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Biological acidification and bioprotection are interesting tools to overcome some problems of climate change and fit some consumer requirements for fresher wine styles. Juices of Airén (Vitis vinifera L.) were fermented by Lachancea thermotolerans (Lt) and Metschnikowia pulcherrima (Mp) starters and compared with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc). Fermentations were monitored and wines were analysed for standard parameters and volatile fractions by SPE-GC-MS. Wines were evaluated by an experienced tasting panel. All ferments reached dryness with lower volatile acidity and lower ethanol than the control. All strains of Lt used for biological acidification reduced the pH values of wines (pH 3.25-3.56) more than chemical acidification with 1.5 g/L of tartaric acid (pH 3.64). Wines were characterised by different total acidity and volatile composition according to the yeasts used. Lt and Mp produced wines with higher perception of freshness and acidity than Sc control, probably elicited by the higher production of lactic acid complemented with higher contents of succinic acid (+0.2-0.6 g/L). Overall, the results showed that bioacidification is a practical alternative to chemical acidification to cope with either climate change or consumer demand for fresher wine styles., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this article. Antonio Morata Full Professor of Food Technology., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Enzymatic browning caused by polyphenol oxidases, tyrosinase and laccase, continues to be one of the main problems in winemaking. Therefore, wineries are very interested in studying the mechanisms of browning and procedures for decreasing the use sulphur dioxide. This research proposes a model to study tyrosinase activity from grape must using different substrates: one monophenol (p-hydroxybenzoic acid), two diphenols (caftaric acid and (-)-epicatechin) and one triphenol (gallic acid). The kinetic constants of tyrosinase, Vmax and K M , indicate that caftaric acid is the best substrate for tyrosinase, followed in decreasing order by (-)-epicatechin, gallic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid. This last acid does not appear to be susceptible to browning by the action of grape must tyrosinase. The influence of pH, temperature and ethanol on grape must tyrosinase were also determined and the results indicate that tyrosinase Vmax increases when pH and temperature are higher and that the presence of ethanol reduces it., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

A LOx-based electrochemical biosensor for high-level lactate determination was developed. For the construction of the biosensor, chitosan and Nafion layers were integrated by using a spin coating procedure, leading to less porous surfaces in comparison with those recorded after a drop casting procedure. The analytical performance of the resulting biosensor for lactate determination was evaluated in batch and flow regime, displaying satisfactory results in both modes ranging from 0.5 to 20 mM concentration range for assessing the lactic acidosis. Finally, the lactate levels in raw serum samples were estimated using the biosensor developed and verified with a blood gas analyzer. Based on these results, the biosensor developed is promising for its use in healthcare environment, after its proper miniaturization. A pH probe based on common polyaniline-based electrochemical sensor was also developed to assist the biosensor for the lactic acidosis monitoring, leading to excellent results in stock solutions ranging from 6.0 to 8.0 mM and raw plasma samples. The results were confirmed by using two different approaches, blood gas analyzer and pH-meter. Consequently, the lactic acidosis monitoring could be achieved in continuous flow regime using both (bio)sensors., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

One of the problems that most seriously affects oenology today is enzymatic browning, especially when grapes are infected by grey rot. We studied the capacity of glutathione (GSH) and a specific inactivated dry yeast rich in glutathione (IDY-GSH) to protect white grape must from browning compared to that of sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ). The results indicate that SO 2 drastically reduces the oxygen consumption rate (by around 72%), protects hydroxycinnamic acids from oxidation and prevents grape must against browning even in the presence of laccase. Specifically, the presence of SO 2 reduced the colour's blue-yellow component ( b *) by around 91% in control conditions and around 76% in the presence of laccase. GSH, pure or in the form of IDY-GSH, also reduces the oxygen consumption rate (by 23% and 36%, respectively) but to a lesser extent than SO 2 . GSH also favours the formation of grape reaction product (GRP) from hydroxycinnamic acids and effectively protects grape must against browning in healthy grape conditions. Specifically, the presence of GSH reduced b * by around 81% in control conditions. Nevertheless, in the presence of laccase, it was not effective enough, reducing b * by around 39% in the case of pure GSH and 24% in the case of IDY-GSH. Therefore, both forms of GSH can be considered as interesting alternative tools to SO 2 for preventing browning in white grape must, but only when the grapes are healthy.

