Effect of fruit-to-leaf area ratio on fruit quality and vegetative growth of 'bing' sweet cherry trees at optimal leaf area index

Fruit yield and quality determine grower income from commercial sweet cherry orchards. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Fruit Number to Leaf Area Ratio (FNLAR, fruit m-2 LA) on Mean Fruit Weight (MFW), firmness (F), soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA) and SSC:TA ratio of `Bing¿ sweet cherries trees of near-optimal leaf area index (LAI). The effect of FNLAR on Mean Shoot Growth (MSG) and trunk cross-sectional area increment (TCSAI) also was analysed to determine possible competition between reproductive and vegetative growth. Regression analysis was used with FNLAR as the independent variable. While SSC:TA, MSG and TCSAI were not significantly correlated to FNLAR (P>0.05), MFW, TA and SSC decreased linearly with increasing FNLAR (

Presence of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase gene (NDM-1) in a clinical isolate of Acinetobacter junii in Argentina

Here we report the presence of a clinically significant A. junii blaNDM-1 positive in a 38-year-old woman who was admitted to the emergency department with a fever and leg ulcers with signs of infection. The NDM-1 carbapenemase has been dramatically spread among Gram-negative bacilli, thus imposing a new challenge on the health system to fight bacterial infections.These data expand the number of Acinetobacter species harbouring blaNDM-1. The wide existence of Acinetobacter harbouring and dispersing this carbapenemase emphasizes the importance of non-previously recognized pathogens as reservoirs of dangerous resistance determinants. These resistance determinants can be later easily transferred to other menacing pathogens.Fil: Montaña, Sabrina Daiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Cittadini, Roxana. Sanatorio Mater Dei; ArgentinaFil: Del Castillo M,. Sanatorio Mater Dei; ArgentinaFil: Uong, S.. California State University; Estados UnidosFil: Lazzaro, T.. California State University; Estados UnidosFil: Almuzara, Marisa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Barberis, Claudia. Sanatorio Mater Dei; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Vay, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Ramírez, M. S.. California State University; Estados Unido

Computation in Focused Intuitionistic Logic

International audienceWe investigate the control of evaluation strategies in a variant of the λ-calculus derived through the Curry-Howard correspondence from LJF, a sequent calculus for intuitionistic logic implementing the focusing technique. The proof theory of focused intuitionistic logic yields a single calculus in which a number of known λ-calculi appear as subsystems obtained by restricting types to a certain fragment of LJF. In particular, standard λ-calculi as well as the call-by-push-value calculus are analysed using this framework, and we relate cut elimination for LJF to a new abstract machine subsuming well-known machines for these different strategies

Apoptosis in human unfertilized oocytes after Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

Objective To investigate the presence of programmed cell death in unfertilized oocytes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), assuming that previous apoptotic events could be correlated with the fertilization failure. Design Comparison of the rate of DNA fragmentation in human oocytes at different stages of maturation soon after pick-up (control) and in unfertilized oocytes after ICSI treatment. Setting In vitro fertilization (IVF) laboratory with extensive ICSI experience. Patient(s) Sixty-three patients undergoing assisted fertilization by ICSI. Intervention(s) Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated digoxigenin-dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay and anticaspase-3 cleaved immunoassay to detect apoptosis in control and ICSI-treated oocytes. Main Outcome Measure(s) Differences in the percentage of oocytes demonstrating DNA fragmentation between control oocytes and unfertilized ICSI treated oocytes at different stages of maturation. Result(s) The DNA fragmentation, by TUNEL assay, appeared in all the immature control oocytes, but only 37% of mature oocytes showed DNA fragmentation. This DNA fragmentation was observed in 88.8% of the oocytes unfertilized after ICSI; furthermore, DNA fragmentation appeared as well in the sperm injected into the cytoplasm. Conclusion(s) The study has shown DNA fragmentation in human oocytes unfertilized after ICSI. The evidence is confirmed as well in control oocytes, free from in vitro culture or manipulation stress. Caspase-3 immunoassay suggests the presence of apoptosis. The high percentage of oocytes demonstrating DNA fragmentation in the unfertilized oocytes could be correlated with fertilization failure

FSH administration reduces significantly sperm apoptosis only in the case of high DFI value: a study in idiopathic dispermic patients

