Synthesis and Characterization of New Layered Double Hydroxide-Polyolefin Film Nanocomposites with Special Optical Properties

In this study, we have synthesized new double layered hydroxides to be incorporated to low density polyethylene thermoplastic matrix. These new composites present promising applications as materials to build greenhouses due to the enhancement of their optical properties. A characterization of the modified nanoclay has been performed by means of X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). We have prepared a series of polyolefin-based films to evaluate the effect of the addition of a whitening agent (disodium 2,20 -((1,10 -biphenyl)-4,40 -diyldivinylene)bis(benzenesulfonate)), the modified hydrotalcite-like material and a commercial dispersant. The rheological and mechanical characterization of the films have proved that the inclusion of the modified-layered double hydroxides (LDHs) do not substantially affect the processing and mechanical performance of the material. On the other hand, optical properties of the nanocomposites are improved by reducing the transmission in the UVA region.This research was funded by CETEC (Project 5865/19IMMF-C) and “Este trabajo es resultado de la actividad desarrollada en el marco del Programa de Ayudas a Grupos de Excelencia de la Región de Murcia, de la Fundación Séneca, Agencia de Ciencia y Tecnología de la Región de Murcia (grant #19877/GERM/15)”. Authors thank Carlos Gracia from TA Instruments for technical support

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis

[Purpose]: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. [Methods]: Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups:<65 years,65 to 80 years,and ≥ 80 years.The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was calculated to quantify the diagnostic accuracy of the CCI to predict mortality risk. [Results]: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327 < 65 years;1291 65-80 years;502 ≥ 80 years) were enrolled.Fever and heart failure were the most common presentations of IE, with no differences among age groups.Patients ≥80 years who underwent surgery were significantly lower compared with other age groups (14.3%,65 years; 20.5%,65-79 years; 31.3%,≥80 years). In-hospital mortality was lower in the <65-year group (20.3%,<65 years;30.1%,65-79 years;34.7%,≥80 years;p < 0.001) as well as 1-year mortality (3.2%, <65 years; 5.5%, 65-80 years;7.6%,≥80 years; p = 0.003).Independent predictors of mortality were age ≥ 80 years (hazard ratio [HR]:2.78;95% confidence interval [CI]:2.32–3.34), CCI ≥ 3 (HR:1.62; 95% CI:1.39–1.88),and non-performed surgery (HR:1.64;95% CI:11.16–1.58).When the three age groups were compared,the AUROC curve for CCI was significantly larger for patients aged <65 years(p < 0.001) for both in-hospital and 1-year mortality. [Conclusion]: There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age ≥ 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI),and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in the <65-year group

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

Antibacterial activity of extracts and compounds isolated from the Andean medicinal plant Azorella cryptantha (Clos) Reiche, Apiaceae

Azorella cryptantha (Clos) Reiche, Apiaceae, vernacular name “yerba del soldado or cuerno de cabra” is a medicinal herb that grows in the Andean mountains (Argentina). An infusion or decoction of the leaves is employed as cholagogue and digestive, usually to treat food-borne illnesses associated with enterobacteria. Extracts and compounds from two Argentinean populations were subjected to antibacterial assays against pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enteritidis and Yersinia enterocolitica) and Gram (+) Staphylococcus aureus methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant microorganisms. The antibacterial activity-guided fractionation against a panel of ATCC and clinically isolated bacteria was done according to CLSI protocols. The petroleum ether extracts from both populations showed strong antibacterial activity against S. enteritidis with MIC values from 125 to 250 μg/ml, and also towards methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, and Gram negative strains E. coli, P. aeruginosa, Salmonella sp. and Yersinia enterocolítica-PI, (MICs between 400 and 1000 μg/ml). Fractions from the petroleum extracts showed strong antimicrobial activity, against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, E. coli-LM1, E. coli-LM2, and Salmonella enteritidis-MI, with MICs values between 31.2 and 125 μg/ml. The bioassay-guided fractionation of the petroleum ether extracts led to the isolation of nine terpenes: azorellolide (1), mulinol (2), stachytriol (3),1α,10β,4β,5α-diepoxy-7β-germacran-6β-ol (4), 1β,10α,4β,5α-diepoxy-7β-germacran-6β-ol (5), 1,2,3,3α,4,5,6,7,8,8α-decahydro-7-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-1,4-dimethylazulene-3α,8α-diol (6), madreporanone (7), yaretol (8) and chrysotol or 6β,10β-epoxy-4α-hydroxyguaiane (9). Compounds 3, 5, 6 and 9 are reported here for the first time from A. cryptantha. Their structures and relative configurations have been determinated by means 1D and 2D NMR techniques. Chrysothol (9), madreporanone (7), and stachytriol (3) showed strong antimicrobial activities (MICs = 50–100 μg/ml) against enterobacteria E. coli and S. enteritidis. The antibacterial activity found for some of the isolated compounds supports least in part, the commercial exploited of this species to treat food-borne illnesses associated with Gram negative pathogenic bacteria.Fil: Lima, Beatriz Viviana. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Sánchez, Marianela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos Aplicados A la Química Orgánica (i); Argentina; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Agüero, María Belén. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Tapia, Alejandro. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Palermo, Jorge Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos Aplicados A la Química Orgánica (i); Argentina; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Feresin, Gabriela Egly. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentin

A genomic scale map of genetic diversity in <it>Trypanosoma cruzi</it>

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Trypanosoma cruzi</it>, the causal agent of Chagas Disease, affects more than 16 million people in Latin America. The clinical outcome of the disease results from a complex interplay between environmental factors and the genetic background of both the human host and the parasite. However, knowledge of the genetic diversity of the parasite, is currently limited to a number of highly studied <it>loci</it>. The availability of a number of genomes from different evolutionary lineages of <it>T. cruzi</it> provides an unprecedented opportunity to look at the genetic diversity of the parasite at a genomic scale.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using a bioinformatic strategy, we have clustered <it>T. cruzi</it> sequence data available in the public domain and obtained multiple sequence alignments in which one or two alleles from the reference CL-Brener were included. These data covers 4 major evolutionary lineages (DTUs): TcI, TcII, TcIII, and the hybrid TcVI. Using these set of alignments we have identified 288,957 high quality single nucleotide polymorphisms and 1,480 indels. In a reduced re-sequencing study we were able to validate ~ 97% of high-quality SNPs identified in 47 loci. Analysis of how these changes affect encoded protein products showed a 0.77 ratio of synonymous to non-synonymous changes in the <it>T. cruzi</it> genome. We observed 113 changes that introduce or remove a stop codon, some causing significant functional changes, and a number of tri-allelic and tetra-allelic SNPs that could be exploited in strain typing assays. Based on an analysis of the observed nucleotide diversity we show that the <it>T. cruzi</it> genome contains a core set of genes that are under apparent purifying selection. Interestingly, orthologs of known druggable targets show statistically significant lower nucleotide diversity values.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study provides the first look at the genetic diversity of <it>T. cruzi</it> at a genomic scale. The analysis covers an estimated ~ 60% of the genetic diversity present in the population, providing an essential resource for future studies on the development of new drugs and diagnostics, for Chagas Disease. These data is available through the TcSNP database (<url>http://snps.tcruzi.org</url>).</p

Semi-intensive larviculture of shad (Prochilodus lineatus) with different sources of food

Con el objetivo de obtener una mejor tasa de crecimiento y sobrevivencia garantizando una buena calidad y cantidad de alevinos, en el presente trabajo se comparó el crecimiento y la supervivencia de larvas de P. lineatus sometidas a tres regímene salimenticios diferentes en larvicultura semi-intensiva durante 29 días. Los estanques fueron fertilizados con estiércol bovino para la producción de alimento natural (AN) e identificados como tratamiento uno (T1) solo AN, T2 AN más alimento balanceado (AB) con 28% de proteína bruta (PB) y T3 AN más AB con 32% de PB. Se utilizaron estanques de cemento con una densidad de 100 larvas/m2, las cuales fueron alimentadas tres veces por día, registrándose parámetros de oxígeno y temperatura dos veces por día. Al culminar la experiencia se verificó el peso final y la tasa de sobrevivencia. Los tratamientos T2 y T3 registraron los mayores pesos finales, no encontrándose diferencias para la tasa de sobrevivencia.With the purpose of obtaining a better rate of growth and survival guaranteeing a good quality and quantity of alevins, this case has compared the growth and the survival of P. lineatus larvae while exposed to three different alimentary regimes during 29 days of semi-intensive larviculture. The ponds were fertilized with bovine manure to produce natural food (AN) and were identified as treatment one (T1) only AN, T2 AN more balanced food (AB) with 28% of gross protein (PB), T3 AN more AB whit 32% of PB. Concrete ponds were utilized with a density of 100 larvae/m2. They were fed three times per day and oxygen and temperature parameters were registered twice a day. At the end of the experiment middleweight and survival rate were measured. T2 and T3 had a higher middleweight, no difference was found on their survival rate.Fil: Comolli, Javier Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ictiología del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: González, Alfredo O.. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ictiología del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Agüero, Carlos Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ictiología del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Roux, Juan Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ictiología del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Sánchez, S.. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ictiología del Nordeste; Argentin

