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Methylphenidate (MPH) is the active ingredient in Ritalin, although effective in treating ofthe attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), its neurostimulation action is attractiveamong students in order to increase the focus or improving student performance. In context ofthe Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) concept, states that insults incritical phases of development, as the peripubertal period, may program the organism todysfunctions in adulthood. The aim of this work was to investigate the impact of peripubertalMPH exposure on learning and retrograde memory in adult rats. Male Wistar rats wereexposed to MPH (5 mg/kg) from post-natal day (PN) 30 until PN60 (MPH). Control animalsreceived 0.9% saline (Sal). At PN60, learning was evaluated true 10 days in an eight-armelevated maze and at PN120 retrograde memory. At PN60, MPH group showed a delay of61% in the latency, an increase of 100% in the number of errors and 200% in the number ofrepetition errors when compared to the Sal group, until the day 5 of learning period (p=0.004).After the washout period, at PN120, the MPH group showed an increase of 37% in thelatency, 49% in the number of errors of reference and 600% in the number of repetition errorscompared with the Sal group (p=0.001, p=0.004 and p=0.01). Exposure to MPH duringperipubertal phase decreases learning and memory in adult male Wistar rats.

Sedentary lifestyle and consumption of high-calorie foods contribute to the development ofindividuals with risk factors for non-communicable diseases. Aerobic exercise is one of themain non-pharmacological strategies in this confrontation. This work aims to evaluate theeffects of moderate-intensity exercise (MIE) on biometric and metabolic parameters of adultmale Wistar rats, programmed for obesity during the lactation period. The litters werestandardized in 9 pups until the 3rd day of life, and later adjusted in Normal Litters (NL), andReduced Litters (SL). At 21 days, the offspring were weaned and divided into sedentary(SED) and exercised (EXE) groups, forming 4 experimental groups: NL-SED, NL-EXE, SL-SED and SL-EXE. EXE rats performed a moderate-intensity treadmill running protocol from30 to 60 years old. All groups were euthanized at 120 days. The results showed that the litterreduction made the animals heavier (p

Metformin is the most widely used drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and metabolicdiseases worldwide. Lactation is understood as a sensitive phase of development capable ofprogramming the metabolism for health or disease in adult life. The aim of this study was toverify whether treatment with metformin during lactation could attenuate the metabolicdysfunctions in Wistar rats induced obesity by overfeeding during lactation. At birth, alllitters were adjusted to 9 pups (NL) for each mother and divided into two experimentalgroups: NL: Normal Litter Saline, NL-M: Normal Litter Metformin. Small Litter (SL) litterswere reduced to 3 pups per mother on the third day of life and were divided into twoexperimental groups: SL: Small Litter Saline and SL-M: Small Litter Metformin. Salina (S)pups received 0.9% saline solution from the first to the twelfth day of life via intraperitonealinjection. The other group received metformin (M) (100mg/kg of body weight (bw)/day) inthe same period of life. Early metformin treatment decreased body weight gain (BW) andfood intake (FI) in SL-M rats at 90 days old. The increase in retroperitoneal, mesenteric andgonadal fat reserves in SL animals not treated with metformin was shown to be reduced intreated SL animals. The intravenous glucose tolerance test showed greater tolerance in SL-M.We conclude that early treatment with metformin prevented BW gain and visceral adiposityin adult rats, caused by overfeeding during lactation, as well as improved glucose tolerance, aparameter also altered in small litter animals.

Childhood obesity is an important independent risk factor for later metabolic diseases, such astype 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and arterial hypertension. However, males and femalesrespond differently to this nutritional challenge. Here, we propose an experimental study ofthe effects of early obesity, using the litter reduction model, in the body mass of female adultWistar rats. The litters were delivered on postnatal day 0 - PN0. In PN2, the offspring ofWistar rats was standardized in 9 (normal litter – NL) and 3 (reduced litter – SL) pups.Animals were weaned at PN21 and kept at 3 per cage for both groups until PN120. In PN120,the rats were weighed and euthanized, and then the tissues were collected, according to theapproval of the Ethics in Animal Use Committee n° 4831020822. Our data points to a bodyweight difference in PN21 between the groups, where the SL group was overweight comparedto the NL group (p

