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Documento escrito por un elevado número de autores/as, solo se referencia el/la que aparece en primer lugar y los/as autores/as pertenecientes a la UC3M. Correction: The authors regret the omission of one of the authors, Federico de Isidro Gómez, from the original manuscript. The corrected list of authors and affiliations for this paper is as shown above. The Royal Society of Chemistry apologises for these errors and any consequent inconvenience to authors and readers. (Faraday Discuss., 2022,240, 228-228. https://doi.org/10.1039/D2FD90074B) The number of maps deposited in public databases (Electron Microscopy Data Bank, EMDB) determined by cryo-electron microscopy has quickly grown in recent years. With this rapid growth, it is critical to guarantee their quality. So far, map validation has primarily focused on the agreement between maps and models. From the image processing perspective, the validation has been mostly restricted to using two half-maps and the measurement of their internal consistency. In this article, we suggest that map validation can be taken much further from the point of view of image processing if 2D classes, particles, angles, coordinates, defoci, and micrographs are also provided. We present a progressive validation scheme that qualifies a result validation status from 0 to 5 and offers three optional qualifiers (A, W, and O) that can be added. The simplest validation state is 0, while the most complete would be 5AWO. This scheme has been implemented in a website https://biocomp.cnb.csic.es/EMValidationService/ to which reconstructed maps and their ESI can be uploaded. Javier Vargas and Jordi Burguet would like to thank the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for financial support through the call 2019 Proyectos de I+D+i - RTI Tipo A (PID2019108850RA-I00) and Arrate Muñoz Barrutia, PID2019-109820RB-I00, MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033/, cofinanced by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), A way of making Europe. The authors acknowledge the economic support from MICIN of the Instruct Image Processing Center (I2PC) as part of the Spanish participation in Instruct-ERIC, the European Strategic Infrastructure Project (ESFRI) in the area of Structural Biology, Grant PID2019-104757RB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ and ERDF A way of making Europe, by the European Union and Grant PRE2020-093527 funded by MCIN/ AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by ESF Investing in your future. We also acknowledge support from Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid through Grant: S2017/BMD-3817, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (project IMPaCT-Data, exp. IMP/ 00019), co-funded by the European Union, European Regional Development Fund (ERDF, A way to make Europe), and European Union (EU) and Horizon 2020 through grants: EOSC Life (INFRAEOSC-04-2018, Proposal: 824087), HighResCells (ERC- 2018- SyG, Proposal: 810057), IMpaCT (WIDESPREAD-03-2018Proposal: 857203), EOSC- Synergy (EINFRA-EOSC-5, Proposal: 857647), iNEXTDiscovery (Proposal: 871037), EnLaCES (H2020-MSCA-IF-2020, Proposal: 101024130).

Astringency is a highly complex sensation which involves multiple mechanisms occurring simultaneously, such as the interaction between flavan-3-ols and salivary proteins (SP). Moreover, astringency development can be affected by the presence of polysaccharides such as mannoproteins (MP). The aim of this work was to evaluate the molecular mechanisms whereby MP could modulate the astringency elicited by tannins, using a cell-based model of the oral epithelium (TR146 cells), and the effect of salivary proteins on these interactions. The binding of flavan-3-ols to oral cells was evaluated by DMACA assay, while the content of unbound flavan-3-ols after the interactions was assessed by means of HPLC-DAD-MS. Results obtained confirm the existence of cell-tannin interactions, that can be partially inhibited by the presence of SP and/or MP. The most significant decrease was obtained in the system containing MPF (38.16%). Both mannoproteins assayed seem to have modulating effect on flavan-3-ol-SP interactions, acting by two different mechanisms: MPF would lead to the formation of SP/MPF/flavan-3-ols ternary soluble aggregates, while MPL seems to prevent flavan-3-ol-saliva interaction by a competitive mechanism, i.e., MPL would reduce cell-tannin interactions, similar to SP. This study suggests that mannoproteins with different compositional characteristics could exhibit preferential interaction with distinct flavan-3-ol families.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. Catheter ablation aims to restore sinus rhythm. However, relapses occur in up to 30% of patients. A Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) enriched with extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) substantially reduced the incidence of AF in the PREDIMED trial. The PREDIMAR will test a similar intervention in secondary prevention. Methods PREDIMAR is a multicenter, randomized, single-blind trial testing the effect of a MedDiet enriched with EVOO to reduce tachyarrhythmia relapses after AF ablation. The primary outcome is the recurrence of any sustained atrial tachyarrhythmia after ablation (excluding those occurring only during the first 3 months after ablation). The target final sample size is 720 patients (360 per group) recruited from 4 Spanish hospitals. A remote intervention, maintained for 2 years, is delivered to the active intervention group including periodic phone calls by a dietitian and free provision of EVOO. The control group will receive delayed intervention after trial completion. Routine electrocardiogram (ECG) and Holter ECG are performed, and a portable cardiac rhythm monitoring device is provided to be worn by participants during 15 months. Results Recruitment started in March 2017. Up to July 2019, 609 patients were randomized (average inclusion rate: 5.3 patients/wk). Retention rates after 18 months are >94%. Conclusions If our hypothesis is confirmed, the utility of the MedDiet enriched with EVOO in slowing the progression of AF will be proven, preventing recurrences and potentially reducing complications.

Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia (SCZ) is a core feature, relevant for the disease prognosis and functional capacity of the patients. It has also been identified as an endophenotype and proposed as a genetic mechanism of risk for schizophrenia.We aimed to evaluate the association of genetic variants in COMT, PRODH, and DISC1 with the cognitive performance of Mexican-Mestizo adult patients with SCZ in order to identify endophenotypes.The association of seven variants in COMT, 15 in PRODH, and three in DISC1 was evaluated in 150 patients and 150 control volunteers. The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery was administered to a subset of 44 patients and 42 controls.COMT rs4633 was related to MATRICS global assessment, while in the multi-phenotype analysis, PRODH rs2870984 was associated with processing speed, working memory, verbal learning, and social cognition. In addition, the association of variants in COMT and PRODH with the risk for SCZ was also found in Mexican-Mestizo patients.COMT might be a potential biomarker of cognitive impairment in Mexican-Mestizo patients with SCZ, supporting the relevance of this gene for drug design.

Low HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) is the most frequent dyslipidemia in Mexicans, but few studies have examined the underlying genetic basis. Our purpose was to identify genetic variants associated with HDL-C levels and cardiovascular risk in the Mexican population.A genome-wide association studies for HDL-C levels in 2335 Mexicans, identified four loci associated with genome-wide significance: CETP, ABCA1, LIPC, and SIDT2. The SIDT2 missense Val636Ile variant was associated with HDL-C levels and was replicated in 3 independent cohorts (P=5.9×10−18 in the conjoint analysis). The SIDT2/Val636Ile variant is more frequent in Native American and derived populations than in other ethnic groups. This variant was also associated with increased ApoA1 and glycerophospholipid serum levels, decreased LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and ApoB levels, and a lower risk of premature CAD. Because SIDT2 was previously identified as a protein involved in sterol transport, we tested whether the SIDT2/Ile636 protein affected this function using an in vitro site-directed mutagenesis approach. The SIDT2/Ile636 protein showed increased uptake of the cholesterol analog dehydroergosterol, suggesting this variant affects function. Finally, liver transcriptome data from humans and the Hybrid Mouse Diversity Panel are consistent with the involvement of SIDT2 in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism.This is the first genome-wide association study for HDL-C levels seeking associations with coronary artery disease in the Mexican population. Our findings provide new insight into the genetic architecture of HDL-C and highlight SIDT2 as a new player in cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism in humans.

Despite being frequently observed in cancer cells, chromosomal instability (CIN) and its immediate consequence, aneuploidy, trigger adverse effects on cellular homeostasis that need to be overcome by anti-stress mechanisms. As such, these safeguard responses represent a tumor-specific Achilles heel, since CIN and aneuploidy are rarely observed in normal cells. Recent data have revealed that epitranscriptomic marks catalyzed by RNA-modifying enzymes change under various stress insults. However, whether aneuploidy is associated with such RNA modifying pathways remains to be determined. Through an in silico search for aneuploidy biomarkers in cancer cells, we found TRMT61B, a mitochondrial RNA methyltransferase enzyme, to be associated with high levels of aneuploidy. Accordingly, TRMT61B protein levels are increased in tumor cell lines with an imbalanced karyotype as well as in different tumor types when compared to control tissues. Interestingly, while TRMT61B depletion induces senescence in melanoma cell lines with low levels of aneuploidy, it leads to apoptosis in cells with high levels. The therapeutic potential of these results was further validated by targeting TRMT61B in transwell and xenografts assays. We show that TRM61B depletion reduces the expression of several mitochondrial encoded proteins and limits mitochondrial function. Taken together, these results identify a new biomarker of aneuploidy in cancer cells that could potentially be used to selectively target highly aneuploid tumors.

This paper presents the processing and properties of Ti6Al4V/xTa porous materials for potential use as bone implants. The processing route includes powder mixing, die pressing and solid state sintering. The porosity was created by 30 or 40 vol.% of salt particles with controlled volume fraction and size distribution, acting as space holders. The microstructure of the sintered materials was characterized by SEM and microtomography. Mechanical properties were deduced from simple compression tests, and permeability was evaluated by numerical simulations performed with real 3D microstructures. The obtained results showed various advantages of the fabricated materials. Their weight densities of the materials processed with 40 vol.% of salt particles were in the range of those of human bones. As a consequence of Ta diffusion, the final microstructures included Ta-stabilized β-Ti phase, conventional α-Ti phase, martensitic α′-Ti phase, and small residual Ta particles. Also, it was found that both Ta and salt additions reduced the Young’s modulus and the yield stress, while the permeability strongly increased with increasing vol.% of salt particles. Notably, the properties of the material processed with 30 vol.% of Ta particles and 40 vol.% of salt particles were close to those required for trabecular bone implants.

