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Abstract Background Understanding how genes function to heal wounds and restore lost tissue is essential for studying regeneration. Whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH) is a powerful and widely used technique to visualize the expression patterns of genes in different biological systems. Yet, existing methods to permeabilize samples for WISH can damage or destroy fragile regenerating tissues, thereby preventing such experiments. Results Here, we describe a new protocol for in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunostaining in the highly regenerative planarian Schmidtea mediterranea. This new Nitric Acid/Formic Acid (NAFA) protocol is compatible with both the assays and prevents degradation of the epidermis and regeneration blastema. The NAFA protocol achieves this without the use of proteinase K digestion which likely leads to better preservation of antigen epitopes. We show that the NAFA protocol successfully permits development of chromogenic and fluorescent signals in situ, while preserving the anatomy of the animal. Furthermore, the immunostaining of different proteins was compatible with the NAFA protocol following fluorescent in situ hybridization. Additionally, the tissue fixation protocol was easily adapted for regenerating killifish tail fin, which yielded better ISH signal with minimal background. Conclusions Thus, the NAFA protocol robustly preserves the delicate wounded tissues while also facilitating probe and antibody penetration into internal tissues. Furthermore, the fixation protocol is compatible for WISH on regenerating teleost fins suggesting that it will be a valuable technique for studying the processes of wounding response and regeneration in multiple species.

Abstract Most advanced medical imaging techniques, such as positron-emission tomography (PET), require tracers that are produced in conventional particle accelerators. This paper focuses on the evaluation of a potential alternative technology based on laser-driven ion acceleration for the production of radioisotopes for PET imaging. We report for the first time the use of a high-repetition rate, ultra-intense laser system for the production of carbon-11 in multi-shot operation. Proton bunches with energies up to 10–14 MeV were systematically accelerated in long series at pulse rates between 0.1 and 1 Hz using a PW-class laser. These protons were used to activate a boron target via the $$^{11}$$ 11 B(p,n) $$^{11}$$ 11 C nuclear reaction. A peak activity of 234 kBq was obtained in multi-shot operation with laser pulses with an energy of 25 J. Significant carbon-11 production was also achieved for lower pulse energies. The experimental carbon-11 activities measured in this work are comparable to the levels required for preclinical PET, which would be feasible by operating at the repetition rate of current state-of-the-art technology (10 Hz). The scalability of next-generation laser-driven accelerators in terms of this parameter for sustained operation over time could increase these overall levels into the clinical PET range.

Recent research has demonstrated the effectiveness of convolutional neural networks (CNN) in assessing the health status of bee colonies by classifying acoustic patterns. However, developing a monitoring system using CNNs compared to conventional machine learning models can result in higher computation costs, greater energy demand, and longer inference times. This study examines the potential of CNN architectures in developing a monitoring system based on constrained hardware. The experimentation involved testing ten CNN architectures from the PyTorch and Torchvision libraries on single-board computers: an Nvidia Jetson Nano (NJN), a Raspberry Pi 5 (RPi5), and an Orange Pi 5 (OPi5). The CNN architectures were trained using four datasets containing spectrograms of acoustic samples of different durations (30, 10, 5, or 1 s) to analyze their impact on performance. The hyperparameter search was conducted using the Optuna framework, and the CNN models were validated using k-fold cross-validation. The inference time and power consumption were measured to compare the performance of the CNN models and the SBCs. The aim is to provide a basis for developing a monitoring system for precision applications in apiculture based on constrained devices and CNNs.

Symbolic regression plays a crucial role in machine learning and data science by allowing the extraction of meaningful mathematical models directly from data without imposing a specific structure. This level of adaptability is especially beneficial in scientific and engineering fields, where comprehending and articulating the underlying data relationships is just as important as making accurate predictions. Genetic Programming (GP) has been extensively utilized for symbolic regression and has demonstrated remarkable success in diverse domains. However, GP’s heavy reliance on evolutionary mechanisms makes it computationally intensive and challenging to handle. On the other hand, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) has demonstrated remarkable performance in numerical optimization with parallelism, simplicity, and rapid convergence. These attributes position PSO as a compelling option for Automatic Programming (AP), which focuses on the automatic generation of programs or mathematical models. Particle Swarm Programming (PSP) has emerged as an alternative to Genetic Programming (GP), with a specific emphasis on harnessing the efficiency of PSO for symbolic regression. However, PSP remains unsolved due to the high-dimensional search spaces and local optimal regions in AP, where traditional PSO can encounter issues such as premature convergence and stagnation. To tackle these challenges, we introduce Dynamical Sphere Regrouping PSO Programming (DSRegPSOP), an innovative PSP implementation that integrates DSRegPSO’s dynamical sphere regrouping and momentum conservation mechanisms. DSRegPSOP is specifically developed to deal with large-scale, high-dimensional search spaces featuring numerous local optima, thus proving effective behavior for symbolic regression tasks. We assess DSRegPSOP by generating 10 mathematical expressions for mapping points from functions with varying complexity, including noise in position and cost evaluation. Moreover, we also evaluate its performance using real-world datasets. Our results show that DSRegPSOP effectively addresses the shortcomings of PSO in PSP by producing mathematical models entirely generated by AP that achieve accuracy similar to other machine learning algorithms optimized for regression tasks involving numerical structures. Additionally, DSRegPSOP combines the benefits of symbolic regression with the efficiency of PSO.

Abstract The mitochondria are central in the cellular response to changing environmental conditions resulting from disease states, environmental exposures or normal physiological processes. Although the influences of environmental stressors upon the nuclear epigenome are well characterized, the existence and role of the mitochondrial epigenome remains contentious. Here, by quantifying the mitochondrial epigenomic response of pineal gland cells to circadian stress, we confirm the presence of extensive cytosine methylation within the mitochondrial genome. Furthermore, we identify distinct epigenetically plastic regions (mtDMRs) which vary in cytosinic methylation, primarily in a non CpG context, in response to stress and in a sex-specific manner. Motifs enriched in mtDMRs contain recognition sites for nuclear-derived DNA-binding factors (ATF4, HNF4A) important in the cellular metabolic stress response, which we found to be conserved across diverse vertebrate taxa. Together, these findings suggest a new layer of mito-nuclear interaction in which the nuclear metabolic stress response could alter mitochondrial transcriptional dynamics through the binding of nuclear-derived transcription factors in a methylation-dependent context.

The incessant threat posed by the Varroa destructor mite to bee colonies has spurred extensive research into control strategies. One of these strategies involves ultraviolet radiation, aiming to harness the damaging effects that this type of radiation induces in arthropods. This study focuses on investigating the potential influence of near ultraviolet (UVA) radiation on the surface damage incurred by Varroa destructor. To address this inquiry, multiple specimens were continuously irradiated with UVA while digital holograms were recorded. To assess surface damage, these holographic records were processed and analyzed. It was found that exposure to radiation induces subtle swelling, around a few tenths of micrometers, which is more pronounced around the anal shield and genital shield of the mite. These alterations could impact the health and viability of this parasitic mite. This is the first time that the measurement and quantification of this superficial damage is reported, contributing to the understanding of the impact of UVA irradiation on the external structure of the mite.