The current study investigate sound effects of low-protein diet (LP) during peripubertal periodto induce metabolic dysfunctions. In our study (CEUA 2910011021), 30 days-old Wistar malerats received LP (4% protein) and control rats were fed a 20.5% protein diet, for 60 days (NPgroup). Biometric parameters was taken and glucose, total and HDL-cholesterol, andtriglycerides were evaluated from plasma samples. Glycemia homeostasis was evaluated byOGTT and ITT, while hepatic parameters, including quantitative analysis of fat, triglyceridesand cholesterol in the liver was evaluated ex vivo. At 60 days, LP rats showed inferior bodymass (P=0.003), food intake (P=0.05), and nose-tail length (P=0.0001), compared to NP.Regarding biochemical assays, LP rats showed higher serum glucose (P=0.008); however,triglyceride (P=0.002), total cholesterol (P=0.02), and HDL levels (P

European forests are threatened by increasing numbers of invasive pests and pathogens. Over the past century, Lecanosticta acicola, a foliar pathogen predominantly of Pinus spp., has expanded its range globally, and is increasing in impact. Lecanosticta acicola causes brown spot needle blight, resulting in premature defoliation, reduced growth, and mortality in some hosts. Originating from southern regions of North American, it devastated forests in the USA's southern states in the early twentieth century, and in 1942 was discovered in Spain. Derived from Euphresco project ‘Brownspotrisk,’ this study aimed to establish the current distribution of Lecanosticta species, and assess the risks of L. acicola to European forests. Pathogen reports from the literature, and new/ unpublished survey data were combined into an open-access geo-database (http://www.portalofforestpathology.com), and used to visualise the pathogen's range, infer its climatic tolerance, and update its host range. Lecanosticta species have now been recorded in 44 countries, mostly in the northern hemisphere. The type species, L. acicola, has increased its range in recent years, and is present in 24 out of the 26 European countries where data were available. Other species of Lecanosticta are largely restricted to Mexico and Central America, and recently Colombia. The geo-database records demonstrate that L. acicola tolerates a wide range of climates across the northern hemisphere, and indicate its potential to colonise Pinus spp. forests across large swathes of the Europe. Preliminary analyses suggest L. acicola could affect 62% of global Pinus species area by the end of this century, under climate change predictions. Although its host range appears slightly narrower than the similar Dothistroma species, Lecanosticta species were recorded on 70 host taxa, mostly Pinus spp., but including, Cedrus and Picea spp. Twenty-three, including species of critical ecological, environmental and economic significance in Europe, are highly susceptible to L. acicola, suffering heavy defoliation and sometimes mortality. Variation in apparent susceptibility between reports could reflect variation between regions in the hosts’ genetic make-up, but could also reflect the significant variation in L. acicola populations and lineages found across Europe. This study served to highlight significant gaps in our understanding of the pathogen's behaviour. Lecanosticta acicola has recently been downgraded from an A1 quarantine pest to a regulated non quarantine pathogen, and is now widely distributed across Europe. With a need to consider disease management, this study also explored global BSNB strategies, and used Case Studies to summarise the tactics employed to date in Europe.

Eight new amorphous organic salts of folic acid (FA) were prepared by mechanochemistry. FA can prevent cardiovascular and neurological diseases. Mechanochemistry overcomes serious FA solubility issues avoiding the use of toxic solvents. Due to low FA solubility, therapeutic effects in supplements and drugs are not achieved. Current strategies to improve FA solubility include its derivatization by using complex synthetic procedures. Herein, a simple and green procedure, avoiding structural modifications, was designed using mechanochemistry. Biocompatible amine-derivative coformers were strategically combined with FA to obtain salts with good physicochemical properties. New 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 amorphous FA salts offer 10 to 10,000 times better aqueous solubility and 10 to 100 times better octanol-water partition coefficient values (Koctanol/water) than FA alone. Koctanol/water is considered as a surrogate of cell permeability. No toxic effects in normal human primary dermal fibroblasts were detected for the prepared FA salts. Our findings suggest that 1 : 2 FA salts of choline hydroxide and derivatives could be good candidates for future pharmaceutical/nutraceutical applications. publishersversion published

In order to better understand the effect of structure, halogen substitution, metal ions and ligand flexibility on antiproliferative activity, eight Cu(II) complexes and eight Pt(II) complexes were obtained of 2,4-X

Producción Científica, In the last decade, the impact of needle blight fungal pathogens on the health status of forests in northern Spain has marked a turning point in forest production systems based on Pinus radiata species. Dothistroma needle blight caused by Dothistroma septosporum and D. pini, and brown spot needle blight caused by Lecanosticta acicola, coexist in these ecosystems. There is a clear dominance of L. acicola with respect to the other two pathogens and evidence of sexual reproduction in the area. Understanding L. acicola spore dispersal dynamics within climatic determinants is necessary to establish more efficient management strategies to increase the sustainability of forest ecosystems. In this study, spore counts of 15 spore traps placed in Pinus ecosystems were recorded in 2019 and spore abundance dependency on weather data was analysed using generalised additive models. During the collection period, the model that best fit the number of trapped spores included the daily maximum temperature and daily cumulative precipitation, which was associated to higher spore counts. The presence of conidia was detected from January and maximum peaks of spore dispersal were generally observed from September to November., Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación - INIA (RTA 2017-00063-C04-03), LIFE programme (LIFE14 ENV/ES/000179), Desarrollo Económico, Sostenibilidad y Medio Ambiente (FUNGITRAP2019)

