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Peru has the highest diversity of members of the tamarin genus Leontocebus (Callitrichidae). However, for a number of taxa from this genus the distributional ranges are still not well known. In this paper we provide evidence for the extension of the southern range of Leontocebus fuscicollis fuscicollis to the right bank of the Río Abujao, south of which it is replaced by Leontocebus weddelli weddelli.

Abstract Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are promising drug carriers of photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) in cancer treatment, due to their ability to circulate in blood and enter cells efficiently. The therapeutic potential of EVs has been suggested to depend on the type and physiological state of their cell of origin. However, the effects of deriving EVs from various cells in different physiological states on their antitumor capacity are rarely evaluated. In the present study, we compared the antitumor efficacy of EV-mediated PDT by incorporating the photosensitizer Zinc Phthalocyanine (ZnPc) into EVs from multiple cells sources. ZnPc was incorporated by a direct incubation strategy into EVs derived from immune cells (M1-like macrophages and M2-like macrophages), cancer cells (B16F10 melanoma cancer cells) and external sources (milk). Our data show that all EVs are suitable carriers for ZnPc and enable efficient PDT in vitro in co-culture models and in vivo. We observed that EV-mediated PDT initiates immunogenic cell death through the release and exposure of damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) on cancer cells, which subsequently induced dendritic cell (DC) maturation. Importantly, of all ZnPc-EVs tested, in absence of light only M1-ZnPc displayed toxicity to MC38, but not to DC, in monoculture and in co-culture, indicating specificity for cancer over immune cells. In MC38 tumor-bearing mice, only M1-ZnPc induced a tumor growth delay compared to control in absence of light. Interestingly, M1- but not M2-mediated PDT, induced complete responses against MC38 tumors in murine models (100% versus 38% of cases, respectively), with survival of all animals up to at least 60 days post inoculation. Finally, we show that all cured animals are protected from a rechallenge with MC38 cells, suggesting the induction of immunological memory after EV-mediated PDT. Together, our data show the importance of the cell type from which the EVs are obtained and highlight the impact of the immunological state of these cells on the antitumor efficacy of EV-mediated PDT. Graphical Abstract

Introduction The transition from secondary education to higher education (HE) marks the beginning of a new stage in the individual journey of students, which is assumed to be one of the best and most remarkable periods of life. University students constitute a risk group in which situations that generate stress are abundant and potentially disturbing, which can condition their self-efficacy and perception of well-being. Objectives Describe correlations between sociodemographic variables and self-efficacy, perceived stress and psychological well-being; Understand the correlation between the various variables under study in newly admitted students in a HE establishment; Raising awareness of the importance of the Specialist Nurse in Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing in the transition process, promotion of mental health and prevention of mental illness. Methods Descriptive and correlational study with a non-probabilistic sample of students in the 1st year of the nursing degree at a Portuguese nursing school. Data collection took place in the 1st semester of the 2019/2020 school year, after a favourable opinion from the Ethics Committee and authorization from the HE institution’s governing bodies. The following measurement instruments were used: Sociodemographic/Academic Questionnaire, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Perceived Stress Scale and Psychological Well-Being Manifestation Scale. Results There are statistically significant differences between global self-efficacy and the variables that measure who students live with during the school year, whether entering HE implies leaving home, participation in extracurricular activities, professional activity, level of adaptation to the institution of education and level of schooling satisfaction with the course. There are statistically significant differences between perceived stress and the variables gender, studying away from home, who they live with during school term, participation in extracurricular activities, level of adaptation to the institution, degree of satisfaction with the course and need for psychological support. There were statistically significant differences between psychological well-being and gender and variables measuring necessity studying away from home, who they live with during the school term, participation in extracurricular activities, economic situation, level of adaptation to the institution and degree of satisfaction with the course. There was a negative correlation between general self-efficacy and perceived stress (moderate) and between perceived stress and psychological well-being (strong) and a moderate positive correlation between general self-efficacy and psychological well-being of HE students. Conclusions It is concluded that the transition environment for HE is complex and impactful for students, so it is essential to develop facilitating strategies in order to reduce the impact of stress-inducing factors and emotional exhaustion in this population. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Abstract Background In 2015, a specific health-related quality of life questionnaire for sarcopenia, SarQoL®, was developed and validated in French. Since then, SarQoL® has been adapted and validated in different languages. We prepared a translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the psychometric properties of the SarQoL® into Spanish. Methods A cross-sectional study with 86 participants. The translation and adaptation followed international guidelines with two direct translations, a synthesized version of the direct translations, two reverse translations, consensus by an expert committee of a pre-final version, pre-test by end users and final version. The discriminative power (logistic regression analyses), construct validity (Pearson and Spearman´s correlation), internal consistency (Cronbach´s alpha coefficient), test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient) and ceiling and floor effects were analyzed. Results The Spanish version showed good construct validity (high correlation with comparable domains of the SF-36), high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient: 0.84) and excellent test–retest reliability (ICC: 0.967, 95%, CI 0.917 – 0.989). However, it had no discriminative power between sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic participants defined with the EWGSOP and FNIH diagnostic criteria of sarcopenia. It did show discriminative power between patients with decreased vs normal muscle strength (54.9 vs. 62.6, p 0.009) and low vs. normal physical performance (57.3 vs. 70.2; p 0.005). No ceiling or floor effect was found. Conclusions The Spanish version of SarQoL® has similar psychometric properties to those of the original version of the instrument. It did not discriminate between sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic patients diagnosed according to the EWGSOP or FNIH criteria, but it did with those with low muscle strength and low physical performance.

