Moderate Water Stress Impact on Yield Components of Greenhouse Tomatoes in Relation to Plant Water Status.

The scarcity of water resources affects tomato production. Deficit irrigation may optimize water management with only a low reduction in yield. Deficit irrigation scheduling based on applied water presented no clear conclusions. Water stress management based on plant water status, such as water potential, could improve the scheduling. The aim of this work was to evaluate the physiological and yield responses of different tomato cultivars to deficit irrigation. Three experiments were carried out in 2020 and 2022 at the University of Seville (Spain). "Cherry" and "chocolate Marmande" cultivars with an indeterminate growth pattern were grown in a greenhouse. Treatments were: Control (full irrigated) and Deficit. Deficit plants were irrigated based on water potential measurements. Moderate water stress did not significantly reduce the yield, although it affected other processes. Fruit size and total soluble solids were the most sensitive parameters to water stress. The latter increased only when persistent water stress was applied. However, truss development and fruit number were not affected by the level of water stress imposed. Such results suggest that moderate water stress, even in sensitive phenological stages such as flowering, would not reduce yield. Deficit irrigation scheduling based on plant water status will allow accurate management of water stress.

[Some scientific highlights: A selection by the students of the Master Biology-Health of Montpellier University]. / L'actualité scientifique vue par les étudiants du Master Biologie Santé de l'université de Montpellier.

Title: L'actualité scientifique vue par les étudiants du Master Biologie Santé de l'université de Montpellier. Abstract: L'unité d'enseignement « Immunopathologie ¼ qui propose les brèves présentées dans ce numéro est suivie par des étudiants de divers parcours du Master Biologie Santé de l'université de Montpellier. Ce Master rassemble des étudiants issus du domaine des sciences et technologies et de celui de la santé. On y étudie les bases physiopathologiques des maladies immunologiques, les cibles thérapeutiques et les mécanismes d'échappement des microorganismes et des tumeurs. Les articles présentés ici ont été choisis par les étudiants selon leur domaine de prédilection.

Factores sociales y ambientales relacionados con el asma bronquial en niños de los consultorios 1 y 2 de Caonao, Cienfuegos

RESUMEN Fundamento el asma bronquial es un importante problema de salud y causa frecuente de morbimortalidad. En su génesis influyen factores humanos, sociales, ambientales y económicos. Objetivo: identificar factores sociales y ambientales relacionados con la severidad del asma bronquial en niños, atendiendo a sus características clínicas y demográficas. Métodos se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal en 46 niños con asma bronquial pertenecientes a los consultorios médicos 1 y 2 del policlínico Área VIII de Cienfuegos, durante el período de noviembre 2019 a mayo de 2020. Se utilizaron variables sociales y demográficas. Resultados: predominó el sexo masculino; las edades entre 13-16 y 17-19 años fueron las más afectadas, en ambos grupos con antecedentes familiares de asma. Estuvieron expuestos al hábito de fumar de familiares 31 infantes y se relacionó con las crisis moderadas persistentes. La mayoría de los niños necesitó tratamiento farmacológico. Predominó el hacinamiento que influyó en la aparición de infecciones respiratorias. Prevalecieron las familias moderadamente funcionales, hubo un predominio de las viviendas clasificadas de regulares. Conclusiones: existe relación directa entre la severidad de las manifestaciones clínicas del asma y los factores de riesgo que las condicionan. Se requiere de un trabajo educativo sistemático para su prevención.

ABSTRACT Background: bronchial asthma is an important health problem and a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality. Human, social, environmental and economic factors influence its genesis. Objective: to identify social and environmental factors related to the severity of bronchial asthma in children, based on their clinical and demographic characteristics. Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in 46 children with bronchial asthma belonging to medical offices 1 and 2 of the Area VIII polyclinic in Cienfuegos, from November 2019 to May 2020. Social and demographic variables were used. Results: the male sex predominated; ages between 13-16 and 17-19 years old were the most affected, in both groups with a family history of asthma. 31 infants were exposed to the smoking habit of family members and it was related to persistent moderate crises. Most of the children required pharmacological treatment. Overcrowding prevailed, which influenced the appearance of respiratory infections. Moderately functional families prevailed, there was a predominance of dwellings classified as regular. Conclusions: bronchial asthma requires systematic educational work for its prevention. There is a direct relationship between the severity of the clinical manifestations and the risk factors that condition it.

Soil microbes of an urban remnant riparian zone have greater potential for N removal than a degraded riparian zone.

