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Introduction Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a highly heterogeneous and complex metabolic disease harbouring different metabolic characteristics. Adequate characterisation of subjects is essential to allow the implementation of precision medicine for the prevention, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of this condition.Methods and analysis This prospective observational cohort study aims to identify and characterise relevant clinical clusters that are reproducibly associated with various clinical outcomes in T2DM in our Mediterranean region. The COPERNICAN study will include 1200 subjects with newly diagnosed T2DM from 28 primary care centres from the city of Barcelona and the healthcare district of Lleida in Catalonia (Spain). Participants will undergo a comprehensive phenotypic evaluation including, among others, six relevant variables: age, antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase, body mass index, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), indexes of insulin sensibility (HOMA2-IR) and secretion (HOMA2-beta). We will collect additional comprehensive data on glucose-lowering and other drug treatments, clinical evaluation (including complications), laboratory parameters, advanced lipoprotein profile, dietary habits and physical activity. The linkage with the population database will be done to perform a pragmatic follow-up of participants as part of their usual clinical care. A state-of-the-art cluster analysis (k-means and hierarchical clustering) will be performed.Ethics and dissemination The present study complies with all the ethical aspects and protection of participant subjects complying with all current local and European Union legislation. All Ethics Committees from the institutions involved in the study (IR Sant Pau Ethics Committee, Ethics Committee for Drug Research at IDIAP Jordi Gol and University Hospital of Bellvitge Ethics Committee for Research) approved this protocol. Confidentiality and anonymity of the data are ensured according to the current Spanish Organic Law 3/2018 of 05 December.Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov. registration number NCT05333718, 27 January 2023.

Abstract Multiple-choice test generation is one of the most complex NLP problems, especially in languages other than English, where there is a lack of prior research. After a review of the literature, it has been verified that some methods like the usage of rule-based systems or primitive neural networks have led to the application of a recent architecture, the Transformer architecture, in the tasks of Answer Extraction (AE) and Question Generation (QG). Thereby, this study is centred in searching and developing better models for the AE and QG tasks in Spanish, using an answer-aware methodology. For this purpose, three multilingual models (mT5-base, mT0-base and BLOOMZ-560 M) have been fine-tuned using three different datasets: a translation to Spanish of the SQuAD dataset; SQAC, which is a dataset in Spanish; and their union (SQuAD + SQAC), which shows slightly better results. Regarding the models, the performance of mT5-base has been compared with that found in two newer models, mT0-base and BLOOMZ-560 M. These models were fine-tuned for multiple tasks in literature, including AE and QG, but, in general, the best results are obtained from the mT5 models trained in our study with the SQuAD + SQAC dataset. Nonetheless, some other good results are obtained from mT5 models trained only with the SQAC dataset. For their evaluation, the widely used BLEU1-4, METEOR and ROUGE-L metrics have been obtained, where mT5 outperforms some similar research works. Besides, CIDEr, SARI, GLEU, WER and the cosine similarity metrics have been calculated to present a benchmark within the AE and QG problems for future work.

In recent years, transformer language models have made a significant impact on automatic text generation. This study focuses on the task of distractor generation in Spanish using a fine-tuned multilingual text-to-text model, namely mT5. Our method outperformed established baselines based on LSTM networks, confirming the effectiveness of Transformer architectures in such NLP tasks. While comparisons with other Transformer-based solutions yielded diverse outcomes based on the metric of choice, our method notably achieved superior results on the ROUGE metric compared to the GPT-2 approach. Although traditional evaluation metrics such as BLEU and ROUGE are commonly used, this paper argues for more context-sensitive metrics given the inherent variability in acceptable distractor generation results. Among the contributions of this research is a comprehensive comparison with other methods, an examination of the potential drawbacks of multilingual models, and the introduction of alternative evaluation metrics. Future research directions, derived from our findings and a review of related works are also suggested, with a particular emphasis on leveraging other language models and Transformer architectures.

The digital competences of university students are developed using a digital learning ecosystem that integrates: 1) virtual learning environments; 2) digital learning tools; and 3) learning methodologies. This research followed the methodology of systematic literature mapping and review, searching the WoS and Scopus databases and obtaining a total of 5,652 articles between 2001 and 2023. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were then applied to reduce the number of selected articles and carry out a systematic literature mapping and review. Among the relevant results of the literature mapping and systematic review, the geographic distribution of scientific publications, the educational areas in which they have been worked on, and the universities were identified. Educational methodologies, technological tools, and virtual learning environments used to develop university students’ digital competences holistically were also determined. This study is useful as it provides a comprehensive, general, and detailed overview of scientific production and its main contributions regarding the methodologies, tools, and environments that contribute to developing students’ the digital competences in higher education.

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has constituted an extraordinarily stressful situation for healthcare professionals and has led to psychological distress and an increase in various mental disorders. In the post-pandemic context, it is necessary to provide professionals with strategies and skills to manage this stressful situation and prevent or minimize its negative impact. Methods Aims: To assess the feasibility and clinical effects of a group psychoeducational program focused on preventing the adverse psychological and emotional effects of the pandemic on primary care workers, and to explore the experience and perceptions of participants with regard to the program from a qualitative perspective. Design: A single-arm, before-and-after study conducted in primary care. Setting: The 332 primary care centers of the Catalan Institute of Health (Catalonia, Spain) Participants: The target population of the intervention is primary care workers, including clinical profiles (e.g., nurses and doctors), and non-clinical profiles (e.g., administrative staff). The implementation strategy will also involve community psychologists, who will lead the psychoeducational groups, and the health organization promoting the implementation. Intervention: A group psychoeducational program targeting primary care workers to promote emotional well-being and the ability to cope with stressful situations. Community psychologists will deliver it in the primary care centers they are linked to. Measures: Mixed-methods evaluation, combining quantitative and qualitative research. A prospective assessment of the main outcomes (professional quality of life, psychological state, and resilience) will be performed using online questionnaires before and immediately after the intervention, and at 3 and 6 months. A qualitative study will be conducted, comprising focus groups and individual in-depth interviews with the participants in the intervention and the psychologists who provide it. Ethics: The Research Ethics Committee of the Jordi Gol Primary Care Research Institute (IDIAP) has approved the protocol (22/086-PCV). Discussion This project proposes an intervention to promote mental health and psychological well-being in primary care workers by learning skills and integrating them into personal and professional life. The expected results will allow us to determine the usefulness and effectiveness of this psychoeducational intervention under the conditions of real clinical practice, provide data to model and perfect it, and promote its dissemination. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05720429; registered on 09/02/2023.

Software maintenance is an important and expensive stage during software development. Most of these tasks are done manually with static code analyzers, but this might change if new Artificial Intelligence approaches were used. For this purpose, huge amounts of data are extremely necessary to achieve a good performance by using traditional Data Science and Deep Learning techniques. Accordingly, this paper presents a software capable of creating, automatically, customizable coding error datasets in JSON format by using the SonarQube static analyzer. Consequently, coding error datasets could be easily created, encouraging new maintenance approaches (e.g., automated program repair through Deep Learning Models).

