Glucose uptake in Prochlorococcus: diversity of kinetics and effects on the metabolism

We have previously shown that Prochlorococcus sp. SS120 strain takes up glucose by using a multiphasic transporter encoded by the Pro1404 gene. Here, we studied the glucose uptake kinetics in multiple Prochlorococcus strains from different ecotypes, observing diverse values for the Ks constants (15–126.60 nM) and the uptake rates (0.48–6.36 pmol min-1 mg prot-1). Multiphasic kinetics was observed in all studied strains, except for TAK9803-2. Pro1404 gene expression studies during the 21st Atlantic Meridional Transect cruise showed positive correlation with glucose concentrations in the ocean. This suggests that the Pro1404 transporter has been subjected to diversification along the Prochlorococcus evolution, in a process probably driven by the glucose availabilities at the different niches it inhabits. The glucose uptake mechanism seems to be a primary transporter. Glucose addition induced detectable transcriptomic and proteomic changes in Prochlorococcus SS120, but photosynthetic efficiency was unaffected. Our studies indicate that glucose is actively taken up by Prochlorococcus, but its uptake does not significantly alter the trophic ways of this cyanobacterium, which continues performing photosynthesis. Therefore Prochlorococcus seems to remain acting as a fundamentally phototrophic organism, capable of using glucose as an extra resource of carbon and energy when available in the environment

Cognitive stimulation as alternative treatment to improve psychological disorders in patients with mild cognitive impairment

(1) Background: Mild cognitive impairment is becoming one of the most common clinical manifestations affecting older people. For this reason, developing non-pharmacological strategies to help improve or maintain the physical condition of patients with mild dementia has become a priority. Therefore, the objective of this study is to provide evidence about the effects of a cognitive stimulation program on cognitive performance, anxiety, depression, and quality of life in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and aged > 70. (2) Methods: This study is a randomized clinical trial. A total of 72 elderly people with MCI participated: 35 in the control group who did not receive any intervention and 36 in the experimental group who received a cognitive stimulation program for 12 weeks. Cognitive performance, depression, anxiety and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale, the Hamilton Rating Scale, and the SF-12, respectively. (3) Results: In the experimental group, significant results were obtained on cognitive performance, depression, anxiety and general health, emotional role, social functioning, vitality, mental health and mental component summary domains of the SF-12. (4) Conclusions: a cognitive stimulation program of 12 weeks improves cognitive performance, anxiety, depression, and HRQoL in people with MCI aged > 70

Differential scanning calorimetry and elasticity of textured, heat set and mechanical strained polylactide multifilaments

Industrially textured PLA multifilaments were heat set under different conditions at 110 ºC for 1 min and subjected to one cycle of deformation up to 20%. Thermal transitions of the original textured, heat set and cyclic strained filaments were measured using differential scanning calorimetry from 25 to 250 ºC. Cyclic deformation induces an endo-exo transition at peak temperatures between 55 - 60 ºC that is not observed in the original textured and heat set multifilaments. There is another endo-exo transition with peak temperatures between 67 and 72 ºC in all filaments, the intensity of which varies according to texturing conditions, heat setting and cycle strain. Texturing conditions, heat setting and cyclic strain play a role in thermal transitions, the strain at breaking and elastic properties of the filaments. The crystallinity and magnitude of the endo-exo thermal events detected by DSC are related to the strain at breaking and elasticity of polylactide textured multifilamentsPostprint (published version

A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

Meeting abstrac

Outcomes from elective colorectal cancer surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

This study aimed to describe the change in surgical practice and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mortality after surgical resection of colorectal cancer during the initial phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Normothermic regional perfusion vs. super-rapid recovery in controlled donation after circulatory death liver transplantation

[Background & Aims] Although there is increasing interest in its use, definitive evidence demonstrating a benefit for postmortem normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) in controlled donation after circulatory death (cDCD) liver transplantation is lacking. The aim of this study was to compare results of cDCD liver transplants performed with postmortem NRP vs. super-rapid recovery (SRR), the current standard for cDCD.[Methods] This was an observational cohort study including all cDCD liver transplants performed in Spain between June 2012 and December 2016, with follow-up ending in December 2017. Each donor hospital determined whether organ recovery was performed using NRP or SRR. The propensity scores technique based on the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to balance covariates across study groups; logistic and Cox regression models were used for binary and time-to-event outcomes.[Results] During the study period, there were 95 cDCD liver transplants performed with postmortem NRP and 117 with SRR. The median donor age was 56 years (interquartile range 45–65 years). After IPTW analysis, baseline covariates were balanced, with all absolute standardised differences <0.15. IPTW-adjusted risks were significantly improved among NRP livers for overall biliary complications (odds ratio 0.14; 95% CI 0.06–0.35, p <0.001), ischaemic type biliary lesions (odds ratio 0.11; 95% CI 0.02–0.57; p = 0.008), and graft loss (hazard ratio 0.39; 95% CI 0.20–0.78; p = 0.008).[Conclusions] The use of postmortem NRP in cDCD liver transplantation appears to reduce postoperative biliary complications, ischaemic type biliary lesions and graft loss, and allows for the transplantation of livers even from cDCD donors of advanced age.[Lay summary] This is a propensity-matched nationwide observational cohort study performed using livers recovered from donors undergoing cardiac arrest provoked by the intentional withdrawal of life support (controlled donation after circulatory death, cDCD). Approximately half of the livers were recovered after a period of postmortem in situ normothermic regional perfusion, which restored warm oxygenated blood to the abdominal organs, whereas the remainder were recovered after rapid preservation with a cold solution. The study results suggest that the use of postmortem normothermic regional perfusion helps reduce rates of post-transplant biliary complications and graft loss and allows for the successful transplantation of livers from older cDCD donors.Peer reviewe

Differential scanning calorimetry and elasticity of textured, heat set and mechanical strained polylactide multifilaments

Industrially textured PLA multifilaments were heat set under different conditions at 110 ºC for 1 min and subjected to one cycle of deformation up to 20%. Thermal transitions of the original textured, heat set and cyclic strained filaments were measured using differential scanning calorimetry from 25 to 250 ºC. Cyclic deformation induces an endo-exo transition at peak temperatures between 55 - 60 ºC that is not observed in the original textured and heat set multifilaments. There is another endo-exo transition with peak temperatures between 67 and 72 ºC in all filaments, the intensity of which varies according to texturing conditions, heat setting and cycle strain. Texturing conditions, heat setting and cyclic strain play a role in thermal transitions, the strain at breaking and elastic properties of the filaments. The crystallinity and magnitude of the endo-exo thermal events detected by DSC are related to the strain at breaking and elasticity of polylactide textured multifilament

Live Demonstration: Low-Power Low-Cost Cyber-Physical System for Bird Monitoring

IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS), Florence, Italy, May 2018. ISBN 978-1-5386-4881-0.This live demonstration showcases a cyber-physical system tailored for inexpensive remote bird monitoring. A comprehensive analysis of the application requirements along with a tight system integration have given rise to a smart autonomous nest-box ready for deployment. This nest-box includes radiofrequency identification (RFID), a weighing scale, two temperature sensors, passive infrared devices (PIR), massive data storage and internet connection via mobile infrastructure. It is powered through a solar panel. The bill of materials has been diminished 77% with respect to the previous version of the nest-box whereas the power consumption has been reduced 84%.Peer reviewe