Cell proliferation is central to epithelial tissue development, repair, and homeostasis. During cell division, small RhoGTPases control both actomyosin dynamics and cell-cell junction remodeling to faithfully segregate the genome while maintaining tissue polarity and integrity. To decipher the mechanisms of RhoGTPase spatiotemporal regulation during epithelial cell division, we generated a transgenic fluorescently tagged library for the 48 Drosophila Rho guanine exchange factors (RhoGEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs), and we systematically characterized their endogenous distributions by time-lapse microscopy. Therefore, we unveiled candidate regulators of the interplay between actomyosin and junctional dynamics during epithelial cell division. Building on these findings, we established that the conserved RhoGEF Cysts and RhoGEF4 play sequential and distinct roles to couple cytokinesis with de novo junction formation. During ring contraction, Cysts via Rho1 participates in the neighbor mechanosensing response, promoting daughter-daughter cell membrane juxtaposition in preparation to de novo junction formation. Subsequently and upon midbody formation, RhoGEF4 via Rac acts in the dividing cell to ensure the withdrawal of the neighboring cell membranes, thus controlling de novo junction length and cell-cell arrangements upon cytokinesis. Altogether, our findings delineate how the RhoGTPases Rho and Rac are locally and temporally activated during epithelial cytokinesis, highlighting the RhoGEF/GAP library as a key resource to understand the broad range of biological processes regulated by RhoGTPases., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests, (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Frailty is prevalent in older adults and is related to a worsening functionality, quality of life, and health outcomes. Though there is an increasing interest in this field, the relationship between frailty and worsening COPD outcomes remains unknown. A narrative review of the literature with studies published between 2018 and 2022 was carried out to address three questions: the prevalence of frailty and other geriatric syndromes in COPD patients, the link between frailty and worsening health outcomes in COPD patients, and the non-pharmacological interventions performed in order to reverse frailty in these patients. A total of 25 articles were selected. Frailty prevalence ranged from 6% and 85.9%, depending on the COPD severity and the frailty measurement tool used. Frailty in COPD patients was related to a high prevalence of geriatric syndromes and to a high incidence of adverse events such as exacerbations, admissions, readmissions, and mortality. One study showed improvements in functionality after physical intervention. In conclusion, the prevalence of frailty is associated with a high incidence of geriatric syndromes and adverse events in COPD patients. The use of frailty screenings and a comprehensive geriatric assessment of COPD patients is advisable in order to detect associated problems and to establish individualized approaches for better outcomes.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine whether the inclusion of older patients undergoing elective colorectal cancer resection in the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS ® ) programme could improve clinical outcomes during hospital admission., Methods: A before-and-after study in ≥70-year-old patients electively admitted for colorectal cancer resection was designed. In total, 213 patients were included in the ERAS ® group, and 158 were included in the control group., Results: The average age was 77.9 years old (SD 5.31) and 57.14% of them were men, with a Charlson Index score of 3.42 (SD 3.32). The ERAS ® group presented a lower transfusion rate of 42 (19.7%), compared to 75 (47.5%) in the control group ( p < 0.001). The crude odds ratio (OR) for transfusion was 0.27 (95% CI 0.17-0.43; p < 0.001), and the adjusted odds ratio was 0.26 (95% CI 0.14-0.48; p < 0.001). The ERAS ® group had a lower percentage of patients with moderate-severe malnutrition on admission, at 23.4% (37 patients) against 36.2% in the control group (42 patients) ( p = 0.023), with an OR of 0.47 (95% CI 0.29-0.75; p < 0.002) and an adjusted OR of 0.48 (95% CI 0.29-0.78; p = 0.003). The number of patients who required admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) was also markedly lower: 54 from the ERAS ® group (25.4%) versus 71 from the control group (44.9%) ( p < 0.001)., Conclusions: The inclusion of ≥70-year-old adults in the ERAS ® programme resulted in a decrease in transfusions, number of erythrocyte concentrates transfused, and number of ICU admissions, along with improved nutritional status.

The use of non-Saccharomyces yeast in the winemaking industry and even more their co-inoculations to maximize their growth and to express phenotypic characteristic is gaining more and more relevance. This study aimed to shed light on the biocompatibilities between Lachancea thermotolerans and Hanseniaspora spp., using different types of nutrients and considering the effect on Yeast Assimilable Nitrogen (YAN), at low temperature (16 °C) and medium SO 2 (50 mg/L), in white must. L. thermotolerans has been used for its positive effect on pH reduction and Hanseniaspora spp. for improving the sensory profile. The behaviour of these yeasts was evaluated in co-inoculation, always finishing the fermentation with the sequential inoculation of S. cerevisiae. Significant results were obtained on the population count (CFU/mL) in CHROMagar™, with higher populations of Hanseniaspora spp. with respect to L. thermotolerans. Fermentations with L. thermotolerans/H. vineae, showed inhibition of acidification, generating up to 0.41 g/L of lactic acid. On the contrary, a synergistic effect when L. thermotolerans/H. opuntiae was used, achieved 2.44 g/L of lactic acid and a pH reduction of up to 0.16 and always more significant with Nutrient Vit Blanc TM . At the same time ethanol concentration decreased by 3.4 % and volatile acidity never exceeded 0.5 g/L. Aromatic composition was analysed and it was found that all fermentations retained more aromatic esters and that on day 7 the amount of 2-phenylethyl acetate was at least 3 times higher in all fermentations compared to the control (Sc + Nutrient Vit Blanc TM ) which had 5.96 mg/L. Less yellow intensity (-17.3 %) typical of oxidation were observed in all fermentations in which Nutrient Vit Blanc TM had been used and in the sensory analysis the co-inoculations with H. vineae generated better scores., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Sideroflexins (SFXN, SLC56) are a family of evolutionarily conserved mitochondrial carriers potentially involved in iron homeostasis. One member of the SFXN family is SFXN1, recently identified as a human mitochondrial serine transporter. However, little is known about the SFXN1 interactome, necessitating a high-throughput search to better characterize SFXN1 mitochondrial functions. Via co-immunoprecipitation followed by shotgun mass spectrometry (coIP-MS), we identified 96 putative SFXN1 interactors in the MCF7 human cell line. Our in silico analysis of the SFXN1 interactome highlights biological processes linked to mitochondrial organization, electron transport chains and transmembrane transport. Among the potential physical partners, ATAD3A and 17β-HSD10, two proteins associated with neurological disorders, were confirmed using different human cell lines. Nevertheless, further work will be needed to investigate the significance of these interactions.

