2958 research outputs found
Sort by
Environmental filtering drives the shape and breadth of the seed germination niche in coastal plant communities
Get PDF• Background and Aims A phylogenetic comparative analysis of the seed germination niche was conducted in coastal plant communities of western Europe. Two hypotheses were tested, that (a) the germination niche shape (i.e. the preference for a set of germination cues as opposed to another) would differ between beaches and cliffs to prevent seedling emergence in the less favourable season (winter and summer, respectively); and (b) the germination niche breadth (i.e. the amplitude of germination cues) would be narrower in the seawards communities, where environmental filtering is stronger.
• Methods Seeds of 30 specialist species of coastal plant communities were collected in natural populations of northern Spain. Their germination was measured in six laboratory treatments based on field temperatures. Germination niche shape was estimated as the best germination temperature. Germination niche breadth was calculated using Pielou’s evenness index. Differences between plant communities in their germination niche shape and breadth were tested using phylogenetic generalised least squares regression (PGLS).
• Key Results Germination niche shape differed between communities, being warm-cued in beaches (best germination temperature = 20 ºC) and cold-cued in cliffs (14 ºC). Germination niche was narrowest in seawards beaches (Pielou’s index = 0.89) and broadest in landwards beaches (0.99). Cliffs had an intermediate germination niche breadth (0.95). The relationship between niche and plant community had a positive phylogenetic signal for shape (Pagel’s λ = 0.64) and a negative one for breadth (Pagel’s λ = -1.71).
• Conclusion Environmental filters shape the germination niche to prevent emergence in the season of highest threat for seedling establishment. The germination niche breadth is narrower in the communities with stronger environmental filters, but only in beaches. This study provides empirical support to a community-level generalization of the hypotheses about the environmental drivers of the germination niche. It highlights the role of germination traits in community assembly.The LIFE+ programme of the European Commission partly supported seed collection (project LIFE+ ARCOS). E.F.P. had the financial support of the Government of Asturias and the FP7 – Marie Curie - COFUND programme of the European Commission (Grant ‘Clarín’ ACA14-19). The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, receive grant-in-aid from Defra
Stereoselective Biocatalysis. A mature technology for the asymmetric synthesis of pharmaceutical building blocks
Get PDFBiocatalysis is gaining increasing attention in the academic and industrial sector due to the possibility of developing highly stereoselective transformations in a sustainable manner. The creation of stereogenic centers in organic synthesis is not trivial and multiple approaches have been disclosed based on organometallic and organocatalytic methods with the use of day by day more complex catalysts to induce asymmetry in selected transformations. The intrinsic chirality of enzymes makes them powerful tools for the development of stereoselective transformations, catalysing a wide range of chemical reactions due to the high abundance and diversity of enzymes in nature. In addition, the enormous advances in rational design and molecular biology methods have opened up the possibility to create more robust and versatile biocatalysts, which have improved the initial activities displayed by wild-type enzymes. Therefore, their applicability has been widely increased in terms of reaction conditions, substrate specificity, activity and selectivity among others. All these properties have attracted the industrial sector, which has taken advantage of the enzyme selectivities in multiple scenarios. Herein, the focus has been put in recent developments of stereoselective transformations for the synthesis of valuable building blocks towards the production of pharmaceuticals and biologically active natural products
Adaptación de la gender role attitudes scale (gras) a población mexicana joven
No full textFICYT
Universidad de Oviedo
Universidad de GuadalajaraX Congreso Internacional de Psicología Jurídica y Forens
Matrix metalloproteases expression in different histological types of colorectal polyps
Get PDFINTRODUCTION:
Colorectal carcinoma (CC) may begin as benign polyps, which may be classified in different histological types with a different risk to develop cancer. Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) are able to degrade all components in the extracellular matrix and are important tissue-remodeling enzymes and key elements in tumor invasion and metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and clinical relevance of MMPs in different histological types of colorectal polyps.
