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Brycon amazonicus is a species native to Brazil, with significant socioeconomic importance and immense potential for fish production. It is the second most cultivated species in the Amazon. The lack of specific molecular markers limits genetic research. This study aimed to identify species-specific microsatellite markers for B. amazonicus and analyze the genetic diversity of four fish farms: Nova Mutum, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisa da Amazônia, Jatuarana, and Nova Airão. In addition, the transferability of these markers to species of the same genus (B. orbignyanus, B. falcatus, and B. gouldingi) was evaluated. Seventeen primer pairs were developed using the enriched library method. Eight of these were used for the genetic analysis of B. amazonicus stocks. In total, 47 alleles were identified. The mean endogamy coefficient (FIS) was negative and significant for Nova Mutum stocks. However, the populations of B. amazonicus in Instituto Nacional de Pesquisa da Amazônia (0.179), Jatuarana (0.099), and Nova Airão were positive and nonsignificant. Analysis of molecular variance showed that most of the variation was observed within the populations evaluated (57%), and genetic differentiation (FST = 0.423) among the stocks was high. Bayesian analysis indicated that the best number of genetic clusters was K = 3. Transferability testing showed successful amplification (90%) of the primers by estimating the allele size between 144 and 294 base pairs (bp) and a total of 24 alleles for the related Brycon species. This indicates the high potential of microsatellites for the analysis of diversity and population genetic structure in both the genus Brycon and family Characidae.

The system of polysaccharides from Schizymenia dubyi (Nemastomatales) was investigated. It contains a mixture of hybrid dl galactans (SH-S) and carrageenan-like polysaccharides, which were separated by means of precipitation with KCl at high concentrations. The structural features of the carrageenan-like fraction (SH-I) were investigated by methylation analysis, desulfation, uronic acid reduction, and NMR spectroscopy. It was concluded that the structure has the typical alternance α-(1 → 3), β-(1 → 4) of d-galactose units, with most of the 3-linked units sulfated in O-2 (and some in O-4), and most of the 4-linked units sulfated in O-3, and substituted in O-2 by single stubs of β-d-glucuronic acid (partly sulfated in each of the three available positions). This substituent has been only seldom found in red seaweed galactans. Rheological studies of 5 % and 10 % w/v SH, SH-S and SH-I aqueous systems, either without ions, or in KCl or CaCl 2 solution gave thickening behaviors. Their random coil conformations justify the pseudoplastic behavior observed in the viscosity versus shear rate curves. As SH-S and SH-I are both contained in SH, an interpenetrating network could form in SH between the glucurono-carrageenan and the agaran, as inferred from the mechanical spectra recorded in water, especially with potassium ion., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Carlos Stortz reports financial support and administrative support were provided by University of Buenos Aires. Carlos A. Stortz reports a relationship with University of Buenos Aires that includes: employment, funding grants, and non-financial support. No conflict of interest If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To determine whether the application of continuous lateral trunk support forces during walking would improve trunk postural control and improve gait performance in children with CP., Materials and Methods: Nineteen children with spastic CP participated in this study (8 boys; mean age 10.6 ± 3.4 years old). Fourteen of them were tested in the following sessions: 1) walking on a treadmill without force for 1-min (baseline), 2) with lateral trunk support force for 7-min (adaptation), and 3) without force for 1-min (post-adaptation). Overground walking pre/post treadmill walking. Five of them were tested using a similar protocol but without trunk support force (i.e., control)., Results: Participants from the experimental group showed enhancement in gait phase dependent muscle activation of rectus abdominis in late adaptation period compared to baseline (P = 0.005), which was retained during the post-adaptation period (P = 0.036), reduced variability of the peak trunk oblique angle during the late post-adaptation period (P = 0.023), and increased overground walking speed after treadmill walking (P = 0.032). Participants from the control group showed modest changes in kinematics and EMG during treadmill and overground walking performance. These results suggest that applying continuous lateral trunk support during walking is likely to induce learning of improved trunk postural control in children with CP, which may partially transfer to overground walking, although we do not have a firm conclusion due to the small sample size in the control group., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Arabinoglucuronoxylans obtained from the exudate of Cercidium praecox (Brea gum) were subjected to an amidation reaction to modulate their flow behavior to obtain a product with similar behavior to gum Arabic. The amidation reaction of the uronic acids present in this exudate was studied using the 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) system with the aim of maximizing product yield and minimizing by-product. An analysis of the significant factors involved in the reaction was carried out and a response surface methodology was conducted to optimize the stoichiometry of the reagents used. It was possible to obtain models for predicting the degree of amidation (DA) of arabinoglucuronoxylans and the formation of by-products. The formation of a secondary product derived from the amino acid β-alanine which has not been reported previously in the reaction with polysaccharides, was described. The flow behavior of an amidated product (DA = 52 %) was determined, showing a pseudoplastic behavior and a decreased Newtonian viscosity (η 0  = 36.2 Pa s) at the lowest shear rate range with respect to native product solution (η 0  = 115 Pa s). Amidated arabinoglucuronoxylans had a flow behavior more similar to that of gum Arabic., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Protein language models have been tested and proved to be reliable when used on curated datasets but have not yet been applied to full proteomes. Accordingly, we tested how two different machine learning-based methods performed when decoding functional information from the proteomes of selected model organisms. We found that protein language models are more precise and informative than deep learning methods for all the species tested and across the three gene ontologies studied, and that they better recover functional information from transcriptomic experiments. The results obtained indicate that these language models are likely to be suitable for large-scale annotation and downstream analyses, and we recommend a guide for their use., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of NAR Genomics and Bioinformatics.)

