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The application of magnetic nanoparticles requires large amounts of materials of reproducible quality. This work explores the scaled-up synthesis of multi-core iron oxide nanoparticles through the use of thermal decomposition in organic media and kilograms of reagents. To this end, we check the effect of extending the high temperature step from minutes to hours. To address the intrinsic variability of the colloidal crystallization nucleation process, the experiments were repeated and analyzed statistically. Due to the simultaneity of the nuclei growth and agglomeration steps, the nanostructure of the samples produced was a combination of single- and multi-core nanoparticles. The main characteristics of the materials obtained, as well as the reaction yields, were analyzed and compared. As a general rule, yield, particle size, and reproducibility increase when the time at high temperature is prolonged. The samples obtained were ranked in terms of the reproducibility of different structural, colloidal, and magnetic features. The capability of the obtained materials to act as nanoheaters in magnetic hyperthermia was assessed, showing a strong dependence on the crystallite size (calculated by X-ray diffraction), reflecting the nanoparticle volume with a coherent magnetization reversal.

Abstract Background Fusarium circinatum is the causal agent of pine pitch canker disease, which affects Pinus species worldwide, causing significant economic and ecological losses. In Spain, two Pinus species are most affected by the pathogen; Pinus radiata is highly susceptible, while Pinus pinaster has shown moderate resistance. In F. circinatum-Pinus interactions, phytohormones are known to play a crucial role in plant defense. By comparing species with different degrees of susceptibility, we aimed to elucidate the fundamental mechanisms underlying resistance to the pathogen. For this purpose, we used an integrative approach by combining gene expression and metabolomic phytohormone analyses at 5 and 10 days post inoculation. Results Gene expression and metabolite phytohormone contents suggested that the moderate resistance of P. pinaster to F. circinatum is determined by the induction of phytohormone signaling and hormone rearrangement beginning at 5 dpi, when symptoms are still not visible. Jasmonic acid was the hormone that showed the greatest increase by 5 dpi, together with the active gibberellic acid 4 and the cytokinin dehydrozeatin; there was also an increase in abscisic acid and salicylic acid by 10 dpi. In contrast, P. radiata hormonal changes were delayed until 10 dpi, when symptoms were already visible; however, this increase was not as high as that in P. pinaster. Indeed, in P. radiata, no differences in jasmonic acid or salicylic acid production were found. Gene expression analysis supported the hormonal data, since the activation of genes related to phytohormone synthesis was observed earlier in P. pinaster than in the susceptible P. radiata. Conclusions We determine that the moderate resistance of P. pinaster to F. circinatum is in part a result of early and strong activation of plant phytohormone-based defense responses before symptoms become visible. We suggest that jasmonic acid signaling and production are strongly associated with F. circinatum resistance. In contrast, P. radiata susceptibility was attributed to a delayed response to the fungus at the moment when symptoms were visible. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the phytohormone-based defense mechanism involved in the Pinus-F. circinatum interactions and provide insight into the development of new strategies for disease mitigation.

Background: Despite comprehensive study, the aetiology of stroke is not identified in 35% of cases. Aims: We conducted a study to assess the diagnostic capacity of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in the identification of ischaemic stroke of cardioembolic origin. The secondary purpose of the study was to evaluate the prognostic value of NT-proBNP for predicting 90-day all-cause mortality. Methods: We designed a prospective observational study including patients hospitalised due to stroke between March 2019 and March 2020. Blood samples were collected on admission to the emergency department and serum NT-proBNP levels were determined. Statistical analysis was performed using a bivariate logistic regression model and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and Kaplan–Meier curves. Statistical significance was established at p 499 pg/mL was the optimum value for diagnosing cardioembolic ischaemic stroke (sensitivity, 82%; specificity, 80%). Moreover, plasma NT-proBNP levels > 499 pg/mL were independently associated with cardioembolic stroke (OR: 9.881; p = .001). Finally, NT-proBNP > 1500 pg/mL was useful for predicting 90-day mortality (sensitivity, 70%; specificity, 93%). Conclusions: NT-proBNP was independently associated with cardioembolic stroke and should be quantified in blood tests within 24 h of stroke onset. High plasma levels (>499 pg/mL) may indicate an underlying cardioembolic cause, which should be further studied, while NT-proBNP >1500 pg/mL was associated with increased 90-day mortality. Resumen: Introducción: A pesar de un completo y exhaustivo estudio, la etiología de un 35% de los ictus isquémicos es desconocida. Objetivos: Evaluar la capacidad de diagnóstico del NT-proBNP en la identificación del ictus isquémico de origen cardioembólico. El objetivo secundario fue evaluar el valor pronóstico del NT-proBNP como predictor de mortalidad de cualquier causa tras 90 días del ictus. Métodos: Diseñamos un estudio observacional prospectivo, incluyendo pacientes hospitalizados por ictus. El periodo de reclutamiento fue de marzo de 2019 a marzo de 2020. Se obtuvieron muestras de sangre a su admisión en Urgencias y se midieron los niveles plasmáticos de NT-proBNP. El análisis estadístico fue realizado mediante un modelo bivariado de regresión logística, curva de la característica operativa del receptor (curvas ROC) y curvas Kaplan-Meier. Se consideraron significativas diferencias con p < 0,05. Resultados: Fueron incluidos 207 pacientes con un primer episodio de ictus isquémico agudo. Los niveles de NT-proBNP fueron significativamente mayores (p < 0,001) en el grupo de ictus isquémico cardioembólico (2.069 ± 488,5). Las curvas ROC mostraron que un NT-proBNP > 499 pg/mL es el valor óptimo para el diagnóstico de ictus isquémico cardioembólico (sensibilidad 82%, especificidad 80%). Además, los niveles plasmáticos de NT-proBNP > 499 pg/mL estaban asociados de forma independiente con el ictus isquémico cardioembólico (OR = 9.881, p = 0,001). Finalmente, un valor de NT-proBNP > 1.500 pg/mL fue útil para predecir la mortalidad de cualquier causa 90 días tras el ictus isquémico (sensibilidad = 70%, especificidad = 93%). Conclusiones: El valor de NT-proBNP estaba asociado independientemente al ictus isquémico de origen cardioembólico y debería ser considerado su análisis en las primeras 24 h desde el inicio del ictus. Niveles elevados (NT-proBNP > 499 pg/mL) pueden indicar un origen cardioembólico subyacente, el cual debería ser estudiado con mayor detalle, mientras que niveles de NT-proBNP > 1.500 pg/mL se asociaron con un incremento de la mortalidad a los 90 días del ictus.

