Proteomics in thrombosis research

A State of the Art lecture titled “Proteomics in Thrombosis Research” was presented at the ISTH Congress in 2021. In clinical practice, there is a need for improved plasma biomarker-based tools for diagnosis and risk prediction of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Analysis of blood, to identify plasma proteins with potential utility for such tools, could enable an individualized approach to treatment and prevention. Technological advances to study the plasma proteome on a large scale allows broad screening for the identification of novel plasma biomarkers, both by targeted and nontargeted proteomics methods. However, assay limitations need to be considered when interpreting results, with orthogonal validation required before conclusions are drawn. Here, we review and provide perspectives on the application of affinityand mass spectrometry-based methods for the identification and analysis of plasma protein biomarkers, with potential application in the field of VTE. We also provide a future perspective on discovery strategies and emerging technologies for targeted proteomics in thrombosis research. Finally, we summarize relevant new data on this topic, presented during the 2021 ISTH Congress

The Upper Bound Theorem in Forging Processes: Model of Triangular Rigid Zones on Parts with Horizontal Symmetry

This paper presents the analytical method capacity of the upper bound theorem, under modular approach, to extend its application possibilities. Traditionally, this method has been applied in forging processes, considering plane strain condition and parts with double symmetry configuration. However, in this study, the double symmetry is eliminated by means of a fluency plane whose position comes from the center of mass calculated. The study of the load required to ensure the plastic deformation will be focus on the profile of the part, independently on both sides of the fluence plane, modifying the number and the shape of the modules that form the two halves in which the part is defined. This way, it is possible to calculate the necessary load to cause the plastic deformation, whatever its geometric profile

Intensive cultivation of kiwifruit alters the detrital foodweb and accelerates soil C and N losses

The detrital food web plays an important role in the functioning of agro-ecosystems due to their positive effect on organic matter transformations and nutrient supply to the growing crops, however, the activities of the organisms involved are strongly influenced by agricultural practices. In NW Spain, commercial Hayward kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa) is intensively produced using conventional techniques (CONV), however, more sustainable methods, such as integrated (INT) and organic (ORG), have been increasingly adopted to decrease the negative impacts on the environment. We investigated the effects of these agricultural managements on earthworm abundance and functional diversity as well as microbial biomass and enzyme activity and evaluated the potential implications for nutrient retention and runoff in kiwifruit orchards. Our results showed that the CONV soils significantly contained fewer earthworms (ca. 80% less individuals than the INT and ORG systems), with their communities being mainly dominated by small epigeics, but a higher microbial biomass (0.53 ± 0.06 mg C g-1 dw soil compared to 37% more CO2, and five times more DIN) than from the less intensively managed soils. In contrast, the INT and ORG systems sustained a more complex and functionally diverse soil food web that lead to higher soil C and N retention. Therefore, agriculture management (i.e., intensive vs. less intensive) and its effects on the structure of the below-ground communities (i.e., microorganisms plus surface detritivores vs. deep burrowers plus geophagous forms) determine the nutrient sink/source function of these agro-ecosystems. These findings highlight the importance of including the contribution of soil biota to soil processes when optimizing fertilization loads and mitigating environmental impacts of agricultural practices.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. 10 PXIB 310 142 PRMinisterio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte | Ref. AP2009-203

In defence of soil biodiversity: towards an inclusive protection in the European Union

Since soil biodiversity sustains above-ground life, the European Union (EU) has recently announced its new Soil Strategy to better protect soil ecosystems as part of the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Also, the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy and the Zero Pollution Action Plan aim for soil protection. However, the status of soil biodiversity protection has not been comprehensively assessed. Therefore, we explored regulatory, incentive-based and knowledge-based instruments and strategic policy documents at the EU and national levels to determine whether they adequately protect soil biodiversity. Our review of 507 literature references concluded that only eight EU member states explicitly address threats to soil biodiversity in 14 regulatory instruments while 13 countries mainly focus on implicit threats to soil biodiversity, whereas six countries do not consider soil biodiversity. At the EU level, current directives and regulations only tackle individual threats to soil biodiversity. An EU-wide, legally binding protection could ensure a standardised minimum level of soil biodiversity protection while preventing surging costs of not acting. The EU Soil Health Law foreseen for 2023 could couple land management practices beneficial for soil biodiversity with incentive-based instruments. Simultaneously, models should be designed to predict soil biodiversity, considering soil biodiversity’s spatial and temporal heterogeneity.European Commission's Joint Research Centre | Ref. 3553

