Current and historical factors drive variation of reproductive traits in unisexual mosses in Europe: A case study

Artículo escrito por un elevado número de autores, solo se referencian el que aparece en primer lugar, los autores pertenecientes a la UAM y el nombre del grupo de colaboración, si lo hubiereUnisexual bryophytes provide excellent models to study the mechanisms that regulate the frequency of sexual versus asexual reproduction in plants, and their ecological and evolutionary implications. Here, we determined sex expression, phenotypic sex ratio, and individual shoot traits in 242 populations of the cosmopolitan moss Pseudoscleropodium purum spanning its whole distributional range. We tested whether niche differentiation, sex‐specific differences in shoot size, and biogeographical history explained the spatial variation of reproductive traits. We observed high levels of sex expression and predominantly female‐biased populations, although both traits showed high intraspecific variation among populations. Sex expression and sex ratio were partly explained by current macroscale environmental variation, with male shoots being less frequent at the higher end of the environmental gradients defined by the current distribution of the species. Female bias in population sex ratio was significantly lower in areas recolonized after the last glacial maximum (recent populations) than in glacial refugia (long‐term persistent populations). We demonstrated that reproductive trait variation in perennial unisexual mosses is partially driven by macroscale and historical environmental variation. Based on our results, we hypothesize that sexual dimorphism in environmental tolerance and vegetative growth contribute to sex ratio bias over time, constraining the chances of sexual reproduction, especially in long‐term persistent populations. Further studies combining genetic analyses and population monitoring should improve our understanding of the implications of the intraspecific variation in the frequency of sexual versus asexual reproduction in bryophyte population fitness and eco‐evolutionary dynamic

La gestión de la academia de matemática básica para fortalecer las competencias docentes

Proyecto de intervención realizado en la Escuela Preparatoria No. 9 del Sistema de Educación Media Superior de la Universidad de Guadalajara. El objetivo fue implementar un plan de trabajo de acompañamiento y formación docente para la academia de matemática básica, para que los docentes diseñen estrategias de trabajo y materiales didácticos adecuados al enfoque de aprendizaje basado en competencias

Inverse gas chromatography a tool to follow physicochemical modifications of pharmaceutical solids: Crystal habit and particles size surface effects

Powders are complex systems and so pharmaceutical solids are not the exception. Nowadays, pharmaceutical ingredients must comply with well-defined draconian specifications imposing narrow particle size range, control on the mean particle size, crystalline structure, crystal habits aspect and surface properties of powders, among others. The different facets, physical forms, defects and/or impurities of the solid will alter its interaction properties. A powerful way of studying surface properties is based on the adsorption of an organic or water vapor on a powder. Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) appears as a useful method to characterize the surface properties of divided solids. The aim of this work is to study the sensitivity of IGC, in Henry’s domain, in order to detect the impact of size and morphology in surface energy of two crystalline forms of an excipient, d-mannitol. Surface energy analyses using IGC have shown that the α form is the most energetically active form. To study size and shape influence on polymorphism, pure α and β mannitol samples were cryomilled (CM) and/or spray dried (SD). All forms showed an increase of the surface energy after treatment, with a higher influence for β samples (γsd of 40–62mJm−2) than for α mannitol samples (γsd of 75–86mJm−2). Surface heterogeneity analysis in Henry’s domain showed a more heterogeneous β-CM sample (62–52mJm−2). Moreover, despite its spherical shape and quite homogeneous size distribution, β-SD mannitol samples showed a slightly heterogeneous surface (57–52mJm−2) also higher than the recrystallized β pure sample (∼40mJm−2)