Abstract Heavy metals are known to be able to cross the placental and blood brain barriers to affect critical neurodevelopmental processes in the fetus. We measured metal levels (Al, Cd, Hg, Li, Pb and Zn) in the cord blood of newborns and in the serum of the same children at 5 years of age, and compared between individuals with or without (controls) autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis. The samples were from a biobank associated with the All Babies in Southeast Sweden (ABIS) registry. We proposed a Bayesian multivariate log-normal model for partially censored values to identify potentially relevant metals for the etiology of ASD. Our results in cord blood suggest prenatal Al levels could be indicative of later ASD incidence, which could also be related to an increased possibility of a high, potentially toxic, exposure to Al and Li during pregnancy. In addition, a larger possibility of a high, potentially beneficial, exposure to Zn could occur during pregnancy in controls. Finally, we found decisive evidence for an average increase of Hg in 5-year-old ASD children compared to only weak evidence for controls. This is concordant with previous research showing an impaired ability for eliminating Hg in the ASD group.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the impact of oxidative stress and extracellular matrix integrity on rotavirus infection in various cancer cells, including breast cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and melanoma. Methods: We induced oxidative stress using ROS-inducing drugs (cisplatin, metronidazole, melatonin, valproic acid, doxorubicin, losartan, nitrofurantoin, and DHA) and investigated the effects on viral infection in MCF-7, Reh, A375, B16-F1, and SK-MEL-28 cells and the generation of virions from infected cells by harvesting the supernatants every two hours, reinfecting other cells, and analyzing cell viability and DNA fragmentation. Findings: In MCF-7 and Reh cells, rotavirus Wt1–5 infection led to increased ROS generation, virion production, membrane permeability, mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA damage, and cell death. These effects were amplified by ROS-inducing drugs. Conversely, melanoma cells (SK-MEL-28 and A375) with a robust extracellular matrix network showed limited sensitivity to the drugs. Notably, losartan, which modulates the extracellular matrix, enhanced viral infection in melanoma cells (99 %). Conclusions: Oxidative stress promotes oncolytic rotavirus infection in breast cancer and acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells, suggesting potential utility in combination with radiotherapy or chemotherapy due to their shared induction of intracellular oxidative stress.

Epigenetic mechanisms are important modulators of neurodevelopmental outcomes in the offspring of animals challenged during pregnancy. Pregnant sows living in a confined environment are challenged with stress and lack of stimulation which may result in the expression of stereotypies (repetitive behaviours without an apparent function). Little attention has been devoted to the postnatal effects of maternal stereotypies in the offspring. We investigated how the environment and stereotypies of pregnant sows affected the neuro-epigenome of their piglets. We focused on the amygdala, frontal cortex, and hippocampus, brain regions related to emotionality, learning, memory, and stress response. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were investigated in these brain regions of male piglets born from sows kept in an enriched vs a barren environment. Within the latter group of piglets, we compared the brain methylomes of piglets born from sows expressing stereotypies vs sows not expressing stereotypies. DMRs emerged in each comparison. While the epigenome of the hippocampus and frontal cortex of piglets is mainly affected by the maternal environment, the epigenome of the amygdala is mainly affected by maternal stereotypies. The molecular pathways and mechanisms triggered in the brains of piglets by maternal environment or stereotypies are different, which is reflected on the differential gene function associated to the DMRs found in each piglets’ brain region . The present study is the first to investigate the neuro-epigenomic effects of maternal enrichment in pigs’ offspring and the first to investigate the neuro-epigenomic effects of maternal stereotypies in the offspring of a mammal.

Evapotranspiration can be used to estimate the amount of water required by agriculture projects and green spaces, playing a key role in water management policies that combat the hydrological drought, which assumes a structural character in many countries. In this context, this work presents a study on reference evapotranspiration ( $ET_{o}$ ) estimation models, having as input a limited set of meteorological parameters, namely: temperature, humidity, and wind. Since solar radiation (SR) is an important parameter in the determination of $ET_{o}$ , SR estimation models are also developed. These $ET_{o}$ and SR estimation models compare the use of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Long Short Term Memory (LSTM), Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), and hybrid neural network models such as LSTM-ANN, RNN-ANN, and GRU-ANN. Two main approaches were taken for $ET_{o}$ estimation: (i) directly use those algorithms to estimate $ET_{o}$ , and (ii) estimate solar radiation first and then use that estimation together with other meteorological parameters in a method that predicts $ET_{o}$ . For the latter case, two variants were implemented: the use of the estimated solar radiation as (ii.1) a feature of the neural network regressors, and (ii.2) the use of the Penman-Monteith method (a.k.a. FAO-56PM method, adopted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization) to compute $ET_{o}$ , which has solar radiation as one of the input parameters. Using experimental data collected from a weather station (WS) located in Vale do Lobo (Portugal), the later approach achieved the best result with a coefficient of determination $(R^{2})$ of 0.977. The developed model was then applied to data from eleven stations located in Colorado (USA), with very distinct climatic conditions, showing similar results to the ones for which the models were initially designed ( $R^{2}>0.95$ ), proving a good generalization. As a final notice, the reduced-set features were carefully selected so that they are compatible with free online weather forecast services.

Several in vitro models have investigated the consequences of mechanical stimuli on osteoclasts (OCs). However, the mechanisms whereby mechanical forces trigger osteoclast responses remain poorly understood, and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their relationship with bone resorption in OCs under the influence of mechanical forces require investigation. The present work examined the role of centrifugal force application on ROS production and its effect on osteoclast activity and differentiation. Human U937 macrophage cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblasts treated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) or N-acetylcysteine (NAC) were subject to centrifugal force. Osteoclast markers such as tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and bone resorption activities were measured. ROS levels and actin ring formation were determined. Also, U937 cell responses to centrifugal force and PEG-induced fusion were studied. Individual cells subjected to centrifugal exertion increased their ROS levels, formed actin-like rings, revealed TRAP expression and bone resorption activities, and expressed typical osteoclast markers. Control PEG-fused U937 cells also showed these effects, and cell treatment with NAC stopped all these responses. Centrifugal force, as well as PEG-induced cell fusion, can promote osteoclast-like features, including oxidative stress. The present experimental model allowed us to understand the mechanisms underlying the osteoclast differentiation associated with ROS production stimulated by mechanical compressive force, where NAC can contribute to reducing this oxidative stress condition.

Endothelial progenitor cells and circulating endothelial cells have been proposed as useful markers of severity and disease progression in certain vascular diseases, including pulmonary arterial hypertension. Our study focused on evaluating the levels of circulating endothelial progenitor cells and circulating endothelial cells in patients with congenital left-to-right shunts and pulmonary hypertension undergoing definitive repair. Endothelial progenitor cells (identified by simultaneous co-expression of CD45dim, CD34 + and KDR2 + surface antibodies) and circulating endothelial cells (identified by simultaneous co-expression of inherent antibodies CD45-, CD31+, CD146 + and CD105+) were prospectively measured in seventy-four children (including children with Down syndrome), median age six years (2.75–10), with clinically significant left-to-right shunts undergoing transcatheter or surgical repair and compared to thirty healthy controls. Endothelial progenitor cells and, particularly, circulating endothelial cells were significantly higher in children with heart disease and pulmonary arterial hypertension when compared to controls. Endothelial progenitor cells showed significant correlation with pulmonary vascular resistance index when measured both systemically (r = 0.259; p = 0.026) and in the superior vena cava (r = 0.302; p = 0.009). Children with Down syndrome showed a stronger correlation between systemic cellularity and pulmonary vascular resistance index (r = 0.829; p = 0.002). Endothelial progenitor cells were reduced along their transit through the lung, whereas circulating endothelial cells did not suffer any modification across the pulmonary circulation. In children with yet to be repaired left-to-right shunts, endothelial progenitor cells and circulating endothelial cell counts are increased compared to healthy subjects.