Introduction: Loss of skeletal muscle mass and function (sarcopenia) is common in individuals with obesity due to metabolic changes associated with a sedentary lifestyle, adipose tissue derangements, comorbidities (acute and chronic diseases) and during the ageing process. Co-existence of excess adiposity and low muscle mass/function is referred to as sarcopenic obesity (SO), a condition increasingly recognized for its clinical and functional features that negatively influence important patient-centred outcomes. Effective prevention and treatment strategies for SO are urgently needed, but efforts are hampered by the lack of a universally established SO definition and diagnostic criteria. Resulting inconsistencies in the literature also negatively affect the ability to define prevalence as well as clinical relevance of SO for negative health outcomes. Aims and Methods: The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) and the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) launched an initiative to reach expert consensus on a definition and diagnostic criteria for SO. The jointly appointed international expert panel proposes that SO is defined as the co-existence of excess adiposity and low muscle mass/function. The diagnosis of SO should be considered in at-risk individuals who screen positive for a co-occurring elevated body mass index or waist circumference, and markers of low skeletal muscle mass and function (risk factors, clinical symptoms, or validated questionnaires). Diagnostic procedures should initially include assessment of skeletal muscle function, followed by assessment of body composition where presence of excess adiposity and low skeletal muscle mass or related body compartments confirm the diagnosis of SO. Individuals with SO should be further stratified into stage I in the absence of clinical complications or stage II if cases are associated with complications linked to altered body composition or skeletal muscle dysfunction. Conclusions: ESPEN and EASO, as well as the expert international panel, advocate that the proposed SO definition and diagnostic criteria be implemented into routine clinical practice. The panel also encourages prospective studies in addition to secondary analysis of existing data sets, to study the predictive value, treatment efficacy and clinical impact of this SO definition.

