The 'Standard European Vector Architecture' database (SEVA-DB, http://seva.cnb.csic.es) was conceived as a user-friendly, web-based resource and a material clone repository to assist in the choice of ...optimal plasmid vectors for de-constructing and re-constructing complex prokaryotic phenotypes. The SEVA-DB adopts simple design concepts that facilitate the swapping of functional modules and the extension of genome engineering options to microorganisms beyond typical laboratory strains. Under the SEVA standard, every DNA portion of the plasmid vectors is minimized, edited for flaws in their sequence and/or functionality, and endowed with physical connectivity through three inter-segment insulators that are flanked by fixed, rare restriction sites. Such a scaffold enables the exchangeability of multiple origins of replication and diverse antibiotic selection markers to shape a frame for their further combination with a large variety of cargo modules that can be used for varied end-applications. The core collection of constructs that are available at the SEVA-DB has been produced as a starting point for the further expansion of the formatted vector platform. We argue that adoption of the SEVA format can become a shortcut to fill the phenomenal gap between the existing power of DNA synthesis and the actual engineering of predictable and efficacious bacteria.
Background
Heart failure (HF) admission in chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) patients has a prognostic impact. Stratification schemes have been described for predicting this endpoint, but none of them ...has been externally validated.
Objectives
Our aim was to develop point scores for predicting incident HF admission with data from previous studies, to perform an external validation in an independent prospective cohort and to compare their discriminative ability for this event.
Methods
Independent predictive variables of HF admission in CCS patients without baseline HF were selected from four previous prospective studies (CARE, PEACE, CORONOR and CLARIFY), generating scores based on the relative magnitude of the coefficients of Cox of each variable. Finally, the scores were validated and compared in a monocentric prospective cohort.
Results
The validation cohort included 1212 patients followed for up to 17 years, with 171 patients suffering at least one HF admission in the follow‐up. Discriminative ability for predicting HF admission was statistically significant for all, and paired comparisons among them were all nonsignificant except for CORONOR score was superior to CLARIFY score (C‐statistic 0.73, 95%CI 0.69–0.76 vs. 0.69, 95% CI 0.65–0.73; p = 0.03).
Conclusion
All tested scores showed significant discriminative ability for predicting incident HF admission in this independent validation study. Their discriminative ability was similar, with significant differences only between the two scores with higher and lower performance.
All the study‐derived scores showed significant ability for predicting HF admission in this cohort. According to their discriminative ability, there were only differences between two scores.
Since publication in 1977 of plasmid pBR322, many breakthroughs in Biology have depended on increasingly sophisticated vector platforms for analysis and engineering of given bacterial strains. ...Although restriction sites impose a certain format in the procedures for assembling cloned genes, every attempt thus far to standardize vector architecture and nomenclature has ended up in failure. While this state of affairs may still be tolerable for traditional one-at-a-time studies of single genes, the onset of systems and synthetic biology calls for a simplification--along with an optimization--of the currently unwieldy pool of genetic tools.
The functional DNA sequences present in the natural bacterial transposon Tn5 have been methodically edited and refactored for the production of a multi-purpose genetic tool named pBAM1, which allows a range of manipulations in the genome of gram-negative bacteria. This all-synthetic construct enhances the power of mini-transposon vectors for either de-construction or re-construction of phenotypes á la carte by incorporating features inspired in systems engineering: modularity, re-usability, minimization, and compatibility with other genetic tools. pBAM1 bears an streamlined, restriction site-freed and narrow-host range replication frame bearing the sequences of R6K oriV, oriT and an ampicillin resistance marker. These go along with a business module that contains a host-independent and hyperactive transposition platform for in vivo or in vitro insertion of desired DNA into the genome of the target bacterium. All functional sequences were standardized for a straightforward replacement by equivalent counterparts, if required. pBAM1 can be delivered into recipient cells by either mating or electroporation, producing transposon insertion frequencies of 1.8 × 10(-3) and 1.02 × 10(-7), respectively in the soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida. Analyses of the resulting clones revealed a 100% of unique transposition events and virtually no-cointegration of the donor plasmid within the target genome.