There is no doubt that the transition towards renewable energies is generating many changes on different continents, some with greater impacts than others, but the development that has occurred is recognized and widely accepted. The progress has been significant but it is necessary to analyze the roadmaps that have been proposed so far at the island level so that decision makers have sufficient tools to commit the much-needed economic resources to transform their energy systems into 100% renewable ones. These approaches are not simple and the hard work of the authors who have disseminated their research is recognized. The roadmaps are planned based on the energy potential available in the territories and the future energy demand. Within countries, it is important to increase the economic resources to allocate to investments in environmentally friendly renewable energies. In this review of 100% renewable smart systems on islands, the situation of the American continent, its challenges and its long-term approaches in the different geographical areas facing 2050 are analyzed. This article shows that research into the design of 100% renewable energy systems in scientific articles is fairly new but has gained more and more attention in recent years. In total, 175 articles published since 2002 were identified and analyzed. Many of these articles have a predominant focus on the electricity sector. As a general result, it has been determined that although there has been significant progress towards an orderly energy transition, this has not been consistent with the international agreements signed since the Paris Summit, which is a real challenge in complying with the new commitment of the COP28 of Dubai in tripling the participation of renewables.

Background and Aims: Oocyte vitrification and warming is very time consuming. Oocyte vitrification protocols are different from that of embryos or blastocysts, while warming protocols allow all to be warmed the same. For blastocysts, frequently only one device is warmed per patient; however, numerous devices are required in oocyte warming. We aim to evaluate whether vitrified oocytes can successfully survive a warming protocol involving only Thawing Solution (TS) with a total elapsed warming time of a mere 90 seconds. Methods: 58 vitrified donor oocytes (Treatment Group) were prospectively warmed in January 2023. 71 vitrified donor oocytes (Control Group) warmed in 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Both groups were vitrified in Kitazato or Irvine Scientific Vit Kit with identical protocols (elapsed time approximately 17-minutes). In both groups the TS was equilibrated to 37-degrees for a minimum of 2-hours. The Control Group was warmed in Irvine Scientific Vit Kit (1-minute TS, 3-minute DS, 8-minute WS) for a total warming time of 12-minutes. Warming for the Treatment Group was in Irvine Scientific Vit Kit Warm-NX, TS only, for 90-seconds. Results: After Chi-square analysis, [Formula: see text] value < 0.05 reflected significance. The Control Group warmed with 90.1% survival. The Treatment Group resulted in 98.3% survival, ([Formula: see text] -value = 0.056). Survival at 3-hours post warm in the Control Group was 100%. At this point for the Control Group, ICSI was performed, and the oocytes placed back into the incubator for resulting embryo culture. For the Treatment Group, oocyte survival was re-assessed at 1-hour and 24-hours, and 100% survival was maintained over the course of 24-hour incubation, with little-to-no visible cryo-damage. Conclusions: Vitrified oocytes exhibit outstanding survival when warmed with a highly modified and considerably faster protocol than current practice. The extended oocyte survival of at least 24-hours shows a very favorable outcome for the accelerated warming protocol and gives credibility to the survival assessment.

Abstract Background Relationships among genetic or epigenetic features can be explored by learning probabilistic networks and unravelling the dependencies among a set of given genetic/epigenetic features. Bayesian networks (BNs) consist of nodes that represent the variables and arcs that represent the probabilistic relationships between the variables. However, practical guidance on how to make choices among the wide array of possibilities in Bayesian network analysis is limited. Our study aimed to apply a BN approach, while clearly laying out our analysis choices as an example for future researchers, in order to provide further insights into the relationships among epigenetic features and a stressful condition in chickens (Gallus gallus). Results Chickens raised under control conditions (n = 22) and chickens exposed to a social isolation protocol (n = 24) were used to identify differentially methylated regions (DMRs). A total of 60 DMRs were selected by a threshold, after bioinformatic pre-processing and analysis. The treatment was included as a binary variable (control = 0; stress = 1). Thereafter, a BN approach was applied: initially, a pre-filtering test was used for identifying pairs of features that must not be included in the process of learning the structure of the network; then, the average probability values for each arc of being part of the network were calculated; and finally, the arcs that were part of the consensus network were selected. The structure of the BN consisted of 47 out of 61 features (60 DMRs and the stressful condition), displaying 43 functional relationships. The stress condition was connected to two DMRs, one of them playing a role in tight and adhesive intracellular junctions in organs such as ovary, intestine, and brain. Conclusions We clearly explain our steps in making each analysis choice, from discrete BN models to final generation of a consensus network from multiple model averaging searches. The epigenetic BN unravelled functional relationships among the DMRs, as well as epigenetic features in close association with the stressful condition the chickens were exposed to. The DMRs interacting with the stress condition could be further explored in future studies as possible biomarkers of stress in poultry species.

This paper presents a method that generates a hierarchical user mobility model from the analysis of the data available from Wi-Fi connections. The data obtained from the Wi-Fi infrastructure is defined in terms of the coverage areas of the access points that the users move through. These access points are recursively grouped into different levels of granularity based on their geospatial features. The track of a user is defined as a sequence of Wi-Fi access points, which is enough to simulate user mobility in, for example, fog scenarios. The hierarchical definition of the region under study is proposed to reduce the complexity of the model in high-scale scenarios and to increase the adaptability between scenarios with different geospatial features. The model creation is based on a user profiling method that uses a clustering algorithm and each user type is defined with a transition matrix between coverage areas and a time length vector for the areas. The method is applied to the case of the campus of the University of the Balearic Islands. From the analysis of the mean square error of the results, we determined that the proposed method obtains good results for the transition matrices, but that the time vector definition should be improved. The results also show lower complexity in the case of the hierarchical model, with one area for each building and three levels, in regard to a non-hierarchical model, with only one area and one level for the whole campus.

Optimizing large-scale numerical problems is a significant challenge with numerous real-world applications. The optimization process is complex due to the multi-dimensional search spaces and possesses several locally optimal regions. In response to this issue, various metaheuristic algorithms and variations have been developed, including evolutionary and swarm intelligence algorithms and hybrids of different artificial intelligence techniques. Previous studies have shown that swarm intelligence algorithms like PSO perform poorly in high-dimensional spaces, even with algorithms focused on reducing the search space. However, we propose a modified version of the PSO algorithm called Dynamical Sphere Regrouping PSO (DSRegPSO) to avoid stagnation in local optimal regions. DSRegPSO is based on the PSO algorithm and modifies inertial behavior with a regrouping dynamical sphere mechanism and a momentum conservation physics effect. These behaviors maintain the swarm’s diversity and regulate the exploration and exploitation of the search space while avoiding stagnation in optimal local regions. The DSRegPSO mechanisms mimic the behavior of birds, moving particles similar to birds when they look for a new food source. Additionally, the momentum conservation effect mimics how birds react to collisions with the boundaries in their search space or when they are looking for food. We evaluated DSRegPSO by testing 15 optimizing functions with up to 1000 dimensions of the CEC’13 benchmark, a standard for evaluating Large-Scale Global Optimization used in Congress on Evolutionary Computation, and several journals. Our proposal improves the behavior of all variants of PSO registered in the toolkit of comparison for CEC’13 and obtains the best result in the non-separable functions against all the algorithms.

Epigenetic pathways are essential in different biological processes and in phenotype-environment interactions in response to different stressors and they can induce phenotypic plasticity. They encompass several processes that are mitotically and, in some cases, meiotically heritable, so they can be transferred to subsequent generations via the germline. Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance (TEI) describes the phenomenon that phenotypic traits, such as changes in fertility, metabolic function, or behavior, induced by environmental factors (e.g., parental care, pathogens, pollutants, climate change), can be transferred to offspring generations via epigenetic mechanisms. Investigations on TEI contribute to deciphering the role of epigenetic mechanisms in adaptation, adversity, and evolution. However, molecular mechanisms underlying the transmission of epigenetic changes between generations, and the downstream chain of events leading to persistent phenotypic changes, remain unclear. Therefore, inter-, (transmission of information between parental and offspring generation via direct exposure) and transgenerational (transmission of information through several generations with disappearance of the triggering factor) consequences of epigenetic modifications remain major issues in the field of modern biology.In this article, we review and describe the major gaps and issues still encountered in the TEI field: the general challenges faced in epigenetic research; deciphering the key epigenetic mechanisms in inheritance processes; identifying the relevant drivers for TEI and implement a collaborative and multi-disciplinary approach to study TEI. Finally, we provide suggestions on how to overcome these challenges and ultimately be able to identify the specific contribution of epigenetics in transgenerational inheritance and use the correct tools for environmental science investigation and biomarkers identification.