International audience; Active inductors have become standard building blocks for many applications by its recon gurability and reduced silicon area. However, the inductance variation over temperature is a main circuits' limitation in harsh environments. This paper presents a novel temperature analysis of a general architecture of active inductors, obtaining an optimal conductance value to minimize inductance variation over temperature. Based on the m /I D and sensitivity analysis, temperature variation result highlights that, even if its counter intuitive to bias transistors in weak inversion, a low inductance variation of 139 ppm/ °C.

In this paper, we propose a new ratio-metric interface for amplitude-modulated MEMS sensors based on mutually injection-locked oscillators (MILO). The two outputs are down-converted by a peak demodulator to improve the immunity to phase variation and noise. The peak values are then fed into a second-order discrete-time delta-sigma modulator that directly produces a digital ratio-metric output with a worst-case resolution greater than 16 bits and with input full scale of 0.6. The interface is clocked by the resonators output signal and is adapted for a sampling frequency up to 1MHz.

The 2-Chloroethylphosphonic acid (ethephon) and calcium carbide are used to induce and synchronize the flowering of pineapple crop. Some farmers have used the 2,4-D herbicide in combination with these flowering inducers. This practice is based on the hypothesis that 2,4-D would act as a growth regulator, increasing fruit size and weight. The objectives of this work was to verify if the use of 2,4-D, associated to calcium carbide or ethephon, influences the productivity and quality of the pineapple fruits and, also if the use of this herbicide leaves residues in the fruits. For this, two field experiments were carried out in two different farms. The treatments consisted of the application of ethephon and calcium carbide, alone, and in a mixture with two, four and six drops of 2,4-D in the center of the leaflet of the pineapple cv. “Pérola” at 10 months after planting. The use of 2,4-D mixed with calcium carbide or ethephon, regardless of the dose and culture environment, did not influence the size, weight, total soluble solids content, density and pH of the pineapple fruits. However, depending on the growing environment, ethephon + 2,4-D mixtures did not influence or reduce flowering and crop yield. No 2,4-D residues were found in the fruit pulp of pineapple. It was concluded that the use of 2,4-D as a growth regulator of pineapple under the conditions evaluated does not incorporate qualitative or quantitative benefits to the productive system of this crop. In addition, no 2,4-D residues were found in the fruit pulp of pineapple. RESUMO: O ácido 2-cloroetilfosfônico (ethephon) e o carbureto de cálcio são usados para induzir e sincronizar a floração da cultura do abacaxi. Alguns produtores têm utilizado, em associação com esses indutores do florescimento, o herbicida 2,4-D. Essa prática baseia-se na hipótese de que o 2,4-D atua como regulador de crescimento, aumentando o tamanho e peso dos frutos. Diante disso, os objetivos deste trabalho foram verificar se a utilização do 2,4-D, associado ao carbureto de cálcio ou ao ethephon, influencia a produtividade e qualidade dos frutos do abacaxizeiro e, também, se o uso desse herbicida deixa resíduos nos frutos. Para isso, foram realizados dois experimentos de campo em duas fazendas. Os tratamentos consistiram da aplicação de ethephon e carbureto de cálcio, isoladamente e em mistura com duas, quatro e seis gotas de 2,4-D no centro da roseta foliar do abacaxizeiro cv. Pérola aos 10 meses após o seu plantio. O uso de 2,4-D em mistura com o carbureto de cálcio ou o ethephon, independentemente da dose e do ambiente de cultivo, não influenciou o tamanho, peso, teor de sólidos solúveis totais, densidade e pH dos frutos de abacaxi. Todavia, dependendo do ambiente de cultivo, as misturas de ethephon + 2,4-D não influenciaram ou reduziram o florescimento e a produtividade da cultura. Não foram encontrados resíduos do 2,4-D na polpa dos frutos do abacaxi. Concluiu-se que o uso de 2,4-D associado ao carbureto de cálcio ou ao ethephon como regulador de crescimento do abacaxi, nas condições avaliadas, não incorpora benefícios qualitativos ou quantitativos ao sistema produtivo dessa cultura. Além disso, não foram encontrados resíduos de 2,4-D na polpa dos frutos de abacaxi.

