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Only 0.1% of polyurethanes available on the market are from renewable sources. With increasing concern about climate change, the substitution of monomers derived from petrochemical sources and the application of eco-friendly synthesis processes is crucial for the development of biomaterials. Therefore, polyhydroxyurethanes have been utilized, as their synthesis route allows for the carbonation of vegetable oils with carbon dioxide and the substitution of isocyanates known for their high toxicity, carcinogenicity, and petrochemical origin. In this study, polyhydroxyurethanes were obtained from carbonated soybean oil in combination with two diamines, one that is aliphatic (1,4-butadiamine (putrescine)) and another that is cycloaliphatic (1,3-cyclohexanobis(methylamine)). Four polyhydroxyurethanes were obtained, showing stability in hydrolytic and oxidative media, thermal stability above 200 °C, tensile strength between 0.9 and 1.1 MPa, an elongation at break between 81 and 222%, a water absorption rate up 102%, and contact angles between 63.70 and 101.39. New formulations of bio-based NIPHUs can be developed with the inclusion of a cycloaliphatic diamine (CHM) for the improvement of mechanical properties, which represents a more sustainable process for obtaining NIPHUs with the physicochemical, mechanical, and thermal properties required for the preparation of wound dressings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In anthropic savanna ecosystems from the Iberian Peninsula (i.e. dehesa), complex interactions between climate change, pathogen outbreaks and human land use are presumed to be behind the observed increase in holm oak decline. These environmental disturbances alter the plant–soil microbial continuum, which can destabilize the ecological balance that sustains tree health. Yet, little is known about the underlying mechanisms, particularly the directions and nature of the causal–effect relationships between plants and soil microbial communities.In this study, we aimed to determine the role of plant–soil feedbacks in climate‐induced holm oak decline in the Iberian dehesa. Using a gradient of holm oak health, we reconstructed key soil biogeochemical cycles mediated by soil microbial communities. We used quantitative microbial element cycling (QMEC), a functional gene‐array‐based high‐throughput technique to assess microbial functional potential in carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur cycling.The onset of holm oak decline was positively related to the increase in relative abundance of soil microbial functional genes associated with denitrification and phosphorus mineralization (i.e. nirS3, ppx and pqqC; parameter value: 0.21, 0.23 and 0.4; p < 0.05). Structural equation model (χ2 = 32.26, p‐value = 0.73), moreover, showed a negative association between these functional genes and soil nutrient availability (i.e. mainly mineral nitrogen and phosphate). Particularly, the holm oak crown health was mainly determined by the abundance of phosphate (parameter value = 0.27; p‐value < 0.05) and organic phosphorus (parameter value = −0.37; p‐value < 0.5).Hence, we propose a potential tree–soil feedback loop, in which the decline of holm oak promotes changes in the soil environment that triggers changes in key microbial‐mediated metabolic pathways related to the net loss of soil nitrogen and phosphorus mineral forms. The shortage of essential nutrients, in turn, affects the ability of the trees to withstand the environmental stressors to which they are exposed. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Climate change and pathogen outbreaks are the two major causes of decline in Mediterranean holm oak trees (Quercus ilex L. subsp. ballota (Desf.) Samp.). Crown‐level changes in response to these stressful conditions have been widely documented but the responses of the root systems remain unexplored. The effects of environmental stress over roots and its potential role during the declining process need to be evaluated.We aimed to study how key morphological and architectural root parameters and nonstructural carbohydrates of roots are affected along a holm oak health gradient (i.e. within healthy, susceptible and declining trees).Holm oaks with different health statuses had different soil resource‐uptake strategies. While healthy and susceptible trees showed a conservative resource‐uptake strategy independently of soil nutrient availability, declining trees optimized soil resource acquisition by increasing the phenotypic plasticity of their fine root system.This increase in fine root phenotypic plasticity in declining holm oaks represents an energy‐consuming strategy promoted to cope with the stress and at the expense of foliage maintenance. Our study describes a potential feedback loop resulting from strong unprecedented belowground stress that ultimately may lead to poor adaptation and tree death in the Spanish dehesa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how excitatory (E) and inhibitory (I) inputs are integrated by neurons requires monitoring their subthreshold behavior. We probed the subthreshold dynamics using optogenetic depolarizing pulses in hippocampal neuronal assemblies in freely moving mice. Excitability decreased during sharp-wave ripples coupled with increased I. In contrast to this “negative gain,” optogenetic probing showed increased within-field excitability in place cells by weakening I and unmasked stable place fields in initially non–place cells. Neuronal assemblies active during sharp-wave ripples in the home cage predicted spatial overlap and sequences of place fields of both place cells and unmasked preexisting place fields of non–place cells during track running. Thus, indirect probing of subthreshold dynamics in neuronal populations permits the disclosing of preexisting assemblies and modes of neuronal operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dehesas, human-shaped savannah-like ecosystems, where the overstorey is mainly dominated by the evergreen holm oak (Quercus ilex L. subsp. ballota (Desf.) Samp.), are classified as a global conservation priority. Despite being Q. ilex a species adapted to the harsh Mediterranean environmental conditions, recent decades have witnessed worrisome trends of climate-change-induced holm oak mortality. Holm oak decline is evidenced by tree vigour loss, gradual defoliation and ultimately, death. However, before losing leaves, trees undergo leaf-level physiological adjustments in response to stress that may represent a promising field to develop biochemical early markers of holm oak decline. This study explored holm oak photoprotective responses (pigments, tocopherols and photosynthetic performance) in 144 mature holm oak trees with different health statuses (i.e. crown defoliation percentages) from healthy to first-stage declining individuals. Our results indicate differential photochemical performance and photoprotective compounds concentration depending on the trees' health status. Declining trees showed higher energy dissipation yield, lower photochemical efficiency and enhanced photoprotective compounds. In the case of total violaxanthin cycle pigments (VAZ) and tocopherols, shifts in leaf contents were significant at very early stages of crown defoliation, even before visual symptoms of decline were evident, supporting the value of these biochemical compounds as early stress markers. Linear mixed-effects models results showed an acute response, both in the photosynthesis performance index and in the concentration of foliar tocopherols, during the onset of tree decline, whereas VAZ showed a more gradual response along the defoliation gradient of the crown. These results collectively demonstrate that once a certain threshold of leaf physiological damage is surpassed, that leaf cannot counteract oxidative stress and progressive loss of leaves occurs. Therefore, the use of both photosynthesis performance indexes and the leaf tocopherols concentration as early diagnostic tools might predict declining trends, facilitating the implementation of preventive measures to counteract crown defoliation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays the institution of the School is being questioned by some critical sectors of society who, by drawing on the explanatory framework put forward by the so called deschooling theories, are able to organize themselves and create citizen networks in order to provide privately for the education of their children within specific organizational and pedagogical models. The purpose of this case study is to identify the organizational model (defined by its mission, vision and values) used in an alternative education project for preprimary school education with the aim of reflecting on its pedagogical and organizational implications. We conclude by pointing out that there exists an excessive amount of confidence in the context’s educational potential based on the interests and motivations of the learners. In addition, the capacity for pedagogical and organizational innovation of the State education system is underestimated. There is, furthermore, a need to establish mechanisms capable of improving participation. Finally, the claim, perhaps unrealistic, of maintaining a certain ideological neutrality in the project is also observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to identify and reflect on the reasons behind the choice of an alternative education centre for the stage of Early Childhood Education in Spain. For this purpose, it is used a biographical-narrative methodology based on a multiple case study made up of 24 families. That way, four major motivational categories are identified: promotion of the integral development of the person, opposition to the traditional school, search for happiness in childhood and trust in the principles pedagogical. Analysed families especially value a comprehensive education beyond its instrumental purpose, they consider public school as the extreme opposite to the principles and values defended from alternative projects. It concludes by pointing out how these motivations, in addition to having a pedagogical sense, respond to a broader strategy to reproduce their identity and lifestyles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To report the results of endoscopic ultrasound‐guided injection of coils with cyanoacrylate (CYA) using a less‐expensive coil with an emphasis on the roles of Doppler and endosonographic varicealography (EV) in identifying the feeder vessel in gastric varix treatment. Methods: An observational, descriptive study with prospectively collected data. Patients with gastric varices (GV) were included and were treated by endoscopic ultrasound‐guided injection of CYA and a less‐expensive coil. Technical success, complete and immediate variceal obliteration, rebleeding, complication and survival rates were evaluated. Results: Thirty patients with GV with a mean age of 62 years (range: 44–76 years) were treated. Median number of coils used was 2 (range: 1–3), and median volume of CYA was 1.8 mL (1.2–2.4 mL). Technical success rate was 100%. EV technical success was observed in 26/30 patients. Complete variceal obliteration was observed in 96.6% of patients, and immediate disappearance of the varix was observed in 24 (80%) patients. The complication rate was 6.7%. Conclusions: Endoscopic‐ultrasound guidance for gastric varix treatment with the addition of EV and the use of a less‐expensive coil is a safe and effective technique that results in the immediate disappearance of GV after targeting the feeding vessel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Capsule endoscopy is a diagnostic method for evaluating the small bowel lumen and can detect undiagnosed lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield and clinical impact of capsule endoscopy in patients with refractory diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and functional abdominal pain. Methods: This study involved a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data, maintained in a database. Patients with refractory diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and functional abdominal pain within the period of March 2012 to March 2014 were included. Capsule endoscopy was used to detect small bowel pathologies in both groups. Results: Sixty-five patients (53.8% female) fulfilled the inclusion criteria and had a mean (±standard deviation) age of 50.9±15.9 years. Clinically significant lesions were detected via capsule endoscopy in 32.5% of the patients in the abdominal pain group and 54.5% of the patients in the diarrhea group. Overall, 48% of patients had small bowel pathologies detected during the capsule endoscopy study. Inflammatory lesions and villous atrophy were the most frequent lesions identified in 16.9% and 15.3% of patients in the abdominal pain and the diarrhea groups, respectively. Conclusions: Routine use of capsule endoscopy in patients with irritable bowel syndrome should not be recommended. However, in patients with refractory conditions, capsule endoscopy may identify abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to propose a novel, comprehensive, macroscopic classification for bile duct lesions.Methods: A two-stage protocol was designed. In Stage I, a retrospective study (September 2013 to September 2015) of patients with bile duct lesions detected by peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) was performed. A total of 315 images with at least 6 months of follow-up were recorded, analyzed, and correlated to histology, and were classified as non-neoplastic (one of three types, 1 - 3) or neoplastic (one of four types, 1 - 4) based on morphological and vascular patterns. In Stage II, a prospective, nonrandomized, double-blind study was performed from December 2015 to December 2016 to validate the proposed classification. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV, respectively), and positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR + and LR - , respectively) were calculated (gold standard: 6-month follow-up). Inter- and intraobserver agreement (kappa value, κ) among experts and non-experts were calculated.Results: 171 patients were included (65 retrospective; 106 prospective). In Stage I, 28/65 cases were neoplastic and 37 /65 were non-neoplastic, according to the final diagnosis. In Stage II, 56/106 were neoplastic with a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, LR + , and LR - for neoplastic diagnosis of 96.3 %, 92.3 %, 92.9 %, 96 %, 12.52, and 0.04, respectively. The proposed classification presented high reproducibility among observers, for both neoplastic and subtypes categories. However, it was better for experts (κ > 80 %) than non-experts (κ 64.7 % - 81.9 %).Conclusion: The novel classification system could help physicians to distinguish non-neoplastic from neoplastic bile duct lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • We review classical ideas on entorhinal–hippocampal structure and function. • Recent data on cell-type specific entorhinal inputs radically change these views. • Emerging evidence of a radial deep-superficial organization of CA1 is discussed. • A new vision is proposed based on an entorhinal dialogue with CA1 sublayers. Understanding how the brain represents events is a fundamental question in neuroscience. The entorhinal–hippocampal system is central to such representations, which are severely compromised in some neurological diseases. In spite of much progress, a comprehensive, integrated view of spatial, temporal and other aspects of episodic representation remains elusive. Here, we review recent data on the role of cell-type specific entorhinal inputs which excite deep and superficial CA1 pyramidal cells by direct and indirect pathways. We discuss how an entorhinal dialogue with deep-superficial CA1 cells can multiplex neuronal activity along theta phases and how their reactivation may be segregated during sharp-wave ripples. Thus, deep and superficial CA1 sublayers provide substrate for general hippocampal function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cortical GABAergic interneurons (INs) represent a diverse population of mainly locally projecting cells that provide specialized forms of inhibition to pyramidal neurons and other INs. Most recent work on INs has focused on subtypes distinguished by expression of Parvalbumin (PV), Somatostatin (SST), or Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP). However, a fourth group that includes neurogliaform cells (NGFCs) has been less well characterized due to a lack of genetic tools. Here, we show that these INs can be accessed experimentally using intersectional genetics with the gene Id2. We find that outside of layer 1 (L1), the majority of Id2 INs are NGFCs that express high levels of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and exhibit a late-spiking firing pattern, with extensive local connectivity. While much sparser, non-NGFC Id2 INs had more variable properties, with most cells corresponding to a diverse group of INs that strongly expresses the neuropeptide CCK. In vivo, using silicon probe recordings, we observed several distinguishing aspects of NGFC activity, including a strong rebound in activity immediately following the cortical down state during NREM sleep. Our study provides insights into IN diversity and NGFC distribution and properties, and outlines an intersectional genetics approach for further study of this underappreciated group of INs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present the results of a larger investigation in which, relying on the concept of interpretative repertoire put forward by Poter and Wetherell, we analyze