Quercetin Affects Erythropoiesis and Heart Mitochondrial Function in Mice

Copyright © 2015 Lina M. Ruiz et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.Quercetin, a dietary flavonoid used as a food supplement, showed powerful antioxidant effects in different cellular models. However, recent in vitro and in vivo studies in mammals have suggested a prooxidant effect of quercetin and described an interaction with mitochondria causing an increase in O2 (∙-) production, a decrease in ATP levels, and impairment of respiratory chain in liver tissue. Therefore, because of its dual actions, we studied the effect of quercetin in vivo to analyze heart mitochondrial function and erythropoiesis. Mice were injected with 50 mg/kg of quercetin for 15 days. Treatment with quercetin decreased body weight, serum insulin, and ceruloplasmin levels as compared with untreated mice. Along with an impaired antioxidant capacity in plasma, quercetin-treated mice showed a significant delay on erythropoiesis progression. Heart mitochondrial function was also impaired displaying more protein oxidation and less activity for IV, respectively, than no-treated mice. In addition, a significant reduction in the protein expression levels of Mitofusin 2 and Voltage-Dependent Anion Carrier was observed. All these results suggest that quercetin affects erythropoiesis and mitochondrial function and then its potential use as a dietary supplement should be reexamined.Peer reviewe

3D reconstruction of weeds using depth cameras

El objetivo de este estudio fue optimizar el ángulo de posicionamiento del sensor Kinect para la reconstrucción de la estructura tridimensional de Xanthium strumarium L., Datura stramonium L. y Chenopodium album L., utilizando para ello algoritmos que permiten la captura y combinación de imágenes de profundidad y RGB. Se han comparado diferentes ángulos, fijando en cada uno de ellos el sensor Kinect de forma estática respecto de la planta objetivo. Los resultados han confirmado la correlación entre la biomasa de malas hierbas y el área estimada con el sensor. La estimación de la altura de las plantas también fue adecuada, con una media de 2cm de error dependiendo de la posición del sensor. Sin embargo, aunque el sensor ha mostrado su capacidad para la creación de modelos tridimensionales, el adecuado posicionamiento del sensor es fundamental para la correcta reconstrucción de plantas. La posición ideal del sensor debe ser elegida de acuerdo a la especie a medir y su estado fenológico. Estos resultados sugieren que Kinect es una herramienta útil para caracterizar de forma rápida y fiable las malas hierbas, con importantes ventajas sobre otros sensores debido a su bajo coste, bajo requerimiento energético y alta frecuencia de transmisión de imágenes.The objective of this study was to optimize the positioning angle of a Kinect sensor for reconstructing the three dimensional structure of weeds, using Kinect fusion algorithms to generate a 3D point cloud from the depth video stream. The sensor was mounted in different positions facing the plant in order to obtain depth (RGB-D) images from different angles. The results confirmed the correlation between ground truth (e. g. weed biomass) and the measured area with Kinect. In addition, plant height was accurately estimated with a few centimeters error. However, although the Kinect sensor has shown its ability for plant reconstruction, proper positioning of the sensor is critical for correct reconstruction of plants. The best position of the sensor must be chosen according to the species to be measured and their growth stage. These results suggest that Kinect is a promising tool for a rapid and reliable weed characterization, with several important advantages such as low cost, low power requirement and a high frame rate

Entropic descriptor of a complex behaviour

We propose a new type of entropic descriptor that is able to quantify the statistical complexity (a measure of complex behaviour) by taking simultaneously into account the average departures of a system's entropy S from both its maximum possible value Smax and its minimum possible value Smin. When these two departures are similar to each other, the statistical complexity is maximal. We apply the new concept to the variability, over a range of length scales, of spatial or grey-level pattern arrangements in simple models. The pertinent results confirm the fact that a highly non-trivial, length-scale dependence of the entropic descriptor makes it an adequate complexity-measure, able to distinguish between structurally distinct configurational macrostates with the same degree of disorder.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, extended versio

Survival of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) larvae hatched at different salinity and pH conditions