Non-wine yeasts could enhance the aroma and organoleptic profile of wines. However, compared to wine strains, they have specific intolerances to winemaking conditions. To solve this problem, we generated intra- and interspecific hybrids using a non-GMO technique (rare-mating) in which non-wine strains of S. uvarum, S. kudriavzevii and S. cerevisiae species were crossed with a wine S. cerevisiae yeast. The hybrid that inherited the wine yeast mitochondrial showed better fermentation capacities, whereas hybrids carrying the non-wine strain mitotype reduced ethanol levels and increased glycerol, 2,3-butanediol and organic acid production. Moreover, all the hybrids produced several fruity and floral aromas compared to the wine yeast: β-phenylethyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, γ-octalactone, ethyl cinnamate in both varietal wines. Sc × Sk crosses produced three- to sixfold higher polyfunctional mercaptans, 4-mercapto-4-methylpentan-2-one (4MMP) and 3-mercaptohexanol (3MH). We proposed that the exceptional 3MH release observed in an S. cerevisiae × S. kudriavzevii hybrid was due to the cleavage of the non-volatile glutathione precursor (Glt-3MH) to detoxify the cell from the presence of methylglyoxal, a compound related to the high glycerol yield reached by this hybrid. In conclusion, hybrid generation allows us to obtain aromatically improved yeasts concerning their wine parent. In addition, they reduced ethanol and increased organic acids yields, which counteracts climate change effect on grapes., (© 2022 The Authors. Microbial Biotechnology published by Society for Applied Microbiology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Although numerous articles have found an association between alterations in thyroid function and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), other studies have failed to demonstrate this association. This may be due to the different cut-off points used to define subclinical hypothyroidism. We aim to clarify the role of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level in GDM within pregnant women with normal free thyroxine (fT4) levels. This retrospective cohort study was performed in 6775 pregnant women. The association between TSH and GDM was assessed by bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Pregnant women with subclinical hypothyroidism are at significantly greater risk for GDM when compared with euthyroid pregnant women (OR = 1.85; 95% CI = 1.36-2.52). We have also observed that TSH levels increase the risk of GDM within euthyroid pregnant women, since the TSH levels between 2.5 and 4.71 showed a higher risk of GDM than those whose TSH levels are between 0.31 and 2.49 (OR = 1.54; 95% CI = 1.28-1.84). In addition, pregnant women with positive thyroid antibodies have almost 2.5 times the risk of developing GDM (OR = 2.47; 95% CI = 1.57-3.89). Our results support that in pregnant women with normal fT4 levels, higher first trimester TSH level implies a higher risk of GDM.