Introduction: In the last decades sperm DNA quality has been recognized as one of the most important markers of male reproductive potential (Lewis and Aitken, 2005; Ozmen, 2007; Tarozzi, 2007), in contrast to standard semen parameters as sperm density, motility and morphology, which do not act as powerful discriminators between fertile and infertile men. DNA damage in the male germ line is a major contributor to infertility, miscarriage and birth defects in the offspring. In animal models, it has been unequivocally demonstrated that the genetic integrity of the male germ line plays a major role in determining the normality of embryonic development. In humans, many studies showed that sperm DNA damage is associated with impaired embryo cleavage (8), higher miscarriage rates (9) and also with a significantly increased risk of pregnancy loss after in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) (10). Specifically, above a threshold of 30% of sperms with fragmented DNA, chances for pregnancy are close to zero, either by means of natural conception or intrauterine insemination (Spano M, 2000; Bungum M, 2007). Since there is a clear relationship between sperm DNA damage and poor assisted reproduction technology (ART) outcomes, efforts should be directed in developing treatments to improve sperm DNA quality to be introduced into clinical use. The aim of this observational study was to investigate the effects of r-FSH administration on sperm DNA fragmentation of iOAT patients undergoing ICSI, comparing the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) before and after 90 days of FSH therapy. Matherial and Methods: Fifty-three iOAT men, with a median age of 33,6 ± 7,6 years, referred to our clinics because of fertility problems after at least two years of natural attempts, were selected for the study. In all patients DNA fragmentation was evaluated sperm prior to treatment with 150 IU of recombinant human FSH (GONAL-f®, Merck Serono) three times at week for at least three months. Patients were re-evaluated after a 3-month period with semen analysis and DNA fragmentation. Sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was investigated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) in situ DNA nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay. Data were analysed using the paired t-test and chi-square as appropriate. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: After 3 months of r-FSH treatment, no significant differences was observed between baseline and post therapy semen sample parameters including sperm count, motility, and the percentage of normal sperm forms. IThe percentage of sperm DNA fragmentation in the total of patients dropped from 20.8 ± 9.1 to 15.1 ± 8.9 (P < 0.05) (see Tab I). Interestingly, no statistical difference was found in sperm DFI when patients showed a baseline DFI ≤15% (10.5 ± 4.2 vs 11.4 ± 4.5). We found an evident and statistically significant DFI reduction in patients with sperm baseline DFI value ≥15% (24.37 ± 9.6 vs 15.4 ± 4.6). Conclusion: Our data seems to demonstrate that FSH acts as a strong anti-apoptotic agent in reducing DNA fragmentation in iOAT patients. The therapy may be a specific pretreatment for infertile male partners of couples undergoing ICSI, specifically in the case that basal DFI is higher than 15%, reducing the percentage of spermatozoa with DNA integrity anomalies suggesting a positive effect on the reproductive outcome

Sweet cherry production in South Patagonia

In South Patagonia, the total sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) area has increased from 176 ha in 1997 to 507 ha in 2004, of which 232 ha are located in Los Antiguos (46°19¿ SL; 220 m elevation), 158 ha in the Lower Valley of Chubut River (LVCHR) (43°16¿ SL; 30 m elevation), 52 ha in Sarmiento (45°35¿ SL; 270 m elevation), 35 ha in Esquel (42°55¿ SL; 570 m elevation) and 30 ha in Comodoro Rivadavia (45°52¿ SL; 50 m elevation). The most common varieties are `Lapins¿, `Bing¿, `Newstar¿, `Sweetheart¿, `Stella¿, `Sunburst¿ and `Van¿ grafted on `Mahaleb¿, `Pontaleb¿, `SL 64¿, `Colt¿ or `Mazzard¿ rootstocks. Trees generally are drip-irrigated and planted at high densities, using training systems such as Tatura, central leader and modified vase (2700, 1100 and 1000 trees ha-1, respectively). Growers in Los Antiguos are more traditional, planting mainly as vase (400 to 1000 trees ha-1) or freestanding trees (280 trees ha-1) and irrigating by gravity (74% of the area). Only 4.4% of the area of Los Antiguos is frost protected, as growers rely strongly on the moderating effect of Lake Buenos Aires. Frost control systems are absent in Comodoro Rivadavia because the established orchards are located next to the sea, in an area with low risk of frost. The frost-protected area is 49% in Sarmiento, 35% in Esquel and 57% in LVCHR. Fruit are harvested from November (LVCHR) to the end of January (Los Antiguos and Esquel), and the harvest-only labour demand during the 2004/2005 season was 100,000 h. In that season, seven packinghouses exported 390 t (45% of the total production) to Europe. Most orchards have not yet reached their mature stage and new ones are being established. Therefore, fruit volumes will continue to increase and shortages of labour and packing facilities may become a constraint

Growth hormone- and pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy evoke different responses to ischemia-reperfusion and mechanical stretch.