In 2011, the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) first published a clinical guideline of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and cancer. This guideline was updated in 2014, and since then, multiple studies and clinical trials have changed the landscape of the treatment and prophylaxis of VTE in cancer patients. To incorporate the most recent evidence, including data from direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) randomized clinical trials, SEOM presents a new update of the guideline.

This work presents a novel methodology to produce materials with specific properties by powder metallurgy. The fabricated implant prototype, based on Ti6Al4V powders, is composed of three different layers, one with high hardness, a core with large pores and the outer shell with smaller pore size. Interphase bonding was very good, mechanical properties are in the range of human bones and pore size distribution covers the whole range in order to enhance osseointegration. Permeability of the compact varies from the outer to the core with a fully connected porosity. The proposed methodology can benefit the fabrication of tuned materials for biomedical applications.

Characterizing the phase behavior of surfactants in solution is essential to their application on different industrial and research fields. Nowadays, the methodology to determine surfactant structural changes in solutions relies on measurements of bulk-solution properties, which frequently fail when working at highly low surfactant solution. Therefore, alternative strategies are required to accomplish such evaluations. Here, we demonstrate that electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) can be easily applied to characterize surfactant-phase behavior by monitoring structural modifications at the surfactant solution-electrode interface. A graphical analysis of EIS measurements in form of Bode-type diagrams allows obtaining two representative electrochemical parameters: the surfactant solution resistance and the characteristic time constant associated with the electrochemical double-layer formation, as a function of both temperature and surfactant concentration. These parameters are found to be correlated with the change on the surfactant phase and therefore, its detection is accurately performed even at low surfactant concentrations.

The steady and transient nonlinear rheological behaviors of dilute rod-like micellar solutions are predicted here with a particular case of the generalized Bautista–Manero–Puig (BMP) model that consists of the upper-convected Maxwell constitutive equation and a dissipative power-dependent kinetic equation, which takes into account the formation and disruption of shear-induced structures (SISs). This model has been derived using the extended irreversible thermodynamic (EIT) formalism. In steady shear, the model predicts a Newtonian region at low shear rates and a characteristic shear rate ( $$ {\dot{\upgamma}}_{\mathrm{c}} $$ ) at which shear thickening develops. In the shear thickening region, the model predicts either a reentrant zone, which is caused by multi-valued shear stresses when the data are collected with a shear stress-controlled mode or a continuous increase in the shear stress-shear rate flow curve, when the data are collected with a shear rate-controlled mode; in this region, two coexisting phases are predicted. The coexisting phases at the same shear rate in the two-phase envelope and the spinodal-like region were evaluated from the extended Maxwell equal-area criterion, which was calculated from the equal values of the two minima of the plot of the extended Gibbs free energy versus shear rate. At higher shear rates, the model predicts a transition to shear thinning, and under transient flows, an induction time and a saturation time are obtained from the predicted and the experimental data as detailed in the text. The magnitudes of both, the induction and the saturation times, diminish as the shear rate departs from $$ {\dot{\upgamma}}_{\mathrm{c}} $$ , but only the induction time decreases according to a power law with shear rate. The conditions under which these rheological responses arise are derived and justified in detail with the BMP model. The model predictions are compared with experimental data of two dilute micellar solutions. The model parameters were determined from a set of independent experiments without fitting.

Introduction: Speech perception in noise relies on the capacity of the auditory system to process complex sounds using sensory and cognitive skills. The possibility that these can be trained during adulthood is of special interest in auditory disorders, where speech in noise perception becomes compromised. Air traffic controllers (ATC) are constantly exposed to radio communication, a situation that seems to produce auditory learning. The objective of this study has been to quantify this effect. Subjects and Methods: 19 ATC and 19 normal hearing individuals underwent a speech in noise test with three signal to noise ratios: 5, 0 and −5 dB. Noise and speech were presented through two different loudspeakers in azimuth position. Speech tokes were presented at 65 dB SPL, while white noise files were at 60, 65 and 70 dB respectively. Results: Air traffic controllers outperform the control group in all conditions [P