Rhizophora mangle is commonly used in traditional medicine to treat infections, reduce inflammation, and promote healing. This study aimed to analyze the phytochemical profile of the methanolic extract of R. mangle leaves (MELRm) and evaluate its in vitro schistosomicidal activity against Schistosoma mansoni as well as its cytotoxicity. Plant material was collected in Itamaracá City, Pernambuco, Brazil. The extract was analyzed using UV/Vis spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The motility, mortality, and cell viability of adult worms were assessed in a schistosomicidal assay, while cytotoxicity was evaluated through a colorimetric assay with MTT on RAW 264.7 cells. The primary compounds identified in MELRm were phenolic compounds. In the schistosomicidal assay, all concentrations of MELRs induced changes in the motility of adult worms. At a concentration of 400 μg/mL, MELRs resulted in 56.25% mortality after 72 h of incubation. After 120 h, mortality rates of 75%, 62.5%, and 50% were observed at MELRm concentrations of 400, 200, and 100 μg/mL, respectively. No eggs were detected at any MELRm concentration. MELRs did not show cytotoxicity towards RAW 264.7 cells at the concentrations tested. These results indicate that MELRs demonstrate schistosomicidal activity in vitro, suggesting they are promising candidates for in vivo studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are versatile, adapting hardware and software for research. They are vital for remote monitoring, especially in challenging settings such as volcano observation with limited access. In response, economical computer vision systems provide a remedy by processing data, boosting UAV autonomy, and assisting in maneuvering. Through the application of these technologies, researchers can effectively monitor remote areas, thus improving surveillance capabilities. Moreover, flight controllers employ onboard tools to gather data, further enhancing UAV navigation during surveillance tasks. For energy efficiency and comprehensive coverage, this paper introduces a budget-friendly prototype aiding UAV navigation, minimizing effects on endurance. The prototype prioritizes improved maneuvering via the integrated landing and obstacle avoidance system (LOAS). Employing open-source software and MAVLink communication, these systems underwent testing on a Pixhawk-equipped quadcopter. Programmed on a Raspberry Pi onboard computer, the prototype includes a distance sensor and basic camera to meet low computational and weight demands.Tests occurred in controlled environments, with systems performing well in 90% of cases. The Pixhawk and Raspberry Pi documented quad actions during evasive and landing maneuvers. Results prove the prototype’s efficacy in refining UAV navigation. Integrating this cost-effective, energy-efficient model holds promise for long-term mission enhancement—cutting costs, expanding terrain coverage, and boosting surveillance capabilities.

Schistosomiasis, a potentially fatal chronic disease whose etiological agents are blood trematode worms of the genus Schistosoma spp., is one of the most prevalent and debilitating neglected diseases. The treatment of schistosomiasis depends exclusively on praziquantel (PZQ), a drug that has been used since the 1970s and that already has reports of reduced therapeutic efficacy, related with the development of Schistosoma-resistant or -tolerant strains. Therefore, the search for new therapeutic alternatives is an urgent need. Plumbagin (PLUM), a naphthoquinone isolated from the roots of plants of the genus Plumbago, has aroused interest in research due to its antiparasitic properties against protozoa and helminths. Here, we evaluated the in vivo schistosomicidal potential of PLUM against Schistosoma mansoni and the in silico pharmacokinetic parameters. ADMET parameters and oral bioavailability were evaluated using the PkCSM and SwissADME platforms, respectively. The study was carried out with five groups of infected mice and divided as follows: an untreated control group, a control group treated with PZQ, and three groups treated orally with 8, 16, or 32 mg/kg of PLUM. After treatment, the Kato–Katz technique was performed to evaluate a quantity of eggs in the feces (EPG). The animals were euthanized for worm recovery, intestine samples were collected to evaluate the oviposition pattern, the load of eggs was determined on the hepatic and intestinal tissues and for the histopathological and histomorphometric evaluation of tissue and hepatic granulomas. PLUM reduced EPG by 65.27, 70.52, and 82.49%, reduced the total worm load by 46.7, 55.25, and 72.4%, and the female worm load by 44.01, 52.76, and 71.16%, for doses of 8, 16, and 32 mg/kg, respectively. PLUM also significantly reduced the number of immature eggs and increased the number of dead eggs in the oogram. A reduction of 36.11, 46.46, and 64.14% in eggs in the hepatic tissue, and 57.22, 65.18, and 80.5% in the intestinal tissue were also observed at doses of 8, 16, and 32 mg/kg, respectively. At all doses, PLUM demonstrated an effect on the histopathological and histomorphometric parameters of the hepatic granuloma, with a reduction of 41.11, 48.47, and 70.55% in the numerical density of the granulomas and 49.56, 57.63, and 71.21% in the volume, respectively. PLUM presented itself as a promising in vivo antiparasitic candidate against S. mansoni, acting not only on parasitological parameters but also on hepatic granuloma. Furthermore, in silico, PLUM showed good predictive pharmacokinetic profiles by ADMET.