Despite advances in biomedical research, gastric cancer remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide due to the limited efficacy of conventional therapies. In recent decades, oncolytic viruses have emerged as a biological therapeutic alternative to cancer due to their selectivity, effectiveness, and low toxicity. However, clinical trials have shown that developing a virus with selectivity for multiple tumor receptors and the ability to penetrate and diffuse through the tumor microenvironment to reactivate the immune system remains challenging. This study aimed to examine the oncolytic potential of tumor cell-adapted rotavirus Wt1-5 in gastric adenocarcinoma samples. This study focused on determining the propagation capacity of the RV Wt1-5 through the tumor and the importance of the expression of cell surface co-receptors, including integrin β3, protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), and heat shock proteins (Hsp-90, -70, -60, -40, and Hsc 70), during infection of tumor cells. These proteins were found to be differentially expressed in tumor cells compared to adjacent non-tumor cells. Preincubation of gastric tumor cells with antibodies against these proteins decreased rotavirus infections, validating their importance in the binding and entry of RV Wt1-5 into tumor cells, as previously reported. Upon RV infection, apoptosis was one of the types of death that was observed. This was evidenced by evaluating the expression of CASP-3, -9, PARP, cytochrome C, Bax, Bid, p53, and Bcl-2, as well as observing morphological changes such as chromatin margination, nuclear condensation, and fragmentation. Finally, at 60 h.p.i, histological analysis revealed that oncolysis compromised the entire thickness of the tumor. Therefore, the results suggest that RV Wt1-5 could be a novel therapeutic agent co-adjuvant agent for conventional and targeted therapies in managing GC. Ex vivo infection of the tumor tissue model showed characteristics of an immune response that could be explored in future studies.

Neuroergonomics focuses on the brain signatures and associated mental states underlying behavior to design human-machine interfaces enhancing performance in the cognitive and physical domains. Brain imaging techniques such as functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG) have been considered key methods for achieving this goal. Recent research stresses the value of combining EEG and fNIRS in improving these interface systems' mental state decoding abilities, but little is known about whether these improvements generalize over different paradigms and methodologies, nor about the potentialities for using these systems in the real world. We review 33 studies comparing mental state decoding accuracy between bimodal EEG-fNIRS and unimodal EEG and fNIRS in several subdomains of neuroergonomics. In light of these studies, we also consider the challenges of exploiting wearable versions of these systems in real-world contexts. Overall the studies reviewed suggest that bimodal EEG-fNIRS outperforms unimodal EEG or fNIRS despite major differences in their conceptual and methodological aspects. Much work however remains to be done to reach practical applications of bimodal EEG-fNIRS in naturalistic conditions. We consider these points to identify aspects of bimodal EEG-fNIRS research in which progress is expected or desired.

Growth theories face to face (Statistical encompassing: towards a general specification) Our objective is to integrate in a general specification, using a single-equation and a multi-equation models, three constraints to economic growth currently facing the Mexican economy, among others. To achieve this, we strictly apply the principle of “statistical adequacy”, the “general to particular” methodology, and the “model selection” criteria. Our main contribution lies in the fact that we add, to the determinants suggested by neoclassical and by third-generation post-Keynesians, the restriction linked to the ecological footprint. At the same time, our main limitation is that we only incorporate two conventional hypotheses, that of Nobel Solow and that proposed by Thirlwall. A key conclusion is that, unlike restrictions on the supply and demand side, the restriction linked to the ecological footprint is “non-binding”, that is, it does not have correction mechanisms −neither automatic nor explicit in public policies− in order to stop the ecological overshoot.

Summary: The GBS-MeDIP protocol combines two previously described techniques, Genotype-by-Sequencing (GBS) and Methylated-DNA-Immunoprecipitation (MeDIP). Our method allows for parallel and cost-efficient interrogation of genetic and methylomic variants in the DNA of many reduced genomes, taking advantage of the barcoding of DNA samples performed in the GBS and the subsequent creation of DNA pools, then used as an input for the MeDIP. The GBS-MeDIP is particularly suitable to identify genetic and methylomic biomarkers when resources for whole genome interrogation are lacking.

La realización de un análisis estadístico confiable se fundamenta en el reconocimiento de las características estadísticas de las series de tiempo en juego y de los supuestos probabilísticos subyacentes del modelo aplicado. Nuestro propósito es ilustrar este tipo de análisis utilizando algunas ideas de Granger. Nuestros resultados de Monte Carlo muestran que en presencia de series de tiempo estacionarias y no estacionarias, la inferencia basada en los mínimos cuadrados ordinarios puede ser engañosa. Abordamos gráficamente la distribución empírica del sesgo del estimador y el inconveniente del uso de errores estándar que subestiman su verdadera variación. Recomendaremos seguir las sugerencias de Granger, que destacamos con originalidad utilizando una perspectiva desde la “medición en economía”. Nuestros ejercicios cuantitativos son replicables en la medida en que compartimos completamente nuestros códigos y utilizamos la base de datos de acceso abierto del documento seminal escrito por Nelson y Plosser (1982). Nuestra conclusión principal es simple: los investigadores empíricos deben ser absolutamente cautelosos al momento de extraer conclusiones cualitativas basadas en una inferencia estándar de mínimos cuadrados ordinarios realizada en el contexto de un análisis de regresión.

El pseudomixoma peritoneal es una enfermedad infrecuente caracterizada por ascitis mucinosa acompañada de implantes tumorales peritoneales y sobre el epiplón. La etiología de esta entidad es desconocida y, según la histología, se divide en dos grandes grupos: la adenomucinosis y la carcinomatosis mucinosa peritoneal. Tradicionalmente, el tratamiento quirúrgico recomendado es la citorreducción parcial que se repite regularmente para controlar los síntomas hasta que no se encuentre ningún beneficio adicional. A pesar de la controversia, en la actualidad, la evidencia favorece la realización de la peritonectomía radical más quimioterapia intraperitoneal hipertérmica, seguidas de quimioterapia intraperitoneal posoperatoria temprana (en los 7 días siguientes al procedimiento). A continuación se presentan los dos primeros casos tratados con esta técnica en Colombia y se revisa detalladamente la información publicada al respecto.

DNA methylation in CpGs dinucleotides is associated with high mutability and disappearance of CpG sites during evolution. Although the high mutability of CpGs is thought to be relevant for vertebrate evolution, very little is known on the role of CpG-related mutations in the genomic diversification of vertebrates. Our study analysed genetic differences in chickens, between Red Junglefowl (RJF; the living closest relative to the ancestor of domesticated chickens) and domesticated breeds, to identify genomic dynamics that have occurred during the process of their domestication, focusing particularly on CpG-related mutations. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and copy number variations (CNVs) between RJF and these domesticated breeds were assessed in a reduced fraction of their genome. Additionally, DNA methylation in the same fraction of the genome was measured in the sperm of RJF individuals to identify possible correlations with the mutations found between RJF and the domesticated breeds. Our study shows that although the vast majority of CpG-related mutations found relate to CNVs, CpGs disproportionally associate to SNPs in comparison to CNVs, where they are indeed substantially under-represented. Moreover, CpGs seem to be hotspots of mutations related to speciation. We suggest that, on the one hand, CpG-related mutations in CNV regions would promote genomic ‘flexibility’ in evolution, i.e., the ability of the genome to expand its functional possibilities; on the other hand, CpG-related mutations in SNPs would relate to genomic ‘specificity’ in evolution, thus, representing mutations that would associate with phenotypic traits relevant for speciation.