Soils in the riparian zone, the interface between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, may decrease anthropogenic nitrogen (N) loads to streams through microbial transformations (e.g., denitrification). However, the ecological functioning of riparian zones is often compromised due to degraded conditions (e.g., vegetation clearing). Here we compare the efficacy of an urban remnant and a cleared riparian zone for supporting a putative denitrifying microbial community using 16S rRNA sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction of archaeal and bacterial nitrogen cycling genes. Although we had no direct measure of denitrification rates, we found clear patterns in the microbial communities between the sites. Greater abundance of N-cycling genes was predicted by greater soil ammonium (N-NH4 ), organic phosphorus, and C:N. At the remnant site, we found positive correlations between microbial community composition, which was dominated by putative N oxidisers (Nitrosomonadaceae, Nitrospiraceae and Nitrosotaleaceae), and abundance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), nirS, nirK and nosZ, whereas the cleared site had lower abundance of N-oxidisers and N cycling genes. These results were especially profound for the remnant riparian fringe, which suggests that this region maintains suitable soil conditions (via diverse vegetation structure and periodic saturation) to support putative N cyclers, which could amount to higher potential for N removal.

Point-of-care haemostasis monitoring during liver transplantation is cost effective.

Background Optimal haemostasis management in orthotropic liver transplant (OLT) could reduce blood loss and transfusion volume, improve patient outcomes and reduce cost. Methods We performed a study including 336 OLTs to evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness of a new point-of-care (POC)-based haemostatic management approach in OLT patients. Results In terms of health benefit we found that the new approach showed a significant reduction in transfusion requirements (red blood cell transfusion units were reduced from 5.3±4.6 to 2.8±2.9 [p<0.001], free frozen plasma from 3.1±3.3 to 0.4±1.0 [p<0.001] and platelets from 2.9±3.9 to 0.4±0.9 [p<0.001], transfusion avoidance, 9.7% vs. 29.1% [p<0.001] and massive transfusion, 14.5% vs. 3.8% [p=0.001]); we also found a significant improvement in patient outcomes, such, reoperation for bleeding or acute-kidney-failure (8.3% vs. 2.4%, p=0.015; 33.6% vs. 5.4%, p<0.001), with a significant reduction in the length of the hospital total stay (40.6±13.8 days vs. 38.2±14.4 days, p=0.001). The lowest cost incurred was observed with the new approach (€73,038.80 vs. €158,912.90) with significant patient saving associated to transfusion avoidance (€1278.36), ICU-stay (€3037.26), total-stay (€3800.76) and reoperation for bleeding (€80,899.64). Conclusions POC haemostatic monitoring during OLT is cost effective.

Stoichiometric constraints on the microbial processing of carbon with soil depth along a riparian hillslope.

Soil organic matter (SOM) content is a key indicator of riparian soil functioning and in the provision of ecosystem services such as water retention, flood alleviation, pollutant attenuation and carbon (C) sequestration for climate change mitigation. Here, we studied the importance of microbial biomass and nutrient availability in regulating SOM turnover rates. C stabilisation in soil is expected to vary both vertically, down the soil profile and laterally across the riparian zone. In this study, we evaluated the influence of five factors on C mineralisation (Cmin): (i) substrate quantity, (ii) substrate quality, (iii) nutrient (C, N and P) stoichiometry, (iv) soil microbial activity with proximity to the river (2 to 75 m) and (v) as a function of soil depth (0-3 m). Substrate quality, quantity and nutrient stoichiometry were evaluated using high and low molecular weight 14C-labelled dissolved organic (DOC) along with different nutrient additions. Differences in soil microbial activity with proximity to the river and soil depth were assessed by comparing initial (immediate) Cmin rates and cumulative C mineralised at the end of the incubation period. Overall, microbial biomass C (MBC), organic matter (OM) and soil moisture content (MC) proved to be the major factors controlling rates of Cmin at depth. Differences in the immediate and medium-term response (42 days) of Cmin suggested that microbial growth increased and carbon use efficiency (CUE) decreased down the soil profile. Inorganic N and/or P availability had little or no effect on Cmin suggesting that microbial community growth and activity is predominantly C limited. Similarly, proximity to the watercourse also had relatively little effect on Cmin. This work challenges current theories suggesting that areas adjacent to watercourse process C differently from upslope areas. In contrast, our results suggest that substrate quality and microbial biomass are more important in regulating C processing rates rather than proximity to a river.

Quantifying the contribution of riparian soils to the provision of ecosystem services.