the emerging discursive framework of the Andalusian Public Health System in terms of the arguments-ideas behind such framework. In a previous paper, we identified three major discursive groups that we labelled as critical, ontological, and legitimating. At this second stage, we address the subjectivities constructed on the basis of these repertoires and we emphasize three categories of subjects: healthcare, non-healthcare, and citizens. We draw attention to the multi-discursive nature of the organization and, therefore, the multi-referentiality inherent in the processes of subjectivity construction as well as the --potential-- organisational consequences of assuming one or another type of subjectivity. We conclude by proposing the need for a dialogic model of management that includes the system's multi-discursive variety toward a same direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyurethanes were synthesized from castor oil, starch modified via glycosylation with ethylene glycol and lysine methyl ester diisocyanate (LDI). A degradation study of the polyurethanes in PBS solution was performed, and the mass loss was determined for each. The results were compared with homologous material obtained in previous studies using isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI). The degraded polyurethanes were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). The objective of the study was to evaluate the biodegradation characteristics and proteins adsorption of the materials under various conditions and to evaluate the changes in their mechanical and thermal properties caused by the modification of the structures of the hard and soft segments of the polyurethanes with respect to the structure of the diisocyanate used in the synthesis. This study provided an evaluation of segmented polyurethanes with possible biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CeO2-, ZrO2-, and La2O3-supported Rh-Pt catalysts were tested to assess their ability to catalyze the steam reforming of ethanol (SRE) for H2 production. SRE activity tests were performed using EtOH:H2O:N2 (molar ratio 1:3:51) at a gaseous space velocity of 70,600 h-1 between 400 and 700 °C at atmospheric pressure. The SRE stability of the catalysts was tested at 700 °C for 27 h time on stream under the same conditions. RhPt/CeO2, which showed the best performance in the stability test, also produced the highest H2 yield above 600 °C, followed by RhPt/La2O3 and RhPt/ZrO2. The fresh and aged catalysts were characterized by TEM, XPS, and TGA. The higher H2 selectivity of RhPt/CeO2 was ascribed to the formation of small (~5 nm) and stable particles probably consistent of Rh-Pt alloys with a Pt surface enrichment. Both metals were oxidized and acted as an almost constant active phase during the stability test owing to strong metal-support interactions, as well as the superior oxygen mobility of the support. The TGA results confirmed the absence of carbonaceous residues in all the aged catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sharp-wave ripples represent a prominent synchronous activity pattern in the mammalian hippocampus during sleep and immobility. GABAergic interneuronal types are silenced or fire during these events, but the mechanism of pyramidal cell (PC) participation remains elusive. We found opposite membrane polarization of deep (closer to stratum oriens) and superficial (closer to stratum radiatum) rat CA1 PCs during sharp-wave ripples. Using sharp and multi-site recordings in combination with neurochemical profiling, we observed a predominant inhibitory drive of deep calbindin (CB)-immunonegative PCs that contrasts with a prominent depolarization of superficial CB-immunopositive PCs. Biased contribution of perisomatic GABAergic inputs, together with suppression of CA2 PCs, may explain the selection of CA1 PCs during sharp-wave ripples. A deep-superficial gradient interacted with behavioral and spatial effects to determine cell participation during sleep and awake sharp-wave ripples in freely moving rats. Thus, the firing dynamics of hippocampal PCs are exquisitely controlled at subcellular and microcircuit levels in a cell type-selective manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyurethanes (Pus) were synthesized from castor oil and modified through transesterification by pentaerythritol, poly(ε-caprolactone)diol (PCL), and isophorone diisocyanate to form PU coatings. The ratio of NCO/OH groups used was 1:1. The effect of varying the PCL content on the physical properties of wood panel PU coatings was determined. The PU coatings were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis, and the physicochemical properties, such as tensile strength, elongation at the break, shore A hardness, and the results of a lap shear test, were reported. Thermal properties of the PU coatings were evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. In vitro PU degradation was related to the hard segment structure and polymer hydrophilicity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Hippocampal high-frequency oscillations (HFOs) are prominent in physiological and pathological conditions. During physiological ripples (100 -200 Hz), few pyramidal cells fire together coordinated by rhythmic inhibitory potentials. In the epileptic hippocampus, fast ripples (>200 Hz) reflect population spikes (PSs) from clusters of bursting cells, but HFOs in the ripple and the fast ripple range are vastly intermixed. What is the meaning of this frequency range? What determines the expression of different HFOs? Here, we used different concentrations of Ca2+ in a physiological range (1-3 mM) to record local field potentials and single cells in hippocampal slices from normal rats. Surprisingly, we found that this sole manipulation results in the emergence of two forms of HFOs reminiscent of ripples and fast ripples recorded in vivo from normal and epileptic rats, respectively. We scrutinized the cellular correlates and mechanisms underlying the emergence of these two forms of HFOs by combining multisite, single-cell and paired-cell recordings in slices prepared from a rat reporter line that facilitates identification of GABAergic cells. We found a major effect of extracellular Ca2+ in modulating intrinsic excitability and disynaptic inhibition, two critical factors shaping network dynamics. Moreover, locally modulating the extracellular Ca2+ concentration in an in vivo environment had a similar effect on disynaptic inhibition, pyramidal cell excitability, and ripple dynamics. Therefore, the HFO frequency band reflects a range of firing dynamics of hippocampal networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In understanding circuit operations, a key problem is the extent to which neuronal spiking reflects local computation or responses to upstream inputs. We addressed this issue in the hippocampus by performing combined optogenetic and pharmacogenetic local and upstream inactivation. Silencing the medial entorhinal cortex (mEC) largely abolished extracellular theta and gamma currents in CA1 while only moderately affecting firing rates. In contrast, CA3 and local CA1 silencing strongly decreased firing of CA1 neurons without affecting theta currents. Each perturbation reconfigured the CA1 spatial map. However, the ability of the CA1 circuit to support place field activity persisted, maintaining the same fraction of spatially tuned place fields and reliable assembly expression as in the intact mouse. Thus, the CA1 network can induce and maintain coordinated cell assemblies with minimal reliance on its inputs, but these inputs can effectively reconfigure and assist in maintaining stability of the CA1 map. [Display omitted] • Unilateral or bilateral silencing of the mEC decreases theta and gamma currents • Bilateral but not unilateral mEC silencing causes remapping in CA1 cell assemblies • CA3 silencing decreases CA1 firing rates and leads to place cell remapping • CA1 place cells and assemblies persist despite combined mEC and CA3 silencing Zutshi et al. perform simultaneous silencing of major afferents into the hippocampal CA1 to address whether CA1 spiking can be sustained by local computations. These manipulations reveal that coordinated CA1 place cell assemblies persist with minimal input but that each input has distinct effects on spatial tuning and field potentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