In the marine environment, fish parasites are present in most seafood species. The most common are nematodes of the genus Anisakis, which can parasitize human tissues, causing anisakiasis and allergies—in some cases with a strong reaction, such as anaphylactic shock. This happens when people ingest live or dead larvae present in the muscles or viscera of a wide range of fish and cephalopods. Consumer education has been positioned as one of the most effective alternatives for its prevention. This study, carried out in Asturias (northwest Spain), sought to identify the seafood products that present the greatest risk of anisakiasis for consumers, taking into account their consumption, the prevalence of Anisakis, and consumer knowledge about this parasitosis. In the results, hake (Merluccius merluccius) and cod (Gadus morhua), frequently consumed in the region and with high parasite prevalence, do not pose a great risk because they are consumed when well cooked. Instead, sardine (Sardina pilchardus), highly consumed and less parasitized, and anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus), highly parasitized and less consumed, would exhibit a medium risk. Young participants know more about the risks of anisakiasis from raw seafood. The gaps detected in the knowledge about the ability of temperature treatments to eliminate parasites, especially in allergic people, must be addressed for better prevention. We suggest campaigns adapted to the population sectors.

IntroductioSea cucumbers are increasingly demanded as seafood in different cultures around the world. Holothurians could be potentially exploited in southern Bay of Biscay (Iberian Cantabrian coast) where they are not fished yet. Recent studies show relatively high pollution by emerging pollutants like microplastics (MPs) in the region; perhaps the exposure of holothurians to those MPs may put them at risk.Material and methodsHere we analysed 60 samples of Holothuria forskali taken from the west and east of the Cape Peñas transition zone in different seasons. MPs were quantified from body wall tissue, and mitochondrial DNA sequences (16S and COI genes) were employed to determine population connectivity and infer replenishment capacity.ResultsMuch higher MPs content in holothurian tissue than in water and sediments confirmed bioconcentration in this species. Significant differences between sampling locations were found, holothurian pollution being consistent with the occurrence of MPs sources like rivers, fishing ports and aquaculture. Genetic connectivity and no signals of diversity reduction in the most polluted samples suggest population replenishment capacity in H. forskali in the studied region. Results for a few samples of H. mammata from the same sampling points confirmed a higher MPs pollution at the west of Cape Peñas.DiscussionAccording to these exploratory results, sea cucumbers seem to accumulate MPs especially in the western Cantabrian Sea. Further studies are recommended to understand the possible MPs threat for these holothurian species.

Microplastics (MPs) affect both marine and terrestrial biota worldwide for their harmful effects, which range from physical cell damage to physiological deterioration. In this research, microplastics were quantified from gills, liver and muscle of demersal Benguela hakes Merluccius polli (n = 94), caught by commercial trawling from northwest African waters. Plastic polymers were identified using Fourier Transformed-infraRed spectroscopy (FT-iR). Fulton’s k condition factor and the degree of DNA degradation in liver were measured. None of the individuals were free of MPs, whose concentration ranged from 0.18 particles/g in muscle to 0.6 in liver. Four hazardous polymers were identified: 2-ethoxyethylmethacrylate, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, and poly-acrylics. MP concentration in liver was correlated negatively with the condition factor, suggesting physiological damage. Positive association of MP concentration and liver DNA degradation was explained from cell breakage during trawl hauls during decompression, suggesting an additional way of MPs harm in organisms inhabiting at great depth. This is the first report of potential MPs-driven damage in this species; more studies are recommended to understand the impact of MP pollution on demersal species.

Summary: During embryonic development, all blood progenitors are initially generated from endothelial cells that acquire a hemogenic potential. Blood progenitors emerge through an endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition regulated by the transcription factor RUNX1. To date, we still know very little about the molecular characteristics of hemogenic endothelium and the molecular changes underlying the transition from endothelium to hematopoiesis. Here, we analyzed at the single cell level a human embryonic stem cell-derived endothelial population containing hemogenic potential. RUNX1-expressing endothelial cells, which harbor enriched hemogenic potential, show very little molecular differences to their endothelial counterpart suggesting priming toward hemogenic potential rather than commitment. Additionally, we identify CD82 as a marker of the endothelium-to-hematopoietic transition. CD82 expression is rapidly upregulated in newly specified blood progenitors then rapidly downregulated as further differentiation occurs. Together our data suggest that endothelial cells are first primed toward hematopoietic fate, and then rapidly undergo the transition from endothelium to blood.

IntroductionThe majority of studies on marine biosecurity focus on aquatic species, but invaders can also use dry ship compartments for dispersal; this pathway has been less explored than fouling or ballast water. Here we analysed the maritime traffic of the international Port of Gijon (south Bay of Biscay, Spain) as a case study.MethodsMain donor countries were identified from traffic data. From the Global Invasive Species Database, we detected a similar proportion of expected global alien invasive species (AIS) from fouling and containers pathways to be actually settled in the recipient region.ResultsThe AIS diversity transported via fouling was higher than that transported by containers. No significant difference between Australia, Brazil, Canada and South Africa in the proportion of global AIS actually transferred to Bay of Biscay supports the vision of port networks as a new ecosystem with multiple demes. Different AIS catalogues in the donor regions may explain a higher proportion of terrestrial AIS introduced via containers from Brazil and South Africa and marine AIS introduced via fouling.DiscussionA more careful surveillance of biota in dry ship compartments, including it in a future revision in the International Convention for Safe Containers, is recommended to reduce the contribution of shipping to biological invasions.

The exploration of Mars is one of the main objectives of space missions since the red planet is considered to be, or was in the past, potentially habitable. Although the surface of Mars is now dry and arid, abundant research suggests that water covered Mars billions of years ago. Recently, the existence of liquid water in subglacial lakes has been postulated below the South pole of Mars. Until now, experiments have been carried out on the survival of microorganisms in Martian surface conditions, but it remains unknown how their adaptation mechanisms would be in the Martian cryosphere. In this work, two bacterial species (Bacillus subtilis and Curtobacterium flacumfaciens) were subjected to a simulated Martian environment during 24 h using a planetary chamber. Afterward, the molecular machinery of both species was studied to investigate how they had been modified. Proteomes, the entire set of proteins expressed by each bacterium under Earth (named standard) conditions and Martian conditions, were compared using proteomic techniques. To establish this evaluation, both the expression levels of each protein, and the variation in their distribution within the different functional categories were considered. The results showed that these bacterial species followed a different strategy. The Bacillus subtilis resistance approach consisted of improving its stress response, membrane bioenergetics, degradation of biomolecules; and to a lesser extent, increasing its mobility and the formation of biofilms or resistance endospores. On the contrary, enduring strategy of Curtobacterium flacumfaciens comprised of strengthening the cell envelope, trying to protect cells from the extracellular environment. These results are especially important due to their implications for planetary protection, missions to Mars and sample return since contamination by microorganisms would invalidate the results of these investigations.

