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Here, a degraded soil, located in a semi-arid Mediterranean region, was characterized 17 years after organic amendment with sludge or compost (differing in their stabilization degree) for restoration purposes. To do this, (i) soil physicochemical properties and plant cover, (ii) soil organic matter (SOM) content and composition, (iii) soil basal respiration and enzymatic activities, and (iv) abundance, taxonomic composition, and functionality (shotgun metagenomics) of microbial communities were studied. Increased SOM and nutrient contents were found in soil from amended plots with respect to the control, with no differences between amendment types. This is explained by the lasting effects of organic amendments and the higher plant cover. Thermal and pyrolytic analyses showed that the restoration process enriched soil mainly with SOM of intermediate recalcitrance and of high chemical diversity. SOM composition did not differ between amendment types. Increased microbial abundances and activities were found in the amended plots, without differences between compost and sludge. Shotgun metagenomics showed that microbial communities changed in taxonomic and functional terms between amended and unamended plots, but these differences were rather limited. The taxonomic differences between treatments were mainly driven by increasing abundances of Actinobacteria and decreasing abundances of Proteobacteria in soil from amended plots. Soil microbial communities in amended plots showed some functional adaptation to the increased nutrient contents and predominant nutrients forms. This, together with the higher microbial abundances detected, explained the conspicuous soil enzymatic activities reported in amended plots. The effectiveness of the studied soil restoration process was confirmed here from an integrative perspective.

Aquaporins (AQPs), membrane proteins responsible for facilitating water transport, found in plant membrane vesicles (MV), have been related to the functionality and stability of MV. We focused on AQPs obtained from broccoli, as they show potential for biotechnological applications. To gain further insight into the role of AQPs in MV, we describe the heterologous overexpression of two broccoli AQPs (BoPIP1;2 and BoPIP2;2) in Pichia pastoris, resulting in their purification with high yield (0.14 and 0.99 mg per gram cells for BoPIP1;2 and BoPIP2;2). We reconstituted AQPs in liposomes to study their functionality, and the size of proteoliposomes did not change concerning liposomes. BoPIP2;2 facilitated water transport, which was preserved for seven days at 4 °C and at room temperature but not at 37 °C. BoPIP2;2 was incorporated into liposomes to encapsulate a resveratrol extract, resulting in increased entrapment efficiency (EE) compared to conventional liposomes. Molecular docking was utilized to identify binding sites in PIP2s for resveratrol, highlighting the role of aquaporins in the improved EE. Moreover, interactions between plant AQP and human integrin were shown, which may increase internalization by the human target cells. Our results suggest AQP-based alternative encapsulation systems can be used in specifically targeted biotechnological applications

Variability in microbial growth is a keystone of modern Quantitative Microbiological Risk Assessment (QMRA). However, there are still significant knowledge gaps on how to model variability, with the most common assumption being that variability is constant. This is implemented by an error term (with constant variance) added on top of the secondary growth model (for the square root of the growth rate). However, this may go against microbial ecology principles, where differences in growth fitness among bacterial strains would be more prominent in the vicinity of the growth limits than at optimal growth conditions. This study coins the term "secondary models for variability", evaluating whether they should be considered in QMRA instead of the constant strain variability hypothesis. For this, 21 strains of Listeria innocua were used as case study, estimating their growth rate by the two-fold dilution method at pH between 5 and 10. Estimates of between-strain variability and experimental uncertainty were obtained for each pH using mixed-effects models, showing the lowest variability at optimal growth conditions, increasing towards the growth limits. Nonetheless, the experimental uncertainty also increased towards the extremes, evidencing the need to analyze both sources of variance independently. A secondary model was thus proposed, relating strain variability and pH conditions. Although the modelling approach certainly has some limitations that would need further experimental validation, it is an important step towards improving the description of variability in QMRA, being the first model of this type in the field.

Associations between subjective well-being (SWB) and dietary habits, employment status, and habitual activities are increasingly capturing the focus of researchers as well as policymakers worldwide. This study aimed to explore these associations in a sample of the population in Greece and Cyprus via an online survey. In total, 936 questionnaires (470: Cyprus, 466: Greece) were analyzed to study the associations between the Mediterranean Diet (MD) (using the 14-item MEDAS score, (14-MEDAS)), subjective well-being (SWB), and several socioeconomic factors. Key remarks of this survey highlight the positive impact of MD adherence on some well-being items. Namely, statistically significant differences were found on the following items: Satisfied with life (p < 0.001), Life worthwhile (p < 0.001), Feeling happy (p < 0.001), worried (p = 0.005), and depressed (p = 0.001), when comparing Low MD adherence (14-MEDAS < 5) to High MD adherence (14-MEDAS > 10). Other lifestyle habits such as spending time with friends and family, spending time in nature, and habitual physical activity were associated with aspects of SWB such as Life satisfaction, Life worthwhile, Feeling happy, and energetic. The findings support adherence to the MD, since it is associated with higher life satisfaction and self-reported happiness in this sample and should be considered when developing health policies on well-being.

Recently, the development of functional beverages has been enhanced to promote health and nutritional well-being. Thus, the fermentation of plant foods with lactic acid bacteria can enhance their antioxidant capacity and others like anti-inflammatory activity, which may depend on the variations in the total content and profile of (poly)phenols. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of fermentation with two strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum of several herbal infusions from thyme, rosemary, echinacea, and pomegranate peel on the (poly)phenolic composition and whether lacto-fermentation can contribute to enhance their in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on human colon myofibroblast CCD18-Co cells. HPLC-MS/MS analyses revealed that fermentation increased the content of the phenolics present in all herbal infusions. In vitro analyses indicated that pomegranate infusion showed higher antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, followed by thyme, echinacea, and rosemary, based on the total phenolic content. After fermentation, despite increasing the content of phenolics, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects via reduction pro-inflammatory markers (IL-6, IL-8 and PGE2) were similar to those of their corresponding non-fermented infusions, with the exception of a greater reduction in lacto-fermented thyme. Overall, the findings suggest that the consumption of lacto-fermented herbal infusions could be beneficial in alleviating intestinal inflammatory disorders.

[ES] Dadas las demandas sociales actuales, como estrategias de gestión para la mitigación de conflictos se buscan herramientas con el menor impacto posible al entorno y relacionadas con el funcionamiento de los ecosistemas, como es por ejemplo el control biológico. En el presente trabajo se analizó el comportamiento espacial de zorros rojos (Vulpes vulpes) que fueron marcados con collares GPS y liberados en un lugar distinto al de su captura, con el objetivo de reducir la población de conejo de monte (Oryctolagus cuniculus) en un entorno agrícola. El resultado de los seguimientos mostró que el 47.1% de los zorros translocados abandonaron el área de estudio en un plazo medio de 12.6 ± 13.7 días, el 35.3% cesó inesperadamente su señal GPS, el 12.5% murió a los pocos días de su liberación y tan sólo uno se quedó en el área en que fue liberado (no translocado). Los ejemplares marcados mostraron una actividad principalmente nocturna y crepuscular, variando entre las distintas estaciones del año. El área de campeo promedio estimada fue de 44.3 ± 56.2 km2, y el núcleo de uso fue de 9.7 ± 14.8 km2. El 49.2% de las localizaciones fueron en zonas de uso agrícola, un 46.6% en zonas de vegetación natural, y un 4.2% sobre suelo urbano-industrial. Aunque los resultados sugieren que las translocaciones no fueron una medida efectiva para reducir las poblaciones de conejo, han permitido recopilar información sobre el comportamiento espacial del zorro en el sureste ibérico, un entorno altamente antropizado de paisajes transformados., [EN] Due to the current social demands regarding wildlife management in relation to conflict mitigation, strategies are focused on low impact to the environment and ecosystem functioning based, such as biological control. In this study, we analysed the spatial behaviour of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), tracked with GPS collars and that were released in a different place where they were captured, with the aim of reducing the population of the wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in an agricultural environment. The result of the monitoring showed that 47.1% of the translocated foxes left the study area within an average of 12.6 ± 13.7 days, 35.3% unexpectedly ceased their GPS signal, 12.5% died within a few days of release and only one remained in the area where it was released (not translocated).The tracked individuals showed mainly nocturnal and twilight activity, varying among seasons. The estimated mean home range area was 44.3 ± 56.2 km2, and the core of use was 9.7 ± 14.8 km2. 49.2% of the locations were in areas of agricultural use, 46.6% in areas of natural vegetation, and 4.2% on urban-industrial land. Although our results suggest that translocations were not an effective measure to reduce rabbit populations, they have made it possible to gather information on the spatial behaviour of the fox in the Iberian southeast, a highly anthropized environment of transformed landscapes.

