On the drivers of UK direct investment in the Spanish regions: A spatial Durbin approach

This paper empirically examines the key factors driving UK direct investment in the Spanish regions over the period 2000–2016 and, consequently, tries to unveil its main motivation. Applying a spatial Durbin panel model to capture spatial linkages, the results point to the existence of complementarity between the FDI received by a region and that of the remaining ones. This outcome, along with a positive and statistically significant spillover effect of market potential, reveals that complex-vertical FDI motivation with agglomeration economies prevails among UK MNEs investing in Spain. Additionally, our findings unveil the role played by some other FDI drivers, such as wages and infrastructure. Furthermore, the paper is unique in decomposing the average direct and spillover effects by region and pairs of regions, so that remarkable differences can be identified. This breakdown has strong significance from a policy perspective since it can guide regional policy makers. In short, our findings point out to the fact that FDI policy should be jointly designed by those regions presenting strong bilateral spillover effects. Thus, greater cooperation among policy makers would be welcome.     

Effect of accelerated autolysis of yeast on the composition and foaming properties of sparkling wines elaborated by a champenoise method

Five mutants (obtained by UV mutagenesis) and the parent strain were selected to produce sparkling wines following the traditional or champenoise method. The wines were aged with the yeast for 9 months, with samples being taken each month for analytical and sensory determinations. The wines elaborated with mutant strain IFI473I demonstrated an accelerated release of protein, amino acids, and polysaccharides. An analysis of the secreted polysaccharides revealed that mannose was the major sugar present. The effects of the products released by yeasts on the foaming properties of the wines were determined by both sensory and instrumental analysis. In all cases, the wines elaborated with mutant strain IFI473I showed improved foaming properties as compared to wines fermented without this strain. Similar results were obtained at a decreased aging time of 6 months, thereby confirming the capacity of IFI473I strain to carry out an accelerated autolysis. These results demonstrate that mutant strain IFI473I can significantly reduce production times of high-quality sparkling wines.     

Effects of Vermicompost and Vermiwash on Plant,Phenolic Content,and Anti-oxidant Activity of Mexican Pepperleaf (Piper auritum Kunth) Cultivated in Phosphate Rock Potting Media

The aim of this investigation was to determine the effect of vermicompost, vermiwash, and phosphate rock on plant, total phenols, flavonoids, and anti-oxidant activity in Piper auritum Kunth leaves. P. auritum plants were obtained from cuttings and were planted according to the Box-Behnken experimental design with three repetitions at the central point. The factors and levels were vermicompost (10, 20, and 30 g plant^?1), vermiwash (5, 10, and 15 mL plant^?1), and phosphate rock (1, 2, and 3 g plant^?1). Plant growth parameters (plant height, stem diameter, leaves number) and chlorophyll content were measured 1 month after treatment applications. Total phenols, total flavonoids, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical scavenging activity was measured after 4 months. Vermicompost, vermiwash, and phosphate rock had no statistically significant effect on plant growth. Plant height, stem diameter, leaves number, chlorophyll, innermost number, fresh weight stem, fresh weight leaves, fresh weight root, dry weight stem, dry weight leaves, and dry weight root were not different among treatments. Total phenolic compounds were statistically affected for both vermiwash and phosphoric rock (p < 0.05) and the anti-oxidant activity decreased by vermicompost addition. The application of 15 mL plant^?1 vermiwash, 1 g phosphate rock, and 20 g vermicompost plant^?1 increased the total phenol content.     

Vermicomposting leachate as liquid fertilizer for the cultivation of sugarcane (Saccharum sp.)

In vermicomposting, the main product is the worm casts, but a leachate is generated that contains large amounts of plant nutrients. This leachate is normally diluted to avoid plant damage. We investigated how dilution of vermicompost leachate combined with different concentrations of nitrogen (N) - phosphorus (P) - potassium (K) triple 17 fertilizer, and polyoxyethylene tridecyl alcohol as dispersant and polyethylene nonylphenol as adherent to increase efficiency of fertilizer uptake, affected sugarcane plant development. The vermicomposting leachate with pH 7.8 and electrolytic conductivity 2.6 dS m^?1, contained 834 mg potassium (K) l^?1, 247 mg nitrate (NO₃^?) l^?1 and 168 mg phosphate (PO₄^3?) l^?1, was free of pathogens and resulted in a 65% germination index. Vermicompost leachate did not inhibit sugarcane growth and mixed with 170 g l^?1 NPK triple 17 fertilizer resulted in the best plant development. No dispersant or adherent was required to improve plant height and stem development.     