Abstract Background The etiology of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the possible influence of early nutrition on later development of JIA. Methods In a population-based prospective birth cohort of 15,740 children we collected nutritional data, including fish consumption, and biological samples during pregnancy, at birth and at different ages. 16 years after study inclusion we identified 42 children with JIA, of whom 11 were positive for Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA). Heavy metals were analysed in cord blood of all 42 JIA patients and 40 age and sex-matched controls. A multivariable logistic regression model, adjusted for relevant factors, was used as well as Mann-Whitney U-test. Results Fish consumption more than once a week during pregnancy as well as during the child’s first year of life was associated with an increased risk of JIA (aOR 4.5 (1.95–10.4); p once/week their first year, had significantly higher concentrations of Al (p

Curricula vitae are widely used as the main mechanisms for evaluation of researchers. They also reflect a fraction of the data about the research activity of an organization and geographic area. The nature of the academic world causes researchers to have to continuously keep the information updated. There are tools to help manage this information, usually offered by an organization such as a university or the national government. However, the reports generated by these tools have a local scope when in most of the cases they are used outside the organization. We explore Semantic Web as a solution to this problem because of its benefits on interoperability, inference capabilities when merging data from different sources, and expedience when responding to semantic queries made by evaluators. We design a software solution using the existing tools, able to get data from a CV document, insert it into a semantic system, and then build a document CV from the existing amount of semantic data of a researcher in that system.

Fog computing is a paradigm that extends the cloud to intermediate network devices with computational and storage capacities. This allows the execution of applications closer to edge devices and end-users by allocating services in those intermediate devices. The placement of those services has an influence on the performance of the fog architecture. We propose a fog computing simulator for analyzing the design and deployment of applications through customized and dynamical strategies. We model the relationships among deployed applications, network connections, and infrastructure characteristics through complex network theory, enabling the integration of topological measures in dynamic and customizable strategies, such as the placement of application modules, workload location, and path routing and scheduling of services. We present a comparative analysis of the efficiency and the convergence of results of our simulator with the most referenced one, iFogSim. To highlight the YAFS functionalities, we model three scenarios that, to the best of our knowledge, cannot be implemented with current fog simulators: dynamic allocation of new application modules, dynamic failures of network nodes, and user mobility along with the topology.

The great potential of the convolutional neural networks (CNNs) provides novel and alternative ways to monitor important parameters with high accuracy. In this study, we developed a soft sensor model for dynamic processes based on a CNN for the measurement of suspended solids and turbidity from a single image of the liquid sample to be measured by using a commercial smartphone camera (Android or IOS system) and light-emitting diode (LED) illumination. For this, an image dataset of liquid samples illuminated with white, red, green, and blue LED light was taken and used to train a CNN and fit a multiple linear regression (MLR) by using different color lighting, we evaluated which color gives more accurate information about the concentration of suspended particles in the sample. We implemented a pre-trained AlexNet model, and an MLR to estimate total suspended solids (TSS), and turbidity values in liquid samples based on suspended particles. The proposed technique obtained high goodness of fit (R2 = 0.99). The best performance was achieved using white light, with an accuracy of 98.24% and 97.20% for TSS and turbidity, respectively, with an operational range of 0–800 mgL−1, and 0–306 NTU. This system was designed for aquaculture environments and tested with both commercial fish feed and paprika. This motivates further research with different aquatic environments such as river water, domestic and industrial wastewater, and potable water, among others.

El presente documento es el resultado del análisis de una revisión documental y cibergráfica dividida en dos partes, la primera para revisar los conceptos de mercadotecnia, mercadotecnia social y mercadotecnia con causa, la segunda consistió en revisar en las diferentes redes sociales a las empresas que aplicaron estrategias de mercadotecnia con causa en la pandemia por COVID-19 durante el periodo de abril 2020 a marzo de 2021 para entender como éstas, a través de sus actividades ayudaron a la sociedad y sector gubernamental para hacer frente a esta situación, pero sobre todo en el sector salud. Estas empresas lograron crear alianzas con organizaciones sin fines de lucro para mejorar su imagen y lealtad al igual que el de sus productos o servicios, esperando ser vistas como empresas socialmente responsables que ayudaron a la comunidad a la vez que se beneficiaron en el incremento de sus ventas.

Sobre la prelación de las restricciones al crecimiento económico: abogando por la perspectiva basada en la huella ecológica Nuestro objetivo es proponer la huella ecológica como la primera restricción al crecimiento que enfrenta actualmente la economía mexicana. Para captar la atención de economistas ortodoxos y heterodoxos, analizaremos tres restricciones al crecimiento, a saber, por el lado de la oferta, la demanda y la biocapacidad. Nuestra primera recomendación destaca la necesidad de que México rediseñe completamente sus políticas públicas a fin de mejorar sustancialmente sus resultados en términos de sustentabilidad ambiental de la mano de una mucho mejor distribución del ingreso y la riqueza. Una limitación radica en la revisión de solo las teorías del crecimiento neoclásica y postkeynesiana, lo que implica una selección personal de la literatura. Hasta donde sabemos, este documento representa el primer estudio que incorpora dentro de las teorías del crecimiento económico la restricción ligada a la biocapacidad y la huella ecológica en México. La principal conclusión constituye un eco local de la literatura mundial: el desafío inmediato que enfrentan México y otras sociedades es compatibilizar cualquier resultado económico-social con un solo planeta tierra.

Production animals are constantly subjected to early adverse environmental conditions that influence the adult phenotype and produce epigenetic effects. CpG dinucleotide methylation in red blood cells (RBC) could be a useful epigenetic biomarker to identify animals subjected to chronic stress in the production environment. Here we compared a reduced fraction of the RBC methylome of chickens exposed to social isolation to non-exposed. These experiments were performed in two different locations: Brazil and Sweden. The aim was to identify stress-associated DNA methylation profiles in RBC across these populations, in spite of the variable conditions to which birds are exposed in each facility and their different lineages. Birds were increasingly exposed to a social isolation treatment, combined with food and water deprivation, at random periods of the day from weeks 1–4 after hatching. We then collected the RBC DNA from individuals and compared a reduced fraction of their methylome between the experimental groups using two bioinformatic approaches to identify differentially methylated regions (DMRs): one using fixed-size windows and another that preselected differential peaks with MACS2. Three levels of significance were used (P ≤ 0.05, P ≤ 0.005, and P ≤ 0.0005) to identify DMRs between experimental groups, which were then used for different analyses. With both of the approaches more DMRs reached the defined significance thresholds in BR individuals compared to SW. However, more DMRs had higher fold change values in SW compared to BR individuals. Interestingly, ChrZ was enriched above expectancy for the presence of DMRs. Additionally, when analyzing the locations of these DMRs in relation to the transcription starting site (TSS), we found three peaks with high DMR presence: 10 kb upstream, the TSS itself, and 20–40 kb downstream. Interestingly, these peaks had DMRs with a high presence (>50%) of specific transcription factor binding sites. Three overlapping DMRs were found between the BR and SW population using the most relaxed p-value (P ≤ 0.05). With the most stringent p-value (P ≤ 0.0005), we found 7 and 4 DMRs between treatments in the BR and SW populations, respectively. This study is the first approximation to identify epigenetic biomarkers of long-term exposure to stress in different lineages of production animals.

