Evaluating the usefulness of continuous leaf turgor pressure measurements for the assessment of Persimmon tree water status

Continuous plant water status monitoring is crucial in order to improve irrigation management. The noninvasive Yara ZIM-probe was assessed for detecting plant water stress in Persimmon trees (Diospyros kaki L.f.). The probe measures the pressure transfer function (Pp) through a patch of an intact leaf, which is inversely correlated with the turgor pressure. This technology was evaluated in two parallel experiments involving either distinct watering regimes or rootstocks with different drought tolerance [Diospyros lotus (L) and Diospyros virginiana (V)]. Concomitant measurements of midday stem water potential (Ψstem) and trunk diameter variations were taken throughout the experiments. Pp was highly correlated with Ψstem. Persimmon leaves exhibited the inversed Pp curve phenomena under water stress, which enabled the association of a particular range of Ψstem to each of the three leaf turgor states defined. Persimmon trees with no sign of initial or total inversion ensured Ψstem above −0.8 MPa, values considered of a well-watered Persimmon tree. Yara ZIM-probe readings as well as Ψstem and trunk diameter variation measurements pointed L as a more sensitive rootstock to drought than V. In conclusion, results showed that the Yara ZIM-probe can be used to continuously monitor water status in Persimmon trees although further research would be needed to ensure their feasibility for scheduling irrigation

Efecto de la disminución de la grasa de la leche de oveja sobre el contenido de colesterol en el queso

Cardiovascular problems among the population have caused the presence of numerous low fat products in the dairy market, however no low fat ewe's milk cheeses have been commercialized. The effect of the reduction in the fat content of ewe's milk destined for cheese making on the fat, dry matter and cholesterol contents of cheeses ripened for 60, 90 and 120 days has been studied. Cheeses elaborated from low fat milks retained less water at the final stage of ripening. The cholesterol content expressed as a percentage of dry matter significatively increased during the maturation of low fat cheeses. A reduction of 50 % in the fat content of ewe's milk produced a decrease in fat and cholesterol of 33 % and 25 % respectively in the cheese. A reduction of 75 % in the fat content of ewe's milk produced a reduction in fat and cholesterol of 50% in the cheese. One portion of ripened ewe's milk cheese ( 60 g ) elaborated from 2, 4, and 8 % of fat content contributes to 22, 30 and 41 % of the recommended daily allowances (RDAs) for the Spanish population (300 mg of cholesterol per day).Los problemas cardiovasculares de la población han provocado la aparición de numerosos productos lácteos desnatados, si bien en el mercado no se encuentran quesos de oveja bajos en grasa. Se ha estudiado el efecto de la reducción del contenido graso de la leche de oveja utilizada para la elaboración de queso, sobre el contenido graso, el extracto seco y el colesterol en quesos de 60, 90 y 120 días de maduración. Las muestras elaboradas con leche reducida en grasa retienen menos el agua al final de la maduración. El contenido en colesterol sobre extracto seco aumentó significativamente a lo largo de la maduración en los quesos reducidos en grasa. Una reducción del 50 % de la grasa de la leche de partida produce una disminución del 33 % de la grasa y del 25 % del colesterol en el queso, respectivamente. Una reducción del 75 % produce una disminución del 50 % de la grasa y del 50 % del colesterol en queso. Una ración de queso maduro de oveja ( 60 g ) elaborado con leche de 2, 4 y 8 % de grasa supone un aporte de colesterol del 21,8, 30,4 y 41,4 % de las recomendaciones máximas diarias para la población española (300 mg colesterol/día)

Usefulness of the ZIM-probe technology for detecting water stress in clementine and persimmon trees

