

The RNA extraction was performed from foliar (F) and whole wheat plants (including rhizosphere) (WP) samples by (1) the standard TRIzol® protocol, and (2) a modifed CTAB and TRIzol® protocol. The modifed CTAB and TRIzol® protocol was able to extract high-quality RNA (205.96±18.7 ng/µL for F, and 231.76±66.8 ng/µL for WP; RIN>8.0), compared to the standard TRIzol® protocol (92.73±24.2 ng/µL for F, and WP completely degraded, RIN<8.0). Real-time RT-PCR assay was carried out for 6-SFT1 (target) and 18S rRNA (housekeeping) genes, which showed a PCR efciency of 111% and 118%, respectively, and a no signifcant relative expression (3773±1383.8 for F and 2847±1037.5 for WP) was observed from RNA extracted by the modifed protocol. The modifed CTAB and TRIzol® protocol was able to produce high-quality RNA (yield, purity, and integrity) from foliar and whole wheat plants (including rhizosphere with recalcitrant properties)

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Selección de cepas productoras de enzimas ligninolíticas nativas del Valle del Yaqui

Abstract Introduction: Lignocellulose consists of three polymers: cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Biopulping is a pretreatment for lignocellulose using fungi as a means for delignifying it previously to pulping, since fungi may content an enzyme complex including lignin peroxidase, laccase, manganese peroxidase. Native fungi may have the ability to delignify lignocellulosic material such as wheat straw, wood and others. Method: This work used ten strains from COLMENA collection at the Microbial Resource Biotechnology Laboratory (Instituto Tecnologico de Sonora). The selection of strains was performed by measuring the halo of enzyme activity of LiP, Lac, Xil during 14 days of incubation and determination of enzymatic index relating the area of enzymatic activity halo against the fungi growth halo, using the software Image J 1.44 for the calculation of the enzymatic potential index. Results: Ten strains were evaluated and the best strain for LiP was TSM35 with potential index of 3.83±0.29, for Lac and Xil the strain was TSO46 with potential index of 20.37±2.70 and 1.38±0.00 respectively. With this study it is possible determine the potential for incorporate native fungi in a pretreatment process for delignification (biopulping). Discussion or Conclusion: From ten strains studied, three strains had ligninolytic activity by excretion lignin peroxidase, lacase and xylanase and they have the potential to be used in pretreatments in a delignification process.Resumen Introducción: Las fibras lignocelulósicas están compuestas por tres polímeros: celulosa, hemicelulosa y lignina. El biopulpeo es un pretratamiento, previo al proceso de pulpeo físico químico, cuyo fin es lograr la deslignificación parcial del complejo lignocelulósico por la acción de hongos, debido a que los hongos tienen un complejo enzimático formado por: ligno peroxidasas (LiP), lacasas (Lac), manganeso peroxidasas (MnP), y xilanasas (Xil). Las cepas nativas tienen la habilidad de deslignificar el material lignocelulósico como paja de trigo o madera, entre otros. Método: Se trabajó con diez cepas de la colección COLMENA del Laboratorio de Biotecnología del Recurso Microbiano del Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora. La selección de cepas se realizó escogiendo las que presentaron mayor índice de potencia (I.P.), obtenido a través de la comparación del halo de actividad enzimática contra el halo de crecimiento de la cepa, a los 14 días de incubación utilizando el software Image J 1.44. Resultados: De las diez cepas evaluadas, la mejor para la producción de LiP fue TSM35 con un I.P. de 3.83±0.29, para Lac y Xil; la cepa TSO46 obtuvo valores de con un I.P. de 20.37±2.70 y 1.38±0.00 respectivamente. Con este estudio se determinó el potencial de incorporar cepas nativas para el pretratamiento de biopulpeo previo a un un proceso de deslignificación físico químico. Discusiones o Conclusiones: Se logró determinar que tres cepas tienen actividad ligninolítica en medio sólido por excreción de LiP, Lac y Xil, por lo que tienen potencial para incorporarlos como pretratamiento en un proceso de deslignificación

Selección de cepas productoras de enzimas ligninolíticas nativas del Valle del Yaqui

Introducc ión: Las fibras lignocelulósicas están compuestas por tres polímeros: celulosa, hemicelulosa y lignina. El biopulpeo es un pretratamiento, previo al proceso de pulpeo físico químico, cuyo fin es lograr la deslignificación parcial del complejo lignocelulós ico por la acción de hongos, debido a que los hongos tienen un complejo enzimático formado por: ligno peroxidasas (LiP), lacasas (Lac), manganeso peroxidasas (MnP), y xilanasas (Xil). Las cepas nativas tienen la habilidad de deslignificar el material ligno celulósico como paja de trigo o madera, entre otros. Método: Se trabajó con diez cepas de la colección COLMENA del Laboratorio de Biotecnología del Recurso Microbiano del Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora. La selección de cepas se realizó escogiendo las que presentaron mayor índice de potencia (I.P.), obtenido a través de la comparación del halo de actividad enzimática contra el halo de crecimiento de la cepa, a los 14 días de incubación utilizando el software Image J 1.44. Resultados: De las diez cepas eva luadas , la mejor para la producción de LiP fue TSM35 con un I.P. de 3.83±0.29, para Lac y Xil ; la cepa TSO46 obtuvo valores de con un I.P. de 20.37±2.70 y 1.38±0.00 respectivamente . Con este estudio se determinó el potencial de incorporar cepas nativas pa ra el pretratamiento de biopulpeo previo a un un proceso de deslignificación físico químico. Discusiones o Conclusiones: Se logró determinar que tres cepas tienen actividad ligninolítica en medio sólido por excreción de LiP, Lac y Xil , por lo que tiene n potencial para incorporarlos como pretratamiento en un proceso de deslignificación