Efecto de la densidad de siembra sobre el rendimiento de la okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench), en el valle de Lerma, Salta, Argentina

La okra es una malvácea anual cultivada como hortaliza adaptada a climas tropicales y subtropicales. El manejo del cultivo es poco conocido en Salta y Argentina. El objetivo fue determinar la densidad de siembra más adecuada en el valle de Lerma evaluando su efecto sobre las componentes del rendimiento. Con un diseño de bloques completos al azar, con 12 réplicas, se compararon cuatro densidades de siembra de okra variedad Blue Sky que fueron 1, 2, 3 y 4 plantas por pozo, (T1, T2, T3 y T4), con filas a 70 cm y hoyos a 30 cm. Se sembró el 25/10/11 y la emergencia fue a los 21 días. Se cosecharon frutos inmaduros entre el 23/12/11 y el 28/03/12, con un tamaño entre 7-10 cm de largo. Se evaluó el nú- mero y peso total de frutos cosechados en todo el ciclo de producción y por fecha de cosecha. Para todas las variables analizadas, los menores valores promedio se observaron en T1, mientras que entre T2, T3 y T4, si bien se vio una tendencia en aumento, no existieron diferencias estadísticamente significativas. Por consiguiente y debido a la dificultad de conseguir la semilla en el país y por su alto costo, se recomienda sembrar dos semillas por pozo.Okra is an annual Malvaceae cultivated as a vegetable crop and adapted to tropical and subtropical climate. There is no much crop management information in Salta and Argentina. The goal of this research was to determine the best plant density in the Lerma valley, Salta, Argentina. Treatments were four okra plant populations, cultivar Blue Sky (1, 2, 3 and 4 plants per hill: T1, T2, T3 y T4) evaluating its effect on the yield components. Experimental design was a randomized complete block with 12 blocks. The experiment was sown on October 25, 2011 and seed emergency happen 21 days after sowing. Fruits were harvested at immature stage from 23/12/11 to 28/03/12, with a size length from 7 to 10 cm. The parameters measured were: number and total fruit weight harvested in the whole production cycle and for each harvest date. For all parameters analyzed, the lower average values were observed in T1, but there were not statiscally differences between T2, T3 and T4. Nevertheless, there was a growing trend, although not statistically significant. It is recommended to plant two seeds per well (8 plants·m-2), because off the seed costs and for the difficulty of getting them in the Argentina.Fil: Lozano, L.. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Tálamo, Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del Noroeste Argentino; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Salta; ArgentinaFil: Galarce, M.. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Ruiz de los Llanos, R.. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales; Argentin

Musical revitalisation of the schoolyard: results of a service-learning project

This research presents and discusses the results of a Service-Learning project developed by student teachers of Primary Education at the University of Valladolid during the academic years 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, and 2019/20. The project aimed to revitalize recess through musical activities for children aged 6 to 12 in seven schools in Segovia (Spain). The results of the qualitative analysis show that the project has promoted the musical development of the children through singing, the experience of rhythm, and expression through movement, using a selected repertoire of popular children folk songs. In the university students, it helped foster commitment to primary school students through the promotion of co-education and socio-cultural diversity—values which have fostered the development of social and civic competences. The student teachers also achieved professional growth by obtaining through this project skills typical of Music Education teachers

Control of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, a neglected disease: results of a control programme in Satipo Province, Peru.

Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL) is an important health problem in many rural areas of Latin America, but there are few data on the results of programmatic approaches to control the disease. We report the results of a control programme in San Martin de Pangoa District, which reports one of the highest prevalences of MCL in Peru. For 2 years (2001--2002), the technicians at the health post were trained in patient case management, received medical support and were supplied with antimonials. An evaluation after 2 years showed the following main achievements: better diagnosis of patients, who were confirmed by microscopy in 34% (82/240) of the cases in 2001 and 60% of the cases (153/254) in 2002; improved follow-up during treatment: 237 of 263 (90%) patients who initiated an antimonial therapy ended the full treatment course; improved follow-up after treatment: 143 of 237 (60%) patients who ended their full treatment were correctly monitored during the required period of 6 (cutaneous cases) or 12 (mucosal cases) months after the end of treatment. These achievements were largely due to the human and logistical resources made available, the constant availability of medications and the close collaboration between the Ministry of Health, a national research institute and an international non-governmental organization. At the end of this period, the health authorities decided to register a generic brand of sodium stibogluconate, which is now in use. This should allow the treatment of a significant number of additional patients, while saving money to invest in other facets of the case management