Background: Simulation-based mastery learning (SBML) has demonstrated superiority as a procedural learning method. Implementation of SBML in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) education has not been described and there is a paucity of literature regarding standardized procedural learning in this specialty., Objective: To evaluate if implementation of intrathecal baclofen pump management SBML affects knowledge, attitudes, and skills in PM&R residents., Design: Pretest-posttest design., Setting: Academic rehabilitation hospital., Participants: Twenty-two PM&R residents., Interventions: Participants engaged in SBML steps: pre-test, demonstration of proper technique, deliberate practice, and a post-test., Main Outcome Measures: Ability to achieve minimum passing score, quiz scores, and survey scores. Pre- and post-test results were compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Post graduate year (PGY)-3 and PGY-4 resident results were compared using Mann-Whitney U tests., Results: Based on institutional expert consensus, a simulation procedural checklist was created with a minimum passing score set at correctly performing 30 of 31 items. On pre-test, no learners achieved the minimum passing score (22.5, interquartile range [IQR] 17.0-23.0). Initial post-test score for all learners was 30 (IQR 29.8-31.0). Six learners required additional attempts to reach mastery as defined by reaching the minimum passing score. Quiz scores significantly improved from 9 to 11 (pre-test IQR 9-10; post-test IQR 10-11; p < .05). Confidence in procedure significantly improved (pre-test 2.7/5.9, IQR 2.2-3.8; post-test 4.1/5.0, IQR 3.7-4.5; p < .01). Likelihood to perform procedure in future practice did not change (pre-test 2.2, IQR 1.0-3.8; post-test 3.0, IQR 1.0-4.0; p = .89)., Conclusion: SBML is an effective tool to improve multiple domains of learning in PM&R residents., (© 2023 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.)

Objective: Spasticity is a challenging feature of cerebral palsy (CP) that may be managed with selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR). Although standard work tools (SWTs) have recently been utilized to inform a standard of care for neurosurgical procedures, no SWTs for SDR have been previously described. The authors present the multidisciplinary approach SWTs for SDR used at their institutions to promote consistency in the field and minimize complication rates., Methods: A multidisciplinary approach was used to define all steps in the SDR pathway. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative workflows were synthesized, with specific efforts to improve mobility through inpatient rehabilitation and minimize infection., Results: The SWTs have been implemented at two institutions for 7 years. An illustrative case of a patient aged 3 years 10 months with a history of premature birth at 29 weeks, spastic-diplegic CP, right-sided periventricular leukomalacia, and developmental delay who underwent L2-S1 SDR is presented., Conclusions: The authors detail SWTs for SDR developed by a multidisciplinary team with specific steps at all points in the patient pathway. The illustrative case emphasizes that SWTs may help ensure the safety of SDR while maximizing its long-term efficacy for individuals with CP.

The purpose of this study was to examine kinematic and neuromuscular responses of the head and body to pelvis perturbations with different intensities and frequencies during sitting astride in children with CP. Sixteen children with spastic CP (mean age 7.4 ± 2.4 years old) were recruited in this study. A custom designed cable-driven robotic horse was used to apply controlled force perturbations to the pelvis during sitting astride. Each participant was tested in four force intensity conditions (i.e., 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% of body weight (BW), frequency = 1 Hz), and six force frequency conditions (i.e., 0.5 Hz, 1 Hz, 1.5 Hz, 2 Hz, 2.5 Hz, and 3 Hz, intensity = 20% of BW). Each testing session lasted for one minute with a one-minute rest break inserted between two sessions. Kinematic data of the head, trunk, and legs were recorded using wearable sensors, and EMG signals of neck, trunk, and leg muscles were recorded. Children with CP showed direction-specific trunk and neck muscle activity in response to the pelvis perturbations during sitting astride. Greater EMG activities of trunk and neck muscles were observed for the greater intensities of force perturbations (P < .05). Participants also showed enhanced activation of antagonistic muscles rather than direction-specific trunk and neck muscle activities for the conditions of higher frequency perturbations (P < .05). Children with CP may modulate trunk and neck muscle activities in response to greater changes in intensity of pelvis perturbation during sitting astride. Perturbations with too high frequency may be less effective in inducing direction-specific trunk and neck muscle activities., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The liver circulatory system comprises two blood supply vascular trees (the hepatic artery and portal venous networks), microcirculation through the hepatic capillaries (the sinusoids), and a blood drainage vascular tree (the hepatic vein network). Vasculature changes due to fibrosis -located predominantly at the microcirculation level- lead to a marked increase in resistance to flow causing an increase in portal pressure (portal hypertension). Here, we present a liver fibrosis/cirrhosis model. We build on our 1D model of the healthy hepatic circulation, which considers the elasticity of the vessels walls and the pulsatile character of blood flow and pressure, and recreate the deteriorated liver vasculature due to fibrosis. We emulate altered sinusoids by fibrous tissue (stiffened, compressed and splitting) and propose boundary conditions to investigate the impact of fibrosis on hemodynamic variables within the organ. We obtain that the sinusoids stiffness leads to changes in the amplitude and shape of the blood flow and pressure waveforms but not in their mean value. For the compressed and splitting sinusoids, we observe significant increases in the mean value and amplitude of the pressure waveform in the altered sinusoids and in the portal venous network. In other words, we obtain the portal hypertension clinically observed in fibrotic/cirrhotic patients. We also study the extent of the spreading fibrosis by performing the structural fibrotic changes in an increasingly number of sinusoids. Finally, we calculate the portal pressure gradient (PPG) in the model and obtain values in agreement with those reported in the literature for fibrotic/cirrhotic patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the effects of bilateral trunk support during walking on trunk and leg kinematics and neuromuscular responses in children with cerebral palsy., Design: Fourteen children with spastic cerebral palsy (Gross Motor Function Classification System level I to III) participated in this study. Children walked on a treadmill under four different conditions, that is, without support (Baseline), with bilateral support applied to the upper trunk (upper trunk support), the lower trunk (lower trunk support), and combined upper and lower trunk (combined trunk support). The trunk and leg kinematics and muscle activity were recorded., Results: Providing bilateral support to the trunk had a significant impact on the displacement of the pelvis and trunk ( P < 0.003) during walking. Children's weaker leg showed greater step length ( P = 0.032) and step height ( P = 0.012) in combined trunk support compared with baseline and greater step length in upper trunk support ( P = 0.02) and combined trunk support ( P = 0.022) compared with lower trunk support. Changes in soleus electromyographic activity during stance phase of gait mirrored the changes in step length across all conditions., Conclusions: Providing bilateral upper or combined upper and lower trunk support during walking may induce improvements in gait performance, which may be due to improved pelvis kinematics. Improving trunk postural control may facilitate walking in children with cerebral palsy., Competing Interests: Financial disclosure statements have been obtained, and no conflicts of interest have been reported by the authors or by any individuals in control of the content of this article., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Antioxidants are chemicals used to protect foods from deterioration by neutralizing free radicals and inhibiting the oxidative process. One approach to investigate the antioxidant activity is to develop quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs)., Results: A curated database of 165 structurally heterogeneous phenolic compounds with the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) was developed. Molecular geometries were optimized by means of the GFN2-xTB semiempirical method and diverse molecular descriptors were obtained afterwards. For model development, V-WSP unsupervised variable reduction was used before performing the genetic algorithms-variable subset selection (GAs-VSS) to construct the best five-descriptor multiple linear regression model. The coefficient of determination and the root mean square error were used to measure the performance in calibration (R 2  = 0.789 and RMSEC = 0.381), and test set prediction (Q 2  = 0.748 and RMSEP = 0.416), along several cross-validation criteria. To thoroughly understand the TEAC prediction, a fully explained mechanism of action of the descriptors is provided. In addition, the applicability domain of the model defined a theoretical chemical space for reliable predictions of new phenolic compounds., Conclusion: This in silico model conforms to the five principles stated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The model might be useful for virtual screening of the antioxidant chemical space and for identifying the most potent molecules related to an experimental measurement of TEAC activity. In addition, the model could assist chemists working on computer-aided drug design for the synthesis of new targets with improved activity and potential uses in food science. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: Renal hypertension causes left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy leading to cardiomyopathy. Nephrectomy has been utilized to improve blood pressure and prepare for kidney transplantation in the pediatric population. We sought to investigate antihypertensive medication (AHM) requirement and LV mass in patients undergoing nephrectomy with renal hypertension., Methods: We performed a single institution retrospective review from 2009 to 2021 of children who have undergone nephrectomy for hypertension. Primary outcome was decrease in number of AHM. Secondary outcomes included change in LV mass and elimination of AHM. LV mass was measured using echocardiogram area-length and linear measurements. Non-parametric analyses were utilized to assess significance., Results: Thirty-one patients underwent nephrectomy. Median age was 12.5 years (0.8-19 years). Median of 3 AHM (range 1-5 medications) were used pre-operatively and patients had been managed for median 2.5 years. Twenty-nine had preoperative echocardiogram. Forty-eight percent of patients had LVH at nephrectomy. Median AHM after surgery was 1 (range 0-4 medications) at 30 days and 12 months, (p < 0.001). By 12 months after nephrectomy, 79.2% of patients had decreased the number of AHM. Eight (26%) patients were on no AHM 30 days after surgery, and 13 (43%) at 12 months. Systemic vascular disease and multicystic dysplastic kidney were the only factors associated with lack of improvement in AHM (p = 0.040). Fourteen patients had pre- and post-operative echocardiogram and 11 (79%) had improvement in LV mass (p = 0.016, 0.035)., Conclusions: Nephrectomy is effective in improving LV mass and reducing AHM for children with renal hypertension. Improvement is less likely in patients with systemic vascular disease and multicystic dysplastic kidneys. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Pediatric Nephrology Association.)