γ-Al 2 O 3 is a transition alumina oxide used in many different applications. Its surface chemistry seems to be a key factor in the preparation of heterogeneous catalyst where γ-Al 2 O 3 is used as a support. The modification and description of its surface are necessary to understand the role of the support on the catalyst preparation and on its performance. In this work, the modification of the surface is performed with a carboxylic diacid, malonic acid, which specifically adsorbs at the γ-Al 2 O 3 surface and modifies the surface chemistry (surface sites density and global surface charge). The impact of the impregnation pH, malonic acid content, and drying are studied. By using a multi-technique approach, both the solid/liquid interface and the dried surface were characterized. The infrared spectroscopic information coupled with zetametry measurements indicate the formation of an inner sphere complex adsorbed via both side-on ester linkage and bridging bidentate mode involving the two carboxylic groups. A surface complexation model was built to support the experimental results and obtain complementary information. It underlines the different reactivity of the γ-Al 2 O 3 facets and of the surface sites responsible for the adsorption. The whole (100) facet is involved in the adsorption while only the µ 1 -Al VI -OH and µ 1 -Al IV -OH sites of the (110) facet participate in the malonic acid adsorption. The model also confirms the consumption of 3–4 surface hydroxyls per adsorbed molecule, in accordance with ester linkage and bridging bidentate structure. This molecular level description of the surface chemistry is of interest in different environmental fields such as wastewater treatment and pollutant removal. In the catalysis field, the detailed surface chemistry will be very useful to understand the impact of this modified support on the catalytic performance. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Data from both human and animal studies suggest that exposure to stressful life events at neonatal stages may increase the risk of psychopathology at adulthood. In particular, early maternal deprivation, 24 h at postnatal day (pnd) 9, has been associated with persistent neurobehavioural changes similar to those present in developmental psychopathologies such as depression and schizophrenic-related disorders. Most neuropsychiatric disorders first appear during adolescence, however, the effects of MD on adolescent animals'' brain and behaviour have been scarcely explored. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the emotional and cognitive consequences of MD in adolescent male and female rats, as well as possible underlying neurobiological mechanisms within frontal cortex and hippocampus. Animals were exposed to a battery of behavioural tasks, from pnd 35 to 42, to evaluate cognitive [spontaneous alternation task (SAT) and novel object test (NOT)] and anxiety-related responses [elevated plus maze (EPM)] during adolescence. Changes in neuronal and glial cells, alterations in synaptic plasticity as well as modifications in cannabinoid receptor expression were investigated in a parallel group of control and adolescent (pnd 40) male and female animals. Notably, MD induced a significant impairment in recognition memory exclusively among females. A generalized decrease in NeuN expression was found in MD animals, together with an increase in hippocampal glial fibrillar acidic protein (GFAP) expression exclusively among MD adolescent males. In addition, MD induced in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of male and female adolescent rats a significant reduction in brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and postsynaptic density (PSD95) levels, together with a decrease in synaptophysin in frontal cortex and neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) in hippocampus. MD induced, in animals of both sexes, a significant reduction in CB1R expression, but an increase in CB2R that was statistically significant only for the frontal cortex. Taken together, these results indicate that adolescent females are more vulnerable than males to the cognitive deficits derived from MD despite the changes in neural cells, cannabinoid receptors, as well as the reduction in neural plasticity seem to be similar in both sexes. Further investigation is needed to understand the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the sexual dimorphisms associated to the MD effects, and thus, for a better understanding of the specific sex-dependent vulnerabilities to early life stress. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled ‘Neurodevelopmental Disorders’. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Starting from an overview of general concepts in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, this perspective article focuses on relevant theoretical works based on density functional theory (DFT) dealing with cobalt based Fischer-Tropsch (FT) catalysis. Our bibliographic analysis highlights key scientific questions in a challenging field for research and industry. Starting from the historical and empirical concepts, we discuss how recent DFT studies give insights into the catalyst structure, the FT reaction mechanisms and the deactivation pathways. There is still no clear consensus within the scientific community about the FT reaction mechanism. Some authors propose that the first elementary step in the FT synthesis consists on CO dissociation taking place at the steps of the cobalt active phase (carbide mechanism) while some others suggest that this molecule is hydrogenated prior to its dissociation no matter the structure of the active site (insertion mechanism). As for the crucial deactivation problem, according to the computed thermodynamic properties presented by some publications, the catalyst oxidation does not seem to play a major role in its deactivation process. By contrast, the interaction of C addatoms with the Co active phase can have a strong influence on the catalyst reactivity and selectivity, through a series of structural rearrangements: the formation of various more or less unsaturated hydrocarbon molecules (such as polyaromatic rings) and the formation of a surface carbide phase. However, the impact of these phenomena on the reactivity and selectivity of the catalyst remain to be investigated in the future. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the preparation of polyurethane adhesives using polyols obtained from castor oil modified by a transesterification reaction with pentaerythritol. The physical properties of the polyols such as hydroxyl value have been determined and the infrared (IR) spectroscopic analysis of the polyols is reported. The polyols were reacted with aliphatic isocyanate (isophorone diisocyanate) to form polyurethane coatings (NCO/OH ratio = 1). The effect of varied pentaerythritol content in the polyols on the physical properties of polyurethane coatings on wood and steel panels was determined. The characterization of polyurethane coatings carried out by IR spectroscopic analysis and the physicomechanical properties such as hardness, adhesion properties, solvent resistance and chemical resistant determination were reported. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A series of simultaneous interpenetrating polymer networks (SINs) based on pentaerythritol modified castor oil polyurethane and polystyrene were studied. Miscibility, phase continuity and phase separation are studied by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). The patterns of extent of the phase separation and the characteristics of the interpenetration reached as a function of the components were deduced. The modulus-composition relationship has been analyzed for the synthesized SINs using theoretical equations based on mechanical models. Most of these models assume perfect adhesion between the homogeneous isotropic phases and the inclusions in the matrix are spherical. The IPNs follow the Budiansky model, which predicts a phase inversion at intermediate compositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present novel polyurethanes from renewable materials of castor oil and starch. Castor oil is transesterified with pentaerythritol in order to obtain a wide range of polyols. Yucca starch is converted into glycoside through transglycosylation reactions with ethylene glycol and glycerol. The glycosides from starch are then chemically incorporated to the castor oil polyols by a second transesterification reaction to generate a sequence of polyol-glycosides with a high level of polyhydroxyl content. These products are characterized by the hydroxyl value, viscosity, and specific gravity as a function of the glycoside type content and the kind of castor oil polyol prepared. MALDI TOF mass spectroscopy is used to find the mass fraction of glycosides and polyol-glycosides. Polyurethanes are synthesized from the polyol-glycosides by reaction with isophorone diisocyanate, under different NCO/OH molar ratios. The polymer characterization is accomplished by Fourier transform infrared analysis, tensile stress-strain tests, Shore A hardness, thermogravimetric analysis, chemical We present novel polyurethanes from renewable materials of castor oil and starch. Castor oil is transesterified with pentaerythritol in order to obtain a wide