In this work, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) is used to characterize transitional behavior of calf thymus DNA molecules as a function of DNA concentration (0.01 up to 2.5 mg mL−1) and temperature (10, 20, 30 and 40 °C) at a pH of 7.3. Here it is proposed a novel method able to analyze the temperature and concentration effects on polymeric molecules such as DNA in their different characteristic regimes, in which are present diverse chain interactions, through the electrochemical parameters provided by the EIS technique. The results obtained are interpreted in terms of an EIS classical analysis and a methodology similar to the one used in studies by oscillatory linear-rheology measurements, i.e. log–log Bode plots (real (Z′) and imaginary (-Z″) impedance components vs. ω), from which is possible to easily determine both impedance characteristic crossover frequency (ωc), and Zo, related to the solution resistance (Rs). It is possible to detect the overlap and the entanglement concentrations of the system, C* and Ce, respectively, from the analysis of Zo and the characteristic time-constant of the process τc (1/ωc) as a function of DNA concentration. The parameters Zo and τc exhibit three regimes according to a power law dependence with DNA concentration for all the studied temperatures. Once the scaling of the electrochemical parameters, Zo and τc, was established, it was possible to generalize an impedance transfer function for DNA adsorption process on platinum electrodes as a function of CDNA. This transfer function allows to predict the impedance behaviour at OCV for a chosen DNA concentration within a specific regime and to analyze theoretically the double-layer charging of the interface as a function of DNA concentration with only one impedance experiment.

Genome-wide association studies have identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near/in PNPLA3, NCAN, LYPLAL1, PPP1R3B, and GCKR genes associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) mainly in individuals of European ancestry. The aim of the study was to test whether these genetic variants and a genetic risk score (GRS) are associated with elevated liver fat content and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in Mexicans with morbid obesity.130 morbidly obese Mexican individuals were genotyped for six SNPs in/near PNPLA3, NCAN, LYPLAL1, PPP1R3B, and GCKR genes. Hepatic fat content [triglyceride (HTG) and total cholesterol (HTC)] was quantified directly in liver biopsies and NASH was diagnosed by histology. A GRS was tested for association with liver fat content and NASH using logistic regression models. In addition, 95 ancestry-informative markers were genotyped to estimate population admixture proportions.After adjusting for age, sex and admixture, PNPLA3, LYPLAL1, GCKR and PPP1R3B polymorphisms were associated with higher HTG content (P0.05 for PNPLA3, LYPLAL1, GCKR polymorphisms and P = 0.086 for PPP1R3B). The GRS was significantly associated with higher HTG and HTC content (P = 1.0 × 10(-4) and 0.048, respectively), steatosis stage (P = 0.029), and higher ALT levels (P = 0.002). Subjects with GRS ≥ 6 showed a significantly increased risk of NASH (OR = 2.55, P = 0.045) compared to those with GRS ≤ 5. However, the GRS did not predict NASH status, as AUC of ROC curves was 0.56 (P = 0.219).NAFLD associated loci in Europeans and a GRS based on these loci contribute to the accumulation of hepatic lipids and NASH in morbidly obese Mexican individuals.

Dynamic mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP) and grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MA) composites reinforced with acetylated wheat straw fibers (WSF) is reported in this work. The materials were prepared with different fiber particle sizes (40, 80 and 140 U.S. mesh) and at different fiber contents (5, 10 and 15 wt.%). The PP and PP-g-MA composites, where anhydride maleic (MA) was used as coupling agent, were obtained using a twin-screw extruder; whereas an injection-molding machine molded the composite pellets into testing specimens. To observe the morphology of the composites, micrographs were taken with an optical microscope. The Dynamic mechanical properties were analyzed using a torsional rheometer. The morphological analysis showed a high porous structure somehow similar to foamed materials. The storage modulus (G′) increased by increasing the fiber content, and decreased with fiber particle sizes for the PP composites. Meanwhile, the use of the coupling agent additive promoted a modulus increase due to higher fiber-polymer interaction, from better adhesion and chemical bonds formation between the fibers-coupling agent-PP.

In this study, a comparison of the photocatalytic activity efficiency of the catalysts WO3/TiO2, Fe2O3/TiO2, and TiO2 in the degradation of the herbicide 2,4-D and its main by-product (2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,4-DCP), under natural sunlight, visible, and UV light, was carried out. The catalysts were synthesized by the sol-gel method. All the catalysts showed anatase crystalline phase, and they exhibited similar values of band gap, specific surface area, and crystallite size; however, different photocatalytic activity was observed under the different light sources. Complete degradation of 2,4-D and near to 89% of mineralization using WO3/TiO2 and Fe2O3/TiO2 was achieved after 150 min under solar light, while using TiO2 sol-gel, lower degradation rate was obtained. By using artificial light (UV and visible lamp), the degradation and mineralization rates were lower than those obtained under natural sunlight. The produced 2,4-DCP intermediate was completely degraded after 240 min under sunlight only with the modified catalysts.