ABSTRACT To assist in the advancement of the large-scale production of safe Mycoplasma vaccines and other Mycoplasma-based therapies, we developed a culture medium free of animal serum and other animal components for Mycoplasma pneumoniae growth. By establishing a workflow method to systematically test different compounds and concentrations, we provide optimized formulations capable of supporting serial passaging and robust growth reaching 60 to 70% of the biomass obtained in rich medium. Global transcriptomic and proteomic analysis showed minor physiological changes upon cell culture in the animal component-free medium, supporting its suitability for the production of M. pneumoniae-based therapies. The major contributors to growth performance were found to be glucose as a carbon source, glycerol, cholesterol, and phospholipids as a source of fatty acids. Bovine serum albumin or cyclodextrin (in the animal component-free medium) were required as lipid carriers to prevent lipid toxicity. Connaught Medical Research Laboratories medium (CMRL) used to simplify medium preparation as a source of amino acids, nucleotide precursors, vitamins, and other cofactors could be substituted by cysteine. In fact, the presence of protein hydrolysates such as yeastolate or peptones was found to be essential and preferred over free amino acids, except for the cysteine. Supplementation of nucleotide precursors and vitamins is not strictly necessary in the presence of yeastolate, suggesting that this animal origin-free hydrolysate serves as an efficient source for these compounds. Finally, we adapted the serum-free medium formulation to support growth of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, a swine pathogen for which inactivated whole-cell vaccines are available. IMPORTANCE Mycoplasma infections have a significant negative impact on both livestock production and human health. Vaccination is often the first option to control disease and alleviate the economic impact that some Mycoplasma infections cause on milk production, weight gain, and animal health. The fastidious nutrient requirements of these bacteria, however, challenges the industrial production of attenuated or inactivated whole-cell vaccines, which depends on the use of animal serum and other animal raw materials. Apart from their clinical relevance, some Mycoplasma species have become cellular models for systems and synthetic biology, owing to the small size of their genomes and the absence of a cell wall, which offers unique opportunities for the secretion and delivery of biotherapeutics. This study proposes medium formulations free of serum and animal components with the potential of supporting large-scale production upon industrial optimization, thus contributing to the development of safe vaccines and other Mycoplasma-based therapies.

This study investigates the feasibility and functionality of accelerometer and gyroscope sensors for gesture-based interactions in mobile app user experience. The core of this innovative approach lies in introducing a dynamic and intuitive user interaction model with the device sensors. The Android app developed for this purpose has been created for its use in controlled experiments. Methodologically, it was created as a stand-alone tool to both capture quantitative (time, automatically captured) and qualitative (behavior, collected with post-task questionnaires) variables. The app’s setting features a set of modules with two levels each (randomized presentation applied, minimizing potential learning effects), allowing users to interact with both sensor-based and traditional touch-based scenarios. Preliminary results with 22 participants reveal that tasks involving sensor-based interactions tend to take longer to complete when compared to the traditional ones. Remarkably, many participants rated sensor-based interactions as a better option than touch-based interactions, as seen in the post-task questionnaires. This apparent discrepancy between objective completion times and subjective user perceptions requires a future in-depth exploration of factors influencing user experiences, including potential learning curves, cognitive load, and task complexity. This study contributes to the evolving landscape of mobile app user experience, emphasizing the benefits of considering the integration of device sensors (and gesture-based interactions) in common mobile usage.

Abstract River barriers affect river dynamics and aquatic biota, altering the entire ecosystem. Nevertheless, dams and reservoirs provide goods like water supply and low-carbon energy that are becoming increasingly critical under current climate change. To know to what extent dams and reservoirs are important to the population, we explored social attitudes towards dams and reservoirs using a face-to-face questionnaire in two regions of contrasting climate and water security in Spain, a country with one of highest densities of dams in Europe. Results (N = 613) revealed a higher support for dams, mediated by the recognition of the services they provide, in the drier Mediterranean Malaga province (Andalusia), than in the wetter Atlantic Asturias province (Bay of Biscay), where water shortages are rare. Awareness of the impacts of the dams was more pronounced in Malaga, coupled with a higher willingness to pay for reconnecting rivers. Social awareness of both impacts and services provided by dams and reservoirs may depend on local climate and water security; different dam acceptance emphasizes the need to involve local citizens in the decision-making processes about water management.

Genome resources have become crucial to assess genome-wide level of variation as well as to detect adaptive variation. This is particularly important for studying diversity in marine species inhabiting regions highly affected by accelerated climate warming and pollution, also known as global change. A greater awareness of the impacts of global change is urgently needed to ensure sustainable marine fisheries. Despite recent efforts, there are still many gaps in fish reference genomes, both geographical and taxonomic. Here, we sequence, assemble and annotate the genome of Merluccius polli. The total length of this new assembly (~582 Kb, N50 = 168Kb) is approximately 40% longer and much less fragmented than a previous version. Even though it might not be intrinsic of this species, low level of heterozygosity (1.16 SNPs/Kb) and low proportion of repeat content (9.21%) was found in this genome. This hake species has a wide latitudinal distribution; therefore, it is exposed to a changing temperature gradient and to a variety of contaminants in part of its distribution along West African coast. Special emphasis was laid on the identification and characterization of candidate genes known to respond to different stressors (depth, temperature, hypoxia, and heavy metals) happening along its geographical distribution. A total of 68 of the selected candidate genes known to be associated with responses to these stressors were found in the current assembly of the genome, and their predicted sequence can be considered as full-length. Therefore, it is expected that this genome would serve as a tool to further investigations of global change in one of the most stressed marine regions in the planet.

IntroductionMicroplastics (MP) threaten all organisms worldwide. MP are produced directly as microbeads in cosmetics and hygiene products, or indirectly from breakage of larger plastics. The control of MP requires consumers' engagement to refuse products containing microbeads.MethodsWe conducted a survey on 572 university students from Mexico and Spain, two countries where microbeads are not banned yet. More strict laws for plastic control areenforced in Mexico than in Spain.ResultsControlling for age and education, despite knowing less about MP, Mexicans checked for microbeads on product labels more frequently than Spaniards, and desired to reduce MP consumption more. A stronger correlation between individual awareness and willingness of MP control was found for Mexican than for Spanish students.DiscussionPerhaps more strict legislation against plastics creates an environment favorable to MP control. Unclear statement of microbeads on labels was the main reason for not checking microbead contents; environmental education and a stricter control of plastics and MP were identified as necessary policy changes in the two countries. Corporation engagement on clearer product labeling is also suggested.