Though numerous scholars have studied subjective time, its predictors and effects, the general model considering demographic variables, cultural values and level of wellbeing is not presented. This study seeks to bridge this gap by contributing a comparative study of two very different countries: Ecuador (N=745, aged 19—76, 48.7% male), a Latin American developing country, and Russia (N=428, aged 18—72, 40.2% male), an emerging Eurasian nation. We assumed that temporal focus plays the role of a mediator in the relationship between cultural values and subjective happiness in both countries. To predict the temporal focus (Temporal Focus Scale by Shipp, Edwards, and Lambert, 2009) in both countries, based on the previous literature the study tests the importance of three groups of variables: demographic factors (gender, age, education, income), subjective happiness (Subjective Happiness Scale by Lyubomirsky and Lepper, 1999), and cultural values (Cultural Values Scale by Yoo, Donthu and Lenartowics, 2011). The first stage of analysis involved confirmatory factor analyses and invariance tests for the scales used. Subsequently, multiple regression models made it possible to establish that sociodemographic variables, introduced as covariates, had little influence on the prediction of people's temporal orientation. However, the cultural and psychological variables (long-term orientation, uncertainty avoidance and subjective happiness) introduced as predictors played an important role in the prediction of temporal (current, past and future) focus. Additionally, there are some cultural and psychological predictors of temporal focus specific for each country. Ultimately, structural equation models demonstrated that temporal focus plays the role of the mediator in the relationship between cultural values and subjective happiness in both Ecuador and Russia.

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has represented a major cause of morbidity/mortality worldwide, overstressing health systems. Multiple myeloma (MM) patients show an increased risk for infections and they are expected to be particularly vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here we have obtained a comprehensive picture of the impact of COVID-19 in MM patients on a local and a global scale using a federated data research network (TriNetX) that provided access to Electronic Medical Records (EMR) from Health Care Organizations (HCO) all over the world. Through propensity score matched analyses we found that the number of new diagnoses of MM was reduced in 2020 compared to 2019 (RR 0.86, 95%CI 0.76–0.96) and the survival of newly diagnosed MM cases decreased similarly (HR 0.61, 0.38–0.81). MM patients showed higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection (RR 2.09, 1.58–2.76) and a higher excess mortality in 2020 (difference in excess mortality 9%, 4.4–13.2) than non-MM patients. By interrogating large EMR datasets from HCO in Europe and globally, we confirmed that MM patients have been more severely impacted by COVID-19 pandemic than non-MM patients. This study highlights the necessity of extending preventive measures worlwide to protect vulnerable patients from SARS-CoV-2 infection by promoting social distancing and an intensive vaccination strategies.

Abstract The data taken in Run II at the Large Hadron Collider have started to probe Higgs boson production at high transverse momentum. Future data will provide a large sample of events with boosted Higgs boson topologies, allowing for a detailed understanding of electroweak Higgs boson plus two-jet production, and in particular the vector-boson fusion mode (VBF). We perform a detailed comparison of precision calculations for Higgs boson production in this channel, with particular emphasis on large Higgs boson transverse momenta, and on the jet radius dependence of the cross section. We study fixed-order predictions at next-to-leading order and next-to-next-to-leading order QCD, and compare the results to NLO plus parton shower (NLOPS) matched calculations. The impact of the NNLO corrections on the central predictions is mild, with inclusive scale uncertainties of the order of a few percent, which can increase with the imposition of kinematic cuts. We find good agreement between the fixed-order and matched calculations in non-Sudakov regions, and the various NLOPS predictions also agree well in the Sudakov regime. We analyze backgrounds to VBF Higgs boson production stemming from associated production, and from gluon-gluon fusion. At high Higgs boson transverse momenta, the ∆y jj and/or m jj cuts typically used to enhance the VBF signal over background lead to a reduced efficiency. We examine this effect as a function of the jet radius and using different definitions of the tagging jets. QCD radiative corrections increase for all Higgs production modes with increasing Higgs boson p T , but the proportionately larger increase in the gluon fusion channel results in a decrease of the gluon-gluon fusion background to electroweak Higgs plus two jet production upon requiring exclusive two-jet topologies. We study this effect in detail and contrast in particular a central jet veto with a global jet multiplicity requirement.

Modern-day hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) therapies, such as gene therapy, modify autologous HSCs prior to re-infusion into myelo-conditioned patients and hold great promise for treatment of hematological disorders. While this approach has been successful in numerous clinical trials, it relies on transplantation of ex vivo modified patient HSCs, which presents several limitations. It is a costly and time-consuming procedure, which includes only few patients so far, and ex vivo culturing negatively impacts on the viability and stem cell-properties of HSCs. If viral vectors are used, this carries the additional risk of insertional mutagenesis. A therapy delivered to HSCs in vivo, with minimal disturbance of the HSC niche, could offer great opportunities for novel treatments that aim to reverse disease symptoms for hematopoietic disorders and could bring safe, effective and affordable genetic therapies to all parts of the world. However, substantial unmet needs exist with respect to the in vivo delivery of therapeutics to HSCs. In the last decade, in particular with the development of gene editing technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9, nanoparticles (NPs) have become an emerging platform to facilitate the manipulation of cells and organs. By employing surface modification strategies, different types of NPs can be designed to target specific tissues and cell types in vivo. HSCs are particularly difficult to target due to the lack of unique cell surface markers that can be utilized for cell-specific delivery of therapeutics, and their shielded localization in the bone marrow (BM). Recent advances in NP technology and genetic engineering have resulted in the development of advanced nanocarriers that can deliver therapeutics and imaging agents to hematopoietic stem- and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in the BM niche. In this review we provide a comprehensive overview of NP-based approaches targeting HSPCs to control and monitor HSPC activity in vitro and in vivo, and we discuss the potential of NPs for the treatment of malignant and non-malignant hematological disorders, with a specific focus on the delivery of gene editing tools.

Abstract Bismuth (III) sulfide thin films are prepared on glass substrates by physical vapor deposition technique. Then, the films are annealed at different temperatures from 150 to 350°C with nitrogen and nitrogen-sulfur atmospheres, respectively. The effect of annealing temperature on the optoelectronic properties is investigated. The layers were characterized using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, EDS analysis and Hall effect. The film annealed at 250°C in a nitrogen-sulfur atmosphere exhibited the best condition with an initial thickness of 106 nm and band gap of 1.37 eV. Also, Bismuthinite phase was obtained, close to the stoichiometry with 59.95 and 40.05 at % for bismuth and sulfur, respectively. The charge carrier concentration of 6.9x1019 cm-3 with a n-type conductivity, the resistivity of 0.19 Ω-cm, and mobility of 0.44 cm2V-1s-1 are obtained.

Objetivos – Demonstrar o potencial da espetroscopia (1H) por ressonância magnética na doença degenerativa discal lombar e defender a integração desta técnica na rotina clínico-imagiológica para a precisa classificação da involução vs degenerescência dos discos L4-L5 e L5-S1 em doentes com lombalgia não relacionável com causa mecânica. Material e métodos – O estudo incluiu 102 discos intervertebrais lombares de 123 doentes. Foram estudados 61 discos de L4-L5, 41 discos de L5-S1 e 34 discos de D12-L1. Utilizou-se um sistema de ressonância magnética de 1,5 T e técnica monovoxel. Obtiveram-se os rácios [Lac/Nacetyl] e [Nacetyl/(Lac+Lípidos)] e aplicou-se a ressonância de lípidos para avaliar a bioquímica do disco com o fim de conhecer o estado de involução vs degenerescência que o suscetibilizam para a instabilidade e sobrecarga. Avaliou-se o comportamento dos rácios e do teor lipídico dos discos L4-L5-S1 e as diferenças apresentadas em relação a D12-L1. Foi também realizada a comparação entre os discos L4-L5, L5-S1 e D12-L1 na ponderação T2 (T2W), segundo a classificação ajustada (1-4) de Pfirrmann1. Resultados – Verificou-se que os rácios e o valor dos lípidos dos discos L4-L5-S1 apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas quando relacionados com os discos D12-L1. O rácio [Lac/Nacetyl] em L4-L5-S1 mostrou-se aumentado em relação a D12-L1 (p=0,033 para os discos com grau de involução [1+2] e p=0,004 para os discos com grau [3+4]). Estes resultados sugerem que a involução vs degenerescência dos discos nos graus mais elevados condiciona um decréscimo do pico do Lactato. O rácio [Nacetyl/(Lac+Lip)] discrimina os graus de involução [1+2] do [3+4] no nível L4-L5, apresentando os valores dos rácios (média 0,65 e 0,5 respetivamente com p=0,04). O rácio médio de [Nacetyl/(Lac+Lip)] dos discos L4-L5 foi 1,8 vezes mais elevado do que em D12-L1. O espetro lipídico em L4-L5-S1 nos graus mais elevados não mostrou ter uma prevalência constante quanto às frequências de ressonância. Conclusão – A espetroscopia (1H) dos discos intervertebrais poderá ter aplicação na discriminação dos graus de involução vs degenerescência e representar um contributo semiológico importante em suplemento à ponderação T2 convencional. As ressonâncias de lípidos dos discos L4-L5 e L5-S1, involuídos ou degenerados, devem ser avaliadas em relação a D12-L1, utilizando este valor como referência, pois este último é o nível considerado estável e com baixa probabilidade de degenerescência.​

Advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) have become increasingly popular in the automotive industry due to their high yield and ultimate tensile strengths, enabling the production of lighter car body structures while meeting safety standards. However, they have some setbacks compared to conventional steels, such as edge cracking through sheet thickness caused by forming components with shear-cut edges. When characterizing the formability of sheet metal materials, the hole expansion test is an industry-standard method used to evaluate the stretch-flangeability of their edges. However, accurately visualizing the first cracking is usually tricky and may be subjective, often leading to inconsistent results and low reproducibility with some impact of the operator on both direct and post-processing measurements. To address these issues, a novel digital image processing method is presented to reduce operator reliance and enhance the accuracy and efficiency of the hole expansion test results. By leveraging advanced image processing algorithms, the proposed approach detects the appearance of the first edge cracks, enabling a more precise determination of the hole expansion ratio (HER). Furthermore, it provides valuable insights into the evolution of the hole diameter, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the material behavior during the test. The proposed method was evaluated for different materials, and the corresponding HER values were compared with the traditional method.

Cashew nut production generates large amounts of cashew apple as residue. In Colombia, cashew cultivation is increasing together with the concerns on residue management. The objective of this study was to provide the first chemical, physical and thermal decomposition characterization of cashew apple from Colombian varieties harvested in Vichada, Colombia. This characterization was focused to identify the important bioactive and natural compounds that can be further valorized in the formulation of food, nutraceuticals, and pharmacological products. The results obtained in this study are helpful to portray the cashew apple as a potential by-product due to its renewable nature and valuable composition, instead of seeing it just as an agricultural residue. For that, cashew apples of Regional 8315 and Mapiria varieties were studied. The natural juice (cashew apple juice) that was extracted from the cashew apples and the remanent solids (cashew apple bagasse) were separately analyzed. The HPLC analytical technique was used to determine the concentration of bioactive compounds, structural carbohydrates, and soluble sugars that constitute this biomass. Spectrophotometric techniques were used to determine the concentration of tannins, carotenoids, and total polyphenols. Mineral content and antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS assays) were determined in the biomass. Also, the thermal decomposition under an inert atmosphere or pyrolysis was performed on cashew apple bagasse. The varieties of cashew apple studied in this work showed similar content of bioactive compounds, total phenolic content, and structural carbohydrates. However, the Mapiria variety showed values slightly higher than the Regional 8315. Regarding cashew apple juice, it is rich in tannins and ascorbic acid with values of 191 mg/100 mL and 70 mg/100 mL, respectively, for Mapiria variety. Additionally, the principal reservoir of bioactive compounds and constitutive carbohydrates was the cashew apple bagasse. About 50 wt.% of it was composed of cellulose and hemicellulose. Also, in the bagasse, the ascorbic acid content was in a range of 180–200 mg/100 g, which is higher than other fruits and vegetables. Moreover, alkaloids were identified in cashew apples. The maximum value of antioxidant activity (DPPH assay: 405 TEs/g) was observed in the bagasse of Mapiria variety. The bagasse thermal decomposition started around 150 °C when the structural carbohydrates and other constitutive substances started to degrade. After thermogravimetric analysis, a remanent of 20% of the initial weight suggested the formation of a rich-carbon solid, which could correspond to biochar. Therefore, the cashew apple harvested in Vichada is a valuable reservoir of a wide range of biomolecules that potentially could be valorized into energy, foods, and pharmacologic applications. Nevertheless, future work is necessary to describe the complex compounds of this residual biomass that are still unknown.