Influence of temperament on performance and carcass quality of commercial Brahman steers in a Colombian tropical grazing system

Temperament is defined as individual behavioral responses to potentially fear-eliciting or challenging situations related to human presence and handling. A total of 190 steers of commercial Zebu Brahman (Bos indicus) were used in this study, selected when they were between 10 and 11 months of age, fattened for 24 months (720 days) and slaughtered between 34 and 35 months of age. Using a temperament index (based on two tests: chute and exit score), animals were classified as calm, restless, or nervous. In general, calm animals had a longer carcass, a higher slaughter and fasting weight, and a normal pH24 (<5.7). However, carcass yield was significantly higher in nervous than in restless animals, but did not differ from that of calm steers. It is important to note that these results were obtained under experimental conditions, therefore, effects could have a greater impact on carcass quality under commercial conditions. © 2022 The Author

Enhancing methane production from the invasive macroalga Rugulopteryx okamurae through anaerobic co-digestion with olive mill solid waste: process performance and kinetic analysis

The biomass valorisation of the invasive brown alga Rugulopteryx okamurae (Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae) is key to curbing the expansion of this invasive macroalga which is generating tonnes of biomass on southern Spain beaches. As a feasible alternative for the biomass management, anaerobic co-digestion is proposed in this study. Although the anaerobic digestion of macroalgae barely produced 177 mL of CH4 g−1 VS, the co-digestion with a C-rich substrate, such as the olive mill solid waste (OMSW, the main waste derived from the two-phase olive oil manufacturing process), improved the anaerobic digestion process. The mixture improved not only the methane yield, but also its biodegradability. The highest biodegradability was found in the mixture 1 R. okamurae—1 OMSW, which improved the biodegradability of the macroalgae by 12.9% and 38.1% for the OMSW. The highest methane yield was observed for the mixture 1 R. okamurae—3 OMSW, improving the methane production of macroalgae alone by 157% and the OMSW methane production by 8.6%. Two mathematical models were used to fit the experimental data of methane production time with the aim of assessing the processes and obtaining the kinetic constants of the anaerobic co-digestion of different combination of R. okamurae and OMSW and both substrates independently. First-order kinetic and the transference function models allowed for appropriately fitting the experimental results of methane production with digestion time. The specific rate constant, k (first-order model) for the mixture 1 R. okamurae- 1.5 OMSW, was 5.1 and 1.3 times higher than that obtained for the mono-digestion of single OMSW and the macroalga, respectively. In the same way, the transference function model revealed that the maximum methane production rate (Rmax) was also found for the mixture 1 R. okamurae—1.5 OMSW (30.4 mL CH4 g−1 VS day−1), which was 1.6 and 2.2 times higher than the corresponding to the mono-digestions of the single OMSW and sole R. okamurae (18.9 and 13.6 mL CH4 g−1 VS day−1), respectively.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PID2020-114975RB-10

Incidencia de la relajación y de los ejercicios de elongación en los niveles de ansiedad estado-rasgo en mujeres embarazadas.

La ansiedad es un estado que aparece en forma permanente en  las mujeres embarazadas principalmente si éstas son primíparas. Las manifestaciones exageradas de ese estado pueden ser contraproducentes a la hora de enfrentarse al proceso del parto. 

Comparison of gene expression patterns among Leishmania braziliensis clinical isolates showing a different in vitro susceptibility to pentavalent antimony

Introduction. Evaluation of Leishmania drug susceptibility depends on in vitro SbV susceptibility assays, which are labour-intensive and may give a biased view of the true parasite resistance. Molecular markers are urgently needed to improve and simplify the monitoring of SbV-resistance. We analysed here the gene expression profile of 21 L. braziliensis clinical isolates in vitro defined as SbV-resistant and -sensitive, in order to identify potential resistance markers. Methods. The differential expression of 13 genes involved in SbV metabolism, oxidative stress or housekeeping functions was analysed during in vitro promastigote growth. Results. Expression profiles were up-regulated for 5 genes only, each time affecting a different set of isolates (mosaic picture of gene expression). Two genes, ODC (ornithine decarboxylase) and TRYR (trypanothione reductase), showed a significantly higher expression rate in the group of SbV-resistant compared to the group of SbV-sensitive parasites (P<0·01). However, analysis of individual isolates showed both markers to explain only partially the drug resistance. Discussion. Our results might be explained by (i) the occurrence of a pleiotropic molecular mechanism leading to the in vitro SbV resistance and/or (ii) the existence of different epi-phenotypes not revealed by the in vitro SbV susceptibility assays, but interfering with the gene expression pattern