Here we describe the establishment of a new canine mammary tumour (CMT) cell line, FR37-CMT that does not show dependence on female hormonal signaling to induce tumour xenografts in NOD-SCID mice. FR37-CMT cell line has a stellate or fusiform shape, displays the ability to reorganize the collagen matrix, expresses vimentin, CD44 and shows the loss of E-cadherin which is considered a fundamental event in epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). The up-regulation of ZEB1, the detection of phosphorylated ERK1/2 and the downregulation of DICER1 and miR-200c are also in accordance with the mesenchymal characteristics of FR37-CMT cell line. FR37-CMT shows a higher resistance to cisplatin (IC

A simple, rapid and sensitive method is described for the determination of omethoate, dimethoate, diazinon, chlorpyrifos, parathion-ethyl, chlorfenvinphos, quinalphos and azinphos-ethyl in postmortem whole blood samples. The analytes and internal standard (ethion) were isolated from the matrix by solid-phase extraction, and were analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in the selected ion monitoring mode. The method has shown to be selective after analysis of postmortem samples of 40 different origins. Calibration curves were established between 0.05 (0.1 for omethoate) and 25 µg/mL, and the values obtained for intra- and interday precision and accuracy were within the criteria usually accepted for bioanalytical method validation. Lower limits of quantitation were 50 ng/mL for all compounds, except for omethoate (100 ng/mL); the limits of identification of the method were 25 ng/mL for all analytes, except for omethoate, for which 50 ng/mL was obtained. Absolute recovery was determined at three concentration levels, and ranged from 31 to 108%. The proposed method is simple and fast, and can be routinely applied in the determination of these compounds in postmortem whole blood samples within the scope of forensic toxicology. In addition, mass spectrometry has demonstrated to be a powerful and indispensable tool for the unequivocal identification of the analytes, since the acceptance criteria were accomplished even at very low levels, thus allowing obtaining forensically valid and sound results.

We have developed a new and very simple method for determining the solubility of gases in aqueous solutions, by using the Bunsen coefficient value. The procedure is based on an electrochemical measurement. By means of a reliable relationship between this electrical measurement and the gas concentration in the gas phase above the aqueous solution, the Bunsen coefficient value for this gas in the corresponding solvent was finally determined. Two different types of electrochemical sensors were used to prove the consistency of the method: one potentiometric and the other amperometric. The results obtained from both sensors would indicate that the method is consistent. In addition, we present an easy procedure for determining the partial pressure of the gas in the gas phase.

Hydrophilic albumin microspheres are proposed as a new delivery system for amphotericin B (AMB; AMB microspheres). The acute toxicity of AMB microspheres was lower than that of the AMB-deoxycholate (AMB-Doc) reference formulation in hamsters. Lethal doses in healthy and infected animals were improved at least eight times. Intravenous bolus administration of doses of AMB microspheres up to 40 mg/kg of body weight did not produce acute symptoms of toxicity. The efficacy of this new formulation was tested against Leishmania infantum- infected hamsters at doses of 2, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg. With the 2-mg/kg dose, the activity of AMB, as assessed through the parasite load reductions in the liver and spleen and the evolution of antibody levels, was also improved ( P < 0.05) by use of the AMB microsphere system. At the higher doses of 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg, reductions in parasite levels of more than 99% were achieved in the liver and spleen after the administration of AMB microspheres. A pharmacokinetic study was performed to study the serum, liver, and spleen AMB concentrations after administration of AMB microspheres and the reference formulation. Interestingly, a significant accumulation of AMB in the spleen and liver was observed after AMB microsphere administration. Our results suggest that this new formulation is a promising alternative to the conventional AMB-Doc formulation for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis.

To assess the genetic relationships of Botrytis cinerea populations in Almeria (Spain), 44 isolates of B. cinerea, collected from six commercial greenhouses (subpopulations), were analysed by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and amplified-fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Polymorphisms were more frequently detected per primer with AFLP than with RAPD (16 compared to 4). However, RAPD detected polymorphisms more frequently per loci than AFLP (56% compared to 32%). The analysis of population structure revealed that the genetic diversity within subpopulations (HS) accounted for 96% of the total genetic diversity (HT) , while genetic diversity among subpopulations represented only 4% of the total diversity, independently of whether they were analysed with RAPD or AFLP markers. The relative magnitude of gene differentiation between subpopulations (GST) and the estimate of the number of migrants per generation (Nm) averaged similar values when estimated with RAPD or AFLP markers (0.039 and 0.036, or 12.32 and 13.39, respectively). The results obtained in dendrograms were in accordance with the gene diversity analysis. However, the diversity of B. cinerea was higher when analysed by RAPD than with AFLP. In these cases, the isolates could not be grouped by greenhouse or fungicide resistance (except those sensitive to carbendazim and resistant to procymidone). Both the RAPD and AFLP technologies are suitable for studies of genetic structure of B. cinerea populations, although RAPD generated more polymorphisms per loci than AFLP, and provided a better explanation of the genetic relationships between isolates.