Ecosystem type drives soil eukaryotic diversity and composition in Europe

Soil eukaryotes play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem functions and services, yet the factors driving their diversity and distribution remain poorly understood. While many studies focus on some eukaryotic groups (mostly fungi), they are limited in their spatial scale. Here, we analyzed an unprecedented amount of observational data of soil eukaryomes at continental scale (787 sites across Europe) to gain further insights into the impact of a wide range of environmental conditions (climatic and edaphic) on their community composition and structure. We found that the diversity of fungi, protists, rotifers, tardigrades, nematodes, arthropods, and annelids was predominantly shaped by ecosystem type (annual and permanent croplands, managed and unmanaged grasslands, coniferous and broadleaved woodlands), and higher diversity of fungi, protists, nematodes, arthropods, and annelids was observed in croplands than in less intensively managed systems, such as coniferous and broadleaved woodlands. Also in croplands, we found more specialized eukaryotes, while the composition between croplands was more homogeneous compared to the composition of other ecosystems. The observed high proportion of overlapping taxa between ecosystems also indicates that DNA has accumulated from previous land uses, hence mimicking the land transformations occurring in Europe in the last decades. This strong ecosystem-type influence was linked to soil properties, and particularly, soil pH was driving the richness of fungi, rotifers, and annelids, while plant-available phosphorus drove the richness of protists, tardigrades, and nematodes. Furthermore, the soil organic carbon to total nitrogen ratio crucially explained the richness of fungi, protists, nematodes, and arthropods, possibly linked to decades of agricultural inputs. Our results highlighted the importance of long-term environmental variables rather than variables measured at the time of the sampling in shaping soil eukaryotic communities, which reinforces the need to include those variables in addition to ecosystem type in future monitoring programs and conservation efforts.Collaborative Doctoral Partnership JRC and Universidade de Vigo | Ref. n. 35533Universidade de Vigo/CISUG | Ref. acceso abiert

Mutation Analysis in Regulator DNA-Binding Regions for Antimicrobial Efflux Pumps in 17,000 Pseudomonas aeruginosa Genomes

Mutations leading to upregulation of efflux pumps can produce multiple drug resistance in the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Changes in their DNA binding regions, i.e., palindromic operators, can compromise pump depression and subsequently enhance resistance against several antibacterials and biocides. Here, we have identified (pseudo)palindromic repeats close to promoters of genes encoding 13 core drug-efflux pumps of P. aeruginosa. This framework was applied to detect mutations in these repeats in 17,292 genomes. Eighty-nine percent of isolates carried at least one mutation. Eight binary genetic properties potentially related to expression were calculated for mutations. These included palindromicity reduction, mutation type, positioning within the repeat and DNA-bending shift. High-risk ST298, ST308 and ST357 clones commonly carried four conserved mutations while ST175 and the cystic fibrosis-linked ST649 clones showed none. Remarkably, a T-to-C transition in the fourth position of the upstream repeat for mexEF-oprN was nearly exclusive of the high-risk ST111 clone. Other mutations were associated with high-risk sublineages using sample geotemporal metadata. Moreover, 1.5% of isolates carried five or more mutations suggesting they undergo an alternative program for regulation of their effluxome. Overall, P. aeruginosa shows a wide range of operator mutations with a potential effect on efflux pump expression and antibiotic resistance.This research was funded by Acción Estratégica en Salud from the ISCIII, grant MPY 509/19. This research was also supported by Personalized and Precision Medicine grant from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (MePRAM Project, PMP22/00092), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and Unión Europea-NextGenerationEU.S

Structural characterization of Au nano bipyramids: Reshaping under thermal annealing, the capping agent effect and surface decoration with Pt

Anisotropic gold nanoparticles offer potential applications due to their functionalities and shape-dependent properties. Reshaping noble metal nanoparticles is an interesting field with optical, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, catalytic applications and potential application as a photothermic therapy. This work comprises a structural study on gold nano bipyramids (Au NBPs) and nanodumbbells, and the evolution of Au NBPs capped with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and dodecanethiol through an in situ and ex situ heating process in high vacuum. Also, we study the reshaping of Au NBPs by the addition of Pt to study the surface modification and the strain generated on a single particle by geometric phase analysis.Fil: Torresan, Maria Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Angelome, Paula Cecilia. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bazán Diaz, Lourdes. University of Texas at San Antonio; Estados UnidosFil: Velazquez Salazar, J. Jesus. University of Texas at San Antonio; Estados UnidosFil: Mendoza Cruz, Rubén. University of Texas at San Antonio; Estados UnidosFil: Iglesias, Rodrigo Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: José Yacamán, Miguel. University of Texas at San Antonio; Estados Unido

A ENFERMAGEM E O CLIENTE COM ALZHEIMER: REDEFININDO PRÁTICAS E CONHECIMENTOS

Trata-se de um estudo originado a partir dos resultados de uma Pesquisa de Iniciação Científica, tendo, esta, como título: “NOVAS ABORDAGENS DE ENFERMAGEM ACERCA DO CUIDADO COM O CLIENTE IDOSO PORTADOR DE DOENÇA DE ALZHEIMER”, realizada no período de Agosto de 2009 a Julho de 2010, com a construção da seguinte categoria de análise: A enfermagem e o cliente com Alzheimer: redefinindo práticas e conhecimentos

A CLIENTE PORTADORA DE NEOPLASIA MAMÁRIA: A INSERÇÃO DA EDUCAÇÃO EM SAÚDE, DA SAE E DA FAMÍLIA COMO ELEMENTOS ESSENCIAIS A RECUPERAÇÃO DA MULHER.

Trata-se de um estudo originado a partir dos resultados de uma Pesquisa de Iniciação Científica, tendo esta como título: “NOVAS CONCEPÇÕES DE ENFERMAGEM SOBRE O CUIDADO COM O CLIENTE PORTADOR DE NEOPLASIA MAMÁRIA”, realizada no período de Agosto de 2009 a Julho de 2010, com a construção da seguinte categoria de análise: A cliente portadora de neoplasia mamária: a inserção da educação em saúde, da SAE e da família como elementos essenciais a recuperação da mulher