Aceite de cáscara de citrus reticulata con potencial terapéuticos para el tratamiento de la aterosclerosis : estudios bioquímicos, moleculares y bioinformáticos

La aterosclerosis es una enfermedad cardiovascular (ECV) caracterizada por un engrosamiento de las paredes arteriales debido al depósito de lípidos principalmente el colesterol (Col) y a una respuesta inflamatoria crónica promovida por macrófagos y células espumosas. Las ECVs son la principal causa de muerte y discapacidad a nivel mundial siendo la hipercolesterolemia el factor que contribuye al 56% de los casos de cardiopatía coronaria. Los niveles de Col plasmático se regulan por mecanismos como la síntesis de novo del Col o vía del mevalonato (VM) principalmente activa en hepatocitos. En las primeras etapas de la VM (reacciones pre-escualeno) se generan isoprenoides no esteroideos como ubiquinona, dolicol y grupos prenilos.Fil: Castro, M.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasFil: Llanos, M.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasFil: Rodenak-kladniew, B.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasFil: Gavernet, L. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasFil: García de Bravo, M. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasFil: Crespo, R.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnica

El magnetómetro por gradiente alternante de campo: una nueva herramienta para la caracterización de nanopartículas magnéticas en biofluidos y tejidos biológicos

Las aplicaciones que ofrecen las nanopartículas magnéticas basadas en sus interacciones con los campos magnéticos estáticos o variantes en el tiempo, son uno de los principales y más prometedores focos de investigación biomédica en la actualidad. La caracterización magnética de las partículas y de su comportamiento en el interior de materiales biológicos es un aspecto susceptible de numerosas mejoras, siendo además uno de los pasos preliminares fundamentales a la realización de cualquiera de los experimentos que las empleen. En este artículo se presenta una nueva herramienta que facilitará esta tarea, además de presentar futuras líneas de acción que ofrecerán nuevas posibilidades en el mundo de la nanobioingeniería, partiendo de una breve introducción teórica en la que se presentarán los principios físicos que se encuentran en la base de las aplicaciones biomédicas de las nanopartículas. Las aplicaciones que ofrecen las nanopartículas magnéticas basadas en sus interacciones con los campos magnéticos estáticos o variantes en el tiempo, son uno de los principales y más prometedores focos de investigación biomédica en la actualidad. La caracterización magnética de las partículas y de su comportamiento en el interior de materiales biológicos es un aspecto susceptible de numerosas mejoras, siendo además uno de los pasos preliminares fundamentales a la realización de cualquiera de los experimentos que las empleen. En este artículo se presenta una nueva herramienta que facilitará esta tarea, además de presentar futuras líneas de acción que ofrecerán nuevas posibilidades en el mundo de la nanobioingeniería, partiendo de una breve introducción teórica en la que se presentarán los principios físicos que se encuentran en la base de las aplicaciones biomédicas de las nanopartículas

Carnosine scavenging of glucolipotoxic free radicals enhances insulin secretion and glucose uptake

The worldwide prevalence of diabetes has risen to 8.5% among adults, which represents a staggering rise in prevalence from 4.7% in 1980. Whilst some treatments work by increasing insulin secretion, over time their effectiveness decreases. We aim to increase insulin secretion by developing strategies that work through mechanisms independent of current treatment options. Isolated CD1 mouse islets, INS-1 pancreatic β-cells, or C2C12 mouse myotubes were incubated in standard tissue culture media, or media supplemented with 28 mM glucose, 200 μM palmitic acid, and 200 μM oleic acid as a cellular model of diabetic glucolipotoxicity. Intracellular reactive species content was assayed using 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate dye, inducible nitric oxide synthase levels determined by Western blot, 3-nitrotyrosine and 4-hydrpxnonenal both assayed by ELISA, insulin secretion quantified using ELISA or radioimmunoassay, and glucose uptake determined through 2-deoxy glucose 6 phosphate luminescence. Our data indicate that carnosine, a histidine containing dipeptide available through the diet, is an effective scavenger of each of the aforementioned reactive species. This results in doubling of insulin secretion from isolated mouse islets or INS-1 β-cells. Crucially, carnosine also reverses glucolipotoxic inhibition of insulin secretion and enhances glucose uptake into skeletal muscle cells. Thus, carnosine, or non-hydrolysable carnosine analogs, may represent a new class of therapeutic agent to fight type 2 diabetes