Search Results (10)

A Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (SBSE-GC-MS) method has been optimized and validated for the determination of eight volatile sulphur compounds in wine distillates: diethyl sulphide (DES), dimethyl disulphide (DMDS), diethyl disulphide (DEDS), 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde (TC), dibutyl sulphide (DBS), dipropyl disulphide (DPDS), dipropyl sulphide (DPS), and dimethyl trisulphide (DMTS). After optimization by 2⁴ factorial design, the SBSE-GC-MS extraction conditions were as follows: a polydimethylsiloxane twister (10 mm × 0.5 mm), 35 °C as the extraction temperature, 10 mL as the sample volume, 7% (v/v) as the alcoholic grade, 47 min as the extraction time, 10% (w/v) of NaCl, and 1% (w/v) of EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid). Under optimal conditions, adequate analytical figures of merit were obtained for eight of the ten compounds initially considered, with low quantification and detection limits and relative standard deviations for inter-twister and inter-day repeatability values ranging from 7.5 to 21.8% and from 7.2 to 27.5%, respectively. The methodology was applied to 34 wine distillates (continuous column distillation and distillation in pot still) elaborated for the production of Brandy de Jerez: 15 aged distillates aged for different periods of time in American oak wood and 19 non-aged distillates. The most significant volatile sulphur compounds were DBS, DMDS, and DPS. The Cluster Analysis (CA) on the volatile sulphur compounds grouped the samples according to the use of sulphur dioxide. In general, lower amounts of volatile sulphur compounds were found in the aged samples, although the high standard deviations obtained highlight that their contents depend on multiple factors related to the elaboration process. Full article

An application of CO₂/HCO₃⁻-free solution (Zero-CO₂) did not increase intracellular pH (pH_i) in ciliated human nasal epithelial cells (c-hNECs), leading to no increase in frequency (CBF) or amplitude (CBA) of the ciliary beating. This study demonstrated that the pH_i of c-hNECs expressing carbonic anhydrase IV (CAIV) is high (7.64), while the pH_i of ciliated human bronchial epithelial cells (c-hBECs) expressing no CAIV is low (7.10). An extremely high pH_i of c-hNECs caused pH_i, CBF and CBA to decrease upon Zero-CO₂ application, while a low pH_i of c-hBECs caused them to increase. An extremely high pH_i was generated by a high rate of HCO₃⁻ influx via interactions between CAIV and Na⁺/HCO₃⁻ cotransport (NBC) in c-hNECs. An NBC inhibitor (S0859) decreased pH_i, CBF and CBA and increased CBF and CBA in c-hNECs upon Zero-CO₂ application. In conclusion, the interactions of CAIV and NBC maximize HCO₃⁻ influx to increase pH_i in c-hNECs. This novel mechanism causes pH_i to decrease, leading to no increase in CBF and CBA in c-hNECs upon Zero-CO₂ application, and appears to play a crucial role in maintaining pH_i, CBF and CBA in c-hNECs periodically exposed to air (0.04% CO₂) with respiration. Full article

The advancement of bioinformatics and sequencing technology has resulted in the identification of an increasing number of new RNA viruses. This study systematically identified the RNA virome of the willow-carrot aphid, Cavariella aegopodii (Hemiptera: Aphididae), using metagenomic sequencing and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) approaches. C. aegopodii is a sap-sucking insect widely distributed in Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia. The deleterious effects of C. aegopodii on crop growth primarily stem from its feeding activities and its role as a vector for transmitting plant viruses. The virome includes Cavariella aegopodii virga-like virus 1 (CAVLV1) and Cavariella aegopodii iflavirus 1 (CAIV1). Furthermore, the complete genome sequence of CAVLV1 was obtained. Phylogenetically, CAVLV1 is associated with an unclassified branch of the Virgaviridae family and is susceptible to host antiviral RNA interference (RNAi), resulting in the accumulation of a significant number of 22nt virus-derived small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs). CAIV1, on the other hand, belongs to the Iflaviridae family, with vsiRNAs ranging from 18 to 22 nt. Our findings present a comprehensive analysis of the RNA virome of C. aegopodii for the first time, offering insights that could potentially aid in the future control of the willow-carrot aphid. Full article

