Search

Molecular encoding in abiotic sequence-defined polymers (SDPs) has recently emerged as a versatile platform for information and data storage. However, the storage capacity of these sequence-defined polymers remains underwhelming compared to that of the information storing biopolymer DNA. In an effort to increase their information storage capacity, herein we describe the synthesis and simultaneous sequencing of eight sequence-defined 10-mer oligourethanes. Importantly, we demonstrate the use of different isotope labels, such as halogen tags, as a tool to deconvolute the complex sequence information found within a heterogeneous mixture of at least 96 unique molecules, with as little as four micromoles of total material. In doing so, relatively high-capacity data storage was achieved: 256 bits in this example, the most information stored in a single sample of abiotic SDPs without the use of long strands. Within the sequence information, a 256-bit cipher key was stored and retrieved. The key was used to encrypt and decrypt a plain text document containing

Summer rainfall trends in Southeastern South America (SES) have received a lot of attention in the past decades because of the socioeconomic impacts affecting an area where around 200 million people live. Literature identifies more than one driving mechanism for them, some of which have opposing effects. However, it is still not clear how much each mechanism has contributed to the observed trends or how their combined influence will affect future trends. In this work, we study SES summer rainfall future trends that can be explained by mechanisms related to large-scale extratropical circulation responses in the Southern Hemisphere (SH) to remote drivers of regional climate change. We find that regional uncertainty in SES during summer is well represented by combining the influence of four remote drivers, two of them characterizing tropical Pacific SST warming patterns, another one related to tropical upper tropospheric amplification of surface warming, and a fourth one related to the delay of the SH stratospheric polar vortex breakdown date. To do so, we quantify the contributions of the different remote drivers to SES rainfall trends and assess the sensitivity of circulation in SH to these drivers. Then, we analyze how the circulation response can mediate the relationship between regional precipitation changes and each of the remote driver responses. We use these quantifications and a storyline framework to answer the following research questions: Are all of the plausible scenarios for summer rainfall in the SES region characterized by wet conditions only? Is it possible that some plausible scenarios could also involve very weak wetting or even drying trends? Can the differences between these contrasting scenarios be explained by variations in atmospheric circulation patterns forced by large-scale remote drivers? By applying a storyline approach, the representation of uncertainty in summer precipitation trends in SES is improved and plausible drying scenarios are found in addition to the wetting ones. Our storyline approach is able to identify the highest impact storylines and deal with the complexity of working with four remote drivers. In addition, we show how the definition of the SES regional box can impact the results, given that if the spatial pattern characterizing the dynamical influences are complex and the impacts can be averaged out.