In this study, we assessed the effect of environmental salinity and pH as independent factors on larval survival of Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABFT –Thunnus thynnus) together with their whole-body Na+/K+-ATPase and v-type H+-ATPase activities. Fertilized eggs of ABFT were obtained from a spontaneous spawning of broodstock in the farming facilities at El Gorguel (Cartagena, SE Spain) and were transferred to facilities of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) in Mazarrón (SE Spain). In a first experiment, eggs (200 fertilized eggs L-1 per treatment, in 3 replicates) were exposed to different salinities treatments and constant pH 8.0 (control) until hatch was completed (50 h post- fertilization, hpf, at 23 ºC): 27, 30, 33, 36, 37, 38 (control), 39, 40, 43, 46 and 49 ppt. In a second experiment eggs (200 fertilized eggs L-1, in 3 replicates) were exposed to seawater salinity (SW: 38 ppt) and four reduced pH treatments until hatch was completed (50 hpf at 23 ºC): 8.0 (control), 7.7, 7.5 and 7.3. An inverse „„U-shaped‟‟ relationship was observed between environmental salinity and number of hatched larvae. An opposite pattern was observed for both Na+/K+-ATPase and H+-ATPase activities in hatched larvae, increasing both activities in groups exposed to extreme salinities. Thus, larval survival was higher at intermediate salinities and lower at the extreme salinities tested. These results suggest higher survival rates with lower active pumps activities. No significant differences in larval survival were observed with pH treatment, but lower H+-ATPase activity was detected at control environmental pH (pH 8.0). Survival results are discussed in terms of osmoregulatory cost adapting to a salinity and pH predicted for the near future scenarios.Versión del edito

SURVIVAL OF ATLANTIC BLUEFIN TUNA (THUNNUS THYNNUS) LARVAE HATCHED AT DIFFERENT PH AND SALINITY CONDITIONS

In this study, we assessed the effect of pH and salinity as independent factors on larval survival (LS) of Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABFT –Thunnus thynnus) together with their Na+/K+-ATPase and V-type H+-ATPase activities. Fertilized eggs of ABFT were obtained on 25 June 2016 from a spontaneous spawning of broodstock in the farming facilities at El Gorguel (Cartagena, SE Spain) of Caladeros del Mediterráneo Company. The fertilized eggs were transferred to facilities of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) in Mazarrón (SE Spain). In a first experiment, eggs (n = 150 per treatment, in 3 replicates) were exposed to sea water salinity (SW: 38 ppt) and four pH treatments until hatch was completed (44 hours at 23 ºC): 8.0 (control), 7.7 (near future), 7.5 (far future) and 7.3 (lower). In a second experiment eggs (n = 150 per treatment, in 3 replicates) were exposed to eleven salinities treatments and constant pH 8.0 (control) until hatch was completed (44 hours at 23 ºC): 27 , 30 , 33 , 36 , 37 , 38 (control), 39 , 40 , 43 , 46 and 49 ppt. No significant differences in LS were observed with pH treatment, but lower H+-ATPase activity was detected at control environmental pH (pH 8.0). A ‘‘U-shaped’’ relationship was observed between hatching salinity and both Na+/K+-ATPase and H+-ATPase activities in whole larvae hatched, increasing both activities in groups exposed to extreme salinities. However, LS showed an inverse “U shape” curve respect to environmental salinity with higher values at intermediate salinities and lower LS at extreme salinities. These results suggest higher survival rates with lower active pumps activities. Survival results are discussed in terms of osmoregulatory cost adapting to a pH and salinity predicted for the near future scenarios. This work was funding by the European Union’s Horizon 2020research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 678193

Large-scale sea turtle mortality events in El Salvador attributed to paralytic shellfish toxin-producing algae blooms