Riparian areas, the interface between land and freshwater ecosystems, are considered to play a pivotal role in the supply of regulating, provisioning, cultural and supporting services. Most previous studies, however, have tended to focus on intensive agricultural systems and only on a single ecosystem function. Here, we present the first study which attempts to assess a wide range of ecological processes involved in the provision of the ecosystem service of water quality regulation across a diverse range of riparian typologies. Specifically, we focus on 1) evaluating the spatial variation in riparian soils properties with respect to distance with the river and soil depth in contrasting habitat types; 2) gaining further insights into the underlying mechanisms of pollutant removal (i.e. pesticide sorption/degradation, denitrification, etc.) by riparian soils; and 3) quantify and evaluate how riparian vegetation across different habitat types contribute to the provision of watercourse shading. All the habitats were present within a single large catchment and included: (i) improved grassland, (ii) unimproved (semi-natural) grassland, (iii) broadleaf woodland, (iv) coniferous woodland, and (iv) mountain, heath and bog. Taking all the data together, the riparian soils could be statistically separated by habitat type, providing evidence that they deliver ecosystem services to differing extents. Overall, however, our findings seem to contradict the general assumption that soils in riparian area are different from neighbouring (non-riparian) areas and that they possess extra functionality in terms of ecosystem service provision. Watercourse shading was highly habitat specific and was maximal in forests (ca. 52% shade cover) in comparison to the other habitat types (7-17%). Our data suggest that the functioning of riparian areas in less intensive agricultural areas, such as those studied here, may be broadly predicted from the surrounding land use, however, further research is required to critically test this across a wider range of ecosystems.

Biochemical, biophysical, and functional properties of ICA512/IA-2 RESP18 homology domain.

BACKGROUND: ICA512 (or IA-2/PTPRN) is a transmembrane protein-tyrosine phosphatase located in secretory granules of neuroendocrine cells. Previous studies implied its involvement in generation, cargo storage, traffic, exocytosis and recycling of insulin secretory granules, as well as in ß-cell proliferation. While several ICA512 domains have been characterized, the function and structure of a large portion of its N-terminal extracellular (or lumenal) region are unknown. Here, we report a biophysical, biochemical, and functional characterization of ICA512-RESP18HD, a domain comprising residues 35 to 131 and homologous to regulated endocrine-specific protein 18 (RESP18). METHODS: Pure recombinant ICA512-RESP18HD was characterized by CD and fluorescence. Its binding to insulin and proinsulin was characterized by ELISA, surface plasmon resonance, and fluorescence anisotropy. Thiol reactivity was measured kinetically. Targeting of ΔRESP18HD ICA512-GFP to the membrane of insulinoma cells was monitored by immunofluorescence. RESULTS: ICA512-RESP18HD possesses a strong tendency to aggregate and polymerize via intermolecular disulfide formation, particularly at pH>4.5. Its cysteine residues are highly susceptible to oxidation forming an intramolecular disulfide between cysteine 53 and 62 and intermolecular disulfides via cysteine 40 and cysteine 47. The regulated sorting of ICA512 to secretory granules in INS-1 cells was impaired by deletion of RESP18HD. ICA512-RESP18HD binds with high-affinity to insulin and proinsulin. CONCLUSIONS: RESP18HD is required for efficient sorting of ICA512 to secretory granules. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: RESP18HD is a key determinant for ICA512 granule targeting.

Biophysical characterization of the membrane-proximal ectodomain of the receptor-type protein-tyrosine phosphatase phogrin.

The receptor-type protein-tyrosine phosphatase (RPTP) phogrin is localized at the membrane of secretory granules of pancreatic islet ß-cells and, similarly to the closely related ICA512, plays a role in the regulation of insulin secretion, in ensuring proper granulogenesis and stability, and in the regulation of ß-cell growth. The mature membraneproximal ectodomain of phogrin (MPE phogrin) was produced as a recombinant protein and characterized. CD, fluorescence, controlled proteolysis, size-exclusion chromatography, and multi-angle light scattering showed that it is a properlyfolded monomeric domain. Equilibrium experiments, in the presence of guanidinium chloride and thermal unfolding, suggest a two-state mechanism with a ΔG of 2.3-3.3 kcal/mol, respectively. The study establishes common features and differences of MPE phogrin and the homologous ectodomain of ICA512. A homology model of phogrin was built based in the x-ray structure of MPE ICA512. The model is a starting point for modeling the entire receptor and for testing the quaternary structure and interactions of this protein in vivo. A description of the membrane insertion mode and putative interacting surfaces of this large protein is fundamental for the understanding of its biological function.