Saccharomyces yeasts from different origins and species fermented in a semi-synthetic must containing aroma precursor of cv. Albariño and polyfunctional mercaptans precursors. The resulting wines were subjected to accelerate anoxic aging. Afterward, aroma profiles were analyzed by distinct gas chromatography methodologies. Cryotolerant strains showed better fermentation performances with significant differences in volatile and non-volatile fermentation products than Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae). We suggested that the highest levels γ-butyrolactone and diethyl succinate in Saccharomyces uvarum (S. uvarum) strains, together with their substantial succinic acid yields, could be related to greater flux through the GABA shunt. These strains also had the highest production of β-phenylethyl acetate, geraniol, and branched-chain ethyl esters. The latter compounds were highly increased by aging, while acetates and some terpenes decreased. S. kudriavzevii strains showed a remarkable ability to release polyfunctional mercaptans, with SK1 strain yielding up to 47-fold and 8-fold more 4-methyl-4-mercaptopentan-2-one (4MMP) than S. cerevisiae and S. uvarum strains, respectively. The wild S. cerevisiae beer isolate showed a particular aroma profile due to the highest production of ethyl 4-methylvalerate (lactic and fruity notes), γ-octalactone (coconut), and furfurylthiol (roasted coffee). The latter compound is possibly produced from the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). Since erythritol, another PPP intermediate was largely produced by this strain., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Interest in the use of non-conventional yeasts in wine fermentation has been increased in the last years in the wine sector. The main objective of this manuscript was to explore the aromatic diversity produced by wild and non-wine strains of S. cerevisiae, S. eubayanus, S. kudriavzevii, and S. uvarum species in young and bottle-aged Tempranillo wines as well as evaluate their fermentation capacity and the yield on ethanol, glycerol, and organic acids, that can contribute to diminishing the effects of climate change on wines. S. uvarum strain U1 showed the highest ability to release or de novo produce monoterpenes, such as geraniol and citronellol, whose values were 1.5 and 3.5-fold higher than those of the wine S. cerevisiae strain. We found that compared to the normal values for red wines, β-phenylethyl acetate was highly synthesized by U1 and E1 strains, achieving 1 mg/L. Additionally, after aging, wines of S. eubayanus strains contained the highest levels of this acetate. Malic acid was highly degraded by S. kudriavzevii yeasts, resulting in the highest yields of lactic acid (>5-fold) and ethyl lactate (>2.8-fold) in their wines. In aged wines, we observed that the modulating effects of yeast strain were very high in β-ionone. S. uvarum strains U1 and BMV58 produced an important aging attribute, ethyl isobutyrate, which was highly enhanced during the aging. Also, the agave S. cerevisiae strain develops an essential aroma after aging, reaching the highest ethyl leucate contents. According to the results obtained, the use of wild non-wine strains of S. cerevisiae and strains of the cryotolerant species S. eubayanus, S. kudriavzevii, and S. uvarum in Tempranillo wine fermentation increase the aroma complexity. In addition, wines from S. kudriavzevii strains had twice additional glycerol, those from S. uvarum 4-fold more succinic acid, while wines from wild strains yielded 1% v/v less ethanol which may solve wine problems associated with climate change., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A collection of 33 Saccharomyces yeasts were used for wine fermentation with a sole nitrogen source: ammonium and four individual aroma-inducing amino acids. The fermentation performance and chemical wine composition were evaluated. The most valuable nitrogen sources were valine as a fermentation promoter on non-cerevisiae strains, phenylalanine as fruity aromas enhancer whereas the ethanol yield was lessened by leucine and isoleucine. S. cerevisiae SC03 and S. kudriavzevii SK02 strains showed to be the greatest producers of fruity ethyl esters while S. kudriavzevii strains SK06 and SK07 by shortening the fermentation duration. S. uvarum strains produced the greatest succinic acid amounts and, together with S. eubayanus, they reached the highest production of 2-phenylethanol and its acetate ester; whereas S. kudriavzevii strains were found to be positively related to high glycerol production., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In modern oenology, supplementation of nitrogen sources is an important strategy to prevent sluggish or stuck fermentation. The present study thoroughly determined the effect of nitrogen addition timing and nitrogen source type on fermentation kinetics and aroma production, carried out by yeast strains with low and high nitrogen requirements. The results revealed that yeast strains with different nitrogen requirements have divergent reactions to nitrogen addition. Nitrogen addition clearly shortened the fermentation duration, especially for the high-nitrogen-demanding yeast strain. Nitrogen addition at 1/3 fermentation was the most effective in terms of fermentation activity, nitrogen assimilation, and production of acetate esters. Interestingly enough, yeast cells preferentially took up amino acids related to fermentative aroma synthesis with the addition at 2/3 fermentation. The addition of nitrogen sources also largely affected the production of important metabolites. Generally speaking, acetic acid, glycerol, and succinic acid reduced with the supplementation of nitrogen sources. The results revealed significant application importance for the winemaking industry.

Nitrogen requirements by S. cerevisiae during wine fermentation are highly strain-dependent. Different approaches were applied to explore the nitrogen requirements of 28 wine yeast strains. Based on the growth and fermentation behaviour displayed at different nitrogen concentrations, high and low nitrogen-demanding strains were selected and further verified by competition fermentation. Biomass production with increasing nitrogen concentrations in the exponential fermentation phase was analysed by chemostat cultures. Low nitrogen-demanding (LND) strains produced a larger amount of biomass in nitrogen-limited synthetic grape musts, whereas high nitrogen-demanding (HND) strains achieved a bigger biomass yield when the YAN concentration was above 100 mg/L. Constant rate fermentation was carried out with both strains to determine the amount of nitrogen required to maintain the highest fermentation rate. Large differences appeared in the analysis of the genomes of low and high-nitrogen demanding strains showed for heterozygosity and the amino acid substitutions between orthologous proteins, with nitrogen recycling system genes showing the widest amino acid divergences. The CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome modification method was used to validate the involvement of GCN1 in the yeast strain nitrogen needs. However, the allele swapping of gene GCN1 from low nitrogen-demanding strains to high nitrogen-demanding strains did not significantly influence the fermentation rate., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Global warming is causing serious problems, especially, in warm regions, where musts with excess sugars and high pH produce wines with decreased freshness and unstable evolution. This study aimed to determine biocompatibility between yeast species, the capacity for microbiological acidification, and the aromatic profile produced in ternary fermentations in which Lachancea thermotolerans has been co-inoculated with Hanseniaspora vineae , Torulaspora delbrueckii , or Metschnikowia pulcherrima , and the fermentation process is subsequently completed with sequential inoculation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae . For this purpose, different cell culture media and instruments were used such as infrared spectroscopy, enzymatic autoanalyzer, chromatograph coupled with a flame ionization detector, spectrophotometric analysis, among others. The behavior of these yeasts was evaluated alone and in co-inoculation, always finishing the fermentation with sequential inoculation of S. cerevisiae , at a stable temperature of 16°C and with a low level of sulfites (25 mg/L) in white must. Significant results were obtained in terms of biocompatibility using population counts (CFU/ml) in differential plating media that permitted monitoring. Quantification of the five species was studied. Concerning acidification by L. thermotolerans in co-inoculations, we showed some metabolic interactions, such as the inhibition of acidification when H. vineae / L. thermotolerans were used, generating just over 0.13 g/L of lactic acid and, conversely, a synergistic effect when M. pulcherrima / L. thermotolerans were used, achieving 3.2 g/L of lactic acid and a reduction in pH of up to 0.33. A diminution in alcohol content higher than 0.6% v/v was observed in co-inoculation with the L. thermotolerans / M. pulcherrima yeasts, with total sugar consumption and very slow completion of fermentation in the inoculations with H. vineae and T. delbrueckii . The aromatic composition of the wines obtained was analyzed and a sensory evaluation conducted, and it was found that both L. thermotolerans and co-inoculations retained more aromatic esters over time and had a lower evolution toward the yellow tones typical of oxidation and that the best sensory evaluation was that of the Lt + Mp co-inoculation. Lachancea thermotolerans and co-inoculations produced wines with low levels of volatile acidity (<0.4 g/L). This work shows that good consortia strategies with binary and ternary fermentations of yeast strains can be a powerful bio-tool for producing more complex wines., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Vaquero, Loira, Heras, Carrau, González and Morata.)