range of polyols. Yucca starch is converted into glycoside through transglycosylation reactions with ethylene glycol and glycerol. The glycosides from starch are then chemically incorporated to the castor oil polyols by a second transesterification reaction to generate a sequence of polyol-glycosides with a high level of polyhydroxyl content. These products are characterized by the hydroxyl value, viscosity, and specific gravity as a function of the glycoside type content and the kind of castor oil polyol prepared. MALDI TOF mass spectroscopy is used to find the mass fraction of glycosides and polyol-glycosides. Polyurethanes are synthesized from the polyol-glycosides by reaction with isophorone diisocyanate, under different NCO/OH molar ratios. The polymer characterization is accomplished by Fourier transform infrared analysis, tensile stress-strain tests, Shore A hardness, thermogravimetric analysis, chemical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The adsorption of CO and C2H4 molecules was investigated on Pd4 clusters supported on two relevant models of γ-alumina surfaces, the nonhydroxylated (100) surface and the hydroxylated (110) surface, by means of density functional theory (DFT) calculations using periodic boundary conditions. The hollow mode is the most stable geometry for CO adsorption whatever the γ-alumina surface, whereas the preferred mode for ethylene depends on the support''s surface. In particular, the π mode of ethylene is stabilized when the Pd4 cluster is deposited on the hydroxylated (110) surface. The calculations demonstrate an important interplay between molecular adsorption and cluster–oxide interaction. The deposited cluster is not a frozen object, but it responds to the molecular adsorption by relaxing its geometry and changing its bonding with the oxide support. In a counterintuitive manner, molecular adsorption on the particle reinforces its interaction with the oxide in several cases. An energy decomposition scheme is proposed to give insight into the energy trends observed. Two key energetic contributions are put forward: substrate relaxation and metal–support interaction energies. A detailed electronic analysis before and after adsorption is proposed. The combined effect of the surface ligand groups (O and Al, or OH depending on the hydration state) and of the molecular adsorbate can produce specific synergy from electronic effects between an electron donor surface O atom and an electron acceptor CO adsorbate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Poor flavor in tomato fruit is a serious consumer concern. It could be said that tomato flavor has declined as variety selection and tomato production has placed emphasis on yield, fruit size, firmness, disease resistance, and processing performance and not on aspects of organoleptic fruit quality. Consumers frequently associate recent varieties with a lack of flavor, although such an association has not been proven. We have reviewed the scarce available literature on the influence of recent genetic improvement on quality attributes of tomato. As a case study, we have analyzed several parameters related to fruit quality in some traditional Spanish cultivars and commercial F1 hybrids of tomato. Organic acids and sugars were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Sodium (Na), potassium (P), and phosphorus (K) were analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Levels of respiration and ethylene production were measured, and fruit firmness was determined using a texture analyzer. All determinations were performed at two maturity stages, representing two frequent consumption stages. Differences between traditional cultivars and hybrids were found for respiration rates, ethylene production, P and K fruit contents. We also found important differences between “old” and “modern” cultivars for their organic acids profile. All cultivars showed similar levels of malic and succinic acids, but the modern hybrids showed a &nvsim;75% higher content of citric acid. This could be due to the F1 hybrids carrying chromosomal segments recently introgressed from wild Lycopersicon species. The influence of recent genetic improvement on quality attributes of tomato fruit is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement to ascertain why polyurethanes (PUs) have been used in the manufacture and design of cardiovascular devices. A complete database search was performed with PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science as the information sources. The search period ranged from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2019. We recovered 1552 articles in the first stage. After the duplicate selection and extraction procedures, a total of 21 papers were included in the analysis. We concluded that polyurethanes are being applied in medical devices because they have the capability to tolerate contractile forces that originate during the cardiac cycle without undergoing plastic deformation or failure, and the capability to imitate the behaviors of different tissues. Studies have reported that polyurethanes cause severe problems when applied in blood-contacting devices that are implanted for long periods. However, the chemical compositions and surface characteristics of polyurethanes can be modified to improve their mechanical properties, blood compatibility, and endothelial cell adhesion, and to reduce their protein adhesion. These modifications enable the use of polyurethanes in the manufacture and design of cardiovascular devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The formation of carbonaceous species is the main pathway to deactivation. • Co sites oxidize more readlily from CO derived oxygen than from water. • Direct contact of oxygen with Co sites is only favored at low C coverages. • C migration into subsurface sites is needed for Co surface reconstruction. • C migration into subsurface sites is only favored for 0.5 ≤ θ(C) ≤ 1.25 ML. Loss of catalyst activity and selectivity with time-on-stream are one of the greatest limitations for the industrial use of Cobalt based Fischer-Tropsch (FT) catalysis. Despite much work on this area, there is still a lack of consensus about the causes leading to catalyst deactivation. Some of the most common hypotheses are oxidation and carbonization of the active phase. In our work we present the free energy of C α H β O γ surface deposition on Co(111) for a wide range of surface coverages under FT reaction conditions. These results present a comprehensive study in which the trends for hydrocarbon-species deposition, cobalt oxidation, and hydrocarbon-induced surface reconstruction are thoroughly compared. The formation of unavoidable branched species leads to deactivation by coke; O may be present in surface intermediates but direct Co-O interaction is unlikely at these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Single cell glass methods allow linking structure and function in neural circuit research. • Head-mounted approaches enable recording single cell activity in freely moving animals. • Whole-cell patch, intracellular sharp and juxtacellular recording can be performed in freely-moving conditions. • Static anchor system, manual and motorized drives have been developed for single-cell studies in freely behaving animals. Neural network processing is usually studied using the spike times of many extracellularly recorded neurons. Elucidating the cellular-synaptic mechanisms underlying these firing patterns requires identifying and controlling single cells and assessing their inputs. Single cell glass electrode techniques (intracellular, patch and juxtacellular) are well suited to filling this gap, in terms of physiology, cell identity and behavior. However, they are typically limited to in vitro and immobilized in vivo experiments, primarily due to the necessity for mechanical stability and steep learning curves. Several approaches have been recently developed to extend these technologies to freely moving animals. Here we summarize the advantages and results for different methods of single neuron glass recordings in vivo. We further review three approaches used to date for single cell recording in freely moving animals: static anchor systems, manual mechanic drives and motorized drives. Finally, we highlight new technologies capable of expanding the utility of single neuron recording in freely moving animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inherent resistance of synthetic plastics to degradation has led to an increasing challenge of waste accumulation problem and created a pollution issue that can only be addressed with novel complementary methods such as biodegradation. Since biocontrol is a promising eco-friendly option to address this challenge, the identification of suitable biological agents is a crucial requirement. Among the existing options, organisms of the Streptomyces genus have been reported to biodegrade several complex polymeric macromolecules such as chitin, lignin, and cellulose. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to evaluate the potential of Streptomyces strains for the biodegradation of synthetic plastics. The results showed that although Streptomyces strains are widely distributed in different ecosystems in nature, few studies have explored their capacity as degraders of synthetic polymers. Moreover, most of the research in this field has focused on Streptomyces strains with promising biotransforming potential against polyethylene-like polymers. Our findings suggest that this field of study is still in the early stages of development. Moreover, considering the diverse ecological niches associated with Streptomyces, these actinobacteria could serve as complementary agents for plastic waste management and thereby enhance carbon cycle dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do firing patterns in a cortical circuit change when inhibitory neurons are excited? We virally expressed an excitatory designer receptor exclusively activated by a designer drug (Gq-DREADD) in all inhibitory interneuron types of the CA1 region of the hippocampus in the rat. While clozapine N-oxide (CNO) activation of interneurons suppressed firing of pyramidal cells, unexpectedly the majority of interneurons also decreased their activity. CNOinduced inhibition decreased over repeated sessions, which we attribute to long-term synaptic plasticity between interneurons and pyramidal cells. Individual interneurons did not display sustained firing but instead transiently enhanced their activity, interleaved with suppression of others. The power of the local fields in the theta band was unaffected, while power at higher frequencies was attenuated, likely reflecting reduced pyramidal neuron spiking. The incidence of sharp wave ripples decreased but the surviving ripples were associated with stronger population firing compared with the control condition. These findings demonstrate that DREADD activation of interneurons brings about both short-term and long-term circuit reorganization, which should be taken into account in the interpretation of chemogenic effects on behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyurethanes are materials with a strong structure-property relationship. The goal of this research was to study the effect of a polyol blend composition of polyurethanes on its properties using a mixture design and setting mathematic models for each property. Water absorption, hydrolytic degradation, contact angle, tensile strength hardness and modulus were studied. Additionally, thermal stability was studied by thermogravimetric analysis. Area under the curve was used to evaluate the effect of polyol blend composition on thermal stability and kinetics of water absorption and hydrolytic degradation. Least squares were used to calculate the regression coefficients. Models for the properties were significant, and lack of fit was not (p < 0.05). Fit statistics suggest both good fitting and prediction. Water absorption, hydrolytic degradation and contact angle were mediated by the hydrophilic nature of the polyols. Tensile strength, modulus and hardness could be regulated by the PE content and the characteristics of polyols. Regression of DTG curves from thermal analysis showed improvement of thermal stability with the increase of PCL and PE. An ANOVA test of the model terms demonstrated that three component influences on bulk properties like water absorption, hydrolytic degradation, hardness, tensile strength and modulus. The PEG*PCL interaction influences on the contact angle, which is a surface property. Mixture design application allowed for an understanding of the structure-property relationship through mathematic models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastric variceal bleeding is a life-threating condition with challenging management. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided coil embolization and cyanoacrylate injection versus EUS-guided coil embolization alone in the management of gastric varices.Methods: A single-center, parallel-randomized controlled trial involving 60 participants with gastric varices (GOV II and IGV I) who were randomly allocated to EUS-guided coil embolization and cyanoacrylate injection (n = 30) or EUS-guided coil embolization alone (n = 30). The primary end points were the technical and clinical success rates of both procedures. The secondary end points were the reappearance of gastric varices during follow-up, along with rebleeding, the need for reintervention, and complication and survival rates.Results: The technical success rate was 100 % in both groups. Immediate disappearance of varices was observed in 86.7 % of patients treated with coils and cyanoacrylate, versus 13.3 % of patients treated with coils alone (P < 0.001). Median survival time was 16.4 months with coils and cyanoacrylate versus 14.2 months with coils alone (P = 0.90). Rebleeding occurred in 3.3 % of patients treated with combined treatment and 20 % of those treated with coils alone (P = 0.04). With combined treatment, 83.3 % of patients were free from reintervention versus 60 % with coils alone (hazard ratio 0.27; 95 % confidence interval 0.095 - 0.797; P = 0.01).Conclusions: EUS-guided coil embolization with cyanoacrylate injection achieved excellent clinical success, with lower rates of rebleeding and reintervention than coil treatment alone. Multicenter studies are required to define the most appropriate technique for gastric variceal obliteration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several polyurethane-formulated films with curcumin and/or chitosan additives for food packaging have been previously obtained. The study examines the effect of the additives on the film's morphological, mechanical, barrier, and migration properties. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water contact angle, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TGA and DTGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), oxygen transmission rate (OTR), water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), and the overall and specific migration tests were conducted. The results show that the presence of chitosan significantly increased the overall migration and mechanical properties, such as the elongation at break, tensile strength, and Young's modulus of most polyurethane formulations, while curcumin had a minor influence on the mechanical performance. Based on the results, formulations with curcumin but without chitosan are suitable for food packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Memory traces are reactivated selectively during sharp-wave ripples. The mechanisms of selective reactivation, and how degraded reactivation affects memory, are poorly understood. We evaluated hippocampal single-cell activity during physiological and pathological sharp-wave ripples using juxtacellular and intracellular recordings in normal and epileptic rats with different memory abilities. CA1 pyramidal cells participate selectively during physiological events but fired together during epileptic fast ripples. We found that firing selectivity was dominated by an event- and cell-specific synaptic drive, modulated in single cells by changes in the excitatory/inhibitory ratio measured intracellularly. This mechanism collapses during pathological fast ripples to exacerbate and randomize neuronal firing. Acute administration of a use- and cell-type-dependent sodium channel blocker reduced neuronal collapse and randomness and improved recall in epileptic rats. We propose that cell-specific synaptic inputs govern firing selectivity of CA1 pyramidal cells during sharp-wave ripples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Non‐native plant species have been hypothesized to experience lower herbivory in novel environments as a function of their phylogenetic distance from native plant species. Although recent work has found support for this prediction, the plant traits responsible for such patterns have been largely overlooked. Methods: In a common garden experiment in northwestern Spain, we tested whether oak species (Quercus spp.) not native to this region that are phylogenetically more distantly related to native species exhibit less insect leaf herbivory. In addition, we also investigated plant traits potentially correlated with any such effect of phylogenetic distance. Results: As expected, phylogenetic distance from native species negatively predicted insect leaf herbivory on non‐native oaks. In addition, we found that the leaf traits, namely phosphorus and condensed tannins, were significantly associated with herbivory, suggesting that they are associated with the effect of phylogenetic distance on leaf herbivory on non‐native oak species. Conclusions: This study contributes to a better understanding of how evolutionary relationships (relatedness) between native and non‐native plant species determine the latter's success in novel environments via locally shared enemies, and encourages more work investigating the plant traits that mediate the effects of phylogenetic distance on enemy escape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased demand for vascular grafts for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases has led to the search for novel biomaterials that can achieve the properties of the tissue. According to this, the investigation of polyurethanes has been a promising approach to overcome the present limitations. However, some biological properties remain to be overcome, such as thrombogenicity and hemocompatibility, among others. This paper aims to synthesize polyurethanes based on castor oil and castor oil transesterified with triethanolamine (TEA) and pentaerythritol (PE) and with the incorporation of 1% chitosan. Analysis of the wettability, enzymatic degradation, mechanical properties (tensile strength and elongation at break), and thermal stability was performed. Along with the evaluation of the cytotoxicity against mouse fibroblast (L929) and human dermal fibroblast (HDFa) cells, the hemolysis rate and platelet adhesion were determined. The castor-oil-based polyurethanes with and without 1% chitosan posed hydrophobic surfaces and water absorptions of less than 2% and enzymatic degradation below 0.5%. Also, they were thermally stable until 300 °C, with tensile strength like cardiovascular tissues. The synthesized castor oil/chitosan polyurethanes are non-cytotoxic (cell viabilities above 80%) to L929 and HDFa cells and non-thrombogenic and non-hemolytic (less than 2%); therefore, they are suitable for cardiovascular applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurons perform input-output operations that integrate synaptic inputs with intrinsic electrical properties; these operations are generally constrained by the brevity of synaptic events. Here, we report that sustained firing of CA1 hippocampal fast-spiking parvalbumin-expressing interneurons (PV-INs) can be persistently interrupted for several hundred milliseconds following brief GABA A R-mediated inhibition in vitro and in vivo. A single presynaptic neuron could interrupt PV-IN firing, occasionally with a single action potential (AP), and reliably with AP bursts. Experiments and computational modeling reveal that the persistent interruption of firing maintains neurons in a depolarized, quiescent state through a cell-autonomous mechanism. Interrupted PV-INs are strikingly responsive to Schaffer collateral inputs. The persistent interruption of firing provides a disinhibitory circuit mechanism favoring spike generation in CA1 pyramidal cells. Overall, our results demonstrate that neuronal silencing can far outlast brief synaptic inhibition owing to the well-tuned interplay between neurotransmitter release and postsynaptic membrane dynamics, a phenomenon impacting microcircuit function. • Synaptic inhibition of fast-spiking interneurons persistently interrupts their firing • The interruption of firing is driven by GABAergic conductance but far outlasts it • Near-balancing Na and K conductances sustain a quiescent yet hyperexcitable state • The persistent interruption of firing disinhibits CA1 pyramidal cells Fast-spiking interneurons (FSIs) dominate hippocampal circuitry, but how their firing is controlled is not fully understood. Chamberland et al. find that GABAergic inhibition interrupts FSI firing for much longer than the inhibitory conductance itself. A delicate balance of intrinsic excitability mechanisms sustains the interrupted state, disinhibiting CA1 pyramidal neuron targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas chromatography (GC) techniques for analyzing and determining the cannabinoid profile in cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) are widely used in standard laboratories; however, these methods may mislabel the profile when used under rapid conditions. Our study aimed to highlight this problem and optimize GC column conditions and mass spectrometry (MS) parameters to accurately identify cannabinoids in both standards and forensic samples. The method was validated for linearity, selectivity, and precision. It was observed that when tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiolic acid (CBD-A) were examined using rapid GC conditions, the resulting derivatives generated identical retention times. Wider chromatographic conditions were applied. The linear range for each compound ranged from 0.02 μg/mL to 37.50 μg/mL. The R2 values ranged from 0.996 to 0.999. The LOQ values ranged from 0.33 μg/mL to 5.83 μg/mL, and the LOD values ranged from 0.11 μg/mL to 1.92 μg/mL. The precision values ranged from 0.20% to 8.10% RSD. In addition, forensic samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD) in an interlaboratory comparison test, with higher CBD and THC content than GC–MS determination (p < 0.05) in samples. Overall, this study highlights the importance of optimizing GC techniques to avoid mislabeling cannabinoids in cannabis samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic esophageal conditions (CEC) are associated with significant disease‐related burden, disability, and costs. Health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) constructs are intended to capture the physical, mental, social, and emotional aspects of a patient's life and how health status impacts these domains. The Northwestern Esophageal Quality of Life (NEQOL) can be used among esophageal diseases while maintaining sensitivity to specific conditions. We aimed to translate, cross‐cultural adapt, and validate the NEQOL into Spanish. Methods: After language and cross‐cultural adaptation, the NEQOL was applied to an outpatient clinic‐based population in a single tertiary center. We analyzed the internal consistency, construct, criterion validity, and test–retest reliability of the questionnaire. The criterion validity was tested against the SF‐12 questionnaire. Key Results: After completing the translation process, no item was considered problematic. A total of 385 patients were included in the validation study. The internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) for the total NEQOL‐S score was 0.89. The NEQOL‐S questionnaire showed moderate test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.828; 95% CI 0.755–0.881; p < 0.001). Criterion validity showed good coherence when correlated with the SF‐12 survey (R2 = 0.538; 95% CI 0.491–0.585, p < 0.001). Conclusions and Inferences: The translated and cross‐culturally adapted NEQOL‐S showed good psychometric properties that allow its use in Spanish‐speaking patients suffering from CEC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyurethanes were synthesized from polyols derived from castor oil (CO) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) with NCO/OH=1; different flame retardants were added in different proportions. Polyols (P0 and P1) were obtained from a transesterification reaction of castor oil with pentaerythritol. It was added to the polyurethanes additives such as aluminum hydroxide (AH) and molybdenum oxide (OM) in order to evaluate the effect as flame retardant. Thermal degradation and combustion reactions were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC). The change in the mechanical properties such as stress/strain and shore A hardness were evaluated with and without additives. Aluminum hydroxide (AH) has better characteristics as flame retardant then molybdenum oxide for the polyurethanes obtained from castor oil modified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review of the article "Hippocampal ripple oscillations and inhibition-first network models: frequency dynamics and response to GABA modulators," by J. R. Donoso and colleagues which appeared in the 2018 issue of the "Journal of Neuroscience," is presented.