Protein-protein interactions in crystals of the human receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase ICA512 ectodomain.

ICA512 (or IA-2) is a transmembrane protein-tyrosine phosphatase located in secretory granules of neuroendocrine cells. Initially, it was identified as one of the main antigens of autoimmune diabetes. Later, it was found that during insulin secretion, the cytoplasmic domain of ICA512 is cleaved and relocated to the nucleus, where it stimulates the transcription of the insulin gene. The role of the other parts of the receptor in insulin secretion is yet to be unveiled. The structures of the intracellular pseudocatalytic and mature extracellular domains are known, but the transmembrane domain and several intracellular and extracellular parts of the receptor are poorly characterized. Moreover the overall structure of the receptor remains to be established. We started to address this issue studying by X-ray crystallography the structure of the mature ectodomain of ICA512 (ME ICA512) and variants thereof. The variants and crystallization conditions were chosen with the purpose of exploring putative association interfaces, metal binding sites and all other structural details that might help, in subsequent works, to build a model of the entire receptor. Several structural features were clarified and three main different association modes of ME ICA512 were identified. The results provide essential pieces of information for the design of new experiments aimed to assess the structure in vivo.

Osmotic and specific ion effects on the germination of Prosopis strombulifera.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Salinity can affect germination of seeds either by creating osmotic potentials that prevent water uptake or by toxic effects of specific ions. Most studies have only used monosaline solutions, although these limit the extent to which one can interpret the results or relate them to field conditions. The aim of this work was to evaluate the germination of Prosopis strombulifera seeds under increasing salinity by using the most abundant salts in central Argentina in monosaline or bisaline iso-osmotic solutions, or in solutions of mannitol and polyethylene glycol. METHODS: Seeds were allowed to germinate under controlled conditions in a germination chamber at 30 +/- 1 degrees C and at 80 % r.h. Salinizing agents were KCl, NaCl, Na(2)SO(4), K(2)SO(4), NaCl + Na(2)SO(4) and KCl + K(2)SO(4) and osmotic agents were polyethylene glycol 6000 and mannitol. Treatments for all osmotica consisted of 0.0, -0.4, -0.8, -1.2, -1.5, -1.9 and -2.2 MPa solutions. KEY RESULTS: The percentage of germination decreased as salinity increased. SO(4)(2-) in monosaline solutions, with osmotic potentials -1.2 MPa and lower, was more inhibitory than Cl(-) at iso-osmotic concentrations. This SO(4)(2-) toxicity was alleviated in salt mixtures and was more noticeable in higher concentrations. K(+) was more inhibitory than Na(+) independently of the accompanying anion. CONCLUSIONS: Different responses to different compositions of iso-osmotic salt solutions and to both osmotic agents indicate specific ionic effects. This study demonstrates that the germination of P. strombulifera is strongly influenced by the nature of the ions in the salt solutions and their interactions. Comparative studies of Cl(-) and SO(4)(2-) effects and the interaction between SO(4)(2-) and Cl(-) in salt mixtures indicate that extrapolation of results obtained with monosaline solutions in the laboratory to field conditions can be speculative.

Rescue of in vivo FAS-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes by corticosteroids either associated with alcohol consumption by mice or provided exogenously.

The pathogenic effects of many hepatic viral infections are mediated, at least in part, by the immune response to the infected hepatocyte. The immune response in the infected liver involves the interaction of cytotoxic T cells (CTL) with the hepatocytes through the interaction of FAS-ligand on the CTL and FAS on the hepatocyte. The initial hypothesis for this study was that alcohol consumption by mice would sensitize the liver to apoptosis induced by ligation of FAS. C57Bl/6 mice fed ethanol in a liquid diet did show an increased percentage of apoptotic cells 2 h after injection with anti-FAS as compared with the percentage in the control mice. However, 4 and 6 h after anti-FAS injection, control mice showed high percentages of apoptotic cells (20% to 41%) compared with 5% and 4% apoptotic cells in the ethanol-fed mice. The decreased apoptosis of ethanol-fed mice correlated closely with corticosterone levels in the sera. This was confirmed by the finding that adrenalectomized (ADX) mice provided a high level of corticosterone in drinking water were protected against FAS-induced hepatocyte apoptosis. Ethanol-fed mice showed a significant elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels indicating the development of hepatitis in spite of the relatively low proportion of apoptotic cells in the liver. In conclusion, high levels of corticosterone protect hepatocytes from FAS-mediated apoptosis, but do not prevent the ultimate development of liver damage. In experiments where mice were provided ethanol chronically in drinking water, where stress is minimal, higher levels of ALT were noted in animals in the ethanol group as compared with animals in the control group. These data support the suggestion that ethanol increases hepatocyte sensitivity to FAS-mediated damage.