En el presente documento se presenta una breve historia de la catálisis, así como de los procesos de oxidación selectiva de hidrocarburos. Por otra parte, se mencionan los conceptos básicos involucrados en la catálisis heterogénea haciendo énfasis en el papel de los materiales catalíticos en procesos químicos de oxidación y planteando una serie de preguntas orientadoras que se deben seguir al momento de abordar un proceso catalizado por materiales sólidos. De la misma manera, se muestra los métodos de síntesis de catalizadores denominados en la literatura como sol-gel e impregnación, identificando la influencia de cada etapa de preparación con las propiedades físicas y químicas de los materiales. Finalmente, se presenta un caso de estudio aplicado a la oxidación catalítica selectiva de metano y metanol empleando materiales catalíticos de hierro, molibdeno y vanadio sintetizados por el método sol-gel.

Epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation act as mediators in the interaction between genome and environment. Variation in the epigenome can both affect phenotype and be inherited, and epigenetics has been suggested to be an important factor in the evolutionary process. During domestication, dogs have evolved an unprecedented between-breed variation in morphology and behavior in an evolutionary short period. In the present study, we explore DNA methylation differences in brain, the most relevant tissue with respect to behavior, between wolf and dog breeds. We optimized a combined method of genotype-by-sequencing (GBS) and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) for its application in canines. Genomic DNA from the frontal cortex of 38 dogs of 8 breeds and three wolves was used. GBS and GBS-MeDIP libraries were prepared and sequenced on Illuma HiSeq2500 platform. The reduced sample represented 1.18 ± 0.4% of the total dog genome (2,4 billion BP), while the GBS-MeDIP covered 11,250,788 ± 4,042,106 unique base pairs. We find substantial DNA methylation differences between wolf and dog and between the dog breeds. The methylation profiles of the different groups imply that epigenetic factors may have been important in the speciation from dog to wolf, but also in the divergence of different dog breeds. Specifically, we highlight methylation differences in genes related to behavior and morphology. We hypothesize that these differences are involved in the phenotypic variation found among dogs, whereas future studies will have to find the specific mechanisms. Our results not only add an intriguing new dimension to dog breeding but are also useful to further understanding of epigenetic involvement.

Resumen: De manera paralela, a raíz de la nueva evidencia científica que respalda el tratamiento intensivo de la hipertensión arterial, en 2017 el Colegio Americano de Cardiología (ACC) y la Asociación Americana del Corazón (AHA) establecieron nuevas directrices para la prevención, detección, evaluación y manejo de la hipertensión arterial en adultos.La recomendación formal fue utilizar menores umbrales de presión arterial para el inicio del tratamiento antihipertensivo. Esta consideración se derivó de la existencia de estudios que asociaban el logro de cifras menores de presión arterial con la disminución significativa en el riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular y de la mortalidad en la población hipertensa.A la luz de esta nueva definición de hipertensión arterial, Muntner et al. consideran que su prevalencia en los Estados Unidos sería 45,6%, comparado con el 31,9%, si se usaran los parámetros previamente aceptados e implementados desde el JNC7, comité en el que el porcentaje de adultos estadounidenses recomendados para tratamiento antihipertensivo pasaría de 34,3% a 36,2%, en tanto que el porcentaje de hipertensos que no logran las metas establecidas se incrementaría de 39 a 53,4%.Por su parte, Bundy et al. llegaron a conclusiones similares, calculando que 45,4% de los adultos estadounidenses (105.3 millones) mayores de 20 años tendrían hipertensión según la nueva clasificación, comparado con los datos del año 2014, que consideraban como hipertensos al 32,0% (74.1 millones). Esta diferencia de 13,5% equivale a 31.3 millones de personas que serían clasificadas como hipertensas.En Colombia, la aplicación de la nueva clasificación supondría pasar de una prevalencia de 22,0% en 2016 a un valor estimado del 43,3% en la actualidad, tan solo por variar la cifra de corte para ser considerado hipertenso, lo cual es equivalente a catalogar como enfermos a aproximadamente 21 millones de personas. Abstract: In 2017, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) concurrently established new guidelines for the prevention, detection, assessment and management of arterial hypertension in adults, based on new scientific evidence supporting its intensive treatment.The formal recommendation was to use lower arterial pressure thresholds for initiating antihypertensive treatment. This consideration arose from studies which related the achievement of lower arterial pressure figures with a significant decrease in the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality in the hypertensive population.In light of this new definition of arterial hypertension, Muntner et al. consider that the prevalence of hypertension in the United States would be 45.6%, compared with 31.9% if the previously accepted and implemented parameters from the JNC7 were applied. According to this committee, the percentage of American adults recommended for antihypertensive treatment would go from 34.3% to 36.2%, while the percentage of hypertensives not achieving the established goals would increase from 39 to 53.4%.Meanwhile, Bundy et al. reached similar conclusions, calculating that 45.4% of adult Americans over the age of 20 (105.3 million) would have hypertension according to the new classification, compared to data from 2014, which considered 32.0% (74.1 million) to be hypertensive. This 13.5% difference amounts to 31.3 million people who would be classified as hypertensive.In Colombia, the application of the new classification would mean going from a prevalence of 22.0% in 2016 to an estimated 43.3%, currently, just by changing the cut-off value for being considered hypertensive, which would amount to classifying approximately 21 million people as sick. Palabras clave: Hipertensión arterial, Consenso, Enfermedad cardiovascular, Keywords: Arterial hypertension, Consensus, Cardiovascular disease

Abstract Background Domestication of animals leads to large phenotypic alterations within a short evolutionary time-period. Such alterations are caused by genomic variations, yet the prevalence of modified traits is higher than expected if they were caused only by classical genetics and mutations. Epigenetic mechanisms may also be important in driving domesticated phenotypes such as behavior traits. Gene expression can be modulated epigenetically by mechanisms such as DNA methylation, resulting in modifications that are not only variable and susceptible to environmental stimuli, but also sometimes transgenerationally stable. To study such mechanisms in early domestication, we used as model two selected lines of red junglefowl (ancestors of modern chickens) that were bred for either high or low fear of humans over five generations, and investigated differences in hypothalamic DNA methylation between the two populations. Results Twenty-two 1-kb windows were differentially methylated between the two selected lines at p

Abstract Language discrimination is one of the core differences between bilingual and monolingual language acquisition. Here, we investigate the earliest brain specialization induced by it. Following previous research, we hypothesize that bilingual native language discrimination is a complex process involving specific processing of the prosodic properties of the speech signal. We recorded the brain activity of monolingual and bilingual 4.5-month-old infants using EEG, while listening to their native/dominant language and two foreign languages. We defined two different windows of analysis to separate discrimination and identification effects. In the early window of analysis (150–280 ms) we measured the P200 component, and in the later window of analysis we measured Theta (400–1800 ms) and Gamma (300–2800 ms) oscillations. The results point in the direction of different language discrimination strategies for bilingual and monolingual infants. While only monolingual infants show early discrimination of their native language based on familiarity, bilinguals perform a later processing which is compatible with an increase in attention to the speech signal. This is the earliest evidence found for brain specialization induced by bilingualism.

Abstract Background The ability to efficiently visualize and manipulate chromosomes is fundamental to understanding the genome architecture of organisms. Conventional chromosome preparation protocols developed for mammalian cells and those relying on species-specific conditions are not suitable for many invertebrates. Hence, a simple and inexpensive chromosome preparation protocol, adaptable to multiple invertebrate species, is needed. Results We optimized a chromosome preparation protocol and applied it to several planarian species (phylum Platyhelminthes), the freshwater apple snail Pomacea canaliculata (phylum Mollusca), and the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis (phylum Cnidaria). We demonstrated that both mitotically active adult tissues and embryos can be used as sources of metaphase chromosomes, expanding the potential use of this technique to invertebrates lacking cell lines and/or with limited access to the complete life cycle. Simple hypotonic treatment with deionized water was sufficient for karyotyping; growing cells in culture was not necessary. The obtained karyotypes allowed the identification of differences in ploidy and chromosome architecture among otherwise morphologically indistinguishable organisms, as in the case of a mixed population of planarians collected in the wild. Furthermore, we showed that in all tested organisms representing three different phyla this protocol could be effectively coupled with downstream applications, such as chromosome fluorescent in situ hybridization. Conclusions Our simple and inexpensive chromosome preparation protocol can be readily adapted to new invertebrate research organisms to accelerate the discovery of novel genomic patterns across the branches of the tree of life.