Unilateral subthalamotomy is an effective treatment for the cardinal motor features of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, non-motor changes possibly associated with right or left subthalamotomy remain unknown. Our aim was to assess cognitive, psychiatric and neuroimaging changes after treatment with unilateral subthalamotomy. Fourteen medicated patients with PD were evaluated before and after (mean 6 months after operation) unilateral subthalamotomy (5 right, 9 left). In addition to motor assessments, cognitive (global cognition and executive functions), psychiatric (apathy, depression, anxiety, mania, hypo- and hyperdopaminergic behaviours, impulsivity), quality of life evaluations and volume of lesions were obtained. After surgery, significant improvement of motor signs was observed. Unilateral subthalamotomy improved general cognitive status, but left subthalamotomy reduced semantic verbal fluency compared to the pre-operative state. Depression and quality of life were improved with both right and left subthalamotomy. However, hyper-emotionality was present after surgery and right subthalamotomy increased impulsivity and disinhibition (on NeuroPsychiatric Inventory and Ardouin Scale for Behaviour in PD), a result linked to larger lesion volumes. We conclude that unilateral subthalamotomy is effective for treating the cardinal motor features of PD and improves mood. Right subthalamotomy is associated with greater risk of impulsivity and disinhibition, while left subthalamotomy induces further impairment of semantic verbal fluency.

This work presents an original adsorption study of calf-thymus DNA molecules monitored by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) as a function of DNA concentration at a constant pH of 7.3 and room temperature (25 ± 1 °C). Since EIS measurements were carried out at open circuit potential, there was an adsorption process of DNA molecules at the electrode surface. This enabled C dl values to be obtained by using an equivalent circuit similar to the one proposed by Frumkin-Melik-Gaikazyan-Randles (FMGR). Values of optical film thickness ( d opt ) of adsorbed DNA molecules were estimated by using SPR measurements. The variations of the d opt as a function of DNA concentration (c DNA ) can be related to transitions in the structural arrangement of the electrochemical double-layer, presumably caused by DNA conformational changes observed at two critical c DNA , i.e. c* and c e , known as the overlap and entanglement concentrations, respectively. A linear behavior was observed in each regime, in which the relation between d op and c DNA followed the power law according to: dilute regime (c DNA d opt ∼ c DNA 0.20 , semi-dilute regime without entanglements (c* DNA e ): d opt ∼ c DNA 0.79 and semi-dilute regime with entanglements (c e DNA ): d opt ∼ c DNA 0.57 . Through d opt and C dl values, a dielectric constant behavior as a function of DNA concentration was obtained, showing DNA transitions passing from diluted, semi-diluted unentangled and semi-diluted entangled solutions.

Resumen Objetivo Estudiar la duracion de los registros cerebrales multiunitarios (RCM) en 20 anos de neurocirugias en trastornos del movimiento, asi como las veces en que fue necesario explorar todos los trayectos de los electrodos en las posiciones registradas simultaneamente (PRS) por grupos que usan registros cerebrales unitarios (RCU). Material y metodo Analisis estadistico descriptivo retrospectivo de la duracion de los RCM en 4.296 trayectos en 952 cirugias. Los criterios de exclusion fueron: trayectos con menos de 5 senales grabadas, o con senales con duracion diferente de los 2 s habituales, o cuando existieron situaciones no usuales, ni relacionadas con los RCM, asi como las primeras 20 cirugias de cada blanco quirurgico, resultando asi un total de 3.448 trayectos en 805 cirugias. Del total de 952 cirugias, se analiza ademas en cuantas de ellas fueron explorados todos los trayectos en las PRS de RCU. Resultados La media y su intervalo de confianza (p = 0,05) del tiempo por trayecto de RCM es 5,49 ± 0,16 min en cirugia en nucleo subtalamico; 8,82 ± 0,24 min en globo palido medial o interno; y 18,51 ± 1,31 min en nucleo ventral intermedio del talamo. Para la suma total de trayectos por cirugia, en el 75% de los casos el tiempo total es de menos de 39 min en nucleo subtalamico, casi 42 min en globo palido medial o interno y menos de 1 h y 17 min en nucleo ventral intermedio del talamo. En solo el 4,2% de las cirugias fueron explorados todos los trayectos en las PRS de RCU. Conclusiones El impacto de los RCM en el tiempo quirurgico es aceptable para esta guia en la localizacion objetiva de los blancos quirurgicos, sin tener que usar varios electrodos simultaneos, no todos imprescindibles en la mayoria de los casos, con menor riesgo asi para el paciente.

