Residual effect of organic zinc complexes in acid and calcareous soils on navy bean (phaseolus vulgaris l.) and flax (linum usitatissimum l.) crops under greenhouse conditions. Influence of the moisture conditions = Efecto residual de complejos orgánicos de zinc en suelos ácido y calizo en cultivos de judía (phaseolus vulgaris l.) y lino (linum usitatissimum l.) Realizados en condiciones de invernadero. Influencia de las diferentes condiciones de humedad

El Zn es un elemento esencial para el crecimiento saludable y reproducción de plantas, animales y humanos. La deficiencia de Zn es una de las carencias de micronutrientes más extendidas en muchos cultivos, afectando a grandes extensiones de suelos en diferentes áreas agrícolas. La biofortificación agronómica de diferentes cultivos, incrementando la concentración de micronutriente Zn en la planta, es un medio para evitar la deficiencia de Zn en animales y humanos. Tradicionalmente se han utilizado fertilizantes de Zn inorgánicos, como el ZnSO4, aunque en los últimos años se están utilizado complejos de Zn como fuentes de este micronutriente, obteniéndose altas concentraciones de Zn soluble y disponible en el suelo. Sin embargo, el envejecimiento de la fuente en el suelo puede causar cambios importantes en su disponibilidad para las plantas. Cuando se añaden al suelo fuentes de Zn inorgánicas, las formas de Zn más solubles pierden actividad y extractabilidad con el paso del tiempo, transformándose a formas más estables y menos biodisponibles. En esta tesis se estudia el efecto residual de diferentes complejos de Zn de origen natural y sintético, aplicados en cultivos previos de judía y lino, bajo dos condiciones de riego distintas (por encima y por debajo de la capacidad de campo, respectivamente) y en dos suelos diferentes (ácido y calizo). Los fertilizantes fueron aplicados al cultivo previo en tres dosis diferentes (0, 5 y 10 mg Zn kg-1 suelo). El Zn fácilmente lixiviable se estimó con la extracción con BaCl2 0,1M. Bajo condiciones de humedad por encima de la capacidad de campo se obtuvieron mayores porcentajes de Zn lixiviado en el suelo calizo que en el suelo ácido. En el caso del cultivo de judía realizado en condiciones de humedad por encima de la capacidad de campo se compararon las cantidades extraídas con el Zn lixiviado real. El análisis de correlación entre el Zn fácilmente lixiviable y el estimado sólo fue válido para complejos con alta movilidad y para cada suelo por separado. Bajo condiciones de humedad por debajo de la capacidad de campo, la concentración de Zn biodisponible fácilmente lixiviable presentó correlaciones positivas y altamente significativas con la concentración de Zn disponible en el suelo. El Zn disponible se estimó con varios métodos de extracción empleados habitualmente: DTPA-TEA, DTPA-AB, Mehlich-3 y LMWOAs. Estas concentraciones fueron mayores en el suelo ácido que en el calizo. Los diferentes métodos utilizados para estimar el Zn disponible presentaron correlaciones positivas y altamente significativas entre sí. La distribución del Zn en las distintas fracciones del suelo fue estimada con diferentes extracciones secuenciales. Las extracciones secuenciales mostraron un descenso entre los dos cultivos (el anterior y el actual) en la fracción de Zn más lábil y un aumento en la concentración de Zn asociado a fracciones menos lábiles, como carbonatos, óxidos y materia orgánica. Se obtuvieron correlaciones positivas y altamente significativas entre las concentraciones de Zn asociado a las fracciones más lábiles (WSEX y WS+EXC, experimento de la judía y lino, respectivamente) y las concentraciones de Zn disponible, estimadas por los diferentes métodos. Con respecto a la planta se determinaron el rendimiento en materia seca y la concentración de Zn en planta. Se observó un aumento del rendimiento y concentraciones con el efecto residual de la dosis mayores (10 mg Zn kg-1) con respecto a la dosis inferior (5 mg Zn 12 kg-1) y de ésta con respecto a la dosis 0 (control). El incremento de la concentración de Zn en todos los tratamientos fertilizantes, respecto al control, fue mayor en el suelo ácido que en el calizo. Las concentraciones de Zn en planta indicaron que, en el suelo calizo, serían convenientes nuevas aplicaciones de Zn en posteriores cultivos para mantener unas adecuadas concentraciones en planta. Las mayores concentraciones de Zn en la planta de judía, cultivada bajo condiciones de humedad por encima de la capacidad de campo, se obtuvieron en el suelo ácido con el efecto residual del Zn-HEDTA a la dosis de 10 mg Zn kg-1 (280,87 mg Zn kg-1) y en el suelo calizo con el efecto residual del Zn-DTPA-HEDTA-EDTA a la dosis de 10 mg Zn kg-1 (49,89 mg Zn kg-1). En el cultivo de lino, cultivado bajo condiciones de humedad por debajo de la capacidad de campo, las mayores concentraciones de Zn en planta ese obtuvieron con el efecto residual del Zn-AML a la dosis de 10 mg Zn kg-1 (224,75 mg Zn kg-1) y en el suelo calizo con el efecto residual del Zn-EDTA a la dosis de 10 mg Zn kg-1 (99,83 mg Zn kg-1). El Zn tomado por la planta fue determinado como combinación del rendimiento y de la