METHODS:
The expression levels of MMP-1, 2, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 14 were analyzed by real-time PCR, Western-blot and immunohistochemistry in 50 patients with different histological types of colorectal polyps, 28 of which developed CC.
RESULTS:
The results indicate that hyperplastic polyps had the lowest levels of MMP-1 and MMP-7, tubular polyps showed higher levels of both MMP-7 and MMP-14, and tubulovillous adenoma showed higher levels of MMP-1, MMP-7 and MMP-14.
CONCLUSION:
MMP expression was decreased in hyperplastic, tubular and tubulovillous adenoma polyps from patients who developed CC. Our findings suggest that MMP expression may be a pathological marker of colorectal polyps and for cancer susceptibility, which may improve strategies for CC prevention based on screening colonoscopy.This work was supported by grants from: Fondo de Inversión Sanitaria del Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FIS-PI070306) and FICEMU. Sandra Cid was a recipient of a fellowship financed by the Gobierno del Principado de Asturias “Severo Ochoa” PhD Program
Biology and population genetics of Arvicola scherman cantabriae (Rodentia, Arvicolinae)
Get PDFThe montane water vole Arvicola scherman occurs in mountainous areas of Europe, living in underground burrow systems located in grasslands and fruit orchards.
This species feeds on the root system of plants, including fruit trees. Specifically, the
subspecies A. scherman cantabriae is nowadays one of the main causes of economical
loss in apple orchards of Asturias (northwestern Spain). An official control program in
Spain considers all sustainable phytosanitary measures that can reduce population
growth of this species. Since the pest condition of A. scherman depends on its biology
and ecology, a deep knowledge of these aspects is needed to set up specific and suitable
control strategies. Thus, the aim of this research is to obtain essential information on the
reproductive biology and population genetics of this species in the agricultural
landscape of Asturias.
More than 800 individuals of A. scherman cantabriae were gathered in apple
orchards located at low altitude in Villaviciosa and Nava municipalities during two
annual cycles (from February 2011 to January 2013). Sexual characteristics, body
measurements and relative age class of each specimen were recorded. Body condition of
females, which indicates energy provision, and the number of embryos of each one were
also wrote down. Skeletal muscle samples of 137 specimens from ten demes were used
to conduct a microsatellite-based analysis (12 microsatellite loci). These orchards are
placed in a landscape conformed by a mosaic of small and different land-use plots,
which was assessed in a vector based geographic information system and it was focused
on soil-occupancy categories.
Pregnant females and young specimens were detected over the whole year,
which mean that A. scherman cantabriae showed a continuous breeding pattern during
the study period. Intra-annual changes in body mass and size of sexual organs of males
did not affect significantly reproduction at a population scale. Thus, primary demands
of these voles seem to be properly fulfilled during the whole year and hence energy
budgets can be destined to cop continuous reproduction. To our knowledge, no other A.
scherman population shows regularly this reproductive pattern. Females were able to
produce a high number of litters per year (7.30) although litter size was relatively
moderate (embryos/female: first year: 3.87; second year: 3.63). Each female was able to
produce 28.25 pups per year. The reproductive potential showed by Cantabrian voles is,to our knowledge, the highest one reported to date for this species; probably because the
breeding season does not entail a critical factor in this area. A positive correlation
between litter size and the body condition of the mother was observed. Therefore, the
body condition of females seems to be one of the main factors involved in the variation
of the reproductive potential in A. scherman cantabriae.
These studied demes showed relatively low level of genetic diversity (HE =
0.621; HO = 0.601; AR = 4.42) probably due to both the inbreeding and genetic drift
effects. Significant genetic differentiation appeared among demes, which revealed a
strong pattern of significant isolation-by-distance both for Euclidean distances (r =
0.790) and effective distances (r = 0.780). The spatial autocorrelation analysis detected
four genetic clusters or populations in this study area (120 km2). Thus, this mosaic of
different land-use plots decreases connectivity among suitable habitats even at local
scale, in which A. scherman populations mainly depend on birth and death rates. An
estuary and a four-lane road did not suppose a barrier for gene flow of this species. Less
seasonal environment and highly patched landscape would suggest that this species does
not show well marked multiannual fluctuations of density at large scale in this area.