Dried and milled eggplant fruit peel and calyces (PC) and mesocarp, placenta and core (Mes) were utilized as natural sources of valuable chemicals. Pectins were extracted with 0.1 M Na 2 CO 3 (1 h; 23 °C). A high-power ultrasound (US) pretreatment (10 min net time; 12.76 W/cm 2 power intensity) in 10:200 (g/mL) powder:water ratio led to the lowest solvent and energy consumptions after the subsequent 0.1 M Na 2 CO 3 stirring, permitting the highest recoveries of uronic acid (UA) from PC and Mes (80.25 and 93.8 %, respectively). Homogalacturonans (>65 % w/w UA) of low degree of methylesterification, of acetylation, and 90,214-138,184 Da molecular weights with low polydispersity (≈1.32-1.40) were obtained. They included released ferulate (≈3.5 mg/100 g) esterified pectins. Antioxidants (caffeoylquinic acid, putrescine and spermidine derivatives, β-carotene, lutein) gave additional technological value to their thickening effect as pectins protected tryptophan, tyrosine, alkyl side chains and sulfhydryl of skim milk proteins from UV-C photo-oxidation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Mutations of the androgen receptor (AR) associated with prostate cancer and androgen insensitivity syndrome may profoundly influence its structure, protein interaction network, and binding to chromatin, resulting in altered transcription signatures and drug responses. Current structural information fails to explain the effect of pathological mutations on AR structure-function relationship. Here, we have thoroughly studied the effects of selected mutations that span the complete dimer interface of AR ligand-binding domain (AR-LBD) using x-ray crystallography in combination with in vitro, in silico, and cell-based assays. We show that these variants alter AR-dependent transcription and responses to anti-androgens by inducing a previously undescribed allosteric switch in the AR-LBD that increases exposure of a major methylation target, Arg 761 . We also corroborate the relevance of residues Arg 761 and Tyr 764 for AR dimerization and function. Together, our results reveal allosteric coupling of AR dimerization and posttranslational modifications as a disease mechanism with implications for precision medicine.

The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a ubiquitously expressed transcription factor that controls metabolic and homeostatic processes essential for life. Although numerous crystal structures of the GR ligand-binding domain (GR-LBD) have been reported, the functional oligomeric state of the full-length receptor, which is essential for its transcriptional activity, remains disputed. Here we present five new crystal structures of agonist-bound GR-LBD, along with a thorough analysis of previous structural work. We identify four distinct homodimerization interfaces on the GR-LBD surface, which can associate into 20 topologically different homodimers. Biologically relevant homodimers were identified by studying a battery of GR point mutants including crosslinking assays in solution, quantitative fluorescence microscopy in living cells, and transcriptomic analyses. Our results highlight the relevance of non-canonical dimerization modes for GR, especially of contacts made by loop L1-3 residues such as Tyr545. Our work illustrates the unique flexibility of GR's LBD and suggests different dimeric conformations within cells. In addition, we unveil pathophysiologically relevant quaternary assemblies of the receptor with important implications for glucocorticoid action and drug design., (Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research 2022.)