Modulation of immunity and viral-host interactions by alcohol.

This manuscript represents the proceedings of a symposium at the 2001 RSA Meeting in Montreal, Canada. The organizers/chairs were Gyongyi Szabo and Geoffrey M. Thiele. The presentations were (1) Introduction, by Gyongyi Szabo; (2) Chemokine dysregulation after acute ethanol exposure, by Elizabeth J. Kovacs; (3) Chemokine production and innate immunity in the livers of simian immunodeficiency virus-infected Macaca mulatta following chronic alcohol administration, by Abraham P. Bautista; (4) Influence of ethanol consumption on the severity and progression of hepatitis associated with cytomegalovirus infection, by Laura Sosa and Thomas R. Jerrells; (5) Scavenger receptor involvement in the immune response to the metabolites of chronic ethanol ingestion, by Geoffrey M. Thiele; and (6) Mechanisms of impaired accessory cell functions due to alcohol exposure and hepatitis C infection, by Gyongyi Szabo.

Hipoventilación durante el sueño en trastornos neuro-músculo-esqueléticos: criterios diagnósticos y predictivos / Hypoventilation during nocturnal sleep in patients with neuromusculoskeletal disorders: diagnostic and predictive criteria

La hipoventilación alveolar de instalación progresiva es la principal causa de morbimortalidad en pacientes con trastornos neuro-músculo-esqueléticos. El diagnóstico precoz y la intervención con ventilación no invasiva pueden restablecer la función respiratoria y prolongar la sobrevida. Con este propósito estudiamos la función respiratoria en vigilia y la saturación de pulso de oxigeno (Sp0 2 durante el sueño nocturno de 29 pacientes (20 hombres y 9 mujeres, edad = 8 a 80 años) portadores de enfermedades neuromusculares o esqueléticas en etapa estable. Los resultados mostraron una alteración restrictiva moderada (capacidad pulmonar total [CPT] = 74,4 ñ 27,0 por ciento, capacidad vital forzada [CVF] = 51,1 ñ 27,8 por ciento, presión máxima inspiratoria [PImáx] = -47,1 ñ 25,1 cm H2O, presión máxima espiratoria [PEmáx] = + 46,8 ñ 34,9 cm H2O) e hipoxemia leve en vigilia (PaO2 = 78,3 ñ 17,8 T y PaCO2 = 40,6 ñ 5,8 T). La desaturación de O2, durante el sueño mostró una amplia dispersión: tiempo con SpO2<90por ciento = 0 a 478 min (tiempo acumulado [TA] <90 por ciento = 0 a 99 por ciento del tiempo total de registro). En tres casos se confirmó por polisomnogrofía la asociación con apneas obstructivas del sueño. El TA < 90 por ciento se correlacionó negativamente con la PIM y la CVF independientemente del tipo de enfermedad. La presión arterial de anhídrido carbónico (PaCO2) elevada en vigilia fue el mejor predictor de desaturación durante el sueño. Se discuten los métodos y criterios de diagnóstico, con especial énfasis en la indicación de ventilación no invasiva a largo plazo

Desproporción congénita del tipo de fibra muscular: primeros casos nacionales / Congenital muscle fiber-type disproportion: first national cases

La Desproporción Congénita del Tipo de Fibra Muscular (DCTFM) es una miopatía congénita cuyo patrón histopatológico se caracteriza, como principal alteración demostrable, por el menor diámetro de las fibras tipo I con respecto al tamaño de las fibras tipo II. Clínicamente se presenta, al igual que otras miopatías congénitas, por hipotonía presente en la mayoría de los casos desde el nacimiento y retraso en la adquisición de las conductas motoras. La evolución puede ser benigna, para estabilizarse o mejorar con el desarrollo, o ser causa de muerte en la infancia. En este trabajo se presentan los dos primeros casos de DCTFM diagnosticados en nuestro medio. Se destaca que en las miopatías congénitas la presentación clínica es similar y que las diferentes entidades se definen exclusivamente por los hallazgos histopatológicos, si bien los mismos dependen del procesamiento selectivo de la biopsia muscular por un equipo especializado