Further improvement on irrigation management requires continuous plant water status monitoring. The non-invasive ZIM-probe measures the pressure (Pp) transfer function through a patch of an intact leaf, which is inversely correlated with the turgor pressure. Data are sent wireless in real-Time by telemetry to an internet server via a mobile phone network where it is available to be analyzed. In this work, the detection of water stress by measuring relative changes in turgor pressure with the ZIM-probe was evaluated in clementine and persimmon trees. Ten trees of both species were equipped with two ZIM-probes each located at the east side of the canopy. The ZIM-probes were used over several months during which half of the trees were subjected to two drought cycles. Concomitant measurements of stem water potential (ψs) were taken at midday in both orchards during the drought periods. Additionally, determinations of ψs and stomatal conductance (gs) were also performed during 1-2 days at hourly intervals in the clementine and persimmon orchards, respectively, to study the existing relationship of these classical indicators with the leaf turgor pressure. Results showed that diurnal Pp values increased in non-irrigated clementine trees when water restrictions were imposed. Persimmon drought-stressed trees, on the other hand, showed different Pp curve shapes (half and complete inverse curve) depending on the level of stress reached by the trees. There was a tight correlation between the hourly spot measurements of ψs and gs with the probe data. Overall, results show that the ZIM-probe enables the detection of drought stress in clementine and persimmon trees. Nevertheless, different approaches for calculating the water stress level must be used in each of these species due to the higher tendency of persimmon leaves to the inversed Pp curve phenomena

RF tumor ablation with internally cooled electrodes and saline infusion: what is the optimal location of the saline infusion?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of tumors by means of internally cooled electrodes (ICE) combined with interstitial infusion of saline may improve clinical results. To date, infusion has been conducted through outlets placed on the surface of the cooled electrode. However, the effect of infusion at a distance from the electrode surface is unknown. Our aim was to assess the effect of perfusion distance (PD) on the coagulation geometry and deposited power during RFA using ICE.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Experiments were performed on excised bovine livers. Perfusion distance (PD) was defined as the shortest distance between the infusion outlet and the surface of the ICE. We considered three values of PD: 0, 2 and 4 mm. Two sets of experiments were considered: 1) 15 ablations of 10 minutes (n ≥ 4 for each PD), in order to evaluate the effect of PD on volume and diameters of coagulation; and 2) 20 additional ablations of 20 minutes. The effect of PD on deposited power and relative frequency of uncontrolled impedance rises (roll-off) was evaluated using the results from the two sets of experiments (n ≥ 7 for each PD). Comparisons between PD were performed by analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis test. Additionally, non-linear regression models were performed to elucidate the best PD in terms of coagulation volume and diameter, and the occurrence of uncontrolled impedance rises.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The best-fit least square functions were always obtained with quadratic curves where volume and diameters of coagulation were maximum for a PD of 2 mm. A thirty per cent increase in volume coagulation was observed for this PD value compared to other values (<it>P </it>< 0.05). Likewise, the short coagulation diameter was nearly twenty five per cent larger for a 2 mm PD than for 0 mm. Regarding deposited power, the best-fit least square function was obtained by a quadratic curve with a 2 mm PD peak. This matched well with the higher relative frequency of uncontrolled impedance rises for PD of 0 and 4 mm.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Saline perfusion at around 2 mm from the electrode surface while using an ICE in RFA improves deposition of energy and enlarges coagulation volume.</p

Ausencia de implicación de la cistatina C en el remodelado ventricular y la insuficiencia cardiaca

