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Bourreria franciscoi is proposed and illustrated as a new species belonging to the B. huanita species group. It was collected in the municipality of Cosalá, Sinaloa, in an area highly endangered by mining. The new species resembles Bourreria longiflora and B. rekoi, especially by its hypocrateriform corolla, but can be distinguished by elliptical-lanceolate leaves, size and shape of calyces, size and arrangement of the corolla lobes and androecium, and by the disjunct geographic distribution of these three species. A comparative chart and illustrations of related species are presented, as is a key for the identification of the species in the B. huanita-group and all Bourreria species from Sinaloa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An associative memory is a special type of artificial neural network that has the purpose of store input patterns with their corresponding output patterns and efficiently recall a pattern from a noise-distorted version. Presented in this article is a new framework for constructing a binary associative memory model based on two new autoinverse operations called extended XOR/XNOR; these new operations are generated from the XOR/XNOR operations, respectively. Two types of associative memory are generated with this model: the max type (XOR-AM max), which is constructed with the maximum of the extended XOR operation, and the min type (XOR-AM min), which is constructed with the minimum of the extended XNOR operation. The XOR-AM max exhibits tolerance against the presence of patterns distorted by dilative noise, whereas the XOR-AM min exhibits tolerance against the presence of patterns distorted by erosive noise; both types of memory converge in a single step, use the same extended XOR/XNOR operator for learning and recalling phases, operate in heteroassociative and autoassociative modes, and show infinite storage capacity for the autoassociative mode. Finally, computer simulation results are presented for the new memories based on the extended XOR/XNOR (XOR-AM), which have better or equal performance compared to other associative memories. For the experiments with mixed noise, the conditions established by the kernel method proposed by Ritter for Morphological Associative Memories were conserved, and the solution algorithm proposed by Hattori for the construction of the kernel patterns of these memories was modified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cantaloupe melons, which have been responsible of an increasing number of foodborne disease outbreaks, may become contaminated with microbial pathogens during production. However, little information is available on the microbial populations in the cantaloupe farm environment. The purpose of this work was to characterize the bacterial communities present on cantaloupe farms. Fruit, soil, and harvester hand rinsates were collected from two Mexican cantaloupe farms, each visited three times. Microbiome analysis was performed by sequencing 16sRNA and analyzed using qiime2 software. Correlations were determined between sample type and microbial populations. The α and β diversity analysis identified 2777 sequences across all samples. The soil samples had the highest number and diversity of unique species (from 130 to 1329 OTUs); cantaloupe (from 112 to 205 OTUs), and hands (from 67 to 151 OTUs) had similar diversity. Collectively, Proteobacteria was the most abundant phyla (from 42 to 95%), followed by Firmicutes (1–47%), Actinobacteria (< 1 to 23%), and Bacteroidetes (< 1 to 4.8%). The most abundant genera were Acinetobacter (20–58%), Pseudomonas (14.5%), Erwinia (13%), and Exiguobacterium (6.3%). Genera with potential to be pathogenic included Bacillus (4%), Salmonella (0.85%), Escherichia-Shigella (0.38%), Staphylococcus (0.32%), Listeria (0.29%), Clostridium (0.28%), and Cronobacter (0.27%), which were found at lower frequencies. This study provides information on the cantaloupe production microbiome, which can inform future research into critical food safety issues such as antimicrobial resistance, virulence, and genomic epidemiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity can lead children and adolescents to an increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. A diet supplemented with Plantago psyllium has been shown to be effective in reducing LDL-C and IL-6 in adolescents. However, there are no studies that have explored small-dense LDL (sdLDL) or HDL subclasses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a fiber dietary intervention on LDL and HDL subclasses in adolescents with obesity. In this parallel, double blind, randomized clinical trial, the participants were assigned to Plantago psyllium or placebo (10g/day for 7 weeks). We randomized 113 participants, and evaluated