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Pepino (Solanum muricatum) is an herbaceous crop phylogenetically related to tomato and potato. Pepino fruit vary in color, size and shape, and are eaten fresh. In this study, we use pepino as a fruit model to understand the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms controlling fruit quality. To identify the key genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis in pepino, two genotypes were studied that contrasted in foliar and fruit pigmentation. Anthocyanin profiles were analyzed, as well as the expression of genes that encode enzymes for anthocyanin biosynthesis and transcriptional regulators using both RNA-seq and quantitative PCR. The differential expression of the transcription factor genes R2R3 MYB SmuMYB113 and R3MYB SmuATV suggested their association with purple skin and foliage phenotype. Functional analysis of these genes in both tobacco and pepino showed that SmuMYB113 activates anthocyanins, while SmuATV suppresses anthocyanin accumulation. However, despite elevated expression in all tissues, SmuMYB113 does not significantly elevate flesh pigmentation, suggesting a strong repressive background in fruit flesh tissue. These results will aid understanding of the differential regulation controlling fruit quality aspects between skin and flesh in other fruiting species.

World tree nut production has increased rapidly by around 50 % in the past decade; however, nut defects cause losses. For example, we know that brown centres are a major internal discolouration defect in macadamia nuts and are linked to the storage of nut-in-shell under improper conditions at high temperature and humidity. However, key chemical changes in brown centre kernels have not been described. In this study, we compared brown centres and white kernels from: 1) samples that were “induced” in the laboratory by storing at high moisture concentration; and 2) samples that were dried immediately after harvest using industry best practice methods recommended by the Australian Macadamia Society (AMS). We measured the moisture concentration, sugar concentration, fatty acid concentration, peroxide value, nutrient concentration and volatile compounds of induced and AMS samples. Our results showed that storing nut-in-shell macadamia under wet and hot conditions increased brown centres compared with samples immediately dried using the AMS regime, 10.33 % vs 1.44 %, respectively. Induced brown centres had significantly higher moisture concentrations than induced white centres. Volatile compounds including nonanoic acid, octanoic acid and 2,3 butanediol were identified and associated with brown centre formation in macadamia kernels and the initiation of lipid oxidation. Our results suggest sugar hydrolysis and the Maillard reaction are associated with brown centres both in laboratory induced samples and those formed using industry best practice drying methods. Our study suggests improper drying and storage at high temperature and high humidity are likely to result in brown centre formation. We recommend brown centre losses can be reduced by appropriate drying and storage practices.

Nuts are susceptible to many quality issues, including discoloration defects in kernels. These discolouration defects can affect their market value and result in significant economic losses to both growers and processors. In macadamia, this quality issue is called brown centres and has been related to storage at high temperatures and moisture concentrations. However, the chemical differences between brown centre and white macadamia kernels have not previously been studied. We aimed to determine the chemical differences between macadamia kernels with brown centre defects and kernels that were white and cream coloured. We used brown and white kernel samples from 20 commercially processed batches of macadamia. From each batch, we selected brown centre samples and compared their chemistry with white kernel samples from the same batch. We compared the moisture concentration, sugar concentration, nutrient concentration, fatty acid profile and peroxide value of brown centre defect and white kernel samples. Our results showed that brown centres had a higher moisture concentration compared with white kernel samples (5.16 % vs 2.91 %, respectively, P

Se evalúa una técnica de impregnación metálica, doble impregnación de Del Río Hortega, para evidenciar rabdomioblastos y neuroblastos, con recomendaciones sobre los tiempos de impregnación para obtener mejores resultados. Las imágenes obtenidas son muy demostrativas, tanto de los elementos embrionarios del mesénquima primitivo des de mioblasto, miotubo a célula acintada rabdomiobl ástica con estriaciones transversales, hasta los elementos neoplásicos de esta estirpe. Y de los neuroblastos con sus prolonaciones. El material de estudio incluye un Tumor de Wilms renal con rabdomioblastos y neuroblastos, y un Neurobiastoma de cerebelo con componente rabdomioblástico. A estas lesiones se las considera desembrioplasias. Además se estudiaron 2 Rabdomiosarcomas embrionarios botrioides, uno de ellos de presentación inusual en una mujer menopáusica, 2 Tumores müllerianos mixtos de útero y trompa de Falopio, un Rabdomioma de faringe. y 3 embriones humanos de material de abortoentre 5 y 13 semanas. Destacamos la utilidad de la doble impregnación para estudiar rabdomioblastos y neuroblastos. En los Rabdomiosarcomas se pueden ver estructuras y elementos comparables con los de la etapa embrionaria: células raquetoides, acintadas, miotubos, rabdomioblastos. El Tumor de Wilms es un tumor disembrioplásico y está constituido por el blastema renal. En él hemos encontrado rabdomioblastos y neuroblastos. En el Neuroblastoma del cerebelo observamos rabdomioblastos con cierta organicidad (ectomesénquima). Y por último describimos un caso poco frecuente de Ragdomiosarcoma botrioide de cuello uterino en una mujer menopáusica.