The relative importance of sclerotia and mycelia of Botrytis cinerea Pers ex Fr. as structures of survival in southeastern Spanish greenhouses was investigated. Sclerotia were not found in the SE region, neither on plant debris nor on living plant material, suggesting it may serve only a minor role in epidemic development. B. cinerea survived mostly as mycelium. The percentage of artificially inoculated tomato stem pieces from which mycelium was recovered, was used to quantify its survival rate. Outside the greenhouses, mycelium survived in 33% and 5% of the tomato stem pieces 110 days after inoculation in 1995 and 1997, respectively. After the same number of days inside the greenhouses, no mycelium was recovered from stem pieces in 1995, and in 1997 only 7% of the stem pieces contained mycelium. Survival of mycelium outside and inside the greenhouses was significantly (P < 0.05) different after 47, 83, and 110 days of exposure to field conditions in 1995, but they were not different in 1997. Under controlled conditions, mycelium of B. cinerea lost viability at 100% relative humidity at temperatures ranging from 5 to 40°C, suggesting that air temperature and relative humidity accounted for loss of viability of mycelium.

The reaction in perchloric acid solution between Hg 2C and Fe 2C was found to proceed extremely slowly until it suddenly exhibited an autocatalytic surge. In conjunction with this rise, a yellow-green by-product formed and disappeared again when the reaction came to an end. In the related reaction between Hg 2C 2 and Fe 2C , the autocatalytic behaviour started early and the yellow-green by-product again appeared. No metallic mercury or other solid formed in either reaction, but the production of colloidal mercury was demonstrated by the Tyndall effect and by electrophoresis experiments. A five-step mechanism for these reactions is proposed and incorporated into a computer simulation called Mercury. The behaviour predicted by these simulations agrees well with the unusual experimental findings. © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

From emf values of galvanic cells of the types {Na-glass ∣ NaCl ( m B ), HZ ± ( m A ) ∣ AgCl (S) ∣ Ag}; {glass-H ∣ HCl ( m C =0.01 mol kg −1 ), HZ ± ( m A ), NaCl ( m B ) ∣ AgCl (S) ∣ Ag} and {glass-H ∣ HZ ± ( m A ), NaZ ( m D =0.09982 mol kg −1 ), NaCl ( m B ) ∣ AgCl (S) ∣ Ag} (where HZ ± stands for dl -α-amino- n -butyric acid), activity coefficients for NaCl and the aminoacid were determined, at various relative concentrations of both compounds, in the ionic strength range of 0.1–4 mol kg −1 and 298.15 K. Likewise, activity coefficients for both the pure aminoacid hydrochloride (up to 0.5 mol kg −1 ) and the sodium salt of the aminoacid (up to 0.1 mol kg −1 ) were also determined, together with the thermodynamic ionisation equilibrium constants for these latter compounds.

To prove the applicability of the Pitzer equations, modified by us after taking into account the dependence of the solution concentration on the mixing parameters related with the binary solute–solute interactions, we are presenting the analysis of accurate experimental activity coefficient values here determined for the mixed system NaCl+ β -alanine+H 2 O up to medium concentrations of both NaCl and the aminoacid. These activity coefficient values were obtained from the emfs of the galvanic cell: Na-glass ∣ β -Alanine ( m A ), NaCl ( m B = I ), AgCl ∣ Ag. The fitting was done by considering only the binary interaction mixing parameters, i.e. by neglecting the ternary ones (ion–zwitterion–zwitterion and ion–ion–zwitterion). The standard deviation thus found for the fitting (±0.16 mV, i.e. ±0.003 in ln γ ± ) was of the same order as the accepted experimental uncertainty. Activity coefficients for β -alanine in these aqueous solutions, calculated from the use of these modified Pitzer equations, are also presented.

