The physical acceptability conditions and the strategies to obtain anisotropic compact objects

We studied five methods to include anisotropy, or unequal stress distributions, in general relativistic matter configurations. We used nine acceptability conditions that the metric and physical variables must meet to determine if our models were astrophysically viable. Our analysis found the most effective way to introduce anisotropy while keeping a simple density profile. We also found a practical "rule of thumb" that relates the density at the boundary to the density at the centre of relativistic matter distributions. Additionally, we calculated the configuration radius and encountered that values observed by NICER for PSR J0740+6620 are consistent with several acceptable matter configurations, both isotropic and anisotropic.Comment: 20 pages, 3 figures. Typo correctio

Antibacterial activity of a combination of cysteine and ciprofloxacin and its relationship with the generation of oxidative stress in extended-spectrum betalactamase-producing escherichia coli strains

The aim of the present work was to evaluate whether L-cysteine enhances theantibiotic susceptibility of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) Escherichia coli strains to ciprofloxacin and to identify the role of Reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the antimicrobial activity.The combined ef5fect of L-cysteine and ciprofloxacin was investigated by the macrodilution broth method and chemiluminescence assay. ESBL 1 and ESBL 2 strains presented a growth inhibition when they were incubated with 0.4 or 0.2 mM of cysteine, respectively compared to the control without antibiotic. Both strains at sub-inhibitory concentration of ciprofloxacin were combined withcysteine, and a clear growth inhibition respect to the control was observed. An increase of 68% in ROS occurred respect to the control when ESBL 1 was treated with a combination of ciprofloxacin and cysteine, while for ESBL 2 there was a rice of 127 %. The combination of ciprofloxacin with cysteine had the capacity to undergo redox cycling and ROS production with subsequent cellularinjury.Fil: Martínez, S. R.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Bongiovanni, M. E.. Hospital Privado Centro Medico de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Piersigilli, Andrea Laura. Sanatorio Aconcagua; ArgentinaFil: Albesa, Inés. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Becerra, María Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia; Argentin

La agricultura periurbana multifuncional y sus aportaciones hacia la sustentabilidad regional en la Zona Metropolitana de Guadalajara, Jalisco, México

Un modelo de desarrollo basado en relaciones asimétricas y desequilibradas entre la ciudad y el campo, y entre la sociedad y sus ecosistemas, ha dado como resultado que en la Zona Metropolitana de Guadalajara (ZMG), en Jalisco, México, se generen conflictos ambientales en un entorno de creciente insustentabilidad regional. Algunas expresiones de esta situación se manifiestan en las áreas periurbanas y rurales con el avance descontrolado de la urbanización, la disminución de la superficie agropecuaria, la pérdida de vegetación y agrodiversidad, la deforestación, el agotamiento de los suelos, la disminución y contaminación del agua, la sanidad de los alimentos, las afectaciones a la salud pública y el deterioro del nivel de vida de sus habitantes. La importancia poblacional, económica y política de esta región y el aumento de los conflictos ambientales, demandan a los actores sociales e institucionales, la construcción de alternativas hacia la sustentabilidad regional, y en ellas juegan un papel fundamental la múltiples funciones que desempeña la agricultura periurbana o agricultura de proximidad. En este capítulo se presentan reflexiones y avances del proyecto de investigación e intervención “Agua, agrodiversidad y medio ambiente en la región Guadalajara-Chapala-Santiago” que a partir de una perspectiva de complejidad, ubicada en las ciencias de la sustentabilidad, ha realizado investigación interdisciplinaria en torno a tres procesos relevantes que generan conflictos ambientales en la región: a) uso y manejo del agua, b) relaciones ciudad campo, y c) gestión pública y social. El trabajo de intervención se ha orientado a la vinculación entre grupos y redes, a la formación campesino a campesino, al dialogo de saberes y al impulso de procesos sociales y organizativos, como parte del acompañamiento universitario a los actores locales en la construcción y fortalecimiento de sus alternativas hacia la sustentabilidad regional.ITESO, A.C

The metabotyping of an East African cassava diversity panel: A core collection for developing biotic stress tolerance in cassava

Cassava will have a vital role to play, if food security is to be achieved in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially Central and East Africa. The whitefly Bemisia tabaci poses a major threat to cassava production by small holder farmers in part due to their role as a vector of cassava mosaic begomoviruses (CMBs) and cassava brown streak ipomoviruses (CBSIs). In the present study untargeted metabolomics has been used as a tool to assess natural variation, similarities and attempts to identify trait differentiators among an East African cassava diversity panel that displayed tolerance/resistance to the effects of Bemisia tabaci infestation. The metabolome captured, was represented by 1529 unique chemical features per accession. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified a 23% variation across the panel, with geographical origin/adaption the most influential classification factors. Separation based on resistance and susceptible traits to Bemisia tabaci could also be observed within the data and was corroborated by genotyping data. Thus the metabolomics pipeline represented an effective metabotyping approach. Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering Analysis (HCA) of both the metabolomics and genotyping data was performed and revealed a high level of similarity between accessions. Specific differentiating features/metabolites were identified, including those potentially conferring vigour to whitefly tolerance on a constitutive manner. The implications of using these cassava varieties as parental breeding material and the future potential of incorporating more exotic donor material is discussed

Dexamethasone Increases Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor in Perfused Human Eyes

To investigate the effects of dexamethasone (DEX) on pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) cDNA and secreted protein in human trabecular meshwork (TM)

Sustainable strategies for management of the “false root-knot nematode” Nacobbus spp.