The objective of this study was to identify the physiological mechanisms used by Cistus heterophyllus Desf. Subsp. carthaginensis (Pau) M. B. Crespo & Mateo, a species in critical danger of extinction, to cope with two typical abiotic conditions. During the summer of 2021, plants were cultivated under a shade mesh that intercepted 50% of the incident solar radiation (SHADE) and in natural conditions (SUN). Three irrigation treatments were also applied: control, T1, moderate water deficit; T2, 60% of the control, severe deficit; and T3, 30% of the control. Therefore, there were six treatments (SUN-T1, SUN-T2, SUN-T3, SHADE-T1, SHADE-T2, SHADE-T3). Plants were more affected by solar radiation than by deficit irrigation. Although leaf water potential, stomatal conductance and root biomass decreased by up to 45%, 63% and 65%, respectively, as deficit irrigation increased, plants were able to develop a leaf osmotic adjustment and an improved intrinsic water-use efficiency to maintain their growth and survival rate. Shade conditions improved gas exchange, reduced leaf temperature and induced the synthesis of chlorophylls, regardless of the irrigation level imposed. This indicated that radiation was the most limiting factor in our experiment. Applying 50% of the radiation and a moderate water deficit would help to obtain a good plant development and high survival rate in future recovery and conservation programs for the species.

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a significant global threat, leading to several initiatives for its control and management. One such initiative involves wastewater-based epidemiology, which has gained attention for its potential to provide early warning of virus outbreaks and real-time information on its spread. In this study, wastewater samples from two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in the southeast of Spain (region of Murcia), namely Murcia, and Cartagena, were analyzed using RT-qPCR and high-throughput sequencing techniques to describe the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in the South-East of Spain. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis and machine learning approaches were applied to develop a pre-screening tool for the identification of differences among the variant composition of different wastewater samples. The results confirmed that the levels of SARS-CoV-2 in these wastewater samples changed concerning the number of SARS-CoV-2 cases detected in the population, and variant occurrences were in line with clinical reported data. The sequence analyses helped to describe how the different SARS-CoV-2 variants have been replaced over time. Additionally, the phylogenetic analysis showed that samples obtained at close sampling times exhibited a higher similarity than those obtained more distantly in time. A second analysis using a machine learning approach based on the mutations found in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was also conducted. Hierarchical clustering (HC) was used as an efficient unsupervised approach for data analysis. Results indicated that samples obtained in October 2022 in Murcia and Cartagena were significantly different, which corresponded well with the different virus variants circulating in the two locations. The proposed methods in this study are adequate for comparing consensus sequence types of the SARS-CoV-2 sequences as a preliminary evaluation of potential changes in the variants that are circulating in a given population at a specific time

The development of tourism and intensification of agriculture has released large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus into the Mar Menor coastal lagoon in South-east Spain, resulting in a phytoplankton bloom in 2016. This bloom turned the clear and transparent waters turbid and greenish, and killed approximately 85% of benthic macrophytes. Nutrient bioextraction by flat oysters, Ostrea edulis, has been proposed for remediation of these eutrophication events and water quality recovery. This research aims to quantify the clearance rate and investigate the genetic origin of Mar Menor oysters under eutrophized conditions for potential applications to bioremediation projects. Oligotrophic and eutrophic conditions were replicated in the laboratory, and oyster feeding behaviour (i.e. clearance rates, ingestion rates, absorption efficiency and absorption rates) were studied using a flow-through system. The genetic characterization of oysters showed no significant difference between individuals from the Mar Menor and individuals collected from a nearby Mediterranean bed (Tabarca Island). Based on the physiological results observed, oysters were grouped into high-feeder (HF) and low-feeder (LF) categories according to their clearance rate, that was 3-fold higher in the HF group. Different responses in feeding behaviour were observed under eutrophic conditions in both oyster groups. Constraints in the absorption capacity of LF oysters seemed to be related to their reduced filtering activity. Lower body condition of LF oysters was evidenced by their negative scope for growth value. From this work, several conclusions can be drawn for future restoration/bioextraction actions: (i) the recovery of half of the oyster population that existed in the past would act as an effective top-down control on the phytoplankton community; (ii) using clearance rate measurements is recommended to select oysters as broodstock; and (iii) Mediterranean oysters could be used as broodstock in the event

The Mar Menor is a hypersaline coastal lagoon representing one of the most iconic natural areas in Southeastern Spain. However, it has suffered several catastrophic environmental events causing an exceptional eutrophication status. A study was performed to assess the recruitment of oysters in the Mar Menor, determine their taxonomic allocation and evaluate functionality in filtration and growth A total of 45 spat collectors were installed in June 2020 and posteriorly retrieved in October 2020. In total, 3431 oyster recruits were counted. Two species of oyster Ostrea edulis and O. stentina, inhabit the Mar Menor, but they are indistinguishable at the morphological level when they are small. Thus, a genetic tool was developed to identify both species. From a total of 90 oyster recruits, 95% of them corresponded to O. stentina. Finally, growth rate and clearance measurements were conducted on 661 oysters over 6 months under laboratory conditions to explore their possible use in the bioremediation of the lagoon.

In coastal lagoons, marine benthic macrophyte meadows can be an important element in the resistance to eutrophication of the ecosystem, as they can function as temporary nitrogen sinks, limiting the availability of this nutrient for opportunistic organisms. The role of nitrogen sinks for two dominant macrophyte species of Mediterranean coastal lagoons, the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa and the seaweed Caulerpa prolifera, was analysed by two different approaches: (i) studying nitrate (NO3-) and ammonium (NH4+) uptake kinetics of aboveground tissues in a laboratory and (ii) estimating nitrogen stocks and demands of meadows under natural conditions. The studies were carried out in the coastal lagoon of the Mar Menor, which has been subjected to high anthropogenic nitrogen inputs for decades. While both macrophytes were efficient in exploiting NH4+ from the water column, only C. prolifera showed a high NO3- uptake capacity. Large N pools in the C. nodosa and C. prolifera meadows of the Mar Menor were detected, suggesting that these habitats may have the potential to be essential reservoirs for this nutrient. However, the major role of belowground tissues of the seagrasses in nitrogen accumulation may determine important differences between the two species in temporary N storage and sequestration. The data on N demands for the meadows of both macrophytes in the Mar Menor suggest an important contribution of these habitats in controlling the inputs of this nutrient into the lagoon. We conclude that C. nodosa and C. prolifera meadows can play a key role as a sink for dissolved inorganic nitrogen in temperate coastal lagoons, being an important mechanism of resistance to eutrophication.