The aim of our study was to investigate two inter-related hypotheses about the role of the subthalamic nucleus. First that the subthalamic nucleus plays a role in adjusting response thresholds and speed-accuracy trade-offs and second that it is involved in reactive and proactive inhibition and conflict resolution. These were addressed by comparing the performance of 10 patients with Parkinson's disease treated with right subthalamotomy and 12 patients with left subthalamotomy, to 14 unoperated patients with Parkinson's disease and 23 age-matched healthy control participants on a conditional stop signal task and applying the drift diffusion model. Unilateral subthalamotomy significantly improved Parkinson's disease motor signs. Patients with right subthalamotomy had significantly faster Go reaction times with their contra-lesional hand than the unoperated patients and did not differ from the control participants, indicating their speed of response initiation was 'normalized'. However, operated patients made significantly more discrimination errors than unoperated patients and controls, suggesting that subthalamotomy influenced speed-accuracy trade-offs. This was confirmed by the drift diffusion model, revealing that while the unoperated patients had significantly lower drift rate and higher response thresholds than the control participants, the response thresholds for the operated groups did not differ from the controls and the patients with right subthalamotomy had a significantly higher drift rate than unoperated patients and similar to that of controls. The drift diffusion model further established that unlike the control participants, operated patients failed to show context-dependent strategic modulation of response thresholds. The patients with right subthalamotomy could not engage in late phase, fast inhibition of the response and showed minimal proactive inhibition when tested with the contra-lesional hand. These results provide strong evidence that the subthalamic nucleus is involved in response inhibition, in modulating the rate of information accumulation and the response threshold and influencing the balance between speed and accuracy of performance. Accordingly, the subthalamic nucleus can be considered a key component of the cerebral inhibitory network.

Unilateral radiofrequency subthalamotomy has been shown to improve the cardinal features of Parkinson’s disease (PD).1 However, this approach has not been widely employed because most surgical candidates require bilateral treatment such as deep brain stimulation. Here, we evaluated to what extent the therapeutic impact of unilateral radiofrequency subthalamotomy on the treated body side is maintained years after surgery. This is particularly relevant nowadays because of the newly developed technique of MRI-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MRIgFUS). This has been shown to effectively improve essential and parkinsonian tremor by thalamotomy2 and all cardinal features of PD in asymmetrical patients by subthalamotomy.3 See table 1 for demographic characteristics of the sample (n=7). All patients were recruited and operated on in the Centro Internacional de Restauracion Neurologica (CIREN), Havana (Cuba), between 2008 and 2010. Details of the surgical procedure and clinical evaluation have been given previously.1 The Movement Disorders Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) part III (Motor Part) was used for scoring. The specific impact of the lesion was evaluated by assessing the motor MDS-UPDRS score of the cardinal motor features for each body side (ie, 3.3 item for rigidity; 3.4–3.8 for bradykinesia and 3.15–3.17 for tremor). Patients were examined in the off medication state (12–18 hours of drug withdrawal) and subsequently re-evaluated after taking their usual levodopa dose. The same neurologists evaluated the patients reported here throughout the study period. View this table: Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients with PD treated with unilateral subthalamotomy The …

The shear thickening behavior of micellar solutions made with homologous cetyltrimethylammonium (CTA) fluorobenzoate (FB) surfactants, in which the fluor is located in the 2-(CTA2FB), 3-(CTA3FB) or 4-position (CTA4FB) of the counterion aromatic ring, is studied here. In the temperature and range studied, the aqueous solutions made with CTA2FB do not exhibit shear thickening because 2FB is more kosmotropic than the 3FB and 4FB counterions, and larger shear rates than the ones covered here are needed to observed shear thickening in the CTA2FB system. CTA3FB and CTA4FB aqueous solutions undergo the shear thickening transition due to the formation of shear induced structures ( SIS ) in the shear range studied. The shear thickening transition in CTA3FB micellar solutions is stronger and appears at lower shear rates than that detected in CTA4FB ones; in addition, the intensity of shear thickening in both systems augments as the parallel-plates gap is increased. These discrepancies detected between the three surfactants studied are related to the differences among the counterion hydrophobicity i.e., 3FB − > 4FB − > 2FB − . Moreover, the penetration of the counterions into the core and charge neutralization of the surface of the surfactant aggregates induces micellar growth according to the Hofmeister-like anion series.

The effect of a turbulence inhibitor and a curtain of rising bubbles on the flow pattern inside a continuous casting tundish have been experimentally evaluated using a water model. Water experiments were conducted using a two-fifths scale model of a typical strand tundish. Unlike previous studies, residence time distribution (RTD) curves were experimentally obtained in this work by first injecting a step change of an inert tracer (an aqueous NaCl solution) into the inlet stream and then detecting the response of the tracer inside the tundish at different water depths right above the outlet nozzle. A statistical expression based on the random walk model was used to represent and interpret the resulting experimental RTD curves in terms of the mean residence time θm and the Bodenstein or dispersion number Bo.On a evalue experimentalement l’effet d’un inhibiteur de turbulence et d’un rideau de bulles ascendantes sur la configuration de l’ecoulement dans un panier de coulee continue en utilisant un mod...