Las proteínas de choque térmico (HSPs) son proteínas inducidas por la mayoría de eventos que generan estrés celular y se expresan en niveles elevados en una amplia gama de tumores, entre los que se incluyen el cáncer de seno, pulmón, próstata, colon, leucemias y estomago, entre otros; esta sobreexpresión está estrechamente asociada generalmente con una resistencia a las terapias establecidas, lo cual genera un mal pronóstico. Las HSPs están involucradas en todas las fases del desarrollo neoplásico, desde la proliferación, la anti-apoptosis hasta en la invasión y metástasis. Entre los mecanismos descritos por los cuales las HSPs incrementan la agresividad tumoral se encuentran la evasión de los estímulos pro-apoptóticos y la respuesta inmune, la pérdida de función de p53, la expresión de proto-oncogenes HER2 y c-Myc, la activación de plasmina y MMP2, entre otros; todos estos eventos cruciales para la tumorogénesis. De esta forma las HSPs se han convertido un objetivo prometedor para el diseño dirigido de fármacos anti-cáncer y estrategias de inmunoterapia.

Mastitis is the inflammation of one or several mammal lobes which can be accompanied by a mammary gland infection, and is the leading cause of undesired early weaning in humans. However, little information exists regarding the changes that this disease may induce in the biochemical composition of human milk, especially in terms of oxidative status. Given that newborns are subject to a significant increase in total ROS burden in their transition to neonatal life and that their antioxidant defense system is not completely developed, the aim of this study was to evaluate antioxidant defense (glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH), total polyphenol content (TPP), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)) in milk samples from mothers suffering from mastitis and controls. We also measured the oxidative damage to lipids (malondyaldehyde (MDA)) and proteins (carbonyl group content (CGC)) in these samples. Finally, we tested whether dietary supplementation with cranberries (a product rich in antioxidants) in these breastfeeding mothers during 21 days could improve the oxidative status of milk. GPx activity, TPP, and TAC were increased in milk samples from mastitis-affected women, providing a protective mechanism to the newborn drinking mastitis milk. MDA concentrations were diminished in the mastitis group, confirming this proposal. Some oxidative damage might occur in the mammary gland since the CGC was increased in mastitis milk. Cranberries supplementation seems to strengthen the antioxidant system, further improving the antioxidative state of milk.

Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CaLso) is associated with diseases in tomato crops and transmitted by the tomato psyllid Bactericera cockerelli. A polymeric water-dispersible nanobactericide (PNB) was evaluated against CaLso as a different alternative. PNB is a well-defined polycationic diblock copolymer designed to permeate into the vascular system of plants. Its assessment under greenhouse conditions was carried out with tomato plants previously infected with CaLso. Using a concentration as low as 1.0 mg L−1, a small but significant reduction in the bacterial load was observed by real-time qPCR. Thus, to achieve an ecologically friendly dosage and set an optimum treatment protocol, we performed experiments to determine the effective concentration of PNB to reduce ~65% of the initial bacterial load. In a first bioassay, a 40- or 70-fold increase was used to reach that objective. At this concentration level, other bioassays were explored to determine the effect as a function of time. Surprisingly, a real reduction in the symptoms was observed after three weeks, and there was a significant decrease in the bacterial load level (~98%) compared to the untreated control plants. During this period, flowering and formation of tomato fruits were observed in plants treated with PNB.

Currently, the human species has been recognized as the primary species responsible for Earth’s biodiversity decline. Contamination by different chemical compounds, such as pesticides, is among the main causes of population decreases and species extinction. Insects are key for ecosystem maintenance; unfortunately, their populations are being drastically affected by human-derived disturbances. Pesticides, applied in agricultural and urban environments, are capable of polluting soil and water sources, reaching non-target organisms (native and introduced). Pesticides alter insect’s development, physiology, and inheritance. Recently, a link between pesticide effects on insects and their epigenetic molecular mechanisms (EMMs) has been demonstrated. EMMs are capable of regulating gene expression without modifying genetic sequences, resulting in the expression of different stress responses as well as compensatory mechanisms. In this work, we review the main anthropogenic contaminants capable of affecting insect biology and of triggering EMMs. EMMs are involved in the development of several diseases in native insects affected by pesticides (e.g., anomalous teratogenic reactions). Additionally, EMMs also may allow for the survival of some species (mainly pests) under contamination-derived habitats; this may lead to biodiversity decline and further biotic homogenization. We illustrate these patterns by reviewing the effect of neonicotinoid insecticides, insect EMMs, and their ecological consequences.

An accurate measurement of the 140Ce(n,γ) energy-dependent cross-section was performed at the n_TOF facility at CERN. This cross-section is of great importance because it represents a bottleneck for the s-process nucleosynthesis and determines to a large extent the cerium abundance in stars. The measurement was motivated by the significant difference between the cerium abundance measured in globular clusters and the value predicted by theoretical stellar models. This discrepancy can be ascribed to an overestimation of the 140Ce capture cross-section due to a lack of accurate nuclear data. For this measurement, we used a sample of cerium oxide enriched in 140Ce to 99.4%. The experimental apparatus consisted of four deuterated benzene liquid scintillator detectors, which allowed us to overcome the difficulties present in the previous measurements, thanks to their very low neutron sensitivity. The accurate analysis of the p-wave resonances and the calculation of their average parameters are fundamental to improve the evaluation of the 140Ce Maxwellian-averaged cross-section.

Post-operative pain management is a significant problem in clinical practice in Latin America. Insufficient or inappropriate pain management is in large part due to insufficient knowledge, attitudes and education, and poor communications at various levels. In addition, the lack of awareness of the availability and importance of clear policies and guidelines for recording pain intensity, the use of specific analgesics and the proper approach to patient education have led to the consistent under-treatment of pain management in the region. However, these problems are not insurmountable and can be addressed at both the provider and patient level. Robust policies and guidelines can help insure continuity of care and reduce unnecessary variations in practice. The objective of this paper is to call attention to the problems associated with Acute Post-Operative Pain (APOP) and to suggest recommendations for their solutions in Latin America. A group of experts on anesthesiology, surgery and pain developed recommendations that will lead to more efficient and effective pain management. It will be necessary to change the knowledge and behavior of health professionals and patients, and to obtain a commitment of policy makers. Success will depend on a positive attitude and the commitment of each party through the development of policies, programs and the promotion of a more efficient and effective system for the delivery of APOP services as recommended by the authors of this paper. The writing group believes that implementation of these recommendations should significantly enhance efficient and effective post-operative pain management in Latin America. Resumo: O controle da dor no período pós-operatório é um problema significativo na prática clínica na América Latina. O controle insuficiente ou inadequado da dor é devido, em grande parte, à insuficiência de conhecimento, atitudes e formação e à comunicação precária em vários níveis. Além disso, a falta de conscientização da disponibilidade e importância de políticas e diretrizes inequívocas para avaliar a intensidade da dor, o uso de analgésicos específicos e a abordagem adequada para instruir o paciente levaram ao subtratamento consistente da dor na região. Contudo, esses problemas não são insuperáveis e podem ser abordados no âmbito tanto do provedor quanto do paciente. Políticas e diretrizes robustas podem ajudar a garantir a continuidade dos cuidados e reduzir as variações desnecessárias na prática. O objetivo deste artigo é chamar a atenção para os problemas associados à dor aguda no pós-operatório (DAPO) e sugerir recomendações para solucioná-los na América Latina. Um grupo de especialistas em anestesiologia, cirurgia e dor desenvolveu recomendações que levarão a um controle mais eficiente e eficaz da dor. Será preciso mudar o conhecimento e o comportamento dos profissionais de saúde e pacientes e obter um compromisso por parte de legisladores. O sucesso dependerá de uma atitude positiva e do compromisso de cada parte através do desenvolvimento de políticas e programas e da promoção de um sistema mais eficiente e eficaz para a prestação de serviços para a DAPO, como recomendado pelos autores deste trabalho. O grupo que as redigiu acredita que a aplicação dessas recomendações deve melhorar de modo significativo a eficiência e eficácia do controle da dor no período pós-operatório na América Latina. Keywords: Acute post-operative pain, Pain management, Latin America, Chronic pain, Palavras chave: Dor aguda no pós-operatório, Controle da dor, América Latina, Dor crônica

