The late Miocene macroflora of the La Cerdaña Basin, Eastern Pirenees, Spain. Towards a Synthesis

The fossil plant-bearing beds of the Tortonian (late Miocene) intramontane basin of La Cerdanya (Eastern Pyrenees, Catalonia, Spain) have been investigated for more than a century, and 165 species from 12 outcrops have been described in previous publications. The sediments with rich plant fossil assemblages, which correspond to lacustrine diatomitic deposits, contain large numbers of plant remains, mainly leaf compressions and impressions. These assemblages are well preserved, a consequence of the rapid accumulation of plant remains in the sediments of the basin's ancient lake, and the often close proximity of its shores to wetland and upland vegetation. This paper provides a comprehensive taxonomic and nomenclatural review of the historic and new collections of late Miocene macroflora for the La Cerdanya Basin. Examination of the newer materials allowed emendments to be made to the diagnoses ofAbies saportana, Acer pyrenakum,Alnus occidentalis, Quercus hispanka and Tilia vidali provided by REROLLE for the basin at the end of the 19th century. In addition, 24 species of vascular plants are identified for the basin for the first time, including one horsetail, three conifers, 19 arboreal or bushy dicotyledonous angiosperms, and one monocotyledonous angiosperm. Indeed, this is the first time that Cedrela helkonia (UNGER) KNOBLOCH, Decodon sp„ Hedera cf multinervis KOLAKOVSKII, Mahonia cf pseudosimplex KVACEK & WALTHER, Smilax cf. aspera L. vm.fossilis and Ulmus cf. plurinervia UNGER have been recorded anywhere in the Iberian Peninsula. The La Cerdanya Basin plant assemblages of the late Miocene mainly consisted of conifers and deciduous broadleaved taxa of Arctotertiary origin; evergreen Palaeotropical elements were less well represented. This flora is similar to those recorded at coeval sites in northern Greece, northern Italy and central and eastern France. Within the Iberian Peninsula, the late Miocene macroflora reported for the nearby Seu d'Urgell Basin is the most similar

A Novel HDL-Mimetic Peptide HM-10/10 Protects RPE and Photoreceptors in Murine Models of Retinal Degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness in the developed world. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a critical site of pathology in AMD. Oxidative stress plays a key role in the development of AMD. We generated a chimeric high-density lipoprotein (HDL), mimetic peptide named HM-10/10, with anti-oxidant properties and investigated its potential for the treatment of retinal disease using cell culture and animal models of RPE and photoreceptor (PR) degeneration. Treatment with HM-10/10 peptide prevented human fetal RPE cell death caused by tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (tBH)-induced oxidative stress and sodium iodate (NaIO3), which causes RPE atrophy and is a model of geographic atrophy in mice. We also show that HM-10/10 peptide ameliorated photoreceptor cell death and significantly improved retinal function in a mouse model of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced PR degeneration. Our results demonstrate that HM-10/10 protects RPE and retina from oxidant injury and can serve as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of retinal degeneration

Effects of camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) powder on the physicochemical and kinetic parameters of deteriorating microorganisms and salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Serovar Typhimurium in refrigerated vacuum-packed ground beef

