Search

Seagrasses are globally acknowledged as crucial habitats as they provide a variety of ecosystem services. Mexico’s legislation protects most of these marine plants; however, the protection often fails in application. The Gulf of California, despite being a biodiversity hotspot, has scant data on seagrasses. Here, human activity and climate change increasingly threaten these coastal ecosystems, with conservation and research efforts lacking coordination at a regional level. Our manuscript aimed to review and standardize existing data on Gulf of California seagrass species, ensuring open access for data updates; pinpointing conservation deficiencies; and guiding future research. We have added new records to the official public data, but we were able to recapture only 25% of the seagrass locations meaning a potential reduction in their historical distribution of 45.8%. Even though Mexico’s legislation protects some species of seagrasses, it protection often fails in the application. We identified that only 6.1% of the seagrass locations are within protected areas that recognize their presence in their management plans (e.g., the Balandra Flora and Fauna Protected Area and the Upper Gulf of California and Colorado River Delta Biosphere Reserve). At least 55.9% of seagrass records are associated with potentially damaging activities like pollution, coastal modification or biological resources use, while 23% are exposed to higher frequency of marine heatwaves. Given the importance of seagrass meadows under Mexican law and their internationally recognized ecological value, sharing current information and guiding research is essential. Our study seeks to galvanize renewed research initiatives and raise more awareness on the conservation of the Gulf of California’s seagrasses.

La cirugía de la obesidad es una tecnología médica que moldea anatómicamente el tubo digestivo para forzar el adelgazamiento. Este proceso de normalización provee una experiencia de transformación corporal, simbólica y sociopolítica. El objetivo de este artículo es analizar la experiencia de transformación de las personas que sufren una cirugía de la obesidad a través de las metáforas presentes en sus narrativas. Entre 2017 y 2020 se realizó una investigación etnográfica multisituada que comprendió observación participante en una consulta de cirugía bariátrica, entrevistas a personas que habían sufrido el proceso y análisis del discurso público. Los resultados de la investigación revelan que la cirugía de la obesidad se presenta como un mediador que permite abandonar el estado de gordura y los significados cristalizados en torno a ella, para establecer relaciones prácticas y simbólicas relacionadas con la subjetividades modernas e individualistas. En las narrativas, las metáforas del «patito feo» y del «héroe moderno» condensan las dimensiones corporales, sociales, políticas y morales de la transformación.

Los símbolos que la tradición ha aplicado a la Virgen María tienden a identificarse, en los estudios de cultura visual, como los “símbolos de las letanías marianas” o “símbolos de la letanía lauretana”. El presente artículo rastrea su origen en la patrística y su presencia en la Edad Media y Moderna, demostrando que su uso trasciende ampliamente las composiciones litánicas y ofreciendo una posible explicación para esta (mal)interpretación generalizada. Igualmente, propone sistematizar en cuatro grandes fórmulas la tipología general de Virgen acompañada de símbolos, al tiempo que evidencia cómo el significado de estos viene condicionado por la representación mariana que completan. Finalmente, aborda la presencia aislada de los mismos, planteando tanto qué pudo favorecer su autonomía, como la necesidad de cuestionarse dicha independencia.

El nitrógeno es el nutriente más importante en cultivos forrajeros, debido a su participación en diversas reacciones bioquímicas en las diferentes etapas fenológicas de la planta. El objetivo del presente estudio fue desarrollar un modelo de regresión lineal múltiple para estimar el nitrógeno total (Nt) en planta de maíz a partir de imágenes satelitales. El porcentaje de Nt se determinó mediante tres muestreos de planta en cuatro parcelas experimentales. El modelo de estimación se obtuvo al procesar las imágenes satelitales Sentinel-2 de acuerdo a las fechas de muestreo, se calcularon 13 índices espectrales y se analizó la asociación entre los valores del contenido de nitrógeno y la reflectancia a través de: análisis de componentes principales (ACP), matriz de correlación y dendrograma. Los índices con mayor relación fueron MCARI/OSAVI, TCARI/OSAVI, MCARI/OSAVI RE y TCARI/OSAVI RE, esto permitió explicar más de 50% de la variabilidad del modelo propuesto y un EMC de 0.12. El presente estudio indicó que el cálculo de índices espectrales derivados de Sentinel-2 tiene gran potencial para conocer el estado nitrogenado del cultivo de maíz, sin embargo, para futuras investigaciones se sugiere obtener modelos de estimación de Nt por etapa fenológica del cultivo.

Abstract Background Connections between habitats are key to a full understanding of anthropic impacts on ecosystems. Freshwater habitats are especially biodiverse, yet depend on exchange with terrestrial habitats. White storks (Ciconia ciconia) are widespread opportunists that often forage in landfills and then visit wetlands, among other habitats. It is well known that white storks ingest contaminants at landfills (such as plastics and antibiotic resistant bacteria), which can be then deposited in other habitats through their faeces and regurgitated pellets. Methods We characterized the role of white storks in habitat connectivity by analyzing GPS data from populations breeding in Germany and wintering from Spain to Morocco. We overlaid GPS tracks on a land-use surface to construct a spatially-explicit network in which nodes were sites, and links were direct flights. We then calculated centrality metrics, identified spatial modules, and quantified overall connections between habitat types. For regional networks in southern Spain and northern Morocco, we built Exponential Random Graph Models (ERGMs) to explain network topologies as a response to node habitat. Results For Spain and Morocco combined, we built a directed spatial network with 114 nodes and 370 valued links. Landfills were the habitat type most connected to others, as measured by direct flights. The relevance of landfills was confirmed in both ERGMs, with significant positive effects of this habitat as a source of flights. In the ERGM for southern Spain, we found significant positive effects of rice fields and salines (solar saltworks) as sinks for flights. By contrast, in the ERGM for northern Morocco, we found a significant positive effect of marshes as a sink for flights. Conclusions These results illustrate how white storks connect landfills with terrestrial and aquatic habitats, some of which are managed for food production. We identified specific interconnected habitat patches across Spain and Morocco that could be used for further studies on biovectoring of pollutants, pathogens and other propagules.

Denervation-induced muscle atrophy is a frequent cause of skeletal muscle diseases. However, the role of the most important muscle growth factor, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), in this process is poorly understood. IGF-1 activity is controlled by six IGF-1 binding proteins (IGFBPs). In skeletal muscle, IGFBP-5 seems to have an important role in atrophic processes. Furthermore, pappalysins (PAPP-A) modulate muscle growth by increasing IGF-1 bioavailability through IGFBP cleavage. We aimed to study the time-dependent changes in the IGF1-IGFBP5-PAPP system and its regulators in gastrocnemius muscle after sciatic denervation. Gastrocnemius atrophy and overexpression of IGF-1 was observed from day 3 post-denervation. The proteolytic factors measured were elevated from day 1 post-denervation onwards. Expression of both IGFBP-5 and pappalysins were increased on days 1 and 3. Subsequently, on days 7 to 14 pappalysins returned to control levels while IGFBP-5 remained elevated. The ratio IGFBP-5/PAPP-A was correlated with the main proteolytic markers. All data suggest that the initial increase of pappalysins could facilitate the IGF-1 action on muscle growth, whereas their subsequent decrease could lead to further muscle wasting.

Este artículo presenta los resultados de la investigación “Secuencia didáctica basada en la atención visual para abordar la oralidad en grado primero”, que se enmarca en el enfoque cualitativo de tipo Investigación Acción (IA), la cual se desarrolló en tres fases importantes: la primera, selección de muestra de la población y la caracterización de estudiantes de la Institución Educativa Distrital Sierra Morena; la segunda, establecimiento de categorías que permitieron relacionar la realidad observada con campos de la investigación: oralidad y atención visual; y, en tercer lugar, el diseño de la secuencia didáctica “El baúl que habla y encanta”, como resultado obtenido dentro de la investigación y que permitió llegar a las conclusiones de tipo reflexivo frente a las prácticas pedagógicas. Lo anterior da respuesta a la pregunta de la investigación planteada: ¿Qué estrategia pedagógica permite abordar la oralidad desde la atención visual?

Nutraceuticals are products of natural origin widely used for the treatment and/or prevention of some chronic diseases that are highly prevalent in Western countries, such as obesity or type II diabetes, among others. However, its possible use in the prevention of acute diseases that can put life at risk has been poorly studied. Sepsis is an acute condition that causes cardiovascular and skeletal muscle damage due to a systemic inflammatory state. The aim of this work was to evaluate the possible beneficial effect of a new nutraceutical based on a mixture of algae oil (AO) and extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) supplemented with an olive leaf extract (OLE) in the prevention of cardiovascular alterations and skeletal muscle disorders induced by sepsis in rats. For this purpose, male Wistar rats were treated with the nutraceutical or with water p.o. for 3 weeks and after the treatment they were injected with 1mg/kg LPS twice (12 and 4 h before sacrifice). Pretreatment with the nutraceutical prevented the LPS-induced decrease in cardiac contractility before and after the hearts were subjected to ischemia-reperfusion. At the vascular level, supplementation with the nutraceutical did not prevent hypotension in septic animals, but it attenuated endothelial dysfunction and the increased response of aortic rings to the vasoconstrictors norepinephrine and angiotensin-II induced by LPS. The beneficial effects on cardiovascular function were associated with an increased expression of the antioxidant enzymes SOD-1 and GSR in cardiac tissue and SOD-1 and Alox-5 in arterial tissue. In skeletal muscle, nutraceutical pretreatment prevented LPS-induced muscle proteolysis and autophagy and significantly increased protein synthesis as demonstrated by decreased expression of MURF-1, atrogin-1, LC3b and increased MCH-I and MCH -IIa in gastrocnemius muscle. These effects were associated with a decrease in the expression of TNFα, HDAC4 and myogenin. In conclusion, treatment with a new nutraceutical based on a mixture of AO and EVOO supplemented with OLE is useful to prevent cardiovascular and muscular changes induced by sepsis in rats. Thus, supplementation with this nutraceutical may constitute an interesting strategy to reduce the severity and mortality risk in septic patients.

Seagrasses are globally acknowledged as crucial habitats as they provide a variety of ecosystem services. Mexico's legislation protects most of these marine plants; however, the protection often fails in application. The Gulf of California, despite being a biodiversity hotspot, has scant data on seagrasses. Here, human activity and climate change increasingly threaten these coastal ecosystems, with conservation and research efforts lacking coordination at a regional level. Our manuscript aimed to review and standardize existing data on Gulf of California seagrass species, ensuring open access for data updates; pinpointing conservation deficiencies; and guiding future research. We have added new records to the official public data, but we were able to recapture only 25% of the seagrass locations meaning a potential reduction in their historical distribution of 45.8%. Even though Mexico's legislation protects some species of seagrasses, it protection often fails in the application. We identified that only 6.1% of the seagrass locations are within protected areas that recognize their presence in their management plans (e.g., the Balandra Flora and Fauna Protected Area and the Upper Gulf of California and Colorado River Delta Biosphere Reserve). At least 55.9% of seagrass records are associated with potentially damaging activities like pollution, coastal modification or biological resources use, while 23% are exposed to higher frequency of marine heatwaves. Given the importance of seagrass meadows under Mexican law and their internationally recognized ecological value, sharing current information and guiding research is essential. Our study seeks to galvanize renewed research initiatives and raise more awareness on the conservation of the Gulf of California's seagrasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several parameters, including particle size, solvent, temperature, and extraction method, affect phenolic compounds' extraction yield from a plant matrix. Considering the wide availability of sugarcane bagasse (SCB), this study analyzed the effect of different extraction methods and geographical origins on the yield, quality, and antimicrobial activity of phenolic compounds from SCB extracts. Samples from three geographical locations (Veracruz, Mexico; Santa Rosa, Texas, USA; and St. Mary, Louisiana, USA) were analyzed. Extraction was performed using an orbital shaker or ultrasonic bath at various times at a fixed temperature of 50°C, with 90% ethanol or methanol. The highest yield (5.91 mg GAE) was obtained using an orbital shaker for 24 h with 90% methanol as the solvent. HPLC-MS identified desferrioxamine b, baicalein, madecassic acid, and podototarin at different concentrations in all three SCB samples. The antimicrobial activity of these compounds was tested against Escherichia coli K12, Bacillus cereus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Streptococcus aureus, and Enterobacter cloacae. The antimicrobial activity was also tested against modifications of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae: the MutL Homolog 1 (MLH1), Slow Growth Suppressor (SGS1), O-6-MethylGuanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGT1), and RADiation sensitive (RAD14), carrying mutations related to different cancer types. In addition, the results were compared with the effect of ampicillin and kanamycin. The SCB extracts showed up to 90% growth inhibition against B. cereus at 200–800 μg/mL and 50% growth inhibition against S. aureus at 800 μg/mL. The inhibitory effect against modified yeast SGS1, RAD14, and MLH1 was 50–80% at 800 μg/mL. The percentage of inhibition and the phenolic compound contents differed depending on the origin of the SCB sample. These findings are promising for using this industrial byproduct to obtain compounds for nutraceutical, food additive, or medical uses.