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of CT-based lung pathological opacities volume on critical illness and inflammatory response severity of patients with COVID-19., Methods: A retrospective, single center, single arm study was performed over a 30-day period. In total, 138 patients (85.2%) met inclusion criteria. All patients were evaluated with non-contrast enhanced chest CT scan at hospital admission. CT-based lung segmentation was performed to calculate pathological lung opacities volume (LOV). At baseline, complete blood count (CBC) and inflammation response biomarkers were obtained. The primary endpoint of the study was the occurrence of critical illness, as defined as, the need of mechanical ventilation and/or ICU admission. Mann-Whitney U test was performed for univariate analysis. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent predictors of critical illness. Spearman analysis was performed to assess the correlation between inflammatory response biomarkers serum concentrations and LOV., Results: Median LOV was 28.64% (interquartile range [IQR], 6.33-47.22%). Correlation analysis demonstrated that LOV was correlated with higher levels of D-dimer (r = 0.51, p < 0.01), procalcitonin (r = 0.47, p < 0.01) and IL6 (r = 0.48, p < 0.01). Critical illness occurred in 51 patients (37%). Univariate analysis demonstrated that inflammatory response biomarkers and LOV were associated with critical illness (p < 0.05). However, multivariate analysis demonstrated that only D-dimer and LOV were independent predictors of critical illness. Furthermore, a ROC analysis demonstrated that a LOV equal or greater than 60% had a sensitivity of 82.1% and specificity of 70.2% to determine critical illness with an odds ratio of 19.4 (95% CI, 4.2-88.9)., Conclusion: Critical illness may occur in up to 37% of the patients with COVID-19. Among patients with critical illness, higher levels of inflammatory response biomarkers with larger LOVs were observed. Furthermore, multivariate analysis demonstrated that pathological lung opacities volume was an independent predictor of critical illness. In fact, patients with a pathological lung opacities volume equal or greater than 60% had 19.4-fold increased risk of critical illness., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

The complexity and costs of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) have increased over the last decades with the popularization of unrelated donor (URD) transplantation and the introduction of haploidentical transplantation with posttransplant cyclophosphamide. Few studies have addressed this issue. The objective of this study was to analyze HCT costs in a single FACT-accredited private non-profit hospital. We included 79 patients who underwent HCT between 2018 and 2020. We have included all costs from admission day until D + 180. We used a lognormal regression. Median age was 53 y/o and most donors were unrelated (51%). Costs were higher with haploidentical donor (42%, p = 0.017, compared with URD), higher HCT-CI (15% for each point, p = 0.0056), and in patients with liver or gastrointestinal GVHD (45%, p = 0.033), and lower in patients who received CD34 > 2.5 × 10E6/kg (42%, p = 0.0038). We built a score based on the following risk factors: HCT-CI > 3, CD34 ≤ 2.5 × 10E6/kg, haploidentical donor, and donor age > 30 y/o. Patients with 2 + risk factors (N = 53) had a median cost of USD 226,156.00, compared with USD 93,048.00 in patients with zero or 1 point (N = 26, p < 0.0001). In summary, we have shown that HCT costs are higher with lower doses of CD34 cells, haploidentical HCT (provided that the costs of stem cell procurement and ATG are not included), and in patients with higher HCT-CI. Prospective and refined cost analyses comparing haploidentical and URD transplants, as well as effective strategies for patients with higher HCT-CI scores, are warranted. We found no difference in costs between URD and MSD transplantation., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Inflammation is known to disrupt normal behavior, yet the underlying neuroimmune interactions remain elusive. Here, we investigated whether inappropriate macrophage-evoked inflammation alters CNS control of daily-life animal locomotion using a set of zebrafish mutants selected for specific macrophage dysfunction and microglia deficiency. Large-scale genetic and computational analyses revealed that NOD-like receptor nlrc3l mutants are capable of normal motility and visuomotor response, but preferentially swim less in the daytime, suggesting possible low motivation rather than physical impairment. Examining their brain activities and structures implicates impaired dopaminergic descending circuits, where neutrophils abnormally infiltrate. Furthermore, neutrophil depletion recovered daytime locomotion. Restoring wild-type macrophages reversed behavioral and neutrophil aberrations, while three other microglia-lacking mutants failed to phenocopy nlrc3l mutants. Overall, we reveal how peripheral inflammatory macrophages with elevated pro-inflammatory cues (including il1β, tnfα, cxcl8a) in the absence of microglia co-opt neutrophils to infiltrate the brain, thereby potentially enabling local circuitry modulation affecting daytime locomotion., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Helianthus annuus L. seed hull is an abundant waste of the edible oil industry. To envisage potential applications of this waste, here, we aimed to analyze the chemical composition of milled sunflower hulls (SP), constituted mainly by 210 μm (51.4%) and 420 μm (27.6%) average mesh particle sizes. SP contained almost 30% of cellulose, 26.4% of lignin, 38.5% of neutral sugars, mainly hemicelluloses, and only 1.3% of proteins. The important lignin content and low pectin content (4.0% of uronic acids) present in SP were both ascribed to its low hydrophilic behavior and hydration capacity. Phenolic compounds were mostly proanthocyanidins (168 mg/100 g SP), with lower amounts of extractable (31.4 mg/100 g SP) phenolics ( O -caffeoylquinic acid), all of them associated with the DPPH radical scavenging capacity (95 mg ascorbic acid equiv./100 g) and ferric reducing power (FRAP: 152 mg ascorbic acid equiv./100 g) shown by SP. Esterified ferulic acid (52.9 mg/100 g SP) was also found, mostly as monomers and trimers. SP of 53 μm particle size was then assayed as a filler (0, 5, 8, and 12% concentrations) in calcium low methoxyl pectin-based films, which showed antioxidant capacity (DPPH and FRAP assays) in an SP-concentration-dependent manner. SP showed homogeneous dispersion in composite films equilibrated at 57.7% relative humidity. Water content decreased while film thickness increased with SP concentration. When loaded at a 12% level, the presence of 53-μm SP decreased the water vapor permeability and increased the normal stress at film fracture. Sunflower hulls can then be applied to the development of active materials like 12% SP film, which can be proposed as a food slice antioxidant separator to be investigated in a future work., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 De'Nobili, Bernhardt, Basanta and Rojas.)

Background: The role of psychological factors influencing chronic pain is well documented, although less is known about the implication and logistics of conducting behavioral and psychological assessments in clinical practice, specifically within pain management., Objectives: To identify the feasibility and clinical utility of assessing behavioral and psychological risk factors in pain management, as well as documenting the challenges and opportunities of integrating multidisciplinary care into a pain management practice., Study Design: A convenience sample of pain management patients was prospectively recruited from a private, multispecialty orthopedic clinic in Tallahassee, Florida. All patients reported experiencing chronic pain (i.e., greater than 3 months)., Methods: Patients were approached before their initial clinical interaction at the pain management clinic. Approximately one year following their initial appointment, medical records were reviewed to determine the patients' responses to treatment and subsequent management of their ailments., Results: Findings from the pilot study suggest that the behavioral and psychological assessments identified much higher rates of depression and suicidal ideations and lower resilience within the sample than in previously published US rates. The median time to complete the consent and battery was 30.2 minutes [interquartile range: 21]. This suggests that a shortened battery appears feasible in a pain management practice and could offer benefit by identifying factors that are known to impact clinical care., Limitations: This study is limited in sample size, restricting generalizability. The incomplete follow-up survey data and cross-sectional nature of the study are also limitations., Conclusions: The utility and feasibility of psychological and behavioral health assessments appear to be a critical component of a pain management practice as there is substantial overlap with psychological comorbidities (e.g., depression and anxiety) and chronic pain. Positive affect, such as resilience, may act to confer some protection against the sequelae of chronic pain, and identifying such factors appears vital.