Cocoa pulp fermentation is a consequence of the succession of indigenous yeasts, lactic acid bacteria and acetic acid bacteria that not only produce a diversity of metabolites, but also cause the production of flavour precursors. However, as such spontaneous fermentations are less reproducible and contribute to produce variability, interest in a microbial starter culture is growing that could be used to inoculate cocoa pulp fermentations. This study aimed to generate robust S. cerevisiae strains by thermo-adaptive evolution that could be used in cocoa fermentation. We evolved a cocoa strain in a sugary defined medium at high temperature to improve both fermentation and growth capacity. Moreover, adaptive evolution at high temperature (40 °C) also enabled us to unveil the molecular basis underlying the improved phenotype by analysing the whole genome sequence of the evolved strain. Adaptation to high-temperature conditions occurred at different genomic levels, and promoted aneuploidies, segmental duplication, and SNVs in the evolved strain. The lipid profile analysis of the evolved strain also evidenced changes in the membrane composition that contribute to maintain an appropriate cell membrane state at high temperature. Our work demonstrates that experimental evolution is an effective approach to generate better-adapted yeast strains at high temperature for industrial processes., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ten different Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains fermented semi-synthetic musts containing a Polyphenolic and Aroma Precursor Fraction (PAF) extracted from Tempranillo grapes. Aroma compounds were studied by Gas Chromatography (GC), GC-Olfactometry and GC-Mass Spectrometry (MS), during fermentation by trapping volatilized aroma, immediately after fermentation and after accelerated aging. Volatiles lost by evaporation during fermentation are mostly fermentative compounds and not grape-related odorants. Isobutanal and some esters are mostly lost during fermentation. In many cases the impact of yeast strain is evident only after aging. Strains could be classified into 3 major clusters with marked differences in fermentative and varietal profiles. Linalool and geraniol were found to have fermentative origin. S. cerevisiae yeast strains can effectively modulate varietal aroma, likely through specific enzymatic activities acting on grape phenolic acids and norisoprenoid aroma precursors and may be specifically used to mitigate some aging-related off odours, such as massoia lactone, guaiacol or TDN., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2021 The Author(s).)

Sideroflexins (SLC56 family) are highly conserved multi-spanning transmembrane proteins inserted in the inner mitochondrial membrane in eukaryotes. Few data are available on their molecular function, but since their first description, they were thought to be metabolite transporters probably required for iron utilization inside the mitochondrion. Such as numerous mitochondrial transporters, sideroflexins remain poorly characterized. The prototypic member SFXN1 has been recently identified as the previously unknown mitochondrial transporter of serine. Nevertheless, pending questions on the molecular function of sideroflexins remain unsolved, especially their link with iron metabolism. Here, we review the current knowledge on sideroflexins, their presumed mitochondrial functions and the sparse-but growing-evidence linking sideroflexins to iron homeostasis and iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis. Since an imbalance in iron homeostasis can be detrimental at the cellular and organismal levels, we also investigate the relationship between sideroflexins, iron and physiological disorders. Investigating Sideroflexins' functions constitutes an emerging research field of great interest and will certainly lead to the main discoveries of mitochondrial physio-pathology.