Background and purpose In 2020, new recommendations against routine use of pretreatment in NSTEACS have been established, especially if an early invasive strategy (within first 24 hours) is planned [1]. These recommendations are mainly based on evidence from clinical trials that have included short intervals of time to coronary angiography (CA) [2,3]. However, this timing seems hard to achieve in daily clinical practice, above all, when high-risk NSTEACS patients are now advised for an early invasive strategy. We aimed to assess the feasibility of these recommendations in real-world clinical practice. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of a real-life cohort of NSTEACS patients referred to CA in a tertiary-level hospital between January and December 2020. Results We analysed 347 consecutive NSTEACS patients referred to CA (21.7% unstable angina, 78.3% NSTEMI). Percutaneous coronary intervention was performed in 60.5% and the radial or cubital artery access were exclusively used in 86.7%. Median time from hospital admission to CA was 39.4 hours (IQR: 20.7–67.0 hours) and 31.4% patients had the CA performed within first 24 hours (Figure 1). Main differences regarding clinical and risk-related variables among those patients who underwent CA before and after first 24 hours are shown in Table 1. More patients with NSTEMI and dynamic changes in ECG tended to be referred earlier to CA, while those with impaired renal function were more likely to receive a delayed strategy. There were 282 patients (82.7%) who met the high-risk criteria from current ESC guidelines on NSTEACS (GRACE risk score >140, ST transient elevation or depression in ECG, raise of cardiac troponin levels above the 99th percentile of the upper reference limit, cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest at presentation); of whom, only 95 (33.7%) were referred to CA in the first 24 hours. No differences were found according to patients being admitted to PCI or non-PCI centres (32.1% vs. 30.9% had the CA performed within first 24 hours, p=0.81) or receiving pretreatment with a P2Y12 receptor inhibitor or not (31.7% vs. 31.0% of the CA ≤24 hours group; p=0.87). Conclusion Evidence from this real-life registry shows that median time from admission to CA is far from current recommendations for high-risk NSTEACS patients. This might represent an important limitation at the moment of translating guidelines to daily clinical practice, especially those who presume patients to have a CA performed within first 24 hours. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Aims/Introduction Myopathy is a common complication of any diabetes type, consisting in failure to preserve mass and muscular function. Oxidative stress has been considered one of the main causes for this condition. This study aimed to search if Nicorandil, a KATP channel opener, could protect slow‐ and fast‐twitch diabetic rat muscles from oxidative stress, and to unveil its possible mechanisms. Materials and Methods Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by applying intraperitoneally streptozotocin (STZ) at 100 mg/kg doses. Nicorandil (3 mg/kg/day) was administered along 4 weeks. An insulin tolerance test and assessment of fasting blood glucose (FBG), TBARS, reduced (GSH), and disulfide (GSSG) glutathione levels, GSH/GSSG ratio, and mRNA expression of glutathione metabolism‐related genes were performed at end of treatment in soleus and gastrocnemius muscles. Results Nicorandil significantly reduced FBG levels and enhanced insulin tolerance in diabetic rats. In gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, Nicorandil attenuated the oxidative stress by decreasing lipid peroxidation (TBARS), increasing total glutathione and modulating GPX1‐mRNA expression in both muscle’s types. Nicorandil also increased GSH and GSH/GSSG ratio and downregulated the GCLC‐ and GSR‐mRNA in gastrocnemius, without significative effect on those enzymes’ mRNA expression in diabetic soleus muscle. Conclusions In diabetic rats, Nicorandil attenuates oxidative stress in slow‐ and fast‐twitch skeletal muscles by improving the glutathione system functioning. The underlying mechanisms for the modulation of glutathione redox state and the transcriptional expression of glutathione metabolism‐related genes seem to be fiber type‐dependent.

A subset of plant intracellular NLR immune receptors detect effector proteins, secreted by phytopathogens to promote infection, through unconventional integrated domains which resemble the effector’s host targets. Direct binding of effectors to these integrated domains activates plant defences. The rice NLR receptor Pik-1 binds the Magnaporthe oryzae effector AVR-Pik through an integrated heavy metal-associated (HMA) domain. However, the stealthy alleles AVR-PikC and AVR-PikF avoid interaction with Pik-HMA and evade host defences. Here, we exploited knowledge of the biochemical interactions between AVR-Pik and its host target, OsHIPP19, to engineer novel Pik-1 variants that respond to AVR-PikC/F. First, we exchanged the HMA domain of Pikp-1 for OsHIPP19-HMA, demonstrating that effector targets can be incorporated into NLR receptors to provide novel recognition profiles. Second, we used the structure of OsHIPP19-HMA to guide mutagenesis of Pikp-HMA to expand its recognition profile. We demonstrate that the extended recognition profiles of engineered Pikp-1 variants correlate with effector binding in planta and in vitro, and with the gain of new contacts across the effector/HMA interface. Crucially, transgenic rice producing the engineered Pikp-1 variants were resistant to blast fungus isolates carrying AVR-PikC or AVR-PikF. These results demonstrate that effector target-guided engineering of NLR receptors can provide new-to- nature disease resistance in crops.Graphical abstract

In response to diabetes mellitus, skeletal muscle is negatively affected, as is evident by reduced contractile force production, increased muscle fatigability, and increased levels of oxidative stress biomarkers. Apocynin is a widely used NADPH oxidase inhibitor, with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. It has been effective for amelioration of a variety of disorders, including diabetic complications. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effects and action mechanisms of apocynin in slow- and fast-twitch diabetic rat muscles. Male Wistar rats were rendered diabetic by applying intraperitoneally a single dose of streptozotocin (45 mg/kg). Apocynin treatment (3 mg/kg/day) was administered over 8 weeks. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin tolerance and body weight gain were measured. Both slow (soleus) and fast (extensor digitorum longus, EDL) skeletal muscles were used for muscle function evaluation, oxidative stress markers, and evaluating gene expression using qRT-PCR. Treatment with apocynin significantly reduced FBG levels and enhanced insulin tolerance. Apocynin also prevented muscle contractile dysfunction in EDL muscle but had no significant effect on this parameter in soleus muscles. However, in both types of muscles, apocynin mitigated the oxidative stress by decreasing ROS levels and increasing total glutathione levels and redox state. Concomitantly, apocynin also statistically enhanced Nrf-2 and GLU4 mRNA expression and downregulated NOX2, NOX4, and NF-κB mRNA. Collectively, apocynin exhibits properties myoprotective in diabetic animals. These findings indicate that apocynin predominantly acts as an antioxidant in fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscles but has differential impact on contractile function.