and analyzed 100 adolescents (50 in each group), 15 to 19 years with a body mass index of 29–34. We measured biochemical markers LDL and HDL subclasses using the Lipoprint system (Quantimetrix) and IL-6 by ELISA. Post-treatment there was a decrease in sdLDL between the groups 2.0 (0–5.0) vs 1 (0–3.0) mg/dl (p = 0.004), IL-6 median 3.32 (1.24–5.96) vs 1.76 (0.54–3.28) pg/ml, p <0.0001. There were no differences in HDL subclasses and no adverse effects were reported in either group. Conclusions: Small dense LDL and IL-6 reduced in adolescents with obesity when consuming Plantago psyllium. This may be an early good strategy for the reduction of cardiovascular disease risk in this vulnerable population. Trial registration: ISRCTN # 14180431. Date assigned 24/08/2020 What is Known: • Supplementing the diet with Plantago psyllium lowers LDL-C levels. What is New: • First evidence that soluble fiber supplementation like Plantago psyllium decreases small dense LDL particles in association with lowered IL-6, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease in obese adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In tropical montane ecosystems, forest conversion into agricultural uses, combined with changes in climate can alter ecosystem hydrological and biogeochemical processes in multiple ways. A deeper understating of the interactions and couplings between land use/land cover, ecohydrological, and biogeochemical processes is needed to identify and evaluate the potential impacts of a changing environment. In this study, we compare the combined effects of forest conversion into agricultural uses and rainfall seasonality, in the dynamics of water-driven phosphorus circulation in a tropical montane area in Colombia. More specifically, we analyze water-driven phosphorus circulation from rainfall to infiltration as it moves through different hydrological compartments, in a case study that includes four types of land use, including two stages of intervention in native oak-dominated forests, transitory crops (vegetative periods of less than 1 year) and non-native pastures. Our results show that mean phosphate (PO4-P) fluxes in infiltration and surface runoff were higher in agroecosystems than in natural forests, while both types of forests exhibited canopy absorption of PO4-P from rainfall, typical of P-limited ecosystems. These differences were exacerbated by rainfall seasonality (P < 0.05). Our results indicate that a large portion of nutrient extra-inputs in agroecosystems from fertilization may be lost to surface runoff or infiltration and may not be available for plant nutrition and potentially causing other impacts downstream. Overall, our results highlight how, from growing on relatively phosphorus-poor soils, natural ecosystems are more effective in controlling phosphorus losses, both in the canopy as well as in the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato field wastes and industrial by-products represents a valuable source of compounds with nutraceutical potential, and therefore of raw material to obtain food ingredients and additives. The objective of this study was to obtain a flour from tomato industrial by-product and from tomato field waste, dried by a conventional method, that allows to remain important nutraceutical compounds, which in the future, can be used for biotechnological purposes. We found that the drying procedure that allowed to reach an adequate water activity (0.4–0.6) in a forced convection oven were: 55 °C during 120 min. Both, the by-product and the field waste are potential sources for the extraction of phenolic and carotenoid compounds, getting up 11.26 μg/mg dry extract of lycopene and 162.82 μg/mg dry extract of phenolic compounds, highlighting the flavonoids: naringenin, catechin, and rutin. On the other hand, antioxidant analysis showed that oven dried by-product exhibits an inhibition around 80% against hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals, and a positive correlation of both lycopene and β-carotene with myoglobin protection ratio against these radicals. We concluded that the flour from tomato industrial by-products and field waste have nutraceutical properties attractive to the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection and analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may enable a broad range of cancer-related applications, including the identification of acquired drug resistance during treatments. However, the non-scalable fabrication, prolonged sample processing times, and the lack of automation, associated with most of the technologies developed to isolate these rare cells, have impeded their transition into the clinical practice. This work describes a novel membrane-based microfiltration device comprised of a fully automated sample processing unit