GFET Asymmetric Transfer Response Analysis through Access Region Resistances

Graphene-based devices are planned to augment the functionality of Si and III-V based technology in radio-frequency (RF) electronics. The expectations in designing graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs) with enhanced RF performance have attracted significant experimental efforts, mainly concentrated on achieving high mobility samples. However, little attention has been paid, so far, to the role of the access regions in these devices. Here, we analyse in detail, via numerical simulations, how the GFET transfer response is severely impacted by these regions, showing that they play a significant role in the asymmetric saturated behaviour commonly observed in GFETs. We also investigate how the modulation of the access region conductivity (i.e., by the influence of a back gate) and the presence of imperfections in the graphene layer (e.g., charge puddles) affects the transfer response. The analysis is extended to assess the application of GFETs for RF applications, by evaluating their cut-off frequency.This research was founded by Spanish government grant numbers TEC2017-89955-P (MINECO/AEI/FEDER, UE), TEC2015-67462-C2-1-R (MINECO), IJCI-2017-32297 (MINECO/AEI), FPU16/04043 and FPU14/02579, and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under Grant GrapheneCore2 785219

The role of genetically engineered soybean and Amaranthus weeds on biological and reproductive parameters of Spodoptera cosmioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

BACKGROUND: In soybean fields containing insecticide- and herbicide-resistant genetically engineered varieties, some weed species have increasingly become difficult to manage and may favor the population growth of secondary pests like Spodoptera cosmioides (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). To test this hypothesis, we measured life-history traits, population growth parameters and adult nutrient content of S. cosmioides reared on foliage from four Amaranthus species, from Cry1Ac Bt and non-Bt soybean varieties, and on meridic artificial diet. RESULTS: Larvae reared on A. palmeri and A. spinosus had a shorter development time (5–7 days) than larvae raised on the soybean varieties and A. hybridus. Armyworm survival probability was zero on A. viridis and highest (80% and 71%) on soybeans and A. palmeri. The latter and the artificial diet produced the heaviest larvae and pupae, in contrast to the non-Bt soybean variety. Body nutrient content diverged mostly for adults reared on artificial diet compared with those raised on the soybean varieties. The intrinsic rate of population increase (overall fitness) was 27.88% higher for the armyworms on A. palmeri, Cry1Ac Bt soybean and artificial diet compared with those on non-Bt soybean, A. spinosus and A. hybridus. CONCLUSIONS: Cry1Ac soybean fields infested by some Amaranthus weeds, especially A. palmeri, are conducive to the population growth of S. cosmioides. Integrated pest management programs may be needed to properly manage S. cosmioides in soybean fields, with surveillance for population peaks and judicious control measures when needed.Fil: Páez Jerez, Paula Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia. Cátedra Terapéutica Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Hill, Jorge Guillermo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia. Cátedra Terapéutica Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Pereira, Eliseu J. G.. Universidade Federal de Viçosa.; BrasilFil: Medina Pereyra, Pilar. Fundación Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Vera, María Teresa. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia. Cátedra Terapéutica Vegetal; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentin

Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles and Incorporation to a Porous Nickel Electrode to Improve its Catalytic Performance Towards the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

[EN] Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were successfully synthesized by a facile chemical reduction method in the presence of the stabilizer polyvinylpyrrolidone and characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The gold nanoparticles were then incorporated onto the surface of a porous Ni electrode by simple addition of the nanoparticles suspension, followed by heat treatment at 350 degrees C for 1 h under nitrogen atmosphere. The modified electrode was morphologically characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy. Then, the effect of the modification with Au nanoparticles was studied in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) by pseudo-steady-state polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), at different temperatures and compared with a pure porous Ni electrode. The modified electrode showed a clear improvement in its catalytic performance mainly due to the intrinsic catalytic activity of the Au nanoparticles. From the Tafel representations and the EIS, it was estimated that the HER on the electrode modified with AuNPs takes place by the Volmer-Heyrovsky mechanism.Ramiro Medina Orta is grateful to Consejo Nacional Ciencia y Tecnologia and Consejo Potosino de Ciencia y Tecnologia for the doctorate scholarship 472041. Also, he wishes to thank the Instituto de Metalurgia of Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi for the opportunity of a research stay. We also thank Dr. Nubia Arteaga Larios and M.M.I.M. Martha Alejandra Lomeli Pacheco (Instituto de Metalurgia, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi) for their help with the UV-vis spectroscopy.Medina-Orta, R.; Labrada-Delgado, GJ.; Silva-Pereyra, HG.; Ortega Navarro, EM.; Pérez-Herranz, V.; Sánchez-Loredo, MG. (2022). Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles and Incorporation to a Porous Nickel Electrode to Improve its Catalytic Performance Towards the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction. Electrocatalysis. 13(1):47-61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12678-021-00690-7476113