Haloarchaea as Cell Factories to Produce Bioplastics

Plastic pollution is a worldwide concern causing the death of animals (mainly aquatic fauna) and environmental deterioration. Plastic recycling is, in most cases, difficult or even impossible. For this reason, new research lines are emerging to identify highly biodegradable bioplastics or plastic formulations that are more environmentally friendly than current ones. In this context, microbes, capable of synthesizing bioplastics, were revealed to be good models to design strategies in which microorganisms can be used as cell factories. Recently, special interest has been paid to haloarchaea due to the capability of some species to produce significant concentrations of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), and polyhydroxyvalerate (PHV) when growing under a specific nutritional status. The growth of those microorganisms at the pilot or industrial scale offers several advantages compared to that of other microbes that are bioplastic producers. This review summarizes the state of the art of bioplastic production and the most recent findings regarding the production of bioplastics by halophilic microorganisms with special emphasis on haloarchaea. Some protocols to produce/analyze bioplastics are highlighted here to shed light on the potential use of haloarchaea at the industrial scale to produce valuable products, thus minimizing environmental pollution by plastics made from petroleum.This work was funded by research grant from the MINECO Spain (RTI2018‐099860‐B‐I00), University of Alicante, Spain (VIGROB‐309), INFO Región de Murcia, Spain (2020.08.CT01.0039) and grant from Deanship of Scientific Research, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, (UJ‐02‐015‐ICGR)

Multi-interface network framework for UAV management and data communications

Proceeding of 2021 IEEE Globecom Workshops (GC Wkshps), Madrid, Spain, 7-11 December 2021.Recent efforts to manage Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operations in European civilian environments have resulted in the development of U-space, the European Union’s UAS Traffic Management (UTM) concept of operations. This paper presents the primary purposes of the H2020 Labyrinth project (mainly focusing on the communications architecture), which has as its main challenge to create and validate UAV applications through the research and development of path-planning algorithms and new UTM services. In addition, this article performs a preliminary validation of a communications prototype (including three communication alternatives) with real equipment of the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) of the Spanish Ministry of Defense. The presented results show the functionality of the prototypes and serve as a starting point to develop the requirements defined in the communications architecture.This article has been supported by the H2020 Labyrinth project (grant agreement 861696), and the TRUE5G project funded by the Spanish National Research Agency (PID2019-108713RB681 C52/AEI/10.13039/501100011033), the Madrid Government (Comunidad de Madrid-Spain) under the Multiannual Agreement with UC3M in the line of Excellence of University Professors (EPUC3M21), and in the context of the V PRICIT (Regional Programme of Research and Technological Innovation).Publicad

Argentinean Andean propolis associated with the medicinal plant Larrea nitida Cav. (Zygophyllaceae): HPLC-MS and GC-MS characterization and antifungal activity

The chemical profile and botanical origin of Andean Argentinian propolis were studied by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS and GC-MS techniques as well as the antifungal activity according to CLSI protocols. Dermatophytes and yeasts tested were strongly inhibited by propolis extracts (MICs between 31.25 and 125 μg/mL). The main antifungal compounds were: 3'methyl-nordihydroguaiaretic acid (MNDGA) 1, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) 2 and a NDGA derivative 3, showing strong activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum and Microsporum gypseum (MICs between 15.6 and 31.25 μg/mL). The lignans 1 and 2 showed activities against clinical isolates of Candidas spp., Cryptococcus spp., T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes (MICs and MFCs between 31.25 and 62.5 μg/mL). The lignan and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) profiles from propolis matched with those of exudates of Larrea nitida providing strong evidences on its botanical origin. These results support that Argentinian Andean propolis are a valuable natural product with potential to improve human health. Six compounds (1-6) were isolated from propolis for the first time, while compounds 1 and 3-6 were reported for first time as constituents of L. nitida Cav.Fil: Agüero, María Belén. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Svetaz, Laura Andrea. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Departamento de Química Orgánica. Área Farmacognosia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Sánchez, Marianela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Orgánica; ArgentinaFil: Luna, Lorena Celina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Lima, Beatriz Viviana. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: López, María Liza. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Zacchino, Susana Alicia Stella. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Departamento de Química Orgánica. Área Farmacognosia; ArgentinaFil: Palermo, Jorge Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica; ArgentinaFil: Wunderlin, Daniel Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Secretaría de Ciencia y Tecnología. Instituto Superior de Investigación, Desarrollo y Servicio de Alimentos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Feresin, Gabriela Egly. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Tapia, Aníbal Alejandro. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentin