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Under oxidative stress 26S proteasomes suffer reversible disassembly into its 20S and 19S subunits, a process mediated by HSP70. This inhibits the degradation of polyubiquitinated proteins by the 26S proteasome and allows the degradation of oxidized proteins by a free 20S proteasome. Low fluxes of antimycin A-stimulated ROS production caused dimerization of mitochondrial peroxiredoxin 3 and cytosolic peroxiredoxin 2, but not peroxiredoxin overoxidation and overall oxidation of cellular protein thiols. This moderate redox imbalance was sufficient to inhibit the ATP stimulation of 26S proteasome activity. This process was dependent on reversible cysteine oxidation. Moreover, our results show that this early inhibition of ATP stimulation occurs previous to particle disassembly, indicating an intermediate step during the redox regulation of the 26S proteasome with special relevance under redox signaling rather than oxidative stress conditions.

The production of reactive species is an inevitable by-product of metabolism and thus, life itself. Since reactive species are able to damage cellular structures, especially proteins, as the most abundant macromolecule of mammalian cells, systems are necessary which regulate and preserve a functional cellular protein pool, in a process termed “proteostasis”. Not only the mammalian protein pool is subject of a constant turnover, organelles are also degraded and rebuild. The most important systems for these removal processes are the “ubiquitin-proteasomal system” (UPS), the central proteolytic machinery of mammalian cells, mainly responsible for proteostasis, as well as the “autophagy-lysosomal system”, which mediates the turnover of organelles and large aggregates. Many age-related pathologies and the aging process itself are accompanied by a dysregulation of UPS, autophagy and the cross-talk between both systems. This review will describe the sources and effects of oxidative stress, preservation of cellular protein- and organelle-homeostasis and the effects of aging on proteostasis in mammalian cells.

Mitochondria have been in the focus of oxidative stress and aging research for decades due to their permanent production of ROS during the oxidative phosphorylation. The hypothesis exists that mitochondria are involved in the formation of lipofuscin, an autofluorescent protein aggregate that accumulates progressively over time in lysosomes of post-mitotic and senescent cells. To investigate the influence and involvement of mitochondria in lipofuscinogenesis, we analyzed lipofuscin amounts as well as the mitochondrial function in young and senescent cells. In addition we used an aging model and Lon protease deficient HeLa cells to investigate the influence of mitochondrial degradation processes on lipofuscin formation.We were able to show that mitophagy is impaired in senescent cells resulting in an increased mitochondrial mass and superoxide formation. In addition, the inhibition of mitochondrial fission leads to increased lipofuscin formation.Moreover, we observed that Lon protease downregulation is linked to a higher lipofuscinogenesis whereas the application of the mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant mitoTEMPO is able to prevent the accumulation of this protein aggregate. Keywords: Lipofuscin, Protein aggregates, Lon protease, Aging, Mitochondria, Oxidative stress

Urolithin A is a metabolite generated from ellagic acid and ellagitannins by the intestinal microbiota after consumption of fruits such as pomegranates or strawberries. The objective of this study was to determine the cytoprotective capacity of this polyphenol in Neuro-2a cells subjected to oxidative stress, as well as its direct radical scavenging activity and properties as an inhibitor of oxidases. Cells treated with this compound and H2O2 showed a greater response to oxidative stress than cells only treated with H2O2, as mitochondrial activity (MTT assay), redox state (ROS formation, lipid peroxidation), and the activity of antioxidant enzymes (CAT: catalase, SOD: superoxide dismutase, GR: glutathione reductase, GPx: glutathione peroxidase) were significantly ameliorated; additionally, urolithin A enhanced the expression of cytoprotective peroxiredoxins 1 and 3. Urolithin A also acted as a direct radical scavenger, showing values of 13.2 μM Trolox Equivalents for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) and 5.01 µM and 152.66 µM IC50 values for superoxide and 2,2-diphenyss1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals, respectively. Finally, inhibition of oxidizing enzymes, such as monoamine oxidase A and tyrosinase, was also detected in a dose-dependent manner. The cytoprotective effects of urolithin A could be attributed to the improvement of the cellular antioxidant battery, but also to its role as a direct radical scavenger and enzyme inhibitor of oxidases.