Objective. To compare the molecular, histological, and functional characteristics of growth hormone (GH)- and pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy, and their responses to ischemia-reperfusion and mechanical stretch. Design. Four groups of male Wistar rats were studied: aortic banding (n = 24, AB) or sham (n = 24, controls) for 10 weeks, and GH treatment (n = 24; 3.5 mg/kg/day, GH) or placebo (n = 24, controls) for 4 weeks. At 13 weeks, the rats were randomly subjected to: (i) assessment of basal left ventricular mRNA expression of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase (SERCA-2), phospholamban (PLB), and Na+-Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) and collagen volume fraction (CVF) (Protocol A, 8 rats in each group); (ii) left ventricular no-flow ischemia with simultaneous evaluation of intracellular Ca2+ handling and ATP, phosphocreatine (PCr) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) content (Protocol B, 12 rats in each group),- or (iii) left ventricular mechanical stretch for 40 min with assessment of tumor necrosis-alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA (Protocol C, 4 rats in each group). Protocol B and C were carried out in a Langendorff apparatus. Results. In Protocol A. no difference was found as to myocardial mRNA content of Ca2+ regulating proteins and CVF in GH animals vs controls. In contrast. in the AB group, myocardial mRNA expression of SERCA-2 and PLB was downregulated while that of NCX and CVF were increased vs. controls (p < 0.05). In Protocol B, recovery of left ventricular function was significantly decreased in AB vs GH goups and controls and this was associated with 1.6-fold increase in intracellular Ca2+ overload during reperfusion (p < 0.05). Baseline ATP content was similar in the four study groups, whereas PCr and Pi was lower in AB vs GH rats and controls. However, the time courses of high-energy phosphate metabolic changes did not differ during ischemia and reperfusion in the four study groups. In Protocol C, no detectable TNF-alpha mRNA level was found in the left ventricular myocardium of GH treated rats and controls at baseline, while a modest expression was noted in AB animals. Mechanical stretch resulted in de novo myocardial TNF-a mRNA expression in GH group and controls, which was dramatically increased in AB animals (approximate to 5-fold above baseline, p < 0.001). Conclusions. The data show that cardiac hypertrophy activated by short-term GH treatment confers cardioprotection compared with pressure overload with regard to molecular and histological characteristics, and responses to ischemia-reperfusion and mechanical stretch

N-P-S Fertilizer Effects on Herbage Yield and Brute Protein Contents in an Irrigated Perennial Pasture in South Patagonia

Little research has been done to determine the effect of fertilization on irrigated pastures in Santa Cruz (South Patagonia). The objective of the present study was to estimate the effects of NPS fertilizing effects on forage yield and quality. The trial was set up in 1994 on a Borolic Haplargid soil characterized by low N content (0.00875% total N), low P availability (9 ppm Olsen) and medium alcalinity (pH 8.4). Pasture was dominated by tall fescue (95%) with 5% of alfalfa. A Complete Radom Design was used and N-P2O5-S nutrients were applied at rates of 120-100-50 kg.ha-1. Monthly mowing began in November and finished in March 1995. DM yield, CP and IVDMD were determined. N-fertilization highly increased DM yield. PSfertilization affected botanical composition by increasing alfalfa proportion, and this determined PS treatment to have the highest BP content. Fertilization had no apparent effect on IVDMD

Effect of the partial NaCl substitution by other chloride salts on the volatile profile during the ripening of dry-cured lacón

The influence of three salting treatments (treatment II: 50% NaCl-50% KCl; III: 45% NaCl-25% KCl-20% CaCl2-10% MgCl2; IV: 30% NaCl-50% KCl-15% CaCl2-5% MgCl2) on the formation of volatile compounds throughout the process was studied and compared to those of a control "lacón" (treatment I: 100% NaCl). There was an intense formation of volatile compounds throughout the processing, particularly during the dry-ripening stage. The most abundant chemical family in all the formulations, in the final product was hydrocarbons followed by aldehydes. The total volatile compound release was more intense in the control "lacóns" (1164 AU_106·g-1dry matter) than in "lacóns" from formulations II, III and IV (817-891 AUx106·g-1dry matter). The "lacóns" from formulation I showed the highest amounts of aldehydes. The "lacóns" from formulations I and II presented the highest amounts of hydrocarbons. The main conclusion is that the replacement of NaCl produces changes in the volatile profile and could be affect the aroma of "lacón".Se estudió la influencia de tres tratamientos de salado (tratamiento II: 50 % NaCl-50 % KCl; III: 45 % NaCl-25 % KCl-20 % CaCl2-10 % MgCl2; IV: 30 % NaCl-50 % KCl-15 % CaCl2-5 % MgCl2) en la formación de compuestos volátiles durante la elaboración de lacón, en comparación con un control (tratamiento I: 100 % NaCl). Hubo una intensa formación de compuestos volátiles durante el procesado, principalmente durante la fase de secado-maduración. La familia química más abundante en el producto final fueron los hidrocarbonos, seguidos por los aldehídos. La liberación de volátiles fue más intensa en los lacones control (1164 AU_106·g-1 materia seca) que en los otros lacones (817-891 AUx106· g-1 materia seca). Los lacones de la formulación I mostraron las mayores cantidades de aldehídos, y los lacones de las formulaciones I y II presentaron los mayores contenidos de hidrocarburos. La principal conclusión es que el reemplazo de NaCl produce cambios en los compuestos volátiles y por lo tanto podrían afectar al aroma del lacón