Abstract The increase in fertilizer prices was 20% after the pandemic, which increased the cost of crop production in Peru. For this reason, research was conducted on the analysis of the chemical and biological characteristics and their relationship with the yield of radish nourished with compost based on plant residues. The objective was to analyze the chemical and biological characteristics and their relationship with the yield of radish nourished with vegetable waste-based compost. It is based on the methodology applied with an experimental approach; therefore, the statistical model of the Completely Randomized Block Design was used, which consisted of 3 blocks and 5 treatments that were T1 with 0, T2 with 4, T3 with 6, T4 with 8 and T5 with 10 t/ha of compost based on vegetable residues, and the doses were applied 14 days after sowing. Physical characteristics (total plant length, plant weight, bulb equatorial diameter and marketable yield), nutrient concentrations (nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, molybdenum, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, boron, chlorides and sodium) in leaves and stomata density were evaluated. The results determined that T5 stood out in total plant length with 28.07 cm, plant weight with 75 g, bulb equatorial diameter with 4.52 cm and commercial yield with 22.53 t/ha. In the total contribution of nitrogen in relation to yield with 300.44 kg/ha. Profitability with 186.8%. Quantification of stomata per treatment with 598 stomata/mm2 and concentration of nutrients in leaves at T3 with nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium. It concludes that T5, which has an adequate concentration of nutrients in leaves such as magnesium, manganese, zinc and stomata density of 598 stomata/mm2 influenced optimal biochemical reactions that resulted in the highest yield with 22.53 t/ha, differing by 31.38% in relation to T1.

This paper compares the equivalent thermal transmittances of different façades built using commercial clay bricks with three different thicknesses and façades made using the same method but with ceramic bricks with optimized rhomboidal interior geometry. Equivalent thermal transmittances of 0.300 W/m2·K were recorded for the rhomboidal brick with a thickness of 0.290 m and a façade with thermo-acoustic insulation and a large format brick on the interior, but the final thickness of the façade was 0.445 m. For ventilated façades made of the proposed rhomboidal brick with thicknesses of 0.290 and 0.240 m an 8–9% improvement was found, with values of 0.312 W/m2·K and 0.339 W/m2·K, respectively. It can be concluded that in view of the small difference in thermal terms, the best option is to use a brick 0.240 m thick, as the overall thickness of the façade will not then exceed 0.300 m.

Abstract Deceased donor liver transplantation (LT) is a crucial lifesaving option for patients with end-stage liver diseases. Although donation after brain death (DBD) remains the main source of donated organs, exploration of donation after circulatory death (DCD) addresses donor scarcity but introduces challenges due to warm ischemia. While technical advances have improved outcomes, challenges persist, with a 13% mortality rate within the first year. Delving into liver transplantation complexities reveals the profound impact of molecular signaling on organ fate. NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation play a pivotal role, influencing inflammatory responses. The NLRP3 inflammasome, found in hepatocytes, contributes to inflammation, fibrosis, and liver cell death. This study explores these dynamics, shedding light on potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Samples from 36 liver transplant patients were analyzed for ASC specks detection and inflammasome-related gene expression. Liver biopsies, obtained before and after cold ischemia storage, were processed for immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and Western blot. One year post-LT clinical follow-up included diagnostic procedures for complications, and global survival was assessed. Immunofluorescence detected activated inflammasome complexes in fixed liver tissues. ASC specks were identified in hepatocytes, showing a trend toward more specks in DCD livers. Likewise, inflammasome-related gene expression analysis indicated higher expression in DCD livers, decreasing after cold ischemia. Similar results were found at protein level. Patients with increased ASC specks staining exhibited lower overall survival rates, correlating with IL1B expression after cold ischemia. Although preliminary, these findings offer novel insights into utilizing direct detection of inflammasome activation in liver tissue as a biomarker. They suggest its potential impact on post-transplant outcomes, potentially paving the way for improved diagnostic approaches and personalized treatment strategies in LT.

Abstract Objective To measure dietary and urinary changes in sodium (Na) intake and excretion through the implementation of family gardens with aromatic herbs and workshops for cooking, using the herbs as a substitute for salt and seasoning powder. Methods Thirty-five participants from a neighborhood of Mexico City were included. A general questionnaire was administered to collect information on sociodemographic factors. At baseline and 3 months later, a dietary evaluation was conducted, and 24-hour urine samples were collected. Food items reported were classified according to the NOVA classification. Visits to participants´ houses were conducted to measure the amount of salt and seasoning powder added to food during the preparation of meals as well as a home food inventory. All participants were given a family garden with 6 aromatic herbs and a recipe book. The intervention included 7 cooking and 3 garden care workshops. Qualitative information on the experience was also collected. Linear regression models were run in order to estimate the contribution of each NOVA group, salt, and seasoning powder to total dietary Na intake. Results Participants were 44 years old on average and were mainly women (91.4%). The participation compliance in the workshops was 69.5%. After 3 months, there was a Na intake mean reduction of 976 mg. There was also a reduction in the excreted urinary Na of 325 mg per day. Conclusion A positive level of involvement in this program had a direct influence on dietary habits to lower Na consumption.

