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We report the feasibility of a combined approach of very low low tidal volume (VT) and mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) to decrease the ventilatory load in a severe COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) cohort. Inclusion criteria was patients ≥18-years-old, severe COVID-19-related ARDS, driving pressure ΔP >15 cmH2O despite low-VT strategy, and extracorporeal therapies not available. MTH was induced with a surface cooling device aiming at 34°C. MTH was maintained for 72 h, followed by rewarming of 1°C per day. Data were shown in median (interquartile range, 25%-75%). Mixed effects analysis and Dunnett's test were used for comparisons. Seven patients were reported. Ventilatory load decreased during the first 24 h, minute ventilation (VE) decreased from 173 (170-192) to 152 (137-170) mL/kg/min (P = 0.007), and mechanical power (MP) decreased from 37 (31-40) to 29 (26-34) J/min (P = 0.03). At the end of the MTH period, the VT, P, and plateau pressure remained consistently close to 3.9 mL/kg predicted body weight, 12 and 26 cmH2O, respectively. A combined strategy of MTH and ultraprotective mechanical ventilation (MV) decreased VE and MP in severe COVID-19-related ARDS. The decreasing of ventilatory load may allow maintaining MV within safety thresholds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information from social networks is currently being widely used in many application domains, although in the music recommendation area, its use is less common because of the limited availability of social data. However, most streaming platforms allow for establishing relationships between users that can be leveraged to address some drawbacks of recommender systems. In this work, we take advantage of the social network structure to improve recommendations for users with unusual preferences and new users, thus dealing with the gray-sheep and cold-start problems, respectively. Since collaborative filtering methods base the recommendations for a given user on the preferences of his/her most similar users, the scarcity of users with similar tastes to the gray-sheep users and the unawareness of the preferences of the new users usually lead to bad recommendations. These general problems of recommender systems are worsened in the music domain, where the popularity bias drawback is also present. In order to address these problems, we propose a user similarity metric based on the network structure as well as on user ratings. This metric significantly improves the recommendation reliability in those scenarios by capturing both homophily effects in implicit communities of users in the network and user similarity in terms of preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identifying code problem for a given graph involves finding a minimum subset of vertices such that each vertex of the graph is uniquely specified by its nonempty neighborhood within the identifying code. The combinatorial optimization problem has a wide variety of applications in location and detection schemes. Finding an identifying code of minimum possible size is a difficult task. In fact, it has been proven to be computationally intractable (NP-complete). Therefore, the use of heuristics to provide good approximations in a reasonable amount of time is justified. In this work, we present a new population-based local search algorithm for finding identifying codes of minimum cost. Computational experiments show that the proposed approach was found to be more effective than other state-of-the-art algorithms at generating high-quality solutions in different types of graphs with varying numbers of vertices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the outcomes of a study on stakeholder perspectives on catering for diversity in Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) in Spain. It is part of the large-scale SWOT analysis conducted in Europe within the project 'CLIL for All: Attention to Diversity in Bilingual Education (ADiBE)'. The research has involved the administration of two sets of questionnaires to 926 informants (742 students and 184 teachers) within 15 secondary schools of four provinces. After framing the topic against the backdrop of the project, the paper will expound on the objectives, methodology, variables, and procedure employed in this particular study in Spain. The bulk of the article will outline its main findings in relation to the five main fields of interest which have been canvassed: linguistic aspects, methodology and types of groupings, materials and resources, assessment, and teacher coordination and development. Across-group comparisons will be carried out to determine whether there are statistically significant differences between both cohorts. A diagnosis of where we currently stand in Spain in the process of catering for diversity in CLIL will be provided in light of these results and a future CLIL agenda will be carved out on the basis of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper makes available to the broader educational community the instruments which have been originally designed and validated within the European project CLIL for all: Attention to diversity in bilingual education (ADiBE) to determine how diversity is being catered to across a broad array of CLIL contexts in European Secondary Education (Austria, Finland, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom). They include three sets of questionnaires, interviews, and observation protocols and are qualitative and quantitative instruments whose design has been based on the latest research and which have undergone a carefully controlled double-fold pilot process for their validation (external ratings approach and pilot phase with a representative sample of 264 subjects). The questions included in the three sets of instruments are initially characterized, together with their format and main categories. The paper then details the steps undertaken for their research-based design and the double-fold pilot process followed for their validation. The questionnaires and interview and observation protocols are then presented in a format which is directly applicable in any CLIL classroom in order to determine the accessibility of bilingual programs for all types of achievers and to identify the chief difficulties and best practices in promoting inclusion in bilingual education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given a graph G (with multiple edges allowed), a k-restricted edge-cut of G is an edge-cut R ⊆ E (G) of G such that every connected component in G - R has order at least k. A graph G is λ k -connected if k-restricted edge cuts exist. Given an edge-coloring of G, an edge-cut of G will be called heterochromatic if all its edges receive different colors. Given a graph G and an integer k ≥ 2 , let h(G, k) be the minimum integer p such that every p-coloring of the edges of G produces an heterochromatic k-restricted edge-cut of G. In this paper we prove that for a λ k -connected graph G of size m, order n ≥ 3 k - 2 , and with no k-restricted edge-cut of size 1, we have that m - n + min { κ 0 (G) - 2 , t (G , k) } + 2 ≤ h (G , k) ≤ m - n + t (G , k) + 2 , where κ 0 (G) is the vertex-connectivity of G and t(G, k) is the maximum cardinality of a set S ⊆ V (G) such that the connected components in G[S] have order at most k - 1 . As a corollary we see that h (G , k) ≤ m - n + α (G) (k - 1) + 2 , with α (G) the independence number of G. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The health benefits associated with (poly)phenols need to be supported by robust and insightful information on their biological effects. The use of in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models is crucial to demonstrate functionalities in specific targets. In this regard, bioaccessibility, bioavailability, and tissue/organ distribution need to be fully understood and established. In addition, the structure–function relationships, concerning both descriptive and mechanistic information, between specific compounds and therapeutic objectives, need to be supported by results obtained from in vivo studies. Nevertheless, these studies are not always possible or have some limitations, particularly concerning the mechanistic information explaining the health benefits provided that should be covered with complementary experimental models. Based on these premises, this review aims to overview the contribution of the separate experimental approaches to gain insights into the bioaccessibility, bioavailability, and bioactivity of (poly)phenols. To achieve this objective, recent evidence available on the linkage of healthy/functional foods with the incidence of non‐communicable pathologies is presented. The different experimental approaches provide complementary information that allows advances to be applied to the knowledge gained on the functional properties and mechanistic facts responsible for the health attributions of polyphenols. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogels are a very useful type of polymeric material in several economic sectors, acquiring great importance due to their potential applications; however, this type of material, similarly to all polymers, is susceptible to degradation, which must be studied to improve its use. In this sense, the present work shows the degradation phenomena of commercial hydrogels based on potassium and sodium polyacrylate caused by the intrinsic content of different types of potable waters and aqueous solutions. In this way, a methodology for the analysis of this type of phenomenon is presented, facilitating the understanding of this type of degradation phenomenon. In this context, the hydrogels were characterized through swelling and FTIR to verify their performance and their structural changes. Likewise, the waters and wastewaters used for the swelling process were characterized by turbidity, pH, hardness, metals, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, DLS, Z-potential, and UV-vis to determine the changes generated in the types of waters caused by polymeric degradation and which are the most relevant variables in the degradation of the studied materials. The results obtained suggest a polymeric degradation reducing the swelling capacity and the useful life of the hydrogel; in addition, significant physicochemical changes such as the emergence of polymeric nanoparticles are observed in some types of analyzed waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broccoli (edible florets) are highly demanded due to its convenience and high valued nutritive and health-promoting characteristics. Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) plays a vital role in extending shelf-life of fresh-cut produce as well as reducing food waste. However, the generation of plastic residues from packaging is a major drawback for the food industry of ready-to-eat and fresh-cut products. In order to investigate more sustainable alternatives, the present research was planned for evaluating the influence of cellulose-based packaging on the physicochemical, organoleptic and microbiological quality parameters of broccoli florets, and additionally to study the effects on the glucosinolate – myrosinase system, during postharvest storage. Mechanical perforated cellulose-based film presented a series of advantages for packaging broccoli florets. This film maintained suitable levels of O 2 (13 kPa) and CO 2 (6 kPa), controlled condensation and microbial growth, and preserved the content of glucosinolates and hydroxycinnamic acids during storage (21 d at 4 °C). However, although the sensory attributes remained unaffected, broccoli florets packaged in cellulose-based film showed a significant loss in mass and firmness. The results suggested that water loss and in-package O 2 and CO 2 concentration may affect the myrosinase activity and therefore exerted impact on the glucosinolate contents. Further research is required to enhance water retention in cellulose-based packaging for potential applications with broccoli and other cut vegetables, aiming to extend their shelf-life using eco-friendly packaging materials. [Display omitted] • The cellulose film could be an eco-friendly packaging for fresh broccoli. • Positive and negative impacts of cellulose film on broccoli quality were identified. • Cellulose film reduces water condensation and improves the control of microbial growth. • Correlations between myrosinase activity and quality parameters were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dust storms are known to be atmospheric phenomena that transport mineral dust but also airborne biological particles (bioaerosols) from desert areas to distant regions. These bioaerosols can influence atmospheric processes and they have the potential of changing the composition of the local aerobiome in urban areas, which, in recent years, have been associated with allergies and the exacerbation of respiratory syndromes. Here, we studied four dust events initiated in the Sahara Desert affecting the center of the Iberian Peninsula. The biological particles before and during the phenomena were analyzed by high-throughput DNA sequencing. The global composition of bioaerosols showed a marked seasonality. The relative abundances of the most predominant groups of bacteria and fungi were not significantly altered compared to the days prior the corresponding event. Nonetheless, we detected specific bacterial and fungal taxa associated with these events, whose composition and abundance were also related to the period of the year. Although a variety of plant and animal pathogens were identified both before and throughout the days influenced by dust storms, some were only detected during the latter, suggesting a long-range transport for these species. This work highlights the importance of analyzing the storm dust events separately, especially when they occur at different seasons, and the particular effect on an urban environment in the Iberian Peninsula as a model case, providing some recommendations for future studies. • Local aerobiome prevails over the changes in microbial communities caused by dust storms. • Foreign microorganisms contributed a low fraction to the local atmosphere. • Dust events may show particular features associated with intensity and seasonality. • The abundances of pathogenic species were not significantly altered by dust events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aximopsis gabrielae Zhang, Gates and Campos sp. nov. is described from southern Mexico in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. This species is a koinobiont gregarious larval-pupal endoparasitoid of the caterpillar of Quadrus cerialis (Stoll) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) feeding on the shrub Piper amalago L. (Piperaceae) in the semi-evergreen forest. This is the first record of Aximopsis parasitoids on Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera). Morphological, biological, ecological and geographical data are integrated to delineate the new species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of hydrogel and zinc oxide nanoparticles on quinoa germination and establishment. Various doses of a commercial potassium-based hydrogel (0, 5, 7, and 9 g), each dissolved in one liter of rainwater, were applied. Additionally, 1.5 g of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NP) and pre-crushed nitrogen fertilizer, at a rate of 1.6 kg/ha, were added to the solution to achieve a homogeneous mixture. Following the application of hydrogel in the 10-linear-meter rows corresponding to each treatment area in every block, 25 seeds per linear meter of the "Blanca de Juli" quinoa cultivar were sown with a 4 cm spacing between the seeds. Subsequently, a thin layer of soil, approximately 0.5 cm thick, was used to cover the seeds. Ten seedlings were randomly selected and labeled for subsequent evaluations. The experimental design employed in this research was a completely randomized block design. The collected data underwent an analysis of variance, and the means of all the treatments were compared using Tukey's test with a 5% probability. Height and diameter evaluations of the plant neck were conducted every 45 days. The doses used in this study (5, 7, and 9 g of hydrogel per liter of water) significantly enhanced seed germination and increased the number of plants per linear meter (from 82.00 to 90.33) compared to the control dose without hydrogel (14.66), which resulted in an average of one plant per linear meter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Prolonged ozone exposure can produce a state of oxidative stress, which in turn causes alterations in the dynamics of the brain and affects memory and learning. Moreover, different investigations have shown that high flavonoid content berries show a great antioxidant activity. The relationship between the protective effect of the maqui berry extract and its antioxidant properties in the