Eucalyptus urophylla is important for the establishment of commercial forest plantations in Mexico. Genetic improvement programs are currently being implemented to increase timber productivity. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the adaptability and growth stability of 26 clonal lines of E. urophylla in Acrisol and Fluvisol soils and to identify the most suitable genotypes for each soil type. Tree survival, diameter at breast height, and total height were measured annually for six years. These variables were used to estimate individual volume, volume per hectare, and mean annual (MAIv) and current annual (CAIv) volume increment. Survival ranged from 14 to 100% in the Acrisol soil and from 0 to 89% in the Fluvisol soil. Volume per hectare ranged from 65.3 to 488.7 m³, MAIv from 11.1 to 83.1 m³ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, and CAIv from 2.4 to 134.7 m³ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Individual heritability ($H_i^2$) was moderate (0.29–0.49) while the mean heritability of the cloned lines was high (0.73–0.90), indicating that growth is subject to high genetic control. Diameter, height, and volume presented no genotype × environment interaction effects, demonstrating stability in the growth of the clonal lines in both soil types. Full article

This study presents the biometric relationships among various increments that is useful in both scientific and practical terms for the silvicultural of silver fir. The increments recorded in the biometric characteristics of trees are a faithful indicator of the effect of silvicultural work measures and of environmental conditions. Knowing these increments, and the relationships among them, can contribute to adaptations in silvicultural work on these stands with the purpose of reducing risks generated by environmental factors. We carried an inventory based on tree increment cores. The sample size was determined based on both radial increment and height increment variability of the trees. The sample trees were selected in proportion to their basal area on diameter categories. Current annual height increment (CAI_h) was measured on felled trees from mean tree category. For CAI_h we generated models based on the mean tree height. Percentages of the basal area increment and of form-height increment were used to compute the current annual volume increment percentage (PCAI_v). For the mean tree, the CAI_h estimated through the used models had a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 0.8749 and for the current annual volume increment (CAI_v) the RMSE value was 0.1295. In even-aged stands, the mean current volume increment tree is a hypothetical tree that may have the mean basal area of all the trees and the form-height of the stand. Conclusions: The diameter, height, and volume increments of trees are influenced by structural conditions and natural factors. The structures comprising several generations of fir mixed with beech and other deciduous trees, which have been obtained by the natural regeneration of local provenances, are stable and must become management targets. Stable structures are a condition for the sustainable management of stands. Full article

The following study was performed in order to determine the effect of type of pregnancy on the transcriptional expression of genes that are engaged in angiogenesis and cell turnover/lactogenesis in the ewe mammary gland, evaluating its impact on the plasma metabolic response. In addition, an assessment of its further influence on plasma metabolic response, performance, and muscle transcriptional expression of lipogenic enzymes in progeny lambs was made. Thirteen Ile de France sheep (six twin- and seven single-bearing ewes) were allocated to graze ad libitum naturalized pasture from d 45 pre-partum to day 70 post-partum, while keeping their lambs on the same diet until day 60 after weaning. The samples were collected at different times and analyzed by qRT-PCR and plasma metabolic indicators. The data were processed using SPSS package. The results showed that twin-bearing ewes overexpressed VEGFR1 at birth, and BCL2 at birth and day 35 post-partum; however, single-bearing ewes overexpressed CAIV and IGF1 at day 35 post-partum. Similar metabolite concentrations in blood plasma were found between groups of ewes. The plasma metabolic response in lambs was similar between groups and it did not influence their performance, where a similar transcriptional expression of lipogenic enzymes in muscle was observed. Therefore, the type of pregnancy can explain the slight differences in mRNA expression that were found in angiogenesis and cell turnover/lactogenesis in mammary gland, although these differences not only did not affect the plasma metabolic response in ewes, but they also had no influence on plasma metabolic response, performance, and muscle transcriptional expression of their lambs. Full article