BACKGROUND: High-risk pediatric acute myeloid leukemia confers a poor prognosis, and alternative strategies are needed to improve outcomes. We hypothesized that intensifying induction on the AAML1031 clinical trial would improve outcomes compared to the predecessor trial AAML0531. METHODS: Patients on AAML0531 received cytarabine (1600 mg/m(2))/daunorubicin (150 mg/m(2))/etoposide (ADE) for induction II and patients on AAML1031 received mitoxantrone (48 mg/m(2))/cytarabine (8000 mg/m(2)) (MA). Stem cell transplant (SCT) conditioning included busulfan/cyclophosphamide on AAML0531, whereas AAML1031 used busulfan/fludarabine and liberalized donor eligibility. Patients were included in this analysis if they met high-risk criteria common to the two trials by cytogenics or poor disease response after induction I ADE. RESULTS: MA provided no benefit over ADE at: induction II response (complete response [CR]: 64% vs. 62%, p = .87; measurable residual disease [MRD]+: 57% vs. 46%, p = .34); or intensification I response (CR: 79% vs. 94%, p = .27; MRD+: 27% vs. 20%, p = 1.0). When considered with altered SCT approach, MA did not improve 5-year disease-free survival (24% ± 9% vs. 18% ± 15%, p = .63) or 5-year overall survival (35% ± 10% vs. 38% ± 18%, p = .66). MA was associated with slower neutrophil recovery (median 34 vs. 27 days, p = .007) and platelet recovery (median 29 vs. 24.5 days, p = .04) and longer hospital stay (32 vs. 28 days, p = .01) during induction II. CONCLUSION: Intensification of induction II did not improve treatment response or survival, but did increase toxicity and resource utilization. Alternative strategies are urgently needed to improve outcomes for pediatric patients with high-risk acute myeloid leukemia (trials registered at clinicaltrials.gov NCT01371981, NCT00372593).

In the last two decades, the increase in population genetics studies has contributed to elucidating important questions about the evolution of the pathogenesis of bacteria of clinical interest. The objective of this study is to revise and update the knowledge of the last fifteen years regarding the genetic variability of Streptococcus mutans and their association with dental caries. Streptococcus mutans, one of the most widely distributed bacteria in the world, are heavily associated with this condition. This research shows the results of numerous studies carried out in various countries that, using molecular and biochemical methods, revealed associations between different serotypes and caries activity. In addition, it is reported that the population genetics structure of Streptococcus mutans in Argentina is highly recombinant, which reflects the largest waves of human immigration that occurred in the 19th and 20th centuries. On the other hand, demographic analysis suggests that these bacteria experienced a population expansion that coincided with the beginning of agricultural development.

According to the definition of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), pain is defined as: "Unpleasant subjective feeling and emotional experience associated with current or potential tissue damage of a particular localisation", which, as such, poses a challenge for epidemiological research to determine its frequency and prevalence. We have all heard the motto that surgery has experienced its unprecedented development on the wings of anaesthesia. This is most certainly the case, since it is precisely the pain that prevents any invasive procedure on the human body, hence the very elimination of pain has opened up the way for the application and development of surgery. For this reason, the skill and now the science of anaesthesia are epochal civilizational achievements, which is why it is worth remembering the attempts and successes of its application. The very beginning of mankind cannot be imagined without the humans facing some sort of pain. As long ago as about 460 to 370 BC, the renowned Greek physician Hippocrates (in Greek:'Ipocrάtes'), who is nowadays considered the founder of modern medicine, stated: "to reduce pain is a divine deed" or, in Latin: Sedare dolorem, opus divinum est! The article presents Morton's discovery of inhalation anesthesia, now as far back as in 1846, its development, introduction of other modes of anaesthesia, local, infiltration and regional, use of neuromuscular blockers and auxiliary procedures, such as endotracheal intubation and fiberoptic bronchoscopy, without which modern anaesthesia is inconceivable today.

Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global public health problem. In Colombia, it is estimated that 70% of deaths from violence and 90% of deaths from road traffic accidents are TBI related. In the year 2014, the Ministry of Health of Colombia funded the development of a clinical practice guideline (CPG) for the diagnosis and treatment of adult patients with severe TBI. A critical barrier to the widespread implementation was identified—that is, the lack of a specific protocol that spans various levels of resources and complexity across the four treatment phases. The objective of this article is to present the process and recommendations for the management of patients with TBI in various resource environments, across the treatment phases of prehospital care, emergency department (ED), surgery, and intensive care unit. Methods Using the Delphi methodology, a consensus of 20 experts in emergency medicine, neurosurgery, prehospital care, and intensive care nationwide developed recommendations based on 13 questions for the management of patients with TBI in Colombia. Discussion It is estimated that 80% of the global population live in developing economies where access to resources required for optimum treatment is limited. There is limitation for applications of CPGs recommendations in areas where there is low availability or absence of resources for integral care. Development of mixed methods consensus, including evidence review and expertise points of good clinical practices can fill gaps in application of CPGs. BOOTStraP (Beyond One Option for Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury: A Stratified Protocol) is intended to be a practical handbook for care providers to use to treat TBI patients with whatever resources are available. Results Stratification of recommendations for interventions according to the availability of the resources on different stages of integral care is a proposed method for filling gaps in actual evidence, to organize a better strategy for interventions in different real-life scenarios. We develop 10 algorithms of management for building TBI protocols based on expert consensus to articulate treatment options in prehospital care, EDs, neurological surgery, and intensive care, independent of the level of availability of resources for care.

A comparative study between the addition of Co 3 O 4 micro-particles and nano-particles as densifying dopant of a SnO 2 based varistor system was conducted. The ceramic composition was (99.9-X) %SnO 2 –X %Co 3 O 4 –0.05 %Cr 2 O 3 –0.05 %Nb 2 O 5 where X = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 mol%. Two particle sizes of Co 3 O 4 were used (~5 µm and ~50 nm). The addition of 0.5 mol% of Co 3 O 4 nano-particles promoted an increase of grain size of sintered samples up to 7.9 µm, that is, the maximum value among all variations. Characterization techniques such as TGA, DTA, XRD, and Rietveld analysis revealed a decrease of 16 oC in the formation temperature of Co 2 SnO 4 as well as an increase of 2.6 wt% in the amount of said phase with the use of 4.0 mol% of Co 3 O 4 nano-particles in comparison with micro-particles. Statistical analysis indicated that the addition of nano-particles of Co 3 O 4 yield better repeatability on densification of ceramic samples. Residual porosity also was decreased. Electrical breakdown and non-linear coefficient values correspond to a non-ohmic behavior with potential application on manufacture of high voltage varistors. The findings of this work can be used as a reference for conducting a later study to improve the electrical properties or even to lower the sintering temperature.

Agroecosystems in central Argentina are a good example of landscape modification by human activities. We used the Pampean grassland mouse (Akodon azarae) as a biological model to assess the effects of landscape fragmentation on the genetic structure of natural populations present in the region. The species is a habitat specialist that is numerically dominant in relatively stable environments, such as remnant areas of native vegetation, stream borders, roadsides and railway banks. We used seven microsatellite loci to analyze the genetic population structure and to explore if there is sex-biased dispersal during the reproductive season at a fine geographical scale. Rodents were captured seasonally in trap lines located on roadsides in an agroecosystem of central Argentina. Values of genetic differentiation among populations and temporal patterns of spatial autocorrelation revealed that the genetic populations occupy areas larger than the sampling area. Causal modeling analyses showed that unfavorable habitats (secondary roads and crop fields) were not barriers to dispersal of Akodon azarae. The high levels of gene flow and the short duration of the low population density phase, followed by a fast recovery, would contribute to the maintenance of highly polymorphic populations. As expected for A. azarae's mating system, males were not genetically structured. However, females’ spatial genetic structure varied greatly over the year, which would be related to availability and quality of habitat, and to intrasex interactions. Our work contributes to the understanding of dispersal strategies in small mammals in anthropogenically fragmented habitats like intensively managed agroecosystems. Fil: Vera, Noelia Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Fisiología. Cátedra de Genética de Poblaciones y Evolución; Argentina Fil: Chiappero, Marina Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Fisiología. Cátedra de Genética de Poblaciones y Evolución; Argentina Fil: Priotto, Jose Waldemar. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra, Biodiversidad y Ambiente - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra, Biodiversidad y Ambiente; Argentina Fil: Sommaro, Lucía Valeria. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas; Argentina Fil: Steinmann, Andrea Rosa. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra, Biodiversidad y Ambiente - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra, Biodiversidad y Ambiente; Argentina Fil: Gardenal, Cristina Noemi. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas; Argentina