Featured Application: Pistachio orchard management using remote sensing with UAVs. Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) has earned recognition as a significant crop due to its unique nutrient composition and its adaptability to the growing threat of climate change. Consequently, the utilization of remote sensing techniques for non-invasive pistachio monitoring has become critically important. This research was conducted in two pistachio orchards located in Spain, aiming to assess the effectiveness of vegetation indices (VIs) in estimating nut yield and quality under various irrigation conditions. To this end, high-resolution multispectral and thermal imagery were gathered using a Micasense ALTUM sensor carried by a DJI Inspire 2 drone in order to calculate the NDRE (normalized difference red edge index), GNDVI (green normalized difference vegetation index), NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index), and CWSI (crop water stress index). Each orchard underwent two flights at distinct growth stages, totaling four flights. In June, NDRE-carbohydrates (r = 0.78) and CWSI-oleic (r = 0.77) showed the highest correlations, while in September, CWSI-carbohydrates (r = 0.62) and NDVI-iron (r = 0.54) Despite NDVI's limitations due to saturation effects, all VIs had significant yield and quality correlations, with GNDVI proving most effective in both flights. CWSI correlated considerably on both dates in terms of several quality parameters (carbohydrate percentage, magnesium, iron, and fatty acids, namely palmitoyl, stearic, oleic, and linoleic), surpassing non-thermal indices. Finally, it is important to consider the impact of environmental factors, such as the location of the sun, when interpreting the CWSI, as it modifies the temperature distribution pattern within the canopy. This study supports the viability of remote sensing and vegetation indices as potential tools for enhancing the management of pistachio orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almond cultivation in the Mediterranean area has undergone important changes leading to the current trend of intensification. In this scenario, low-vigor rootstocks have recently been developed, such as the 'Rootpac®' series, but knowledge about the rootstock's influence on adaptation to high-density planting systems is very scarce. The objective of this work was to assess the morphological and physiological response of four almond cultivars grafted on 'Rootpac-20'. To this end, one-year-old almond plants (Prunus dulcis (Mill) D. A. Webb.) cv 'Penta' (P), 'Guara' (G), 'Vialfas' (V) and 'Soleta' (S) were grown in pots, irrigated at field capacity (from June to September). Plant height and trunk diameter were measured periodically, and the water use efficiency of production was determined at the end of the trial. Evapotranspiration was measured throughout the experiment. The trunk diameter was greater in S and G at the end of the trial. Similarly, the tallest plants were G while the shortest ones were P. In general, G and S had a higher water use efficiency than V and P. 'Soleta' grafted on 'Rootpac-20' had higher evapotranspiration values (+25%), which is an important issue when selecting plant material, especially in the case of limited water availability for irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in pistachios has increased in recent years due to their healthy nutritional profile and high profitability. In pistachio trees, as in other woody crops, the volume of the canopy is a key factor that affects the pistachio crop load, water requirements, and quality. However, canopy/crown monitoring is time-consuming and labor-intensive, as it is traditionally carried out by measuring tree dimensions in the field. Therefore, methods for rapid tree canopy characterization are needed for providing accurate information that can be used for management decisions. The present study focuses on developing a new, fast, and low-cost technique, based on two main steps, for estimating the canopy volume in pistachio trees. The first step is based on adequately planning the UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) flight according to light conditions and segmenting the RGB (Red, Green, Blue) imagery using machine learning methods. The second step is based on measuring vegetation planar area and ground shadows using two methodological approaches: a pixel-based classification approach and an OBIA (object-based image analysis) approach. The results show statistically significant linear relationships (p < 0.05) between the ground-truth data and the estimated volume of pistachio tree crowns, with R2 > 0.8 (pixel-based classification) and R2 > 0.9 (OBIA). The proposed methodologies show potential benefits for accurately monitoring the vegetation of the trees. Moreover, the method is compatible with other remote sensing techniques, usually performed at solar noon, so UAV operators can plan a flexible working day. Further research is needed to verify whether these results can be extrapolated to other woody crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 248 UAV RGB images were taken in the summer of 2021 over a representative pistachio orchard in Spain (X: 341450.3, Y: 4589731.8; ETRS89/UTM zone 30N). It is a 2.03 ha plot, planted in 2016 with Pistacia vera L. cv. Kerman grafted on UCB rootstock, with a NE–SW orientation and a 7 × 6 m triangular planting pattern. The ground was kept free of any weeds that could affect image processing. The photos (provided in JPG format) were taken using a UAV DJI Phantom Advance quadcopter in two flight missions: one planned to take nadir images (β = 0°), and another to take oblique images (β = 30°), both at 55 metres above the ground. The aerial platform incorporates a DJI FC6310 RGB camera with a 20 megapixel sensor, a horizontal field of view of 84° and a mechanical shutter. In addition, GCPs (ground control points) were collected. Finally, a high-quality 3D photogrammetric reconstruction process was carried out to generate a 3D point cloud (provided in LAS, LAZ, OBJ and PLY formats), a DEM (digital elevation model) and an orthomosaic (both in TIF format). The interest in using remote sensing in precision agriculture is growing, but the availability of reliable, ready-to-work, downloadable datasets is limited. Therefore, this dataset could be useful for precision agriculture researchers interested in photogrammetric reconstruction who want to evaluate models for orthomosaic and 3D point cloud generation from UAV missions with changing flight parameters, such as camera angle. Dataset: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7271542. Dataset License: CC-BY 4.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participation is an important factor for preschool quality and with participation comes both possibilities and challenges. The aim is to explore guardians’ perceptions of participation in Swedish preschool using Buber’s understanding of dialogue in interpersonal meetings. The research questions are: How do guardians describe participation in preschool? How do guardians perceive their participation in preschool teaching? Conducting interviews with 20 guardians resulted in the emergence of four themes. The results show that guardians have different perceptions about what participation implies. They describe that they want to be participating but settle with being informed. Guardians find it optional to participate in the decision-making concerning teaching. A conclusion is that preschool teachers need to be in dialogue with guardians about how participation can be understood in their specific context. Another conclusion is that competence regarding the importance of continuous dialogues needs to be addressed towards preschool teachers to promote guardians’ participation in teaching.