The genus Nacobbus, known as the false root-knot nematode, is native to the American continent and comprises polyphagous species adapted to a wide range of climatic conditions. Alone or in combination with other biotic and abiotic factors, Nacobbus spp. can cause significant economic yield losses on main food crops such as potato, sugar beet, tomato, pepper and bean, in South and North America. Although the genus distribution is restricted to the American continent, it has quarantine importance and is subject to international legislation to prevent its spread to other regions, such as the European Union. The management of Nacobbus spp. remains unsatisfactory due to the lack of information related to different aspects of its life cycle, survival stages in the soil and in plant material, a rapid and reliable diagnostic method for its detection and the insufficient source of resistant plant genotypes. Due to the high toxicity of chemical nematicides, the search for alternatives has been intensified. Therefore, this review reports findings on the application of environmentally benign treatments to manage Nacobbus spp. Biological control strategies, such as the use of different organisms (mainly bacteria, fungi and entomopathogenic nematodes) and other eco-compatible approaches (such as metabolites, essential oils, plant extracts, phytohormones and amendments), either alone or as part of a combined control strategy, are discussed. Knowledge of potential sources of resistance for genetic improvement for crops susceptible to Nacobbus spp. are also reported. The sustainable strategies outlined here offer immediate benefits, not only to counter the pathogen, but also as good alternatives to improve crop health and growth

What can we learn from GRBs?

We review our recent results on the classification of long and short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) in different subclasses. We provide observational evidences for the binary nature of GRB progenitors. For long bursts the induced gravitational collapse (IGC) paradigm proposes as progenitor a tight binary system composed of a carbon-oxygen core (COcore) and a neutron star (NS) companion; the supernova (SN) explosion of the COcore triggers a hypercritical accretion process onto the companion NS. For short bursts a NS–NS merger is traditionally adopted as the progenitor. We also indicate additional sub-classes originating from different progenitors: (COcore)–black hole (BH), BH–NS, and white dwarf–NS binaries. We also show how the outcomes of the further evolution of some of these sub-classes may become the progenitor systems of other sub-classes

Total and Subtypes of Dietary Fat Intake and Its Association with Components of the Metabolic Syndrome in a Mediterranean Population at High Cardiovascular Risk

Background: The effect of dietary fat intake on the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and in turn on cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains unclear in individuals at high CVD risk. Objective: To assess the association between fat intake and MetS components in an adult Mediterranean population at high CVD risk. Design: Baseline assessment of nutritional adequacy in participants (n = 6560, men and women, 55-75 years old, with overweight/obesity and MetS) in the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED)-Plus randomized trial. Methods: Assessment of fat intake (total fat, monounsatured fatty acids: MUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acids: PUFA, saturated fatty acids: SFA, trans-fatty acids: trans-FA, linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, and ω-3 FA) using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and diet quality using 17-item Mediterranean dietary questionnaire and fat quality index (FQI). Results: Participants in the highest quintile of total dietary fat intake showed lower intake of energy, carbohydrates, protein and fiber, but higher intake of PUFA, MUFA, SFA, TFA, LA, ALA and ω-3 FA. Differences in MetS components were found according to fat intake. Odds (5th vs. 1st quintile): hyperglycemia: 1.3-1.6 times higher for total fat, MUFA, SFA and ω-3 FA intake; low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c): 1.2 higher for LA; hypertriglyceridemia: 0.7 lower for SFA and ω-3 FA intake. Conclusions: Dietary fats played different role on MetS components of high CVD risk patients. Dietary fat intake was associated with higher risk of hyperglycemia

Isotemporal substitution of inactive time with physical activity and time in bed: cross-sectional associations with cardiometabolic health in the PREDIMEDPlus study

Background: This study explored the association between inactive time and measures of adiposity, clinical parameters, obesity, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome components. It further examined the impact of reallocating inactive time to time in bed, light physical activity (LPA) or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) on cardio-metabolic risk factors, including measures of adiposity and body composition, biochemical parameters and blood pressure in older adults. Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from 2189 Caucasian men and women (age 55-75 years, BMI 27-40 Kg/m2) from the PREDIMED-Plus study (http://www.predimedplus.com/). All participants had ≥3 components of the metabolic syndrome. Inactive time, physical activity and time in bed were objectively determined using triaxial accelerometers GENEActiv during 7 days (ActivInsights Ltd., Kimbolton, United Kingdom). Multiple adjusted linear and logistic regression models were used. Isotemporal substitution regression modelling was performed to assess the relationship of replacing the amount of time spent in one activity for another, on each outcome, including measures of adiposity and body composition, biochemical parameters and blood pressure in older adults. Results: Inactive time was associated with indicators of obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Reallocating 30 min per day of inactive time to 30 min per day of time in bed was associated with lower BMI, waist circumference and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (all p-values < 0.05). Reallocating 30 min per day of inactive time with 30 min per day of LPA or MVPA was associated with lower BMI, waist circumference, total fat, visceral adipose tissue, HbA1c, glucose, triglycerides, and higher body muscle mass and HDL cholesterol (all p-values < 0.05). Conclusions: Inactive time was associated with a poor cardio-metabolic profile. Isotemporal substitution of inactive time with MVPA and LPA or time in bed could have beneficial impact on cardio-metabolic health