Microplastic pollution has received increased attention over the last few years. This study documents microplastic ingestion in three commercially relevant demersal fish species from the Spanish ...Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, the lesser spotted dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula, the European hake Merluccius merluccius and the red mullet Mullus barbatus. Overall 212 fish were examined, 72 dogfish, 12 hakes and 128 red mullets. The percentage of fish with microplastics was 17.5% (15.3% dogfish, 18.8% red mullets and 16.7% hakes), averaging 1.56±0.5 items per fish, and the size of the microplastics ranged from 0.38 to 3.1mm. These fish species are used currently as biomonitors for marine pollution monitoring within the Spanish Marine Pollution Monitoring Programme (SMP), and may be as well suitable candidates for monitoring spatial and temporal trends of ingested litter. The data presented here represent a baseline for the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive descriptor 10 in Spain.
•Microplastic ingestion was studied in three demersal fish species from the Spanish coasts.•The highest abundance of microplastics (33.3%) was found in red mullets from the NW Mediterranean.•Dogfish from the Cantabrian coast and the Gulf of Cadiz averaged 20.8% stomachs with microplastics.•These species may be suitable candidates for monitoring spatial and temporal trends of ingested litter.•The present work represents a baseline study for the implementation of the MSFD descriptor 10 in Spain.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Fruit set is an essential process to ensure successful sexual plant reproduction. The development of the flower into a fruit is actively repressed in the absence of pollination. However, some ...cultivars from a few species are able to develop seedless fruits overcoming the standard restriction of unpollinated ovaries to growth.
We report here the identification of the tomato hydra mutant that produces seedless (parthenocarpic) fruits.
Seedless fruit production in hydra plants is linked to the absence of both male and female sporocyte development. The HYDRA gene is therefore essential for the initiation of sporogenesis in tomato. Using positional cloning, virus-induced gene silencing and expression analysis experiments, we identified the HYDRA gene and demonstrated that it encodes the tomato orthologue of SPOROCYTELESS/NOZZLE (SPL/NZZ) of Arabidopsis. We found that the precocious growth of the ovary is associated with changes in the expression of genes involved in gibberellin (GA) metabolism.
Our results support the conservation of the function of SPL-like genes in the control of sporogenesis in plants. Moreover, this study uncovers a new function for the tomato SlSPL/HYDRA gene in the control of fruit initiation.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NMLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
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Over the last decade, laboratory experiments have revealed a wide range of adverse effects in marine organisms following exposure to microplastics. This study investigated the working ...hypothesis that the observed effects of two types of virgin micro polymers ((polystyrene (PS) and high density polyethylene (HDPE)) might be, at least in part, due to the leaching of co-contaminants. For this purpose, the toxicity of these two polymeric materials and their leachates was tested on gametes and zygotes of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus following validated procedures. Zygotes were exposed for 48 hours to virgin and aged microspheres and leachates of fluorescent PS (10^3, 10^4 and 10^5 particles/mL) and agranular HDPE fluff (0.005, 0.5 and 5 g/L). Additionally, sea urchin eggs were exposed for 10 minutes to virgin fluorescent PS microspheres (10^3, 10^4 and 10^5 particles/mL). After exposure, the fertilization rate and percentage of larval abnormalities as well as larval growth were determined and compared to control groups. Overall, toxic effects on embryonic development and larval growth of the sea urchin were found for all treatments (untreated and weathered particles and leachates) with both polymeric materials. Furthermore, the highest toxicity (% abnormalities and reduction of the larval growth > 50%) was found after exposure to the lowest concentrations of leachate solutions for both types of polymeric materials. Microplastic ingestion was observed in the gastric cavity of the larvae in a dose- dependent manner, but not in a toxicity-dependent manner. Furthermore, eggs pre-exposed to concentrations of PS microspheres (10^3, 10^4 and 10^5 particles/mL) showed a toxic effect on the fertilization rate and on subsequent larval development as well as growth in a dose-dependent manner. These findings demonstrate that virgin microplastics are toxic to sea urchins through the leaching of chemicals, e.g., additives, residual monomers and other co-contaminants, which has been confirmed by chemical analysis elsewhere. The results of this study highlight the necessity to wash or weather microplastics before they are used in experimental laboratory studies to allow a more realistic extrapolation of the results to field conditions.
•Toxicity of virgin PS and HDPE particles and their leachates was investigated.•Virgin microplastics are toxic to sea urchin embryo through the leaching of chemicals.•Our results highlight the necessity to wash or weather virgin microplastics before toxicity testing.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
SUMMARY
Legumes have unique features, such as compound inflorescences and a complex floral ontogeny. Thus, the study of regulatory genes in these species during inflorescence and floral development ...is essential to understand their role in the evolutionary origin of developmental novelties. The SUPERMAN (SUP) gene encodes a C2H2 zinc‐finger transcriptional repressor that regulates the floral organ number in the third and fourth floral whorls of Arabidopsis thaliana. In this work, we present the functional characterization of the Medicago truncatula SUPERMAN (MtSUP) gene based on gene expression analysis, complementation and overexpression assays, and reverse genetic approaches. Our findings provide evidence that MtSUP is the orthologous gene of SUP in M. truncatula. We have unveiled novel functions for a SUP‐like gene in eudicots. MtSUP controls not only the number of floral organs in the inner two whorls, but also in the second whorl of the flower. Furthermore, MtSUP regulates the activity of the secondary inflorescence meristem, thus controlling the number of flowers produced. Our work provides insight into the regulatory network behind the compound inflorescence and flower development in this angiosperm family.