concentración en planta. Bajo condiciones de humedad por encima de capacidad de campo, con lixiviación, el Zn tomado por la judía disminuyó en el cultivo actual con respecto al cultivo anterior. Sin embargo, en el cultivo de lino, bajo condiciones de humedad por debajo de la capacidad de campo, se obtuvieron cantidades de Zn tomado superiores en el cultivo actual con respecto al anterior. Esta tendencia también se observó, en ambos casos, con el porcentaje de Zn usado por la planta. Summary Zinc is essential for healthy growth and reproduction of plants, animals and humans. Zinc deficiency is one of the most widespread micronutrient deficiency in different crops, and affect different agricultural areas. Agronomic biofortification of crops produced by an increased of Zn in plant, is one way to avoid Zn deficiency in animals and humans Sources with inorganic Zn, such as ZnSO4, have been used traditionally. Although, in recent years, Zn complexes are used as sources of this micronutrient, the provide high concentrations of soluble and available Zn in soil. However, the aging of the source in the soil could cause significant changes in their availability to plants. When an inorganic source of Zn is added to soil, Zn forms more soluble and extractability lose activity over time, transforming into forms more stable and less bioavailable. This study examines the residual effect of different natural and synthetic Zn complexes on navy bean and flax crops, under two different moisture conditions (above and below field capacity, respectively) and in two different soils (acid and calcareous). Fertilizers were applied to the previous crop in three different doses (0, 5 y 10 mg Zn kg-1 soil). The easily leachable Zn was estimated by extraction with 0.1 M BaCl2. Under conditions of moisture above field capacity, the percentage of leachable Zn in the calcareous soil was higher than in acid soil. In the case of navy bean experiment, performed in moisture conditions of above field capacity, amounts extracted of easily leachable Zn were compared with the real leachable Zn. Correlation analysis between the leachable Zn and the estimate was only valid for complex with high mobility and for each soil separately. Under moisture conditions below field capacity, the concentration of bioavailable easily leachable Zn showed highly significant positive correlations with the concentration of available soil Zn. The available Zn was estimated with several commonly used extraction methods: DTPA-TEA, AB-DTPA, Mehlich-3 and LMWOAs. These concentrations were higher in acidic soil than in the calcareous. The different methods used to estimate the available Zn showed highly significant positive correlations with each other. The distribution of Zn in the different fractions of soil was estimated with different sequential extractions. The sequential extractions showed a decrease between the two crops (the previous and current) at the most labile Zn fraction and an increase in the concentration of Zn associated with the less labile fractions, such as carbonates, oxides and organic matter. A positive and highly significant correlation was obtained between the concentrations of Zn associated with more labile fractions (WSEX and WS + EXC, navy bean and flax experiments, respectively) and available Zn concentrations determined by the different methods. Dry matter yield and Zn concentration in plants were determined in plant. Yield and Zn concentration in plant were higher with the residual concentrations of the higher dose applied (10 mg Zn kg-1) than with the lower dose (5 mg Zn kg-1), also these parameters showed higher values with application of this dose than with not Zn application. The increase of Zn concentration in plant with Zn treatments, respect to the control, was greater in the acid soil than in the calcareous. The Zn concentrations in plant indicated that in the calcareous soil, new applications of Zn are desirable in subsequent crops to maintain suitable concentrations in plant. 15 The highest concentrations of Zn in navy bean plant, performed under moisture conditions above the field capacity, were obtained with the residual effect of Zn-HEDTA at the dose of 10 mg Zn kg-1 (280.87 mg Zn kg-1) in the acid soil, and with the residual effect of Zn- DTPA-HEDTA-EDTA at a dose of 10 mg Zn kg-1 (49.89 mg Zn kg-1) in the calcareous soil. In the flax crop, performed under moisture conditions below field capacity, the highest Zn concentrations in plant were obtained with the residual effect of Zn-AML at the dose of 10 mg Zn kg-1 (224.75 Zn mg kg-1) and with the residual effect of Zn-EDTA at a dose of 10 mg Zn kg-1 (99.83 mg Zn kg-1) in the calcareous soil. The Zn uptake was determined as a combination of yield and Zn concentration in plant. Under moisture conditions above field capacity, with leaching, Zn uptake by navy bean decreased in the current crop, respect to the previous crop. However, in the flax crop, under moisture conditions below field capacity, Zn uptake was higher in the current crop than in the previous. This trend is also observed in both cases, with the percentage of Zn used by the plant