[EN] Badgers belong to the genus Meles Brisson, 1762, which comprise four extant species (M. anakuma Temminck, 1844, M. leucurus (Hodgson, 1847), M. canescens Blanford, 1875, and M. meles (Linnaeus, 1758)). The genus is included in the subfamily Melinae Bonaparte, 1838, a polyphyletic group of Eurasian mustelids whose evolutionary relationships need further clarification. The evolutive relationships of the genus are complex and far from being resolved. This work aims to describe a nearly 1 Ma unpublished badger mandible from the Sierra de Quibas (Murcia) and to help clarify the evolutionary patterns of Euroasiatic badgers. To this end, we used 2D geometric morphometric techniques to measure 57 landmarks and semilandmarks in 79 first lower molars (m1) of Meles, ranging from Pleistocene to extant species. Our results show evidence for differentiating between primitive badgers and living species of Meles. The new m1 of Meles from the Quibas site is more gracile (relatively narrower and longer) than the other Eurasian extinct species, and shows that this specimen can be placed in the subspecies M. meles meles (Linnaeus, 1758). Our results also show that the denomination of M. meles atavus Kormos, 1914 as a related subspecies with a primitive morphology is morphologically supported. Therefore, we conclude that the living subspecies of badger M. meles meles was already differentiated in the south of the Iberian Peninsula at around 1 Ma, but some primitive remnant populations persisted in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, for which we recognize the subspecies M. meles atavus., [FR] Morphométrie géométrique 2D de la première molaire inférieure du genre Meles, incluant de nouvelles preuves de la présence de blaireaux sur le site de Quibas du Pléistocène inférieur (Murcie, Espagne). Les blaireaux sont un groupe polyphylétique de mustélidés au sein duquel on retrouve le genre Meles Brisson, 1762. Il appartient à la sous-famille Melinae Bonaparte, 1838 de distribution eurasienne, actuellement composée de quatre espèces vivantes (M. anakuma Temminck, 1844, M. leucurus (Hodgson, 1847), M. canescens Blanford, 1875 et M. meles (Linnaeus, 1758)). Les relations évolutives du genre sont complexes et loin d’être résolues. L’objectif de ce travail est de décrire une mandibule de blaireau inédite de près de 1 Ma de la Sierra de Quibas (Murcie) et d’aider à clarifier les schémas évolutifs des blaireaux euroasiatiques. À cette fin, nous avons utilisé des techniques morphométriques géométriques 2D pour mesurer 57 repères et semi-repères dans 79 premières molaires inférieures (m1) de Meles, allant du Pléistocène aux espèces existantes. Nos résultats montrent des preuves solides de la différenciation entre les blaireaux primitifs et les espèces vivantes de Meles. Le nouveau m1 de Meles du site de Quibas est plus gracile (relativement plus étroit et plus long) que les autres espèces eurasiennes éteintes, et montre que ce spécimen peut être placé dans la sous-espèce M. meles meles (Linnaeus, 1758). Nos résultats montrent également que la dénomination de M. meles atavus Kormos, 1914 en tant que sous-espèce apparentée avec une morphologie primitive est étayée morphologiquement. Par conséquent, nous concluons que la sous-espèce vivante de blaireau M. meles meles était déjà différenciée dans le sud de la péninsule Ibérique à environ 1 Ma, mais certaines populations relictuelles persistent dans le nord de la péninsule Ibérique, pour lesquelles nous reconnaissons la sous-espèce M. meles atavus.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are novel compounds used as antimicrobial and antiviral agents. In addition, AgNPs have been used to improve the growth of different plants, as well as the in vitro multiplication of plant material. In this work the effect of AgNPs on in vitro growth of ‘Canino’ and ‘Mirlo Rojo’ cultivars, as well as the leaf ion composition, are studied. Different concentrations of AgNPs (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg L−1) were added to two culture systems: semisolid medium with agar (SSM) in jars and liquid medium in temporary immersion system (TIS). Proliferation (number of shoots), shoot length, productivity (number of shoot × average length), leaf surface, fresh and dry weight were measured. Additionally, the silver and other ion accumulation in the leaves were evaluated by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) analysis. The productivity of ‘Canino’ and ‘Mirlo Rojo’ decreased when increasing the concentration of AgNPs in the semisolid medium. However, the use of AgNPs in the TIS improved the proliferation and productivity of ‘Canino’ and Mirlo Rojo’, increasing biomass production, and the concentration of nutrients in the plants, although these effects are genotype-dependent. TISs are the best system for introducing silver into shoots, the optimum concentration being 50 mg L−1 for ‘Canino’ and 75 mg L−1 for ‘Mirlo Rojo’. Principal component analysis, considering all the analyzed ions along the treatments, separates samples in two clear groups related to the culture system used. The use of bioreactors with a liquid medium has improved the productivity of ‘Canino’ and ‘Mirlo Rojo’ in the proliferation stage, avoiding hyperhydration and other disorders. The amount of metallic silver that penetrates apricot plant tissues depends on the culture system, cultivar and concentration of AgNPs added to the culture medium. Silver ion accumulation measured in the shoots grown in the TIS was higher than in shoots micropropagated in a semis

Due to the edaphoclimatic conditions in southeast Spain, which are expected to worsen due to climate change, more efficient ways of using water must be found to maintain sustainable agriculture. Due to the current high price of irrigation control systems in southern Europe, 60–80% of soilless crops are still irrigated, based on the experience of the grower or advisor. The hypothesis of this work is that the development of a low-cost, high-performance control system will allow small farmers to improve the efficiency of water use by obtaining better control of soilless crops. The objective of the present study was to design and develop a cost-effective control system for the optimization of soilless crop irrigation after evaluating the three most commonly used irrigation control systems to determine the most efficient. Based on the agronomic results comparing these methods, a prototype of a commercial smart gravimetric tray was developed. The device records the irrigation and drainage volumes and drainage pH and EC. It also offers the possibility of determining the temperature, EC, and humidity of the substrate. This new design is scalable thanks to the use of an implemented data acquisition system called SDB and the development of software in the Codesys programming environment based on function blocks and variable structures. The reduced wiring achieved by the Modbus-RTU communication protocols means the system is cost-effective even with multiple control zones. It is also compatible with any type of fertigation controller through external activation. Its design and features solve the problems in similar systems available on the market at an affordable cost. The idea is to allow farmers to increase their productivity without having to make a large outlay. The impact of this work will make it possible for small-scale farmers to have access to affordable, state-of-the-art technology for soilless irrigation management leading to a considerable improvement in productivi

In the last decade, most of the evidence on the clinical benefits of including cruciferous foods in the diet has been focused on the content of glucosinolates (GSL) and their corresponding isothiocyanates (ITC), and mercapturic acid pathway metabolites, based on their capacity to modulate clinical, biochemical, and molecular parameters. The present systematic review summarizes findings of human studies regarding the metabolism and bioavailability of GSL and ITC, providing a comprehensive analysis that will help guide future research studies and facilitate the consultation of the latest advances in this booming and less profusely researched area of GSL for food and health. The literature search was carried out in Scopus, PubMed and the Web of Science, under the criteria of including publications centered on human subjects and the use of Brassicaceae foods in different formulations (including extracts, beverages, and tablets), as significant sources of bioactive compounds, in different types of subjects, and against certain diseases. Twenty-eight human intervention studies met inclusion criteria, which were classified into three groups depending on the dietary source. This review summarizes recent studies that provided interesting contributions, but also uncovered the many potential venues for future research on the benefits of consuming cruciferous foods in our health and well-being. The research will continue to support the inclusion of GSL-rich foods and products for multiple preventive and active programs in nutrition and well-being.

Information on the exposure of wild birds to pharmaceuticals from wastewater and urban refuse is scarce despite the enormous amount of drugs consumed and discarded by human populations. We tested for the presence of a battery of antibiotics, NSAIDs, and analgesics in the blood of white stork (Ciconia ciconia) nestlings in the vicinity of urban waste dumps and contaminated rivers in Madrid, central Spain. We also carried out a literature review on the occurrence and concentration of the tested compounds in other wild bird species to further evaluate possible shared exposure routes with white storks. The presence of two pharmaceutical drugs (the analgesic acetaminophen and the antibiotic marbofloxacin) out of fourteen analysed in the blood of nestlings was confirmed in 15% of individuals (n = 20) and in 30% of the nests (n = 10). The apparently low occurrence and concentration (acetaminophen: 9.45 ng mL−1; marbofloxacin: 7.21 ng mL−1 ) in nestlings from different nests suggests the uptake through food acquired in rubbish dumps rather than through contaminated flowing water provided by parents to offspring. As with other synthetic materials, different administration forms (tablets, capsules, and gels) of acetaminophen discarded in household waste could be accidentally ingested when parent storks forage on rubbish to provide meat scraps to their nestlings. The presence of the fluoroquinolone marbofloxacin, exclusively used in veterinary medicine, suggests exposure via consumption of meat residues of treated animals for human consumption found in rubbish dumps, as documented previously at higher concentrations in vultures consuming entire carcasses of large livestock. Control measures and ecopharmacovigilance frameworks are needed to minimize the release of pharmaceutical compounds from the human population into the environment.