Bioactive compounds such as polyphenols are ubiquitous in many foods. However, their presence varies in structure, concentration, and action along food manufacturing and digestion. The simulated digestion assays allow for the estimation of variations in bioaccessibility and bioeffectiveness of polyphenols within foods. In this study, a polyphenol-enriched food model was used: sweet cookies with 10% defatted sesame flour (DSF). Polyphenolic extracts were obtained from DSF, a base cookie formulation and cookies enriched with DSF. In addition, extracts of potentially bioaccessible polyphenols from digested cookies in vitro were collected. The HepG2 liver cell line was incubated with all these mentioned extracts and then injured with H2O2. The following parameters were analyzed: intracellular oxidative state and viability by flow cytometry, antioxidant enzymes and glutathione content, and oxidation of proteins and lipids by spectrophotometry. The results show that DSF may be considered for functional incorporation in foods, since it may promote antioxidant response, providing preventive benefits and protective action in an oxidative damage context. This study also demonstrates that DSF actions on redox state vary depending on the food matrix and its degree of digestion. Cookies with DSF presented a pro-oxidant effect that could enhance the antioxidant response. Furthermore, after digestion, these cookies continue to show biological activity, evidencing the possibility of advantages from the consumption of these foods. These data show the need to improve the knowledge of the biological actions carried out by certain metabolites present in food and the impact of their digestion over their effective role in health.

Se estudian dos casos de carcinoma epitelial - mioepitelial de glándula parótida de pacientes de sexo femenino de 48 y 80 años de edad, y tejido glandular normal. La técnica Argéntica de Del Río Hortega - Polak impregna selectivamente las células mioepiteliales y resulta un marcador alternativo. Esta técnica puede ser usada en materiales incluidos en parafina o en cortes obtenidos por congelamiento.

Abstract Curcumin is a polyphenol extracted from Curcuma longa’s roots. Low doses of curcumin are related to anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects, while high doses are used for their lethality. This diversity of behaviors allows us to understand curcumin as a compound with hormetic action. Due to its strongly hydrophobic character, curcumin is often solubilized in organic compounds. In this way, we have recently reported the undesirable and occasionally irreversible effects of alcohol and DMSO on the viability of primary Schwann cell cultures. In this scenario, the use of nanoparticles as delivery systems has become a successful alternative strategy for these compounds. In the present work, we describe the structure of Polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles, loaded with a low dose of curcumin (Curc-PDA) without the use of additional organic solvents. We analyzed the curcumin released, and we found two different forms of curcumin. Small increased cell viability and proliferation were observed in endoneurial fibroblast and Schwann cell primary cultures when Curc-PDA was steadily supplied for 5 days. The increased bioavailability of this natural compound and the impact on cells in culture not only confirm the properties of curcumin at very low doses but also provide a glimpse of a possible therapeutic alternative for PNS conditions in which SCs are involved.

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the most common bacterial agent associated with urinary tract infections, threatening public health systems with elevated medical costs and high morbidity rates. The successful establishment of the infection is associated with virulence factors encoded in its genome, in addition to antibacterial resistance genes, which could limit the treatment and resolution of the infection. In this sense, plant extracts from the genus Echeveria have traditionally been used to treat diverse infectious diseases. However, little is known about the effects of these extracts on bacteria and their potential mechanisms of action. This study aims to sequence a multidrug-resistant UPEC isolate (UTI-U7) and assess the multilocus sequence typing (MLST), virulence factors, antimicrobial resistance profile, genes, serotype, and plasmid content. Antimicrobial susceptibility profiling was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion. The antibacterial and anti-adherent effects of the methanol extracts (ME) of Echeveria (E. craigiana, E. kimnachii, and E. subrigida) against UTI-U7 were determined. The isolate was characterized as an O25:H4-B2-ST2279-CH40 subclone and had resistant determinants to aminoglycosides, β-lactams, fluoroquinolones/quinolones, amphenicols, and tetracyclines, which matched with the antimicrobial resistance profile. The virulence genes identified encode adherence factors, iron uptake, protectins/serum resistance, and toxins. Identified plasmids belonged to the IncF group (IncFIA, IncFIB, and IncFII), alongside several prophage-like elements. After an extensive genome analysis that confirmed the pathogenic status of UTI-U7 isolate, Echeveria extracts were tested to determine their antibacterial effects; as an extract, E. subrigida (MIC, 5 mg/mL) displayed the best inhibitory effect. However, the adherence between UTI-U7 and HeLa cells was unaffected by the ME of the E. subrigida extract.