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, essential for preserving retina homeostasis, also contribute to the development of retina proliferative diseases, through their exacerbated migration, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and inflammatory response. Uncovering the mechanisms inducing these changes is crucial for designing effective treatments for these pathologies. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P) are bioactive sphingolipids that promote migration and inflammation in several cell types; we recently established that they stimulate the migration of retina Müller glial cells (Simón et al., 2015; Vera et al., 2021). We here analyzed whether S1P and C1P regulate migration, inflammation and EMT in RPE cells. We cultured two human RPE cell lines, ARPE-19 and D407 cells, and supplemented them with either 5 μM S1P or 10 μM C1P, or their vehicles, for 24 h. Analysis of cell migration by the scratch wound assay showed that S1P addition significantly enhanced migration in both cell lines. Pre-treatment with W146 and BML-241, antagonists for S1P receptor 1 (S1P1) and 3 (S1P3), respectively, blocked exogenous S1P-induced migration. Inhibiting sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1), the enzyme involved in S1P synthesis, significantly reduced cell migration and exogenous S1P only partially restored it. Addition of C1P markedly stimulated cell migration. Whereas inhibiting C1P synthesis did not affect C1P-induced migration, inhibiting S1P synthesis strikingly decreased it; noteworthy, addition of C1P promoted the transcription of SphK1. These results suggest that S1P and C1P stimulate RPE cell migration and their effect requires S1P endogenous synthesis. Both S1P and C1P increase the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8, and of EMT marker α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in ARPE-19 cells. Collectively, our results suggest new roles for S1P and C1P in the regulation of RPE cell migration and inflammation; since the deregulation of sphingolipid metabolism is involved in several proliferative retinopathies, targeting their metabolism might provide new tools for treating these pathologies.

Background: The heterogeneity and lack of validation of existing severity scores for food allergic reactions limit standardization of case management and research advances. We aimed to develop and validate a severity score for food allergic reactions. Methods: Following a multidisciplinary experts consensus, it was decided to develop a food allergy severity score (FASS) with ordinal (oFASS) and numerical (nFASS) formats. oFASS with 3 and 5 grades were generated through expert consensus, and nFASS by mathematical modeling. Evaluation was performed in the EuroPrevall outpatient clinic cohort (8232 food reactions) by logistic regression with request of emergency care and medications used as outcomes. Discrimination, classification, and calibration were calculated. Bootstrapping internal validation was followed by external validation (logistic regression) in 5 cohorts (3622 food reactions). Correlation of nFASS with the severity classification done by expert allergy clinicians by Best-Worst Scaling of 32 food reactions was calculated. Results: oFASS and nFASS map consistently, with nFASS having greater granularity. With the outcomes emergency care, adrenaline and critical medical treatment, oFASS and nFASS had a good discrimination (receiver operating characteristic area under the curve [ROC-AUC]>0.80), classification (sensitivity 0.87–0.92, specificity 0.73–0.78), and calibration. Bootstrapping over ROC-AUC showed negligible biases (1.0 × 10−6–1.23 × 10−3). In external validation, nFASS performed best with higher ROC-AUC. nFASS was strongly correlated (R 0.89) to best-worst scoring of 334 expert clinicians. Conclusion: FASS is a validated and reliable method to measure severity of food allergic reactions. The ordinal and numerical versions that map onto each other are suitable for use by different stakeholders in different settings. © 2021 The Authors. Allergy published by European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Here, we present the source mechanism and rupture process for the destructive 24 January 2020 Mw 6.7 Doğanyol–Sivrice earthquake at the East Anatolian Fault Zone (EAFZ, Turkey), obtained from seismological waveform analysis and space geodetic observations. Multi-data analyses and modelling in the present study provide fundamental data and strong constraints for retrieving complex source mechanism of an earthquake and its spatiotemporal slip characteristics along the ruptured segment of fault. The acquired slip model of this earthquake reveals heterogeneous slip distribution along strike N244°E of the fault plane dipping NW (68°) with duration of the source time function (STF) and low stress drop value (Δσ) of ~25 s and ~6 bars, respectively. Back-projection analysis validates fault length (L) stretching along strike for a distance of ~75 km and supports predominant south-westerly bilateral rupture propagation with a variable rupture velocity (Vr) of ~2.3–3.4 km/s along with two main patches, presumably a sequence of two asperities being ruptured following the surface trace of the EAFZ. The distribution of aftershocks based on the analysis of two months long data consistently confirms spreading of seismicity along the ruptured fault. The evaluation of Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data reveals that left-lateral co-seismic slip and significant deformation extends for ~20 km on either side of the fault with evident post-seismic displacement. Yet, no significant vertical offsets were observed as GNSS stations detected only horizontal motions. Coda-wave analysis as an independent tool also confirms moment magnitude of Mw 6.7. Our results highlight a case of a damaging earthquake and enhance our understanding of earthquake mechanics, continental deformation and augmented earthquake risk on the EAFZ. © 2021 Elsevier B.V.