Potential exposure of the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) to pharmaceuticals is of high conservation interest, as these compounds can produce catastrophic consequences for populations of avian scavengers. Due to the extensive livestock management in most of Patagonia, we expected Andean condors to be rarely exposed to veterinary pharmaceuticals through scavenging of free-ranging livestock. Unexpectedly, we found a high prevalence (78.6 %) of pharmaceuticals in the plasma of a small sample of randomly captured condors (n = 14), of all age classes and sexes. The antibiotic enrofloxacin was detected in all 11 drug-positive condors (78.6 %). Two antibiotics and two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were found simultaneously or in combinations of two or three different pharmaceuticals in 3 of the 14 (21.4 %) condors: marbofloxacin and phenylbutazone were found in a single adult female together with enrofloxacin, while flunixin meglumine was found in two adult males and also in the presence of enrofloxacin. Our study suggests that livestock grazing in the vast Patagonian region may be subject to more frequent medication than expected a priori. Today, it should not be assumed that livestock in remote, sparsely populated, or low-income areas are free of veterinary pharmaceuticals with a possible negative impact on wildlife and public health.

The rise of nature-based tourism has provided a new avenue for disturbing animal behaviour, especially in protected areas. One of the most important tourism sectors in aquatic environments is scuba diving, an activity considered sustainable given its non-extractive nature and capability of bringing relevant socio-economic benefits to local communities. However, knowledge about its impact on the activity patterns of aquatic animals is still scarce. Here, we used biotelemetry techniques to assess the importance of scuba diving in modulating the activity patterns of the dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus, Lowe, 1834), a marine predatory fish of high interest for fishing and tourism. We implemented Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) on high-resolution acceleration data using a temporal and spatial control while controlling for a set of environmental variables (i.e. photoperiod, time-of-day, moon phase, temperature, wave height, and intensity and direction of marine currents) within a multiple-use marine protected area, and diving tourism hot-spot, of the western Mediterranean Sea. Our results underlined the more decisive influence of environmental-related stressors on the activity patterns of the dusky grouper compared to the impact of scuba diving. A high heterogeneity existed in the response against most of the stressors, including the presence of scuba divers. Overall, the activity of dusky grouper was higher at night than at day, showing a positive relationship with wave height, water temperature, and current intensity and a negative one with the moon phase. Remarkably, our findings, based on novel biotelemetry tools, differed substantially from the common wisdom accepted for this species. In conclusion, there is no clear evidence of scuba divers influence on the general activity patterns of the dusky grouper. Beyond their relevance from an ecological perspective, these results provide useful insights for the sustainable management of coastal resources, suggesting that

A 10-year monitoring program was developed to quantify the population dynamics of the long-snouted seahorse population in the Mar Menor coastal lagoon. Based on 985 underwater visual censuses, we estimated the long-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus Cuvier, 1829) population size in the Mar Menor lagoon and its reduction in size in the last decades, as well as the effect of eutrophication crises in 2016 and 2019 on the species. The annual recruitment for the 2013-2020 period was estimated by comparing the relative abundance of early seahorse life stages in the ichthyoplankton. The density ranged from 0.0458 specimens/m3 at the beginning of the sampling period to 0.0004 at the end, showing a statistically significant difference between the three analyzed periods (Hgl=2 = 14.0, p = 0.001). The long-snouted seahorse population from the Mar Menor lagoon exemplifies the impact of fishing activities and human pressure, especially euxinic episodes and habitat destruction. As a result of this, the Mar Menor population has decreased from several million specimens to a few thousand, in only three decades. This species showed considerable resilience, the seahorse population began to recover once fishing activity stopped. In contrast, the long-snouted seahorse showed high vulnerability to habitat loss and an episodic flooding event. Adult seahorses showed preferences for highly complex habitats, especially Caulerpa prolifera-Cymodocea nodosa mixed meadows and habitats of high complexity and anthropogenic origin, such as harbors, jetties, or breakwaters. In contrast, juvenile seahorses preferred monotonous seabeds with low complexity, such as the sandy beds that are characteristic of the Mar Menor lagoon littoral.

Aims: Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent neurological diseases. A third of patients with epilepsy remain drug-resistant. The exact aetiology of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) is still unknown. Neuronal tetraploidy has been associated with neuropathology. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of tetraploid neurons and astrocytes in DRE. Methods: For that purpose, cortex, hippocampus and amygdala samples were obtained from patients subjected to surgical resection of the epileptogenic zone. Post-mortem brain tissue of subjects without previous records of neurological, neurodegenerative or psychiatric diseases was used as control. Results: The percentage of tetraploid cells was measured by immunostaining of neurons (NeuN) or astrocytes (S100ß) followed by flow cytometry analysis. The results were confirmed by image cytometry (ImageStream X Amnis System Cytometer) and with an alternative astrocyte biomarker (NDRG2). Statistical comparison was performed using univariate tests. A total of 22 patients and 10 controls were included. Tetraploid neurons and astrocytes were found both in healthy individuals and DRE patients in the three brain areas analysed: cortex, hippocampus and amygdala. DRE patients presented a higher number of tetraploid neurons (p = 0.020) and astrocytes (p = 0.002) in the hippocampus than controls. These results were validated by image cytometry. Conclusions: We demonstrated the presence of both tetraploid neurons and astrocytes in healthy subjects as well as increased levels of both cell populations in DRE patients. Herein, we describe for the first time the presence of tetraploid astrocytes in healthy subjects. Furthermore, these results provide new insights into epilepsy, opening new avenues for future treatment.

Background and Aims Given the lack of specific studies on floral development in melon (Cucumis melo L.), we carried out an extensive study involving morphological and transcriptomic analyses to characterize floral development in this species, Methods Using an andromonoecious line, we analysed the development of floral buds in male and hermaphrodite flowers with both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Based on flower lengths, we established a correlation between the developmental stages and four main episodes of floral development and conducted an extensive RNA sequencing analysis of these episodes, Key Results We identified 12 stages of floral development, from the appearance of the floral meristems to anthesis. The main structural differences between male and hermaphrodite flowers appeared between stages 6 and 7; later stages of development leading to the formation of organs and structures in both types of flowers were also described. We analysed the gene expression patterns of the four episodes in flower development to find the genes that were specific to each given episode. Among others, we identified genes that defined the passage from one episode to the next according to the ABCDE model of floral development, Conclusions This work combines a detailed morphological analysis and a comprehensive transcriptomic study to enable characterization of the structural and molecular mechanisms that determine the floral development of an andromonoecious genotype in melon. Taken together, our results provide a first insight into gene regulation networks in melon floral development that are crucial for flowering and pollen formation, highlighting potential targets for genetic manipulation to improve crop yield of melon in the future

Long-term ecological studies are essential for understanding the resilience of temperate reefs to ocean warming and the response of their habitat-forming species to recurrent marine heatwaves (MHWs). This study evaluated the long-term response (2005–2021) of the habitat-forming octocoral Eunicella singularis (Esper, 1791) to recurrent MHWs in a Mediterranean marine protected area established more than 25 years ago, where restrictions on fishing and diving activities are well enforced. During the study period, there were two mass-mortality events (MMEs), in 2007 and 2018, that dramatically disrupted the local gorgonian population. The MMEs were triggered by different temperature dynamics, which ultimately led to differential patterns in mortality rates. The record-breaking MHW in 2018 prompted one of the largest MMEs ever recorded in the Mediterranean Sea, which affected 75% of the individuals in the gorgonian population and killed 12.5% of colonies. Furthermore, MHWs were detected in all years from 2014 to 2021, preventing injured tissues from fully recovering, leading to significant accumulated damage at the end of the study period (30 times higher than the levels prior to the first MME), and a marked decrease in resilience that threatens the population viability of this long-lived species. The octocoral studied is one of the most important structural and biomass contributors to one of the most diverse Mediterranean communities. These results underscore the great risk that annual MHWs pose to the long-term integrity of the circalittoral rocky bottoms of the Mediterranean coasts. In the face of climate change, MPAs must provide areas of reduced anthropic stress for gorgonian populations, enabling the restoration and maintenance of natural processes. Additionally, MPAs should serve as sentinel areas to test the effectiveness of coral restoration actions, which can help managers and scientists to estimate the usefulness of these techniques.