The liver plays a key role in the metabolic homeostasis of the whole organism. To carry out its functions, it is endowed with a peculiar circulatory system, made of three main dendritic flow structures and lobules. Understanding the vascular anatomy of the liver is clinically relevant since various liver pathologies are related to vascular disorders. Here, we develop a novel liver circulation model with a deterministic architecture based on the constructal law of design over the entire scale range (from macrocirculation to microcirculation). In this framework, the liver vascular structure is a combination of superimposed tree-shaped networks and porous system, where the main geometrical features of the dendritic fluid networks and the permeability of the porous medium, are defined from the constructal viewpoint. With this model, we are able to emulate physiological scenarios and to predict changes in blood pressure and flow rates throughout the hepatic vasculature due to resection or thrombosis in certain portions of the organ, simulated as deliberate blockages in the blood supply to these sections. This work sheds light on the critical impact of the vascular network on mechanics-related processes occurring in hepatic diseases, healing and regeneration that involve blood flow redistribution and are at the core of liver resilience., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Torres Rojas, Lorente, Hautefeuille and Sanchez-Cedillo.)

Background: The relationship between circulating effector memory T and B cells long after transplantation and their susceptibility to immunosuppression are unknown. To investigate the impact of antirejection therapy on T cell-B cell coordinated immune responses, we assessed IFN- γ -producing memory cells and natural antibodies (nAbs) that potentially bind to autoantigens on the graft., Methods: Plasma levels of IgG nAbs to malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in 145 kidney transplant recipients at 5-7 years after transplantation. In 54 of these patients, the number of donor-reactive IFN- γ -producing cells was determined. 35/145 patients experienced rejection, 18 of which occurred within 1 year after transplantation., Results: The number of donor-reactive IFN- γ -producing cells and the levels of nAbs were comparable between rejectors and nonrejectors. The nAbs levels were positively correlated with the number of donor-reactive IFN- γ -producing cells ( r s  = 0.39, p =0.004). The positive correlation was only observed in rejectors ( r s  = 0.53, p =0.003; nonrejectors: r s  = 0.24, p =0.23). Moreover, we observed that intravenous immune globulin treatment affected the level of nAbs and this effect was found in patients who experienced a late ca-ABMR compared to nonrejectors ( p =0.008)., Conclusion: The positive correlation found between alloreactive T cells and nAbs in rejectors suggests an intricate role for both components of the immune response in the rejection process. Treatment with intravenous immune globulin impacted nAbs., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Nicole M. van Besouw et al.)

Objectives: Describe the technique, indications and the correct interpretation given the findings in different clinical entities, and to serve as a guide for urologists, urology residents and even medical students., Material and Methods: A literature search was performed using Pubmed, Cochrane and Scopus database for articles and guidelines published between January 1970 and June 2020., Results: Videourodynamics is a diagnostic procedure that combines the urodynamic study with simultaneous images of the lower urinary tract to assess the anatomy and function during the different phases of micturition.This study provides important information that can modify therapeutic behavior and therefore clinical outcomes of patients., Conclusion: The role of videourodynamics becomes more relevant nowadays in the assessment of the pathophysiology of voiding dysfunction, being the gold standard for the workup of neurogenic bladder and voiding dysfunction in young people and women and, possibly in persistent/recurrent incontinence in both men and women.

Background: The role of psychological factors influencing chronic pain has been well documented. This review includes a historical perspective and current examination of the literature on psychological and behavioral health characteristics and their influence on chronic pain., Objectives: To identify psychological and behavioral health factors involved with chronic pain, as well as the challenges and opportunities of integrating multidisciplinary care into a pain management practice., Study Design: Narrative review of peer-reviewed literature examining psychological and behavioral health factors associated with poor clinical outcomes with an emphasis on orthopedics., Methods: The Medline database was reviewed to identify peer-reviewed research that discussed psychological and behavioral health factors relevant to pain management or orthopedics., Results: The evidence provided suggests that these constructs should receive strong consideration when managing chronic pain. The incorporation of such factors may improve patient care and clinical outcomes and reduce total health care costs., Limitations: This narrative review is not systematic in nature, but rather focused on the impacts on orthopedics and pain management., Conclusions: Psychological and behavioral health factors should be an integral component of a pain management practice as there is substantial overlap between depression and anxiety with chronic pain. Positive affect, such as resilience, may act as a buffer and confer some protection against the sequelae of chronic pain. There is evidence that psychological screeners offer further insight into the patient condition and would contribute to the treatment plan. The novel role of a behavioral health navigator in a pain management clinic is worthy of further exploration as it has proved beneficial in other chronic health conditions.

Infections of the oral cavity have a broad microbial etiological profile that varies according to each microenvironment in the mouth. Such infections often require antimicrobial treatment, which can lead to the development of resistance. There is thus a need to find new therapeutic strategies based on natural plant-derived compounds. The aim of this study was to determine the phytochemical nuclei and the antimicrobial effect of Anacardium excelsum leaf and stem extracts, and of fractions derived from the leaf extract, against Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 35548, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 19433 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231. The plant material was collected from the Quindío Botanical Garden (Calarcá, Quindío-Colombia), located at an altitude of 1500 meters above sea level. Hydroalcoholic extracts of A. excelsum leaves and stems, and fractions of the hydroalcoholic leaf extract, were obtained by percolation extraction. Phytochemical nuclei were identified by thin layer chromatography. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts and fractions (at concentrations of 2, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg / ml) against the five ATCC reference strains was evaluated using the well diffusion technique on Mueller-Hinton agar. The leaf extract showed no antimicrobial activity against E. coli, but it did show antimicrobial activity against S. mutans, S. aureus, E. faecalis and C. albicans, at a concentration of 10 mg/ml, with zones of inhibition of 9 to 11 mm. The ethyl acetate and acetone fractions obtained from A. excelsum leaf extract had greatest antimicrobial activity at 10 mg/ml. In conclusion, (1) the A. excelsum leaf extract, and the ethyl acetate and acetone fractions obtained from the leaf extract, had the greatest antimicrobial activity on all the study microorganisms, and (2) the phytochemical nuclei in the fractions (ethyl acetate and acetone) were found to contain phenolic-type compounds, tannins, triterpene-type terpenes and steroidal-type terpenes, which might explain the antimicrobial activity observed., Competing Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article, (Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Odontológica.)