Introducción: los principales factores de riesgo descritos para contraer la infección por el virus de la hepatitis C (VHC) son antecedentes de transfusión sanguínea y uso de droga endovenosa; el riesgo por transmisión sexual es controversial. Existen pocos estudios de VHC en trabajadoras sexuales (TS) en el Perú, encontrando bajas prevalencias de VHC (0-1%). El presente estudio se ha realizado en Iquitos, una ciudad en la selva peruana, en donde existe gran comercio sexual y la prevalencia de HIV/SIDA y otras Infecciones de Transmisión Sexual (ITS) es alta. Objetivo: determinar la seroprevalencia de anticuerpos contra el VHC en TS de la ciudad de Iquitos atendidas en un Centro Especializado de Referencia de Infecciones de transmisión sexual (CERITSS) e identificar los factores de riesgo asociados a esta. Material y métodos: es un estudio de corte transversal en TS quienes acudieron a su control periódico al CERITSS San Juan entre mayo 2003 a enero 2004. Una encuesta clínica-epidemiológica fue utilizada para determinar la frecuencia de factores de riesgo para adquirir la infección por VHC. Para determinar la presencia de anticuerpos contra el VHC, se utilizó la prueba de enzima inmunoensayo (EIA); todos los resultados positivos fueron confirmados con la prueba inmunoblot recombinante (RIBA). Resultados: cuatro de las 200 TS enroladas en el estudio fueron positivos para la prueba EIA, todas ellas tuvieron resultados positivos de RIBA (prevalencia de 2%, IC95% 0,06-3,94%). Estas 4 TS reportaron ser naturales de Iquitos, tener mas de 5 años de trabajo sexual, reportaron un bajo uso de condón (

The high prevalence of obesity in Mexico starting from the early stages of life is concerning and represents a major public health problem. Genetic association studies have reported that single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in SIRT1, an NAD+-dependent deacetylase that plays an important role in the regulation of metabolic cellular functions, are associated with multiple metabolic disorders and the risk of obesity. In the present study, we analyzed the effect that the SNVs rs1467568 and rs7895833 of the SIRT1 gene may have on cardiometabolic risk factors in a young adult population from Mexico. A cross-sectional study was carried out with young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 who had a body mass index (BMI) greater than 18.5 kg/m2. This study included 1122 young adults who were classified into the normal weight (n = 731), overweight group (n = 277), and obesity group (n = 114) according to BMI of whom 405 and 404 volunteers were genotyped for rs1467568 and rs7895833 respectively using TaqMan probes through allelic discrimination assays. We found that the male sex carrying the G allele of rs7895833 had slightly lower BMI levels (p = 0.009). Furthermore, subjects carrying rs1467568 (G allele) showed a 34% lower probability of presenting with hyperbetalipoproteinemia where female carrying rs1467568 had lower levels of total cholesterol (p = 0.030), triglycerides (p = 0.026) and LDL cholesterol (p = 0.013). In conclusion, these findings suggest that the presence of both SNVs could have a non-risk effect against dyslipidemia in the Mexican population.

Storing ground beef at frozen temperatures prior to refrigerated display when using thermoforming vacuum packaging is not a common manufacturing practice. However, limited data on thermoforming packaging film and its interaction with meat quality suggests that more information is needed. The current study aimed to identify the influences of thermoforming packaging on the surface color and lipid oxidation of ground beef. Ground beef was portioned into 454 g bricks and packaged into one of three thermoforming films: T1 (150 µ polyethylene/EVOH/polyethylene coextrusion), T2 (175 µ polyethylene /EVOH/polyethylene coextrusion), and T3 (200 µ polyethylene/EVOH/polyethylene coextrusion), stored for 21 days at −20.83 °C (±1.50 °C), and displayed for 42 days at 3.0 °C ± 1.5 °C. There were no statistical differences for the packaging treatment of lipid oxidation (p = 0.0744), but oxidation increased throughout storage day (p < 0.0001). The main effects of treatment and day resulted in altered (p < 0.05) surface lightness (L*), redness (a*), yellowness, hue angle (°), red-to-brown (RTB), and relative myoglobin for met-myoglobin (MET), deoxymyoglobin (DMB), and oxymyoglobin (OMB). Surprisingly, there was an interaction between treatment and day for the calculated relative values of chroma (p = 0.0321), Delta E (p = 0.0155), and the ratio of a*:b* (p < 0.0001). These results indicate that thermoforming vacuum packaging can reduce the rate of deterioration that occurs to ground beef color and the rate of oxidation.

The storage duration of fresh meat products is a contributing factor leading to increased waste and loss at the retail counter. Losses of fresh pork can be linked to packaging methods that do not protect the attributes of color, taste, and odors consumers use in determining wholesome meat. Boneless pork loins (N = 63) were fabricated into 2.54-cm-thick chops and assigned to one of three vacuum treatments (VacA, VacB, VacC) or a fourth polyvinyl chloride overwrap (PVC) treatment to assess objective fresh color, cook loss, Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF), and lipid oxidation. Pork chops (n = 882) were evaluated at 5-day intervals (D 0, 5, 10, 15) in a randomized complete block design. Pork chop surface color was lighter (L*; p < 0.0001) when stored in a vacuum compared to PVC-packaged loin chops, regardless of storage duration. Redness (a*) values were greater (p < 0.0001) for loin chops stored in PVC than all other vacuum packaging treatments throughout the entire 15-day display period. Relative values for chroma on PVC-packaged loin chops were greater (p < 0.0001) throughout the simulated retail display period. An interaction of day and packaging treatment (p < 0.0343) occurred for WBSF. Lipid oxidation for pork chops packaged using PVC was significantly greater (p < 0.0001) from Day 10 through the completion of the storage period. Results indicate that vacuum packaging limits the deterioration of fresh pork loin chops, whereas traditional overwrapping expedites the color and lipid oxidation during refrigerated storage.