La cistatina C (CisC) es una proteasa codificada por genes de mantenimiento («housekeeping genes»). Aunque su valor pronóstico en la insuficiencia cardiaca (IC) es bien conocido, se debate si es debido a su mayor precisión en la estimación del filtrado glomerular, o a su implicación en el remodelado ventricular patológico. El propósito de este estudio fue comprobar si la expresión de CisC se modificaba en el miocardio de fetos de diferentes edades y en el de adultos con diversas enfermedades cardiovasculares, así como analizar la correlación entre sus concentraciones séricas y la estructura y morfología cardiaca en un grupo de pacientes con IC.Pacientes y métodosSe analizaron las correlaciones (test de Pearson y Spearman) entre la CisC sérica y los parámetros ecocardiográficos de 351 pacientes con IC. También se realizó una tinción inmunohistoquímica para CisC, metaloproteinasa 9 (MMP-9) y desmina en 9 muestras de tejido cardiaco procedentes de las autopsias de 4 fetos con diferente edad gestacional y 5 adultos sanos o con enfermedad cardiovascular.ResultadosEn pacientes con IC no se encontró correlación entre las concentraciones de CisC y los parámetros cardiacos medidos por ecocardiografía 2 D. La inmunohistoquímica mostró una débil tinción de fondo para CisC en todas las muestras, independientemente de la edad y la presencia o no de enfermedades cardiovasculares.ConclusionesNuestros resultados sugieren que la CisC no tiene un papel significativo en el remodelado patológico del ventrículo izquierdo en la IC. Cystatin C (CysC) is a protease encoded by housekeeping genes. Although its prognostic value in heart failure (HF) is well known, it is debatable whether this value is due to the greater accuracy of CysC in calculating the glomerular filtration rate or to its involvement in pathological ventricular remodelling. The aim of this study was to determine whether CysC expression changes in the myocardium of foetuses of different ages and in the myocardium of adults with various cardiovascular diseases, as well as to analyse the correlation between its serum concentrations and cardiac structure and morphology in a patient group with HF. Patients and methods We analysed the correlations (Pearson''s r and Spearman''s test) between the serum CysC levels and echocardiographic parameters of 351 patients with HF. We also performed immunohistochemical staining for CysC, metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and desmin in 9 cardiac tissue samples from autopsies of 4 foetuses of different gestational ages and 5 healthy adults or adults with cardiovascular disease. Results For the patients with HF, there was no correlation between the CysC concentrations and the cardiac parameters measured by 2 D echocardiography. The immunohistochemistry showed a weak background staining for CysC in all samples, regardless of age and the presence or absence of cardiovascular diseases. Conclusions Our results suggest that CysC does not have a significant role in the pathological remodelling of the left ventricle in HF

Substrate Induced Strain Field in FeRh Epilayers Grown on Single Crystal MgO (001) Substrates

Equi-atomic FeRh is highly unusual in that it undergoes a first order meta-magnetic phase transition from an antiferromagnet to a ferromagnet above room temperature (Tr ≈ 370 K). This behavior opens new possibilities for creating multifunctional magnetic and spintronic devices which can utilise both thermal and applied field energy to change state and functionalise composites. A key requirement in realising multifunctional devices is the need to understand and control the properties of FeRh in the extreme thin film limit (tFeRh < 10 nm) where interfaces are crucial. Here we determine the properties of FeRh films in the thickness range 2.5–10 nm grown directly on MgO substrates. Our magnetometry and structural measurements show that a perpendicular strain field exists in these thin films which results in an increase in the phase transition temperature as thickness is reduced. Modelling using a spin dynamics approach supports the experimental observations demonstrating the critical role of the atomic layers close to the MgO interface

Comprehensive analysis and insights gained from long-term experience of the Spanish DILI Registry