Enfoques teóricos para elaborar modelos de interpretación: el tipo urbano en América Latina

El proyecto de investigación sobre tipos urbanos en Latinoamérica parte de pensar que este instrumento nos permiten reconocer a todos los elementos que caracterizan a una comunidad. Lo común ha sido estudiar a los distintos casos, con miradas extrarregionales que nos proponen otros enfoques de las construcciones sociales urbanas. Si la forma urbana hoy puede leerse como el resultado de la disposición de elementos e interacciones y el soporte físico-natural y la cosmovisión que la sociedad construye, ¿con qué enfoque debería abordarse el estudio de la ciudad latinoamericana y cómo la identidad que está presente/ausente en ella? ¿cuál enfoque sería el adecuado para asociarlo a realidades tan diferentes? Comprendiendo a la ciudad actual como resultado de desintegraciones, fragmentos y la permanente dicotomía entre presente y preexistencias, el respeto por el legado busca anclarse en diversas identidades, aunque esas identidades deban polemizar para encontrar respuestas y redefinirse. Tomando como espacio geográfico y cultural del territorio latinoamericano, el tema-problema del proyecto se centra en la verificación de la pertinencia de la transferencia de las metodologías extra-regionales en el análisis de los tipos urbanos paradigmáticos en Latinoamérica para la adaptación y/o propuesta de métodos propios que permitan la construcción de modelos urbanos locales sustentables, y a la vez retomar una mirada crítica a modo de diagnóstico sobre la enseñanza de la historia del urbanismo de América Latina. Muchos son los autores que, desde diversas ópticas, nos proponen sus metodologías para ver y reconocer a las ciudades. Y de ellos, escasos latinoamericanos son los que sugieren miradas locales. Por eso, este enfoque intenta construir modelos urbanos para su estudio y enseñanza, en relación con su región y cultura, que interpreten la cartografía histórica y la gráfica digital, verificando la visibilidad de la identidad en relación con su patrimonio material e inmaterial en cada caso, y su relación con la planificación urbana. El análisis de Córdoba inicia la experimentación hacia estos modelos gráficos-conceptuales, para seguir con otros casos –como Caral, Tilcara, el Shinkal, Teotihuacán, Quito, Antigua, Ambul, Potosí, Puebla, Santa Fe la vieja, Mendoza, en la primera etapa-, que permitirán la consecuente relación y comparación, para verificar el modelo. El presente trabajo muestra algunos avances en el marco del Proyecto de Investigación Consolidar financiado por SECYT UNC. Se parte de una propuesta sobre distintas etapas de evolución, crecimiento y modificación de la ciudad que permita aplicar –desde una interpretación propia, gráfica y conceptual-, la lectura territorial elaborada por Milton Santos (el espesor histórico del territorio desde fijos y flujos, rigurosidades e inercias dinámicas), y otras metodologías de análisis urbano –como las elaboradas por Kevin Lynch, Philippe R. Panerai, Rob Krier, Christopher Alexander, entre otros-.Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanism

Bisphenol A Exposure during Adulthood Alters Expression of Aromatase and 5α-Reductase Isozymes in Rat Prostate