The animal glycogen molecule has to be designed in accordance with its metabolic function as a very effective fuel store which allows the quick release of large amounts of glucose, and also should account for a high capacity of glucose storage occupying the least possible space. We have studied the optimization of these variables by means of a mathematical model of the glycogen molecule. Our results demonstrate that the structure of the glycogen molecule has an optimized design for (a) maximizing the total stored glucose in the smallest possible volume of the molecule, (b) maximizing the proportion of it which can be directly released by phosphorylase before any debranching occurs, and (c) maximizing the number of non reducing ends (points of attack for phosphorylase), which maximizes the quickness of fuel release. This has been achieved with appropriate values of two key parameters in glycogen design: the branching degree and the length of the chains.

The densities of Na 2 SO 4 and MgSO 4 have been determined at 15, 25, and 35 o C in EtOH+H 2 O. The results have been analyzed using the Redlich equation for the density as a function of the concentration. The apparent molar volumes at infinite dilution have been calculated from the coefficients of the Redlich equation and from the theoretical slopes S v of these mixtures at 25 o C, and results compared and interpreted in terms of the different interactions

Mischocyttarus atramentarius deploys exocrine glands in the VI and VII sternites which closely resemble sternal glands in other Vespidae, in both biosynthesis and secretory release specializations. Preliminary findings on the highly patterned architecture of the end-apparatus are described and briefly discussed: it is proposed that the ultrastructural traits of these glands are consistent with the production and emission of molecules active as chemical signals.

A simple, rapid and sensitive method is described for the determination of omethoate, dimethoate, diazinon, chlorpyrifos, parathion-ethyl, chlorfenvinphos, quinalphos and azinphos-ethyl in postmortem whole blood samples. The analytes and internal standard (ethion) were isolated from the matrix by solid-phase extraction, and were analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in the selected ion monitoring mode. The method has shown to be selective after analysis of postmortem samples of 40 different origins. Calibration curves were established between 0.05 (0.1 for omethoate) and 25 µg/mL, and the values obtained for intra- and interday precision and accuracy were within the criteria usually accepted for bioanalytical method validation. Lower limits of quantitation were 50 ng/mL for all compounds, except for omethoate (100 ng/mL); the limits of identification of the method were 25 ng/mL for all analytes, except for omethoate, for which 50 ng/mL was obtained. Absolute recovery was determined at three concentration levels, and ranged from 31 to 108%. The proposed method is simple and fast, and can be routinely applied in the determination of these compounds in postmortem whole blood samples within the scope of forensic toxicology. In addition, mass spectrometry has demonstrated to be a powerful and indispensable tool for the unequivocal identification of the analytes, since the acceptance criteria were accomplished even at very low levels, thus allowing obtaining forensically valid and sound results.

Resumen:Se ha realizado un estudio comparativo de la evolución de los estilos de aprendizaje en una amplia muestra representativa de alumnos de 4º curso de Farmacia de dos Universidades de Madrid (España), entre los cursos 2003/2004 y 2009/2010. Para ello se ha utilizado el cuestionario CHAEA. En ambos períodos de tiempo los alumnos obtuvieron las puntuaciones positivas más elevadas en el estilo reflexivo y, a continuación, los estilos teórico, pragmático y activo. Sin embargo, al comparar ambos períodos de tiempo, se observa una clara disminución en los valores medios de todos los estilos de aprendizaje, lo que refuerza la importancia que tiene el cambio profundo en el que están inmersos los estudios universitarios para lograr una mayor motivación e implicación del discente en el aprendizaje. EVOLUTION OF LEARNING STYLES OF STUDENTS OF PHARMACY IN THE LAST 6 YEARS Abstract:We development one comparative study of the evolution of learning styles in a wide section of 4 th grade students of two universities Pharmacy Madrid (Spain) between 2003/2004 and 2009/2010 courses. To do this we used the questionnaire CHAEA. In both periods the students had the highest positive ratings in the style of reflexive and then styles theoretical, pragmatic and active. However, when comparing both periods, there is a clear decrease in the values of all learning styles, which reinforces the importance of the profound change they are currently in university studies to achieve greater motivation and learner involvement in learning.

An analysis of the population structure of Erysiphe necator from Spain was carried out to determine if population structure of grapevine powdery mildew is partitioned by origin of primary inoculum, i.e. overwintering ascomata on grapevine bark and mycelia in dormant buds. Ten of the 31 isolates collected were from flag shoots, i.e. shoots covered with sporulating mycelia that arise from dormant infected buds. Genetic variation was assessed using 61 AFLP markers. Cluster analysis revealed two distinct groups with 63% genetic similarity. Principal coordinates analysis (pccorda) produced a similar distribution of isolates in two groups. Isolates were not well identified within their groups by the origin of primary inoculum. Analysis of molecular variance (amova) determined that the origin of primary inoculum was not a significant component in the genetic variation in the population of E. necator. It was concluded that these two subpopulations are not separated by the type of primary source of inoculum. © 2006 The Authors.