Background & aims: Prospective drug-induced liver injury (DILI) registries are important sources of information on idiosyncratic DILI. We aimed to present a comprehensive analysis of 843 patients with DILI enrolled into the Spanish DILI Registry over a 20-year time period. Methods: Cases were identified, diagnosed and followed prospectively. Clinical features, drug information and outcome data were collected. Results: A total of 843 patients, with a mean age of 54 years (48% females), were enrolled up to 2018. Hepatocellular injury was associated with younger age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] per year 0.983; 95% CI 0.974-0.991) and lower platelet count (aOR per unit 0.996; 95% CI 0.994-0.998). Anti-infectives were the most common causative drug class (40%). Liver-related mortality was more frequent in patients with hepatocellular damage aged ≥65 years (p = 0.0083) and in patients with underlying liver disease (p = 0.0221). Independent predictors of liver-related death/transplantation included nR-based hepatocellular injury, female sex, higher onset aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and bilirubin values. nR-based hepatocellular injury was not associated with 6-month overall mortality, for which comorbidity burden played a more important role. The prognostic capacity of Hy's law varied between causative agents. Empirical therapy (corticosteroids, ursodeoxycholic acid and MARS) was prescribed to 20% of patients. Drug-induced autoimmune hepatitis patients (26 cases) were mainly females (62%) with hepatocellular damage (92%), who more frequently received immunosuppressive therapy (58%).The present study has been supported by grants of Instituto de Salud Carlos III cofounded by Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional – FEDER (contract numbers: PI19/00883, PI16/01748, PI18/00901, PI18/01804, PI-0285-2016, PI-0274-2016, PI-0310- 2018, PT17/0017/0020) and Agencia Española del Medicamento. CIBERehd and Plataforma ISCIII Ensayos Clinicos are funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III. MRD holds a Joan Rodes (JR16/ 00015)/Acción B clinicos investigadores (B-0002-2019) and JSC a Rio Hortega (CM17/00243) research contract from ISCIII and Consejería de Salud de Andalucía. The funding sources had no involvement in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report or in the de- cision to submit the manuscript for publication

Differential HMG-CoA lyase expression in human tissues provides clues about 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric aciduria

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaric aciduria is a rare human autosomal recessive disorder caused by deficiency of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA lyase (HL). This mitochondrial enzyme catalyzes the common final step of leucine degradation and ketogenesis. Acute symptoms include vomiting, seizures and lethargy, accompanied by metabolic acidosis and hypoketotic hypoglycaemia. Such organs as the liver, brain, pancreas, and heart can also be involved. However, the pathophysiology of this disease is only partially understood. We measured mRNA levels, protein expression and enzyme activity of human HMG-CoA lyase from liver, kidney, pancreas, testis, heart, skeletal muscle, and brain. Surprisingly, the pancreas is, after the liver, the tissue with most HL activity. However, in heart and adult brain, HL activity was not detected in the mitochondrial fraction. These findings contribute to our understanding of the enzyme function and the consequences of its deficiency and suggest the need for assessment of pancreatic damage in these patients

Using high angular resolution diffusion imaging data to discriminate cortical regions

Brodmann's 100-year-old summary map has been widely used for cortical localization in neuroscience. There is a pressing need to update this map using non-invasive, high-resolution and reproducible data, in a way that captures individual variability. We demonstrate here that standard HARDI data has sufficiently diverse directional variation among grey matter regions to inform parcellation into distinct functional regions, and that this variation is reproducible across scans. This characterization of the signal variation as non-random and reproducible is the critical condition for successful cortical parcellation using HARDI data. This paper is a first step towards an individual cortex-wide map of grey matter microstructure, The gray/white matter and pial boundaries were identified on the high-resolution structural MRI images. Two HARDI data sets were collected from each individual and aligned with the corresponding structural image. At each vertex point on the surface tessellation, the diffusion-weighted signal was extracted from each image in the HARDI data set at a point, half way between gray/white matter and pial boundaries. We then derived several features of the HARDI profile with respect to the local cortical normal direction, as well as several fully orientationally invariant features. These features were taken as a fingerprint of the underlying grey matter tissue, and used to distinguish separate cortical areas. A support-vector machine classifier, trained on three distinct areas in repeat 1 achieved 80-82% correct classification of the same three areas in the unseen data from repeat 2 in three volunteers. Though gray matter anisotropy has been mostly overlooked hitherto, this approach may eventually form the foundation of a new cortical parcellation method in living humans. Our approach allows for further studies on the consistency of HARDI based parcellation across subjects and comparison with independent microstructural measures such as ex-vivo histology