Thermal characterization of polyester-melamine coating matrices prepared under nonisothermal conditions

Thermal analysis methods (differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis) were used to characterize the nature of polyester-melamine coating matrices prepared under nonisothermal, high-temperature, rapid-cure conditions. The results were interpreted in terms of the formation of two interpenetrating networks with different glass-transition temperatures (a cocondensed polyester-melamine network and a self-condensed melamine-melamine network), a phenomenon not generally seen in chemically similar, isothermally cured matrices. The self-condensed network manifested at high melamine levels, but the relative concentrations of the two networks were critically dependent on the cure conditions. The optimal cure (defined in terms of the attainment of a peak metal temperature) was achieved at different oven temperatures and different oven dwell times, and so the actual energy absorbed varied over a wide range. Careful control of the energy absorption, by the selection of appropriate cure conditions, controlled the relative concentrations of the two networks and, therefore, the flexibility and hardness of the resultant coatings. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Cbem 41: 1603-1621, 2003.

As traducións da literatura galega no Reino Unido:a situación actual e proxección de futuro

This article presents the most recent historical context (1995-2005) of the translation of Galician literary texts into a British framework. It also provides an analysis of the translation and editing conditions that have had an influence on each book. At the same time, it offers a reflection on the literary relationships that take place between Galicia, a nation without a state whose literary system has not yet attained full autonomy (Antón Figueroa, 2001, p. 130) and the United Kingdom, which has a strong literary system. The aim of this article is twofold: firstly, to stress the importance of the translation of Galician literature into other literary systems [such as British one, on the premise that it foments cultural self-confidence and an awareness of national identity, especially as regards to the Galician literary and cultural system. Secondly, to open new fields of research so that subsequent studies can delve into this topic in more depth.

A study of stock market fluctuations and their relation to business conditions

Most research on stock prices is based on the present value model or the more general consumption-based model. When applied to real economic data, both of them are found unable to account for both the stock price level and its volatility. Three essays here attempt to both build a more realistic model, and to check whether there is still room for bubbles in explaining fluctuations in stock prices. In the second chapter, several innovations are simultaneously incorporated into the traditional present value model in order to produce more accurate model-based fundamental prices. These innovations comprise replacing with broad dividends the more narrow traditional dividends that are more commonly used, a nonlinear artificial neural network (ANN) forecasting procedure for these broad dividends instead of the more common linear forecasting models for narrow traditional dividends, and a stochastic discount rate in place of the constant discount rate. Empirical results show that the model described above predicts fundamental prices better, compared with alternative models using linear forecasting process, narrow dividends, or a constant discount factor. Nonetheless, actual prices are still largely detached from fundamental prices. The bubblelike deviations are found to coincide with business cycles. The third chapter examines possible cointegration of stock prices with fundamentals and non-fundamentals. The output gap is introduced to form the nonfundamental part of stock prices. I use a trivariate Vector Autoregression (TVAR) model and a single equation model to run cointegration tests between these three variables. Neither of the cointegration tests shows strong evidence of explosive behavior in the DJIA and S&P 500 data. Then, I applied a sup augmented Dickey-Fuller test to check for the existence of periodically collapsing bubbles in stock prices. Such bubbles are found in S&P data during the late 1990s. Employing econometric tests from the third chapter, I continue in the fourth chapter to examine whether bubbles exist in stock prices of conventional economic sectors on the New York Stock Exchange. The ‘old economy’ as a whole is not found to have bubbles. But, periodically collapsing bubbles are found in Material and Telecommunication Services sectors, and the Real Estate industry group.

