Fitoplancton de dos lagunas de los humedalesde Xeresa y Xeraco (Valencia, España).

VILLENA, M. J. & ROMO, S. 2001. Fitoplancton de dos lagunas de los humedales de Xeresa y Xeraco (Valencia, España). Bot. Complutensis 25: 179-189. Se ha estudiado la composición fitoplanctónica de dos lagunas costeras mediterráneas, que corresponden a los marjales de Xeresa y Xeraco (Valencia). Estas zonas húmedas de la Comunidad Valenciana poseen un importante valor ecológico y botánico para nuestra Península, aunque actualmente se encuentran amenazadas por transformaciones de tipo turístico o agrícola. Las lagunas estudiadas se caracterizan por ser someras (Zmax: 3 m), oligohalinas, de aguas transparentes y mesotróficas, y por encontrarse sobre lechos de turba y con praderas de macrófitos sumergidos. El fitoplancton observado destaca por presentar una composición similar para ambas lagunas, con especies cosmopolitas y abundancia de microalgales de pequeño tamaño. Esta estructura de tamaño resulta importante para mantener las complejas redes tróficas de estos lagos someros. El grupo algal más diverso, en ambas lagunas, fue el de las clorofíceas. Sin embargo, la abundancia y biomasa algal fue acaparada por las cianofíceas filamentosas en la laguna de Xeresa, mientras que las clorofíceas y criptofíceas dominaron en la laguna de Cap de Terme.VILLENA, M. J. & ROMO, S. 2001. Phytoplankton from two lakes of Xeresa and Xeraco wetlands (Valencia, Spain). Bot. Complutensis 25: 179-189. Phytoplankton composition from two Mediterranean Coastal lakes located in Xeresa and Xeraco wetlands (Valencia, Spain) were studied. These wetlands from the Comunidad Valenciana have an important ecological and botanical value for the Iberian Peninsula, although nowadays they are threatened by turistic and agriculture development. The study lakes are characterized to be shallow (Zmax: 3 m), oligohaline, water transparent, mesotrophic and peat lakes, which are covered by sumerged macrophytes. The phytoplankton observed was similar in both lakes, with cosmopolitan species and abundant small-size microalgae. This size structure is relevant for the maintenance of the complex food-webs of these shallow la 179 M. J. Villena & S. Romo Fitoplancton de dos lagunas de los humedales de Xeresa... kes. The most diverse algal group, in both study lakes, corresponded to chlorophytes. However, the algal abundance and biomasa was overwhelmed by cyanophytes in the lake of Xeresa, but by chlorophytes and cryptophytes in the lake of Cap de Terme

Differential gene expression of some lignocellulolytic enzymes in Aspergillus niger biofilms

Se realizó una evaluación génica preliminar a nivel transcripcional de biopelículas de Aspergillus niger ATCC 10864 desarrolladas sobre poliéster respecto a algunas enzimas lignocelulolíticas. El análisis de expresión de genes de enzimas lignocelulolíticas y genes reguladores mediante RT-PCR mostró que los genes eng1, eglC, exo y eglA, eglB y xynB son diferencialmente expresados ya sea temporalmente o mediante más de un transcripto en comparación con cultivos sumergidos. Asimismo, los genes reguladores xlnR y creA mostraron patrones temporales de expresión distintos en ambos sistemas. Los resultados obtenidos aportan la evidencia molecular inicial de expresión diferencial de genes en biopelículas así como patrones de regulación diferencial muy probablemente ligada a la adhesión celular.A preliminary evaluation of transcriptional gene expression in Aspergillus niger ATCC 10864 biofilms developed on polyester cloth was carried out. The expression analysis of genes encoding some lignocellulolytic enzymes and some regulatory genes by means of RT-PCR showed that eng1, eglC, exo, eglA, eglB and xynB genes are differentially expressed in biofilm fermentation either time-related or through the production of more than a transcript as compared to A. niger grown in submerged fermentation. Likewise, the regulatory genes xlnR and creA showed time-related expression patterns that were different in both fermentation systems. Results attained in this work contribute with an initial molecular evidence of differential gene expression as well as differential gene regulation patterns in fungal biofilms that may be related to cell adhesion

Histopathology of the renal and splenic haemopoietic tissues of coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch experimentally infected with Renibacterium salmoninarum

We report the histopathological changes occurring in the renal and splenic haemopoietic tissues of coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch experimentally infected with renibacterium salmoninarum. In both tissues we were able by light microscopy to distinguish 3 different grades in the progression of the infection. The grades of infection were characterized according to the location of the bacteria and the tissue injuries. Ultrastructural observation revealed sinusoidal cells, macrophages, reticular and barrier cells to be infected by the pathogen, and necrosis of the tissue to be general in advanced stages of the infection. Despite destruction of the haemopoietic tissue, plasmacytopoietic foci were frequently observed in both organs. Other major changes were the appearance of epithelioid cells and an increase in the number of barrier cells. These 2 cell types might be involved in the local defence response to the pathogen, but they may also act as a reservoir and proliferation locus for R. salmoninarum

Semantic Sentiment Analysis of Twitter Data

Internet and the proliferation of smart mobile devices have changed the way information is created, shared, and spreads, e.g., microblogs such as Twitter, weblogs such as LiveJournal, social networks such as Facebook, and instant messengers such as Skype and WhatsApp are now commonly used to share thoughts and opinions about anything in the surrounding world. This has resulted in the proliferation of social media content, thus creating new opportunities to study public opinion at a scale that was never possible before. Naturally, this abundance of data has quickly attracted business and research interest from various fields including marketing, political science, and social studies, among many others, which are interested in questions like these: Do people like the new Apple Watch? Do Americans support ObamaCare? How do Scottish feel about the Brexit? Answering these questions requires studying the sentiment of opinions people express in social media, which has given rise to the fast growth of the field of sentiment analysis in social media, with Twitter being especially popular for research due to its scale, representativeness, variety of topics discussed, as well as ease of public access to its messages. Here we present an overview of work on sentiment analysis on Twitter.Comment: Microblog sentiment analysis; Twitter opinion mining; In the Encyclopedia on Social Network Analysis and Mining (ESNAM), Second edition. 201

Caracterización mecánica de pistas deportivas fabricadas con materiales procedentes de neumáticos fuera de uso (NFU)

Congreso celebrado en la Escuela de Arquitectura de la Universidad de Sevilla desde el 24 hasta el 26 de junio de 2015.The European Framework Directive 2008/98/EC on waste established as priority reuse and recycling before other recovery alternatives. In this normative reference, one the main waste flows identified are the end-of-life tyres, as a material whose mechanical properties could provide advantage in the construction of new structures. This paper presents the mechanical characterization of a layer made with shredded tires out of use, inside a section of a sportive track which included a sand layer. The use of the shredded tires out of use provides special features related with elasticity and damping to the sportive surface. In order to do that, a new test based on UNE-14809 was designed. A number of tests were performed using different configuration of sand and shredded tires. From the results obtained, a numerical model was implemented in FEA software

Anti-inflammatory effects of antibacterials on human bronchial epithelial cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Human Bronchial epithelial cells (hu-BEC) have been claimed to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory airway diseases like COPD. In this context IL-8 and GM-CSF have been shown to be key cytokines. Some antibiotics which are routinely used to treat lower respiratory tract infections have been shown to exert additional immunomodulatory or anti-inflammatory effects. We investigated whether these effects can also be detected in hu-BEC.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Hu-BEC obtained from patients undergoing lung resections were transferred to air-liquid-interface (ALI) culture. These cultures were incubated with cefuroxime (CXM, 10-62.5 mg/l), azithromycin (AZM, 0.1-1.5 mg/l), levofloxacin (LVX, 1-8 mg/l) and moxifloxacin (MXF, 1-16 mg/l). The spontaneous and TNF-α (10 ng/ml) induced expression and release of IL-8 and GM-CSF were measured using PCR and ELISA in the absence or presence of these antibiotics.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The spontaneous IL-8 and GM-CSF release was significantly reduced with MXF (8 mg/l) by 37 ± 20% and 45 ± 31%, respectively (both p < 0.01). IL-8 release in TNF-α stimulated hu-BEC decreased by 16 ± 8% (p < 0.05) with AZM (1.5 mg/l). With MXF a concentration dependent decrease of IL-8 release was noted up to 39 ± 7% (p < 0.05). GM-CSF release from TNF-α stimulated hu-BEC was maximally decreased by 35 ± 24% (p < 0.01) with MXF (4 mg/l).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Using ALI cultures of hu-BEC we observed differential effects of antibiotics on spontaneous and TNF-α induced cytokine release. Our data suggest that MXF and AZM, beyond bactericidal effects, may attenuate the inflammatory process mediated by hu-BEC.</p

Effects of ultrasound treatments on wine microorganisms

Ultrasound is one of the most promising non-thermal an emerging technique in food technology. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the effect of different ultrasonic treatments on the most important wine microbiota (Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces yeasts and lactic acid bacteria). Two stages were carried out: the assessment step, where six different ultrasonic treatments (with varying power, time, and pulses) were used on Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Brettanomyces spp., and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum; and the validation step, where two chosen ultrasonic treatments were used on Zigosaccharomyces bailli, Brettanomyces spp., Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces bayanus, Pichia membranifaciens, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and Hanseniaspora osmophila. The most sensitive microorganism was Brettanomyces spp., and the most resistant was Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. Ultrasonic treatments had varying effects on vitality (delay of growth or maximum OD reduction) and on viability (reduction of microbial growth)

Dietary Supplementation with Probiotics Improves Hematopoiesis in Malnourished Mice

BACKGROUND: Lactobacillus rhamnosus CRL1505 (Lr) administered during the repletion of immunocompromised-malnourished mice improves the resistance against intestinal and respiratory infections. This effect is associated with an increase in the number and functionality of immune cells, indicating that Lr could have some influence on myeloid and lymphoid cell production and maturation. OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed the extent of the damage caused by malnutrition on myeloid and lymphoid cell development in the spleen and bone marrow (BM). We also evaluated the impact of immunobiotics on the recovery of hematopoiesis affected in malnourished mice. METHODS: Protein malnourished mice were fed on a balanced conventional diet for 7 or 14 consecutive d with or without supplemental Lr or fermented goat's milk (FGM). Malnourished mice and well-nourished mice were used as controls. Histological and flow cytometry studies were carried out in BM and spleen to study myeloid and lymphoid cells. RESULTS: Malnutrition induced quantitative alterations in spleen B and T cells; however, no alteration was observed in the ability of splenic B cells to produce immunoglobulins after challenge with LPS or CpG. The analysis of BM B cell subsets based on B220, CD24, IgM and IgD expression showed that malnutrition affected B cell development. In addition, BM myeloid cells decreased in malnourished mice. On the contrary, protein deprivation increased BM T cell number. These alterations were reverted with Lr or FGM repletion treatments since normal numbers of BM myeloid, T and B cells were observed in these groups. CONCLUSIONS: Protein malnutrition significantly alters B cell development in BM. The treatment of malnourished mice with L. rhamnosus CRL1505 was able to induce a recovery of B cells that would explain its ability to increase immunity against infections. This work highlights the possibility of using immunobiotics to accelerate the recovery of lymphopoyesis in immunocompromised-malnourished hosts

Spawning kinetics and parentage contribution of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) broodstocks, and influence of GnRHa-induced spawning

Abstract Increasing parentage contribution in aquaculture broodstocks is important, in order to take full advantage of the available genetic makeup of the chosen fish, and to avoid inbreeding and loss of allele diversity over subsequent production generations. European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) broodstocks were evaluated over two reproductive seasons to examine spawning kinetics, egg production, and parentage contribution during spontaneous/volitional spawning. In addition, we obtained preliminary results on the potential of a hormonal therapy to synchronize spawning and increase parentage contribution. Spawning lasted between 25 and 66 days in January-March and consisted of 12–21 daily spawns per broodstock, with individual females spawning 1–5 times and males participating in 1–8 spawns during each reproductive season. Daily fecundity was variable during the season, without any trend, and so were all the examined egg/larval quality parameters. Parentage assignment of the produced families indicated that the majority of progeny from a whole season may belong to a very small number of breeders, with four females producing up to 80 % of the analyzed eggs, while a single male may sire up to 57 % of the fertilized eggs. No significant improvement in the overall parentage contribution was obtained with the hormonal treatment, using gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa). Nevertheless, the daily fecundity was higher, and parentage of the eggs from the first spawn after GnRHa treatment was more equally distributed to multiple males/females, compared to any volitional spawns. The study demonstrates the need to further improve parentage contribution in European sea bass aquaculture, through synchronization of maturation and spawning. Although the GnRHa induction experiment was not replicated in the present preliminary study, the results suggest that hormonally-induced synchronization of maturation may have the potential of producing a larger number of progenies from more families, from where to select the next generation of breeders for a breeding program