Isothiocyanates may have antibacterial activity against Helicobacter pylori, but there are different variables related to Brassicaceae-derived samples that could affect their efficacy. This work studied the influence of source variety, concentration, gastric digestion, and encapsulation of samples on their bioactive response against Helicobacter pylori. The antibacterial activity of raw sprouts (red cabbage and red radish) showed the highest antibacterial effect, which was consistent with a higher amount of isothiocyanates. It decreased with gastric digestion, regardless of sample encapsulation. By contrast, adult red radish leaves became antibacterial after gastric digestion. Antioxidant activity on H. pylori-infected gastric cells was similar in all samples and followed an equivalent pattern with the changes in isothiocyanates. Raw samples decreased intracellular reactive oxygen species production, but they lost this capacity after gastric digestion, regardless whether the compounds were free or encapsulated. Red cabbage sprouts, red radish sprouts, and red radish roots produced a decrease in nitric oxide production. It was consistent with a modulation of the inflammatory response and was associated to isothiocyanates concentration. Encapsulated sprout samples retained part of their anti-inflammatory activity after gastric digestion. Adult raw red radish leaves were not active, but after digestion, they became anti-inflammatory. The results obtained in this study have shown that several variables could have a significant impact on the bioactive properties of Brassicaceae-derived samples against H. pylori, providing a starting point for the design and standardization of samples with specific bioactivities (antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory) potentially useful for the treatment of H. pylori infection.

Wastewater treatment plant effluents can be an important source of contamination in agricultural reuse practices, as pharmaceuticals are poorly degraded by conventional treatments and can enter crops, thereby becoming a toxicological risk. Therefore, advanced tertiary treatments are required. Ozone (O3) is a promising alternative due to its capacity to degrade pharmaceutical compounds, together with its disinfecting power. However, mass transfer from the gas to the liquid phase can be a limiting step. A novel alternative for increased ozone efficiency is the combination of micro-nano bubbles (MNBs). However, this is still a fairly unknown method, and there are also many uncertainties regarding their implementation in large-scale systems. In this work, a combined O3/MNBs full-scale system was installed in a WWTP to evaluate the removal efficiency of 12 pharmaceuticals, including COVID-19-related compounds. The results clearly showed that the use of MNBs had a significantly positive contribution to the effects of ozone, reducing energy costs with respect to conventional O3 processes. Workflow and ozone production were key factors for optimizing the system, with the highest efficiencies achieved at 2000 L/h and 15.9 gO3/h, resulting in high agronomic water quality effluents. A first estimation of the transformation products generated was described, jointly with the energy costs required

There are certain spatial configurations in cities that generate areas with reduced ventilation where, consequently, air pollution can reach hazardous levels. Although urban forms have already been flagged as a factor affecting air pollution, its role in the accumulation of volatile organic compounds has not been extensively evaluated with field measurements. In order to investigate the effect of urban morphology on air pollution levels, we measured the concentration of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) in 44 different city sites, using Radiello® diffusive passive samplers during a 1-week campaign. This work presents a method that maps a city in zones with different levels of atmospheric dispersion by analyzing the proportions of BTEX in the ambient air. The method applied to a coastal city (characterized by uniform wind patterns) revealed the existence of two clearly differentiated zones. In one of them, the mean benzene concentration was 3.26 times higher than in the other. However, the mean concentrations of the rest of BTEX were barely the same in both areas. These findings suggest that slow degradation pollutants (i.e., benzene) accumulate in poor ventilated areas, whereas faster degradation pollutants do not show accumulation. The conclusions of this study can be particularly useful in designing personal exposure assessments, optimizing the urban morphology, and improving the location of air quality monitoring stations

A reduction in chemical N-based fertillizer was investigated in Citrus plants. As N and water uptake are connected, the relationship between the physiological response to reductions in N was studied in relation to N metabolism and water, We examined the response of new and mature leaves and roots of Citrus macrophylla, grown under controlled conditions, and given different concentrations of N: 16, 8 or 4 mM. Differences in growth and development were determined for biochemical (mineral content, photosynthetic pigments, proteins and nitrate and nitrite reductase activity), physiological (photosynthesis and transpiration), and molecular (relative expression of nitrate transporters and aquaporins) parameters, Only plants given 4 mM N showed a reduction in growth. Although there were changes in NR activity, protein synthesis, and chlorophyll content in both 8 and 4 mM N plants that were highly related to aquaporin and nitrate transporter expression, The results revealed new findings on the relationship between aquaporins and nitrate transporters in new leaves of Citrus, suggesting a mechanism for ensuring growth under low N when new tissues are being formed

The increasing shortage of conventional water for crop irrigation in arid and semiarid regions is encouraging the use of nonconventional water resources. Nevertheless, concern about the presence and possible negative effects of emerging contaminants in reclaimed water can cause individuals to avoid using these water sources. To clarify the guarantees that reclaimed water offers, a mesocosm study was carried out. Lettuce plants were cultivated in pots watered with three different types of water (distilled, reclaimed, and spiked with contaminants of emerging concern). The results showed low concentrations of contaminants in the leachates and plant tissues when the reclaimed water was used. However, their concentrations were high when the pots were watered with the spiked water; this was mainly true for carbamazepine, which reached a maximum of 2982 ng L−1 in the leachates and 45.2 ng g−1 in the plant roots. In the lettuce watered with the spiked water, carbamazepine was found in the edible part at very low concentrations that did not imply any human risk. Finally, an acute toxicity test was performed on the leachates, which were found to be only slightly toxic in the spiked water. This work indicates that with the current technical improvements in active sludge water treatment, reclaimed water can be used for irrigation without the risk of contamination by contaminants of emerging concern

During the last 7 years, within the framework of projects Riego-Asesor, Phertilizer and “Fertirriego de precisión para un manejo sostenible de la horticultura intensiva. Aspectos agronómicos e implicaciones ambientales” we have conducted multiple open field trials in the Campo de Cartagena and multiple greenhouse experiments in Santomera (Murcia), either in pot or hydroponic. The trials with vegetable crops include endive, baby lettuce, romaine lettuce, summer wonder lettuce, Iceberg lettuce, piel de sapo melon, and potato. The overall objective of all these projects was to make a more efficient use of two mayor resources used in agriculture; water and nutrients, with special focus on nitrogen. Here we resume the most notable results of these experiments; i) the amount of irrigation water applied by farmers was tightly adjusted and this amount closely mimics the FAO recommendations and custom-made water balance model named “Riego-Asesor”, ii) a fertigation strategy aimed to match water and fertilizer inputs with plant demand is key in improving water and nitrogen use efficiency, and simple to use decision support system was designed for this goal iii) irrigation frequency/dose plays a critical role in improving water and nitrogen use efficiency, with high frequency of irrigation resulting in higher yield and lower nitrate leaching iv) knowing how the nitrogen source (nitrate/ammonium) affects growth and development in different vegetable crops can be a further step of adjustment to increase nitrogen use efficiency. All this information can be used to designing fertigation strategies in intensive agriculture that match and integrate water and nutrients supplies with the needs of a given crop under a given growing conditions.

[Background]: The lack of knowledge of the progression mechanisms of glioblastoma (GB), the most aggressive brain tumor, contributes to the absence of successful therapeutic strategies. Our team has recently demonstrated a crucial new role for chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) in pericytes (PC)-acquired immunosuppressive function, which prevents anti-tumor immune responses and facilitates GB progression. The possible impact that GB-induced CMA in PC has on other functions that might be useful for future GB prognosis/treatment, has not been explored yet. Thus, we proposed to analyze the contribution of CMA to other GB-induced changes in PC biology and determine if CMA ablation in PC is a key target mechanism for GB treatment., [Methods]: Studies of RNA-seq and secretome analysis were done in GB-conditioned PC with and without CMA (from knockout mice for LAMP-2A) and compared to control PC. Different therapeutic strategies in a GB mouse model were compared., [Results]: We found several gene expression pathways enriched in LAMP2A-KO PC and affected by GB-induced CMA in PC that correlate with our previous findings. Phagosome formation, cellular senescence, focal adhesion and the effector function to promote anti-tumor immune responses were the most affected pathways, revealing a transcriptomic profiling of specific target functions useful for future therapies. In addition, several molecules associated with tumor mechanisms and related to tumor immune responses such as gelsolin, periostin, osteopontin, lumican and vitamin D, were identified in the PC secretome dependent on GB-induced CMA. The CMA ablation in PC with GB cells showed an expected immunogenic phenotype able to phagocyte GB cells and a key strategy to develop future therapeutic strategies against GB tumor progression. A novel intravenous therapy using exofucosylated CMA-deficient PC was efficient to make PC reach the tumor niche and facilitate tumor elimination., [Conclusion]: Our results corroborate previous findings on the impaired immunogenic function of PC with GB-induced CMA, driving to other altered PC functions and the identifications of new target markers related to the tumor immune responses and useful for GB prognosis/therapy. Our work demonstrates CMA ablation in PC as a key target mechanism to develop a successful therapy against GB progression.

With the identification of the Jaramillo geomagnetic subchron, the late Early Pleistocene vertebrate succession of the Quibas-Sima section (Quibas karstic complex, southern Spain) represents a time span scarcely recorded in Europe. To complete the existing chronostratigraphic framework published earlier by Piñero et al. (2020), we provide here additional new information about the lithostratigraphy and micromammal succession along the sedimentary sequence. Seven lithostratigraphic units have been differentiated (QS-1 to QS-7) at Quibas-Sima, documenting an almost continuous small mammal record, including representatives of the families Soricidae, Erinaceidae, Rhinolophidae, Vespertilionidae, Arvicolidae, Muridae, Gliridae, Sciuridae, Leporidae and Ochotonidae. The small mammal association indicates that units QS-1 to QS-4 have an intermediate biostratigraphic position between the sites of Fuente Nueva 3 (ca. 1.2 Ma) and Cueva Victoria (ca. 0.9 Ma). New numerical age result from the combined U-series/ESR dating of one equid tooth from QS-3 consistently support the general chronostratigraphic framework based on magnetostratigraphy and biostratigraphic inferences by confirming a post-Olduvai age. Based on an estimation of the sedimentation rate during the Jaramillo subchron, these broad chronological constraints may be confidently refined to approx. 1.1–0.9 Ma for the whole sequence. While we acknowledge the existing uncertainty associated to this age range, it is nevertheless consistent with biostratigraphic evidence indicating that all stratigraphic units most likely do not significantly differ from a chronological point of view. Both independent proxies (biostratigraphy and the sedimentation rate) strongly suggest that the sedimentary sequence covers a relatively short time interval (<200 kyr). These results place the Quibas-Sima sequence as one of the longest and most complete pre-Jaramillo (QS-1) to Jaramillo (QS-2 to QS-5) continental vertebrate succession in Euro

Proactive silviculture treatments (e.g., thinning) may increase C sequestration contributing to climate change mitigation, although, there are still questions about this effect in Mediterranean pine forests. The aim of this research was to quantify the storage of biomass and soil organic carbon in Pinus forests along a climatic gradient from North to South of the Iberian Peninsula. Nine experimental Pinus spp trials were selected along a latitudinal gradient from the pre-Pyrenees to southern Spain. At each location, a homogeneous area was used as the operational scale, and three thinning intensity treatments: unthinned or control (C), intermediate thinning (LT, removal of 30–40% of the initial basal area) and heavy thinning (HT, removal of 50–60%) were conducted. Growth per unit area (e.g., expressed as basal area increment-BAI), biomass, and Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) were measured as well as three sets of environmental variables (climate, soil water availability and soil chemical and physical characteristics). One-way ANOVA and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) were used to study the effect of thinning and environmental variables on C sequestration. Biomass and growth per unit area were higher in the control than in the thinning treatments, although differences were only significant for P. halepensis. Radial growth recovered after thinning in all species, but it was faster in the HT treatments. Soil organic carbon (SOC10, 0–10 cm depth) was higher in the HT treatments for P. halepensis and P. sylvestris, but not for P. nigra. SEM showed that Pinus stands of the studied species were beneficed by HT thinning, recovering their growth quickly. The resulting model explained 72% of the variation in SOC10 content, and 89% of the variation in silvicultural condition (basal area and density) after thinning. SOC10 was better related to climate than to silvicultural treatments. On the other ha

The Early Pleistocene site of Quibas, in Sierra de Quibas (Murcia, Spain) was discovered in 1994 and has since then provided abundant material of typical Epivillafranchian taxa. This biochron belongs to the Early-Middle Pleistocene transition (1.2 – 0.78 Ma), characterised by a change in orbital cyclicity from a 41 kyr cycle to 100 kyr that intensified the climate and culminated in the most important faunal turnover of the Pleistocene regarding large mammals. The Group of Palaeoanthropology of the National Museum of Natural Sciences (CSIC, Spain) and the Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES-CERCA, Spain) carried out four field seasons from 2015 to 2018. Here we present the large herbivorous mammals recovered from the field, including the first citation of two taxa new to the locality: Stephanorhinus cf. etruscus and Bison cf. voigtstedtensis. We also provide the first description of previously mentioned taxa: Dama cf. vallonnetensis and Sus sp. Together with the remaining herbivores, the faunal community shows a strong European affinity with some regionalism. Compared with other Iberian localities, the site of Quibas stands out for the lack of hominin fossils or any evidence supporting their presence in the area, a peculiar scenario given that the Early-Middle Pleistocene transition broadly speaking sees the arrival of humans into Europe.

The cap-binding protein eIF4E, through its interaction with eIF4G, constitutes the core of the eIF4F complex, which plays a key role in the circularization of mRNAs and their subsequent cap-dependent translation. In addition to its fundamental role in mRNA translation initiation, other functions have been described or suggested for eIF4E, including acting as a proviral factor and participating in sexual development. We used CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to generate melon eif4e knockout mutant lines. Editing worked efficiently in melon, as we obtained transformed plants with a single-nucleotide deletion in homozygosis in the first eIF4E exon already in a T0 generation. Edited and non-transgenic plants of a segregating F2 generation were inoculated with Moroccan watermelon mosaic virus (MWMV); homozygous mutant plants showed virus resistance, while heterozygous and non-mutant plants were infected, in agreement with our previous results with plants silenced in eIF4E. Interestingly, all homozygous edited plants of the T0 and F2 generations showed a male sterility phenotype, while crossing with wild-type plants restored fertility, displaying a perfect correlation between the segregation of the male sterility phenotype and the segregation of the eif4e mutation. Morphological comparative analysis of melon male flowers along consecutive developmental stages showed postmeiotic abnormal development for both microsporocytes and tapetum, with clear differences in the timing of tapetum degradation in the mutant versus wild-type. An RNA-Seq analysis identified critical genes in pollen development that were down-regulated in flowers of eif4e/eif4e plants, and suggested that eIF4E-specific mRNA translation initiation is a limiting factor for male gametes formation in melon

Today, the emergence of increasingly restrictive treatment and reuse policies make the implementation of full-scale tertiary treatment, capable of improving the quality of water, a priority. Full-scale TiO2 photocatalysis systems are resulting in a promising option, since TiO2 is commercially available. However, questions such as how to work continuously during day/night irradiation cycle, or the removing of TiO2 in outlet flow are still unresolved. In this work, a full-scale system integrating a solar CPC/UV-LED step combined with commercial microfiltration membranes was installed in a conventional WWTP for agricultural reuse purposes. After optimization, 0.5 g/L of catalyst and combined SOLAR + UV-LED showing the highest pharmaceutical removal percentages, while a self-designed UV-LED included in the own reaction tank resulting in higher efficiencies compared with commercial lamps. Longer membrane surface area decreased fouling problems in the system. However, 60 min of irradiation time was necessary to reach the most restrictive water quality values according with (EU 2020/741). After optimization step, total costs were reduced by 45%. However, it was shown that a reduction in operating and maintenance costs, along with the development of more effective and economical commercial filtration membranes is a key factor; therefore, working on these aspects is essential in the treated water cost reduction

Knowledge of genomic features specific to the human lineage may provide insights into brain-related diseases. We leverage high-depth whole genome sequencing data to generate a combined annotation identifying regions simultaneously depleted for genetic variation (constrained regions) and poorly conserved across primates. We propose that these constrained, non-conserved regions (CNCRs) have been subject to human-specific purifying selection and are enriched for brain-specific elements. We find that CNCRs are depleted from protein-coding genes but enriched within lncRNAs. We demonstrate that per-SNP heritability of a range of brain-relevant phenotypes are enriched within CNCRs. We find that genes implicated in neurological diseases have high CNCR density, including APOE, highlighting an unannotated intron-3 retention event. Using human brain RNA-sequencing data, we show the intron-3-retaining transcript to be more abundant in Alzheimer’s disease with more severe tau and amyloid pathological burden. Thus, we demonstrate potential association of human-lineage-specific sequences in brain development and neurological disease.

The tuberal hypothalamic ventral premamillary nucleus (VPM) described in mammals links olfactory and metabolic cues with mating behavior and is involved in the onset of puberty. We offer here descriptive and experimental evidence on a migratory phase in the development of this structure in mice at E12.5–E13.5. Its cells originate at the retromamillary area (RM) and then migrate tangentially rostralward, eschewing the mamillary body, and crossing the molecularly distinct perimamillary band, until they reach a definitive relatively superficial ventral tuberal location. Corroborating recent transcriptomic studies reporting a variety of adult glutamatergic cell types in the VPM, and different projections in the adult, we found that part of this population heterogeneity emerges already early in development, during tangential migration, in the form of differential gene expression properties of at least 2–3 mixed populations possibly derived from subtly different parts of the RM. These partly distribute differentially in the core and shell parts of the final VPM. Since there is a neighboring acroterminal source of Fgf8, and Fgfr2 is expressed at the early RM, we evaluated a possible influence of Fgf8 signal on VPM development using hypomorphic Fgf8neo/null embryos. These results suggested a trophic role of Fgf8 on RM and all cells migrating tangentially out of this area (VPM and the subthalamic nucleus), leading in hypomorphs to reduced cellularity after E15.5 without alteration of the migrations proper.

A challenge test for Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida (Phdp) resistance was carried out in two juvenile populations of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.): F2_ATL and F0_MED. At 250 days post-hatching (dph), a fish plasma sample was collected to measure humoral immune markers (peroxidase activity, bactericidal activity, and IgM immunoglobulin levels), and at 272 dph fish were weighed and inoculated with bacteria Phdp. From that time onwards, surviving fish were recorded for nine days, and days to death was registered. Heritabilities for body weight and Phdp survival were moderate, although for days to death the heritability was low. Regarding humoral immune markers, for peroxidase activity it was moderate, and for IgM levels and for bactericidal activity it was low. Genetic correlations for body weight with Phdp survival and days to death were high and positive, while with peroxidase activity and IgM levels they tended to be positive, although these estimates were not accurate. Regarding genetic correlations between Phdp survival and humoral immune markers, they were very high, positive with peroxidase activity, and negative with IgM levels and bactericidal activity. Some humoral immune markers, particularly peroxidase activity, along with performance traits such as body weight and absence of deformities, are proposed to be included in a selective breeding program to raise fish that are capable of coping with diseases

Prediction of retention times (RTs) is increasingly considered in untargeted metabolomics to complement MS/MS matching for annotation of unidentified peaks. We tested the performance of PredRet (http://predret.org/) to predict RTs for plant food bioactive metabolites in a data sharing initiative containing entry sets of 29–103 compounds (totalling 467 compounds, >30 families) across 24 chromatographic systems (CSs). Between 27 and 667 predictions were obtained with a median prediction error of 0.03–0.76 min and interval width of 0.33–8.78 min. An external validation test of eight CSs showed high prediction accuracy. RT prediction was dependent on shape and type of LC gradient, and number of commonly measured compounds. Our study highlights PredRet’s accuracy and ability to transpose RT data acquired from one CS to another CS. We recommend extensive RT data sharing in PredRet by the community interested in plant food bioactive metabolites to achieve a powerful community-driven open-access tool for metabolomics annotation.

Birds have historically suffered adverse effects by toxic elements, such as As, Pb, Hg, and Cd. However, reports on exposure to a wide range of elements, including rare earth elements and other minor elements of emerging concern, and the potential consequences for wildlife are still scarce. This study evaluates blood concentrations of 50 elements and their related effects on lutein and vitamin levels in the Eurasian blackbird (Turdus merula) and wild rock pigeon (Columba livia), inhabiting different scenarios of contaminant exposure. Blood concentrations of As, Cd, and Pb (and Mn in T. merula) were increased in both species captured in the mining area, compared to the control site. T. merula also showed increased As, Cd, and Pb concentrations in blood in the agricultural–urban area, as compared to the control area, together with the highest Hg levels, which could be related to agricultural practices and industrial activities. Decreases of 33 and 38% in the plasma retinol levels in T. merula inhabiting the mining and the agricultural–urban areas, respectively, as compared to the control site, were associated with increased Pb, As, and Cd exposure. This could be du

Truffles are a well-known worldwide product mainly appreciated by their unique aroma, which is composed by more than 50 volatile compounds. However, to this day, no one has accomplished to find the aromatic key that evokes the real aroma of truffles for its use as food flavoring. Among them, black truffle was selected for extraction with supercritical fluids using CO2 as solvent recovering natural truffle aroma fraction. To achieve the optimal extraction ratio, time, pressure and grapeseed oil addition to the separators were evaluated. Aroma from black truffle powder, extracts obtained, and residual cakes fractions were characterized by headspace gas chromatography-spectrometry and olfactometry techniques. The results indicated that optimal extraction conditions were 30 MPa for 3 h. Also, grapeseed oil addition enhanced trapping some key truffle aromatic compounds as 2,3-butanodione, 2-methyl-1-butanol, octanal and dimethyl disulphide. Olfactometry study showed the aromatic profile of the extracts indicating the molecules ethyl pentanoate (fruity), 1-hexen-3-one (metallic) and ethyl hexanoate (fruity) as the main compounds of extracts samples. For the first time, a natural truffle aroma has been obtained using low-value truffles. After aromatic extraction, carbohydrates, proteins, and phenolic compounds were analysed within the residues, showing a potential source of bioactive compounds.

Yield losses due to cultivation in saline soils is a common problem all over the world as most crop plants are glycophytes and, hence, susceptible to salt stress. The use of halophytic crops could be an interesting alternative to cope with this issue. The Amaranthaceae family comprises by far the highest proportion of salt-tolerant halophytic species. Amaranth and quinoa belong to this family, and their seeds used as pseudo-cereal grains have received much attention in recent years because of their exceptional nutritional value. While advances in the knowledge of salt tolerance mechanisms of quinoa have been remarkable in recent years, much less attention was received by amaranth, despite evidences pointing to amaranth as a promising species to be grown under salinity. In order to advance in the understanding of strategies used by amaranth to confront salt stress, we studied the comparative responses of amaranth and quinoa to salinity (100 mM NaCl) at the physiological, anatomical, and molecular levels. Amaranth was able to exhibit salt tolerance throughout its life cycle, since grain production was not affected by the saline conditions applied. The high salt tolerance of amaranth is associated with a low basal stomatal conductance due to a low number of stomata (stomatal density) and degree of stomata aperture (in adaxial surface) of leaves, which contributes to avoid leaf water loss under salt stress in a more efficient way than in quinoa. With respect to Na homeostasis, amaranth showed a pattern of Na distribution throughout the plant similar to glycophytes, with the highest accumulation found in the roots, followed by the stem and the lowest one detected in the leaves. Contrarily, quinoa exhibited a Na includer character with the highest accumulation detected in the shoots. Expression levels of main genes involved in Na homeostasis (SOS1, HKT1s, and NHX1) showed different patterns between amaranth and quinoa, with a marked higher basal expression in amaranth roo