Over the last years, perennial ice deposits located within caves have awakened interest as places to study microbial communities since they represent unique cryospheric archives of climate change. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, the temperature has gradually increased, and it is estimated that by the end of this century the increase in average temperature could be around 4.0°C. In this context of global warming the ice deposits of the Pyrenean caves are undergoing a significant regression. Among this type of caves, that on the Cotiella Massif in the Southern Pyrenees is one of the southernmost studied in Europe. These types of caves house microbial communities which have so far been barely explored, and therefore their study is necessary. In this work, the microbial communities of the Pyrenean ice cave A294 were identified using metabarcoding techniques. In addition, research work was carried out to analyze how the age and composition of the ice affect the composition of the bacterial and microeukaryotic populations. Finally, the in vivo effect of climate change on the cellular machinery that allow microorganisms to live with increasing temperatures has been studied using proteomic techniques.

The movement of organisms facilitated by anthropogenic activities is a serious threat to marine diversity, especially for endemic species that may be outcompeted from non-indigenous species (NIS). In this study, we have analyzed communities inhabiting the north of the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, employing environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding. That gulf is especially rich in species and population endemism. We have detected NIS representing 36% of the total number of species found from eDNA. Primary producers were more abundant in the NIS than in the native fraction of species, suggesting that functional diversity could be altered if NIS thrive there. We discuss maritime traffic as a factor that may enhance the introduction of non-natives in this region and emphasize the importance of the control of these species that may threaten the rich endemic biota of the Red Sea.

The Horizon Europe project ISIDORe is dedicated to pandemic preparedness and responsiveness research. It brings together 17 research infrastructures (RIs) and networks to provide a broad range of services to infectious disease researchers. An efficient and structured treatment of data is central to ISIDORe’s aim to furnish seamless access to its multidisciplinary catalogue of services, and to ensure that users’ results are treated FAIRly. ISIDORe therefore requires a data management plan (DMP) covering both access management and research outputs, applicable over a broad range of disciplines, and compatible with the constraints and existing practices of its diverse partners. Here, we describe how, to achieve that aim, we undertook an iterative, step-by-step, process to build a community-approved living document, identifying good practices and processes, on the basis of use cases, presented as proof of concepts. International fora such as the RDA and EOSC, and primarily the BY-COVID project, furnished registries, tools and online data platforms, as well as standards, and the support of data scientists. Together, these elements provide a path for building an umbrella, FAIR-compliant DMP, aligned as fully as possible with FAIR principles, which could also be applied as a framework for data management harmonisation in other large-scale, challenge-driven projects. Finally, we discuss how data management and reuse can be further improved through the use of knowledge models when writing DMPs and, how, in the future, an inter-RI network of data stewards could contribute to the establishment of a community of practice, to be integrated subsequently into planned trans-RI competence centres.

Abstract Bacteria present a promising delivery system for treating human diseases. Here, we engineered the genome‐reduced human lung pathogen Mycoplasma pneumoniae as a live biotherapeutic to treat biofilm‐associated bacterial infections. This strain has a unique genetic code, which hinders gene transfer to most other bacterial genera, and it lacks a cell wall, which allows it to express proteins that target peptidoglycans of pathogenic bacteria. We first determined that removal of the pathogenic factors fully attenuated the chassis strain in vivo. We then designed synthetic promoters and identified an endogenous peptide signal sequence that, when fused to heterologous proteins, promotes efficient secretion. Based on this, we equipped the chassis strain with a genetic platform designed to secrete antibiofilm and bactericidal enzymes, resulting in a strain capable of dissolving Staphylococcus aureus biofilms preformed on catheters in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. To our knowledge, this is the first engineered genome‐reduced bacterium that can fight against clinically relevant biofilm‐associated bacterial infections.

The Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae pandemic has been compromising the production of the kiwifruit industry in major producing countries. Abiotic factors and plant gender are known to influence the disease outcome. To better understand their impact, we have determined the diversity of the leaf bacterial communities using the V5-V6 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon on the Illumina MiSeq sequencing platform. Healthy and diseased female and male kiwifruit plants were analyzed in two consecutive seasons: spring and autumn. This work describes whether the season, plant gender, and presence of P. syringae pv. actinidiae can affect the leaf bacterial community. Fifty bacterial operational taxonomic units were identified and assigned to five phyla distributed by 14 different families and 23 genera. The leaves of healthy female and male kiwi plants share most of the identified bacterial populations, which undergo major seasonal changes. In both cases, a substantial increase of the relative abundance of genus Methylobacterium is observed in autumn. The presence of P. syringae pv. actinidiae induced profound changes on leaf bacterial community structures, translated into a reduction in the relative abundance of previously dominant genera that had been found in healthy plants; namely, Hymenobacter, Sphingomonas, and Massilia spp. The impact of P. syringae pv. actinidiae was less pronounced in the bacterial community structure of male plants in both seasons. Some of the naturally occurring genera have the potential to act as antagonists or as enhancers of the defense mechanisms, paving the way for environmentally friendly and sustainable disease control.

Single-use plastics (SUP) coming from the land represent a large fraction of marine plastic debris that threatens the ocean biota today and are one of the main causes of microplastic pollution. Consumer behavior is essential to stop the use and improper disposal of SUP, replacing plastic with alternative eco-friendly products. For the evident plastic pollution of beaches and seas, marine citizenship, interpreted as the personal responsibility that individuals take for the oceans, could help to reduce SUP use and change to sustainable alternatives. Here we studied SUP consumption behaviors in Spain (n = 585) and Mexico (n = 337) using a multivariate multiple regression approach. Different policies and social norms in the two countries were reflected in reduced SUP use in Mexico compared to Spain and more recycling in Spain than in Mexico. The main reasons for the use of SUP were the lack of alternatives and forgetting reusable goods in the two countries. Feeling responsible for the ocean predicted the intention to use eco-friendly alternatives, while sea frequentation predicted recycling. Gender, age, and education influenced significantly the willingness to use eco-friendly alternatives. From the results of this study, campaigns promoting awareness through increased ocean literacy and marine citizenship—even in regions far from the sea—could promote reductions in SUP consumption, enhancing the use of sustainable alternatives. Those campaigns could be tailored by country, taking into account local policies and habits, gender, age, and educational levels.

Abstract Despite high effort for food traceability to ensure safe and sustainable consumption, mislabeling persists on seafood markets. Determining what drives deliberate fraud is necessary to improve food authenticity and sustainability. In this study, the relationship between consumer’s appreciation and fraudulent mislabeling was assessed through a combination of a survey on consumer’s preferences (N = 1608) and molecular tools applied to fish samples commercialized by European companies. We analyzed 401 samples of fish highly consumed in Europe and worldwide (i.e. tuna, hake, anchovy, and blue whiting) through PCR-amplification and sequencing of a suite of DNA markers. Results revealed low mislabeling rate (1.9%), with a higher mislabeling risk in non-recognizable products and significant mediation of fish price between consumer´s appreciation and mislabeling risk of a species. Furthermore, the use of endangered species (e.g. Thunnus thynnus), tuna juveniles for anchovy, and still not regulated Merluccius polli hake as substitutes, points towards illegal, unreported and/or unregulated fishing from African waters. These findings reveal a worrying intentional fraud that hampers the goal of sustainable seafood production and consumption, and suggest to prioritize control efforts on highly appreciated species.

