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The morphogenesis of higher plants requires communication among distant organs throughout vascular tissues (xylem and phloem). Numerous investigations have demonstrated that phloem also act as a distribution route for signalling molecules being observed that different macromolecules translocated by the sap, including nucleic acids and proteins, change under stress situations. The participation of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in this communication has been suggested, although little is known about their role. In fact, in the last decade, the presence of EVs in plants has originated a great controversy, where major concerns arose from their origin, isolation methods, and even the appropriate nomenclature for plant nanovesicles. Phloem sap exudates from melon plants, either aphid‐free or infested with Aphis gossypii, were collected by stem incision. After sap concentration (Amicon), phloem EVs (PhlEVs) were isolated by size exclusion chromatography. PhlEVs were characterised using Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis, Transmission electron microscopy and proteomic analysis. Here we confirm the presence of EVs in phloem sap in vivo and the detection of changes in the particles/protein ratio and composition of PhlEVs in response to insect feeding, revealing the presence of typical defence proteins in their cargo as well as components of the proteasome complex. PhlEVs from infested plants showed lower particles/protein ratio and almost two times more proteolytic activity than PhlEVs from aphid‐free plants. In both cases, such activity was inhibited in a dose‐dependent manner by the proteasome inhibitor MG132. Our results suggest that plants may use this mechanism to prepare themselves to receive infectious agents and open up the possibility of an evolutionary conserved mechanism of defence against pathogens/stresses in eukaryotic organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by the helminths Dicrocoelium dendriticum and Fasciola hepatica are important modulators of the host immune response, contributing to the establishment of the infection. Monocytes and, in particular, macrophages are major regulators of the inflammatory response and are likely responsible for the phagocytosis of most of the parasite EVs. In this study, we isolated EVs from F. hepatica (FhEVs) and D. dendriticum (DdEVs) by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and characterized them by nanoparticle tracking analysis, transmission electron microscopy and LC‐MS/MS, and analyzed the cohort of proteins. The treatment of monocytes/macrophages with FhEVs, DdEVs or EV‐depleted fractions from SEC, demonstrated species‐specific effects of the EVs. In particular, FhEVs reduce the migratory capacity of monocytes and the analysis of the cytokine profile showed that they induce a mixed M1/M2 response, exerting anti‐inflammatory properties in Lipopolysaccharide‐activated macrophages. In contrast, DdEVs do not affect monocyte migration and seem to have pro‐inflammatory properties. These results correlate with the differences in the life cycle of both parasites, suggesting different host immune responses. Only F. hepatica migrates to the bile duct through the liver parenchyma, driving the host immune response to heal deep erosions. Furthermore, the proteomic analysis of the macrophages upon FhEV treatment identified several proteins that might be involved in FhEV‐macrophage interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatty acids are the major compounds in olive oils, and the determination of their profile is very useful in order for the authentication of the high quality of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and the evaluation of its purity and traceability. This work considers the estimations of saturated (SAFA), monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids obtained by gas chromatography (GC), 13C (carbonyl, C‐16, and aliphatic carbons regions), and 1H NMR spectra. The aim of this paper is to analyze the correlation structure being between the abovementioned fatty acids estimations and some long‐run agroclimatic measurements (temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, radiation, precipitation, and evapotranspiration), which were downloaded from the official website of the Andalusian Automatic Weather Stations (AWSs). The versatile graphical possibilities of the free software R‐project allow the design of computational programs providing interesting conclusions about the described correlations as a function of month, variety of olive, and protected designation of origin (PDO). The statistically significant correlations could determine relevant agroclimatic information to be included, in a further research, among the explanatory variables in regression models in order to improve the estimation of fatty acid profile of EVOOs, considered as a quality parameter in their authentication. Fatty acids are the major compounds in olive oils and very useful in order to the authentication of the high quality of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). This paper analyzes the effect of agroclimatic big fata, instead of a meteorological factor, on EVOO fatty acid profile determined by GC and NMR spectra. The power of the free software R‐project and its versatile graphical possibilities allows the design of computational programs providing interesting conclusions about the described correlations as a function of month, variety of olive, and protected designation of origin (PDO). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People with intellectual disabilities (IDs) seem to have a lower physical fitness (PF) than their peers without disabilities, which coincides with reduced autonomy, life expectancy and quality of life. To assess PF in these individuals, it is necessary to use appropriate tools that permit the assessment of their physical capacities taking into account their specific characteristics. The aim of this work is to study the feasibility and reliability of the Assessing Levels of Physical Activity (ALPHA)‐Fit test battery for adults in a group of men and women with mild to moderate ID. Methods: Forty‐one adults with ID of both sexes, ranging in age from 20 to 60 years old, participated in the study. To identify the feasibility and reliability of the ALPHA‐Fit test battery for adults, two complete assessments were done for each one of the tests included in the battery. The assessments were performed for a period of no more than 2 weeks (test–retest). An intraclass correlation coefficient was used to determinate test–retest reliability, and a mixed analysis of variance factorial was used for each of the dependent variables. Bland–Altman plots were also used to assess consistency between the two measurements. Feasibility was calculated as the percentage of people who were able to perform the tests correctly (not feasible <50%, fairly feasible 50%–75% and feasible >75%). In order to determine other psychometric properties, minimal detectable change and standard error of measurement (SEM) were also calculated. Results: Of the 10 tests in the ALPHA‐Fit test battery, eight were shown to be feasible. High reliability was obtained (>0.90) for the variables related to body composition. In the hand‐grip test, reliability was high in the men's group but low in the women's group. Good reliability results were also found (0.80–0.89) in the dynamic sit‐up test for women, but not for men. Fair reliability (0.70–0.79) was found in jump‐and‐reach and neck‐shoulder mobility tests. The variables in the 2‐km walk and agility tests indicated poor reliability. All tests showed SEM values related to high variability. However, Bland–Altman plots showed results related to lack of consistency. Conclusions: The feasibility and reliability calculations, as well as the SEM values, confirm that not all the tests of the ALPHA‐Fit Test Battery for Adults are suitable for the assessment of PF in adults with ID, probably because of the complexity of the motor fitness tests. The authors emphasise the necessity of making adaptations to the protocols used or of using other tests more appropriate to the characteristics of people with mild to moderate ID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stereochemistry of two new 1,3‐diol curcuminoid derivatives, ((3R*,5R*)‐3,5‐dihydroxyheptane‐1,7‐diyl) bis (2‐methoxy‐4,1‐phenylene) diacetate namely rac‐6, its acetylated derivative, (3R*,5R*)‐1,7‐bis(4‐acetoxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl) heptane‐3,5‐diyl diacetate (rac‐7) and the diastereomeric model compound 1,3‐bis(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐1,3‐propanediol (rac‐2) were investigated through their X‐ray crystal structures and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. Achiral compounds diacetylcurcumin (4) and diacetylcurcumin‐4H (5), crystallized in the Sohncke space group P21 allowed its unambiguous stereochemical assignment. The unit cell of tetraacetylated compound rac‐7 consists of a co‐crystal of two conformers and constitute a rare case of conformational isomorphism composed by TTTTTT and TTTTGT conformers in a 1:1 stoichiometric proportions. The antioxidant activity of each pair of derivatives was investigated and a significant difference in activity was found for tetraacetylated pairs rac‐7/(3R,5 S)‐1,7‐bis(4‐acetoxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl) heptane‐3,5‐diyl diacetate (meso‐7) and cyclic sulfites (((4R*,6R*)‐2‐oxido‐1,3,2‐dioxathiane‐4,6‐diyl) bis (ethane‐2,1‐diyl)) bis (2‐methoxy‐4,1‐phenylene) diacetate (rac‐8)/(((4 S,6R)‐2‐oxido‐1,3,2‐dioxathiane‐4,6‐diyl) bis (ethane‐2,1‐diyl)) bis (2‐methoxy‐4,1‐phenylene) diacetate (meso‐8). The present study addresses the stereochemistry and biological activity of these types of compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is very appreciated by its taste, flavor, and benefits for health, and so, it has a high price of commercialization. This fact makes it necessary to provide reliable and cost‐effective analytical procedures, such as near‐infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, to analyze its traceability and purity, in combination with chemometrics. Fatty acids profile of EVOO, considered as a quality parameter, is estimated, firstly, from NIR data and, secondly, by adding agro‐climatic information. NIR and agro‐climatic data sets are summarized by using principal component analysis (PCA) and treated by both scalar and functional approaches. The corresponding PCA and FPCA are progressively introduced in regression models, whose goodness of fit is evaluated by the dimensionless root‐mean‐square error. In general, SFAs, MUFAs, and PUFAs (and disaggregated fatty acids) estimations are improved by adding agro‐climatic besides NIR information (mainly, temperature or evapotranspiration) and considering a functional point of view for both NIR and agro‐climatic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/Background: The innervation pattern of the guinea-pig liver is similar to that of the human liver. However, many aspects of the distribution of the neuronal isoform of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the guinea-pig liver and its colocalization with neuropeptides remain to be elucidated. Methods: The distribution of nNOS was studied in fixed guinea-pig liver by light microscopic immunohistochemistry. Confocal analysis was used to determine its colocalization with neuropeptide Y (NPY) or calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Results: nNOS-immunoreactive (nNOS-IR) nerves were observed in relation to hilar and interlobar vessels and in Glisson’s capsule. A few nNOS-IR ganglia were observed in the extrahepatic bile duct and close to the interlobar portal triads. In addition, nNOS-IR fibers were located in the interlobular portal triads and pervading the parenchyma. Moreover, nNOS-IR nerves were demonstrated for the first time in the larger central veins and in the hepatic vein. nNOS-NPY and nNOS-CGRP colocalizations were detected in the fibromuscular layer of the bile duct and periductal plexus, respectively. Conclusions: These results support the phylogenetic conservation of the nNOS-IR hepatic innervation and its possible contribution to the regulation of hepatic blood flow and certain hepatic functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]