brain has not been studied in depth. Objectives: The present study evaluated whether the protection exerted by the aqueous extract of maqui berry in brain regions associated with cognitive performance is due to its antioxidant capacity. Methods: Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to 0.25 ppm ozone and administered with maqui berry extracts. At the end of the treatments, spatial learning and short- and long-term memory were evaluated, as well as oxidative stress markers. Results: The administration of 50 and 100 mg/kg of the aqueous extract of maqui berry was effective in preventing the cognitive deficit caused by chronic exposure to ozone. The antioxidant effect of the administration of maqui berry was analyzed in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala. Oxidative stress markers levels decreased and the enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase diminished in animals exposed to ozone treated with the 50 mg/kg dose of maqui berry. Discussion: These results show a relationship between protection at the cognitive level and a decrease in oxidative stress markers, which suggests that the prevention of cognitive damage is due to the antioxidant activity of the maqui berry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal quality of the habitat is key for the regulation of body temperature in terrestrial ectotherms and, therefore, permits them to carry out their fundamental biological activities. In thermally heterogeneous environments, ectotherms might follow different behavioral or physiological strategies to maintain their body temperature within biologically adequate boundaries, for which they depend on microhabitat selection. These aspects are, thus, relevant in the context of habitat degradation and land‐use change. In this study, we characterized the thermal ecology of three lizard species (genus Xantusia) that differ in microhabitat use along the Baja California peninsula, Mexico. We made three predictions: (1) the three species will follow different thermoregulatory strategies according to habitat thermal quality; (2) the thermal requirements and tolerances of these species will match the environmental or microenvironmental thermal conditions; and (3) due to their habitat and range restriction, the species studied will be highly vulnerable to climate change. Our results indicate the existence of thermoregulatory mechanisms in Xantusia to face thermal heterogeneity, including behavioral thermoregulation by choosing different microhabitats, shifts in activity periods, and adaptation to particular high thermal quality microhabitats. Furthermore, despite their association to specific microhabitats and specialized physiology, the studied species will not be adversely affected by climate change, as the increased microenvironmental temperatures will lead to a higher habitat thermal quality and lower costs of thermoregulation. However, we do not discard other indirect adverse effects of climate change not considered in this study. Research Highlights: Microhabitats provide studied species favorable temperatures in thermally heterogeneous habitats.These species have thermal strategies to face thermal fluctuation.Our approach suggests an increase in the habitat thermal quality for studied species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution, we describe the use of graphene as an efficient catalyst support and the role it plays in increasing the Lewis acidity of the supported metal complexes. By a density functional theory study, we show that the [La(N(SiMe3)2)3] complex can be easily grafted on graphene‐OH and ‐COOH functionalized surfaces. Two stable mono‐grafted compounds, (gO)‐[La(N(SiMe3)2)2] and (gOO)‐[La(N(SiMe3)2)2], are formed, behaving as stronger Lewis acids than the previously reported silica grafted analogues. To study the role of the graphene support in catalysis, we also computed the catalytic activity of the alkylated (gO)‐[La(CH3)2] and (gOO)‐[La(CH3)2] complexes in the ethylene and 1,3‐butadiene homo‐ and co‐polymerization reactions. Both compounds are efficient catalysts for the homo‐polymerization of the ethylene and 1,3‐butadiene. For the 1,3‐butadiene homo‐polymerization, the stereoselectivity outcome of the reaction differs according to the grafting site. The results computed for the co‐polymerization reaction, finally, show that the high stability of the allylic products leads to the formation of block copolymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most abundant biological particles present in the air are bacteria, fungal propagules and pollen grains. Many of them are proved allergens or even responsible for airborne infectious diseases, which supports the increase of studies in recent years on their composition, diversity, and factors involved in their variability. However, most studies in urban areas are conducted close to ground level and a factor such as height is rarely taken into account. Thus, the information about how the composition of biological particles changes with this variable is scarce. Here, we examined the differential distribution of bacteria, fungi, and plants at four altitudes (up to ∼ 250 m) in a metropolitan area using high-throughput DNA sequencing. Most taxa were present at all levels (common taxa). However, a transitional layer between 80 and 150 m seemed to affect the scattering of these bioaerosols. Taxa not present at all altitudes (non-common) showed an upward tendency of diversity for bacteria and plants with height, while the opposite trend was observed for fungi. Certain patterns were observed for fungi and specific plant genera, while bacterial taxa showed a more arbitrary distribution and no patterns were found. We detected a wide variety of aeroallergens and potential pathogens at all heights, which summed a substantial portion of the total abundance for fungi and plants. We also identified potential connections between the biological particles based on their abundances across the vertical section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The OECD's recommendation that transfer prices between multinational enterprises and their subsidiaries be consistent with the Arm's Length Principle (ALP) for tax purposes does not restrict internal pricing policies. However, we show that under imperfect competition firms may choose to keep one set of books (i.e., to set transfer prices consistent with the ALP), as a way of softening competition in the external market. As a result, firms' profits are greater, and the surplus is smaller, than under vertical integration. In contrast, when firms keep two sets of books (i.e., their transfer prices differ from those used for tax purposes), competition intensifies in both markets relative to vertical integration. • Assume that transfer prices must conform the Arm's Length Principle for tax purposes. • We study accounting policies under imperfect competition and vertical separation. • Under some conditions, multinational firms keep one set of books. • When firms keep one set of books, competition softens, and welfare deteriorates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the earliest pathogens that persists the airways of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and contributes to increased inflammation and decreased lung function. In contrast to other staphylococci, S. aureus possesses two superoxide dismutases (SODs), SodA and SodM, with SodM being unique to S. aureus. Both SODs arm S. aureus for its fight against oxidative stress, a by‐product of inflammatory reactions. Despite complex investigations, it is still unclear if both enzymes are crucial for the special pathogenicity of S. aureus. To investigate the role of both SODs during staphylococcal persistence in CF airways, we analysed survival and gene expression of S. aureus CF isolates and laboratory strains in different CF‐related in vitro and ex vivo settings. Bacteria located in inflammatory and oxidised CF sputum transcribed high levels of sodA and sodM. Especially expression values of sodM were remarkably higher in CF sputum than in bacterial in vitro cultures. Interestingly, also S. aureus located in airway epithelial cells expressed elevated transcript numbers of both SODs, indicating that S. aureus is exposed to oxidative stress at various sites within CF airways. Both enzymes promoted survival of S. aureus during polymorphonuclear leukocyte killing and seem to act compensatory, thereby giving evidence that the interwoven interaction of SodA and SodM contributes to S. aureus virulence and facilitates S. aureus persistence within CF airways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Cruciferous foods rich in health‐promoting metabolites are of particular interest to consumers as well as being a good source of bioactives‐enriched ingredients. Several elicitors have been used to stimulate the biosynthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites in foods; however, little is known about the response of new hybrid varieties, such as Bimi®, under field‐crop production conditions. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of salicylic acid (200 μmol L−1, SA), methyl jasmonate (100 μmol L−1, MeJA), and their combination on Bimi plant organs (inflorescences and aerial vegetative tissues – stems and leaves). For this, the composition of the glucosinolates present in the tissues was evaluated. Also, aqueous extracts of the plant material, obtained with different times of extraction with boiling water, were studied. RESULTS: The results indicate that the combined treatment (SA + MeJA) significantly increased the content of glucosinolates in the inflorescences and that MeJA was the most effective elicitor in leaves. Regarding the aqueous extracts, the greatest amount of glucosinolates was extracted at 30 min – except for the leaves elicited with MeJA, for which 15 min was optimal. CONCLUSION: The elicitation in the field enriched leaves in glucobrassicin (GB), 4‐methoxyglucobrassicin (MGB), and neoglucobrassicin (NGB) and stems and inflorescences in glucoraphanin, 4‐hydroxyglucobrassicin, GB, MGB, and NGB. In this way, this enhanced vegetable material favored the presence of bioactives in the extracts, which is of great interest regarding enriched foods and ingredients with added value obtained from them. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear quantum effects (NQE) on the geometry, energy, and electronic structure of the [CN·L·NC]- complex (L = H, D, T) are investigated with the recently developed APMO/MP2 code. This code implements the nuclear molecular orbital approach (NMO) at the Hartree-Fock (HF) and MP2 levels of theory for electrons and quantum nuclei. In a first study, we examined the H/D/T isotope effects on the geometry and electronic structure of the CNH molecule at NMO/HF and NMO/MP2 levels of theory. We found that when increasing the hydrogen nuclear mass there is a reduction of the RN-H bond distance and an increase of the electronic population on the hydrogen atom. Our calculated bond distances are in good agreement with experimental and other theoretical results. In a second investigation, we explored the hydrogen NQE on the geometry of [CNHNC]- complex at the NMO/HF and NMO/MP2 levels of theory. We discovered that while a NMO/HF calculation presented an asymmetric hydrogen bond, the NMO/MP2 calculation revealed a symmetric H-bond. We also examined the H/D/T isotope effects on the geometry and stabilization energy of the [CNHNC]- complex. We noted that gradual increases in hydrogen mass led to reductions of the RNN distance and destabilization of the hydrogen bond (H-bond). A discussion of these results is given in terms of the hydrogen nuclear delocalization effects on the electronic structure and energy components. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ab initio NMO study that reveals the importance of including nuclear quantum effects in conventional electronic structure calculations for an enhanced description of strong-low-barrier H-bonded systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broccoli was blanched and frozen at industrial scale to ascertain the physical and nutritional changes that take place in industrial processing. Colour, texture, ascorbic and dehydroascorbic acids, glucosinolates, phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity, mineral nutrients and microstructure were evaluated. Blanching and freezing caused a decrease in lightness and firmness. Losses of phenolic compounds and ascorbic acid + dehydroascorbic acid reached about 57% and 30%, respectively. The antioxidant capacity was similar in fresh and treated broccoli, and the glucosinolates remained constant. These results show that frozen broccoli retains antioxidants compounds, vitamin C and glucosinolates even after industrial processing, meaning that industrially frozen broccoli intended for human consumption can be considered rather similar to the fresh product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect herbivory can be an important selective pressure and contribute substantially to local plant richness. As herbivory is the result of numerous ecological and evolutionary processes, such as complex insect population dynamics and evolution of plant antiherbivore defenses, it has been difficult to predict variation in herbivory across meaningful spatial scales. In the present work, we characterize patterns of herbivory on plants in a species‐rich and abundant tropical genus (Piper) across forests spanning 44° of latitude in the Neotropics. We modeled the effects of geography, climate, resource availability, and Piper species richness on the median, dispersion, and skew of generalist and specialist herbivory. By examining these multiple components of the distribution of herbivory, we were able to determine factors that increase biologically meaningful herbivory at the upper ends of the distribution (indicated by skew and dispersion). We observed a roughly twofold increase in median herbivory in humid relative to seasonal forests, which aligns with the hypothesis that precipitation seasonality plays a critical role in shaping interaction diversity within tropical ecosystems. Site level variables such as latitude, seasonality, and maximum Piper richness explained the positive skew in herbivory at the local scale (plot level) better for assemblages of Piper congeners than for a single species. Predictors that varied between local communities, such as resource availability and diversity, best explained the distribution of herbivory within sites, dampening broad patterns across latitude and climate and demonstrating why generalizations about gradients in herbivory have been elusive. The estimated population means, dispersion, and skew of herbivory responded differently to abiotic and biotic factors, illustrating the need for careful studies to explore distributions of herbivory and their effects on forest diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research carried out on post-installed structural anchors has shown a link between the embedded length and the diameter of the bore with maximum tensile strength. This paper, is the outcome of research funded by the research department of the Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia, analyzes this link from the variation of resistance and failure type in structural anchor prototypes with variations in embedded length and drilling diameter, in particular compressive strength 28 MPa, epoxy adhesive, reinforcing bar, 15 graphite units of 0.007 m diameter, and 15 corrugated steel units of 0.0095 m diameter, for a total of 30 systems requested for direct traction in the universal machine. The results showed that tensile strength and failure type are a function of the embedded length and corrugated structure of the anchored reinforcing bar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activity patterns in ectotherms rely on the structure of the thermal environment and thermoregulatory opportunities during activity periods. A dichotomy between diurnal and nocturnal ectotherms is not clear in every case, and temperature can directly affect the daily activity period in these organisms during both photophase and scotophase. In the present study we evaluate the thermal ecology of six tropical night lizards (genus Lepidophyma ) from Mexico. Our results indicate a thermoconformer strategy in most of the studied species. In these species, thermal tolerances are associated with environmental temperatures to which they are exposed. Furthermore, thermal quality of the environment directly determines the daily activity period. Therefore, we argue that diurnal activity in Lepidophyma species is determined by local thermal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of polymeric composites from recycled thermoplastic with natural fibers is an interesting alternative that contribute for preservation of natural resources, decrease of pollutant waste and production of low cost materials. Low-density polyethylene waste (LDPEW) from