Abstract Background In recent years, crop production has expanded due to the variety of commercially available species. This increase in production has led to global competition and the search for biostimulant products that improve crop quality and yield. At the same time, agricultural products that protect against diseases caused by phytopathogenic microorganisms are needed. Thus, the green synthesis of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) is a proposal for achieving these needs. In this research, SeNPs were synthesized from methanolic extract of Amphipterygium glaucum leaves, and chemically and biologically characterized. Results The characterization of SeNPs was conducted by ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry (UV–Vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron microscopy transmission (TEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR) techniques. SeNPs with an average size of 40–60 nm and spherical and needle-shaped morphologies were obtained. The antibacterial activity of SeNPs against Serratia marcescens, Enterobacter cloacae, and Alcaligenes faecalis was evaluated. The results indicate that the methanolic extracts of A. glaucum and SeNPs presented a high antioxidant activity. The biostimulant effect of SeNPs (10, 20, 50, and 100 µM) was evaluated in vinca (Catharanthus roseus), and calendula (Calendula officinalis) plants under greenhouse conditions, and they improved growth parameters such as the height, the fresh and dry weight of roots, stems, and leaves; and the number of flowers of vinca and calendula. Conclusions The antibacterial, antioxidant, and biostimulant properties of SeNPs synthesized from A. glaucum extract demonstrated in this study support their use as a promising tool in crop production. Graphical Abstract

The mussel Mytilus edulis, a host to various trematode species, experiences performance decrements due to these infections. Yet, the impact magnitude and potential interactions with environmental stressors remain largely unexplored. This study scrutinizes the effect of Renicola roscovita infections on mussel filtration and respiration. We first assessed performance in both uninfected and lab-infected mussels at a mild temperature (16 °C), following an acute heat ramp to 30.5 °C and subsequent cooling. The experiment revealed neither a significant direct impact of the infection on the mussels' performance, nor any significant interplay between the infection and temperature variations. To account for possible infection effects obscured by low sample sizes or mussel size disparities, we conducted a reassessment at 16 °C using both small and large mussels. Infection notably hampered filtration in large mussels, with a marginal impact on smaller ones. A positive correlation was found between infection intensity and mussel filtration capacity, though the infection had no discernible impact on respiration. Our consistent finding of an 11-12 % infection effect size across all experiments indicates a slight reduction in mussel filtration due to trematode infections. While the exacerbating effect of transient heat stress on the infection's impact on filtration was not statistically significant, future investigations should explore potential interactions with prolonged heat stress. Our findings underscore the nuanced ways in which parasitic infections can influence marine bivalve physiology, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive studies that incorporate environmental stressors, such as heat stress, to fully elucidate the impact of parasitism on marine ecosystem health and resilience.

BackgroundOperational tolerance in liver transplantation (OT-LT), defined as the graft survival with normal function in absence of immunosuppression, has been a field of intense research since the 1980s. Thereafter, tens of clinical trials and hundreds of articles have been published, making it challenging for researchers to assimilate all the information, more so outside of their disciplines. The aim of the present study was to analyze the research in OT-LT through a new web tool (https://tolerance.imib.es).MethodsWe have developed a web resource that allowed the identification of the present trends and potential research avenues in OL-LT, an overview biomedical terms that were most often cited, including which journals published the most articles, and an advanced search engine that exploited all the information in these publications.ResultsA total of 734 studies were analyzed until November 2023, with a mean of 15 articles published per year, a total sum of 3,751 impact factor points and a total of 26,542 citations. The analysis of citations allowed us to establish a ranking of the most prolific countries, authors, journals and institutions, in addition to the most influential publications in OT-LT. Likewise, keyword and co-occurrence analyses answered which themes involving OT-LT are the most popular, whereas cooperation analysis showed that principal authors in OT-LT form a network, although the lack of international cooperation, especially with regard to clinical trials, appears to be one of the main challenges.ConclusionDespite its limitations, our web tool will allow both OT-LT expert and novel researchers to be able to draw a comprehensive picture of the past, present and future of OT-LT research.

Discrepancies between the measurement of body mass index (BMI) and metabolic health status have been described for the onset of metabolic diseases. Studying novel biomarkers, some of which are associated with metabolic syndrome, can help us to understand the differences between metabolic health (MetH) and BMI. A group of 1469 young adults with pre-specified anthropometric and blood biochemical parameters were selected. Of these, 80 subjects were included in the downstream analysis that considered their BMI and MetH parameters for selection as follows: norm weight metabolically healthy (MHNW) or metabolically unhealthy (MUNW); overweight/obese metabolically healthy (MHOW) or metabolically unhealthy (MUOW). Our results showed for the first time the differences when the MetH status and the BMI are considered as global MetH statures. First, all the evaluated miRNAs presented a higher expression in the metabolically unhealthy group than the metabolically healthy group. The higher levels of leptin, IL-1b, IL-8, IL-17A, miR-221, miR-21, and miR-29 are directly associated with metabolic unhealthy and OW/OB phenotypes (MUOW group). In contrast, high levels of miR34 were detected only in the MUNW group. We found differences in the SIRT1-PGC1α pathway with increased levels of SIRT1+ cells and diminished mRNA levels of PGCa in the metabolically unhealthy compared to metabolically healthy subjects. Our results demonstrate that even when metabolic diseases are not apparent in young adult populations, MetH and BMI have a distinguishable phenotype print that signals the potential to develop major metabolic diseases.

Circulating concentration of arginine, alanine, aspartate, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, proline, tyrosine, taurine and valine are increased in subjects with insulin resistance, which could in part be attributed to the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within genes associated with amino acid metabolism. Thus, the aim of this work was to develop a Genetic Risk Score (GRS) for insulin resistance in young adults based on SNPs present in genes related to amino acid metabolism. We performed a cross-sectional study that included 452 subjects over 18 years of age. Anthropometric, clinical, and biochemical parameters were assessed including measurement of serum amino acids by high performance liquid chromatography. Eighteen SNPs were genotyped by allelic discrimination. Of these, ten were found to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and only four were used to construct the GRS through multiple linear regression modeling. The GRS was calculated using the number of risk alleles of the SNPs in HGD, PRODH, DLD and SLC7A9 genes. Subjects with high GRS (≥ 0.836) had higher levels of glucose, insulin, homeostatic model assessment- insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol and triglycerides, and lower levels of arginine than subjects with low GRS (p < 0.05). The application of a GRS based on variants within genes associated to amino acid metabolism may be useful for the early identification of subjects at increased risk of insulin resistance.

