Evaluation of toxic effect of monoterpene compounds on anaerobic digestion

Monoterpenes are antimicrobial compounds widely distributed in vegetable biomass, whose inhibitory potential for anaerobic digestion is underestimated. In this research, the toxic effect of limonene and fenchone, two of the main monoterpenes present in vegetable biomasses, and those of 4-terpineol, α-terpineol, and p-cymene, compounds described as main metabolites of limonene degradation, have been assessed. Methane production was totally inhibited at dosed of 1000 mg L-1 of fenchone and limonene and at 600 mg L-1 of p-cymene and 4-terpineol. Based on the methane production rate, the inhibition followed the next trend: α-terpineol 85%), except p-cymene at 600 mg L-1. Therefore, monoterpenes could entail a high risk of inhibition that can be aggravated by the difficulty to accurately follow their concentration and by the scarce information on their effect on anaerobic process.Pablo de Olavide University and the Santander Bank for mobility grantNext Generation European Funds and the Ministry of Universities of Spain for funding the Recualificaci´on del Profesorado Universitario systemEconomic Transformation, Industry, Knowledge, and Universities Department of the Andalucia Autonomous Government for Emergia fellowship (EMERGIA20_00114)CRHIAM centre (ANID/FONDAP/15130015)Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Granada / CBUA

Comparación de los perfiles farmacodinámicos de tres moléculas de remifentanilo en cuanto a su respuesta hemodinámica a las maniobras de laringoscopia e intubación traqueal

ResumenIntroducciónEn Colombia se comercializan diferentes moléculas de remifentanilo que nunca han sido comparadas en un entorno clínico.ObjetivoEl objetivo de este estudio fue investigar el perfil farmacodinámico de la molécula innovadora de remifentanilo (grupo O: Glaxo SmithKline Manufacturing S.P.A.) y 2 moléculas genéricas (grupo A: Laboratorios Chalver de Colombia S.A. y grupo B: Instituto Biológico Contemporáneo, Argentina) registradas en Colombia.MétodosSe llevó a cabo un experimento clínico doble ciego, aleatorizado, controlado. Se comparó la molécula original de remifentanilo (grupo O, n=29) frente a las 2 moléculas genéricas (grupo A, n=29; grupo B, n=32) durante la inducción anestésica e intubación orotraqueal de pacientes adultos ASAI sin predictores de vía aérea difícil. Se evaluaron las dosis 6, 8 y 10ng/ml (TCI, Target Controlled Infusion) con el modelo de Minto. La inducción se complementó con propofol 5μg/ml (TCI) con modelo de Schneider y rocuronio 0,6mg/kg. El desenlace primario se evaluó como las diferencias en la presión arterial media y en la frecuencia cardiaca preintubación (momento en que se alcanza la concentración objetivo en sitio efecto) y postintubación (máximo valor alcanzado en 5min).ResultadosSe observó similitud en el perfil farmacodinámico de las moléculas de remifentanilo estudiadas. Las diferencias en el cambio de frecuencia cardiaca fue de 1,27 (IC95%: –3,11;5,67) con la molécula A y 1,40 (IC95%: –2,65;5,46) con la molécula B frente a la molécula O (latidos/min). Las diferencias en el cambio de presión arterial media fueron de 1 (IC95%: –4,81;6,81) para la molécula A y de 1,82 (IC95%: –4,08;7,74) para la molécula B frente a la molécula O (mmHg). Hubo un caso de hipotensión arterial en cada grupo.ConclusiónLos resultados sugieren que desde un punto de vista farmacodinámico las moléculas innovadora y genéricas de remifentanilo son similares para la laringoscopia/intubación con dosis TCI de 6, 8 y 10ng/ml.AbstractIntroductionSeveral remifentanil products are commercialized in Colombia while these have never been compared in a clinical setting.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacodynamic profile of the branded molecule of remifentanil (group O: Glaxo SmithKline Manufacturing S.P.A.) and two unbranded molecules (group A: Laboratorios Chalver de Colombia S.A. and group B: Instituto Biológico Contemporaneo, Argentina) registered in Colombia.MethodsWe carried out a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. The branded molecule of remifentanil (group O, n=29) was compared with the two unbranded molecules (group A, n=29; group B, n=32) during anesthetic induction and tracheal intubation in adult patients ASAI without predictors for difficult airway. The target controlled infusion (TCI) doses evaluated were 6, 8 and 10ng/ml with the Minto model. Induction was complemented with propofol 5mcg/ml (TCI) with the Schneider model and rocuronium 0.6mg/kg. The primary outcome was defined as the difference in mean arterial pressure and heart rate pre-intubation (TCI equilibrium) and post-intubation (maximum measurement within 5minutes).ResultsA similar pharmacodinamic profile was observed between the studied remifentanil molecules. The differences in the change in heart rate were 1.27 (95% CI: –3.11;5.67) with molecule A and 1.40 (95%CI: –2.65;5.46) with molecule B against molecule O (beats/minute). The differences in the change in mean arterial pressure were 1 (95%CI: –4.81;6.81) for molecule A and 1.82 (95%CI: –4.08;7.74) for molecule B against molecule O (mmHg). There was a case of arterial hypotension in each group.ConclusionThe results suggest that from a pharmacodynamic point of view branded and unbranded remifentanil molecules are similar for laryngoscopy/intubation with TCI doses 6, 8 and 10ng/ml

Optical properties from extinction cross-section of single pollen particles under laboratory-controlled relative humidity