Abstract Zooplankton community inventories are the basis of fisheries management for containing fish larvae and their preys; however, the visual identification of early-stage larvae (the “missing biomass”) is difficult and laborious. Here, eDNA metabarcoding was employed to detect zooplankton species of interest for fisheries from open and coastal waters. High-Throughput sequencing (HTS) from environmental samples using small water volumes has been proposed to detect species of interest whose DNA is the most abundant. We analyzed 6-L water samples taken from subtropical and tropical waters using Cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene as metabarcode. In the open ocean, several commercial fish larvae and invertebrate species important in fish diet were found from metabarcodes and confirmed from individual barcoding. Comparing Atlantic, Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Pacific samples we found a lower taxonomic depth of OTU assignments in samples from tropical waters than in those from temperate ones, suggesting large gaps in reference databases for those areas; thus a higher effort of zooplankton barcoding in tropical oceans is highly recommended. This and similar simplified sampling protocols could be applied in early detection of species important for fisheries.

Abstract Metabolic engineering to divert carbon flux from sucrose to oil in high biomass crop like sugarcane is an emerging strategy to boost lipid yields per hectare for biodiesel production. Sugarcane stems comprise more than 70% of the crops' biomass and can accumulate sucrose in excess of 20% of their extracted juice. The energy content of oils in the form of triacylglycerol (TAG) is more than twofold that of carbohydrates. Here, we report a step change in TAG accumulation in sugarcane stem tissues achieving an average of 4.3% of their dry weight (DW) in replicated greenhouse experiments by multigene engineering. The metabolic engineering included constitutive co‐expression of wrinkled1; diacylglycerol acyltransferase1‐2; cysteine‐oleosin; and ribonucleic acid interference‐suppression of sugar‐dependent1. The TAG content in leaf tissue was also elevated by more than 400‐fold compared to non‐engineered sugarcane to an average of 8.0% of the DW and the amount of total fatty acids reached about 13% of the DW. With increasing TAG accumulation an increase of 18:1 unsaturated fatty acids was observed at the expense of 16:0 and 18:0 saturated fatty acids. Total biomass accumulation, soluble lignin, Brix and juice content were significantly reduced in the TAG hyperaccumulating sugarcane lines. Overcoming this yield drag by engineering lipid accumulation into late stem development will be critical to exceed lipid yields of current oilseed crops.

Glaciers constitute a polyextremophilic environment characterized by low temperatures, high solar radiation, a lack of nutrients, and low water availability. However, glaciers located in volcanic regions have special characteristics, since the volcanic foci provide them with heat and nutrients that allow the growth of microbial communities highly adapted to this environment. Most of the studies on these glacial ecosystems have been carried out in volcanic environments in the northern hemisphere, including Iceland and the Pacific Northwest. To better know, the microbial diversity of the underexplored glacial ecosystems and to check what their specific characteristics were, we studied the structure of bacterial communities living in volcanic glaciers in Deception Island, Antarctica, and in the Kamchatka peninsula. In addition to geographic coordinates, many other glacier environmental factors (like volcanic activity, altitude, temperature, pH, or ice chemical composition) that can influence the diversity and distribution of microbial communities were considered in this study. Finally, using their taxonomic assignments, an attempt was made to compare how different or similar are the biogeochemical cycles in which these microbiomes are involved.

Accuracy in reporting captures is a key element to achieve fisheries sustainability. However, identification of the catches might be a challenge when two or more species are morphologically similar and caught jointly, like the mixed fisheries of black hakes in East Atlantic African waters. Black hakes (Merluccius senegalensis and M. polli) are tough to differentiate without previous training due to their high morphological resemblance. The two species are managed as a single stock, although the biological differences between them suggest the need of a separate management. In this study, a total of 806 black hakes were visually identified by fishers on deck of fishing vessels operating in Mauritania and Senegal waters, then assigned to a species by sequencing 450bp of the Mitochondrial Control Region. Comparing the results with visual identification we found 31.4% of the total catch were incorrectly labelled on board by the fishermen. The accuracy of the fishers’ identification depended on the depth of capture and on fish size, larger individuals caught from deeper waters being more correctly assigned to M. polli. Mislabelling biased to M. polli suggests that M. senegalensis, already catalogued as endangered, is being underreported, which could endanger the conservation of this species and threaten the sustainability of black hake fisheries. Our results highlight the need for separate evaluation of the stocks in mixed fisheries for morphologically similar fish. Thus, monitoring through DNA barcoding in the very first step of the seafood chain surveys would improve accurate species delimitation and reduce its impact on the correct assessment of the stocks.

In Portugal, the Cova da Beira region is well-known for the production of Prunus spp. and is considered the main peach production area in the country. In the spring of 2021 and 2022, field surveys in peach and nectarine orchards showed symptoms of decline such as cankers, gummosis, dry branches, abortion of flowers, mummified fruits and the partial or total death of some plants. Brown rot is caused by three species of the genus Monilinia, M. fructigena, M. laxa and M. fructicola, the last is an OEPP/EPPO A2 quarantine organism on peach trees. Brown rot disease had previously been described in the Cova da Beira region, however, the recent high mortality and severity of symptoms raised doubts as to the species involved. Symptomatic plant material was collected from thirteen orchards and used for fungal isolation and molecular detection according to the OEPP/EPPO standard. M. fructicola was confirmed morphologically and molecularly in two orchards, and molecularly (duplex real-time PCR) detected in two others. Whole genome sequencing using Oxford Nanopore MinION was also carried out to confirm the identification. Pathogenicity tests were performed on peach, nectarine and sweet cherry fruit according to Koch’s postulates. Based on all the results obtained, we report the first detection of M. fructicola in P. persica in Portugal.

The European eel Anguilla anguilla is a critically endangered catadromous species. There is an urgent need for close surveillance of the populations that are still viable in European rivers. The species is difficult to observe in freshwater because of its bottom-dwelling behavior; the currently employed methods of eel monitoring in Europe based on the physical capture of individuals are stressful and may cause mortality. Here, we present a new highly sensitive method based on an A. anguilla-specific qPCR marker designed within the cytochrome oxidase I mitochondrial gene for application on environmental DNA (eDNA). Since the detectability of eDNA depends on the hydrographic conditions, we applied correction for altitude and a linear model and were able to predict the eel biomass from the eDNA in the different rivers of northern Spain still holding wild populations. The method was validated by electrofishing surveys. This novel eDNA-based marker allows for estimating the European eel biomass in running waters from small 1.5 L water samples and could complement, or replace in some cases, current eel surveys without disturbing wild populations.