packaging films presents low index of mechanical recycling, generating several environmental problems and for their management after discard. On the other hand, wood waste as such as pine wood waste (PWW) are also produced in large scale and their recycling potential is not very explored. The aim of this study was the preparation of LDPEW/PWW composites in presence of coupling agent maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (PE- g -MA) and to evaluate their mechanical, morphological and thermal properties. LDPEW/PWW composites were prepared by extrusion processing and specimens obtained by injection molding for after characterization by tensile testing, impact testing, scan electronic microscopy and thermal analysis. The mechanical properties of the LDPEW/PWW composites are depending of the PWW content in the material, allowing the adjustment of the composition according to the potential for practical application, while the thermal stability of the composites is compatible with the required conditions for thermomechanical processing. The preparation of LDPEW/PWW composites showed viability for production of low cost materials from recycled waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An arc-coloring of a strongly connected digraph D is a strongly monochromatic-connecting coloring if for every pair u , v of vertices in D there exist an ( u , v ) -monochromatic path and a ( v , u ) -monochromatic path. Let s m c ( D ) denote the maximum number of colors that can be used in a strongly monochromatic-connecting coloring of D . In this paper we prove that if D is a strongly connected oriented graph of size m , then s m c ( D ) = m − Ω ( D ) + 1 , where Ω ( D ) is the minimum size of a spanning strongly connected subdigraph of D . As a corollary of this result, we see that a strongly connected oriented graph D of order n is hamiltonian if and only if s m c ( D ) = m − n + 1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The great quantity of music content available online has increased interest in music recommender systems. However, some important problems must be addressed in order to give reliable recommendations. Many approaches have been proposed to deal with cold-start and first-rater drawbacks; however, the problem of generating recommendations for gray-sheep users has been less studied. Most of the methods that address this problem are content-based, hence they require item information that is not always available. Another significant drawback is the difficulty in obtaining explicit feedback from users, necessary for inducing recommendation models, which causes the well-known sparsity problem. In this work, a recommendation method based on playing coefficients is proposed for addressing the above-mentioned shortcomings of recommender systems when little information is available. The results prove that this proposal outperforms other collaborative filtering methods, including those that make use of user attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human nasal passage, from the anterior nares through the nasal vestibule to the nasal cavities, is an important habitat for opportunistic pathogens and commensals alike. This work sampled four different anatomical regions within the human nasal passage across a large cohort of individuals ( n = 79) comprising individuals suffering from chronic nasal inflammation clinically known as chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and individuals not suffering from inflammation (CRS-free). While individuals had their own unique bacterial fingerprint that was consistent across the anatomical regions, these bacterial fingerprints formed into distinct delineated groups comprising core bacterial members, which were consistent across all four swabbed anatomical regions irrespective of health status. The most significant observed pattern was the difference between the global bacterial profiles of swabbed and tissue biopsy samples from the same individuals, being also consistent across different anatomical regions. Importantly, no statistically significant differences could be observed concerning the global bacterial communities, any of the bacterial species or the range of diversity indices used to compare between CRS and CRS-free individuals, and between two CRS phenotypes (without nasal polyps and with nasal polyps). Thus, the role of bacteria in the pathogenesis of sinusitis remains uncertain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chikungunya fever is a viral disease that recently invaded the American continent. In America, it is transmitted mainly by the mosquito Aedes aegypti, but Aedes albopictus is the main vector in other regions of the world. This work estimates the risk of disease emergence and the corresponding population at risk for the case of a naive population in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina.Methods: A classic metapopulation epidemiological model, that considers human and mosquito populations, was extended in order to include different environmental signals. First, the vital rates of the mosquitoes were affected by local temperature. Second, habitat availability estimated from satellite images was used to determine the carrying capacity for local mosquito populations. Disease invasion was proposed to occur at different moments of the year. For each scenario, Monte Carlo simulations were used to estimate the risk of disease invasion and the population at risk.Results: The risk of a Chikungunya outbreak displays strong temporal (seasonal) patterns as well as spatial variability at the level of neighborhoods in the study area. According to the model, Summer and Fall display high risk for a Chikungunya invasion. The population at risk displays less variation over the year underlying the importance of preventive actions.Conclusions: The ability of mapping habitat quality for vector-borne diseases allows developing risk analysis at scales that are easily manageable for public health officers. For this location, the correlation of disease risk with the season of the year and the habitat availability could provide information to develop efficient control strategies. This also underlines the importance of involving the whole community when developing control measures for Chikungunya fever and other recently invading vector-borne diseases such as Zika fever. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been analyzed at the MP2/def2-QZVPPD level whether [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudomonas veronii 1YdBTEX2, a benzene and toluene degrader, and Pseudomonas veronii 1YB2, a benzene degrader, have previously been shown to be key players in a benzene-contaminated site. These strains harbor unique catabolic pathways for the degradation of benzene comprising a gene cluster encoding an isopropylbenzene dioxygenase where genes encoding downstream enzymes were interrupted by stop codons. Extradiol dioxygenases were recruited from gene clusters comprising genes encoding a 2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde dehydrogenase necessary for benzene degradation but typically absent from isopropylbenzene dioxygenase-encoding gene clusters. The benzene dihydrodiol dehydrogenase-encoding gene was not clustered with any other aromatic degradation genes, and the encoded protein was only distantly related to dehydrogenases of aromatic degradation pathways. The involvement of the different gene clusters in the degradation pathways was suggested by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the behaviour of opportunistic pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus in their natural human niche holds great medical interest. With the development of sensitive molecular methods and deep-sequencing technology, it is now possible to robustly assess the global transcriptome of bacterial species in their human habitat. However, as the genomes of the colonizing strains are often not available compiling the pan-genome for the species of interest may provide an effective method to reliably and rapidly compile the transcriptome of a bacterial species. The pan-genome of S. aureus and its associated core and accessory components were compiled based on 25 genomes and comprises a total of 65,557 proteins clustering into 4,198 Orthologous Groups (OGs). The generated gene catalogue was used to assign RNAseq-derived sequence reads to S. aureus in a variety of in vitro and in vivo samples. In all cases, the number of reads that could be assigned to S. aureus was