Background: Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) has demonstrated efficacy in phase III studies. However, real-world data are still limited. Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the profile of patients who receive DMF and to assess the effectiveness of DMF regarding relapses, disability progression, magnetic resonance imaging activity, and NEDA (No Evidence Disease Activity)-3 status in a Spanish population in a real-world setting. Methods: We conducted a multicenter prospective study of patients who started DMF between 2014 and 2019 in Spain. Three subgroups were considered: naïve, switch to DMF because of inefficacy, and switch to DMF because of adverse effects. The effects of DMF on clinical and radiological measures were evaluated. Results: Among 886 patients, 25.3% were naïve, 28.8% switched because of adverse effects, and 45.9% because of inefficacy. Median follow-up was 38.9 (interquartile range 22.6–41.8) months. Annualized relapse rates were 0.15, 0.10, and 0.10 at 12, 24, and 36 months respectively, and 77.7% of patients were relapse free at month 42. At 12, 24, and 42 months, 96.1%, 87.4%, and 79.7% of patients were progression free, respectively. The number of T1 gadolinium-enhancement (T1Gd+) lesions was 0.19, 0.14, and 0.18 at 12, 24, and 36 months. NEDA-3 status at month 42 was maintained by 49.8% of patients. Relapsing was associated with higher annualized relapse rates the year before (hazard ratio 1.34, p < 0.001) and to the inefficacy switch vs naïve group (hazard ratio 1.76, p = 0.003). A higher baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale score was associated with disability progression (hazard ratio 1.15, p = 0.003) and more T1Gd+ lesions (hazard ratio 1.07, p < 0.001) with radiological progression. A higher baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale score, a larger number of T1Gd+ lesions, and a switch because of inefficacy (vs adverse events) were all risk factors for losing NEDA-3 status. DMF was discontinued in 29.9% of patients, in 13.5% because of inefficacy. Conclusions: Our findings confirm the sustained effectiveness of DMF on the clinical and radiological activity of multiple sclerosis in a real-world setting, both in naïve patients and in those switching from other multiple sclerosis therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study is to explore how the concept of gender equality and the compulsory school’s gender equality mission can be understood in national policy documents. The study is a critical document study that takes critical discourse analysis as a starting point. In the policy documents reviewed, four different discourses on gender equality appear: Gender equality as a non-question – discourse of equal treatment, which turns out as an absence of the concept of gender equality or as an understanding of gender equality as equal treatment or anti-discrimination. Focus on biological sex – discourse of difference, where the focus on biological sex means that differences between girls and boys are explained as natural and essential. Gender equality as a matter of quality, where gender equality is understood as a means to an end rather than a value of its own, and finally Gender as a Swedish virtue, where gender equality is explained as something that the school needs to teach people with a non-Swedish background. The different discourses all relate to a neo-liberal hegemony, in which the understanding of gender equality implies a non-existing space to promote a change of power relations.