This study aims to evaluate the effects of camu-camu powder (CCP), Amazonian berry fruit with documented bioactive properties, physicochemical meat parameters, and the growth kinetics parameters of S. enterica ser. Typhimurium, psychrotrophic bacteria (PSY), and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in vacuum-packed ground beef. Batches of ground beef were mixed with 0.0%, 2.0%, 3.5%, and 5.0% CCP (w/w), vacuum-packed as 10 g portions, and stored at 5â—¦C for 16 days. Centesimal composition analyses (only on the initial day), pH, TBARS, and color were quantified on storage days 1, 7, and 15, while PSY and LAB were counted on days 0, 3, 6, 9, 13, and 16. Another experiment was conducted with the same camu-camu doses by inoculating S. enterica ser. Typhimurium microbial kinetic curves were modeled by the Huang growth and Weibull decay models. CCP decreased TBARS in beef from 0.477 to 0.189 mg MDA·kg−1 . No significant differences in meat pH between treated and control samples were observed on day 15. CCP addition caused color changes, with color a* value decreases (from 14.45 to 13.44) and color b* value increases (from 17.41 to 21.25), while color L* was not affected. Higher CCP doses caused progressive LAB growth inhibition from 0.596 to 0.349 log CFU·day−1 at 2.0% and 5.0% CCP, respectively. Similarly, PSY growth rates in the treated group were lower (0.79–0.91 log CFU·day−1 ) compared to the control (1.21 log CFU·day−1 ). CCP addition at any of the investigated doses produced a steeper S. enterica ser. Typhimurium inactivation during the first cold storage day, represented by Weibull’s concavity α shape parameter, ranged from 0.37 to 0.51, in contrast to 1.24 for the control. At the end of the experiment, however, S. enterica ser. Typhimurium counts in beef containing CCP were not significantly different (p lt 0.05) from the control. Although CCP affects bacterial kinetics, it does not protect ground beef against spoilage bacteria and Salmonella to the same degree it does against lipid peroxidation.The authors would like to thank CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel)—Brazil, for supporting the first author with a scholarship from the international Sandwich Exchange Program—PDSE 047/2017/Process no. 88881.189927/2018-01 and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development—CNPq (Process: 310462/2018-5), and to PROPeq/PROPG-UFMT, Brazil. U. Gonzales-Barron and V. Cadavez are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020). U. Gonzales-Barron acknowledges FCT, P.I., for the institutional scientific employment program contract.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Capacidad de carga en senderos turísticos del centro de cultura para la conservación Piedra Herrada, México.

El turismo de naturaleza se plantea como una aspiración que pretende el aprovechamiento recreativo de los recursos y la justa distribución de los beneficios que genera. No obstante en la actualidad, numerosas iniciativas difieren poco de la valorización económica del patrimonio y su uso intensivo. Por ello, es necesario dar continuidad a los estudios ambientales del turismo, que identifican sus implicaciones físicas y plantean medidas de mitigación para el adecuado desarrollo de la actividad. El trabajo tuvo como principal objetivo, determinar la capacidad de carga en los senderos turísticos del Centro de Cultura para la Conservación Piedra Herrada, con base al método propuesto por Cifuentes (1992; et. al, 2009), para el cálculo de las capacidades de carga física, real, de manejo y efectiva (turística) del lugar de estudio.El turismo de naturaleza se plantea como una aspiración que pretende el aprovechamiento recreativo de los recursos y la justa distribución de los beneficios que genera. No obstante en la actualidad, numerosas iniciativas difieren poco de la valorización económica del patrimonio y su uso intensivo. Por ello, es necesario dar continuidad a los estudios ambientales del turismo, que identifican sus implicaciones físicas y plantean medidas de mitigación para el adecuado desarrollo de la actividad. El trabajo tuvo como principal objetivo, determinar la capacidad de carga en los senderos turísticos del Centro de Cultura para la Conservación Piedra Herrada, con base al método propuesto por Cifuentes (1992; et. al, 2009), para el cálculo de las capacidades de carga física, real, de manejo y efectiva (turística) del lugar de estudio

Síntesis de nanopartículas de TiO2 con alta área superficial para degradación de contaminantes en agua

Síntesis de nanopartículas con baja aglomeración a partir del método sol-gel, con el uso de un surfactante Polivinilpirrolidona PVP.El dióxido de titanio es uno de los materiales más importantes y básicos de nuestra vida diaria, ha emergido como un material con excelente propiedades fotocatalíticas para la purificación del medio ambiente. Sin embargo existen limitaciones debido a la naturaleza de la muestra que impiden que incremente su eficiencia de degradación de colorantes orgánicos. La originalidad de este proyecto consiste en sintetizar dióxido de titanio con alta área superficial. El preparar materiales a escala nanométrica tiene grandes ventajas debido a que para alguna aplicaciones los materiales incrementan sus propiedades enormemente. Sin embargo para el proceso de fotocatálisis existe un fenómeno que disminuye su eficiencia, llamado “aglomeración”. Dicho fenómeno consiste en que las partículas con tamaño nanométrico, se unen mediante fuerzas electrostáticas, reduciendo el área expuesta. En este proyecto se trabajaron con surfactantes orgánicos que tienen la función de evitar que las partículas se aglomeren y con ello aumenten su eficiencia fotocatalítica. Los resultados de microscopía electrónica de barrido de alta resolución muestran que el surfactante tiene el efecto que se deseaba debido a que se muestran partículas menos aglomeradas. Dicha propiedad aumento la eficiencia de degradación del azul de metileno general, el cual presenta deplorables condiciones