Control strategies for A. scherman cantabriae at a regional scale can be
discarded. The monitoring of each population, or management unit, will be essential to
know the population dynamic and to establish coordinated control strategies. Preserving
and promoting this patchy landscape would favour the presence of predators and
hamper dispersion of this species. A continuous population control throughout the year would be advisable, using sustainable methods, such as traps, the installation of barriers and/or coordinated manipulation of habitat.Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA
Incontinencia urinaria y calidad de vida de las mujeres en una zona básica de salud
Get PDFUrinary Incontinence (UI) is defined as the condition by which involuntary loss of urine through the urethra is objectively demonstrable, causing social and hygienic problems for the individual. It is twice as frequent in women as in men, affecting 50% of them at some point in their lives. In spite of the high global prevalence and affectation to the quality of life, the small number of medical consultations that are generated by this reason are surprising.
OBJECTIVES:
To estimate the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) in women> 45 years of Siero's Basic Health Zone (ZBS) and associated factors.
METHODOLOGY:
Cross-sectional observational study aimed at women aged 45 years from the basic health area of Pola de Siero, using an ICIF-SF telephone questionnaire
RESULTS:
The prevalence of UI was 78% (227). In 99% of the cases it was a mild UI and more than half (56%) was effort.
90% of women with UI perceived their quality of life affected below 5 on a scale of 0 to 10 and only 10% consulted the problem in Primary Care (PA).
Both increased age, births and menopause increase the risk of UI.
CONCLUSIONS:
UI is very common, and it is seen as "something normal", slightly affects quality of life and is rarely and late consulted with doctor.OBJETIVOS: Estimar la prevalencia de incontinencia urinaria (IU) en mujeres >45 años de la Zona Básica de Salud (ZBS) de Siero y factores asociados.
METODOLOGÍA:
Estudio observacional descriptivo transversal, dirigido a mujeres a partir de 45 años de la Zona Básica de Salud de Pola de Siero, mediante cuestionario telefónico, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short-Form (ICIQ-SF).
RESULTADOS:
La prevalencia de IU fue del 78% (227). En el 99% de los casos se trataba de IU de carácter leve y más de la mitad (56%) era de esfuerzo.
El 90% de las mujeres con IU percibieron la afectación de su calidad de vida por debajo de 5 en una escala del 0 al 10 y sólo el 10% consultó el problema en Atención Primaria (AP).
Tanto el aumento de la edad como los partos y la menopausia aumentan el riesgo de padecer IU.
CONCLUSIONES:
La IU es muy frecuente, entendida como “algo normal”, afecta levemente la calidad de vida y se consulta poco y tarde
Reading prosody development in Spanish children
Get PDFReading prosody is considered one of the essential markers of reading fluency, alongside accuracy and speed. The aim of our study was to investigate how development of reading prosody in Spanish children varies with sentence type and length. We compared primary school children from the third and fifth grades with an adult sample. Participants were recorded reading aloud a narrative text including short and long declarative, exclamatory and interrogative sentences. Recordings were analysed using Praat software to measure several prosodic features (i.e., pauses, duration, pitch and intensity). We found that third-grade children had not yet developed an adult-like prosody: they made more pauses, had a flatter melodic contour and had difficulty anticipating sentence structure. Fifth-graders displayed some features of adult prosody. Both length and type of sentence influenced the expressiveness of reading in the three groups. We conclude that reading expressiveness is closely related to reading experience and develops in a similar way to decoding and reading speed.This study was funded by Grant PSI2015-64174-P from the Spanish Government and supported by the predoctoral grant BP14-038 from the Foundation for the Promotion of Applied Scientific Research and Technology in Asturias (FICYT)
Adaptive Active Power Sharing Techniques for DC and AC Voltage Control in a Hybrid DC/AC Microgrid
Get PDFThis paper deals with the AC and DC dynamic voltage control in a hybrid DC/AC Microgrid (MG) with central and distributed Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESSs), applying a