Abstract Background Diagnostic precision and the identification of rare diseases is a daily challenge, which needs specialized expertise. We hypothesized, that there is a correlation between the distance of residence to the next tertiary medical facility with highly specialized care and the diagnostic precision, especially for rare diseases. Results Using a nation-wide hospitalization database, we found a negative association between diagnostic diversity and travel time to the next tertiary referral hospital when including all cases throughout the overall International Classification of Diseases version 10 German Modification (ICD-10-GM) diagnosis codes. This was paralleled with a negative association of standardized incidence rates in all groups of rare diseases defined by the Orphanet rare disease nomenclature, except for rare teratologic and rare allergic diseases. Conclusion Our findings indicate a higher risk of being mis-, under- or late diagnosed especially in rare diseases when living more distant to a tertiary medical facility. Greater distance to the next tertiary medical facility basically increases the chance for hospitalization in a non-comprehensive regional hospital with less diagnostic capacity, and, thus, impacts on adapted health care access. Therefore, solutions for overcoming the distance to specialized care as an indicator of health care access are a major goal in the future.

We propose in this article a model describing the dynamic of a system of adipocytes, structured by their sizes. This model takes into account the differentiation of a population of mesenchymal cells into preadipocytes and of preadipocytes into adipocytes; the differentiation rates depend on the mean adipocyte radius. The considered equations are therefore ordinary differential equations, coupled with an advection equation, the growth rate of which depends on food availability and on the total surface of adipocytes. Since this velocity is discontinuous, we need to introduce a convenient notion of solutions coming from Filippov theory. We are consequently able to determine the stationary solutions of the system, to prove the existence and uniqueness of solutions and to describe the asymptotic behavior of solutions in some simple cases. Finally, the parameters of the model are fitted thanks to some experimental data and numerical simulations are displayed; a spatial extension of the model is studied numerically.

The aim of this article is to explore the Folk High School as a supportive environment for participants with neuropsychiatric functional impairments, primarily high-functioning autism, from the perspectives of the participants, the staff, and the principals. The participants’ perspective consisted of 21 interviews, the teachers’ perspective was observed in three focus-group interviews, and the principal’s perspective through 19 telephone interviews. Folk High School is shown to be supportive because it: (i) creates a safe and caring environment, (ii) places the individual participant at the centre of its operations, and (iii) is based on the provision and articulation of clear structures. A limited focus on the classroom and the course content is too narrow for a group of individuals with high-functioning autism. It is important to examine the relationships between different categories of workers and how they, in an interwoven symbiotic system, can provide the participants with the best possible conditions for learning.