This work reports the design and performance of an all-synthetic mini-transposon vector. The power of the new system for both identification of new functions or for the construction of desired phenotypes is shown in a genetic survey of hyper-expressed proteins and regulatory elements that influence the expression of the σ54-dependent Pu promoter of P. putida.
Rainforests are undergoing severe deforestation and fragmentation worldwide. A huge amount of small forest patches are being created, but their value in conserving biodiversity and forest structure ...is still controversial. Here, we demonstrate that in a species-rich and moderately-managed Mexican tropical landscape small rainforest patches (<100 ha) can be highly valuable for the conservation of tree diversity and forest structure. These patches showed diverse communities of native plants, including endangered species, and a new record for the country. Although the number of logged trees increased in smaller patches, patch size was a poor indicator of basal area, stem density, number of species, genera and families, and community evenness. Cumulative species-area curves indicated that all patches had a similar contribution to the regional species diversity. This idea also was supported by the fact that patches strongly differed in floristic composition (high β-diversity), independently of patch size. Thus, in agreement with the land-sharing approach, our findings support that small forest patches in moderately-managed landscapes should be included in conservation initiatives to maintain landscape heterogeneity, species diversity, and ecosystem services.
Our goal was to define the effect of the energy intake in Holstein cows’ diet in the first third lactation on gene expression profile of immune system in mammary gland through RNA‐seq. Twelve ...Holstein cows were used in the first third of lactation, arranged in four treatments or diets: (a) hypocaloric (HYPO, 85% of the net energy of lactation (NEl) requirements), (b) isocaloric (ISO, 100% of the NEl requirements, control diet), (c) hypercaloric (HYPER, 115% of the NEl requirements) and (d) isocaloric plus sunflower oil supplementation (OIL, 106% of the NEl requirements). A biopsy of mammary gland tissue was carried out after 25 days per diet, from which the RNA was extracted and sequenced using the Illumina HiSeqTM 2,500 sequencer. The analysis of reads obtained from the sequencing in the QIAGEN® CLC Genomics Workbench 10.0 bioinformatics software was performed. From 27,368 genes annotated in the reference genome, 17,429 genes expressed in the evaluated treatments were identified. Moreover, 1,743 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found, of which 15 DEGs were found in the ISO vs. OIL comparison, 1,196 DEGs in the ISO vs. HYPO comparison and 532 DEGs in the ISO vs. HYPER comparison. Thus, of the 1,743 DEGs, 401 correspond to genes involved in the functioning of the immune system, encompassing 23% of the total number of DEGs involved in the analysis, and 13.6% of the total number of genes involved in the functioning of the immune system. The energy intake in Holstein cows’ diet has impact in the expression of immune genes CXCL13, TRDC among others, present in the regulation of immune system processes. This immune system altered might increase the somatic cells score and therefore reach some diseases. It is recommended to measure the energy intake according to the animals’ energy requirements and to cover them the closest to the 100%.
Tamaño del fragmento de bosque y aislamiento Montes-Rodríguez, José Mauricio; Molina, Oscar Efraín Ortega; Vélez, Yilmar Espinosa ...
Caldasia,
09/2023, Letnik:
45, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Aunque existe abundante información sobre los efectos nocivos de la fragmentación, muchos interrogantes persisten sobre el efecto del tamaño de los relictos de bosque sobre la fauna. Con el objetivo ...de evaluar el efecto de este factor sobre la diversidad, riqueza, biomasa y composición del ensamble de escarabajos coprófagos, se realizaron muestreos con trampas de caída cebadas con excremento humano en seis fragmentos de bosque con tamaños entre 13 y 231 ha en un paisaje andino. El relicto de bosque más grande mostró mayor biomasa y diversidad de escarabajos, mientras la abundancia fue mayor en fragmentos de tamaño intermedio. La abundancia de diez especies de las 39 observadas se correlacionó con el tamaño del fragmento y los grupos más sensibles según la biomasa son los escarabajos más pesados, mayores a 0,5 gramos de peso seco, y los de peso intermedio, entre 0,031 a 0,12 gr. Los índices de similitud muestran que todos los fragmentos contribuyen a la biodiversidad regional y cada uno alberga un ensamble distinto, lo que demuestra que la matriz de pasturas y rastrojos es una barrera difícil para la mayoría de las especies. Las dos especies de escarabajos más pesadas Oxysternon conspicillatum y Deltochilum gibossum aportan el 31% de la biomasa de los escarabajos y son afectadas por la reducción del fragmento de bosque lo que podría tener consecuencias negativas en las funciones ecológicas que desempeñan este grupo de insectos.