The transcription factor RUNX1 is a master regulator of blood cell specification. During embryogenesis, hematopoietic progenitors are initially generated from hemogenic endothelium through an endothelium-to-hematopoietic transition controlled by RUNX1. Several studies have dissected the expression pattern and role of RUNX1 isoforms at the onset of mouse hematopoiesis, however the precise pattern of RUNX1 isoform expression and biological output of RUNX1-expressing cells at the onset of human hematopoiesis is still not fully understood. Here, we investigated these questions using a RUNX1b:VENUS RUNX1c:TOMATO human embryonic stem cell line which allows multi-parameter single cell resolution via flow cytometry and isolation of RUNX1b-expressing cells for further analysis. Our data reveal the sequential expression of the two RUNX1 isoforms with RUNX1b expressed first in a subset of endothelial cells and during the endothelial to hematopoietic transition while RUNX1c only becomes expressed in fully specified blood cells. Furthermore, our data show that RUNX1b marks endothelial cells endowed with hemogenic potential and that RUNX1b expression level determines hemogenic competency in a dose-dependent manner. Together our data reveal the dynamic of RUNX1 isoforms expression at the onset of human blood specification and establish RUNX1b isoform as the earliest known marker for hemogenic competency.

Background A sodium‐restricted diet represents a potential non‐pharmacological strategy for improving blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and left ventricular (LV) diastolic function. We investigated age‐related differences in LV structure and function and the relationship between LV function and central hemodynamics in an indigenous Papuan population, who maintain a traditional lifestyle, including a low‐salt and high‐potassium diet. Methods and Results We measured LV dimensions, transmitral blood flow, and mitral annular tissue velocities through echocardiography and Doppler imaging. Blood pressure and brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity were measured using an automatic device (Omron). Central blood pressure and wave reflection parameters were estimated via oscillometry (Mobil‐O‐Graph, using European calibrations). A total of 82 native Papuans (median age, 42 years; 38 women; no blood pressure treatment) were enrolled. Age‐related difference in brachial systolic pressure was modest but significant, and brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity significantly increased with age; however, LV mass index remained unchanged. LV ejection fraction and global longitudinal strain were preserved; mitral A‐wave velocity and average E/e´ increased; and e´ and E/A decreased with age. Brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity and spot urine Na/K were positively and independently correlated with E/e´. Age and heart rate were inversely associated with E/A. In conclusion, LV systolic function was preserved; however, LV diastolic function decreased with age in Papuans. Moreover, age‐related arterial stiffening, but not wave reflections, was inversely related to LV diastolic function. Conclusions Our results suggest that arterial and LV stiffness may not be altered by sodium restriction. Longitudinal studies are warranted to elucidate the effects of diet on arterial and LV function.

Glaciers and their microbiomes are exceptional witnesses of the environmental conditions from remote times. Climate change is threatening mountain glaciers, and especially those found in southern Europe, such as the Monte Perdido Glacier (northern Spain, Central Pyrenees). This study focuses on the reconstruction of the history of microbial communities over time. The microorganisms that inhabit the Monte Perdido Glacier were identified using high-throughput sequencing, and the microbial communities were compared along an altitudinal transect covering most of the preserved ice sequence in the glacier. The results showed that the glacial ice age gradient did shape the diversity of microbial populations, which presented large differences throughout the last 2000 years. Variations in microbial community diversity were influenced by glacial conditions over time (nutrient concentration, chemical composition, and ice age). Some groups were exclusively identified in the oldest samples as the bacterial phyla Fusobacteria and Calditrichaeota, or the eukaryotic class Rhodophyceae. Among groups only found in modern samples, the green sulfur bacteria (phylum Chlorobi) stood out, as well as the bacterial phylum Gemmatimonadetes and the eukaryotic class Tubulinea. A patent impact of human contamination was also observed on the glacier microbiome. The oldest samples, corresponding to the Roman Empire times, were influenced by the beginning of mining exploitation in the Pyrenean area, with the presence of metal-tolerant microorganisms. The most recent samples comprise 600-year-old ancient ice in which current communities are living.

This paper presents and contextualises issue 123 of Revista CIDOB d'Afers Internationals on “International municipalism and the right to the city: cities in the age of globalisation”. To do this, it outlines the trajectory of the right to the city, from the streets to the institutional world. While the right to the city has been written about extensively, its incorporation into international municipalism remains little explored in academic literature. This is the added value of the analysis contained in this monograph, the results of which are set out in its seven articles. More than answering established questions, the topics expanded upon here raise new questions and propose a new agenda for research and discussion on the contradictions and challenges of the right to the city, with all that it entails.

Abstract Aim Codium fragile, an invasive seaweed, has spread widely during the last century, impacting on local seaweed communities through competition and disturbance. Early detection of C. fragile can help on its control and management. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has proved successful for early detection of aquatic invasive species but its potential use for seaweed remains understudied. We used a species‐specific eDNA qPCR approach to investigate the spatial distribution, abundance, and coexistence of the invasive C. fragile and three native Codium species (Codium vermilara, Codium tomentosum, and Codium decorticatum) in the Cantabrian Sea. Location Bay of Biscay, Northern Atlantic Coast of the Iberian Peninsula; two ports, a beach and a rocky cliff. Methods We designed species‐specific primers in barcoding regions targeting short fragments of the rbcL gene for the invasive Codium species, and the elongation factor Tu (tufA) gene for the native species, to assess their spatial and seasonal distributions using quantitative real‐time PCR in samples collected during summer, autumn, and winter. Results We found seasonal differences in the presence of the invasive Codium fragile and two of the native Codium species, but did not detect C. decorticatum at any point. Species distribution patterns produced with qPCR targeting species‐specific eDNA coincided with the known distribution based on previous conventional sampling, with a seasonal alternance of C. fragile and C. vermilara, and a marked dominance of invasive C. fragile in ports, which are known hotspots for invasive species. Main conclusions Our results demonstrate the utility of using eDNA for early detection and monitoring of invasive seaweed. Native and invasive Codium spp. displayed significant seasonal and spatial differentiation that needs to be taken into account in risk management. Regular monitoring of ports and adjacent areas using eDNA should help to assess the potential expansion of invasive Codium and the need for management interventions to avoid the displacement of native seaweed.