Congenital toxoplasmosis continues to be a public health threat. Even existing guidelines, publicly known, its implementation and lack of appropriate interpretation of serological tests in pregnancy is often observed. This leds to failure in opportunities for positive and known interventions to decrease the fetal risk due to Toxoplasma gondii infection. We reported herein a case series, with variable neurological and systemic compromise (respiratory distress, hepatosplenomegaly, enterocolitis, brain calcifications, thrombocytopenia, ascites, shock), even fatal, calling for awareness about the fact that despite the Zika epidemics in 2015-2016 in Brazil, Colombia and other countries, precisely toxoplasmosis, is a differential diagnosis still prevalent in these territories, that can leds to severe consequences, with neurological disability and risk of ocular damage, even lately. Additionally, with varieties of T. gondii with more aggressive patterns in Latin America, which make worse those cases, including also a higher risk of death.

Background and Aim: The circulating recombinant form 02_AG (CRF02_AG) is the predominant clade among the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) non-Bs with a prevalence of 5.97% (95% Confidence Interval-CI: 5.41–6.57%) across Spain. Our aim was to estimate the levels of regional clustering for CRF02_AG and the spatiotemporal characteristics of the largest CRF02_AG subepidemic in Spain.Methods: We studied 396 CRF02_AG sequences obtained from HIV-1 diagnosed patients during 2000–2014 from 10 autonomous communities of Spain. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on the 391 CRF02_AG sequences along with all globally sampled CRF02_AG sequences (N = 3,302) as references. Phylodynamic and phylogeographic analysis was performed to the largest CRF02_AG monophyletic cluster by a Bayesian method in BEAST v1.8.0 and by reconstructing ancestral states using the criterion of parsimony in Mesquite v3.4, respectively.Results: The HIV-1 CRF02_AG prevalence differed across Spanish autonomous communities we sampled from (p < 0.001). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 52.7% of the CRF02_AG sequences formed 56 monophyletic clusters, with a range of 2–79 sequences. The CRF02_AG regional dispersal differed across Spain (p = 0.003), as suggested by monophyletic clustering. For the largest monophyletic cluster (subepidemic) (N = 79), 49.4% of the clustered sequences originated from Madrid, while most sequences (51.9%) had been obtained from men having sex with men (MSM). Molecular clock analysis suggested that the origin (tMRCA) of the CRF02_AG subepidemic was in 2002 (median estimate; 95% Highest Posterior Density-HPD interval: 1999–2004). Additionally, we found significant clustering within the CRF02_AG subepidemic according to the ethnic origin.Conclusion: CRF02_AG has been introduced as a result of multiple introductions in Spain, following regional dispersal in several cases. We showed that CRF02_AG transmissions were mostly due to regional dispersal in Spain. The hot-spot for the largest CRF02_AG regional subepidemic in Spain was in Madrid associated with MSM transmission risk group. The existence of subepidemics suggest that several spillovers occurred from Madrid to other areas. CRF02_AG sequences from Hispanics were clustered in a separate subclade suggesting no linkage between the local and Hispanic subepidemics.

Abstract. Introduction:. Chronic pain (CP) is highly prevalent and generally undertreated health condition. Noninvasive brain stimulation may contribute to decrease pain intensity and influence other aspects related to CP. Objective:. To provide consensus-based recommendations for the use of noninvasive brain stimulation in clinical practice. Methods:. Systematic review of the literature searching for randomized clinical trials followed by consensus panel. Recommendations also involved a cost-estimation study. Results:. The systematic review wielded 24 transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and 22 repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) studies. The following recommendations were provided: (1) Level A for anodal tDCS over the primary motor cortex (M1) in fibromyalgia, and level B for peripheral neuropathic pain, abdominal pain, and migraine; bifrontal (F3/F4) tDCS and M1 high-definition (HD)-tDCS for fibromyalgia; Oz/Cz tDCS for migraine and for secondary benefits such as improvement in quality of life, decrease in anxiety, and increase in pressure pain threshold; (2) level A recommendation for high-frequency (HF) rTMS over M1 for fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain, and level B for myofascial or musculoskeletal pain, complex regional pain syndrome, and migraine; (3) level A recommendation against the use of anodal M1 tDCS for low back pain; and (4) level B recommendation against the use of HF rTMS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the control of pain. Conclusion:. Transcranial DCS and rTMS are recommended techniques to be used in the control of CP conditions, with low to moderate analgesic effects, and no severe adverse events. These recommendations are based on a systematic review of the literature and a consensus made by experts in the field. Readers should use it as part of the resources available to decision-making.

Poly(methyl methacrylate-block-styrene) block copolymers (BCs) of low dispersity were selectively sulfonated on the styrenic segment. Several combinations of degree of polymerization and volume fraction of each block were investigated to access different self-assembled morphologies. Thin films of the sulfonated block copolymers were prepared by spin-coating and exposed to solvent vapor (SVA) or thermal annealing (TA) to reach equilibrium morphologies. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed for characterizing the films, which exhibited a variety of nanometric equilibrium and nonequilibrium morphologies. Highly sulfonated samples revealed the formation of a honeycomb-like morphology obtained in solution rather than by the self-assembly of the BC in the solid state. The described morphologies may be employed in applications such as templates for nanomanufacturing and as cover and binder of catalytic particles in fuel cells.

Oxidative stress has been widely studied in association to ultra-endurance sports. Although it is clearly demonstrated the increase in reactive oxygen species and free radicals after these extreme endurance exercises, the effects on the antioxidant defenses and the oxidative damage to macromolecules, remain to be fully clarified. Therefore, the aim of this study was to elucidate the impact of an ultramarathon race on the plasma markers of oxidative stress of 32 runners and their post-race recovery, with especial focused on sex and age effect. For this purpose, the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) activity, as well as the lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA) and the carbonyl groups (CG) content were measured before the race, in the finish line and 24 and 48 h after the race. We have reported an increase of the oxidative damage to lipids and proteins (MDA and CG) after the race and 48 h later. Moreover, there was an increase of the GR activity after the race. No changes were observed in runners’ plasma GPx activity throughout the study. Finally, we have observed sex and age differences regarding damage to macromolecules, but no differences were found regarding the antioxidant enzymes measured. Our results suggest that several basal plasma markers of oxidative stress might be related to the extent of muscle damage after an ultraendurance race and also might affect the muscle strength evolution.

In this work, the influence of the background of the University students is analyzed. In particular how the average mark of the students affects their academic progress. An anonymously collected data analysis is performed, Among these data are the number of European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) enrolled, the mark exams, average mark exams, access type, etc. Conclusions of each considered degree are presented at the end of the work.