A third subunit in ancestral cytochrome c-dependent nitric oxide reductases

Reduction of NO to N2O by denitrifiying bacteria is catalyzed either by a monomeric quinol-nitric oxide reductase (qNor) or by a heterodimeric cytochrome c-dependent nitric oxide reductase (cNor). In ancient thermophilic bacteria belonging to the Thermales and Aquificales phylogenetic groups, the cluster encoding the cNor includes a small third gene (norH), in addition to those encoding homologues to the subunits of a typical cNor (norC and norB). We show in Thermus thermophilus that the three genes are cotranscribed in a single mRNA from an inducible promoter. The isolation of individual nor mutants and the production in vivo of His-tagged NorH protein followed by immobilized-metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) allowed us to conclude that NorH constitutes a third subunit of the cNor from T. thermophilus, which is involved in denitrification in vivo, likely allowing more efficient electron transport to cNor. © 2014, American Society for Microbiology.Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiviness (MEC) and by National Institutes of Health grants HL16101 (R.B.G.) and GM095600 (R.B.G.). An institutional grant from Fundación Ramón Areces to CBMSO and financial support to the Spanish National Network for Extremophilic Microorganisms (BIO2011-12879-E)Peer Reviewe

Empirical examination of executive functioning, ADHD associated behaviors, and functional impairments in adults with persistent ADHD, remittent ADHD, and without ADHD

Background: Previous studies suggest that childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may continue in adulthood, producing adverse effects. Therefore, identifying factors that help to differentiate characteristics of ADHD persistence and remission has practical implications for evaluation and treatment. The first aim of this study was to analyze differences in executive functions (shift, working memory, inhibition, and plan/organize), symptoms associated with ADHD (inattention, hyperactivity, emotional lability, and self-concept), and functional impairments in adults with persistent ADHD (ADHD-P), with remittent ADHD (ADHD-R), and without ADHD (N-ADHD). The second aim was to study the contribution of functional impairments in these three groups based on executive functions and associated ADHD behaviors. Methods: Participants were 115 adults, 61 with a childhood ADHD diagnosis (40 persisters and 21 remitters) and 54 individuals with typical development. Self-reports were collected on executive functions, symptoms associated with ADHD, and functional impairments. Multivariate Analyses of Variance were conducted to test differences between the ADHD-P, ADHD-R, and N-ADHD groups on the evaluated variables. In addition, analyses were performed using two structural equation models with observed variables (path analyses). Results: The results indicated that significant executive and behavioral impairments and adverse functional outcomes in different life domains are related to the diagnostic persistence of ADHD. Recovery from the disorder is associated with better results, although hyperactivity/restlessness behaviors and plan/organize deficits continue to be present in remitter individuals

Bronchogenic cyst excision using a robotic laparoscopic transdiaphragmatic approach

AbstractWe describe one case of a bronchopulmonary foregut malformations (BPFM) excision using robotic technology in a pediatric patient. Traditionally, surgical resection is performed using a thoracotomy or video-assisted thoracic surgery. A 12-year-old girl with a previous medical history of cough was diagnosed with a left cystic paracardiac mass. Her operation employed a transdiaphragmatic approach to remove the mass. The postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged after four days. The subsequent pathology concluded that the mass was a bronchogenic cyst. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of transdiaphragmatic laparoscopic approach and first use of robotics-platform for BPFM excision by children. We elected to use this type of procedure to decrease the postoperative morbidity associated with the thoracic approach. The robotic technology permitted surgical resection with a similar efficiency as standard thoracic or laparoscopic procedures. We hypothesized that this technology would simplify some of the technical points, decreasing any postoperative complications

Direct identification of extended defects as vortex pinning centers in melt textured YBa2Cu3O7-Y2BaCuO5 composites

Single domain YBa2Cu3O7-Y2BaCuO5 melt textured ceramic composites have revealed a very rich microstructure, which has usually impeded, by using standard measurements, to evaluate the contribution of each defect to the enhancement of the critical current. We have measured the inplane magnetoresistance anisotropy and the anisotropic in-plane inductive critical currents and we show that together with the microstructural TEM analysis, the contribution of the different extended pinning centers can be separated. These results have allowed us to infer the kind of microstructure modifications required to improve the critical current. In particular, we present an isostatic pressing deformation technique as a very promising post-processing treatment to strongly increase the critical currents of these composites.Peer Reviewe

Propuesta metodológica para la evaluación de la calidad deontológica de las noticias sobre violencias contra las mujeres

La producción académica sobre el tratamiento periodístico de la violencia contra las mujeres en España ha aumentado de forma importante durante las últimas décadas. Sin embargo, a pesar de las variadas recomendaciones sobre cómo abordar desde la ética y la responsabilidad este reto informativo, no existe aún una herramienta que compile y clarifique los criterios deontológicos y ayude a la labor periodística en la redacción de estas noticias. Partiendo del conocido como periodismo de calidad, en este trabajo se ha realizado un estudio sobre los diferentes documentos deontológicos existentes a partir de los cuales se propone una herramienta analítica para evaluar la calidad de las noticias sobre las violencias que sufren las mujeres. La potencialidad de esta herramienta radica, entre otras cuestiones, en la capacidad para evaluar tanto previa como posteriormente la adecuación ética de las noticias a los consensos establecidos con el objetivo de contribuir a la mejora de la comunicación pública de este problema coadyuvando a su erradicación.Over the last decades there has been a significant increase in the academic literature focused on the journalistic approach about violence against women in Spain. However, and despite the wide-ranging recommendations on how to tackle this challenge in information, there is no tool that gathers and explains the ethical criteria and helps journalists in their work of drafting a news release. On the basis of what is known as quality journalism, this paper studies the different existing documents on codes of conduct in order to develop an analytical tool which assesses the quality of news concerning violence against women. The potential of this tool lies, among other issues, in the capacity to evaluate, both before and after, the ethical appropriateness to the public consensus so as to enhance the communication of this problem to the public and, thereby, contribute to stop it

Fatal spirorchiidosis in European pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) in Switzerland.

Infections with intravascular digenean trematodes of the Spirorchiidae family (spirorchiidoses) are of great conservation concern both in marine and freshwater turtles due to their pathogenic potential. Between 2014 and 2021, Spirorchis sp. infections associated with granulomatous inflammation and sudden death were detected in European pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) from three conservation breeding facilities in Switzerland. Blood fluke eggs associated with lesions were found in the intestine, spleen, testis, skeletal musculature, heart, kidneys, stomach, pancreas, liver, lung, and meninges from nine pond turtles submitted for necropsy and in the intestinal content from five of these animals. Two novel polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) targeting the 28S ribosomal RNA gene and the ITS2 region and subsequent sequencing revealed 100% nucleotide identity with a Spirorchis sp. previously isolated from an Escambia map turtle (Graptemys ernsti) in the USA. Our findings suggest a spill-over event secondary to direct or indirect contact with invasive North American turtle species in Switzerland. We describe the clinical, haematological, ultrasonographical, endoscopical, parasitological, pathological, and molecular findings associated with spirorchiid blood fluke infections of the Spirorchis genus in E. orbicularis, as well as the biosecurity measures that were developed to prevent the spread of this parasite among breeding and highly endangered free-ranging E. orbicularis populations in Switzerland