IntroductionThe survival of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has improved dramatically due to novel systemic treatments. However, mRCC mortality continues to rise in Latin America.MethodsA retrospective, multicenter study of patients diagnosed with mRCC between 2010-2018 in Mexico City was conducted. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of healthcare insurance on access to treatment and survival in patients with mRCC.ResultsAmong 924 patients, 55.4%, 42.6%, and 1.9% had no insurance (NI), social security, (SS) and private insurance (PI), respectively. De novo metastatic disease was more common in NI patients (70.9%) compared to SS (47.2%) and PI (55.6%) patients (p

Objetivo: Determinar si existe asociación entre la presencia de calcificaciones vasculares detectadas en mamografías de tamizaje y la presencia de diabetes mellitus que permitirá sugerir pruebas diagnósticas confirmatorias. Material y métodos: Se incluyeron los resultados de los estudios realizados a pacientes que acudieron a cita para valoración por el departamento de check up que contaban con mamografía, y con expediente clínico completo dentro del periodo de octubre de 2018 hasta octubre de 2019. Se determinó la asociación utilizando las herramientas de medidas de tendencia central, razón de momios y chi cuadrada. Resultados: El 23% de las pacientes diabéticas incluidas en el estudio presentó calcificaciones vasculares por mamografía. Las pruebas de chi cuadrada para la diabetes mellitus, hipertensión arterial, obesidad y dislipidemia fueron 0.405 (p = 0.52), 1.23 (p = 0.26), 0.765 (p = 0.38) y 0.326 (p = 0.56) respectivamente. Conclusiones: No se pudo comprobar una asociación estadísticamente significativa entre la presencia de calcificaciones vasculares en mamografía y la presencia de enfermedades metabólicas.

Abstract Global warming may alter the dynamics of infectious diseases by affecting important steps in the transmission of pathogens and parasites. In trematode parasites, the emergence of cercarial stages from their hosts is temperature-dependent, being highest around a thermal optimum. If environmental temperatures exceed this optimum as a consequence of global warming, this may affect cercarial transmission. However, our knowledge of cercarial emergence patterns of species from high temperature environments is currently very limited. Here, we investigated the effect of temperature on the emergence of two common trematode species from an abundant mud snail Pirenella cingulata in the Persian Gulf, the warmest sea on Earth. Infected snails were incubated in the laboratory at 6 temperatures from 10 to 40 °C for 3 days. We found an optimal temperature for cercarial emergence of 32.0 °C and 33.5 °C for Acanthotrema tridactyla and Cyathocotylidae gen. sp., respectively, which are the warmest recorded thermal optima for any aquatic trematode species. Emergence of both species dropped at 40 °C, suggesting upper thermal limits to emergence. Overall, Persian Gulf trematodes may be among the most heat-tolerant marine trematode species, indicating a potential for dispersing to regions that will continue to warm in the future.

Given the short span of instrumental precipitation records in the South American Altiplano, longer-term hydroclimatic records are needed to understand the nature of climate variability and to improve the predictability of precipitation, a key natural resource for the socioeconomic development in the Altiplano and adjacent arid lowlands. In this region grows Polylepis tarapacana, a long-lived tree species that is very sensitive to hydroclimatic changes and has been widely used for tree-ring studies in the central and southern Altiplano. However, in the northern sector of the Peruvian and Chilean Altiplano (16–19∘ S) still exists a gap of high-resolution hydroclimatic data based on tree-ring records. Our study provides an overview of the temporal evolution of the late-spring–mid-summer precipitation for the period 1625–2013 CE at the northern South American Altiplano, allowing for the identification of wet or dry periods based on a regional reconstruction from three P. tarapacana chronologies. An increase in the occurrence of extreme dry events, together with a decreasing trend in the reconstructed precipitation, has been recorded since the 1970s in the northern Altiplano within the context of the last ∼4 centuries. The average precipitation over the last 17 years stands out as the driest in our 389-year reconstruction. We reveal a temporal and spatial synchrony across the Altiplano region of dry conditions since the mid-1970s. Independent tree-ring-based hydroclimate reconstructions and several paleoclimatic records based on other proxies available for the tropical Andes record this synchrony. The influence of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the northern Altiplano precipitation was detected by our rainfall reconstruction that showed past drier conditions in our study region associated with ENSO warm events. The spectral properties of the rainfall reconstruction showed strong imprints of ENSO variability at decadal, sub-decadal, and inter-annual timescales, in particular from the Pacific NIÑO 3 sector. Overall, the recent reduction in precipitation in comparison with previous centuries, the increase in extreme dry events and the coupling between precipitation and ENSO variability reported by this work is essential information in the context of the growing demand for water resources in the Altiplano. This study will contribute to a better understanding of the vulnerability and resilience of the region to the projected evapotranspiration increase for the 21st century associated with global warming.

Antecedentes: El reemplazo valvular por prótesis mecánicas o biológicas implica riesgo de tromboembolismo y complicaciones hemorrágicas. Objetivo: Determinar las complicaciones relacionadas con la terapia de anticoagulación complementaria y la probabilidad de riesgo en pacientes portadores de prótesis valvulares del corazón. Métodos: Se estudiaron 163 pacientes entre 2002 y 2016, portadores de prótesis mecánicas y biológicas, quienes recibieron antagonistas de la vitamina K posterior al egreso hospitalario. La terapia de anticoagulación se categorizó en óptima y no óptima conforme a los valores de INR previos a las complicaciones. Fueron excluidos los pacientes con comorbilidades y otros factores de riesgo de trombosis y/o sangrado. Resultados: a 68.7 % de los pacientes se les colocó prótesis mecánica y a 31.3 %, biológica (p ≤ 0.001); 25.2 % presentó las complicaciones motivo de estudio (p ≤ 0.001), hemorrágicas en 48.8 %, tromboembólicas en 26.8 % y de ambos tipos en 24.4 % (riesgo relativo = 4.229); a 95.1 % de los pacientes con complicaciones se les colocó prótesis mecánica y a 4.9 %, biológica (p = 0.005); 49.7 % presentó INR no óptimo (p ≤ 0.001). Conclusiones: Ante riesgo alto de complicaciones tromboembólicas y hemorrágicas, la elección de las prótesis valvulares, la prevención y el seguimiento son prioridades, principalmente en quienes requieren terapia de anticoagulación.