• Lymphocyte count decreases along the first two years of dimethyl fumarate therapy. • One-third of patients on dimethyl fumarate will develop some degree of lymphopenia. • Older age and lower baseline lymphocyte count increase the risk of lymphopenia. • Early and pronounced decline in lymphocyte count is the best predictor of lymphopenia. Lymphopenia is a major concern in MS patients treated with dimethyl-fumarate (DMF) as it increases the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. A pronounced reduction in absolute lymphocyte counts (ALCs) early after treatment initiation has been suggested to be associated with the occurrence of lymphopenia thereafter. To identify risk factors for DMF-induced lymphopenia and evaluate whether the degree of decrease in the ALCs three months after initiation of DMF treatment is a predictor of the subsequent development of lymphopenia. In this real-world Spanish prospective multicenter study conducted in MS patients who started DMF between 2014 and 2019, we analyzed the association between DMF-related lymphopenia and the percentage of early ALCs decline using regression models, considering both, significant lymphopenia (grades 2 + 3) and severe lymphopenia (grade 3). The cutoff values of early ALCs declines were obtained using the ROC curve. Among 532 MS patients treated with DMF, 193 (36.3%) developed any grade of lymphopenia. Older age and lower ALCs at treatment onset predicted the risk for lymphopenia but the best predictive risk factor was the reduction of ALCs within the three first months of treatment. Specifically, a reduction in ALCs≥21.2% was associated with a 6.5-fold higher risk of developing significant lymphopenia, and a decrease in ALCs≥40.2% with a 12.7-fold higher risk of developing severe lymphopenia. A pronounced reduction in ALCs early after initiation of DMF in MS patients is the best predictive risk factor for the subsequent development of significant lymphopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging is a complex phenomenon and its impact is becoming more relevant due to the rising life expectancy and because aging itself is the basis for the development of age-related diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and type 2 diabetes. Recent years of scientific research have brought up different theories that attempt to explain the aging process. So far, there is no single theory that fully explains all facets of aging. The damage accumulation theory is one of the most accepted theories due to the large body of evidence found over the years. Damage accumulation is thought to be driven, among others, by oxidative stress. This condition results in an excess attack of oxidants on biomolecules, which lead to damage accumulation over time and contribute to the functional involution of cells, tissues and organisms. If oxidative stress persists, cellular senescence is a likely outcome and an important hallmark of aging. Therefore, it becomes crucial to understand how senescent cells function and how they contribute to the aging process. This review will cover cellular senescence features related to the protein pool such as morphological and molecular hallmarks, how oxidative stress promotes protein modifications, how senescent cells cope with them by proteostasis mechanisms, including antioxidant enzymes and proteolytic systems. We will also highlight the nutritional status of senescent cells and aged organisms (including human clinical studies) by exploring trace elements and micronutrients and on their importance to develop strategies that might increase both, life and health span and postpone aging onset. Keywords: Aging, Senescence, Protein oxidation, Proteostasis, Trace elements, Antioxidants, Micronutrients