Ageism is defined as stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination towards people due to their age. The present review analyzed the age-related attitudes, and the responses to them, produced during the COVID-19 pandemic. We searched for publications related to ageism during the COVID-19 pandemic in Pubmed, Medline, and Embase. Fourteen manuscripts were included. The works highlighted the civic and social sense of older adults, their capacity for help community, despite the risk of infection. This attitude contrasted with her vulnerability to illness and ageism. Specific interventions are necessary to support older adults during the pandemic, guaranteeing financial support, protection in the residential environment, access to information, and solving barriers to accessing health services. Likewise, chronological age should not be an independent criterion for clinical decision making., (Copyright © 2020 SEGG. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Non- Saccharomyces yeast strains have become increasingly prevalent in the food industry, particularly in winemaking, because of their properties of interest both in biological control and in complexifying flavour profiles in end-products. However, unleashing the full potential of these species would require solid knowledge of their physiology and metabolism, which is, however, very limited to date. In this study, a quantitative analysis using 15 N-labelled NH 4 Cl, arginine, and glutamine, and 13 C-labelled leucine and valine revealed the specificities of the nitrogen metabolism pattern of two non- Saccharomyces species, Torulaspora delbrueckii and Metschnikowia pulcherrima. In T. delbrueckii , consumed nitrogen sources were mainly directed towards the de novo synthesis of proteinogenic amino acids, at the expense of volatile compounds production. This redistribution pattern was in line with the high biomass-producer phenotype of this species. Conversely, in M. pulcherrim a, which displayed weaker growth capacities, a larger proportion of consumed amino acids was catabolised for the production of higher alcohols through the Ehrlich pathway. Overall, this comprehensive overview of nitrogen redistribution in T. delbrueckii and M. pulcherrima provides valuable information for a better management of co- or sequential fermentation combining these species with Saccharomyces cerevisiae .

In the current scenario of climatic warming, the over-ripening of grapes increases the sugar content, producing flat and alcoholic wines with low acidity, high pH and low freshness. Additionally, a high pH makes wines more chemically and microbiologically unstable, requiring a higher sulphite content for preservation. Some strains of Lachancea thermotolerans can naturally lower the pH of wine by producing lactic acid from sugars; this pH reduction can reach 0.5 units. The industrial performance of four selected strains has been compared with that of two commercial strains and with that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The yeasts were assessed under variable oenological conditions, measuring lactic acid production and fermentative performance at two fermentation temperatures (17 and 27 °C), and in the presence or absence of sulphites (25 and 75 mg/L). Lactic acid production depends on yeast populations, with higher concentrations being reached when the microbial population is close to or above 7-log CFU/mL. A temperature effect on acidification can also be observed, being more intense at higher fermentation temperatures for most strains. Ethanol yield ranged from 7-11% vol., depending on the fermentation conditions (temperature and SO 2 ) at day 12 of fermentation, compared with 12% for the S. cerevisiae control in micro-fermentations. The production of fermentative esters was higher at 27 °C compared with 17 °C, which favoured the production of higher alcohols. Volatile acidity was moderate under all fermentation conditions with values below 0.4 g/L.

In European regions of cold climate, S. uvarum can replace S. cerevisiae in wine fermentations performed at low temperatures. S. uvarum is a cryotolerant yeast that produces more glycerol, less acetic acid and exhibits a better aroma profile. However, this species exhibits a poor ethanol tolerance compared with S. cerevisiae . In the present study, we obtained by rare mating (non-GMO strategy), and a subsequent sporulation, an interspecific S. cerevisiae × S. uvarum spore-derivative hybrid that improves or maintains a combination of parental traits of interest for the wine industry, such as good fermentation performance, increased ethanol tolerance, and high glycerol and aroma productions. Genomic sequencing analysis showed that the artificial spore-derivative hybrid is an allotriploid, which is very common among natural hybrids. Its genome contains one genome copy from the S. uvarum parental genome and two heterozygous copies of the S. cerevisiae parental genome, with the exception of a monosomic S. cerevisiae chromosome III, where the sex-determining MAT locus is located. This genome constitution supports that the original hybrid from which the spore was obtained likely originated by a rare-mating event between a mating-competent S. cerevisiae diploid cell and either a diploid or a haploid S. uvarum cell of the opposite mating type. Moreover, a comparative transcriptomic analysis reveals that each spore-derivative hybrid subgenome is regulating different processes during the fermentation, in which each parental species has demonstrated to be more efficient. Therefore, interactions between the two subgenomes in the spore-derivative hybrid improve those differential species-specific adaptations to the wine fermentation environments, already present in the parental species., (Copyright © 2020 Lairón-Peris, Pérez-Través, Muñiz-Calvo, Guillamón, Heras, Barrio and Querol.)