In this work ruthenium based catalysts are tested as catalytic systems for the selective oxidation of levulinic to succinic acid. Very different in nature supports have been chosen in order to elucidate the effect of their textural and acidic properties on the final catalytic activity. The influence of Ru particle size is also discussed and proposed as one of the key factors. Medium range ruthenium particles supported on relatively acid supports are the best performing systems in terms of succinic acid yield, while the most active catalysts in terms of conversion result in important carbon loss due to reagent/products full oxidation.

Despite global efforts to assess the early response and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients infected with or recovered from COVID-19, our understanding of the factors affecting its dynamics remains limited. This work aimed to evaluate the early and convalescent immunity of outpatients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and to determine the factors that affect the dynamics and persistence of the IgM and IgG antibody response. Seropositivity of volunteers from Mexico City and the State of Mexico, Mexico, was evaluated by ELISA using the recombinant receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein for 90 days, at different time points (1, 15, 45, 60, and 90 days) after molecular diagnosis (RT-qPCR). Gender, age range, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, and clinical spectrum of disease were analyzed to determine associations with the dynamics of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. On 90 days post-infection, individuals with moderate and asymptomatic disease presented the lowest levels of IgM, while for IgG, at the same time, the highest levels occurred with mild and moderate disease. The IgM and IgG levels were related to the clinical spectrum of disease, BMI, and the presence/absence of comorbidities through regression trees. The results suggest that the dynamics of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies in outpatients could be influenced by the clinical spectrum of the disease. In addition, the persistence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 could be related to the clinical spectrum of the disease, BMI, and the presence/absence of comorbidities.

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is an asexual reproductive technique where cloned offspring contain the same genetic material as the original donor. Although this technique preserves the sex of the original animal, the birth of sex-reversed offspring has been reported in some species. Here, we report for the first time the birth of a female foal generated by SCNT of a male nuclear donor. After a single SCNT procedure, 16 blastocysts were obtained and transferred to eight recipient mares, resulting in the birth of two clones: one male and one female. Both animals had identical genetic profiles, as observed in the analysis of 15-horse microsatellite marker panel, which confirmed they are indeed clones of the same animal. Cytogenetic analysis and fluorescent in situ hybridization using X and Y specific probes revealed a 63,X chromosome set in the female offspring, suggesting a spontaneous Y chromosome loss. The identity of the lost chromosome in the female was further confirmed through PCR by observing the presence of X-linked markers and absence of Y-linked markers. Moreover, cytogenetic and molecular profiles were analyzed in blood and skin samples to detect a possible mosaicism in the female, but results showed identical chromosomal constitutions. Although the cause of the spontaneous chromosome loss remains unknown, the possibility of equine sex reversal by SCNT holds great potential for the preservation of endangered species, development of novel breeding techniques, and sportive purposes.

Descubrimos un estudio morfológico de las células en tumores mixoides o con áreas mixoides: fibrosarcoma mixoide, mixoma, liposarcoma moxoide, rabdomiosarcoma embrionario, condroma y condrosarcoma, leiomiosarcoma mixoide, Schwannoma y odontoameloblastoma; y se los compara con los fibroblastos del tejido conectivo reticular del cordón umbilical, del mesénquima embrionario, y del tejido conectivo laxo en procesos inflamatorios. Los métodos utilizados son: H-E-PAS, tricrómicro de Masson y la técnica panóptica de Del Río Hortega. Los resultados con la técnica panóptica revelan fibroblastos bipolares con largas prolongaciones. En el mixoma y fibrosarcoma mixoide son estrellados con múltiples prolongaciones y con secreción mucinosa citoplasmática contenida en ampollas o bochas que se deslizan por las prolongaciones hasta resolverse en sus extremos o volcarse al espacio intercelular. En el lipoblastoma mixoide e lipoblasto es también estrellado con múltiples prolongaciones y gotas de lipidos. Los rabdomioblastos son raquetoides con estriaciones transversales; los condroblastos poseen ambos citoplasmas con procesos cortos.