SUMMARYEntamoeba histolyticais the causative agent of amoebic liver abscess (ALA), which course with an uncontrolled inflammation and nitro-oxidative stresses, although it is well known that amoeba has an effective defence mechanisms against this toxic environment, the underlying molecular factors responsible for progression of tissue damage remain largely unknown. The purpose of the present study was to determine during the acute stage of ALA in hamsters, the involvement of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), which are activated in response to oxidative stress. From 12 h post-infection the ALA was visible, haematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome stains were consistent with these observations, and alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase serum activities were increased too. At 48 h after infection, liver glycogen content was significantly reduced. Western blot analyses showed that 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal peaked at 12 h, while glycogen synthase kinase-3β, cleaved caspase-3, pNF-κB, interleukin-1β and tumour necrosis factor-α were overexpressed from 12 to 48 h post-infection. Otherwise, Nrf2 and superoxide dismutase-1, decreased at 48 h and catalase declined at 36 and 48 h. Furthermore, heme oxygenase-1 was increased at 12 and 24 h and decreased to normal levels at 36 and 48 h. These findings suggest for the first time that the host antioxidant system of Nrf2 is influenced during ALA.

Proximate, thermal, morphological and rheological properties of canned “negro Querétaro” bean pastes, as a function of fat content (0, 2 and 3 %) and temperature (60, 70 and 85 °C), were evaluated. Raw and precooked bean pastes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Well-defined starch granules in the raw bean pastes were observed, whereas a gelatinized starch paste was observed for the canned bean pastes. The DSC analysis showed that the raw bean pastes had lower onset peak temperatures (79 °C, 79.1 °C) and gelatinization enthalpy (1.940 J/g), compared to that precooked bean pastes (70.4 °C, 75.7 °C and 1.314 J/g, respectively) thermal characteristics. Moreover, the dynamic rheological results showed a gel-like behavior for the canned bean pastes, where the storage modulus (G′) was frequency independent and was higher than the loss modulus (G″). The non-linear rheological results exhibited a shear-thinning flow behavior, where the steady shear-viscosity was temperature and fat content dependent. For canned bean pastes, the shear-viscosity data followed a power law equation, where the power law index (n) decreased when the temperature and the fat content increased. The temperature effect on the shear-viscosity was described by an Arrhenius equation, where the activation energy (Ea) was in the range from 19.04 to 36.81 KJ/mol. This rheological behavior was caused by gelatinization of the starch during the cooking and sterilization processes, where starch-lipids and starch-proteins complex were formed.

The aggregation properties of 2-, 3-, and 4-fluorobenzoic acids (2FBA, 3FBA, and 4FBA, respectively) and their salts with hexadecyltrimethylammonium cations (HTA2FB, HTA3FB, and HTA4FB) in water were studied with a battery of techniques. Their activity at the air/solution interface has been also studied. The position of the fluorine atom in the acid affected the solubility, adsorption, and aggregation in the pure acids solutions. The 4FBA is less water soluble, more hydrophobic, and has the lower critical aggregation concentration of the three isomers. The behavior of the HTA2FB compound in aqueous solution is different from that of HTA3FB and HTA4FB. The critical micelle concentration, critical concentration for sphere-to-rod-like micelle transition, and Krafft point of HTA3FB and HTA4FB are lower than those of the other surfactant but their surface activities are higher. The differences between the HTA2FB and the other two surfactants have been explained on the basis of the regular solution theory of mixed micelles and in light of the analysis of the hydration shell of the acids through molecular dynamic simulations. The results of the present work suggest that the different behaviors are due to a combination of different dehydration tendencies and the steric possibility of inclusion of the counterions in the micelle palisade layer. The formation of rod-like micelles by HTA2FB, while the tetradecyltrimethylammonium 2-fluorobenzoate only forms spherical aggregates, is explained on the basis of the packing parameter. The mentioned factors are complementary to others presented in literature. These conditions may be used in the rational design of micelles by means of molecular dynamics simulations, reducing the trial-and-error approach used to date.

The shear thickening behavior and the transition to shear thinning are examined in dilute cetyltrimethylammonium tosylate (CTAT) micellar solutions as a function of surfactant concentration and ionic strength using electrolytes with different counterion valence. Newtonian behavior at low shear rates, followed by shear thickening and shear thinning at higher shear rates, are observed at low and intermediate surfactant and electrolyte concentrations. Shear thickening diminishes with increasing surfactant concentration and ionic strength. At higher surfactant or electrolyte concentration, only a Newtonian region followed by shear thinning is detected. A generalized flow diagram indicates two controlling regimes: one in which electrostatic screening dominates and induces micellar growth, and another, at higher electrolyte and surfactant concentrations, where chemical equilibrium among electrolyte and surfactant counterions controls the rheological behavior by modifying micellar breaking and reforming. Analysis of the shear thickening behavior reveals that not only a critical shear rate is required for shear thickening, but also a critical deformation, which appears to be unique for all systems examined, within experimental error. Moreover, a superposition of the critical shear rate for shear thickening with surfactant and electrolyte concentration is reported.