Several sets of reference regions have been used in the literature for the regional synthesis of observed and modelled climate and climate change information. A popular example is the series of reference regions used in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Adaptation (SREX). The SREX regions were slightly modified for the Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCC and used for reporting subcontinental observed and projected changes over a reduced number (33) of climatologically consistent regions encompassing a representative number of grid boxes. These regions are intended to allow analysis of atmospheric data over broad land or ocean regions and have been used as the basis for several popular spatially aggregated datasets, such as the Seasonal Mean Temperature and Precipitation in IPCC Regions for CMIP5 dataset. We present an updated version of the reference regions for the analysis of new observed and simulated datasets (including CMIP6) which offer an opportunity for refinement due to the higher atmospheric model resolution. As a result, the number of land and ocean regions is increased to 46 and 15, respectively, better representing consistent regional climate features. The paper describes the rationale for the definition of the new regions and analyses their homogeneity. The regions are defined as polygons and are provided as coordinates and a shapefile together with companion R and Python notebooks to illustrate their use in practical problems (e.g. calculating regional averages). We also describe the generation of a new dataset with monthly temperature and precipitation, spatially aggregated in the new regions, currently for CMIP5 and CMIP6, to be extended to other datasets in the future (including observations). The use of these reference regions, dataset and code is illustrated through a worked example using scatter plots to offer guidance on the likely range of future climate change at the scale of the reference regions. The regions, datasets and code (R and Python notebooks) are freely available at the ATLAS GitHub repository: https://github.com/SantanderMetGroup/ATLAS (last access: 24 August 2020), https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3998463 (Iturbide et al., 2020)., This research has been supported by the Spanish National Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation (project PID2019-111481RB-I00 and María de Maeztu excellence programme projects MdM-2017-0765 and MdM-2017-0714), FCT MCTES financial support to CESAM (UIDP/50017/2020+UIDB/50017/2020), and the Basque Government BERC 2018–2021 programme.

espanolEl objetivo de este estudio es utilizar el acido borico residual como insumo para elaborar un esmalte vitreo altamente pulido e impermeable, es decir “baja absorcion” que recubra mobiliario sanitario, permitiendo una rapida escorrentia de los residuos. Se elaboraron cuatro sub-tipos de mezcla, tres con concentraciones (10, 20 y 30% en peso) de acido borico respecto al total del peso del resto de insumos, y una mezcla para una muestra control sin incluir acido borico. Considerando como variables de estudio al “acido borico” y la “impermeabilidad”, se validaron los resultados aplicando primeramente el modelo estadistico de un Anova unifactorial con bloques aleatorizado al azar, y luego la prueba estadistica de T-Student. Los especimenes recubiertos de engobe borosilicatado con concentracion del 20% en peso absorben menos agua que los demas especimenes en referencia. El estudio demuestra que es una alternativa ecologista para utilizarse en un futuro como recubrimiento altamente impermeable. EnglishThe objective of this research study is to use residual boric acid as an input to make a highly polished and waterproof vitreous enamel that is "low absorption" and that is used to cover sanitary furniture for rapid waste runoff. Four sub-types of mixture were prepared: three with different concentrations (10, 20, and 30% by weight) of boric acid with respect to the total weight of the rest of the inputs and one mixture for one control sample not including boric acid. Considering “boric acid” and “impermeability” as study variables, the results were validated by first applying the statistical model of a single-factor random block Anova followed by the statistical T-Student test. The specimens coated with 20% (by weight) borosilicate absorbed less water than the other reference specimens. This study demonstrates an environmentally friendly alternative for waterproof coating that can be used in the future.