This work shows a new method for the preparation of 100% carbon-structured devices. The method is based on resorcinol-formaldehyde polymerization, using starch as a binder with the addition of a certain amount of external carbon source before polymerization. Molds obtained by 3D printing are used to shape the structured devices in the desired shape, and the ultimate pyrolysis step consolidates and produces the carbonaceous devices. The proposed method allows obtaining supports with different textural and surface properties varying the carbonaceous source, the solvent, or the pyrolysis conditions, among other factors. The as-obtained devices have demonstrated their usefulness as palladium supports for the gas-phase formic acid dehydrogenation reaction. The monolith shows a high conversion of formic acid (81% according to H2 production) and a high selectivity towards hydrogen production at mild temperatures (80% at 423 K).

Formic acid has recently been revealed to be an excellent hydrogen carrier, and interest in the development of efficient and selective catalysts towards its dehydrogenation has grown. This reaction has been widely explored using homogeneous catalysts; however, from a practical and scalable point of view, heterogeneous catalysts are usually preferred in industry. In this work, formic acid dehydrogenation reactions in both liquid- and vapor-phase conditions have been investigated using heterogeneous catalysts based on mono- or bimetallic Pd/Ru. In all of the explored conditions, the catalysts showed good catalytic activity and selectivity towards the dehydrogenation reaction, avoiding the formation of undesired CO.

En este artículo se da cuenta de una indagación sobre la enseñanza de la lengua materna en el nivel de Educación Básica en Chile desde la perspectiva del uso social del lenguaje, en los ejes de escritura, lectura y comunicación oral. El estudio considera un enfoque metodológico cualitativo y se centra tanto en el análisis de las Bases curriculares de Lenguaje y Comunicación (2012) promulgadas por el MINEDUC, como en la revisión de la propuesta educativa que este ministerio ha desarrollado para los escolares de primer ciclo, a partir del plan Leo Primero (2019). Como resultados preliminares identifica las principales directrices que modelan la enseñanza de la lengua materna, asociadas al uso cotidiano del lenguaje, implementados de primero a cuarto año básico. En este sentido, se entiende que los escolares ingresan al sistema escolar primario haciendo uso de la lengua para una comunicación frecuente familiar, la escuela por su parte, dirige el conocimiento gráfico de la lectoescritura aportando el reconocimiento de diversas formas de comunicación de la lengua escrita, al mismo tiempo que posibilita el manejo funcional del lenguaje oral tanto en instancias cotidianas como formales

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is associated with other autoimmune diseases frequently. Autoimmune polyendocrine syndromes (APS) comprise several entities characterized by the functional disorder of different endocrine glands caused by loss of immune tolerance. They can include non-endocrine conditions such as alopecia, celiac disease and autoimmune gastritis. These syndromes include APS type II, III, and IV. All are characterized by insidious presentation, circulating autoantibodies, and lymphocytic infiltration. The frequency and patterns of autoimmunity are highly variable and the risk of developing the diseases depends on genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. Type II is characterized by presenting two of the following T1D, autoimmune thyroiditis and Addison's disease. Type III is defined by the presence of autoimmune thyroid disease and T1D without adrenal disease, and type IV is a diagnosis of exclusion with association of two or more autoimmune endocrine syndromes that do not constitute APS II or III1. Female sex and age are risk factors for the association of T1D with other autoimmune diseases2.

This paper presents the development of a methodology to detect and evaluate faults in cable-stayed towers, which are part of the infrastructure of Brazil’s interconnected electrical system. The proposed method increases system reliability and minimizes the risk of service failure and tower collapse through the introduction of predictive maintenance methods based on artificial intelligence, which will ultimately benefit the end consumer. The proposed signal processing and interpretation methods are based on a machine learning approach, where the tower vibration is acquired from accelerometers that measure the dynamic response caused by the effects of the environment on the towers through wind and weather conditions. Data-based models were developed to obtain a representation of health degradation, which is primarily based on the finite element model of the tower, subjected to wind excitation. This representation is also based on measurements using a mockup tower with different types of provoked degradation that was subjected to ambient changes in the laboratory. The sensor signals are preprocessed and submitted to an autoencoder neural network to minimize the dimensionality of the resources involved, being analyzed by a classifier, based on a Softmax configuration. The results of the proposed configuration indicate the possibility of early failure detection and evolution evaluation, providing an effective failure detection and monitoring system.