A Study of Stock Market Fluctuations and their Relations to Business Conditions

Most research on stock prices is based on the present value model or the more general consumption-based model. When applied to real economic data, both of them are found unable to account for both the stock price level and its volatility. Three essays here attempt to both build a more realistic model, and to check whether there is still room for bubbles in explaining fluctuations in stock prices. In the second chapter, several innovations are simultaneously incorporated into the traditional present value model in order to produce more accurate model-based fundamental prices. These innovations comprise replacing with broad dividends the more narrow traditional dividends that are more commonly used, a nonlinear artificial neural network (ANN) forecasting procedure for these broad dividends instead of the more common linear forecasting models for narrow traditional dividends, and a stochastic discount rate in place of the constant discount rate. Empirical results show that the model described above predicts fundamental prices better, compared with alternative models using linear forecasting process, narrow dividends, or a constant discount factor. Nonetheless, actual prices are still largely detached from fundamental prices. The bubble-like deviations are found to coincide with business cycles. The third chapter examines possible cointegration of stock prices with fundamentals and non-fundamentals. The output gap is introduced to form the non-fundamental part of stock prices. I use a trivariate Vector Autoregression (TVAR) model and a single equation model to run cointegration tests between these three variables. Neither of the cointegration tests shows strong evidence of explosive behavior in the DJIA and S&P 500 data. Then, I applied a sup augmented Dickey-Fuller test to check for the existence of periodically collapsing bubbles in stock prices. Such bubbles are found in S&P data during the late 1990s. Employing econometric tests from the third chapter, I continue in the fourth chapter to examine whether bubbles exist in stock prices of conventional economic sectors on the New York Stock Exchange. The ‘old economy’ as a whole is not found to have bubbles. But, periodically collapsing bubbles are found in Material and Telecommunication Services sectors, and the Real Estate industry group.

The effect of a reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus to eutrophic and mesotrophic conditions towards silver nanoparticle (AgNP) on freshwater green algae species

We investigated the sensitivity of algae towards silver nanoparticles with OECD test medium and lower nutrient concentrations under standard test conditions to improve comparability and to exclude any other confounding factor aside nutrient levels. Two unicellular freshwater microalgae Desmodesmus subspicatus and Raphidocelis subcapitata were chosen due to their status as standard test organisms for the algae growth inhibition test and the response to changes in nutrient supply was compared. The original medium was used as the reference (standard). For the other four media, the amount of either nitrogen or phosphorus in the medium was lowered from half (50%) to one-fourth (25 %) of that of the OECD guideline, resulting in the following media: 50% N, 25% N, 50% P and 25% P medium. As test substance, the OECD reference material NM-300K was used. For this reason, the characterization of AgNP was done using DLS and Absorption spectra (UV/vis). Actual silver concentrations and ionic silver concentrations were measured at the highest test concentration used (100 µg Ag L-1) in R. subcapitata treatments only to reduce the number of samples. All tests were run according to the OECD guideline 201 with sterilized 50 mL cell culture flask. Each medium was tested using the test conditions for culturing with 3 replicates. Test concentrations for both algae species were 0, 25, 50 and 100 µg Ag L-1 for OECD, 50% P and 25% P while for both N reductions, the silver concentrations were 0, 10, 25 and 100 µg Ag L-1. Samples for determining the algal density were taken at every 24 h.

Aportación científica de los congresos de la AE-IC (2008-2014): reseña histórica y estado actual de la investigación en Comunicación

Esta investigación analiza la producción científica presentada en los congresos de la Asociación Española de Investigación de la Comunicación con el fin de comprender su desarrollo y su estado actual. Para ello, se han analizado 715 comunicaciones con veintidós variables, entre las que se encuentran: el autor, el género, la vinculación institucional, la nacionalidad, el tipo de comunicación, la metodología empleada, la réplica de contenidos, la tipología descriptiva y la finalidad de las comunicaciones. Entre otros hallazgos, los resultados muestran una mayoría femenina en la contribución académica, pero no entre los cargos académicos de mayor rango; la preferencia de los objetos de estudio empresariales, pero no profesionales o laborales; una tendencia hacia la mayor participación de doctorandos; y una elevada concentración de la producción científica en cuanto a la temática y la distribución territorial.