Abstract Glaciers are populated by a large number of microorganisms including bacteria, archaea and microeukaryotes. Several factors such as solar radiation, nutrient availability and water content greatly determine the diversity and abundance of these microbial populations, the type of metabolism and the biogeochemical cycles. Three ecosystems can be differentiated in glaciers: supraglacial, subglacial and englacial ecosystems. Firstly, the supraglacial ecosystem, sunlit and oxygenated, is predominantly populated by photoautotrophic microorganisms. Secondly, the subglacial ecosystem contains a majority of chemoautotrophs that are fed on the mineral salts of the rocks and basal soil. Lastly, the englacial ecosystem is the least studied and the one that contains the smallest number of microorganisms. However, these unknown englacial microorganisms establish a food web and appear to have an active metabolism. In order to study their metabolic potentials, samples of englacial ice were taken from an Antarctic glacier. Microorganisms were analyzed by a polyphasic approach that combines a set of -omic techniques: 16S rRNA sequencing, culturomics and metaproteomics. This combination provides key information about diversity and functions of microbial populations, especially in rare habitats. Several whole essential proteins and enzymes related to metabolism and energy production, recombination and translation were found that demonstrate the existence of cellular activity at subzero temperatures. In this way it is shown that the englacial microorganisms are not quiescent, but that they maintain an active metabolism and play an important role in the glacial microbial community.

The social value of natural aquatic ecosystems is very important to set management priorities. River connectivity is essential for the conservation of freshwater ecosystems because barriers alter both abiotic conditions and the biotic communities, compromising biodiversity; however, the appreciation of this river feature has been insufficiently considered in socio-environmental studies that are mainly focused on the acceptance of new dams. Here we used a willingness to pay approach to estimate the value of connectivity, native species, fish diversity (measured as functional diversity or as species richness), fish abundance and environmental quality in three groups of students of different educational background in Asturias (NW of Spain). As in other studies where they are more sensitive to environmental issues, educational sciences students would pay more to conserve and improve river conditions than students of other disciplines. Connectivity was the least valued river feature by students of educational and natural sciences, and the third (before biodiversity and fish abundance) by engineering students. We measured the same features on lowland reaches of four coastal rivers in the Bay of Biscay, and applied declared will amounts to model their appreciation. Differences between the river ranks obtained from functional diversity (that changes with non-native species) and species richness, and small differences between students of different disciplines in the gap between most and least preferred rivers arise from the model. This indicates the importance to involve diverse stakeholder sectors in decisions about rivers. The importance of river connectivity in the conservation of local biodiversity should be explained to general public, perhaps through environmental campaigns.

Summary: Little is known about the emergence of blood progenitors during human embryogenesis due to ethical reasons and restricted embryo access. The use of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) as a model system offers unique opportunities to dissect human blood cell formation. Here, we describe a protocol allowing the differentiation of hESCs via embryoid bodies toward hemogenic endothelium and its subsequent differentiation to blood progenitors. This protocol relies on the formation of embryoid bodies, which is tricky if not carefully performed.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Garcia-Alegria et al. (2018).

DNA barcodes have been proposed for diverse applications as markers for species identification. One application that is not fully explored yet is their use for assessing the species biodiversity and presence of invasive alien species (IAS) in maritime biosecurity. The phylogeographical signals of the mitochondrial COI (mtCOI) gene have been sometimes used to infer the number of introductions and the origin of biological invasions. Here, we employed mtCOI barcodes of mollusks and acorn barnacles (N = 751) from ports of French Polynesia to infer the effect of port size, maritime traffic, and degree of openness in the risk of biological invasions. With 17.2% of non-indigenous species (NIS) recorded here, significant differences in diversity were found among docks and between long-time docked ships and their closest piers. A higher proportion of NIS was found from sheltered compared to open ports regardless of their size and traffic. Less frequent wave washing, a lower effect of currents, and partial isolation in sheltered ports could explain the difference. The results suggest that port biota surveys should focus first on ports sheltered from the open sea and emphasize the value of mtCOI barcodes for the early detection of potential invasive species and for prioritizing surveillance efforts.

Microplastics (MPs) are increasing in the marine environment as well as inside marine organisms, having an important effect on biological diversity. The trophic transfer of MPs was demonstrated under laboratory conditions, but this study is based on the analysis of preys found in stomach contents. MPs from Merluccius merluccius individuals caught in the Cantabrian Sea and preys inside their guts (blue whiting, and northern krill inside blue whiting) were analyzed. MPs with different chemical composition occurred inside every hake and their preys, with different damages, from aquatic life hazards with long lasting effects, to allergic skin reactions and respiratory irritation, not only for aquatic species and fishing resources, but also for humans through hake consumption. The similarity of MPs profiles from gills and seawater samples would support seawater as the main source of gill microplastics. The MPs profile of hake GIT was similar to that of hake preys inside. Despite the small sample size, the presence of MPs in all the tissues analyzed of hakes and their preys, together with the evidence of hazard compositions of some of them, highlights the need for policies and actions to reduce plastic and microplastic production and consumption.

Summary: The differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to hematopoietic lineages initiates with the specification of hemogenic endothelium, a transient specialized endothelial precursor of all blood cells. This in vitro system provides an invaluable model to dissect the emergence of hematopoiesis in humans. However, the study of hematopoiesis specification is hampered by a lack of consensus in the timing of hemogenic endothelium analysis and the full hematopoietic potential of this population. Here, our data reveal a sharp decline in the hemogenic potential of endothelium populations isolated over the course of hESC differentiation. Furthermore, by tracking the dynamic expression of CD31 and CD235a at the onset of hematopoiesis, we identified three populations of hematopoietic progenitors, representing primitive and definitive subsets that all emerge from the earliest specified hemogenic endothelium. Our data establish that hemogenic endothelium populations endowed with primitive and definitive hematopoietic potential are specified simultaneously from the mesoderm in differentiating hESCs. : Following the in vitro differentiation of human ESCs, Garcia-Alegria et al. demonstrate how the timing of endothelial cell isolation influences hemogenic potential. Early endothelial cells have the highest hemogenic potential, giving rise to two waves of hematopoiesis that are distinguished by CD31/CD235a expression. Multilineage potential is restricted to CD31+ cells and commitment toward primitive erythropoiesis coincides with CD31 loss. Keywords: hESC, hemogenic endothelium, multilineage potential, definitive hematopoiesis, primitive hematopoiesis

Abstract Biological changes occurring as a consequence of domestication and/or captivity are not still deeply known. In Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), endangered (Southern Europe) populations are enhanced by supportive breeding, which involves only 6 months of captive rearing following artificial spawning of wild‐collected adults. In this work, we assess whether several fitness‐correlated life‐history traits (migratory behavior, straying rate, age at maturity, and growth) are affected by early exposure to the captive environment within a generation, before reproduction thus before genetic selection. Results showed significant differences in growth and migratory behavior (including straying), associated with this very short period of captivity in natural fish populations, changing even genetic variability (decreased in hatchery‐reared adults) and the native population structure within and between rivers of the species. These changes appeared within a single generation, suggesting very short time of captivity is enough for initiating changes normally attributed to domestication. These results may have potential implications for the long‐term population stability/viability of species subjected to restoration and enhancement processes and could be also considered for the management of zoo populations.