and a machine-vision-enabled imaging system that allows the efficient isolation and rapid analysis of CTCs from blood. The device performance was characterized using four prostate cancer cell lines, including PC-3, VCaP, DU-145, and LNCaP, obtaining high assay reproducibility and capture efficiencies greater than 93% after processing 7.5 mL blood samples spiked with 100 cancer cells. Cancer cells remained viable after filtration due to the minimal shear stress exerted over cells during the procedure, while the identification of cancer cells by immunostaining was not affected by the number of non-specific events captured on the membrane. We were also able to identify the androgen receptor (AR) point mutation T878A from 7.5 mL blood samples spiked with 50 LNCaP cells using RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. Finally, CTCs were detected in 8 out of 8 samples from patients diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer (mean ± SEM = 21 ± 2.957 CTCs/mL, median = 21 CTCs/mL), demonstrating the potential clinical utility of this device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the sensory and hedonic perceptions of chicken burger manufactured with pink pepper residue extract (PPE) added to the meat and to the chitosan film. Five samples were manufactured: CT: control, without antioxidant; DP and FP: addition of PPE to the meat batter and to the film, respectively; C1 and C2: commercial brands of chicken burgers. Consumers characterized the samples using the overall liking test and Check-all-that-apply questions. The samples showed a medium–high level of acceptance and no significant differences were found between them. DP was the farthest sample from the ideal and FP showed positive results, since its characteristics were like the commercial samples. The direct extract application may lead to a reduction in the liking of chicken burgers, demonstrating that the technology of active films is a viable alternative to the use of natural antioxidant extracts in meat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physicochemical characterization (i.e., solubility, stability, UV-vis, IR, 1H and 13C NMR, and thermogravimetric and elemental analysis) and biological activities (antioxidant and immunomodulatory) of purified melanins from the fruit flesh of Vitex mollis (VM) and Randia echinocarpa (RE) were investigated. The melanins showed low solubility, light stability, oxidation by chemicals, metal chelation, degradation temperature at 350 °C, % nitrogen (VM 3.725 and RE 4.485), characteristic spectroscopic signals, high antioxidant activity (µmol TE/g) (ABTS, VM 1333.5 and RE 835.7; FRAP, VM 1098.41 and RE 709.64), protective effect against H2O2-stress in Saccharomyces, and an induction of splenocyte proliferation. The chemical and biological data support that melanins of VM and RE are biosynthesized from tyrosine and have potential as photoprotective agents and could be considered for the prevention/treatment of chronic degenerative diseases. The fruits of VM and RE could be used to develop high added-value products favoring their preservation and sustainable exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was initiated to investigate a fast and reliable method for the determination of selected systemic insecticides in water matrixes and to evaluate potential sources of bias in their analysis. Acetamiprid, clothianidin, desnitro-imidacloprid, dinotefuran, fipronil, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam were amenable to analysis via on-line sample enrichment hyphenated to ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The selection of on-line solid-phase extraction parameters was dictated by a multicriterion desirability approach. A 2-mL on-line injection volume with a 1500 μL min−1 loading flow rate met the objectives sought in terms of chromatographic requirements, extraction efficiency, sensitivity, and precision. A total analysis time of 8 min per sample was obtained with method limits of detection in the range of 0.1-5 ng L−1 for the scope of targeted analytes. Automation at the sample concentration step yielded intraday and interday precisions in the range of 1-23 and 2-26%, respectively. Factors that could affect the whole method accuracy were further evaluated in matrix-specific experiments. The impact of the initial filtration step on analyte recovery was evaluated in ultra-pure water, tap water, and surface water. Out of the nine membranes tested, glass fiber filters and polyester filters appeared as the most appropriate materials. Sample storage stability was also investigated across the three matrix types; the targeted analytes displayed suitable stability during 28 days at either 4 °C or − 20 °C, with little deviations (± 10%) with respect to the initial T0 concentration. Method applicability was demonstrated in a range of tap water and surface water samples from the province of Québec, Canada. Results from the present survey indicated a predominance of thiamethoxam (< 0.5-10 and 3-61 ng L−1 in tap water and river water, respectively), clothianidin (< 0.5-6 and 2-88 ng L−1 in tap water and river water, respectively), and imidacloprid (< 0.1-1 and 0.8-38 ng L−1 in tap water and river water, respectively) among the targeted analytes.