Abstract Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are hepatic manifestations of the metabolic syndrome. Many currently used animal models of NAFLD/NASH lack clinical features of either NASH or metabolic syndrome such as hepatic inflammation and fibrosis (e.g., high-fat diets) or overweight and insulin resistance (e.g., methionine-choline-deficient diets), or they are based on monogenetic defects (e.g., ob/ob mice). In the current study, a Western-type diet containing soybean oil with high n-6-PUFA and 0.75% cholesterol (SOD + Cho) induced steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis accompanied by hepatic lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in livers of C57BL/6-mice, which in addition showed increased weight gain and insulin resistance, thus displaying a phenotype closely resembling all clinical features of NASH in patients with metabolic syndrome. In striking contrast, a soybean oil-containing Western-type diet without cholesterol (SOD) induced only mild steatosis but not hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, weight gain or insulin resistance. Another high-fat diet, mainly consisting of lard and supplemented with fructose in drinking water (LAD + Fru), resulted in more prominent weight gain, insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis than SOD + Cho, but livers were devoid of inflammation and fibrosis. Although both LAD + Fru- and SOD + Cho-fed animals had high plasma cholesterol, liver cholesterol was elevated only in SOD + Cho animals. Cholesterol induced expression of chemotactic and inflammatory cytokines in cultured Kupffer cells and rendered hepatocytes more susceptible to apoptosis. In summary, dietary cholesterol in the SOD + Cho diet may trigger hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. SOD + Cho-fed animals may be a useful disease model displaying many clinical features of patients with the metabolic syndrome and NASH.

The purpose of this paper is to describe how young adults with Asperger syndrome experience an educational project called ‘the IT-track’. The methods used included participant observation and research interviews. The results were interpreted within the theoretical framework described by ‘Supported Education’ (SED). The most prominent experience among the students was social learning. Students describe that they gradually began to function better socially with others and developed various abilities, such as asking for help, and talking to groups.The teachers emerged in the interviews as the single most important source of support as they formed the basis of two key points of SED. Overall, studying at the IT-track resulted in the students extending their horizons of possibility by breaking away from their previous sense of isolation which was marked by idleness and loneliness. By participating at the IT-track, the students’ sense of participation and meaningfulness increased.

Discusses the contesting of certain prejudices regarding popular cultures, especially popular religiosity in Argentina in relation to the Cumbia movement. Exploration of the popular religious practices surrounding Gilda and Rodrigo, two singers of tropical music; Cumbia phenomenon's use of elements present in popular cultures through its songs; God presented by institutionalized Christianity in popular religiosity; Critique of modernist rationalism at the base of popular religiosity; Ways in which people engaged in popular religiosity are asking for an experience of God closer to the situations of their daily life.

Capture-based aquaculture (CBA) represents a type of intensive aquaculture production system for some economically valuable fish species, such as bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), eel (Anguilla spp.) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). In CBA, fish are captured from the wild in certain periods of the year, and following a recovery phase, they are kept in rearing facilities for a period of time, until they reach the market size. In this case, the fish are wild and have not gone through domestication like other fish species that are reproduced and farmed under the established farming systems. Therefore, these fish are not genetically adapted to live under the intensive farming conditions, and thus their welfare may be compromised in different manners compared to their domesticated counterparts. This review presents an overview of the current situation of CBA, while focusing on the assessment of fish welfare in CBA. The most commonly used fish welfare indicators will be discussed in relation to the different stages of CBA.

This article draws upon findings from an educational program in Information Technology for young adults associated with high-functioning autism. The aim of the program was to make the students employable. Data was collected through participant observation and research interviews. Of the twelve students who completed their education, five had made transitions to employment and three held internship places. Because of this training and the adaptations that were made within the educational program, the well-being of the students improved, and their need for home support and medication decreased. Important adjustments included the provision of individual work places, the clear structure of the work that was to be performed, and the creation of an environment where the students were seen, acknowledged, and understood.