Diagnostic and contact tracing apps are a needed weapon to contain contagion during a pandemic. We study how the content of the messages used to promote the apps influence adoption by running a survey experiment on approximately 23,000 Mexican adults. Respondents were randomly assigned to one of three different prompts, or a control condition, before stating their willingness to adopt a diagnostic app and contact tracing app. The prompt emphasizing government efforts to ensure data privacy, which has been one of the most common strategies, reduced willingness to adopt the apps by about 4 pp and 3 pp, respectively. An effective app promotion policy must understand individuals' reservations and be wary of unintended reactions to naïve reassurances., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests. The Inter-American Development Bank and ITAM provided support in the form of salaries for all the authors, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section. The authors affiliations does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials as it is articulated in the ‘Methods’ and ‘Additional information’ sections.

Salicornia neei halophyte extends in Argentina seashores. To envisage potential applications, cell wall sequential extraction performed on dry plant yielded 1.1, 2.4, 0.3 and 0.9% of pectin fractions respectively extracted by room temperature water, 90 °C-water, CDTA and Na 2 CO 3 . They contained 21-33% uronic acids (UA) with low degree of methylation and 0.5-1.2 M ratios of neutral sugars to UA. High arabinose level suggests that long arabinan side-chains maintain cell wall flexibility in water deficit. Fractions also contained 10-36% of proteins. The KOH-soluble fractions (4.3%) were mainly arabinoxylans. At 2.0% w/v, pectin fractions developed "weak gel"-type networks with Ca 2+ , while arabinoxylans generated "dilute solutions". Cellulose (28%) and lignin (45.1%) were the main biopolymers in the final residue, which showed low water swelling capacity (3.6 mL/g) due to lignin, increasing when arabinoxylans were also present. Phenolics (9.8%) were mainly water-extractable. Salicornia is a source of biopolymers and antioxidants potentially useful for food applications., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ 10 ) supplementation has demonstrated to be safe and effective in primary and secondary CoQ 10 deficiencies. Previously, we have designed a high-dose CoQ 10 oleogel (1 g/disk) with excipients used in quantities that do not represent any toxic risk. However, it was necessary to demonstrate their safety in the final formulation. Following this purpose, an acute toxicity study of the oleogel in rats was performed. Furthermore, the genotoxic risk was evaluated in human volunteers after CoQ 10 supplementation with oleogel and compared to the solid form (1 g/three 00-size-capsules). In addition, the general health status and possible biochemical changes of the participants were determined using serum parameters. Results suggested the absence of adverse effects caused by the interaction of the components in the oleogel formulation. Therefore, we conclude that the designed novel high-dose CoQ 10 oleogel was safe for oral consumption., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Creating a robust and controlled infection model is imperative for studying the innate immune response. Leveraging the particular strengths of the zebrafish model system, such as optical transparency, ex utero development, and large clutch size, allows for the development of methods that yield consistent and reproducible results. We created a robust model for activation of innate immunity by microinjecting bacterial particles or live bacteria into larval zebrafish, unlike previous studies which largely restricted such manipulations to embryonic stages of zebrafish. The ability to introduce stimuli locally or systemically at larval stages provides significant advantages to examine host response in more mature tissues as well as the possibility to interrogate adaptive immunity at older larval stages. This protocol describes two distinct modes of microinjection to introduce lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or bacteria into the living larval zebrafish: one localized to the brain, and another into the bloodstream via the caudal vein plexus. Graphic abstract: Schematic shows the two distinct modes of larval zebrafish microinjection, either in the brain parenchyma or in the blood stream intravenously. Reagents introduced into the zebrafish to assess immune response are depicted in the "injection components" as described in the protocol., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © The Authors; exclusive licensee Bio-protocol LLC.)

The ability to conduct in vivo macrophage-specific depletion remains an effective means to uncover functions of macrophages in a wide range of physiological contexts. Compared to the murine model, zebrafish offer superior imaging capabilities due to their optical transparency starting from a single-cell stage to throughout larval development. These qualities become important for in vivo cell specific depletions so that the elimination of the targeted cells can be tracked and validated in real time through microscopy. Multiple methods to deplete macrophages in zebrafish are available, including genetic (such as an irf8 knockout), chemogenetic (such as the nitroreductase/metronidazole system), and toxin-based depletions (such as using clodronate liposomes). The use of clodronate-containing liposomes to induce macrophage apoptosis after phagocytosing the liposomes is effective in depleting macrophages as well as testing their ability to phagocytose. Here we describe a detailed protocol for the systemic depletion of macrophages in zebrafish larvae by intravenous injection of liposomal clodronate supplemented with fluorescent dextran conjugates. Co-injection with the fluorescent dextran allows tracking of macrophage depletion in real time starting with verifying the successful intravenous injection to macrophage uptake of molecules and their eventual death. To verify a high degree of macrophage depletion, the level of brain macrophage (microglia) elimination can be determined by a rapid neutral red vital dye staining when clodronate injection is performed at early larval stages. Graphical abstract: Experimental workflow for in vivo macrophage-specific depletion by liposomal clodronate in larval zebrafish ., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © The Authors; exclusive licensee Bio-protocol LLC.)