Consumer purchasing of beef is often driven by the trinity of flavor, palatability, and convenience. Currently, beef patties in the United States are manufactured with fat and lean trimmings derived from skeletal muscles. A reduction in total beef supply may require the use of animal by-product utilization such as variety meats to achieve patty formulations. The current study aimed to assess textural, color, and flavor characteristics in addition to volatile compounds through electronic technology, e-nose and e-tongue, of ground beef patties formulated with beef heart. Ground beef patties were manufactured with 0%, 6%, 12%, or 18% beef heart, with the remainder of the meat block being shoulder clod-derived ground beef. Patties (n = 65/batch/treatment) within each batch (n = 3) with each treatment were randomly allocated to cooked color (n = 17/batch/treatment), Allo–Kramer shear force (AKSF; n = 17/batch/treatment), texture profile analysis (TPA; n = 6/batch/treatment), cooking loss (n = 17/batch/treatment), consumer panel (n = 3/batch/treatment), e-nose (n = 1/batch/treatment), and e-tongue (n = 1/batch/treatment) analysis groups. Patties containing beef heart did not require additional cooking time (p = 0.1325) nor exhibit greater cooking loss (p = 0.0803). Additionally, inclusion rates of beef heart increased hardness (p = 0.0030) and chewiness values (p = 0.0316) in TPA, were internally redder (p = 0.0001), and reduced overall liking by consumer panelists (p = 0.0367). Lastly, patties containing beef heart exhibited greater red-to-brown (p = 0.0003) and hue angle (p = 0.0001) values than control patties. The results suggest that beef heart inclusion does alter ground beef quality characteristics and consumer acceptability.

Abstract Background Coronaviruses usually cause mild respiratory disease in humans but as seen recently, some human coronaviruses can cause more severe diseases, such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the global spread of which has resulted in the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Results In this study we analyzed the potential of using iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) coated with biocompatible molecules like dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APS) or carboxydextran (FeraSpin™ R), as well as iron oxyhydroxide nanoparticles (IOHNPs) coated with sucrose (Venofer®), or iron salts (ferric ammonium citrate -FAC), to treat and/or prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection. At non-cytotoxic doses, IONPs and IOHNPs impaired virus replication and transcription, and the production of infectious viruses in vitro, either when the cells were treated prior to or after infection, although with different efficiencies. Moreover, our data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection affects the expression of genes involved in cellular iron metabolism. Furthermore, the treatment of cells with IONPs and IOHNPs affects oxidative stress and iron metabolism to different extents, likely influencing virus replication and production. Interestingly, some of the nanoparticles used in this work have already been approved for their use in humans as anti-anemic treatments, such as the IOHNP Venofer®, and as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging in small animals like mice, such as the FeraSpin™ R IONP. Conclusions Therefore, our results suggest that IONPs and IOHNPs may be repurposed to be used as prophylactic or therapeutic treatments in order to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection. Graphical Abstract

Abstract DUNE is a dual-site experiment for long-baseline neutrino oscillation studies, neutrino astrophysics and nucleon decay searches. ProtoDUNE Dual Phase (DP) is a 6 $$\times $$ × 6 $$\times $$ × 6 m $$^3$$ 3 liquid argon time-projection-chamber (LArTPC) that recorded cosmic-muon data at the CERN Neutrino Platform in 2019–2020 as a prototype of the DUNE Far Detector. Charged particles propagating through the LArTPC produce ionization and scintillation light. The scintillation light signal in these detectors can provide the trigger for non-beam events. In addition, it adds precise timing capabilities and improves the calorimetry measurements. In ProtoDUNE-DP, scintillation and electroluminescence light produced by cosmic muons in the LArTPC is collected by photomultiplier tubes placed up to 7 m away from the ionizing track. In this paper, the ProtoDUNE-DP photon detection system performance is evaluated with a particular focus on the different wavelength shifters, such as PEN and TPB, and the use of Xe-doped LAr, considering its future use in giant LArTPCs. The scintillation light production and propagation processes are analyzed and a comparison of simulation to data is performed, improving understanding of the liquid argon properties.

AimsIn this study, we evaluated the association of sociodemographic, lifestyle and cardiometabolic factors with blood glucose levels in children and adolescents in Mexico.MethodsAn analytical cross-sectional study of 642 children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years from different educational centers located in municipalities of the state of San Luis Potosí, Mexico, was carried out. Pearson χ2 and Spearman correlation tests and multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate the associations of the variables with glycemia.ResultsThe prevalence of prediabetes was 8.0% in both sexes. Male participants were more likely to develop hyperglycemia than female participants (OR 2.7, 95% CI: 1.5–5.0). The variables associated with glucose levels were male sex, high socioeconomic status, inadequate diet, high blood pressure, and increased total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, which also explained up to 15.6% (p

‘Archaeogenetic analysis of black rat remains reveals that this species was introduced into temperate Europe twice, in the Roman and medieval periods. This population turnover was likely associated with multiple historical and environmental factors.’