A strategy for integrated biological and chemical control of Botrytis cinerea in unheated tomato greenhouses in southeastern Spain was tested. The biocontrol agent used was a commercial preparation developed from an isolate of Trichoderma harzianum T39 (Trichodex®). Decisions concerning whether to spray the biocontrol agent or a fungicide were made based on a future weather disease warning system called BOTMAN implemented as follows: no spraying when slow or no disease progress was expected; use of a chemical fungicide when an outbreak of epidemics was expected; in all other cases, application of Trichoderma harzianum T39 was recommended. A 4-day weather forecast provided by the Eastern. Andalusian Weather Forecast Service was used for predictions. The integrated strategy was compared with weekly applications of fungicides in two experiments conducted over 1998-99 and 1999-2000. Reduction of disease incidence was obtained only with the fungicide-only treatment in the 1998-99 experiment (55%, P

Activity of the pentose-phosphate pathway in several rat tissues was investigated, developing a new method that gives the activity of each phase (oxidative and non-oxidative) as well as the whole pathway separately. Our results demonstrate that this method is easy to carry out and that it has not the problems of indirect determinations of the previous ones. The activities of the oxidative and non-oxidative phases assayed separately gives us new information on the design of the pathway in the different tissues, from which several conclusions about the physiological role of this pathway can be derived. In all cases the activity of the oxidative phase was much higher than the non-oxidative one, and the global activity of the whole pathway was the same as the activity of the non-oxidative phase. The highest activity was found in lactating mammary gland and adipose tissue. Lung and liver showed to have a moderately high activity. Brain, kidney, skeletal muscle, and intestinal mucosa showed to have also a significant activity although less than other tissues. The switch in the mammary gland from the non-lactating state to the lactating one causes a very high increase of activity of 22 times, remaining the same ratio between the activity of the two phases.

Seventy-nine random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, of which 46 were polymorphic and 33 monomorphic, were used to determine the level of generic diversity and to study the structure of populations of Botrytis cinerea in Almeria, Spain. Sixty-five isolates were collected in the first survey (December 1992, at the beginning of the epidemic) from 23 commercial greenhouses of common winter crops in two regions, Levante and Pomente. In the second survey, conducted three months later at the end of the epidemic, 75 isolates were collected from 16 greenhouses in Poniente. The analysis of population structure revealed that generic diversity within subpopulations sampled in the two surveys accounted for 98% of the total generic diversity, while generic diversity between subpopulations represented only 2% of the total diversity. The relative magnitude of gene differentiation between subpopulations, G(ST), averaged 0-017. In the first survey, partition of generic diversity into hierarchical components by greenhouses within regions showed that the within-greenhouse component of diversity was 93%, the between-greenhouses, within-region component was 6%, and the between-regions component was 1%. Similar results were obtained when comparisons were made between greenhouses in the second survey or between populations of different countries genetic diversity within subpopulations accounted for 95 and 96%, respectively, of the total genetic diversity. In all comparisons, values of G(ST) were higher than 0.01, ranging from 0.011 to 0.055. Analysis of likelihood ratio chi-square (G2) statistics under the null hypothesis that frequencies of markers are similar between subpopulations showed that different markers contributed to the differentiation between subpopulations in each comparison. The relative importance of several evolutionary forces in populations of B. cinerea is discussed, together with implications for the management of grey mould.

Fitness costs in Botrytis cinerea associated with dicarboximide resistance were studied. Spearman rank correlation coefficients were calculated between resistance to iprodione and survival ability both outside and inside the greenhouse, measured on isolates randomly chosen from a collection done in a survey of commercial greenhouses in Southeastern Spain in 1992. Survival was measured at 47, 83, and 110 days as percentage of surviving mycelia in a sample of artificially inoculated tomato stem pieces and as percentage of viable sclerotia from a sample of sclerotia produced on potato dextrose agar. Resistance to iprodione was measured by the fungicide concentration that reduces fungal growth by 50% (EC50 values). Significant (P < 0.05) negative correlation coefficients between survival of sclerotia and resistance to iprodione were found for some samplings dates, which indicates that sclerotia of resistant isolates survive less well than sclerotia from sensitive isolates. For mycelia, no relationship between survival and resistance was found.