Wine-related non-Saccharomyces yeasts are becoming more widely used in oenological practice for their ability to confer wine a more complex satisfying aroma, but their metabolism remains unknown. Our study explored the nitrogen utilisation profile of three popular non-Saccharomyces species, Torulaspora delbrueckii, Metschnikowia pulcherrima and Metschnikowia fructicola. The nitrogen source preferences to support growth and fermentation as well as the uptake order of different nitrogen sources during wine fermentation were investigated. While T. delbrueckii and S. cerevisiae strains shared the same nitrogen source preferences, Metschnikowia sp. Displayed a lower capacity to efficiently use the preferred nitrogen compounds, but were able to assimilate a wider range of amino acids. During alcoholic fermentation, the non-Saccharomyces strains consumed different nitrogen sources in a similar order as S. cerevisiae, but not as quickly. Furthermore, when all the nitrogen sources were supplied in the same amount, their assimilation order was similarly affected for both S. cerevisiae and non-Saccharomyces strains. Under this condition, the rate of nitrogen source consumption of non-Saccharomyces strains and S. cerevisiae was comparable. Overall, this study expands our understanding about the preferences and consumption rates of individual nitrogen sources by the investigated non-Saccharomyces yeasts in a wine environment. This knowledge provides useful information for a more efficient exploitation of non-Saccharomyces strains that improves the management of the wine fermentation., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Although the specific form of an organ is frequently important for its function, the mechanisms underlying organ shape are largely unknown. In Drosophila , the wings and halteres, homologous appendages of the second and third thoracic segments, respectively, bear different forms: wings are flat, whereas halteres are globular, and yet both characteristic shapes are essential for a normal flight. The Hox gene Ultrabithorax ( Ubx ) governs the difference between wing and haltere development, but how Ubx function in the appendages prevents or allows flat or globular shapes is unknown. Here, we show that Ubx downregulates Matrix metalloproteinase 1 ( Mmp1 ) expression in the haltere pouch at early pupal stage, which in turn prevents the rapid clearance of Collagen IV compared with the wing disc. This difference is instrumental in determining cell shape changes, expansion of the disc and apposition of dorsal and ventral layers, all of these phenotypic traits being characteristic of wing pouch development. Our results suggest that Ubx regulates organ shape by controlling Mmp1 expression, and the extent and timing of extracellular matrix degradation., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing or financial interests., (© 2018. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)

The anthocyanin profile of a wine greatly varies over time depending on many factors. In addition to color modifications due to changes in the chemical composition of wine, there may be some influence of the yeast strain used in fermentation. The main aim of this study is to identify and quantify the different ways in which yeast may influence on wine color and its stability, during red winemaking. Hydroxycinnamate decarboxylase activity was measured by the ability to transform the p-coumaric acid (HPLC-DAD). Acetaldehyde (GC-FID) and pyruvic acid (Y15 enzymatic autoanalyser) contents were monitored along fermentation. Stable pigments formation, including vitisins, vinylphenolic pyranoanthocyanins and flavanols-anthocyanins adducts, were analyzed by HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS. Moreover, the ability of adsorbing color molecules by yeasts' cell walls was assessed. It could be concluded that the strain used has substantial influence on the formation of stable pigments, and therefore, proper yeast selection is important to ensure the stability of the wine coloring matter., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The Godelieve Denys-Struyf method (GDS) is a motor learning intervention that may be applied in group or individualized sessions., Objective: The study objective was to compare the effectiveness of routine physical therapy, group GDS (GDS-G) sessions, and group and individualized GDS (GDS-I) sessions., Design: This was a cluster randomized controlled trial., Setting: The study took place in 21 primary care physical therapy units ("clusters") of the Spanish National Health Service (SNHS)., Participants: The participants were 461 people with subacute and chronic low back pain (LBP)., Intervention: Clusters were randomized into 3 groups. All participants received medical treatment and a 15-minute group education session on active management. Additional interventions were as follows: control (fifteen 40-minute sessions of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, microwave treatment, and standardized exercises), GDS-G (eleven 50-minute group GDS sessions), and GDS-I (the same 11 sessions plus four 50-minute individualized GDS sessions)., Measurements: Primary outcomes at baseline and 2, 6, and 12 months later were LBP and pain referred down the leg (separate pain intensity numeric rating scales) and disability (Roland-Morris Questionnaire [RMQ]). Secondary outcomes were use of medication and self-reported health (mental and physical component summaries of the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey [SF-12]). Separate linear mixed models for LBP, pain referred down the leg, and disability were developed to adjust for potential confounders. Randomization, outcome assessment, and data analyses were masked., Results: At 12 months, disability improved 0.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]=-0.4, 1.8) RMQ point in the control group, 1.5 (95% CI=0.4, 2.7) RMQ points in the GDS-I group, and 2.2 (95% CI=1.2, 3.2) RMQ points in the GDS-G group. There were no differences in pain., Limitations: The amount of exercise was smaller in the control group, and GDS-I sessions were provided by junior physical therapists., Conclusions: The improvement in disability was slightly higher with group GDS sessions than with the program routinely used in clusters within the SNHS. Adding individualized GDS sessions eliminated this advantage. Further studies should compare the GDS with other types of exercise., (© 2015 American Physical Therapy Association.)

Monoclonal therapies could represent baseline-personalized medicine for patients with neoplasia. One of the most successful examples is Trastuzumab, a humanized antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor 2. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is a trans-membrane tyrosine kinase coded by the gene HER2/neu and overexpressed in approximately 12% to 20% of infiltrating breast carcinomas. The overexpression of HER2 is an independent adverse prognostic factor in relation to survival and is also predictive of response to treatment. Therefore, the correct evaluation of HER2 status is essential for the management of infiltrating breast carcinoma to determine the response to Trastuzumab. The most common evaluation technique is immunohistochemistry, which is confirmed by fluorescent or chromogenic monochrome or dual-gene in situ hybridization in ambiguous cases (immunohistochemical 2+). Our objective was to evaluate the diagnostic value of a new technique on the basis of HER2 mRNA in situ hybridization (HistoSonda) and study its correlation with immunohistochemistry and dual-chromogenic in situ hybridization (DUO-CISH) in 403 cases of infiltrating breast carcinoma. The percentage of DUO-CISH amplification was 25.8%, HistoSonda positivity was 31.2%, and positivity for Hercep-Test was 48.1%, including (+2) and (+3). Comparisons were made of each of the techniques, HistoSonda to IHQ and HistoSonda to DUO-CISH. The overall concordance between DUO-CISH and HistoSonda was 89%. Our data support the consistency of HistoSonda as a useful tool to determine HER2 status in breast cancer.