Aedes aegypti (L.), the main vector of dengue and other arboviruses, was declared eradicated from Argentinain 1964; however, in 1987, it was detected again and nowadays it occurs in most of the country territory. Tounderstand the transmission of vector-borne diseases, knowledge of the dispersal of vector populations isessential to evaluate the risk of pathogen transmission. We conducted a population genetic analysis of Ae.aegypti in 20 neighborhoods from C¨®rdoba, the second largest city in Argentina, using 10 microsatellite loci.High genetic differentiation and the absence of an isolation by distance pattern was found using Weir andCockerham¡¯s ¦È. Bayesian and multivariate clustering analyses showed that the studied sites included individualswith high membership coefficients (Q) in their populations, individuals with membership in anothercluster, and admixed individuals. Individuals with high Q in clusters different from the population in whichthey were collected strongly suggests that passive transport is important in shaping the Ae. aegypti dispersalpattern in Córdoba city. Knowing the genetic structure of Ae. aegypti populations and their dispersal patternswould contribute to the implementation of vector control programs. Fil: Ayala, Ana Maria. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Fisiología. Cátedra de Genética de Poblaciones y Evolución; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; Argentina Fil: Vera, Noelia Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; Argentina Fil: Chiappero, Marina Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Fisiología. Cátedra de Genética de Poblaciones y Evolución; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; Argentina Fil: Almiron, Walter Ricardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; Argentina Fil: Gardenal, Cristina Noemí. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Fisiología. Cátedra de Genética de Poblaciones y Evolución; Argentina

Synthetic phenolic antioxidants such as propyl gallate (PG) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) are food additives whose levels in foodstuff must be controlled. The purpose of this study is to evaluate, for the first time, the usefulness of graphene as sorbent for the isolation of PG and BHA from complex food sample matrices, by a solid phase extraction (SPE) method. The influence of the eluent type and volume, amount of graphene, sample volume and concentration of antioxidants in the extraction process has been evaluated. Once the process was optimized, extraction yields of 81 and 95% were obtained for PG and BHA respectively. Quantification of the antioxidants was carried out by RP-HPLC with detection at 290 nm, in isocratic mode, using acetonitrile/1% H3PO4 (60/40 v/v) as mobile phase. The proposed method was applied to the quantification of both antioxidants in pre-cooked spaghetti and hard bouillon cube samples. In the spaghetti matrix, which contains both antioxidants, PG and BHA levels were found to be below established legal limits. The hard bouillon cubes, free from both antioxidants, were spiked with different amounts of PG and BHA, and recoveries very close to 100% were attained.

For some time, the importance of customer loyalty for business is discussed, and how difficult it is to achieve it, much more in emerging markets, such as where most consumers by purchasing power are looking for offers and additional benefits for the lowest possible price, sometimes sacrificing quality, this theoretical and descriptive analysis allows to highlight the importance of logistics behind the service, its planning and control to obtain better results in the main objective of service companies, customer loyalty. Por algún tiempo, se discute la importancia de la lealtad de los clientes para las empresas, y lo difícil que es conseguirla, mucho más en mercados emergentes, como, dónde la mayoría de los consumidores por su nivel adquisitivo está buscando ofertas y beneficios adicionales por el menor precio posible, en ocasiones sacrificando calidad, este análisis teórico y descriptivo permite resaltar la importancia de la logística detrás del servicio, su planificación y control para obtener mejores resultados en el objetivo principal de las empresas de servicio, la fidelización de los clientes.

