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Performing proteomic studies on non-model organisms with little or no genomic information is still difficult. However, many specific processes and biochemical pathways occur only in species that are poorly characterized at the genomic level. For example, many plants can reproduce both sexually and asexually, the first one allowing the generation of new genotypes and the latter their fixation. Thus, both modes of reproduction are of great agronomic value. However, the molecular basis of asexual reproduction is not well understood in any plant. In ferns, it combines the production of unreduced spores (diplospory) and the formation of sporophytes from somatic cells (apogamy). To set the basis to study these processes, we performed transcriptomics by next-generation sequencing (NGS) and shotgun proteomics by tandem mass spectrometry in the apogamous fern ssp. . For protein identification we used the public viridiplantae database (VPDB) to identify orthologous proteins from other plant species and new transcriptomics data to generate a \"species-specific transcriptome database\" (SSTDB). In total 1,397 protein clusters with 5,865 unique peptide sequences were identified (13 decoy proteins out of 1,410, protFDR 0.93% on protein cluster level). We show that using the SSTDB for protein identification increases the number of identified peptides almost four times compared to using only the publically available VPDB. We identified homologs of proteins involved in reproduction of higher plants, including proteins with a potential role in apogamy. With the increasing availability of genomic data from non-model species, similar proteogenomics approaches will improve the sensitivity in protein identification for species only distantly related to models.

Adventitious organogenesis from zygotic embryos is one of the most reliable techniques to propagate clonal Pinus radiata individuals. Regulation of gene expression has an important role to generate a correct caulogenic pattern, and genomic DNA methylation is amongst the main studied regulatory mechanisms in animals and plants. The aim of this work is to evaluate the role of DNA methylation and histone H4 acetylation during different cell reprogramming processes. Embryo macromorphological responses to each growth regulator were correlated to DNA methylation and acetylated H4 histone content over time. Immunodetection of 5-mdC and AcH4 in whole embryos revealed differences in the tissue depending on the growth regulator. Adventitious shoot induction by benzyladenine is associated with a DNA hypomethylation. The distribution along the tissue of the methylation signal suggests a possible inhibition of growth and elongation in the embryos. However, a hypomethylation in the cotyledons during adventitious shoot induction could indicate an active gene expression during the organogenic process. On the other hand, alteration of embryo growth induced by indole butyric acid and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid occurs along a wide change in DNA methylation and H4 histone acetylation content and distribution. These results show that the action of the different growth regulators is epigenetically regulated in both apical meristems.

The positive effect of ventilation of the culture container on in vitro shoot proliferation and quality was already proven for different species. Hereafter we report on the evolution of the headspace during in vitro culture of plantain in a Temporary Immersion Bioreactor (TIB) on the one hand, and culture on semi-solid medium on the other hand. The CO₂ and C₂H₄ concentration reached a maximum of 12% and 0.45 μl l-¹, respectively in the control treatment on semi-solid medium, compared to 5.7% CO₂ and 0.06 μl l-¹ C₂H₄ in TIB. The minimal O₂-concentration on semi-solid medium was 15.1%, compared to 19.3% in TIB. The multiplication rate was best in TIB, 6.4 compared to 4.3 in semi-solid conditions, and this was also the case for shoot height (4.3 cm compared to 3.3 cm), and leaf number (2.6 compared to 1.6). Moreover shoots produced on semi-solid medium showed distorted leaves. A typical day-night pattern in CO₂ and O₂ concentration was observed in TIB, as well as on semi-solid medium; this is illustrative for the photosynthetic capacity of the plant material produced in both systems.