Tick vaccination is an environmentally friendly alternative for tick control, pathogen infection, and transmission. Tick vaccine protection is sometimes incomplete, which may be due to problems in the stability, conformation, and activity of antibodies. This might be related to oxidative stress, but more studies are needed about the possible relationships between oxidative stress and immune function. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare various serum biomarkers of antioxidant response and oxidative damage in cattle vaccinated with two recombinant antigens, the chimera of Subolesin- BM95 (homologue antigen of BM86)-MSP1a and BM86, and a control consisting in the adjuvant of the vaccines. Cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), ferric reducing ability of the plasma (FRAP), trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), total thiol concentrations, and uric acid were evaluated in serum to determine the antioxidant response. To evaluate oxidative status, ferrous oxidation-xylenol orange (FOX), total oxidant status (TOS), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentrations in serum were determined. In addition, correlations between biomarkers of oxidative stress and antibody titers were evaluated. A significant decrease in all antioxidant biomarkers, with exception of thiol, and also a decrease in the oxidant markers TOS, AOPP and H2O2 was observed in cattle vaccinated with BM86, that also showed the highest antibody titers response whereas no significant differences in any of the biomarkers were detected in the Subolesin-Bm95-MSP1a and control groups. In addition, the dynamics of Cuprac and H2O2 with time showed significant differences between the groups. Although this is a pilot study and the results should be interpreted with caution and corroborated by studies involving a large number of animals, our results indicate that, in our experimental conditions, those vaccines able to induce a lower oxidative stress

It is well described that viral infections stimulate the emission of plant volatiles able to recruit viral vectors thereby promoting virus spread. In contrast, much less is known on the effects that emitted volatiles may have on the metabolism of healthy neighboring plants, which are potential targets for new infections through vector transmission. Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) (genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae) is an aphid-transmitted virus endemic in cucurbit crops worldwide. We have compared gene expression profiles of WMV-infected melon plants with those of healthy or healthy-but-cohabited-with-infected plants. Pathogenesis-related (PR) and small heat shock protein encoding genes were deregulated in cohabited plants, and PR deregulation depended on the distance to the infected plant. The signaling was short distance in the experimental conditions used, and cohabiting had a moderate effect on the plant susceptibility to WMV. Static headspace experiments showed that benzaldehyde and g-butyrolactone were significantly over-emitted by WMV-infected plants. Altogether, our data suggest that perception of a volatile signal encoded by WMV-infected tissues triggers a response to prepare healthy tissues or/and healthy neighboring plants for the incoming infections.

Soil microorganisms maintain soil functions, playing a key role in nutrient cycling. However, human activities may alter ecological processes through, for instance, wildlife management tools, which affect environment conditions. Some management tools, such as diversionary feeding, are a source of organic matter and promote high animal densities in small areas, which could affect soil properties and nutrient cycling. This study evaluated how diversionary food inputs that aim to manage an exotic wild ungulate (Ammotragus lervia) can affect the soil potential for microbial N cycling on a Mediterranean mountain in SE Spain. We quantified the functional genes involved in N cycling present in soil exposed to diversionary feeding and compared soil characteristics from three areas: feeding station soil, contour area soil (surrounding the feeding station) and a reference soil (not influenced by supplementary feeding). Our results showed that the amount of the amoA-arch gene (from ammonia-oxidising archaea), the nifH gene (associated with N-fixation), the nirK gene (associated with denitrification) and the ureC gene (associated with ureolysis) were smaller in the feeding stations than in other areas. However, the nirS and nosZ genes (associated with denitrification) were more abundant in soil from feeding stations than in the reference soil. Our results suggest that diversionary feeding modifies microbial abundance and alters nitrogen cycle dynamics because of nutrient inputs and biochemical changes in soil.

Our reality, our life, is already configured as a socio-technical system in which we interact with people, devices, data, algorithms, robots. Artificial intelligence, data science and robotics are disruptive technologies that are reconfiguring life. And we already know that technological artifacts incorporate values and have politics. That is why an ethical analysis of these technologies is essential, identifying the hazards we want to avoid and introducing from the very design the values we wish to promote. Not as an end in itself, but to generate citizen trust in the technologies and in the institutions that promote them, to foster their social acceptance and appropriation. Ethics constitutes a powerful tool for the technological empowerment of citizens, preventing algorithmic injustices (discrimination, profiling, biases) and promoting a necessary new “techno-social” contract.

[EN] Despite the important role that Carthago Nova (Hispania Tarraconensis) played as a commercial harbour in Roman times, our knowledge of the city’s amphoric production and its ager is almost non-existent today. Amongst its main economic activities, only the production related to mining and metallurgy appears to have been clearly exported. Further to the absence of potter’s workshops in the first centuries of the Empire, there is a lack of installations linked to certain products such as the local garum, so celebrated by ancient sources. However, this situation contrasts with the development of numerous figlinae along the coastline from the 4th century A.D., which can be explored in more detail through the study of new materials. This paper presents a state of the art on the containers manufactured in Cartagena and its hinterland between the 1st and 5th centuries AD, thus providing innovative approaches and understandings on the productive context of the city and its economic development in Antiquity, [ES] A pesar del relevante papel que desempeñó como puerto comercial en época romana, la producción anfórica de Carthago Nova (Hispania Tarraconensis) y su territorio resultan a día de hoy casi desconocidas. De sus principales actividades económicas, solo la minerometalurgia parece haber tenido un claro carácter exportador. A la ausencia de alfares en los primeros siglos del Imperio se suma la escasez de instalaciones vinculadas con ciertos productos como el garum local, tan celebrado por los autores antiguos. Sin embargo, esta situación contrasta con el desarrollo de numerosas figlinae a lo largo del litoral a partir del s. IV d.C. y puede ser matizada gracias al estudio de nuevos materiales. En las páginas que siguen se presenta un estado de la cuestión sobre los envases manufacturados en Cartagena y su hinterland entre los siglos I y V d.C. Su análisis permite reflexionar sobre el contexto productivo de la ciudad y su desarrollo económico durante la Antigüedad

Considerable variation in fertility exists between bulls in AI centres, despite passing minimum post-thaw quality control checks. The development of a reliable in vitro test to predict bull fertility could enable the identification and selection of high fertility bulls, without the need to resort to test inseminations. An in-depth knowledge of the molecular basis of fertilization is a prerequisite to the development of such a test or combination of tests. To date, JUNO is the only oocyte plasma membrane receptor described to be involved in gamete binding for which the partner in the sperm, IZUMO1, is known. Despite the fact that this interaction appears to be conserved among mammals, it has not been confirmed yet in some species including cattle. Furthermore, an association between binding and fertility has not been tested. Here, we propose a sperm-binding assay based on magnetic sepharose beads coated with bovine recombinant JUNO protein (BJUNO) to study sperm binding. Bull sperm bound specifically to BJUNO demonstrating that the JUNO-IZUMO1 interaction is conserved in cattle. Moreover, the assay was able to distinguish between epididymal and ejaculated sperm. Lastly, the number of sperm cells bound to BJUNO was significantly lower for frozen-thawed sperm from bulls of low vs high field fertility. In conclusion, our findings document a novel valid sperm-binding assay to predict mammalian sperm function and to investigate the role of specific proteins involved in gamete recognition and fusion.

The aim of this study was to evaluate Cd and Pb concentrations in the hepatopancreas, gills, muscle tissue and carapace of the crab Callinectes sapidus and in sediments from the mouth of the river Segura (SE Spain), an area that has undergone great anthropogenic change in recent decades. Lead concentrations were higher than Cd concentrations in the hepatopancreas, gills and muscles; no statistical differences were found between the sexes. Cadmium and Pb concentrations in sediments did not exceed the probable effect level in guidelines for the protection of aquatic life. The Biological Sediments Accumulation Factor (BSAF) was higher for Cd than Pb in the hepatopancreas, gills and carapace. For Cd, the hepatopancreas had the highest BSAF of all tissues, followed by gills. As well, the hepatopancreas had the highest Individual Mean Bioaccumulation Index (IMBI). The hepatopancreas and gills of the blue crab could thus be useful tissues for practical field monitoring of metal contamination in this ecosystem.