power sharing mechanism between the different devices in the MG. The MG is composed by a multiport transformation center
and two fixed frequency 3 phase AC Nanogrids (NGs) coupled to a DC bus through 3-phase Power Electronic Converters (PECs). The system pursues to minimize the dependence on the utility grid, the needed DC capacitance and the stress in the MGs central BESS, while increasing the power handling capability and the overall system stability during islanding condition. In order to approach the proposed aim, two main concerns are studied in this paper: an adaptive power sharing mechanism between the DC bus and the AC NGs for DC voltage control, and the design
and implementation of an AC dynamic local voltage compensator based on Distributed Energy Storage System (DESS).PCTI-FICYT under the grant ID BP14-135
Research, Technological Development
and Innovation Program Oriented to the Society Challenges of the Spanish
Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness under grant ENE2016-77919-
Etiología y tratamiento del cólico del lactante: Revisión bibliográfica
Get PDFINTRODUCTION: Infant Colic (IC) is a habitual disorder in the first months of life of the newborn child. The babies have one inconsolable weeping on evening - night approximately at the same hour every day at least in one week and are for everything else healthy, the weeping accompanies on other signs as the reddening, flatulence and shake movements of legs. Although the IC is a common disturbance the etiology he does not understand himself completely nor the possible guidelines of treatment.
DESCRIPTION: there was realized a bibliographical review of documents of scientific companies, systematic reviews and scientific studies. The articles have been selected looking that were centred on the etiology as on the treatment of the IC excluding those who were not relevant
CONCLUSIONS: The selected articles seem to indicate that there isn’t only a scientific reason defined for the IC though yes there are different studied hypotheses. It is difficult to study the IC since the authors have used such subjective information as the observations of the time of weeping for the keepers. They are necessary specific results, quantifiable and objective. The auto-limited nature of the colic has prevented the use of the invasive investigations.
Bearing in mind the favourable course of the IC, the range of forms in which it demonstrates and the variability of the time of weeping, there must be adopted a therapeutic sure approach and the directives might be useful adapted. Nevertheless, still there is a need of the major one the investigation and the modification of the current resources.INTRODUCCIÓN: El Cólico del Lactante (CL) es un trastorno habitual en los primeros meses de vida del Recién Nacido (RN). Los bebés tienen un llanto inconsolable sobre la tarde-noche aproximadamente a la misma hora todos los días por lo menos en una semana y son por todo lo demás sanos. El llanto se acompaña con otros signos como el enrojecimiento, meteorismo y movimientos agitantes de piernas. A pesar de que el CL es una perturbación común en los bebés, tanto sus causas como las posibles pautas de tratamiento son poco conocidas.
DESCRIPCIÓN: Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica de documentos de sociedades científicas, revisiones sistemáticas y estudios científicos. Los artículos se han seleccionado buscando que estuvieran centrados tanto en la etiología como en el tratamiento del CL excluyendo los que no fueron relevantes.
CONCLUSIONES: Los artículos seleccionados parecen indicar que no hay científicamente una causa única definida para el CL aunque sí hay diferentes hipótesis estudiadas.
Es difícil estudiar el CL ya que los autores han utilizado datos subjetivos tales como las observaciones del tiempo de llanto por los cuidadores. Son necesarios resultados específicos, cuantificables y objetivos. La naturaleza autolimitada de los cólicos ha impedido el uso de las investigaciones invasivas.
Teniendo en cuenta el curso clínico favorable del CL, la gama de formas en que se manifiesta y la variabilidad del tiempo de llanto, debe adoptarse un enfoque terapéutico seguro. Sin embargo, todavía hay una necesidad de una mayor investigación y la modificación de los recursos actuales
Potenciación y Refuerzo Linea Especialización Datos Proyecto 4
No full textResultados del proyecto 4 de Potenciación y refuerzo de la línea de especialización de datos.Results of Project