6-min walk tests (6MWT) are routinely performed in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]) kinetics during 6MWT can be modeled and derived parameters provide indicators of patients' exercise capacity. Post-exercise [Formula: see text] recovery also provides important parameters of patients' fitness which has not been extensively investigated in COPD. Several nonlinear regression models with different underlying biological assumptions may be suitable for describing recovery kinetics. Multimodel inference (model averaging) can then be used to capture the uncertainty in considering several models. Our aim was to apply multimodel inference in order to better understand the physiological underpinnings of [Formula: see text] recovery after 6MWT in patients with COPD. 61 patients with COPD (stages 2 to 4) were included in this study. Oxygen kinetics during 6MWT were modeled using nonlinear regression. Three statistical approaches (mixed-effects, meta-analysis and weighted regression) were compared in order to summarize estimates obtained from multiple kinetics. The recovery phase was modeled using 3 distinct equations (log-logistic, Weibull 1 and Weibull 2). Three models were fitted to the set of 61 kinetics. A significant model-averaged difference of 40.39 sec (SE = 17.1) in the time to half decrease of [Formula: see text] level ([Formula: see text]) was found between stage 2 and 4 (p = 0.0178). In addition, the Weibull 1 model characterized by a steeper decrease at the beginning of the recovery phase showed some improvement of goodness of fit when fitted to the kinetics of patients with stage 2 COPD in comparison with the 2 other models. Multimodel inference was successfully used to model [Formula: see text] recovery after 6MWT in patients with COPD. Significant model-averaged differences in [Formula: see text] were found between moderate and very severe COPD patients. Furthermore, specific patterns of [Formula: see text] recovery could be identified across COPD stages.

Rootstocks with size controlling potential are being used in newly planted intensive almond orchards. Due to increased water scarcity, characterizing the response of these rootstocks to water deficit is required. The current work aims to assess whether the rootstock can improve their drought tolerance. We investigated the morphological and physiological response of P. dulcis "Soleta" either self-rooted or grafted on Rootpac-20 rootstock. Plant responses were evaluated during a water stress period (withholding irrigation for 20 days) and subsequent recovery in potted plants under greenhouse conditions. Self-rooted plants had a higher capacity to control vigour than plants grafted onto Rootpac-20, both under full irrigation and no irrigation conditions. Stressed plants exhibited severe dehydration, as indicated by lower leaf water potential and relative water content. Removing irrigation reduced stomatal conductance in grafted and self-rooted plants by a similar extent, suggesting an efficient stomatal control, while the reduction in the net photosynthesis rate was more marked in grafted plants compared to non-grafted plants. Self-rooted plants under water stress increased their root to shoot ratio and water use efficiency, which are positive aspects for growth and survival of these plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work is to evaluate the agronomic, phenological, nutritional quality and organoleptic characteristics of pistachios (Pistacia vera L.) based on the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) calculated in the phenological stage of nut filling from Sentinel satellite imagery. Based on this index, three pistachio tree orchards were studied and classified into two levels of vigour: high and low. The results obtained have discriminated the production per tree, which is strongly related to yield. Regarding the nutritional quality parameters, significant differences were not observed between vigour levels, although the most vigorous trees have shown nuts with a higher percentage of fibre and protein. In terms of phenology, there have not been differences between trees of different vigour, only a slight advance of some phenological stages has been observed in several high-vigour trees. Triangular tests have been made successfully to discriminate the origin of the dry nut and the vigour of the trees. In conclusion, for a given nut quality within a given orchard, the NDVI is a good index to classify different areas according to productive capacity and can be useful to apply variable management, irrigation and fertilization according to vigour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

QUESTIONS UNDER STUDY: Transcutaneous measurement of carbon dioxide (PtCO2) has been suggested as an alternative to invasively obtained PaCO2 for the monitoring of patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure during noninvasive ventilation (NIV). Current data on monitoring in hypoxaemic respiratory failure are scarce and show conflicting results in hypercapnic patients in the emergency department. METHODS AND SETTING: We performed a retrospective comparison of real-time PtCO2 (SenTec Digital Monitor) and arterial/venous carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2/PvCO2) measurements in patients with severe hypoxaemic and/or hypercapnic respiratory failure during NIV. Agreement between PtCO2 and PaCO2/PvCO2 was the primary endpoint. Bland-Altman analysis and linear regression were used. RESULTS: 102 patients had at least one matched measurement of PtCO2 and PaCO2/PvCO2. For patients with arterial blood gas analysis, the mean difference was 0.46 kPa at baseline (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.23 to 0.60, limits of agreement 95% CI –0.54 to 1.45) and 0.12 kPa after NIV (95% CI –0.04 to 0.29, limits of agreement 95% CI: –0.61 to 0.86). The linear regression analysis found a correlation R 2 of 0.88 (p 8 kPa was associated with a lesser degree of agreement between the levels of PtCO2 and PaCO2/PvCO2 (p