Recent imaging studies in healthy controls with a conditional stop signal reaction time (RT) task have implicated the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in response inhibition and the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) in conflict resolution. Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by striatal dopamine deficiency and overactivity of the STN and underactivation of the pre-SMA during movement. We used the conditional stop signal RT task to investigate whether PD produced similar or dissociable effects on response initiation, response inhibition and response initiation under conflict. In addition, we also examined inhibition of prepotent responses on three cognitive tasks: the Stroop, random number generation and Hayling sentence completion. PD patients were impaired on the conditional stop signal reaction time task, with response initiation both in situations with or without conflict and response inhibition all being significantly delayed, and had significantly greater difficulty in suppressing prepotent or habitual responses on the Stroop, Hayling and random number generation tasks relative to controls. These results demonstrate the existence of a generalized inhibitory deficit in PD, which suggest that PD is a disorder of inhibition as well as activation and that in situations of conflict, executive control over responses is compromised.

Background Focal thalamic lesions have been associated with a variety of involuntary movements such as tremor, dystonia, and chorea-ballism. Methods We describe a patient with severe hyperkinesias of the right arm secondary to a thalamic infarction in the left postero-ventral region of the thalamus. Results The dystonia and tremor of the right upper limb were subsequently controlled with another surgical lesion of the ventralis intermedius nucleus of the thalamus. Conclusion This observation suggests that ablative surgery might be applied to treat a movement disorder induced by the lesion of the same nucleus, which in addition lead to interesting pathophysiological conjectures. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society

The phase and rheological behavior of hexadecyl(trimethyl)azanium; 2-hydroxybenzoate (CTAS), and water as a function of surfactant concentration and temperature are investigated here. The critical micellization concentration (cmc(1)) and the concentration at which the structure of aggregates changes (cmc(2)) as well as the Krafft temperature (T(K)) are reported. A large micellar solution region exhibiting high viscosity, as well as hexagonal- and lamellar-phase regions were identified. In the dilute region, below the overlapping entanglement concentration (C*), the micellar solutions exhibit shear thickening. Above C*, wormlike micelles form and the solutions show strong viscoelasticity with Maxwell behavior in the linear regime and shear banding flow in the non-linear regime. The linear viscoelastic regime was analyzed with the Granek-Cates model, showing that the relaxation is controlled by the kinetics of reformation-and-scission of the micelles. The steady response in the non-linear regime is compared with the predictions of the Bautista-Manero-Puig (BMP) and the Giesekus models.

Se realizó una revisión sobre las infecciones del aparato genital femenino específicamente de vaginosis, cervicitis y enfermedad pelviana inflamatoria, patologías que en la actualidad constituyen un serio problema de salud pública, al ser uno de los principales motivos de consulta más frecuente en mujeres en edad fértil. La vaginosis bacteriana es un problema de salud ampliamente difundido, con múltiples connotaciones. Ha sido objeto de gran cantidad de estudios y trabajos desde hace décadas y aun en la actualidad sigue siendo una entidad polémica y de resultados contradictorios. La cervicitis es una de las afecciones más frecuentes en ginecología, llega a observarse en el 50 % de las mujeres que han tenido parto, y muchas veces son el punto de partida de la infección hacia localizaciones más altas. En ésta existe una infección activa, generalmente extendida a la vagina y/o al cuerpo uterino, que puede ser causada por diferentes gérmenes. La enfermedad pélvica inflamatoria engloba a las infecciones del tracto genital superior femenino. La importancia del diagnóstico precoz y su tratamiento adecuado reside tanto por las complicaciones en la fase aguda como por las secuelas, que incluyen el dolor crónico y la esterilidad. Todas las infecciones del aparato genital femenino presentan una sintomatología que puede ser común, como disuria, polaquiuria, prurito vulvar, dispareunia y leucorrea. Resulta muy difícil distinguir dichas infecciones entre sí solo sobre la base de la sintomatología, siendo absolutamente necesario fundamentarse en la exploración y el estudio microbiológico para establecer el diagnóstico.

Background: Stereotactic thermocoagulative lesions of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) have been shown to induce significant motor improvement in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Patients and methods: 89 patients with PD were treated with unilateral subthalamotomy. 68 patients were available for evaluations after 12 months, 36 at 24 months and 25 at 36 months. Results: The Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor scores improved significantly contralaterally to the lesion in the “off” and “on” states throughout the follow-up, except for the “on” state at the last evaluation. Axial features and signs ipsilateral to the lesion progressed steadily throughout the study. Levodopa daily doses were significantly reduced by 45%, 36% and 28% at 12, 24 and 36 months post-surgery. 14 patients (15%) developed postoperative hemichorea-ballism which required pallidotomy in eight. These 14 patients had significantly higher dyskinesia scores (levodopa induced) preoperatively than the entire cohort. Conclusion: Unilateral subthalamotomy was associated with significant and sustained motor benefit contralateral to the lesion. Further work is needed to ascertain what factors led to severe, persistent chorea-ballism in a subset of patients. Subthalamotomy may be considered an option in circumstances when deep brain stimulation is not viable.