Activating mutations of NOTCH1 in human T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Very rare cases of human T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) harbor chromosomal translocations that involve NOTCH1, a gene encoding a transmembrane receptor that regulates normal T cell development. Here, we report that more than 50% of human T-ALLs, including tumors from all major molecular oncogenic subtypes, have activating mutations that involve the extracellular heterodimerization domain and/or the C-terminal PEST domain of NOTCH1. These findings greatly expand the role of activated NOTCH1 in the molecular pathogenesis of human T-ALL and provide a strong rationale for targeted therapies that interfere with NOTCH signaling.     

Detection of bacterial wilt infection caused by Ralstonia solanacearum in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) through multifractal analysis applied to remotely sensed data

Potato bacterial wilt, caused by the bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 (R3bv2), affects potato production in several regions in the world. The disease becomes visually detectable when extensive damage to the crop has already occurred. Two greenhouse experiments were conducted to test the capability of a remote sensing diagnostic method supported by multispectral and multifractal analyses of the light reflectance signal, to detect physiological and morphological changes in plants caused by the infection. The analysis was carried out using the Wavelet Transform Modulus Maxima (WTMM) combined with the Multifractal (MF) analysis to assess the variability of high-resolution temporal and spatial signals and the conservative properties of the processes across temporal and spatial scales. The multispectral signal, enhanced by multifractal analysis, detected both symptomatic and latently infected plants, matching the results of ELISA laboratory assessment in 100 and 82%, respectively. Although the multispectral method provided no earlier detection than the visual assessment on symptomatic plants, the former was able to detect asymptomatic latent infection, showing a great potential as a monitoring tool for the control of bacterial wilt in potato crops. Applied to precision agriculture, this capability of the remote sensing diagnostic methodology would provide a more efficient control of the disease through an early and full spatial assessment of the health status of the crop and the prevention of spreading the disease.     

In vitro release of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, peroxyl-radical scavengers and antibacterial compounds by enzymatic hydrolysis of glycated gluten

The combined effect of gluten glycation and proteolysis on the release of compounds exhibiting in vitro angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory, antioxidant and antibacterial activities was investigated. Model systems consisting of wheat gluten and glucose were heated at 120 °C for 45 min, 150 °C for 30 min and 220 °C for 30 min to produce various Maillard reaction products mimicking reactions occurring in bread crusts. Progress of the Maillard reaction was estimated through indirect measurement of Amadori compounds as 2-furoylmethyl-amino acids. Glycation was followed by digestion with Pronase E and ultrafiltration. The anti-hypertensive activity was measured as the ability to inhibit the activity of angiotensin I-converting enzyme involved in hypertension regulation. The Oxygen Radical Absorbance assay was used to measure the peroxyl radical scavenging capacity of the products and their effect on microbial growth of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Staphlococcus aureus ATCC 25923 was also studied. Advanced products of the reaction enhanced the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of gluten hydrolysates and decreased the overall ACE inhibitory activity. Ultrafiltration provided a useful method for separating compounds (< 3000 Da) with ACE inhibitory activity and advanced Maillard reaction products (>3000 Da) which scavenged peroxyl radicals and inhibited the microbial growth.     

Characterization of the reconstructed 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic virus

The pandemic influenza virus of 1918-1919 killed an estimated 20 to 50 million people worldwide. With the recent availability of the complete 1918 influenza virus coding sequence, we used reverse genetics to generate an influenza virus bearing all eight gene segments of the pandemic virus to study the properties associated with its extraordinary virulence. In stark contrast to contemporary human influenza H1N1 viruses, the 1918 pandemic virus had the ability to replicate in the absence of trypsin, caused death in mice and embryonated chicken eggs, and displayed a high-growth phenotype in human bronchial epithelial cells. Moreover, the coordinated expression of the 1918 virus genes most certainly confers the unique high-virulence phenotype observed with this pandemic virus.