A fines de octubre y principios de noviembre de 2013 y 2017, cientos de tortugas marinas fueron encontradas muertas a lo largo de la costa del Pacífico de El Salvador. Las tortugas muertas estaban en buenas condiciones corporales y no tenían ninguna lesión u otras anomalías importantes. A fin de determinar el papel de las toxinas paralíticas de los mariscos (PST) en esta mortalidad masiva, muestras de tejido, incluidos los contenidos de sangre, flipper, hígado, riñón, estómago e intestinos, de tortugas verdes muertas tortugas (Chelonia mydas) y tortugas lora (Lepidochelys olivacea) fueron analizadas para PST usando un ensayo de unión a receptor radioactivo, ensayo inmunoabsorbente ligado a enzimas, y cromatografía líquida de alto rendimiento. Los valores más altos de PST se detectaron en contenido entérico en el evento de 2013 (7,304.1 μg STX eq kg − 1) y en contenido gástrico durante el evento de 2017 (16,165.0 μg STX eq kg − 1). Durante estos eventos, sensaciones remotas. Las imágenes de clorofila-a y de altura de línea de fluorescencia revelaron anomalías sugestivas de algas Florece frente a la costa de El Salvador. En el evento de 2017, Pyrodinium bahamense fue observado en muestras de contenido gastrointestinal de tortugas marinas afectadas. También se analizó la región donde se encontraron tortugas marinas muertas, pero los productores de saxitoxinas especies se encontraron en baja abundancia (5400 cell / L en 2013 y 672 cell / L en 2017), que puede reflejar muestreo limitado. Aunque los niveles umbrales de toxicidad en las especies de tortugas marinas no están bien caracterizada, nuestra evidencia sugiere que estos grandes eventos fueron el resultado de las floraciones de algas que producen PST y que estas floraciones son la mayor causa de mortalidad de tortugas marinas en esta región

Innerbetriebliche Ecopreneure durch Umweltmanagementsysteme? : eine Langzeitanalyse von Bedingungen für proaktives Umweltschutzverhalten

Erworben im Rahmen der Schweizer Nationallizenzen (http://www.nationallizenzen.ch)Die vorliegende Arbeit thematisiert, welche Unterstützungspotentiale Umweltmanagementsysteme (UMS) für Innerbetriebliches Ecopreneurship – proaktives, umweltbewusstes Arbeitsverhalten aller Unternehmensmitglieder – bieten. Eine Längsschnittuntersuchung in sechs deutschen Unternehmen ermittelt situative und personelle Faktoren, die Ecopreneurship maßgeblich beeinflussen. Unternehmen mit UMS-Aktivitäten weisen positivere Einschätzungen in den relevanten Verhaltensbedingungen und dem Ecopreneurship auf, aber keine kontinuierliche Verbesserungen von Ecopreneurship im Zeitverlauf. Daraus ergeben sich weitere Forschungsfragen, etwa zur Volatilität des proaktiven Arbeitsverhaltens

An A91V SNP in the perforin gene is frequently found in NK/T-cell lymphomas

NK/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) is the most frequent EBV-related NK/T-cell disease. Its clinical manifestations overlap with those of familial haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHLH). Since PERFORIN (PRF1) mutations are present in FHLH, we analysed its role in a series of 12 nasal and 12 extranasal-NKTCLs. 12.5% of the tumours and 25% of the nasal-origin cases had the well-known g.272C>T(p.Ala91Val) pathogenic SNP, which confers a poor prognosis. Two of these cases had a double-CD4/CD8-positive immunophenotype, although no correlation was found with perforin protein expression. p53 was overexpressed in 20% of the tumoral samples, 80% of which were of extranasal origin, while none showed PRF1 SNVs. These results suggest that nasal and extranasal NKTCLs have different biological backgrounds, although this requires validation

Age and Disability Employment Discrimination: Occupational Rehabilitation Implications

Introduction As concerns grow that a thinning labor force due to retirement will lead to worker shortages, it becomes critical to support positive employment outcomes of groups who have been underutilized, specifically older workers and workers with disabilities. Better understanding perceived age and disability discrimination and their intersection can help rehabilitation specialists and employers address challenges expected as a result of the evolving workforce. Methods Using U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Integrated Mission System data, we investigate the nature of employment discrimination charges that cite the Americans with Disabilities Act or Age Discrimination in Employment Act individually or jointly. We focus on trends in joint filings over time and across categories of age, types of disabilities, and alleged discriminatory behavior. Results We find that employment discrimination claims that originate from older or disabled workers are concentrated within a subset of issues that include reasonable accommodation, retaliation, and termination. Age-related disabilities are more frequently referenced in joint cases than in the overall pool of ADA filings, while the psychiatric disorders are less often referenced in joint cases. When examining charges made by those protected under both the ADA and ADEA, results from a logit model indicate that in comparison to charges filed under the ADA alone, jointly-filed ADA/ADEA charges are more likely to be filed by older individuals, by those who perceive discrimination in hiring and termination, and to originate from within the smallest firms. Conclusion In light of these findings, rehabilitation and workplace practices to maximize the hiring and retention of older workers and those with disabilities are discussed