α-amylase which catalyzes the hydrolysis of α-1,4-glycosidic bonds in starch have frequently been cloned into various microbial workhorses to yield a higher recombinant titer. A thermostable SR74 α-amylase from Geobacillus stearothermophilus was found to have a huge potential in detergent industries due to its thermostability properties. The gene was cloned into a CTG-clade yeast Meyerozyma guilliermondii strain SO. However, the CUG ambiguity present in the strain SO has possibly altered the amino acid residues in SR74 amylase wild type (WT) encoded by CUG the codon from the leucine to serine. From the multiple sequence alignment, six mutations were found in recombinant SR74 α-amylase (rc). Their effects on SR74 α-amylase structure and function remain unknown. Herein, we predicted the structures of the SR74 amylases (WT and rc) using the template 6ag0.1.A (PDB ID: 6ag0). We sought to decipher the possible effects of CUG ambiguity in strain SO via in silico analysis. They are structurally identical, and the metal triad (CaI–CaIII) might contribute to the thermostability while CaIV was attributed to substrate specificity. Since the pairwise root mean square deviation (RMSD) between the WT and rc SR74 α-amylase was lower than the template, we suggest that the biochemical properties of rc SR74 α-amylase were better deduced from its WT, especially its thermostability. Full article

In this study, we investigated a mechanistic link between Na–H exchanger-1 (NHE-1) and carbonic anhydrase (CA) in experimental colitis induced in the rats by intrarectal administration of trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS). Western blot analysis showed CA-I and CA-II as the major isoforms and CA-IV as a minor one in the colon, and they all are expressed as minor isoforms in the ileum. Co-immunoprecipitation and confocal immunofluorescence microscopy showed colocalization of NHE-1 with CA-I and CA-II, but not with CA-IV. TNBS significantly reduced the levels of NHE-1 and CA protein isoforms in the colon, but not in the uninflamed ileum. A similar reduction profile of the expression of CA isozymes was also obtained in ex vivo treatment of normal colon strips with TNF-α. The level of uncoupling as detected by co-immunoprecipitation was significantly more pronounced. A peptide (83 aa) from the NHE-1 C-terminus demonstrated binding of CA-II only, but not of the CA-I or CA-IV isoform. Furthermore, the profile of inflammatory test markers confirmed inflammation in the tissue used. These findings taken together suggest an inflammation-induced uncoupling of CA and NHE-1, which might be a putative mechanism for reducing the activity of NHE-1 in experimental colitis. This uncoupling might lead to an intracellular accumulation of H^+, resulting in acidosis and necrosis in the inflamed colon. Full article

Protected area (PA) coverage is used as an indicator of biodiversity protection worldwide. The effectiveness of using PAs as indicators has been questioned due to the diversity of categories encompassed by such designations, especially in PAs established for purposes other than biodiversity protection. Although international standards have been developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the policies on the ground have been developed independently of the IUCN categories, thus making the IUCN categories dubious measures of biodiversity conservation. Management plans are crucial for the effective management of parks and for guidance on how biodiversity maintenance should be prioritized relative to other goals. We therefore analyzed the aims and regulations of the management plans of alpine PAs in Spain as a first step in evaluating conservation performance. We used content analysis and correspondence analysis of instrumental variables (CAiv) to assess how aims and regulations vary in relation to three explanatory factors: IUCN categories, vegetation zones and autonomous communities. We found that the aims of many parks were vague, without clear indications of how to prioritize biodiversity goals. Furthermore, only 50% of the parks studied had any management plan, which strengthens our argument concerning the lack of clear guidance in PA management. Although certain aims were correlated with the IUCN categories, the regulations showed no clear relationship to international policies, which indicates that these aims do not necessarily influence management practices. Devolution to autonomous communities could be one explanation for the large variation in management practices among parks. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of such management policies on biodiversity. Full article