Comportamento de bactérias deteriorantes e Salmonella enterica subespécie entérica O:4,5 em carne bovina embalada a vácuo durante refrigeração

In this study, the kinetic parameters of mesophilic, psychrotrophic and lactic acid bacteria in vacuum-packed beef at 1 °C and 4 °C were estimated from experimental growth curves produced by samples stored during 21 and 60 days, respectively. In a separate experiment, the survival of multidrug resistant (MDR) Salmonella enterica O:4,5 at 1°C was also characterized. The shelf-life of vacuum-packed beef stored at 4 °C was estimated at 16.1 days (95% CI: 14.8 – 17.3 days), whereas at 1 °C it was longer than 21 days because the mesophiles count estimated towards the end of the experiment was 12.5 ln CFU.g-1 (95% CI: 11.8 – 13.3 ln CFU.g-1) which is lower than the shelf-life reference value. At 1 °C, inoculated Salmonella was reduced in 6.61 ln CFU.g-1 (2.87 log CFU.g-1). These results demonstrated the importance of establishing in legislation, especially in Brazil, standard values of deteriorating microorganisms in beef for maintaining product quality.Neste estudo, os parâmetros cinéticos de bactérias mesófilas, psicrotróficas e ácido lácticas foram estimados em carne bovina embalada a vácuo a 1 °C e 4 °C, a partir de curvas experimentais produzidas em amostras estocadas durante 21 e 60 dias, respectivamente. Em um experimento separado, a sobrevivência de Salmonella enterica O:4,5 multirresistente (MDR) a 1°C também foi caracterizada. A vida de prateleira da carne bovina embalada a vácuo, estocada a 4°C, foi estimada em 16.1 dias (95% CI: 14.8 – 17.3 dias), enquanto que a 1 °C o período foi maior que 21 dias, porque a contagem estimada de mesófilos ao final do experimento foi de 12.5 ln UFC.g-1 (95% CI: 11.8 – 13.3 ln UFC.g-1), o qual é mais baixo que o valor referência de shelf-life. A 1 °C, Salmonella inoculada reduziu em 6.61 ln UFC.g-1 (2.87 log UFC.g-1). Estes resultados demonstram a importância de estabelecimento em legislação, especialmente no Brasil, de valores padrões para contagem de microrganismos deteriorantes em carnes visando manter a qualidade do produto.The authors thank the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Brazil, for supporting the first author with a scholarship from the International Sandwich Exchange Program (PDSE) approved at the Call 047/2017/Process: 88881.189927/2018- 01. We also thank the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Brazil (Process: 310462 / 2018-5), and the Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de Mato Grosso (IFMT) for their support. Our gratitude also to the “Ad hoc” evaluators who reviewed our work and contributed to its improvement.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Catalytic activation of the benzylic CSP3-H bond by cationic Au(I) complex. The unexpected Glasser-Hay reaction

Los 1,3-diinos son sustratos sumamente importantes pues se utilizan como materiales de partida en un sinfín de reacciones. Su relevancia se hace presente en al menos cuatro metodologías para su síntesis. Entre las que mencionamos los acoplamientos de Glaser, acoplamiento de Hay, el acoplamiento de Eglinton o la reacción de Cadiot-Chodkiewicz. De manera preliminar nuestro grupo de investigación ha encontrado que la formación de este enlace carbono-carbono es catalizada por reactivos de Au(I), lo cual establece una transformación sin precedente en la síntesis orgánica. Mecanísticamente la oxidación de Au(I) a Au(III) está involucrada. El presente trabajo describe este proceso utilizando sólo el oxígeno atmosférico.1,3-diynes are very important building blocks since they are used as starting materials in a lot of organic transformations. Its relevance is present in at least four synthetic methodologies. Among we can mention the Glasser, Hay, Eglinton and Cadiot-Chodkiewicz coupling reactions. Our group has preliminarly found that the formation of such bond is catalyzed by Au(I), which establishes an unprecedent transformation in organic synthesis. Mechanistically the oxidation from Au(I) to A(III) is involved. The present work describes this process using only the atmospheric oxygen

Vector Disparity Sensor with Vergence Control for Active Vision Systems

This paper presents an architecture for computing vector disparity for active vision systems as used on robotics applications. The control of the vergence angle of a binocular system allows us to efficiently explore dynamic environments, but requires a generalization of the disparity computation with respect to a static camera setup, where the disparity is strictly 1-D after the image rectification. The interaction between vision and motor control allows us to develop an active sensor that achieves high accuracy of the disparity computation around the fixation point, and fast reaction time for the vergence control. In this contribution, we address the development of a real-time architecture for vector disparity computation using an FPGA device. We implement the disparity unit and the control module for vergence, version, and tilt to determine the fixation point. In addition, two on-chip different alternatives for the vector disparity engines are discussed based on the luminance (gradient-based) and phase information of the binocular images. The multiscale versions of these engines are able to estimate the vector disparity up to 32 fps on VGA resolution images with very good accuracy as shown using benchmark sequences with known ground-truth. The performances in terms of frame-rate, resource utilization, and accuracy of the presented approaches are discussed. On the basis of these results, our study indicates that the gradient-based approach leads to the best trade-off choice for the integration with the active vision system

Valoración al microscopio de fuerza atómica de la actividad biológica de Cinnamomum verum sobre Porphyromonas gingivalis

La humanidad ha empleado diversas plantas medicinales como alternativa o complemento a los tratamientos contra diversas afecciones entre ellas la periodontitis. Se ha reportado en diversas investigaciones que las plantas contienen compuestos con actividad antimicrobiana. El término periodontitis, se utiliza para definir la inflamación de los tejidos de soporte del diente, habitualmente un cambio progresivamente destructivo, con pérdida de hueso y ligamento periodontal, por extensión de la inflamación desde la encía. Es una enfermedad de origen bacteriano, que afecta a un 5-20% de los adultos entre 30 y 60 años a nivel mundial. Una de las bacterias implicadas en la periodontitis crónica y agresiva además de ser considerada como su principal agente etiológico es P. gingivalis. Este microorganismo cuenta con factores de virulencia que le proveen un gran potencial para colonizar e invadir tejidos periodontales, modular la respuesta inmune del huésped, permitiendo el desarrollo de una respuesta inflamatoria crónica, y colaborar con los procesos de destrucción de tejido periodontal y hueso alveolar. El objetivo de este trabajo fue: Determinar la actividad biológica de los extractos acuoso de C. verum; y la actividad farmacológica de tetraciclina sobre el crecimiento in vitro de P. gingivalis y caracterizar los cambios en las propiedades nanomecánicas de este microorganismo por microscopía de fuerza atómica (MFA). Los resultados indican que el extracto acuoso de C. verum inhibe en un 92% el crecimiento in vitro de P. gingivalis, por otra parte, la Microscopía de Fuerza Atómica nos permitió estudiar, caracterizar y analizar las propiedades morfológicas y nanomecánicas de P. gingivalis proporcionándonos información que puede ser útil para comprender mejor el papel de las interacciones de los tratamientos con extractos vegetales, comparados con los tratamientos con antibióticos. Estos resultados brindan perspectivas de estudio encaminadas a la búsqueda de nuevas alternativas de terapia antimicrobiana relacionadas con enfermedades periodontales