Parameters related to oxidative stress were studied in rats divided into 4 groups: streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (n=10), diabetic rats who received a single dose of a basic fraction of Ficus carica extract (n=14), diabetic rats who received a single dose of a chloroform fraction of the extract (n=10), and normal rats (n=10). Compared to normal animals, the diabetic animals presented significantly higher values for erythrocyte catalase normalized to haemoglobin levels (1.5+/-0.15 vs. 0.96+/-0.18 microg/mg) and for plasma vitamin E (73.4+/-43.9 vs. 12.0+/-1.6 mg/l), monounsaturated fatty acids (0.219+/-0.118 vs. 0.067+/-0.014 mg/ml), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA, 0.567+/-0.293 vs. 0.175+/-0.040 mg/ml), saturated fatty acids (0.779+/-0.262 vs. 0.401+/-0.055 mg/ml), and linoleic acid (0.202+/-0.086 vs. 0.106 +/-0.014 mg/ml). Both Ficus carica fractions tended to normalize the values of the diabetic animals' fatty acids and plasma vitamin E values. On studying the ratios of vitamins E and A to PUFA (129.4+/-77.5 diabetic and 68.8+/-9.1 microg/mg normal; 37.5+/-20.8 vs. 108.0+/-43.6 microg/mg) and to C18:2 (259.9+/-65.8 vs. 161.0+/-21.3 microg/mg; 68.3+/-37.9 vs. 252.7+/-102.1 microg/mg), we found statistically significant differences as a function of diabetes, with the vitamin E/C18:2 ratio being normalized by the administration of the chloroform fraction (to 152.1+/-80.3 microg/mg) and the vitamin A/C18:2 ratio being raised relative to the untreated diabetic rats by the administration of the basic fraction (91.9+/-14.5 microg/mg). Our work confirms that antioxidant status is affected in the diabetes syndrome, and that Ficus carica extracts tend to normalize it.

ObjectivesTo estimate, on the basis of anthropometric and demographic variables, the depth (Dp) and diameter (Dm) of femoral and jugular vessels, which have been located and measured by ultrasound, in pediatric patients.Method750 measurements of Dp and Dm of the femoral vein (FV), femoral artery (FA) and internal jugular vein (IJV) were made in 125 pediatric patients. The values were correlated with patients’ sex, weight, age, size and body surface area (BSA).ResultsMean Dp values were 0.72 (0.34) cm for FA, 0.79 (0.35) cm for FV and 0.77 (0.24) cm for IJV. Mean antero-posterior Dm values were 0.37 (0.17) cm for FA, 0.42 (0.22) cm for FV and 0.59 (0.23) cm for IJV. In the studied pediatric patients, femoral and jugular vessels depth correlated with age, size, weight and BSA (R = 0.46–0.60); vascular depth could be estimated from patients’ weight and size (FA-Dp: R = 0.71; FV-Dp: R = 0.72; IJV-Dp: R = 0.53). Correlation with diameter was better for FA and FV (R = 0.81–0.89) than for IJV (R = 0.42–0.51); vascular diameter could be estimated from patient’s size (FA-Dm: R = 0.89; FV-Dm: R = 0.86; IJV-Dm: R = 0.52).ConclusionsFV, FA and IJV depth and diameter correlated with weight, size, age and body surface area in the studied pediatric patients. Correlation was better for femoral than for jugular vessels. Depth could be estimated from patients’ weight and size, while diameter could be estimated from the size. Such estimations may facilitate the choice of vessels to be cannulated, length and diameter of cannulation needles and the diameter of catheters to be used in pediatric patients.

The surface of cotton fabrics was functionalized through corona plasma treatments and/or by cationising the whole of the fibre with an epihalohydrin. The effects of both treatments, individually and in combination are analyzed through wettability studies, by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and also by dyeing studies with an hetero bis functional reactive dye. Plasma improved wetting properties, exhaustion of the dyebaths and K/S corr of the fabrics through surface functionalisation. Cationising of the cotton highly increased the exhaustion of the dyebaths and produced a dramatic improvement in K/S corr . Plasma treatment previous to cationising increased the impregnation of the fabrics, but the effects of both treatments on dyeing parameters are additive only in column water rise and generally the effects obtained by cationising with the epihalohydrin prevail. The differences between both treatments are discussed in terms of surface functionalisation of the cotton fibres.

We present a series of tests performed on granite samples using a true triaxial device designed and built at the Rock Mechanics Laboratory (University of A Coruña). The experiments were performed using cubic rock samples of 150 mm-edge, which were loaded to different stress conditions ( σh < σh < σy < 45 MPa) on each loading axis. The device is based on a stiff steel frame that can be coupled to a servo-hydraulic testing machine that provides de vertical stress (av), while two high-pressure pumps are used to deliver the lateral stress ( σh and ah ). An additional high-pressure pump is used to inject the fluid (mineral oil) into the rock sample at a low constant-flow rate. The aluminium loading platens, which are bevelled at the edges to avoid interaction among adjacent faces, have holes and grooves to introduce acoustic emission sensors that allow the location of fracture propagation. The specimens were drilled using a 6 mm drill bit until reaching the geometrical centre. Then, a 1/8” (~3.18 mm) stainless steel tube is glued to the samples with epoxy. Strain measurements during the experiments were conducted using four strain gages attached to the orthogonal faces of the specimens. The system was further equipped with three LVDTs to account for the bulk displacement on each axis. Our results suggest a linear relationship between the breakdown pressure and the confining stress under hydrostatic conditions but no clear correlation in non-hydrostatic stress regime.