Hyperparasitism on plant-parasitic fungi is a widespread but rarely studied phenomenon. Here, for the first time, we compile in a checklist information provided by peer-reviewed literature for fungi growing on colonies of black mildews (Meliolales, Ascomycota), a species-rich group of tropical and subtropical plant-parasitic microfungi. The checklist contains information on 189 species of contact-biotrophic microfungi in 82 genera. They belong to seven morphological groups: dematiaceous hyphomycetes, moniliaceous hyphomycetes, pycnidioid, perithecioid, catathecioid, and apothecioid fungi. By the fact that species accumulation curves do not reach saturation for any tropical country, it is evident that the knowledge of the diversity of hyperparasitic fungi on Meliolales is incomplete. A network analysis of records of hyperparasitic fungi, their host fungi and host plants shows that genera of hyperparasitic fungi are generalists concerning genera of Meliolales. However, most species of hyperparasitic fungi are restricted to meliolalean hosts. In addition to hyperparasitic fungi, diverse further microorganisms use meliolalean colonies as ecological niche. Systematic positions of most species are unknown because DNA sequence data are lacking for species of fungi hyperparasitic on Meliolales. We discuss the specific challenges of obtaining DNA sequence data from hyperparasitic fungi. In order to better understand the diversity, evolution and biology of hyperparasitic fungi, it is necessary to increase sampling efforts and to undertake further morphological, molecular, and ecological studies.

The objective was to investigate the effects of supplementing increasing concentrations of PowerGuard (PG), a micronized ceramic particle, to weaned pigs on health and performance following a Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium infection. Forty barrows were transported to the USDA facility in Liberty, TX, USA. Pigs were randomly assigned to one of five treatments (n = 8): (1) uninfected control (CON), no Salmonella typhimurium (ST) and no PG treatment; (2) infected control (ST), infected with ST but no PG treatment; (3) PG0.05, infected with ST and supplemented with 0.05% PG; (4) PG0.25, infected with ST and supplemented with 0.25% PG; and (5) PG0.50, infected with ST and supplemented with 0.5% PG. All pigs were enrolled at 21.5 ± 1.33 days of age and did not differ in initial BW (1.98 ± 0.09 kg). Pigs were anesthetized to insert temperature recording devices into the abdominal cavity. Pigs were offered feed and water ad libitum. Pigs in ST, PG0.05, PG0.25, and PG0.50 were infected orally with 1.75 × 107 colony-forming units of Salmonella typhimurium on day 7. Pig body weights and peripheral blood samples were collected on days 0, 7, 10, 14, and 21. Pigs were harvested on day 21 and ileum and liver samples were collected for histopathological analyses. There was no treatment difference for final BW (P ≥ 0.201). There was a tendency (P = 0.087) for a treatment difference in the fecal score; ST and PG0.50 had more loose fecal scores than CON and PG0.25. There was a treatment × time interaction for intraperitoneal temperature (P < 0.0001); PG0.05, PG0.25, and PG0.50 had attenuated febrile responses during the acute post-infection period compared with ST. There was a treatment × time interaction for total leukocyte counts (P = 0.007); PG treatments reduced leukocytosis post-infection compared with ST. Supplementing PG0.25 improved many health and performance variables when pigs were infected with Salmonella Typhimurium. Furthermore, supplementing PG0.05 attenuated the febrile response and many hematological variables. However, supplementing PG0.5 did not improve many aspects of health or performance. Therefore, supplementing PowerGuard between 0.05 and 0.25% of the diet may play a role in protecting weaned pigs from disease caused by Salmonella.

The formation of solid solutions can result in changes of relative stabilities of crystal polymorphs. Here, the elusive form III of benzamide is stabilized through solid solution formation with nicotinamide. It is shown, experimentally and computationally, how such thermodynamic switching allows for consistent and facile crystallization of the otherwise elusive benzamide form III.