ᅟDevelopment of solid-phase extraction coupled on-line to UHPLC-MS/MS for the rapid screening of systemic insecticides in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation actively affects different components of the water budget in multiple spatial and temporal scales. Changes in vegetation cover and structure—such as those resulting from land use—alter natural ecohydrological dynamics, leading to changes in natural hydrologic regimes. In tropical mountain ecosystems, such as the Colombian Andes, significant areas of native forests have been converted to agro-ecosystems that include pasturelands and croplands, to supply societal demands for other ecosystem services. Yet, services such as water provision and hydropower generation that depend on the regulation of hydrologic fluxes are also demanded from these ecosystems, potentially generating conflicting societal demands. In this study, we assess the effect of vegetation cover type and rainfall seasonality on the dynamics of hydrological partitioning—an indicator of hydrologic regulation—at three temporal scales, in a simulated gradient of human disturbance characterized by seven types of vegetation cover. Overall, vegetation cover effects on hydrologic partitioning are more pronounced in shorter, weekly to seasonal, timescales than in annual timescales. Natural vegetation cover types have a higher potential for maintaining water availability, as evidenced by lower variability of soil moisture storage and hydrological fluxes both within and between seasons. Notably, among all cover types, early stages of natural vegetation recovery appear to be more effective in maintaining higher levels of soil moisture while decreasing potential overland flow and other water losses, therefore more effectively contributing to deep drainage and potentially to groundwater recharge, which relate to hydrologic regulation and, ultimately, water availability. Collectively, our results provide insights for decision-making in land management, particualrly when provisioning and regulatory ecosystem services are demanded from these strategic ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the computation of the moments associated to rational weight functions given as a power spectrum with known or unknown poles of any order in the interior of the unit disc. A recursive algebraic procedure is derived that computes the moments in a finite number of steps. We also study the associated interpolatory quadrature formulas with equidistant nodes on the unit circle. Explicit expressions are given for the positive quadrature weights in the case of a polynomial weight function. For rational weight functions with simple poles, mostly real or uniformly distributed on a circle in the open unit disc, we also obtain expressions for the quadrature weights and sufficient conditions that guarantee that they are positive. The Poisson kernel is a simple example of a rational weight function, and in the last section, we derive an asymptotic expansion of the quadrature error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After improving enrolment rates significantly, many developing countries such as Peru are facing the challenge to increase learning levels among students. Over the past few years, many researchers have turned to teacher-related variables as a way to better understand classroom processes that may help increase learning levels among students. In this study, we analyze one of these, that falls under what Shulman ( Educational Researcher, 15 (2), 4-14, 1986) called pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). Specifically, in this study, we analyze one of the areas of PCK which is knowledge of content and students. This was measured through a test where teachers were asked to explain students' mistakes and predict responses in similar mathematics exercises. We explore if PCK is associated with the socioeconomic status of children and if it has an effect on children's achievement. Additionally, we analyze which teacher characteristics are associated with higher scores in PCK. The analysis uses the Young Lives longitudinal survey for Peru. We found that students' socioeconomic status at age 1 and maternal education were positively associated with their teachers' PCK by the time students were enrolled in fourth grade, thus depicting a very unequal education