The anticoagulant action of Anisakis simplex larvae on human blood in vitro was examined. Anticoagulant activity was assessed by routine screening tests that evaluate the overall competency of the coagulant mechanism. A slight prolongation of the prothrombin time (PT) was observed with the larval crude extracts. Prolongation of the PT was seen at a concentration of excretory/secretory (ES) products greater than 62.5 μg/ml. No prolongation of the activated partial thromboplastin time (PTT) was observed using crude extracts. There was a prolongation of the PTT with ES products at concentrations greater than 62.5 μg/ml. ES products of the larvae were able to prolong coagulation times indicating that they contain an inhibitory or anticoagulant property. Preparation of crude extracts of A. simplex showed only minimal anticoagulant activity. The results obtained by measurements of the PT and the PTT suggest a probable alteration of one of the coagulation proteins namely factors Xa, IIa or Va. These findings suggest that the anticoagulant activity demonstrated in the ES products may play an important role during invasion of the gastric or intestinal mucosa by larvae and could have biological significance in infected patients.

Forty-nine greenhouses of vegetable crops were surveyed in southeast Spain at the beginning of the disease season in December 1992 to estimate frequencies of resistance to benzimidazoles, dicarboximides and N-phenylcarbamates (NPC) in B. cinerea. Out of 261 isolates collected, 28% were sensitive to both benzimidazoles and dicarboximides, 15% were benzimidazole-resistant and dicarboximide-sensitive, 8% were benzimidazole-sensitive and dicarboximide-resistant and 46% were benzimidazole- and dicarboximide-resistant. Resistance to benzimidazole, dicarboximide and N-phenylcarbamate was determined by measuring the ability of each isolate to grow in the presence of carbendazim, procymidone and diethofencarb fungicides respectively. Carbendazim- or procymidone-resistant isolates were found in all surveyed greenhouses. Three isolates were found with resistance to carbendazim, procymidone and diethofencarb collected in two adjacent greenhouses that were sprayed with the carbendazim and diethofencarb mixture. All other isolates were sensitive to the mixture because they were either sensitive to carbendazim and resistant to diethofencarb or vice versa. Fitness of 31 isolates of B. cinerea was determined in vivo by measuring their sporulation and lesion growth rate on leaf disks. No fitness costs were associated with resistance to iprodione (dicarboximide) and benomyl (benzimidazole). Isolates with EC 50 values higher than 101 mg/L for benomyl and 1.6 mg/L for iprodione were considered to be field resistant (they caused visible lesions on cucumber leaf disks treated with each fungicide).

Hydrogen solubility data in some biological liquids (urine, serum and physiological saline solution) were experimentally determined by using an electrochemical sensor. Such solubility is expressed through the Bunsen empiric coefficient, alpha . Human beings produce H2 gas in the large intestine as a final product during the microbial fermentation of carbohydrates. This gas dissolves in the urine and can be quantitatively determined in this liquid since it is excreted by this way also. The gas removal rate fundamentally depends on its solubility in the different corporeal fluids.

An automated quantitative (AQ) assay used for measuring fungal growth with a microplate reader was compared with the linear growth method to determine fungicide resistance in Botrytis cinerea. The AQ assay uses absorbance in the range of 0.0-0.6 units as a measure of fungal biomass. This technique was successfully used to establish EC 50 values (the concentration of fungicide that reduces absorbance by half) to iprodione and a mixture (1:5) of carbendazim and diethofencarb in an economical and rapid way. The AQ assay used 100 times less medium than did the conventional method of measuring radial growth (RG) of mycelium on fungicide-amended medium, and up to 96 samples (one microplate) could be processed at once. The assay was also performed with conidia stored at -20 C in a 20% glycerol solution for 4 mo, and EC 50 values did not differ significantly from EC 50 values using fresh conidia. Growth inhibition was measured most accurately when the spore concentration in a well of the microplate was 10 or 20 spores per microliter. EC 50 values determined by the AQ assay were compared with EC 50 values obtained by the RG method, and both were positively correlated. Regression lines to predict EC 50 values by the RG method from AQ values were: logY = - 0.392 + 1.04 logX for iprodione, and logY = 0.742 + 1.38 logX for the mixture of carbendazim and diethofencarb where Y = EC 50 value determined by the RG method and X = EC 50 value determined by the AQ assay

Predictions from simulation analysis concerning the relative contributions of host resistance and protectant fungicide in a reduced-sprays strategy to suppress potato early and late blights were examined in held trials. As predicted, disease-induced defoliation in cultivars moderately resistant to both diseases, sprayed on a 14-day schedule, was not significantly different (P=0.05) from defoliation in a susceptible cultivar sprayed on a 7-day schedule. Evaluation of the reduced-sprays strategy using cultivars of different resistance indicated that disease in plots treated according to the reduced-sprays strategy did not differ signihcantly (P=0.05) from disease in plots treated according to the common management practice, although three fewer sprays were applied in the reduced-sprays treatment