Significance Statement
MtSUPERMAN (MtSUP) is the orthologue of the SUPERMAN gene of Arabidopsis in the model legume Medicago truncatula. MtSUP is the first gene identified that controls the number of flowers in the compound inflorescence in a legume species, being a novel function for a SUPERMAN orthologue in eudicots.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
SUMMARY
The tapetum is a specialized layer of cells within the anther, adjacent to the sporogenous tissue. During its short life, it provides nutrients, molecules and materials to the pollen mother ...cells and microsporocytes, being essential during callose degradation and pollen wall formation. The interaction between the tapetum and sporogenous cells in Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) plants, despite its importance for breeding purposes, is poorly understood. To investigate this process, gene editing was used to generate loss‐of‐function mutants that showed the complete and specific absence of tapetal cells. These plants were obtained targeting the previously uncharacterized Solyc03g097530 (SlTPD1) gene, essential for tapetum specification in tomato plants. In the absence of tapetum, sporogenous cells developed and callose deposition was observed. However, sporocytes failed to undergo the process of meiosis and finally degenerated, leading to male sterility. Transcriptomic analysis conducted in mutant anthers lacking tapetum revealed the downregulation of a set of genes related to redox homeostasis. Indeed, mutant anthers showed a reduction in the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at early stages and altered activity of ROS‐scavenging enzymes. The results obtained highlight the importance of the tapetal tissue in maintaining redox homeostasis during male gametogenesis in tomato plants.
Significance Statement
During anther development, the tapetal cells that surround the sporocytes have essential roles in male meiotic progression and the formation of mature pollen grains. In tomato, despite its importance for breeding purposes, the interaction between the tapetum and sporogenous tissues is poorly understood. Here we report the generation of tomato plants devoid of tapetum by the mutation of a previously uncharacterized gene Solyc03g097530 (SlTPD1). Transcriptomic and physiological analyses of the mutant plants revealed the critical role of the tapetal tissue in maintaining redox homeostasis during male gametogenesis.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Journalism has always been a rich breeding ground for audiovisual stories, but throughout much of the history of Spanish cinema, recognition of the generic label that “based on real events” implies ...has not been common. Being aware of the difficulties that arise when approaching a canonical work of Spanish cinema such as El extraño viaje (Fernando Fernán-Gómez, 1964) from this perspective, the purpose of this research is to carry out a comparative study of the transfer that is produced from the narrative journalistic report of the Mazarrón crime (an event that occurred in January 1956) and the fictional account of its film adaptation. This comparative analysis assesses how this transfer occurs, what are the traces of the event from which it derives and what existing documentary references, if any, are recorded in the film credits. We will see how El extraño viaje stands as a paradigmatic example of invisibility and erasure of the factual criminal story from which it comes, forced, among other reasons, by some interferences of reality imposed by the Franco´s regime.
El periodismo siempre ha sido un rico vivero de historias para el audiovisual, pero no ha sido común a lo largo de buena parte de la historia del cine español el reconocimiento a la etiqueta genérica que implica el “basado en hechos reales”. Conscientes de las dificultades que se presentan para abordar desde esta perspectiva una obra canónica del cine español como es El Extraño viaje (Fernando Fernán-Gómez, 1964), el propósito de esta investigación es realizar un estudio comparatista del trasvase que se produce desde el relato periodístico del caso en el que se sustenta (el crimen de Mazarrón, un suceso ocurrido en enero de 1956) y el relato ficcional de su adaptación fílmica, analizando cómo se produce esa posible transferencia, cuáles son las huellas del suceso del que parte y qué referencias documentales existentes, si las hubiera, se registran en los créditos del filme. Comprobaremos cómo El extraño viaje se erige en un ejemplo paradigmático de invisibilidad y borrado del relato factual criminal del que procede, obligado, entre otras razones, por unas interferencias de lo real que imponía el régimen franquista.
To ascertain the presence of West Nile virus (WNV), we sampled mosquitoes in 2006 in locations in southern Spain where humans had been infected. WNV genomic RNA was detected in 1 pool from unfed ...female Culex pipiens mosquitoes. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that this sequence cannot be assigned to previously described lineages of WNV.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background
Primary abdominal wall closure after pediatric liver transplantation (PLT) is neither always possible nor advisable, given the graft‐recipient size discrepancy and its potential ...large‐for‐size scenario. Our objective was to report the experience accumulated with delayed sequential closure (DSC) guided by Doppler ultrasound control.
Methods
Retrospective analysis of DSC performed from 2013 to March 2020.
Results
Twenty‐seven DSC (26.5%) were identified out of 102 PLT. Transplant indications and type of grafts were similar among both groups. In patients with DSC, mean weight and GRWR were 9.4 ± 5.5 kg (3.1–26 kg) and 4.7 ± 2.4 (1.9–9.7), significantly lower and higher than the primary closure cohort, respectively. The median time to achieve definitive closure was 6 days (range 3–23 days), and the median number of procedures was 4 (range 2–9). Patients with DSC had longer overall PICU (22.5 ± 16.9 vs. 9.1 ± 9.7 days, p < .05) and hospital stay (33.4 ± 19.1 vs 23, 9 ± 19.8 days (p < .05). These differences are less remarkable if the analysis is performed in a subgroup of patients weighing less than 10 kg. Two patients presented vascular complications (7.4%) within DSC group. No differences were seen when comparing overall, 3‐year graft and patient survival (96% and 96% in the DSC group).
Conclusions
DSC is a simple and safe technique to ensure satisfactory clinical outcomes to overcome “large for size” scenarios in PLT. In addition, we were able to avoid using a permanent biological material for closing the abdomen.
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DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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