Abstract Goals of endocrine therapy for advanced breast cancer (ABC) include prolonging survival rates, maintaining the quality of life, and delaying the initiation of chemotherapy. We evaluated the effectiveness of fulvestrant as first-line in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive ABC with relapse during or after adjuvant anti-estrogenic therapy in real-world settings. Retrospective, observational study involving 171 postmenopausal women with ER-positive ABC who received fulvestrant as first-line between January 2011 and May 2018 in Spanish hospitals. With a median follow-up of 31.4 months, the progression-free survival (PFS) with fulvestrant was 14.6 months. No differences were seen in the visceral metastatic (14.3 months) versus non-visceral (14.6 months) metastatic subgroup for PFS. Overall response rate and clinical benefit rate were 35.2% and 82.8%. Overall survival was 43.1 months. The duration of the clinical benefit was 19.2 months. Patients with ECOG performance status 0 at the start of treatment showed a significant greater clinical benefit rate and overall survival than with ECOG 1–2. Results in real-world settings are in concordance with randomized clinical trials. Fulvestrant continues to demonstrate clinical benefits in real-world settings and appears be well tolerated as first-line for the treatment of postmenopausal women with ER-positive ABC.

Early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC; age younger than 50 years) incidence has been steadily increasing in recent decades worldwide. The need for new biomarkers for EOCRC prevention strategies is undeniable. In this study, we aimed to explore whether an aging factor, such as telomere length (TL), could be a useful tool in EOCRC screening. The absolute leukocyte TL from 87 microsatellite stable EOCRC patients and 109 healthy controls (HC) with the same range of age, was quantified by Real Time Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Then, leukocyte whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed to study the status of the genes involved in TL maintenance (hTERT, TERC, DKC1, TERF1, TERF2, TERF2IP, TINF2, ACD, and POT1) in 70 sporadic EOCRC cases from the original cohort. We observed that TL was significantly shorter in EOCRC patients than in healthy individuals (EOCRC mean: 122 kb vs. HC mean: 296 kb; p < 0.001), suggesting that telomeric shortening could be associated with EOCRC susceptibility. In addition, we found a significant association between several SNPs of hTERT (rs79662648), POT1 (rs76436625, rs10263573, rs3815221, rs7794637, rs7784168, rs4383910, and rs7782354), TERF2 (rs251796 and rs344152214), and TERF2IP (rs7205764) genes and the risk of developing EOCRC. We consider that the measurement of germline TL and the status analysis of telomere maintenance related genes polymorphisms at early ages could be non-invasive methods that could facilitate the early identification of individuals at risk of developing EOCRC.

BackgroundExcessive oscillations at beta frequencies (13–35 Hz) in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) represent a pathophysiological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD), which correlates well with parkinsonian symptoms and is reduced in response to standard disease treatments. However, the association of disease-specific regional gray matter (GM) atrophy or cortical thickness (CT) with the presence of STN beta oscillatory activity has been poorly investigated but is of relevance given the potential of these variables for extracting information about PD pathophysiology. This exploratory study investigated the involvement of regional GM volume and CT in the basal ganglia-cortical network and its potential association with the presence of STN beta oscillatory activity in PD.MethodsWe acquired preoperative GM densities on T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans and we carried out regional estimation of GM volume and CT. LFP activities from the STN were recorded post-operatively in 7 cognitively preserved PD patients off dopaminergic medication undergoing deep-brain stimulation surgery. Oscillatory beta power was determined by power spectral density of 4-min resting state STN LFP activity. Spearman partial correlations and regression analysis were used to screen the presence of STN beta power for their relationship with GM volume and CT measurements.ResultsAfter controlling for the effects of age, educational level, and disease duration, and after correcting for multiple testing, enhanced STN beta power showed significant and negative correlations between, first, volume of the right putamen and left caudate nucleus, and second, smaller CT in frontal regions involving the left rostral middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and left medial orbitofrontal gyrus. A lower volume in the right putamen and a lower CT in the left MFG demonstrated the strongest associations with increased STN beta power.ConclusionsThese tentative results seem to suggest that STN LFP beta frequencies may be mainly linked to different but ongoing parallel neurodegenerative processes, on the one hand, to GM volume reduction in dorsal striatum, and on the other hand, to CT reduction of prefrontal-“associative” regions. These findings could further delineate the brain structural interactions underpinning the exaggerated STN beta activity commonly observed in PD patients.