The high incidence of prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) in elderly men is a cause of increasing public health concern. In recent years, various environmental endocrine disruptors, such as bisphenol A (BPA), have been shown to disrupt sexual organs, including the prostate gland. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. Because androgens and estrogens are important factors in prostate physiopathology, our objective was to examine in rat ventral prostate the effects of adult exposure to BPA on 5α-Reductase isozymes (5α-R types 1, 2, and 3) and aromatase, key enzymes in the biosynthesis of dihydrotestosterone and estradiol, respectively. Adult rats were subcutaneously injected for four days with BPA (25, 50, 300, or 600 µg/Kg/d) dissolved in vehicle. Quantitative RT-PCR, western blot and immunohistochemical analyses showed lower mRNA and protein levels of 5α-R1 and 5α-R2 in BPA-treated groups versus controls but higher mRNA levels of 5α-R3, recently proposed as a biomarker of malignancy. However, BPA treatment augmented mRNA and protein levels of aromatase, whose increase has been described in prostate diseases. BPA-treated rats also evidenced a higher plasma estradiol/testosterone ratio, which is associated with prostate disease. Our results may offer new insights into the role of BPA in the development of prostate disease and may be of great value for studying the prostate disease risk associated with exposure to BPA in adulthood.The source of funding that has supported the work is European Fund of Regional Development (FEDER-BFU2008-05340)

Supervivencia de postlarvas de camarón blanco Litopenaeus vannamei a diferentes salinidades y temperaturas

RESUMEN Objetivo. Analizar el efecto combinado de salinidad (5, 15, 25, 35 y 45ups) y temperatura (15, 20, 25, 30 y 35oC) sobre la supervivencia y frecuencia de mudas en postlarvas (PL12) de Litopenaeus vannamei. Materiales y métodos. Los experimentos se realizaron por cuadriplicado por cada combinación de salinidad y temperatura. Las postlarvas se mantuvieron en acuarios de 3 L a una densidad de 100PL/l. La salinidad se incrementó disolviendo sal granulada libre de yodo, a partir de agua de mar, mientras que para alcanzar las salinidades menores se utilizó agua dulce filtrada. Las postlarvas aclimatadas a 35ups y 28°C (condición inicial) fueron sometidas abruptamente a las salinidades y temperaturas experimentales por 30 minutos. Después, se filtraron y se colocaron nuevamente en su condición inicial para su recuperación. Transcurridos 30 minutos, se contaron las postlarvas vivas y las mudas. Los datos fueron analizados por un ANOVA de dos vías. Resultados. Se determinó que la supervivencia y frecuencia de mudas fueron significativamente afectadas por la salinidad, temperatura y su interacción (p<0.05). Se obtuvo una supervivencia máxima y mínima de 99.8 y 94.4%. Los porcentajes de supervivencia y frecuencias de mudas disminuyeron a una baja salinidad en combinación a bajas y altas temperaturas, y aumentaron independientemente de la salinidad y temperatura, a excepción de 5ups con 15, 30 y 35°C. La mortalidad máxima de postlarvas fue de 5.6% (5ups y 30°C). Conclusiones. Se determinó que a temperaturas de 20 y 25°C en combinación a las salinidades utilizadas, fueron las mejores condiciones de supervivencia y de resistencia de las postlarvas ante dichas condiciones hidrológicas

Flexible Laser-Induced Graphene Memristor: Fabrication and SPICE based Emulation of an Artificial Neural Network

Project PID2020-116518GB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033; and TED2021-129769B-I00 FlexPowHar and CNS2023-143727 RECAMBIO both funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR. This work also acknowledges the research project P21 00149 ENERGHENE funded by the University, Research and Innovation Council of the Board of Andalusia. M. D. Ganeriwala ac- knowledges funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101032701.This work demonstrates laser-induced graphene memristors, fabricated using a patterning-free, low cost and simple process directly on a flexible polyimide substrate. The fabricated memristors show repeatable non-volatile bipolar resistive switching with state retention up to 103 seconds. A simple perceptron network for the classification of black-and-white images is later implemented using an experimentally extracted compact model. Successful training of the network by integrating SPICE model with MATLAB shows the possibility to emulate the on-chip learning process. Further, by properly modulating the applied voltage pulse amplitude and period, a reduction in the energy consumed by training the neural network is achieved.MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033: PID2020-116518GB-I00, TED2021-129769B-I00 FlexPowHar, CNS2023-143727 RECAMBIOEuropean Union NextGenerationEU/PRTRUniversity, Research and Innovation Council of the Board of Andalusia P21 00149 ENERGHENEEuropean Union's Horizon 2020 No. 10103270