Mediterranean coastal lagoons are environmentally important ecosystems whose conservation has been challenged due to anthropogenic impacts that promoted the expansion of non-indigenous and, sometimes, invasive species. Therefore, it is crucial to inventory biodiversity in these areas for the development of strategies of conservation and management. Classical methods used for biodiversity surveys and detection of non-native species may be unsuccessful for the detection and identification of species in early development stages such as cryptic, microscopic, elusive, and new coming species at low population density. The development of metabarcoding techniques in the last decade offers new opportunities for reliable biodiversity surveillance and facilitates early detection of nuisance species. The objective of this study was to analyze the species occurring in the protected coastal lagoon Canet-Saint Nazaire using a simple sampling protocol based on water samples and environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding with a single barcode (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I [COI] gene). Two invasive species (Polydora cornuta and Acartia tonsa), two polychaete bioindicators of pollution (Hediste diversicolor and Capitella capitata), and one alga that produces harmful algal blooms were detected from only 6 L of water, indicating environmental degradation in the lagoon despite its protected status. These results demonstrate the importance of COI as single barcode together with eDNA as an ecological early warning system and suggest the need for environmental restoration in this lagoon.

Marine debris is currently a significant source of environmental and economic problems. Floating litter can be employed by marine organisms as a surface to attach to and use as spreading vector. Human activities are promoting the expansion of potentially harmful species into novel ecosystems, endangering autochthonous communities. In this project, more than 1,000 litter items were collected and classified from five beaches eastwards the port of Gijon, in Asturias, Spain. Next generation sequencing was employed to study biofouling communities attached to items of different materials. A dominance of DNA from Florideophyceae, Dinophyceae and Arthropoda was found, and four non-indigenous species (NIS) were identified. Results showed a clear preference of Florideophyceae and Bryozoa to attach on textile surfaces versus plastic ones. Considering that these taxa contain several highly invasive species described to date, these data emphasize the potential of textile marine debris as a vector for dispersal of NIS. Moreover, the closest beaches to the port contained a more similar biota profile than the farther ones, confirming that both plastic and textile marine litter can be vectors for species dispersal from ports.

Abstract Background MicroRNAs are small regulatory RNAs with important roles in carcinogenesis. Genetic variants in these regulatory molecules may contribute to disease. We aim to identify allelic variants in microRNAs as susceptibility factors to gastric cancer using association studies and functional approaches. Methods Twenty‐one single nucleotide variants potentially functional, because of their location in either the seed, mature or precursor region of 22 microRNAs, were selected for association studies. Genetic association with gastric cancer in 365 cases and 1,284 matched controls (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition Cohort) was analysed using logistic regression. MicroRNA overexpression, transcriptome analysis, and target gene validation experiments were performed for functional studies. Results rs3746444:T>C, in the seed of MIR499A and mature MIR499B, associated with the cardia adenocarcinoma location; rs12416605:C>T, in the seed of MIR938, associated with the diffuse subtype; and rs2114358:T>C, in the precursor MIR1206, associated with the noncardia phenotype. In all cases, the association was inverse, indicating a protective affect against gastric cancer of the three minor allelic variants. MIR499 rs3746444:T>C and MIR1206 rs2114358:T>C are reported to affect the expression of these miRNAs, but the effect of MIR938 rs12416605:C>T is unknown yet. Functional approaches showed that the expression of MIR938 is affected by rs12416605:C>T and revealed that MIR938 could regulate a subset of cancer‐related genes in an allele‐specific fashion. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CXCL12, a chemokine participating in gastric cancer metastasis, is specifically regulated by only one of the rs12416605:C>T alleles. Conclusion rs12416605 appears to be involved in gastric cancer by affecting the regulatory function of MIR938 on genes related to this cancer type, particularly on CXCL12 posttranscriptional regulation.

Cold-loving microorganisms of all three domains of life have unique and special abilities that allow them to live in harsh environments. They have acquired structural and molecular mechanisms of adaptation to the cold that include the production of anti-freeze proteins, carbohydrate-based extracellular polymeric substances and lipids which serve as cryo- and osmoprotectants by maintaining the fluidity of their membranes. They also produce a wide diversity of pigmented molecules to obtain energy, carry out photosynthesis, increase their resistance to stress and provide them with ultraviolet light protection. Recently developed analytical techniques have been applied as high-throughoutput technologies for function discovery and for reconstructing functional networks in psychrophiles. Among them, omics deserve special mention, such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, glycomics, lipidomics and metabolomics. These techniques have allowed the identification of microorganisms and the study of their biogeochemical activities. They have also made it possible to infer their metabolic capacities and identify the biomolecules that are parts of their structures or that they secrete into the environment, which can be useful in various fields of biotechnology. This Review summarizes current knowledge on psychrophiles as sources of biomolecules and the metabolic pathways for their production. New strategies and next-generation approaches are needed to increase the chances of discovering new biomolecules.

Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, is a highly appreciated fish in European seafood markets and is one of the most substituted fish species in the world. Fraud have been detected in European markets in the last decade, finding different substitute species sold as G. morhua or Atlantic cod on the label. In this study, we analyzed 252 samples of fresh and frozen cod fillets sold in Germany, the Netherlands, and France using DNA barcoding. Different trends were found in different countries: while the level of mislabeling found in Germany and the Netherlands remained at zero in the last years, a significant increase was found in the French markets comparing the current results with previous studies on fillets in France. On the one hand, this mislabeling proves the need to encourage European efforts to control seafood authenticity; on the other, zero mislabeling in two countries shows the success of current European regulations.

This paper analyzes the effects of gamification in the social network of a massive online course. An educational social-networking platform gathered information about the contributions of participants and about the social networks that were formed during the course. A gamification layer with three game elements (points, badges, and leaderboard) was then implemented in the online learning platform. Social network analysis (SNA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to analyze the differences between a treatment and a comparison group (N = 591 and N = 427), using a set of 20 variables for each participant which quantified contributions to the learning platform as well as position and influence in the social network. The results of SNA show that gamification influences the structure of the social network of the course. The results also suggest that the variables cluster similarly for each group and that the linear combination of variables called the first component (F1) is a good descriptor of students’ work and position in the network. F1 can be used to build predictive models of course completion. The models show that the probability of passing the course increases more rapidly in the treatment (gamified) group.

Pseudomonassyringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) is a gram-negative bacterium responsible for the bacterial canker in Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa and A. chinensis var. chinensis, a quarantine organism threatening the kiwifruit industry sustainability. The present study aimed to determine the genetic structure of the endophytic and epiphytic populations of Psa isolated from four different Portuguese orchards with distinct abiotic conditions in two consecutive seasons. The results identified several coexisting and highly heterogeneous Psa populations. Moreover, evident changes in population structure occurred between the epiphytic and endophytic populations, and between seasons with a notable decrease in Psa diversity in autumn. This work provided solid evidence that the initial clonal expansion of Psa in Europe was followed by a wide genomic diversification. This perspective is important for the understanding of kiwifruit bacterial canker disease occurrence and Psa evolution, namely when adopting strategies for management of epidemics.