greater using the OG database than using a reference genome. Growth of two S. aureus strains in synthetic nasal medium confirmed that both strains experienced strong iron starvation. Traits such as purine metabolism appeared to be more affected in a typical nasal colonizer than in a strain representative of the S. aureus USA300 lineage. Mapping sequencing reads from a metatranscriptome generated from the human anterior nares allowed the identification of genes highly expressed by S. aureus in vivo. The OG database generated in this study represents a useful tool to obtain a snapshot of the functional attributes of S. aureus under different in vitro and in vivo conditions. The approach proved to be advantageous to assign sequencing reads to bacterial strains when RNAseq data is derived from samples where strain information and/or the corresponding genome/s are unavailable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cotton rat nose is commonly used as a model for Staphylococcus aureus colonization, as it is both physiologically and anatomically comparable to the human nares and can be easily colonized by this organism. However, while the colonization of the human anterior nares has been extensively studied, the microbial community structure of cotton rat noses has not been reported so far. We describe here the microbial community structure of the cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) nose through next-generation sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons covering the V1-V2 region and the analysis of nearly full length 16S rRNA genes of the major phylotypes. Roughly half of the microbial community was composed of two undescribed species of the genus Campylobacter, with phylotypes belonging to the genera Catonella, Acholeplasma, Streptobacillus and Capnocytophaga constituting the predominant community members. Thus, the nasal community of the cotton rat is uniquely composed of several novel bacterial species and may not reflect the complex interactions that occur in human anterior nares. Mammalian airway microbiota may, however, be a rich source of hitherto unknown microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature abounds with micro‐architected materials containing layered multi‐material patterns that often transition within the very same monolithic piece. Fabricating these complex materials using current technologies is challenging. Multimaterial chaotic printing is presented—an extrusive printing method based on the use of chaotic advection—that can fabricate microstructured hydrogels with well‐defined multimaterial and multilayered micropatterns. Printheads containing internal Kenics static mixing (KSM) elements and top‐ and lateral‐positioned inlets are used to produce a wide repertoire of multilayered hydrogel filaments. In this plug‐and‐play system, the radial and axial micropatterns can be designed ad hoc by defining the printhead configuration (i.e., the number of KSM elements and inlets, and the inlet positions) and the flow program (i.e., activation/deactivation of the ink‐flow through each inlet). Computational fluid dynamics simulations closely predict the microstructure obtained by a given printhead configuration. The application of this platform is illustrated for easy fabrication of fibers with radial microgradients, bacterial ecosystems, structured emulsions, micro‐channeled hydrogel filaments, a pre‐vascularized tumor niche model, and skeletal muscle‐like tissues with axial and radial transitions of bioactive glass compartments. It is envisioned that multimaterial chaotic printing will be a valuable addition to the toolbox of additive manufacturing for the rational fabrication of advanced materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Nanoencapsulated Bimi® extracts showed a high preservation of DIM, I3C and SFN under an in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. • Nanovesicles from cauliflower reduce their size under acidic pH conditions, followed by a cargo release under neutral pH in an in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. • LPS-stimulated HepG2 cells were able to metabolize a higher number of ITCs from the nanoencapsulated Bimi® digestates. Isothiocyanates (ITCs) have low stability in aqueous conditions, reducing their bioavailability when used as food ingredients. Therefore, the aim of this work was to increase the stability of the ITCs present in extracts of Bimi® edible parts by nanoencapsulation using cauliflower-derived plasma membrane vesicles. The bioactivity of these nanoencapsulates was evaluated in a HepG2 hepatocyte cell line in a model for low-grade chronic inflammation. The vesicles showed a higher capacity of retention in the in vitro gastrointestinal digestion for 3,3-diindolylmethane (DIM), indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and sulforaphane (SFN). Furthermore, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis of the vesicles revealed a decreased size under acidic pH and a release of their cargo after the intestinal digestion. The HepG2 experiments revealed differences in metabolism under the condition of chronic inflammation. The cauliflower-derived plasma membrane vesicles are able to enhance the stability of ITCs through the in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, improving their bioaccesibility and potential bioavailability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a case study on the phenomenon of privatization of compulsory education in Chile. Data from the largest education providers (stakeholders) or Groups of Power from the urban low income neighborhood of La Pintana is revised. The data includes corporate/business and religious networks of these stake holders between the period 1995 to 2014. There search finding sindicate a growth and consolidation of these education providers over the years. Further, there is also evidence of increase of both public-private partnerships as well as links to national and transnational corporations. The study highlights the steady growing influence of these organization sand their networks in the educational system through diverse processes of privatization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climatic change predicts elevated salinity in soils as well as increased carbon dioxide dioxide [CO2] in the atmosphere. The present study aims to determine the effect of combined salinity and elevated [CO2] on sulfur (S) metabolism and S-derived phytochemicals in green and purple broccoli (cv. Naxos and cv. Viola, respectively). Elevated [CO2] involved the amelioration of salt stress, especially in cv. Viola, where a lower biomass reduction by salinity was accompanied by higher sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl–) compartmentation in the vacuole. Moreover, salinity and elevated [CO2] affected the mineral and glucosinolate contents and the activity of biosynthetic enzymes of S-derived compounds and the degradative enzyme of glucosinolate metabolism, myrosinase, as well as the related amino acids and the antioxidant glutathione (GSH). In cv. Naxos, elevated [CO2] may trigger the antioxidant response to saline stress by means of increased GSH concentration. Also, in cv. Naxos, indolic glucosinolates were more influenced by the NaCl×CO2 interaction whereas in cv. Viola the aliphatic glucosinolates were significantly increased by these conditions. Salinity and elevated [CO2] enhanced the S cellular partitioning and metabolism affecting the myrosinase–glucosinolate system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quasi-planar member of the so-called 'Wankel motor' family, B182-, is found. This boron cluster is an electronically stable dianion and a concentric doubly σ- and π-aromatic system. The inner B6 unit in B182- undergoes quasi-free rotation inside the perimeter of the B12 ring. The absence of any localized σ-bond between the inner ring and the peripheral boron atoms makes the system fluxional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a new species of Phrynosoma from central northeastern Guerrero, México; perform a phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data to estimate its phylogenetic relationships; and investigate the monophyly of Phrynosoma asio, P. braconnieri, and P. taurus. The new species can be distinguished from all of its congeners by the possession of a unique combination of morphological characteristics. The molecular genetic data include three fragments of the mitochondrial genome and six nuclear genes (2419 and 