Although abundant information exists on the harmful effects of fragmentation, many questions remain about the effect of the size of forest remnants on wildlife. To evaluate this effect on the diversity, richness, biomass, and composition of the coprophagous beetle assemblage, six forest remnants were sampled, ranging in size from 13 to 231 ha, in the northeast of the department of Antioquia in Colombia with pitfall traps baited with human dung. The largest forest fragment has the highest values of beetle biomass and diversity, while abundance was highest in intermediate-sized fragments. The abundance of ten species of the 39 observed correlates with the size of the fragment and the groups most sensitive according to biomass are the heaviest beetles, greater than 0.5 grams of dry weight, and those of intermediate weight between 0.031 to 0.12. Similarity indices show that all fragments, contribute to regional biodiversity, and each one has a different assembly, showing that the matrix of pastures and regeneration of different ages is a difficult barrier for most beetle species. The two heaviest species of beetles, Oxysternon conspicillatum and Deltochilum gibossum, contribute 31% of the beetle biomass and are affected by the reduction of the forest fragment, which could have negative consequences on the ecological functions performed by this group of insects.
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between climate change and internal migration in the Americas.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review type of ...research synthesize the state of knowledge; it was searched through the Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, among other databases, for articles that focused on climate migration, gender, water stress and models for predicting movement.FindingsDecreased water availability and increased prevalence to water-related disasters causes internal migration. Also, male out migration is quite prevalent in South American nations with women being left to take care of the families.Research limitations/implicationsThere is a need for further primary research to analyse what actions the Americas are taking to carve out a large policy-making space for themselves in climate change and internal migration.Originality/valueThe 32 papers explored in the discussion section present a novel insight into climate change, water usage, gender and internal migration. The papers also elucidate that cultural and ideological conflicts are bound to occur as the communities move with the receiving society finding it hard to accommodate the needs of the climate migrants.
Adopting an ERP system could become a task that does not necessarily lead to success. In this work, we have conducted a systematic review of the literature considering the technology acceptance model ...(TAM) in an exhaustive search of 11 scientific databases, applying the PRISMA method. A total of 341 articles were obtained, and 53 were selected as eligible. The Iramuteq tool under R was applied to perform text analysis to quantify the results. We conclude that the relevant factors to consider in implementing an ERP become the mitigation of computational anxiety. The literature identifies some strategies, such as adequate end-user formation programs, documentation, technical facilitation conditions, social influence, and organizational motivators.
Women and men with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) have different clinical features and management, and studies on mid-term prognosis have reported conflicting results. Our objective was to ...investigate the impact of the female sex in the prognosis of the disease in the very long term.
We investigated differential features and very long-term prognosis in 1268 consecutive outpatients with CCS (337 27% women and 931 73% men). Women were older than men, more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, angina, and atrial fibrillation, and less likely to be exsmoker/active smoker and to have been treated with coronary revascularization (
< 0.05 for all). The prescription of statins, antiplatelets, and betablockers was similar in both groups. After up to 17 years of follow-up (median = 11 years, interquartile range = 4-15 years), cumulative incidences of acute myocardial infarction (10.2% vs. 11.8%) or stroke (11% vs. 10%) at median follow-up were similar, but the risks of major cardiovascular events (acute myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death, 41.2% vs. 33.6%), hospital admission for heart failure (20.9% vs. 11.9%), or cardiovascular death (32.3% vs. 22.1%) were significantly higher for women (
< 0.0005), with a nonsignificant trend to higher overall mortality (45.2% vs. 39.1%,
= 0.07). However, after multivariate adjustment, all these differences disappeared.
Although women and men with CCS presented a different clinical profile, and crude rates of major cardiovascular events, heart failure and cardiovascular death were higher in women, female sex was not an independent prognostic factor in this study with up to 17 years of follow-up.
PDF