Colorectal cancer: Antitumor antidepressant The antidepressant drug imipramine can block the activity of a protein that contributes to the progression of certain aggressive tumors. Serrated adenocarcinoma (SAC) is a form of colorectal cancer with a poor prognosis. A key factor in SAC development is the overexpression of the protein fascin1, which promotes the formation of structures that help cancer cells move around, thereby leading to metastasis. Pablo Conesa-Zamora at Santa Lucia University Hospital in Cartagena, Horacio Pérez-Sánchez at the Universidad Católica de Murcia in Guadalupe, Spain, and coworkers demonstrated that imipramine shows promise in binding to fascin1 and blocking its activity. The team analyzed over 9500 compounds as potential fascin1 blockers, identifying imipramine as a possible option. In tests on human tissues and in vivo studies using zebrafish, the drug reduced cancer invasion and metastasis.

Se presenta la paralelización del Cooperation Greedy Monkey Algorithm y el ajuste de parámetros para resolver el problema KP 0-1 (0-1 Knapsack Problem). Los problemas resueltos son tomados de la literatura especializada hasta las instancias establecidas por Pisinger, las no correlacionadas, las débilmente correlacionadas y las fuertemente correlacionadas. Se amplía la capacidad de solución del algoritmo para resolver instancias con diferentes porcentajes del 25% y 50% de la suma de los pesos de los elementos, y no únicamente el 75% como está diseñado el algoritmo originalmente. Se utilizó un modelo maestro-esclavo para su implementación paralela en un cluster de 5 servidores. Los resultados son alentadores y en algunas ocasiones se calcula la solución óptima.

Denervation induces skeletal muscle atrophy due to the loss of control and feedback with the nervous system. Unfortunately, muscle atrophy only becomes evident days after the denervation event when it could be irreversible. Alternative diagnosis tools for early detection of denervation‐induced muscle atrophy are, thus, required. In this work, we demonstrate how the combination of transient thermometry, a technique already used for early diagnosis of tumors, and infrared‐emitting nanothermometers makes possible the in vivo detection of the onset of muscle atrophy at short (<1 day) times after a denervation event. The physiological reasons behind these experimental results have been explored by performing three dimensional numerical simulations based on the Pennes' bioheat equation. It is concluded that the alterations in muscle thermal dynamics at the onset of muscle atrophy are consequence of the skin perfusion increment caused by the alteration of peripheral nervous autonomous system. This work demonstrates the potential of infrared luminescence thermometry for early detection of diseases of the nervous system opening the venue toward the development of new diagnosis tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

En el segundo tercio del siglo XVIII la Igreja de São Salvador de Coimbra reviste sus naves y coro con un rico programa iconográfico pintado sobre azulejos y atribuido a Salvador de Sousa Carvalho. El conjunto se basa en las estampas ejecutadas por Gottfried Bernhard Göz y Joseph Sebastian Klauber para ilustrar la obra Vita, Doctrina, Passio Domini nostri Iesu Christi, escrita por el benedictino Coelestin Leuthner y publicada en Augsburgo en 1733, poniendo así de manifiesto la estrecha relación que el arte barroco portugués mantiene con el género de la emblemática. En este artículo analizamos la adaptación que el ciclo pictórico acomete de estos referentes impresos, evidenciando cómo la selección, reordenación y recombinación de las fuentes son mecanismos clave para la formulación de un discurso original que, en este caso, se destina a mostrar al devoto cuál es el camino que conduce al cielo.

Sepsis increases glucocorticoid and decreases IGF-1, leading to skeletal muscle wasting and cachexia. Muscle atrophy mainly takes place in locomotor muscles rather than in respiratory ones. Our study aimed to elucidate the mechanism responsible for this difference in muscle proteolysis, focusing on local inflammation and IGF-1 as well as on their glucocorticoid response and HDAC4-myogenin activation. Sepsis was induced in adult male rats by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection (10 mg/kg), and 24 h afterwards, rats were euthanized. LPS increased TNFα and IL-10 expression in both muscles studied, the diaphragm and gastrocnemius, whereas IL-6 and SOCS3 mRNA increased only in diaphragm. In comparison with gastrocnemius, diaphragm showed a lower increase in proteolytic marker expression (atrogin-1 and LC3b) and in LC3b protein lipidation after LPS administration. LPS increased the expression of glucocorticoid induced factors, KLF15 and REDD1, and decreased that of IGF-1 in gastrocnemius but not in the diaphragm. In addition, an increase in HDAC4 and myogenin expression was induced by LPS in gastrocnemius, but not in the diaphragm. In conclusion, the lower activation of both glucocorticoid signaling and HDAC4-myogenin pathways by sepsis can be one of the causes of lower sepsis-induced proteolysis in the diaphragm compared to gastrocnemius.