Rationale and Objectives: To assess the effect of computed tomography (CT)-based residual lung volume (RLV) on mortality of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)., Materials and Methods: A single-center, retrospective study of a prospectively maintained database was performed. In total, 138 patients with COVID-19 were enrolled. Baseline chest CT scan was performed in all patients. CT-based automated and semi-automated lung segmentation was performed using the Alma Medical workstation to calculate normal lung volume, lung opacities volume, total lung volume, and RLV. The primary end point of the study was mortality. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine independent predictors of mortality., Results: Overall, 84 men (61%) and 54 women (39%) with a mean age of 47.3 years (±14.3 y) were included in the study. Overall mortality rate was 21% (29 patients) at a median time of 7 days (interquartile range, 4 to 11 d). Univariate analysis demonstrated that age, hypertension, and diabetes were associated with death (P<0.01). Similarly, patients who died had lower normal lung volume and RLV than patients who survived (P<0.01). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that low RLV was the only independent predictor of death (odds ratio, 1.042; 95% confidence interval, 10.2-10.65). Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that a RLV ≤64% significantly increased the risk of death (odds ratio, 4.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.9-11.7)., Conclusion: Overall mortality of patients with COVID-19 may reach 21%. Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that reduced RLV was the principal independent predictor of death. Furthermore, RLV ≤64% is associated with a 4-fold increase on the risk of death., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: In myelomeningocele, several classifications have been used. The present manuscript proposes a new functional classification to better assess the prognosis and management of these patients., Methods: The manual muscle test is what defines the actual group in which the patient should be included. Furthermore, this new classification brings information about the bracing and external supports recommended to each functional level. We also recommend that the patient's Functional Mobility Scale should always be mentioned together with their functional level., Results: The four levels in this classification are MMFC1, MMFC2, MMFC3 and MMFC4. The MMFC1 group includes patients with significant muscle weakness. They need to use high braces crossing the hip joint with a walker to achieve some ambulation. The MMFC2 group includes patients who have functional hip flexors, knee extensors and knee flexors. However, the hip abductors are quite weak. These patients usually need to use a walker - or crutches - and Ankle-Foot Orthosis (AFOs). The MMFC3 group includes patients with functional hip flexors, knee extensors, knee flexors and hip abductors. However, the ankle plantar flexion function is absent. Most of them are able to walk independently, only using AFOs without any external support. The MMFC4 group includes patients who have preserved function in the entire lower limb musculature. These patients don't need any assistive devices to achieve an adequate ambulation pattern., Conclusions: We hope that this new classification is a system that is simple to understand, serves as a gait prognosis guide and facilitates communication among healthcare professionals., Level of Evidence: V., (Copyright © 2021, The author(s).)

Rationale: SPINOPHILIN (SPN, PPP1R9B) is an important tumor suppressor involved in the progression and malignancy of different tumors depending on its association with protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) and the ability of the PP1-SPN holoenzyme to dephosphorylate retinoblastoma (pRB). Methods: We performed a mutational analysis of SPN in human tumors, focusing on the region of interaction with PP1 and pRB. We explored the effect of the SPN-A566V mutation in an immortalized non-tumorigenic cell line of epithelial breast tissue, MCF10A, and in two different p53-mutated breast cancer cells lines, T47D and MDA-MB-468. Results: We characterized an oncogenic mutation of SPN found in human tumor samples, SPN-A566V, that affects both the SPN-PP1 interaction and its phosphatase activity. The SPN-A566V mutation does not affect the interaction of the PP1-SPN holoenzyme with pocket proteins pRB, p107 and p130, but it affects its ability to dephosphorylate them during G0/G1 and G1, indicating that the PP1-SPN holoenzyme regulates cell cycle progression. SPN-A566V also promoted stemness, establishing a connection between the cell cycle and stem cell biology via pocket proteins and PP1-SPN regulation. However, only cells with both SPN-A566V and mutant p53 have increased tumorigenic and stemness properties. Conclusions: SPN-A566V, or other equivalent mutations, could be late events that promote tumor progression by increasing the CSC pool and, eventually, the malignant behavior of the tumor., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

Background and Purpose: A randomised phase-III trial compared external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) alone with EBRT combined with high-dose-rate brachytherapy boost (HDR-BTb) in localised prostate adenocarcinoma. Previous analysis, at median follow up of 85 months, demonstrated improved relapse free survival (RFS) with EBRT + HDR-BTb. This data has now been updated with a median follow up of 131 months., Materials and Methods: From December 1997 to August 2005, patients were assigned either to EBRT alone delivering 55 Gy in 20 fractions over 4 weeks or EBRT followed by a temporary high-dose-rate implant delivering 2 × 8·5 Gy over 24 h. The primary endpoint was RFS defined by a PSA rise ≥2.0 µg/l above nadir, clinical progression or death. Actuarial survival rates and Hazard Ratios (HRs) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox's Proportional Hazard Model, respectively. Secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), urinary and bowel toxicity., Results: One hundred and six patients received EBRT alone and 110 EBRT + HDR-BTb. Median time to relapse was 137 months in the HDR-BTb arm compared to 82 months for EBRT alone (p = 0·01). A 27% risk of recurrence with EBRT alone was observed (p = 0·001), resulting in a 21% improvement in RFS at 12 years with EBRT + HDR-BTb. In multivariate analysis treatment arm, risk category and no androgen deprivation therapy were significant covariates for risk of relapse. Differences in overall survival were not significant., Conclusion: At 12 years there remains a significant improvement in RFS after EBRT + HDR-BTb; both treatments were equitoxic for severe late urinary and bowel events and urethral strictures., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Polycyclic triterpenes are members of the terpene family produced by the cyclization of squalene. The most representative polycyclic triterpenes are hopanoids and sterols, the former are mostly found in bacteria, whereas the latter are largely limited to eukaryotes, albeit with a growing number of bacterial exceptions. Given their important role and omnipresence in most eukaryotes, contrasting with their scant representation in bacteria, sterol biosynthesis was long thought to be a eukaryotic innovation. Thus, their presence in some bacteria was deemed to be the result of lateral gene transfer from eukaryotes. Elucidating the origin and evolution of the polycyclic triterpene synthetic pathways is important to understand the role of these compounds in eukaryogenesis and their geobiological value as biomarkers in fossil records. Here, we have revisited the phylogenies of the main enzymes involved in triterpene synthesis, performing gene neighborhood analysis and phylogenetic profiling. Squalene can be biosynthesized by two different pathways containing the HpnCDE or Sqs proteins. Our results suggest that the HpnCDE enzymes are derived from carotenoid biosynthesis ones and that they assembled in an ancestral squalene pathway in bacteria, while remaining metabolically versatile. Conversely, the Sqs enzyme is prone to be involved in lateral gene transfer, and its emergence is possibly related to the specialization of squalene biosynthesis. The biosynthesis of hopanoids seems to be ancestral in the Bacteria domain. Moreover, no triterpene cyclases are found in Archaea, invoking a potential scenario in which eukaryotic genes for sterol biosynthesis assembled from ancestral bacterial contributions in early eukaryotic lineages., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.)