The fluorescence of α-tocopherol in different solutions of zwitterionic (lauryl sulfobetaine, LSB), non-ionic (polyoxyethylene-23-lauryl ether, Brij L23) and cationic (hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB) surfactants, as well as in graphene (G) dispersions in these surfactants at different weight ratios has been comparatively investigated. A quenching phenomenon of the vitamin fluorescence in the micellar dispersions of G has been found, the effect being more pronounced for dispersions in Brij L23. This surfactant causes the highest degree of G exfoliation and is the most effective in stabilizing G dispersions. The fluorescence intensity ratio, calculated in the absence and in the presence of G, increases linearly with G concentration up to 30 mg L −1 for dispersions in 5 mM Brij L23 and in 5 mM CTAB with and without NaCl. A more prominent fluorescence quenching effect is found at low surfactant concentrations, ascribed to a stronger interaction between α-tocopherol and G when the nanomaterial is less covered by the surfactant. Time-resolved fluorescence measurements indicate a static quenching mechanism between α-tocopherol and G. The fluorescence intensity and α-tocopherol concentration in 5 mM Brij L23 aqueous solutions and in G (2.0 wt%) dispersions in this surfactant follow a linear relationship, as well as the differences of the intensities measured in each case.

Beras merupakan makanan pokok bagi masyarakat Indonesia yang sering dikonsumsi sehari – hari. Produksi beras saat ini banyak menggunakan pupuk untuk mendorong produksi beras guna memenuhi kebutuhan akan beras. Penggunaan pupuk pada produksi beras dapat meningkatkan jumlah produksi beras. Pupuk yang digunakan biasanya mengandung bahan kimia, bahan kimia yang terkandung pada pupuk membuat beras juga mengandung bahan kimia. Bahan kimia dapat mempengaruhi tubuh meskipun tidak secara langsung.Beras yang ditanam secara non organik atau dengan pupuk kimia merupakan beras yang saat ini dikonsumsi oleh masyarakat. Penanaman beras dapat dilakukan secara organik yaitu dengan tidak menggunakan bahan bahan kimia dalam prosesnya. Beras organik memiliki beberapa keunggulan dibandingkan dengan beras non organik. Keunggulan dari beras organik dapat dilihat dari dampak bagi tubuh, ketahanan beras, hingga harga yang lebih tinggi. Meskipun memiliki keunggulan dibandingkan beras non organik, konsumsi beras organik masih sangat kurang sehingga para petani yang mencoba mempraktekkan organik kesulitan dalam memasarkan produk. Dari segi produksi yaitu waktu panen penanaman beras non organik dan organik sama. Untuk memasarkan beras dengan label beras organik, perlu dilakukan uji oleh badan sertifikat uji mutu. Sehingga pemasaran beras organik oleh petani yang belum melakukan uji di beri label beras sehat bukan beras organik.

Ceramide (Cer) has a key role inducing cell death and has been proposed as a messenger in photoreceptor cell death in the retina. Here, we explored the pathways induced by C2-acetylsphingosine (C2-Cer), a cell-permeable Cer, to elicit photoreceptor death. Treating pure retina neuronal cultures with 10 μM C2-Cer for 6 h selectively induced photoreceptor death, decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential and increasing the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In contrast, amacrine neurons preserved their viability. Noteworthy, the amount of TUNEL-labeled cells and photoreceptors expressing cleaved caspase-3 remained constant and pretreatment with a pan-caspase inhibitor did not prevent C2-Cer-induced death. C2-Cer provoked polyADP ribosyl polymerase-1 (PARP-1) overactivation. Inhibiting PARP-1 decreased C2-Cer-induced photoreceptor death; C2-Cer increased polyADP ribose polymer (PAR) levels and induced the translocation of apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) from mitochondria to photoreceptor nuclei, which was prevented by PARP-1 inhibition. Pretreatment with a calpain and cathepsin inhibitor and with a calpain inhibitor reduced photoreceptor death, whereas selective cathepsin inhibitors granted no protection. Combined pretreatment with a PARP-1 and a calpain inhibitor evidenced the same protection as each inhibitor by itself. Neither autophagy nor necroptosis was involved in C2-Cer-elicited death; no increase in LDH release was observed upon C2-Cer treatment and pretreatment with inhibitors of necroptosis and autophagy did not rescue photoreceptors. These results suggest that C2-Cer induced photoreceptor death by a novel, caspase-independent mechanism, involving activation of PARP-1, decline of mitochondrial membrane potential, calpain activation, and AIF translocation, all of which are biochemical features of parthanatos. Fil: Prado Spalm, Facundo Heber. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentina Fil: Vera, Marcela Sonia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentina Fil: Dibo, Marcos Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentina Fil: Simon, Maria Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentina Fil: Politi, Luis Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentina Fil: Rotstein, Nora Patricia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentina