Network and biosignature analysis for the integration of transcriptomic and metabolomic data to characterize leaf senescence process in sunflower

In recent years, high throughput technologies have led to an increase of datasets from omics disciplines allowing the understanding of the complex regulatory networks associated with biological processes. Leaf senescence is a complex mechanism controlled by multiple genetic and environmental variables, which has a strong impact on crop yield. Transcription factors (TFs) are key proteins in the regulation of gene expression, regulating different signaling pathways; their function is crucial for triggering and/or regulating different aspects of the leaf senescence process. The study of TF interactions and their integration with metabolic profiles under different developmental conditions, especially for a non-model organism such as sunflower, will open new insights into the details of gene regulation of leaf senescence.Fil: Moschen, Sebastián Nicolás. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Higgins, Janet. The Genome Analysis Centre; Reino UnidoFil: Di Rienzo, Julio Alejandro. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Heinz, Ruth Amelia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Paniego, Norma Beatriz. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, Paula del Carmen. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Dimensionamiento y Modelado de un Vehículo Eléctrico Propulsado por Pilas de Combustible: análisis económico y de factibilidad

El presente trabajo aborda el diseño, el dimensionamiento y la simulación de un auto eléctrico propulsado por pilas de combustible a hidrógeno y baterías de ion-litio. Para ello se seleccionaron recorridos representativos del tránsito vehicular dentro de la ciudad de Córdoba y se recolectaron los datos a través de un GPS (velocidad, tiempo y altitud) para confeccionar ciclos de manejo y sus respectivos perfiles de elevación. El modelado matemático y simulación de los sistemas integrados se realizó en entorno MatLab/Simulink, tomando en cuenta las ecuaciones que gobiernan los distintos fenómenos físicos. Además se realizó la simulación de los sistemas según los ciclos de manejo y se obtuvo el comportamiento dinámico de los mismos. Finalmente se estudiaron los resultados obtenidos de la simulación, se elaboraron comparaciones entre éste sistema y el convencional de combustión interna y se calculó el hidrógeno necesario para el parque automotor de la ciudad de Córdoba.This paper addresses the design, sizing and simulation of an electric car powered by fuel cells and li-ion batteries. This was achieved by selecting representative traffic routes within the city of Córdoba and gathering the data with a GPS (speed, time and altitude) to make the driving cycles, with their respective elevation profiles. The mathematical modeling and numerical simulation of the systems was carried out in MATLAB/Simulink environment, taking into account the governing equations involved in the different physical phenomena. The Dynamic responses of the systems were obtained running the Simulik model using the different driving cycles as inputs. Finally, the simulations results were analyzed, the internal combustion vehicle was compared with the proposed system analyzing benefits and drawbacks, and the amount of hydrogen necessary for the fleet of the city of Cordoba was calculated.Fil: Correa Perelmuter, Gabriel. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mathe, Ladislao. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Moschen, Emanuel. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Muñoz, Pedro Matías. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

An experiment to assess the effects of diatom dissolution on oxygen isotope ratios

Rationale: Current studies which use the oxygen isotope composition from diatom silica (δ18Odiatom) as a palaeoclimate proxy assume that the δ18Odiatom value reflects the isotopic composition of the water in which the diatom formed. However, diatoms dissolve post mortem, preferentially losing less silicified structures in the water column and during/after burial into sediments. The impact of dissolution on δ18Odiatom values and potential misinterpretation of the palaeoclimate record are evaluated. Methods: Diatom frustules covering a range of ages (6 samples from the Miocene to the Holocene), environments and species were exposed to a weak alkaline solution for 48 days at two temperatures (20 °C and 4 °C), mimicking natural dissolution post mucilage removal. Following treatment, dissolution was assessed using scanning electron microscope images and a qualitative diatom dissolution index. The diatoms were subsequently analysed for their δ18O values using step-wise fluorination and isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Results: Variable levels of diatom dissolution were observed between the six samples; in all cases higher temperatures resulted in more frustule degradation. Dissolution was most evident in younger samples, probably as a result of the more porous nature of the silica. The degree of diatom dissolution does not directly equate to changes in the isotope ratios; the δ18Odiatom value was, however, lower after dissolution, but in only half the samples was this reduction outside the analytical error (2σ analytical error = 0.46‰). Conclusions: We have shown that dissolution can have a small negative impact on δ18Odiatom values, causing reductions of up to 0.59‰ beyond analytical error (0.46‰) at natural environmental temperatures. These findings need to be considered in palaeoenvironmental reconstructions using δ18Odiatom values, especially when interpreting variations in these values of <1‰

Effects of short-term energy restriction on liver lipid content and inflammatory status in severely obese adults: results of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) using two dietary approaches

Short-term very low energy diets (VLED) are used in clinical practice prior to bariatric surgery, however, regimens vary and outcomes for a short intervention are unclear. We examined the effect of two VLEDs; a food-based diet (FD) and meal replacement plan (MRP) (LighterLife) over two weeks in a randomised controlled trial (RCT). We collected clinical and anthropometric data, fasting blood samples, and dietary evaluation questionnaires. Surgeons took liver biopsies and made a visual assessment of the liver. We enrolled 60 participants and 54 completed (FD n=26, MRP n=28). Baseline demographic features, reported energy intake, dietary evaluation and liver histology were comparable between groups. Both diets induced significant weight loss. Perceived difficulty of surgery correlated significantly with the degree of steatosis on histology. Circulating inflammatory mediators: CRP, Fetuin-A and IL6 reduced pre to post diet. Diets achieved comparable weight loss and reduction in inflammatory biomarkers, perceived operative difficulty, and patient evaluation. NAFLD histology assessments post-diet were also not significantly different between diets. Results indicate effectiveness of short term very low energy diets and energy restriction irrespective of macronutrient composition although small sample size precluded detection of subtle differences between interventions

Selection of earthquake ground motions for multiple objectives using genetic algorithms

Existing earthquake ground motion (GM) selection methods for the seismic assessment of structural systems focus on spectral compatibility in terms of either only central values or both central values and variability. In this way, important selection criteria related to the seismology of the region, local soil conditions, strong GM intensity and duration as well as the magnitude of scale factors are considered only indirectly by setting them as constraints in the pre-processing phase in the form of permissible ranges. In this study, a novel framework for the optimum selection of earthquake GMs is presented, where the aforementioned criteria are treated explicitly as selection objectives. The framework is based on the principles of multi-objective optimization that is addressed with the aid of the Weighted Sum Method, which supports decision making both in the pre-processing and post-processing phase of the GM selection procedure. The solution of the derived equivalent single-objective optimization problem is performed by the application of a mixed-integer Genetic Algorithm and the effects of its parameters on the efficiency of the selection procedure are investigated. Application of the proposed framework shows that it is able to track GM sets that not only provide excellent spectral matching but they are also able to simultaneously consider more explicitly a set of additional criteria

Testate amoebae as a proxy for reconstructing Holocene water table dynamics in southern Patagonian peat bogs

Funded by Natural Environment Research Council. Grant Numbers: NE/I022809/1, NE/I022981/1, NE/I022833/1, NE/I023104/1 Ricardo Muza and the Wildlife Conservation Society Karukinka Park Acknowledgements This work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (grant numbers NE/I022809/1, NE/I022981/1, NE/I022833/1 and NE/I023104/1). We thank Ricardo Muza and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Karukinka Park rangers for facilitating access to Karukinka Park. We also thank François De Vleeschouwer, Gaël Le Roux, Heleen Vanneste, Sébastien Bertrand, Zakaria Ghazoui and Jean-Yves De Vleeschouwer for fieldwork assistance. Nelson Bahamonde (INIA, Punta Arenas, Chile) and Ernesto Teneb (UMag, Punta Arenas, Chile) provided logistical support for the fieldwork in Chile. Dr Andrea Coronato (CADIC, Ushuaia) kindly provided logistical support for the research in Argentina. Thanks to Jenny Johnston for cartography, David Jolley for assistance in microscopic photography and Audrey Innes for laboratory assistance. We highly appreciate reviews by Matt Amesbury and an anonymous reviewer. R.P. is supported by an Impact Fellowship from the University of Stirling.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Up-regulation of the anti-inflammatory adipokine adiponectin in acute liver failure in mice

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent reports suggest that the adipose tissue and adipokines are potent modulators of inflammation. However, there is only scarce knowledge on the functional role and regulation of endogenous adiponectin in non-fat tissues such as the liver under conditions of acute inflammation. METHODS: In the present study, we investigated adiponectin expression in healthy murine liver tissue and under inflammatory conditions in vivo. RESULTS: Adiponectin mRNA was readily detectable in healthy liver tissue and further increased in ConA-mediated acute liver failure. Adiponectin protein expression was mainly found in hepatic endothelial cells. In vitro adiponectin mRNA expression was detectable in several cell types, including primary hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells, stellate cells, and macrophages. Mice pretreated with adiponectin before ConA administration developed reduced hepatic injury as shown by decreased release of transaminases and reduced hepatocellular apoptotis. Of note, TNF-alpha levels were not affected by adiponectin, whereas IL-10 production was increased. Neutralisation of IL-10 diminished the protective effect of adiponectin. CONCLUSIONS: Adiponectin expression is up-regulated in ConA-mediated acute liver failure. Therefore, adiponectin might play a role in the control and limitation of inflammation in the liver. Moreover, our data suggest a role for IL-10 in adiponectin-mediated hepatoprotection

Die Sauerstoffisotopenverhältnisse des biogenen Opals lakustriner Sedimente als mögliches Paläothermometer. Eine Kalibrierungsstudie im Holzmaar (Westeifel-Vulkanfeld)

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Innerhalb Mitteleuropas stellen die lakustrinen Sedimente des Holzmaares ein besonders gut geeignetes Paläoklimaarchiv zur Rekonstruktion der Klimageschichte eines menschlichen Lebensraumes dar. Da paläoklimatische Informationen in Klimaarchiven in verschlüsselter Form vorliegen, ist es nur möglich quantitative Stellvertreterdaten, sog. Proxiedaten, also Daten mit extrahierbaren Klimainformationen, zu ermitteln. In der vorliegenden Kalibrierungsstudie wird die Eignung der Sauerstoffisotopenverhältnisse von fossilen Diatomeenvalven (Kieselalgenschalen) aus lakustrinen Sedimenten als möglicher Temperaturproxieparameter untersucht. Dabei wird ein Zusammenhang zwischen dem Isotopenverhältnis des biogenen Opals rezenter Diatomeenvalven und der Wassertemperatur im Zeitraum der Valvenbildung erstmals in einem offenen lakustrinen Ökosystem beschrieben. Eine im Holzmaar durchgeführte vierjährige Freilandstudie diente der Untersuchung sämtlicher Parameter, die für das Sauerstoffisotopenverhältnis der opalartigen Gerüstsubstanz der Kieselalgen verantwortlich sind. Dabei wurden die saisonalen Variationen meteorologischer Größen und die zugehörigen Veränderungen der physikalischen und chemischen Parameter im Wasserkörper des Sees in zeitlich hoher Auflösung erfasst. Es zeigte sich, dass das Epilimnion der wichtigste Bereich des Gewässers bei der Übertragung von Umweltinformationen in die als Paläoklimaarchiv nutzbaren holozänen und spätglazialen Sedimente des Sees ist. Bezogen auf die mögliche Eignung fossiler Diatomeenvalven zur Temperaturrekonstruktion erfolgt im Epilimnion der Transfer von Klima- bzw. Witterungssignalen aus der Atmosphäre in das Gewässer und weiter in den biogenen Opal. Es konnte nachgewiesen werden, dass die in Form einer Gleichgewichtsreaktion ablaufende Sauerstoffisotopenfraktionierung zwischen dem Wasser und dem biogenen Opal der Algenskelette temperaturabhängig ist. Von besonderer Bedeutung für die Ableitung einer Beziehung zwischen Fraktionierung und Wassertemperatur ist neben der Temperatur im Zeitraum des Algenwachstums auch das zugehörige Sauerstoffisotopenverhältnis des Wassers, da dieser den sog. Quellwert für die Isotopenfraktionierung darstellt. Die räumlichen und zeitlichen Variationen der Wassertemperatur und des Sauerstoffisotopenverhältnisses des Wasserkörpers wurden im Holzmaar über vier Jahre beobachtet, und die enge Kopplung der Wassertemperatur im Epilimnion an die Lufttemperatur wurde dokumentiert. Aus den während der Geländekampagne gewonnenen rezenten Sedimentproben wurden die Kieselschalen mit Hilfe der SPLITT-Fraktionierung separiert und in drei Größenklassen unterteilt. Zur quantitativen Extraktion des im biogenen Opal der Kieselschalen gebundenen Sauerstoffs wurde mit dem Hochtemperatur-Aufschlussverfahren ein völlig neuartiges Verfahren entwickelt, das die vollständige Umwandlung des Opals in ein für die Isotopenanalytik notwendiges Messgas ermöglicht und das zudem eine hervorragende Reproduzierbarkeit der Analyseergebnisse bei gleichzeitig relativ hohem Probendurchsatz gewährleistet. Als wichtigstes Ergebnis der vorliegenden Arbeit konnte im Holzmaar unter den gegenwärtigen Umweltbedingungen auf der Basis der ermittelten Variationen der Sauerstoffisotopenverhältnisse des biogenen Opals eine systematische Beziehung zwischen der Sauerstoffisotopenfraktionierung und der Wassertemperatur während des Kieselalgenwachstums nachgewiesen werden. Der Gradient dieses Zusammenhangs, der Temperaturkoeffizient, charakterisiert die Größe der Veränderung der Fraktionierung mit einer vorgegebenen Wassertemperaturveränderung. Er beträgt im offenen pelagischen Ökosystem des Holzmaares im Temperaturintervall zwischen 3 und 22 °C im Mittel -0,19 ‰/°C. Als Konsequenz des ermittelten Koeffizienten kann die Ableitung von Paläowassertemperaturänderungen mit Hilfe von biogenem Opal im Holzmaar grundsätzlich nach der Gleichung T H2O (°C) = 190,07 - 5,26 (Sauerstoffisotopenverhältnis Opal - Sauerstoffisotopenverhältnis Wasser) erfolgen. Der systematische Zusammenhang zwischen der Sauerstoffisotopenfraktionierung und der Wassertemperatur im Zeitraum des Kieselalgenwachstums eröffnet die Möglichkeit, aus den Sauerstoffisotopenverhältnissen fossiler Diatomeenvalven lakustriner Sedimente Wassertemperaturänderungen früherer Zeitabschnitte abzuleiten, wenn zusätzlich Informationen über das Sauerstoffisotopenverhältnis des Wassers, i.e. den Quellwert der Isotopenfraktionierung, vorliegen. Wie in dieser Arbeit gezeigt werden konnte, ist die oberflächennahe Wassertemperatur der Eifelmaarseen in hohem Maße von Veränderungen der regionalen Lufttemperatur abhängig. Hierduch sollte es in Zukunft möglich sein, durch den Einsatz von quantitativen Verknüpfungen (Transferfunktionen) mit Hilfe der Sauerstoffisotopenverhältnisse fossiler Kieselschalen aus den holozänen und spätweichselzeitlichen Sedimenten der Eifelmaarseen Veränderungen der Lufttemperatur im Eifelraum zu beschreiben

The use of multivariate statistics to resolve multiple contamination signals in the oxygen isotope analysis of biogenic silica

Analysis of the oxygen isotope composition (δ18O) of diatom silica is a commonly used tool for palaeoclimate reconstruction that recent studies have demonstrated may be complicated by the presence of non-diatom detrital material. Such contamination can mask any true climate-driven signal, leading to spurious results. Analysis of the 2.6-Ma Barsemoi diatomites from the East African Rift Valley highlights the presence of both tephra and clay in purified samples. Here we present a new method for assessing the relative contribution and geochemical composition of contamination components where sedimentary samples may be affected by more than one type of contamination. This approach shows that the incorporation of analytical techniques, such as X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, coupled with statistical modelling, can be used to develop a three end-member model to successfully resolve climate-driven changes in δ18Odiatom. Mass-balance corrections made to δ18Odiatom data demonstrate the importance of adopting quantitative geochemical analysis in tandem with the δ18O analysis of biogenic silica, to obtain accurate and meaningful results for palaeoclimate reconstruction