3909 base pairs in total, respectively) for 31 samples belonging to the 16 previously recognized species of Phrynosoma and the new species. The new species is strongly supported in maximum likelihood analyses of both the concatenated mitochondrial and nuclear data as a monophyletic, distinct evolutionary lineage sister to, and moderately divergent from, P. taurus, and highly divergent from all of the other species of Phrynosoma. A Bayesian species tree analysis also strongly supports the monophyly of the Brevicauda clade, and a sister relationship between P. taurus and the new species. Se describe una especie nueva de Phrynosoma del centro-noreste de Guerrero, México; se realiza un análisis filogenético de secuencias de ADN mitocondrial y nuclear para estimar sus relaciones filogenéticas, y se investiga la monofilia de P. asio, P. braconnieri, y P. taurus. La nueva especie puede distinguirse de todos sus congéneres por la posesión de una combinación única de caracteres morfológicos. Los datos genéticos moleculares incluyen secuencias de tres fragmentos del genoma mitocondrial y seis genes nucleares (2419 y 3909 pares de bases en total, respectivamente) para 31 muestras de las 16 especies de Phrynosoma previamente reconocidas y la nueva especie. La nueva especie es fuertemente apoyada en análisis de máxima verosimilitud de los datos concatenados (tanto mitocondriales como nucleares) como un linaje evolutivo distinto y monofilético, hermano y moderadamente divergente de P. taurus y altamente divergente de todas las otras especies de Phrynosoma. Un análisis Bayesiano de árbol de las especies también apoya fuertemente la monofilia del clado Brevicauda y la relación de especies hermanas entre P. taurus y la nueva especie. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on a comprehensive signal processing procedure for very low signal levels for the measurement of neutral deuterium in the local interstellar medium from a spacecraft in Earth orbit. The deuterium measurements were performed with the IBEX-Lo camera on NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) satellite. Our analysis technique for these data consists of creating a mass relation in three-dimensional time of flight space to accurately determine the position of the predicted D events, to precisely model the tail of the H events in the region where the H tail events are near the expected D events, and then to separate the H tail from the observations to extract the very faint D signal. This interstellar D signal, which is expected to be a few counts per year, is extracted from a strong terrestrial background signal, consisting of sputter products from the sensor's conversion surface. As reference we accurately measure the terrestrial D/H ratio in these sputtered products and then discriminate this terrestrial background source. During the three years of the mission time when the deuterium signal was visible to IBEX, the observation geometry and orbit allowed for a total observation time of 115.3 days. Because of the spinning of the spacecraft and the stepping through eight energy channels the actual observing time of the interstellar wind was only 1.44 days. With the optimised data analysis we found three counts that could be attributed to interstellar deuterium. These results update our earlier work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theglobal minimum geometries of BeCN2and BeNBO are linearBeN–CN and BeN–BO, respectively. The Be center of BeCN2binds He with the highest Be–He dissociation energyamong the studied neutral He–Be complexes. In addition, BeCN2can be further tuned as a better noble gas trapper by attachingit with any electron-withdrawing group. Taking BeO, BeS, BeNH, BeNBO,and BeCN2systems, the study at the CCSD(T)/def2-TZVP levelof theory also shows that both BeCN2and BeNBO systemshave higher noble gas binding ability than those related reportedsystems. ΔGvalues for the formation of NgBeCN2/NgBeNBO (Ng = Ar–Rn) are negative at room temperature(298 K), whereas the same becomes negative at low temperature forNg = He and Ne. The polarization plus the charge transfer is the dominatingterm in the interaction energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most virulent and resistant non-fermenting Gram-negative pathogens in the clinic. Unfortunately, P. aeruginosa has acquired genes encoding metallo-β-lactamases (MβLs), enzymes able to hydrolyze most β-lactam antibiotics. SPM-1 is an MβL produced only by P. aeruginosa, while other MβLs are found in different bacteria. Despite similar active sites, the resistance profile of MβLs towards β-lactams changes from one enzyme to the other. SPM-1 is unique among pathogen-associated MβLs in that it contains “atypical” second sphere residues (S84, G121). Codon randomization on these positions and further selection of resistance-conferring mutants was performed. MICs, periplasmic enzymatic activity, Zn(II) requirements, and protein stability was assessed. Our results indicated that identity of second sphere residues modulates the substrate preferences and the resistance profile of SPM-1 expressed in P. aeruginosa. The second sphere residues found in wild type SPM-1 give rise to a substrate selectivity that is observed only in the periplasmic environment. These residues also allow SPM-1 to confer resistance in P. aeruginosa under Zn(II)-limiting conditions, such as those expected under infection. By optimizing the catalytic efficiency towards β-lactam antibiotics, the enzyme stability and the Zn(II) binding features, molecular evolution meets the specific needs of a pathogenic bacterial host by means of substitutions outside the active site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential energy surface of C6Li6 was re-examined and a new non-symmetric global minimum was found. The new structure can be described as three C22− fragments strongly aggregated through lithium bridges. At high temperatures, fluxionality is perceived instead of dissociation. At 600 and 900 K, the BOMD simulations show that the lithium mobility is high, indicating that the cluster behaves in a liquid-like manner (BOMD=Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In arid regions, the water from aquifers usually contains high NaCl levels, and alternative water sources, such as desalination plants, produce boron accumulation and have an adverse effect on crops. We studied the water transport and membrane integrity of two broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.) cultivars (Naxos and Viola) in the response to two boric acid levels, (1.8 mg L[sup -1] and 4.3 mg L[sup -1] ), alone or in combination with salinity (0 or 80 mM), and the involvement of plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PIP) aquaporins in this response. Nutritional status was also evaluated, as it affects the structural and functional integrity of the membranes. Since B is partly responsible for changes in the concentration and metabolism of phenolic compounds in vascular plants, these compounds were determined. In Naxos, the effect of 1.8 mg L[sup -1] B concentration on the plasma membrane influenced plant salinity tolerance through the associated changes in the root hydraulic conductivity and the recovery of biomass production with regard to the NaCl treatment. By contrast, in Viola, a different PIP abundance pattern was observed indicating that the threshold B concentration differs between Viola and Naxos, resulting in higher sensitivity. In fact, a decreased transpiration and photosynthetic rate observed in Viola after the addition of 4.3 mg L[sup -1] boric acid highlighted the highest sensitivity to boron, although this level had no adverse effect on the plasma membrane. The results suggest that B and NaCl trigger a hydric response involving aquaporins, together with changes in nutrient transport and plasma membrane stability. In arid regions, high NaCl levels in the aquifers, and wastewater contaminated with boron have adverse effects on crops. We determined the water transport and membrane integrity of two broccoli cultivars in response to NaCl-B interaction with aquaporin involvement. An antagonistic effect of the NaCl-B interaction was observed in cv. Naxos through changes in the root hydraulic conductivity and biomass restoration, making Naxos appropriate for saline-boron irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucosinolates, a class of secondary metabolites, mainly found in Brassicaceae, are affected by the changing environment. This review is focusing on