UNA REFLEXIÓN INTRODUCTORIA SOBRE LA NATURALEZA DE LA ACTUAL CRISIS GLOBAL Y LOS LÍMITES DEL CAPITALISMO

Resumen La actual crisis económica mundial puede ciertamente caracterizarse como de carácter sistémico y global, conjugándose a la vez con una crisis de civilización que pone en jaque no solo al sistema económico, sino al sistema de vida. Que no se trata de una crisis cíclica más es un hecho reconocido, pero necesitamos precisar su carácter, al menos de manera inicial y preliminar. En este ensayo apoyamos la tesis de una crisis sistémica global (o civilizatoria), pero sin dejar de advertir que los fundamentos del capitalismo también están mostrando sus límites históricos y exacerbando las amenazas globales sobre las condiciones de existencia de la vida; sin que por ello se trate, necesariamente, de una crisis terminal; y tanto las opciones capitalistas como las postcapitalistas y las anticapitalistas están a la orden del día. Abstract The current global economic crisis can certainly be characterized as a systemic and global one, combined with a crisis of civilization that puts in check not only the economic system, but the whole system of life. That it is not a simple cyclical crisis is widely acknowledged, but we need to specify the nature of it, at least in an initial and preliminary manner. In this essay we support the thesis of a global systemic crisis, but still warned that the foundations of capitalism are also showing its historical limits and exacerbating the global threats on the conditions of existence of life without it is required of a terminal crisis, and both options capitalists, post-capitalist and anti-capitalists are on the agenda.

Liderazgo de rango total y gestión del conocimiento: situación actual y perspectivas de desarrollo

El presente trabajo muestra los tipos de liderazgo de rango total y su relación con respecto a la gestión del conocimiento. Para ello, en primer lugar, se efectúa la investigación teórica del liderazgo transaccional y del liderazgo transformacional, ya que estos hacen parte del liderazgo de rango total, de igual forma se estudiará los aspectos primordiales de la gestión del conocimiento, dando cavidad al análisis de la relación entre dichos conceptos y cómo influyen en la perdurabilidad de las organizaciones. Se evidencian resultados que señalan: La existencia de una fuerte interrelación entre el liderazgo y la gestión del conocimiento, de forma que las empresas precisan de un mayor conocimiento acerca de las características del liderazgo para facilitar la comprensión e implantación de las mejores prácticas en la organización (Barbosa, Mihi & Noguera, 2013, sección de Resumen, párr. 1) Una organización se encuentra orientada a identificar objetivos y las estrategias más adecuadas para conseguirlos, siendo está una actividad primordial en la gestión empresarial, la cual logra organizar y disponer todos los recursos humanos para la optimización de cada uno de sus trabajadores teniendo en cuenta los efectos del entorno, por lo tanto la actualidad empresarial se encuentra guiada hacia la elección de personal con altas habilidades de liderazgo y gestión del conocimiento, siendo de esta forma la razón del estudio adecuado del liderazgo orientándonos en el modelo de liderazgo de rango total y la importancia de la gestión del conocimiento en la actualidad. Se evidencian numerosos estudios de investigación en donde se han relacionado el estilo de liderazgo organizacional con óptimos resultados (Vega & Zavala, 2004). Lo cual permite realizar investigaciones de diferentes autores sobre la relación que se evidencia entre la gestión del conocimiento y los diferentes tipos de liderazgo del modelo de rango total, y como sus actos pueden llevar a la organización privada a la perdurabilidad, lo cual se definiría como una organización que: A través del tiempo presenta resultados financieros superiores. Adecua su manejo a la intensidad de las condiciones del entorno sectorial y las fuerzas del mercado. Se enfoca en espacios no explotados y hace un estudio detallado de sus competidores diseñando y ejecutando productivamente la cadena de valor. Es aquella que obtiene desempeños eficientes en su gestión por la coherencia de su acción, la identificación de su entorno sectorial y sus políticas de gobierno, evitando estados de morbidez que dificultan su crecimiento rentable y que puede llegar a estados tanticos. Propicia la alineación de las personas con la empresa, la construcción de conocimiento y la calidad en los procesos de interacción social. (Rivera, 2012, p.107)