Segregation of the germline is a fundamental event during early development. In Drosophila, germ cells are specified at the posterior pole of the embryo by the germplasm. As zygotic expression is activated, germ cells remain transcriptionally silent owing to the polar granule component (Pgc), a small peptide present in germ cells. Somatic cells at both the embryonic ends are specified by the torso (Tor) receptor tyrosine kinase, and in tor mutants the somatic cells closer to the germ cells fail to cellularize correctly. Here, we show that extra wild-type gene copies of pgc cause a similar cellularization phenotype, and that both excessive pgc and a lack of tor are associated with an impairment of transcription in somatic cells. Moreover, a lack of pgc partly ameliorates the cellularization defect of tor mutants, thus revealing a functional antagonism between pgc and tor in the specification of germline and somatic properties. As transcriptional quiescence is a general feature of germ cells, similar mechanisms might operate in many organisms to 'protect' somatic cells that adjoin germ cells from inappropriately succumbing to such quiescence.

A perfusion ion-exchange chromatography method has been designed, for the first time, for the separation of soybean proteins and its application to the characterization of soybean cultivars. For that purpose, the gradient, the mobile phase composition (buffer concentration, buffer pH, and elution salt), and the temperature were optimized. The method consisted of a two-step gradient (0% B for 2 min and from 0 to 50% B in 10 min) being mobile phase A a 2 0mM borate buffer (pH 9) and mobile phase B a 20 mM borate buffer (pH 9) containing 1M sodium chloride. The procedure used for the preparation of sample solutions was significantly simpler than that proposed by other authors and basically consisted of dissolving in water. This method enabled the separation of soybean proteins from a soybean protein isolate in 11 peaks in about 9 min. The method was used to separate soybean proteins in different commercial soybeans. In general, the 11 peaks yielded by the soybean protein isolate were also observed in the chromatograms of all soybeans. However, the area percentages of every peak in every soybean enabled the differentiation between soybeans. Moreover, the method was also used to separate soybean proteins in the proteic fractions obtained from every soybean. Multivariate methods were used for patterns recognition and the classification of samples.

A perfusion RP HPLC method enabling the separation of soybean proteins in an analysis time lower than 3 min has been used to obtain the chromatographic profiles of different soybean cultivars. The chromatograms obtained for each soybean variety presented clear differences that justified the potential use of this method for cultivar characterization. The area percentages obtained were employed as variables for cluster and principal components analysis of these soybeans. The application of these multivariate methods enabled the grouping of the soybeans in different categories. The protein fractions obtained from these soybeans by the application of a fractionation method were also analyzed. The chromatographic profiles obtained enabled the assignment of peaks to the main soybean proteins (7S and 11S globulins). These data were used for the estimation, for the first time, of the 7S and 11S globulin contents in soybean cultivars.

Specification of the terminal regions of the Drosophila embryo depends on the Torso RTK pathway, which triggers expression of the zygotic genes tailless and huckebein at the embryonic poles. However, it has been shown that the Torso signalling pathway does not directly activate expression of these zygotic genes; rather, it induces their expression by inactivating, at the embryonic poles, a uniformly distributed repressor activity. In particular, it has been shown that Torso signalling regulates accumulation of the Capicua transcriptional repressor: as a consequence of Torso signalling Capicua is downregulated specifically at the poles of blastoderm stage embryos. Extending the current model, we show that activation of the Torso pathway can trigger tailless expression without eliminating Capicua. In addition, analysis of gene activation by the Torso pathway and downregulation of Capicua unveil differences between the terminal and the central embryonic regions that are independent of Torso signalling, hitherto thought to be the only system responsible for confering terminal specificities. These data provide new insights into the mode of action of the Torso signalling pathway and on the events patterning the early Drosophila embryo.

The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) is a preventive system that tries to guarantee the safety and food innocuousness, anticipating the protection and correction of failures, improving the quality costs for faults of microbiological, physical and chemical type, and saving almost the final super control, which though it allows a relative guarantee of the product, its consequence will be the destruction of the product in case of detection of the failure too much late, with the consequent incremental cost. In this work, the specific hazards which can be found in the slaughter line of ostriches, the preventive measurements that can be applied in the slaughterhouse, the surveillance systems to implement, the corrective actions foreseen and the control records to be kept by the plant are described in detail. Putting in practice these knowledge will allow, to any slaughterhouse of ostriches, a self-control of its productions based on the HACCP system.