the physiological significance of glucosinolates and their hydrolysis products in the plant response to different abiotic stresses. Special attention is paid to the crosstalk between some of the physiological processes involved in stress response and glucosinolate metabolism, with the resulting connection between both pathways in which signaling mechanisms glucosinolate may act as signals themselves. The function of glucosinolates, further than in defense switching, is discussed in terms of alleviating pathogen attack under abiotic stress. The fact that the exogenous addition of glucosinolate hydrolysis products may alleviate certain stress conditions through its effect on specific proteins is described in light of the recent reports, but the molecular mechanisms involved in this response merit further research. Finally, the transient allocation and re-distribution of glucosinolates as a response to environmental changes is summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential energy surface of the hypothetical NaMgAlSiPSCl system (heavy periodane) is exhaustively analyzed via the gradient embedded genetic algorithm (GEGA) in combination with density functional theory (DFT) computations. The electronegativity differences among the elements in both the second and third rows of the periodic table indicate that low-energy heavy periodane structures are obtained when highly electronegative and electropositive elements are bound together, but the global minimum of the heavy periodane system is completely different to its second-row analog (LiBeBCNOF). [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The effectiveness of haloperidol for the prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) has been proven in prior trials summarized by Buttner in 2004. New evidence has surfaced since then. Our objective is thus to update the current knowledge on the topic. A systematic review and a meta-analysis were performed, in order to determine the effectiveness and safety of the use of haloperidol as prophylaxis for PONV. Methodology: The systematic search, the selection of relevant articles, the extraction of data, the critical analysis of the primary studies, the comparisons and analyses were all based on the recommendations of the Cochrane Collaboration and using RevMan5 software. Results: Ten controlled clinical trials published between 1962 and 2010, that included 2,711 patients, met the selection criteria. As compared against droperidol (RR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.52-1.79) and against ondansetron (RR: 1.24; 95% CI: 0.66-2.35), no differences were found in terms of effectiveness after 24 h. A protective effect against PONV associated with the use of haloperidol at varying doses, routes of administration and timing of administration was observed as compared with placebo. No significant increases in adverse events have been reported. Discussion: This systematic review supports the effectiveness of haloperidol as prophylactic treatment of PONV. No statistically significant differences were found as compared against ondansetron or droperidol. Conclusions: Haloperidol is an effective prophylactic drug for PONV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many bioactive peptides, such as hormones and neuropeptides, require amidation at the C terminus for their full biological activity. Peptidylglycine α-hydroxylating monooxygenase (PHM) performs the first step of the amidation reaction-the hydroxylation of peptidylglycine substrates at the Cα position of the terminal glycine. The hydroxylation reaction is copper- and O-dependent and requires 2 equiv of exogenous reductant. The proposed mechanism suggests that O is reduced by two electrons, each provided by one of two nonequivalent copper sites in PHM (Cu and Cu). The characteristics of the reduced oxygen species in the PHM reaction and the identity of the reactive intermediate remain uncertain. To further investigate the nature of the key intermediates in the PHM cycle, we determined the structure of the oxidized form of PHM complexed with hydrogen peroxide. In this 1.98-Å-resolution structure (hydro)peroxide binds solely to Cu in a slightly asymmetric side-on mode. The O-O interatomic distance of the copper-bound ligand is 1.5 Å, characteristic of peroxide/hydroperoxide species, and the Cu-O distances are 2.0 and 2.1 Å. Density functional theory calculations using the first coordination sphere of the Cu active site as a model system show that the computed energies of the side-on LCu(II)-O species and its isomeric, end-on structure LCu(I)-O are similar, suggesting that both these intermediates are significantly populated within the protein environment. This observation has important mechanistic implications. The geometry of the observed side-on coordinated peroxide ligand in LCu(II)O is in good agreement with the results of a hybrid quantum mechanical-molecular mechanical optimization of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral infection of humans that previously was confined to regions in central Africa. However, during this century, the virus has shown surprising potential for geographic expansion as it invaded other countries including more temperate regions. With no vaccine and no specific treatment, the main control strategy for Chikungunya remains preventive control of mosquito populations. In consideration for the risk of Chikungunya introduction to the US, we developed a model for disease introduction based on virus introduction by one individual. Our study combines a climate-based mosquito population dynamics stochastic model with an epidemiological model to identify temporal windows that have epidemic risk. We ran this model with temperature data from different locations to study the geographic sensitivity of epidemic potential. We found that in locations with marked seasonal variation in temperature there also was a season of epidemic risk matching the period of the year in which mosquito populations survive and grow. In these locations controlling mosquito population sizes might be an efficient strategy. But, in other locations where the temperature supports mosquito development all year the epidemic risk is high and (practically) constant. In these locations, mosquito population control alone might not be an efficient disease control strategy and other approaches should be implemented to complement it. Our results strongly suggest that, in the event of an introduction and establishment of Chikungunya in the US, endemic and epidemic regions would emerge initially, primarily defined by environmental factors controlling annual mosquito population cycles. These regions should be identified to plan different intervention measures. In addition, reducing vector: human ratios can lower the probability and magnitude of outbreaks for regions with strong seasonal temperature patterns. This is the first model to consider Chikungunya risk in the US and can be applied to other vector borne diseases. Author Summary: Chikungunya fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection showing a surprising potential for geographic expansion. Similar to other tropical infectious diseases having no vaccine and no specific treatment, the main control strategy for Chikungunya remains reduction of mosquito population size. We developed a model for disease introduction that combines a climate based mosquito population dynamics stochastic model with an epidemiological model in order to identify temporal windows during which disease introduction through one exposed individual might compromise the health status of the entire human population. We ran this model with temperature data from different locations showing the geographic sensitivity of this risk. The identification of temporal windows with epidemic risk at different spatial locations is key to guiding mosquito population control campaigns. Locations with marked seasonal variation also have a season with high epidemic risk matching the period in which mosquito populations survive and grow, therefore controlling mosquito population sizes might be an optimal strategy in those areas. However, locations with other temperature patterns may need additional control strategies to avoid epidemics. To our knowledge, this is the first model to explore Chikungunya introduction in the USA. Our modeling approach can be used for other vector borne diseases and can be expanded to compare the outcome with different control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]