ESTADO ACTUAL DE LOS SITIOS DE DISPOSICION DE DESECHOS SOLIDOS MUNICIPALES EN COSTA RICA

En Costa Rica como consecuencia directa del crecimiento urbano acelerado y del cambio en los hábitos de consumo de los pobladores, se da un aumento en la cantidad de desechos sólidos generados así como un cambio en la composición de los mismos, ocasionando entonces el problema de su disposición.En el país, muchos de los sitios municipales actuales se consideran como vertederos a cielo abierto, además, se ubican de manera  que afectan directa o indirectamente los cuerpos de agua (superficiales y subterráneos). Aunado a lo anterior se cuenta en la mayoría de los sitios con el problema de que no se posee control de acceso suficiente, de tal forma que existe  mayor riesgo de que desechos peligrosos se depositen en ellos. ABSTRACTIn Costa Rica, as a direct consequence of accelerated urban growth and changing consumption patterns, there has been an increase in the quantity of generated solid waste as changes in its composition, thus causing a disposal problem.Many of the final disposal sites in the country don’t have the necessary conditions to handle these changes in quantity and quality of generated solid waste.The majority of current municipal disposal sites are considered exposed dumps and are located where superficial and subterranean water bodies are affected. Controls to access are insufficient in the majority of the sites, thus there is greater risk that hazardous waste is deposited in them.

Utilization Of (15)no3 (-) By Nodulated Soybean Plants Under Conditions Of Root Hypoxia.

Waterlogging of soils is common in nature. The low availability of oxygen under these conditions leads to hypoxia of the root system impairing the development and productivity of the plant. The presence of nitrate under flooding conditions is regarded as being beneficial towards tolerance to this stress. However, it is not known how nodulated soybean plants, cultivated in the absence of nitrate and therefore not metabolically adapted to this compound, would respond to nitrate under root hypoxia in comparison with non-nodulated plants grown on nitrate. A study was conducted with (15)N labelled nitrate supplied on waterlogging for a period of 48 h using both nodulated and non-nodulated plants of different physiological ages. Enrichment of N was found in roots and leaves with incorporation of the isotope in amino acids, although to a much smaller degree under hypoxia than normoxia. This demonstrates that nitrate is taken up under hypoxic conditions and assimilated into amino acids, although to a much lesser extent than for normoxia. The similar response obtained with nodulated and non-nodulated plants indicates the rapid metabolic adaptation of nodulated plants to the presence of nitrate under hypoxia. Enrichment of N in nodules was very much weaker with a distinct enrichment pattern of amino acids (especially asparagine) suggesting that labelling arose from a tissue source external to the nodule rather than through assimilation in the nodule itself.

Endocytosis Of Tight Junctions Caveolin Nitrosylation Dependent Is Improved By Cocoa Via Opioid Receptor On Rpe Cells In Diabetic Conditions.

Retinal pigment epithelium cells, along with tight junction (TJ) proteins, constitute the outer blood retinal barrier (BRB). Contradictory findings suggest a role for the outer BRB in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR). The aim of this study was to investigate whether the mechanisms involved in these alterations are sensitive to nitrosative stress, and if cocoa or epicatechin (EC) protects from this damage under diabetic (DM) milieu conditions. Cells of a human RPE line (ARPE-19) were exposed to high-glucose (HG) conditions for 24 hours in the presence or absence of cocoa powder containing 0.5% or 60.5% polyphenol (low-polyphenol cocoa [LPC] and high-polyphenol cocoa [HPC], respectively). Exposure to HG decreased claudin-1 and occludin TJ expressions and increased extracellular matrix accumulation (ECM), whereas levels of TNF-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were upregulated, accompanied by increased nitric oxide levels. This nitrosative stress resulted in S-nitrosylation of caveolin-1 (CAV-1), which in turn increased CAV-1 traffic and its interactions with claudin-1 and occludin. This cascade was inhibited by treatment with HPC or EC through δ-opioid receptor (DOR) binding and stimulation, thereby decreasing TNF-α-induced iNOS upregulation and CAV-1 endocytosis. The TJ functions were restored, leading to prevention of paracellular permeability, restoration of resistance of the ARPE-19 monolayer, and decreased ECM accumulation. The detrimental effects on TJs in ARPE-19 cells exposed to DM milieu occur through a CAV-1 S-nitrosylation-dependent endocytosis mechanism. High-polyphenol cocoa or EC exerts protective effects through DOR stimulation.