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ 10 ) is essential in mitochondrial bioenergetics and is a potent endogenous antioxidant. Low CoQ 10 levels are associated with neurodegenerative, metabolic, muscular and cardiovascular disorders. Early treatment with high doses (5-50 mg/kg/day) demonstrated to limit the onset and progression of neuropathology. Recently, we developed an oleogel matrix able to support a high dose of oil-dissolved CoQ 10 , easy to swallow by CoQ 10 -deficient patients who suffer from secondary dysphagia. In the present study, we evaluated the bioavailability of oleogel-dissolved CoQ 10 and plasma antioxidant status in healthy adults in single-dose and repeated-dose studies. The single-dose study demonstrated that, in terms of CoQ 10 bioavailability, 1 g CoQ 10 /5g oleogel-disk was equivalent to the solid form (1 g CoQ 10 /three 00-size-capsules), whereas the repeated-dose study (14-days-administration) demonstrated a significantly higher increase in plasma CoQ 10 when administered through the oleogel, which could be compatible with the levels necessary to achieve an adequate therapeutic response. Also, a trend to a higher plasma apparent half-life (greater than24 h) was observed for the oleogel-loaded-CoQ 10 . In conclusion, the oleogel matrix does not compromise the oil-dissolved CoQ 10 bioavailability and can prevent the non-adherence to this vital supplementation in patients with high CoQ 10 requirements. No significant variation in the plasma antioxidant status (vitamins A, E and C, glutathione and TBARs) was observed., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The distribution of Hg, Cd, Cu, and Zn in keratinized tissues, blood fractions, and excretory organs, and MTs in blood fractions and excretory organs was determined in captive, semicaptive, and wild Morelet's crocodiles and they were compared to select the most useful non-destructive tissues for the monitoring of metal exposure and to assess the potential of MTs as a biomarker. Our results indicate blood plasma, claws, and caudal scutes altogether are suitable tissues for xenobiotic metals exposure, with concentrations in blood plasma being an indicator of recent exposure, whereas concentrations in claws and caudal scutes are indicators of chronic exposure. Results in keratinized tissues suggest they are an important detoxification strategy in crocodiles, and claws presented the highest concentrations of metals in both captive (Hg = 0.44 ± 0.23 μg g -1 , Cd = 11.10 ± 5.89 μg g -1 , Cu = 45.98 ± 23.18 μg g -1 , Zn = 124.75 ± 75.84 μg g -1 ) and wild populations (Hg = 1.31 ± 0.32 μg g -1 , Cd = 26.47 ± 21.15 μg g -1 , Cu = 191.75 ± 165.91 μg g -1 , Zn = 265.81 ± 90.62 μg g -1 ). Thus, they are an appropriate tool for assessing metal exposure in populations where scutes clipping as a marking technique is not allowed, and their collection is less complicated than with other tissues. MTs are a suitable biomarker in blood plasma, whereas in erythrocytes detoxification processes might depend on hemoglobin, rather than MTs. Future studies should consider the implementation of these tools for the monitoring of wild populations., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Agarose and κ-carrageenan were oxidized using (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl)oxy (TEMPO) in the presence of NaOCl and NaBr. Products with several degrees of oxidation were structurally characterized. The mechanical spectra were determined: derivatives with a medium to high degree of oxidation give rise to polysaccharides that behave like dilute solutions in water, whereas those with a degree of oxidation close to 20 % keep the gelling properties with a different thermo-rheological response towards pH (6.5 or 4.0) and counterions (K + or Ca 2+ ) in comparison with the native polysaccharides. For instance, they showed a marked dependence on the presence of calcium ions, observed in the increase of thermal stability and dynamic elastic component (G') value, due to the known interaction of this divalent cation with the carboxylate groups. In this sense, these derivatives with low oxidation degrees have proven to be not only thermosensitive, like the native polysaccharide, but also pH- and calcium-sensitive., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The structure of the arabinoglucuronoxylans from brea gum was elucidated through an chemical and NMR spectroscopical analysis. They are composed of xylose, arabinose, glucuronic acid and 4-O-methylglucuronic acid in a molar ratio 1:0.44:0.16:0.22. The structure consists of a central chain of (1→4)-β-d-xylopyranose of which ca.70% are susbstituted in C2 with single stubs of others sugars (β-d-Xylp, α-d-GlcpA and 4-O-Me-α-d-GlcpA), with disaccharides (α-l-Arap-(1→2)-4-O-Me-α-d-GlcpA-(1→, α-l-Arap-(1→2)-α-d-GlcpA-(1→, β-l-Araf-(1→3)-α-l-Araf-(1→ and α-l-Araf-(1→3)-α-l-Araf-(1→5), and possibly with trisaccharides of xylose. The determination of the location of the acetyl groups and their quantification in these arabinoglucuronoxylans has been achieved for the first time. Brea gum presents a higher thickening effect than gum arabic in 5% aqueous solution, demonstrating its potential usefulness for food and pharmaceutical applications., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Nutritional improvements in intensive aquaculture production systems is necessary for the reduction of stress, maximum utilization of nutritional components, and expression of the genetic potential of fish. The objective of this study was to evaluate the hemato-immunological, and histological parameters and gut microbiota of Nile tilapia fed with the microalga Schizochytrium sp. Males of Nile tilapia were distributed among eight net cages (6 m3), and fed for 105 days with two diets: control (CON), without Schizochytrium sp., and supplemented (SUP), with 1.2% Schizochytrium sp. in the diet. The final weight, mortality, hematocrit, total erythrocyte count (RBC), hemoglobin, hematimetric indices, white blood cell count (WBC), total protein, and serum lysozyme were measured. Alterations in intestinal morphology were evaluated. The gut microbiota was evaluated with next-generation sequencing. No significant differences (p>0.05) were found in the final weight and mortality between diets. Regarding the hematological parameters, a difference (p<0.05) was detected only in RBC, with there being lower values in the SUP, although this group also showed a tendency toward having an increased mean corpuscular hemoglobin level. There were no differences (p>0.05) in total protein and serum lysozyme concentrations or in WBCs between diets, except for lymphocytes, which presented lower values (p<0.05) in the SUP, suggesting immunomodulation by the polyunsaturated fatty acids present in the microalga. There was no difference (p>0.05) in the intestinal morphology between diets. Metagenomic data indicated greater richness (represented by the Chao index) and a higher abundance of the bacterial phylum Firmicutes in the gut microbiota of the tilapia fed with the SUP diet, demonstrating that the digestion and use of the components of the microalga could influence the microbial community. The results indicated that the microalga had modulatory effects on blood cells and the intestinal microbiota, without affecting the structure and integrity of the intestinal villi., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.