BACKGROUND: The impact of chronic lung diseases on outcome in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is not well established. We aimed to investigate the outcome of adult CAP-patients with underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma or interstitial lung disease (ILD) in a case-control study. METHODS: We used a nationwide database including all hospitalisations in Switzerland from 2002 to 2010. Endpoints were the incidence of lung abscess, parapneumonic pleural effusion, empyema, acute respiratory distress syndrome, in-hospital mortality and length of stay. RESULTS: We found less disease-related complications of CAP in COPD (n = 17,075) and asthma (n = 2700) patients compared with their controls. This difference was mainly related to a lower incidence of pleural effusion (COPD: 4.3% vs 4.9%, p = 0.011; asthma: 3.4% vs 5.2%, p

The number of plants per hectare is a key factor for olive tree productivity. Nevertheless, information about the effect of tree density on olive oil quality and composition is scarce. Thus, the effect of planting densities of cv. Arbequina trees on olive oil quality and composition was studied along the first four years of production. Two types of planting tree arrangements were evaluated, namely olive trees planted at different distances within a row (2.0 m; 1.5 m; 1.25 m; and 1.0 m, fixing the space between rows equal to 4.0 m) or at different distances between rows (4.0 m; 3.5 m; and 3.0 m, fixing the space within the same row at 1.5 m), which led to planting densities from 1250 to 2500 trees ha −1 . The results indicated that the quality parameters, composition, antioxidant activity and oxidative stability were significantly affected by the densities of plants and the crop year (P-value < 0.0001, for one-way ANOVA). An increase of plants in the row and between rows showed a tendency for a slight increase of free acidity, and a reduction of the peroxide value and of the extinction specific coefficients. Fatty acid composition was also affected, with a tendency for the decrease of C16:0, C18:0, SFA and PUFA, and an increase of C18:1, C18:2 and MUFA. The antioxidant activity and the oxidative stability also showed a reduction trend. For all parameters evaluated, the crop year had a marked influence. The year of production had significant statistical effects on the evaluated parameters, which could be related to agro-climatic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) tolerability and safety in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been analyzed in randomized clinical trials. Real-life studies are needed to assess possible harms of this therapy in a wider MS population., Objective: To evaluate DMF tolerability, safety and persistence in MS in a real-world setting., Methods: We conducted a multicenter prospective study of patients who started DMF, attended in 16 public hospitals of Spain. A specific database was elaborated to collect data on most frequent adverse events (AE). Regression models were used to analyze the effect of demographic and clinical characteristics on risk of AEs and DMF discontinuation., Results: We collected data of 886 patients (2681 patients/years-exposition) with median 39.5 (IQR 23, 51.5) months on DMF exposure; 25.3% were treatment naïve and 74.7% switched to DMF from other disease-modifying therapies. DMF was discontinued in 29.9% of patients, in 13.2% due to AEs and in 13.5% to inefficacy. AEs were experienced by 71.2%, being flushing the most frequent (44.1%), 5.4% developed grade III lymphopenia, without cases of grade IV. Females showed a higher risk of flushing and gastroenteric symptoms (OR 1.49, p = 0.011; OR 1.69, p = 0.001, respectively); lymphopenia was associated with older age (OR 1.04, p < 0.001), and a higher EDSS with lymphopenia (OR 1.10, p = 0.035) and DMF withdrawal (HR 1.43, p = 0.012). No safety problems were reported., Conclusions: Our findings confirm good tolerability and safety of DMF in real-world setting and suggest that women have an increased risk of AEs and higher baseline disability involves greater risk of drug discontinuation.