Surgical Site Infections In Women And Their Association With Clinical Conditions.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) can affect body tissues, cavities, or organs manipulated in surgery and constitute 14% to 16% of all infections. This study aimed to determine the incidence of SSIs in women following their discharge from a gynecology outpatient clinic, to survey different types of SSIs among women, and to verify the association of SSIs with comorbidities and clinical conditions. Data were collected via analytical observation with a cross-sectional design, and the study was conducted in 1,026 women who underwent gynecological surgery in a teaching hospital in the municipality of Teresina, in the northeast Brazilian State of Piauí, from June 2011 to March 2013. The incidence of SSIs after discharge was 5.8% among the women in the outpatient clinic. The most prevalent surgery among the patients was hysterectomy, while the most prevalent type of SSI was superficial incisional. Comorbidities in women with SSIs included cancer, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. Surveillance of SSIs during the post-discharge period is critical for infection prevention and control. It is worth reflecting on the planning of surgical procedures for patients who have risk factors for the development of SSIs.

Leaf-, Panel- And Latex-expressed Sequenced Tags From The Rubber Tree (hevea Brasiliensis) Under Cold-stressed And Suboptimal Growing Conditions: The Development Of Gene-targeted Functional Markers For Stress Response.

Hevea brasiliensis is a native species of the Amazon Basin of South America and the primary source of natural rubber worldwide. Due to the occurrence of South American Leaf Blight disease in this area, rubber plantations have been extended to suboptimal regions. Rubber tree breeding is time-consuming and expensive, but molecular markers can serve as a tool for early evaluation, thus reducing time and costs. In this work, we constructed six different cDNA libraries with the aim of developing gene-targeted molecular markers for the rubber tree. A total of 8,263 reads were assembled, generating 5,025 unigenes that were analyzed; 912 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) represented new transcripts, and two sequences were highly up-regulated by cold stress. These unigenes were scanned for microsatellite (SSR) regions and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In total, 169 novel EST-SSR markers were developed; 138 loci were polymorphic in the rubber tree, and 98 % presented transferability to six other Hevea species. Locus duplication was observed in H. brasiliensis and other species. Additionally, 43 SNP markers in 13 sequences that showed similarity to proteins involved in stress response, latex biosynthesis and developmental processes were characterized. cDNA libraries are a rich source of SSR and SNP markers and enable the identification of new transcripts. The new markers developed here will be a valuable resource for linkage mapping, QTL identification and other studies in the rubber tree and can also be used to evaluate the genetic variability of other Hevea species, which are valuable assets in rubber tree breeding.

Theobromine Increases Nad⁺/sirt-1 Activity And Protects The Kidney Under Diabetic Conditions.

Reduction in sirtuin 1 (Sirt-1) is associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation in the diabetic kidney. Theobromine may reduce kidney ECM accumulation in diabetic rats. In the current study, we aimed to unravel, under diabetic conditions, the mechanism of kidney ECM accumulation induced by a reduction in Sirt-1 and the effect of theobromine in these events. In vitro, we used immortalized human mesangial cells (iHMCs) exposed to high glucose (HG; 30 mM), with or without small interfering RNA for NOX4 and Sirt-1. In vivo, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were rendered diabetic by means of streptozotocin and studied after 12 wk. The effects of treatment with theobromine were investigated under both conditions. HG leads to a decrease in Sirt-1 activity and NAD(+) levels in iHMCs. Sirt-1 activity could be reestablished by treatment with NAD(+), silencing NOX4, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) blockade, or with theobromine. HG also leads to a low AMP/ATP ratio, acetylation of SMAD3, and increased collagen IV, which is prevented by theobromine. Sirt-1 or AMPK blockade abolished these effects of theobromine. In diabetic SHR, theobromine prevented increases in albuminuria and kidney collagen IV, reduced AMPK, elevated NADPH oxidase activity and PARP-1, and reduced NAD(+) levels and Sirt-1 activity. These results suggest that in diabetes mellitus, Sirt-1 activity is reduced by PARP-1 activation and NAD(+) depletion due to low AMPK, which increases NOX4 expression, leading to ECM accumulation mediated by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 signaling. It is suggested that Sirt-1 activation by theobromine may have therapeutic potential for diabetic nephropathy.