Dressings made with polyurethanes have been found to exhibit good and varied biological properties that make them good candidates for this application. However, as has been seen, the wound-healing process is complex, which includes four different stages. So far, the design and evaluation of polyurethane for wound dressing has focused on achieving good properties (mechanical, physicochemical, and biological), but each of them separates from the others or even directed at only one of the stages of skin wound-healing. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review is to explore the applications of polyurethanes in wound dressings and to determine whether could be designed to cover more than one stage of skin wound-healing. The PRISMA guidelines were followed. The current research in this field does not consider each stage separately, and the design of polyurethane dressings is focused on covering all the stages of wound healing with a single material but is necessary to replace polyurethanes in short periods of time. Additionally, little emphasis is placed on the hemostasis stage and further characterization of polyurethanes is still needed to correlate mechanical and physicochemical properties with biological properties at each stage of the wound-healing. Current research demonstrates an effort to characterize the materials physiochemically and mechanically, but in terms of their biological properties, most of the literature is based on the performance of histological tests of explants morphologically probing the compromised tissues, which give an indication of the potential use of polyurethanes in the generation of wound-healing dressings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an exhaustive analysis of the species Cannabis sativa L. was carried out, focusing on the terpenoid and cannabinoid profiles of inflorescences from five different varieties and four intra-specific hybrids. In addition, terpenoid and cannabinoid compositions of seed oils from these same Cannabis varieties were examined. Aromatic compounds were analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GS-MS) while cannabinoids were by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical analysis were performed to determine the relationship between aromatic compounds within varieties for classification. A total of 71 naturally occurring aromatic compounds were identified, including 27 terpenoids and 10 isomers. Terpenoid clustering from the different inflorescence groups confirmed the commercial aromatic description of each Cannabis variety; however, they were not associated with the clusters observed in the cannabinoid profiles. Seed oils contained trace amounts of both aromatic compounds and cannabinoids, suggesting a migration of components during the industrial extraction process. This study contributes to understanding cannabis chemistry and emphasizes the importance of ongoing research of cannabis-derived products throughout comprehensive analysis of cannabinoid content, and especially aromatic profile in varieties. It can guide the development of targeted breeding programs, complex classification of varieties and formulation of cannabis-based products tailored to specific applications. • Cannabis sativa chemotypes are currently in high demand for therapeutic treatments. • Qualitative aromatic profile from nine chemotypes of Cannabis sativa was determined. • The identification of aromatic compounds clarified odor differences among chemotypes. • Terpenes/terpenoids were the predominant aromatic compounds identified in chemotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding brain operation demands linking basic behavioral traits to cell-type specific dynamics of different brain-wide subcircuits. This requires a system to classify the basic operational modes of neurons and circuits. Single-cell phenotyping of firing behavior during ongoing oscillations in vivo has provided a large body of evidence on entorhinal–hippocampal function, but data are dispersed and diverse. Here, we mined literature to search for information regarding the phase-timing dynamics of over 100 hippocampal/entorhinal neuron types defined in Hippocampome.org. We identified missing and unresolved pieces of knowledge (e.g., the preferred theta phase for a specific neuron type) and complemented the dataset with our own new data. By confronting the effect of brain state and recording methods, we highlight the equivalences and differences across conditions and offer a number of novel observations. We show how a heuristic approach based on oscillatory features of morphologically identified neurons can aid in classifying extracellular recordings of single cells and discuss future opportunities and challenges towards integrating single-cell phenotypes with circuit function. By integrating single-cell firing behavior during in vivo oscillations with morphological and molecular neuron classification in vitro, this study standardizes a framework for interpreting the functional roles of distinct circuit modules and ascribing extracellular recordings to identified neuron types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being well adapted to the long seasonal droughts of the Mediterranean Basin, the holm oak (Quercus ilex L. subsp. ballota (Desf.) Samp.) has undergone a gradual decline during the last decades. The reasons of this decline are not fully understood, but evidence suggests that the quality and quantity of the interactions of holm oaks with the soil microbiota are playing a central role in the resilience of this species. With the aim to test the previous statement as our hypothesis, 9 oak savannah sites (called dehesas from here on) were sampled, in which asymptomatic (healthy) and symptomatic (early stage of decline) trees were interspersed. Using high throughput amplicon sequencing, soil bacterial and fungal biota (called soil microbiota from here on) were sequenced. Our results showed that soil fungal community composition differed between healthy and declining trees whereas bacterial communities did not show significant differences. Specifically, the degree of holm-oak defoliation was negatively correlated to the relative abundance of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi and fungal endophytes, suggesting a relation between trees' health and soil fungal symbionts. Although our observational study cannot give a final answer to the directionality of the relationships observed, our results support the idea that small changes in symbiont abundance might be causing holm oaks to lose their ability to withstand the strong environmental pressures. • Microbial soil diversity correlates with tree health status. • Fungal diversity is more related to tree health than bacterial diversity. • The abundance of ectomycorrhiza (ECM) and fungal endophytes is related to tree resilience. • Small spatial variability in plant-fungal symbiotic relations influences tree health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We estimated a one-sided sample size of 30 participants for each group based on the obliteration rate of 82 % for coiling alone and 53 % for CYA injection that was previously described in a two-arm study [2]. Bhat et al. retrospectively analyzed a one-arm cohort treated with EUS-guided combined therapy, reporting a 93 % obliteration rate [3]. EUS-guided coil versus cyanoacrylate therapy for the treatment of gastric varices: a multicenter study (with videos). [Extracted from the article]

The material design of vascular grafts is required for their application in the health sector. The use of polyurethanes (PUs) in vascular grafts intended for application in the body appears to be adequate due to the fact that native tissues have similar properties as PUs. However, the influence of chemical structure on the biomechanics of PUs remains poorly described. The use of constitutive models, together with numerical studies, is a powerful tool for evaluating the mechanical behavior of materials under specific physiological conditions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the mechanical properties of different PU mixtures formed by polycaprolactone diol, polyethylene glycol, and pentaerythritol using uniaxial tensile, strain sweep, and multistep creep-recovery tests. Evaluations of the properties were also recorded after samples had been soaked in phosphate-buffer saline (PBS) to simulate physiological conditions. A hyperelastic model based on the Mooney–Rivlin strain density function was employed to model the performance of PUs under physiological pressure and geometry conditions. The results show that the inclusion of polyethylene glycol enhanced viscous flow, while polycaprolactone diol increased the elastic behavior. Furthermore, tensile tests revealed that hydration had an important effect on the softening phenomenon. Additionally, after the hydration of PUs, the ultimate strength was similar to those reported for other vascular conduits. Lastly, hyperelastic models revealed that the compliance of the PUs showed a cyclic behavior within the tested time and pressure conditions and is affected by the material composition. However, the compliance was not affected by the geometry of the materials. These tests demonstrate that the materials whose compositions are 5–90–5 and 46.3–46.3–7.5 could be employed in the designs of vascular grafts for medical applications since they present the largest value of compliance, ultimate strength, and elongation at break in the range of reported blood vessels, thus indicating their suitability. Moreover, the polyurethanes were revealed to undergo softening after hydration, which could reduce the risk of vascular trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]