Opuntia is recognized economically as a significant crop for its nutritional, functional, and therapeutic properties and its potential in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and bioenergy industries. Opuntia is conventionally propagated by seed or vegetative propagation via rooted scions or grafting. However, multiplication procedures are insufficient for extensive spreading. One of the alternative techniques is in vitro. For this reason, the objective was to evaluate the growth of different components combined with light conditions to induce callus, embryogenesis, and the possible synthesis of a component in the genus Opuntia. The existence of genes involved in pigment synthesis in genotypes of different fruit colors was complementarily analyzed. In this study, we used different combinations of fructose (2 g/L) with prickly pear juice (2 mL/L), mannitol (4 g/L), silver nitrate (AgNO3: 1 mg/L), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D: 2 mg/L), and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA: 1 g/L), with white, blue, and red LEDs (light-emitting diodes) and laser beams. These explants yielded sufficient contents of simple phenols, gallic acid equivalents (GAE: 2283.30 ± 6.29 mg/100 g), and coumaric (2155.0 ± 35.0 mg/100 g) and ferulic (2176 ± 27.9 mg/100 g) acids for the genotype Tapón aguanoso, and chlorogenic acid (CGA: 380.22 ± 22.05 mg/100 g) for the Copena V1 genotype. Upon analyzing the genotypes of different fruit pigmentations, we also observed the following: enzyme 4,5 estradiol dioxygenases can be present in all genotypes (regardless of pigmentation); enzyme 5,3 glucosyltransferases (GTs) could be induced in pigment synthesis in the genotypes of orange to purple fruits. Sequencing primer-amplified fragments for GT showed high similarity to uridine diphospho (UDP)-glucose from other species. This allows us to infer that it is possible to obtain products of high therapeutic value in the near future under controlled conditions.

With rising consumer demand for fast-food options, quick-service restaurants are constantly developing new menu items to attract consumers. Sous vide cookery has become popular for the in-home and fine dining consumer but has not been considered the first cooking option for quick service applications. Therefore, ground beef patties were manufactured to measure the influence of sous vide cooking time on the patty characteristics of moisture, color, and objective tenderness. Patties were randomly assigned a sous vide cooking time of 30, 60, or 90 min and then grilled to an internal temperature of 71.1 °C. Patties sous vide cooked for 30 min exhibited the greatest (p < 0.05) cook loss, Allo–Kramer Shear Force (AKSF) and were darker (L*) than patties sous vide cooked for 60 or 90 min. Additionally, neither internal redness, calculated spectral values of chroma, hue angle, or red-to-brown differed (p > 0.05) regardless of sous vide cooking time. Sous vide cooking duration prior to grilling the ground beef patties altered the moisture, color, and objective texture characteristics of ground beef patties.

Extended storage duration often results in negative quality attributes of fresh or frozen beef steaks. This study focused on evaluating the fresh and cooked meat quality of beef steaks stored using vacuum packaging for 63 days. Steaks 2.54 cm thick were packaged into one of three thermoforming films VPA (250 µ nylon/EVOH/enhanced polyethylene coextrusion), VPB (250 µ nylon/EVOH/enhanced polyethylene coextrusion), or VPC (125 µ nylon/EVOH/enhanced/polyethylene coextrusion). Steaks placed in VPA were lighter (L*) and redder (a*) in surface color (p < 0.05) as the display period increased, whereas steaks packaged in VPB and VPC became darker. Yellowness, hue angle (Hue°), and chroma (C*) values were greater (p < 0.05) in steaks using VPC film as the storage period increased. Calculated spectral values of red to brown were greater (p < 0.05) for steaks in VPA and VPB than in VPC. However, steaks placed in VPC films contained greater (p < 0.05) forms of metmyoglobin and oxymyoglobin and lower calculated relative values of deoxymyoglobin. In addition, packaging treatment altered (p > 0.05) lipid oxidation, but storage time had a greater (p < 0.05) influence on purge loss, cook loss, and Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF). Current results suggest that the use of vacuum packaging for extended storage of beef steaks (>60) days is plausible.

The estimation of crop yield is a compelling and highly relevant task in the scenario of the challenging climate change we are facing. With this aim, a reinterpretation and a simplification of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) fundamentals are presented to calculate the fresh biomass of forage crops. A normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) series observed from a multispectral camera on board an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) was the basis for the estimation. Eight fields in Spain of different rainfed intercropping forages were flown over simultaneously, with eight field measurements from February to June 2020. The second derivative applied to the NDVI time series determined the key points of the growing cycle, whereas the NDVI values themselves were integrated and multiplied by a standardized value of the normalized water productivity (WP*). The scalability of the method was tested using two scales of the NDVI values: the point scale (at the precise field measurement location) and the plot scale (mean of 400 m2). The resulting fresh biomass and, therefore, the proposal were validated against a dataset of field-observed benchmarks during the field campaign. The agreement between the estimated and the observed fresh biomass afforded a very good prediction in terms of the determination coefficient (R2, that ranged from 0.17 to 0.85) and the agreement index (AI, that ranged from 0.55 to 0.90), with acceptable estimation errors between 10 and 30%. The best period to estimate fresh biomass was found to be between the second fortnight of April and the first fortnight of May.

In this work zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are synthesized using Peumus boldus extract for the degradation of methylene blue (MB). The NPs were characterized and the degradation results and experimental data were compared with the Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson (LHHW) model taking into account an adsorption and reaction steps. The experimental degradation showed 96% degradation in 180 min and according to the model, the mass transfer is present but the reaction stage is dominat for the degradation kinetics. With these results it could be possible to design a larger-scale reactor.

Abstract Background Benralizumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to the human interleukin-5 (IL-5) receptor (IL-5R), thereby preventing IL-5 from binding to its receptor and inhibiting differentiation and maturation of eosinophils in the bone marrow. Because of its recent marketing approval, sufficient real-life evidence is lacking to confirm the efficacy and safety data from clinical trials. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of benralizumab for the treatment of severe refractory eosinophilic asthma in a real-world cohort of patients. Methods This was a cross-sectional multicentre study of consecutive patients with severe refractory eosinophilic asthma who received treatment with benralizumab during at least 6 months. Patient follow-up was performed in specialised severe asthma units. Results A total of 42 patients were enrolled and treated with benralizumab. Asthma control, as measured by the asthma control test (ACT), improved in all patients both at 3 months of treatment compared with baseline (13.9 ± 4 vs 20.1 ± 3.7, p

Abstract Background Metastatic germ cell tumor (mGCT) patients receiving chemotherapy have increased risk of life‐threatening venous thromboembolism (VTE). Identifying VTE risk factors may guide thromboprophylaxis in this highly curable population. Methods Data were collected from mGCT patients receiving first‐line platinum‐based chemotherapy at 22 centers. Predefined variables included International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG) risk classification, long‐axis diameter of largest retroperitoneal lymph node (RPLN), Khorana score, and use of indwelling vascular access device (VAD). VTE occurring at baseline, during chemotherapy and within 90 days, was analyzed. Results Data from 1135 patients were collected. Median age was 31 years (range 10‐74). IGCCCG risk was 64% good, 20% intermediate, and 16% poor. VTE occurred in 150 (13%) patients. RPLN >3.5 cm demonstrated highest discriminatory accuracy for VTE (AUC 0.632, P

The environmental problems associated with the construction sector have promoted the worldwide scientific community to pay attention to the use of recycled aggregates from construction and demolition waste. SciMAT and VOSviewer bibliometric tools have been applied in order to analyse, quantify and visualise the conceptual and social aspects of this scientific field, as well as its evolution between 1973 and 2019. The study of 843 scientific papers in this field has shown that the most important thematic area has been Recycling. In general, the common objective of the published papers was to study the efficient use of resources contained in construction and demolition waste due to their treatment to produce recycled aggregates, particularly for use in concrete. Likewise, some lacks have been observed in other areas of the analysed field, e.g. the use recycled aggregates in applications subject to less demanding regulations (mortars, precast concrete products, or green roofs).

Introduction and Objectives: Food insecurity is involved in the most important health problem worldwide: the rise in non-communicable diseases. It affects populations in poor countries and disadvantaged populations in affluent countries. Lifestyle improvement strategies are often costly and only effective in the short term. Our aim is to demonstrate that an educational program on a healthy lifestyle which increases health literacy could improve long-term health and mitigate food insecurity. Methods: This work will conduct a 24-month intervention to improve cardiovascular health, measured by the Life’s Simple 7 criteria, in vulnerable families (460 individuals) at risk of food insecurity. It entails initial training through workshops (basic intervention model) followed by randomization into three groups: (1) no further intervention; (2) a traditional advanced intervention model every 3 months; and (3) an e-learning advanced intervention model every 15 days with YouTube videos or WhatsApp/text message. In a next step, we will explore if the lifestyle intervention improve families’ food insecurity score according to the criteria established by the Food and Agriculture Organization and measured by the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES). Finally, we will analyze which of the two advanced intervention models, either face to face or virtual, are more effective at improving cardiovascular health and food literacy. Conclusions: If this type of program – not very complex or costly – has favorable effects, it could be proposed as a model for improving these populations’ state of vulnerability. The E-DUCASS program aims to use this strategy to improve cardiovascular health in vulnerable populations in a scientific, efficient,safe, and sustainable manner.

The continuous need to satisfy world food demand has led to the search for new alternatives to combat economic losses in agriculture caused by phytopathogenic fungi. These organisms cause plant diseases, reducing their productivity and decreasing fruit quality. Among the new tools being explored is nanotechnology. Nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties could be an excellent alternative to address this problem. In this work, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) were obtained using plant extracts of Amphipterygium glaucum leaves (SeNPs-AGL) and Calendula officinalis flowers (SeNPs-COF). Characterization of the SeNPs was performed and their ability as antifungal agents against two commercially relevant plant pathogenic fungi, Fusarium oxysporum and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, was evaluated. Assays were performed with different concentrations of SeNPs (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.7 mg/mL). It was observed that both SeNPs had antifungal activity against both plant pathogens at concentrations of 0.25 mg/mL and above. SeNPs-AGL demonstrated better antifungal activity and smaller size (around 8.0 nm) than SeNPs-COF (134.0 nm). FTIR analysis evidenced the existence of different functional groups that constitute both types of SeNPs. There are factors that have to be considered in the antimicrobial activity of SeNPs such as nanoparticle size and phytochemical composition of the plant extracts used, as these may affect their bioavailability.

BackgroundTwo barriers to effective enrollment decisions are low health insurance literacy and lack of knowledge about how to choose a plan. To remedy these issues, digital decision aids have been used to increase the knowledge of plan options and to guide the decision process. Previous research has shown that the way information is presented in a decision aid can impact consumer choice, and existing health insurance decision aids vary in their design, content, and layout. Commercial virtual benefits counselors (VBCs) are digital decision aids that provide decision support by mimicking the guidance provided by an in-person human resources (HR) counselor, whereas more traditional HR websites provide information that requires self-directed navigation through the system. However, few studies have compared how decision processes are impacted by these different methods of providing information. ObjectiveThis study aims to examine how individuals interact with two different types of health insurance decision aids (guided VBCs that mimic conversations with a real HR counselor and self-directed HR websites that provide a broad range of detailed information) to make employer-provided health insurance decisions. MethodsIn total, 16 employees from a local state university completed a user study in which they made mock employer-provided health insurance decisions using 1 of 2 systems (VBC vs HR website). Participants took part in a retrospective think-aloud interview, cued using eye-tracking data to understand decision aid interactions. In addition, pre- and postexperiment measures of literacy and knowledge and decision conflict and usability of the system were also examined. ResultsBoth the VBC and HR website had positive benefits for health insurance knowledge and literacy. Previous health insurance knowledge also impacted how individuals used decision aids. Individuals who scored lower on the pre-experiment knowledge test focused on different decision factors and were more conflicted about their final enrollment decisions than those with higher knowledge test scores. Although both decision aids resulted in similar changes in the Health Insurance Literacy Measure and knowledge test scores, perceived usability differed. Website navigation was not intuitive, and it took longer to locate information, although users appreciated that it had more details; the VBC website was easier to use but had limited information. Lower knowledge participants, in particular, found the website to be less useful and harder to use than those with higher health insurance knowledge. Finally, out-of-pocket cost estimation tools can lead to confusion when they do not highlight the factors that contribute to the cost estimate. ConclusionsThis study showed that health insurance decision aids help individuals improve their confidence in selecting and using health insurance plans. However, previous health insurance knowledge plays a significant role in how users interact with and benefit from decision aids, even when information is presented in different formats.