system. Furthermore, teachers' PCK was positively associated with student achievement, but only when a threshold for the PCK test was established. For our sample, male teachers, who were younger, and Spanish speakers had higher PCK scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountain ecosystems provide key services to a large portion of the population in the tropics. However, they are particularly vulnerable to regional environmental changes such as soil degradation, via soil erosion and associated nutrient loss, both dissolved in runoff and suspended in sediment. Current trends in land use conversion combined with projections of intensified hydrological extremes potentially amplify these threats. We analyze the interactive effects of rainfall characteristics (at three time scales) and vegetation cover on the runoff-erosion-nutrient loss progression for a group of vegetation cover types that represent different land use conversion stages. After a year of observations we found, as expected, that natural forests have the highest potential for regulating precipitation-runoff-erosion-nutrient loss. The highest amounts of runoff occurred in pasturelands, and croplands had the highest erosion losses. Croplands showed the highest concentrations of soluble nutrients in runoff and in sediment. However, due to higher runoff amounts, pasturelands had the greatest loss of dissolved nutrients. Precipitation seasonality significantly influenced both erosion and nutrient loss. This is particularly critical in managed agricultural and pasture systems where increased runoff and erosion rates, combined with unsustainable management practices, may lead to alterations in soil and water quality. Our results indicate how agricultural practices need to adapt fertilization scheduling to rainfall seasonality to minimize potential environmental impacts. Collectively, our results highlight a fundamental management need in tropical mountains where the combination of rapid land use change and altered climate threatens ecosystem integrity and ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe the characteristics of infants with bilateral Stage 4b or 5 ROP (i.e. with subtotal or total retinal detachment) who presented to eye departments in two major cities in Mexico, to identify reasons why they may have become blind in order to recommend how programs could be improved. A large case-series of infants with Stage 4b or 5 ROP in both eyes confirmed by ultrasound who attended the ROP Clinic, Hospital Civil de Guadalajara from September 2010 to November 2012, and the Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez from December 2011 to December 2012 were identified from the diagnostic databases of each hospital. Mothers of infants in Guadalajara had a telephone interview. 89/94 eligible infants were included in the study, 48 in Guadalajara and 41 in Mexico City. Cases came from 22 of the 32 states in Mexico. Half of the infants attending Guadalajara 24/48 (50 %) had been cared for in NICUs without ROP screening programs and were not examined. Among the 24 infants cared for in NICUs with ROP programs, 7/24 (29.1 %) mothers reported that their infant had not been examined while in the NICU, and a further 9/24 (37.5 %) were either not referred for screening after discharge or they did not attend. Two infants had failed laser treatment. Strategies and resources to prevent end stage ROP have not been firmly established in Mexico. There is an urgent need to expand the coverage and quality of ROP programs, to ensure that existing screening guidelines are better adhered to, and to improve communication with parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of laboratory testing of hot and warm bituminous mixtures containing Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP). Complex modulus measurements, using the tension-compression test on cylindrical specimens, were conducted to determine linear viscoelastic (LVE) behavior. Sinusoidal cyclic loadings, with strain amplitude of approximately 50⋅10, were applied at several temperatures (from −25 to +45 °C) and frequencies (from 0.03 Hz to 10 Hz). In addition to axial stresses and strains, radial strains were also measured. The complex modulus E and complex Poisson's ratios ν were then obtained in two perpendicular directions. Measured values in these two directions do not indicate anisotropy on Poisson's ratio. The time-temperature superposition principle (TTSP) was verified with good approximation in one-dimensional (1D) and three-dimensional (3D) conditions for the same values of shift factor. Experimental results were modeled using the 2S2P1D model previously developed at the University of Lyon/ENTPE. In addition, specific analysis showed that eventual damage created during complex modulus test is very small and is equivalent to the effect of an increase of temperature of about 0.25 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Both the adaptative and the innate immune systems interplay in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogeny. Killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are key regulators of the immune response, with activating and inhibitory isoforms.Objective: In this study we analysed whether the expression of KIR isoforms is implicated in MS pathogenesis and in the therapeutic response to interferon (IFN)-β.Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 78 IFN-β-treated MS patients and 46 healthy controls (HC). KIR expression was evaluated by flow cytometry on natural killer (NK) and T cells.Results: The expression of KIRs on NK cells and T lymphocytes did not differ between MS patients and HC. IFN-β therapy decreased the expression of KIR2DL1/2DS1 and increased that of KIR2DL2/3 on NK cells. This therapy also reduced KIR2DL1/2DS1, KIR2DL2/2DL3 and KIR3DL2 expression on CD8(+) T cells. The baseline evaluation of the percentage of circulating CD16(+) NK cells was predictive of the clinical response to IFN-β; however, response to this therapy did not appear related to KIR expression.Conclusions: This study shows that expression of KIR isoforms on NK and T lymphocytes correlated in different ways with IFN-β therapy, suggesting that KIR dynamics may be associated with the pathways involved in the mechanisms of action of IFN-β. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty two HIV-infected children, on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and >500 CD4[sup +] T cells/mm³, were rated according to the time-course of viral load (VL) during the whole follow-up period (>18 months) in a longitudinal retrospective study. (a) uVL group: 15 children with VL below 400 copies/mL; (b) dVL group: 17 children with higher VL. The uVL group showed higher memory (CD4[sup +]CD45RO[sup +]) T cells than did dVL group, and higher number of memory activated CD4[sup +]CD45RO[sup +]HLA-DR[sup +] than did control group (healthy age-matched uninfected children), whereas CD4[sup +]CD45RA[sup hi+]CD62L[sup +] was similar. However, TCR rearrangement excision circles (TRECs) were higher in uVL group than in dVL group, uVL Group showed CD8[sup +]CD45RO[sup +] and CD8[sup +]CD45RO[sup +]CD38[sup +] higher number than the control group, but lower than the dVL group. The percentage of CD8[sup +]CD45RA[sup hi+]CD62L[sup +], CD8[sup +]CD45RA[sup +], CD8[sup +]CD62L[sup +], and CD8[sup +]CD28[sup +] was higher in uVL group than in dVL group, and lower than in control group. The uVL group showed higher number of activated (HLADR[sup +]CD38[sup +], HLA-DR[sup +], HLA-DR[sup +]CD38[sup -]) CD4[sup +] T cells and lower percentages of CD4[sup +]HLA-DR[sup -]CD38[sup +] than dVL group. In activated CD8[sup +] T cell, the uVL group had lower CD8[sup +]HLA-DR[sup +]CD38[sup +], CD8[sup +]HLA-DR[sup +], and CD8[sup +]CD38[sup +] than the dVL group. Preeffector (CD8[sup +]CD57[sup -]CD28[sup -] and CD8[sup +]CD45RA[sup -]CD62L[sup -]) T cells were lower in the uVL group than in dVL group. In the effector (CD8[sup +]CD57[sup +], CD8[sup +]CD57[sup +]CD28[sup -], and CD8[sup +]CD45RA[sup +]CD62L[sup -]) T'cells, HIV-infected-children had higher values than control group. HIV-infected-children who respond to HAART had TRECs reconstitution, decreased immune activation, and lower effector CD8[sup +] T cells. Moreover, successful HAART allow the increment of activated CD4[sup +] T cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have the potential of becoming the gold standard marker for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring. However, current methods for its isolation and characterization suffer from equipment variability and human operator error that hinder its widespread use. Here we report the design and construction of a fully automated high-throughput fluorescence microscope that enables the imaging and classification of cancer cells that were labeled by immunostaining procedures. An excellent agreement between our machine vision-based approach and a state-of-the-art microscopy equipment was achieved. Our integral approach provides a path for operator-free and robust analysis of cancer cells as a standard clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which aims to analyze the adoption of online banking services which use the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in the province of Québec. The study surveyed full-time students in the metropolitan area and the model was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling. It says that TAM is supported in a French banking setting in North America. Moreover, the result is significant in encouraging people to use the Internet for personal banking operations.