Objective To measure the depth ( D p ) and diameter ( D m ) of the internal jugular vein (IJV), femoral vein (FV), and femoral artery (FA) in pediatric patients to evaluate the clinical implications. Methods This study included 125 pediatric patients. All of them underwent bilateral ultrasound study of vessels and were classified into three groups based on anthropometric and demographic parameters. Results Measured mean D p values were: 0.72 (0.34) cm for the FA, 0.79 (0.35) cm for the FV, and 0.77 (0.24) cm for the IJV. Mean antero-posterior D m values were: 0.37 (0.17) cm for the FA, 0.42 (0.22) cm for the FV, and 0.59 (0.23) cm for the IJV. D p and D m increased with age ( A ), weight ( W ), height ( H ), and body surface area (BSA). In the lower ranges of these variables, D p was similar for all three studied vessels (0.6–0.7 cm). In the higher ranges, femoral vessel D p values (1.1–1.2 cm) were larger than jugular ones (0.9 cm). Additionally, in these low ranges, IJV D m values were larger than femoral ones (0.45–0.50 vs. 0.25 cm). In the higher ranges, diameter values were similar (0.6–0.7 cm). Conclusions In pediatric patients, major vessels can be located and their depth and diameter measured by vascular ultrasound. In younger patients, jugular and femoral vessels had similar depth values; in older ones, they had similar diameters. Ultrasound measurements in pediatric patients could facilitate the choice of the vessel to be cannulated, the catheter diameter, and the length of the needle to be used. Vascular canalization of IJV may be recommended as the first choice because of its low depth and large diameter.

Joining of seamless, low carbon, steel tubes were performed by means of Transient Liquid Phase Bonding process employing a foil of Fe-Si-B metallic glass as filler material. The influence of the main parameters of the process was evaluated: temperature, holding time, pressure and post weld heat treatment. Powder samples were obtained from the joint of tubes and characterized employing Mössbauer Spectroscopy in transmission geometry. The sampling was performed both in tubes successfully welded and in those which show joint defects. The results obtained are correlated with the obtained microstructure and the diffusion of Si and B during the process.

Following the technical closure of the brown lignite Meirama mine (NW Spain) in April 2008, the reclamation of the mined area is being accomplished with the controlled flooding of its large pit. During the first 7 months of flooding, the sequential arrest of the ground water dewatering system led to the growth of an acidic water body of about 2 hm 3 . Since October 2008, the surface waters from some local streams have been diverted towards the pit so that these have become the major water input in the flooding process. Surface water has promoted a major change in the chemical composition of the lake water so that, at present, its surface has a circum neutral pH, net alkalinity, and low conductivity. At present, the lake has slightly more than one half of its final volume, and it is expected the overflow in 3 to 3.5 years. The lake is meromictic, with a sharp chemocline separating the acidic monimolimnion (pH ≈ 3.2, acidity ≈ 150 mg CaCO 3 /L, κ 25  ≈ 2.4 mS/cm) from the main water body (pH ≈ 6.5, alkalinity ≈ 15 mg CaCO 3 /L, κ 25  ≈ 0.3 mS/cm). Oxygen is being depleted at the bottom of the lake so that the monimolimnion became anoxic in January 2011. Above the chemocline, the composition of the lake is similar, but not identical, to that of the flooding stream waters. Close to the surface, some constituents (pH, metals) show strong seasonal variations in coincidence with the phytoplankton growing periods. Those parameters whose limits are legally prescribed comply with the corresponding water quality standards, and they are also consistent with the forecasting results obtained in early modeling. At present, a project considering the construction of an uptake tunnel to exploit the lake is being developed for the emergency water supply of the metropolitan area of A Coruña.