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through projects ELPIS (PID2020-12001-5RB-I00), by the Junta de Andalucía Excellence project ADAPNE (P20-00136), AEROPRE (P-18-RT-3820), FEDER Una manera de hacer Europa, EQC2019-006423-P, INTEGRATYON (PID2020-117825 GB-C21 and PID2020-117825 GB-C22), the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program through project ACTRIS. IMP (grant agreement No 871115), and ATMO-ACCESS (grant agreement No 101008004), and ACTRIS-España (RED2022-134824-E), FEDER/Junta de Andalucía-Consejería de Transformación Económica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades project DEM3TRIOS (A-RNM-430-UGR20) and by University of Granada Plan Propio through Excellence Research Unit Earth Science and Singular Laboratory AGORA (LS2022-1) programs and project Pre-GREENMITIGATION (PP2022.PP.34).A growing body of research suggests that pollen suspended in the atmosphere have a major environmental and climatic impact. However, our current knowledge of pollen is rather limited with respect to its extinction capacity, its optical properties and how these vary with atmospheric water content. Understanding their water absorption capacity can improve our understanding of their radiative effects and, thus, improve climate models. In this work, an electrodynamic Paul trap was coupled to a cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS) to directly measure the ring down time () of four individual types of pollen particles: Olea, Fraxinus, Populus and Salix exposed to changing relative humidity (RH). Resonant structures in values between ∼90 and 45 % RH indicated that pollen was wettable at high RHs. was used to calculate light extinction cross-section at 532 nm as a function of RH. Optical growth factor () was evaluated as the ratio between and From , the semi-empirical single hygroscopicity parameter () was found to be 0.038–0.058 for the four pollen types. Under controllable treatment of the water content and an adequate selection of complex refractive index , CRDS- data was fitted to theoretical from Mie theory. The reasonable agreement achieved allowed for gaining knowledge about the and how particle size shrugged during dehydration. As a result, a climate-lowering effect of Olea pollen particles, which contain a fraction of scattered aerosol, should be considered in the models.Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2020-12001-5RB-I00)Junta de Andalucía Excellence: ADAPNE (P20-00136), AEROPRE (P-18-RT-3820), FEDER Una manera de hacer Europa, EQC2019-006423-P, INTEGRATYON (PID2020-117825GB-C21, PID2020-117825GB-C22)European Union's Horizon 2020 CTRIS.IMP 871115ATMO-ACCESS 101008004ACTRIS-España (RED2022-134824-E)FEDER/Junta de Andalucía-Consejería de Transformación Económica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades DEM3TRIOS (A-NM-430-UGR20)University of Granada LS2022-1, PP2022.PP.3

Agronomic biofortification with selenium improves the yield and nutraceutical quality in tomato under soilless conditions

Selenium (Se) is an essential element for humans. Its consumption comes from food of animal or vegetal origin; whose content varies widely depending on its availability in soil or anthropogenic sources. Biofortification improves food nutritional quality, and its consumption has a positive influence in human health. Thus, the objective of this research was to assess agricultural biofortification with Se in tomato fruit and its effects on yield, nutraceutical quality, and antioxidant capacity.  Five Se doses (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 mg L-1) in the form of sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) were added in a nutritional solution in a hydroponic system.  The results obtained indicated that agricultural biofortification with Se applied in the nutritional solution improved yield, nutraceutical quality, and Se concentration in tomato fruit. The optimum Se dose that maximized yield and nutraceutical quality, as well as the recommended consumption concentration in tomato fruit in this study was 2 mg L-1 (Na2SeO4) because higher doses decreased yield and bioactive compound biosynthesis. Incorporating Se in the nutritional solution is an alternative to increase phytochemical compound biosynthesis in tomato fruit and yield with the possibility of improving public health with its consumption

MTF1, a classic metal sensing transcription factor, promotes myogenesis in response to copper [preprint]

MTF1 is a conserved metal-binding transcription factor in eukaryotes that binds to conserved DNA sequence motifs, termed metal response elements (MREs). MTF1 responds to metal excess and deprivation, protects cells from oxidative and hypoxic stresses, and is required for embryonic development in vertebrates. We used multiple strategies to identify an unappreciated role for MTF1 and copper (Cu) in cell differentiation. Upon initiation of myogenesis from primary myoblasts, MTF1 expression increased, as did nuclear localization. Mtf1 knockdown impaired differentiation, while addition of non-toxic concentrations of Cu+ enhanced MTF1 expression and promoted myogenesis. Cu+ bound stoichiometrically to a C-terminus tetra-cysteine of MTF1. MTF1 bound to chromatin at the promoter regions of myogenic genes and binding was stimulated by copper. MTF1 formed a complex with MyoD at myogenic promoters, the master transcriptional regulator of the myogenic lineage. These studies establish novel mechanisms by which copper and MTF1 regulate gene expression in myoblast differentiation

An Environmental Watch System for the Andean Countries: El Observatorio Andino

An experimental Environmental Watch System, the so-called Observatorio Andino (OA), has been implemented in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile over the past 2 yr. The OA is a collaborative and regional network that aims to monitor several environmental variables and develop accurate forecasts based on different scientific tools. Its overall goal is to improve risk assessments, set up early warning systems, support decision-making processes, and provide easily and intuitively understandable spatial maps to end users. The initiative works under the scientific and logistic coordination of the Centro de Modelado Científico (CMC) at Zulia University, Venezuela, and the Centro Internacional para la Investigación del Fenómeno “El Niño” (CIIFEN), and it is operated at a local level by the national weather services (NWSs) of the above-mentioned six Andean nations. The OA provides several freely available model outputs, including meteorological and hydrological forecasts, droughts, fire and flood indices, ecosystems dynamics, climate and health applications, and 5-day high-resolution oceanographic predictions for the eastern Pacific. This article briefly describes the current products, methodologies, and dynamical and statistical modeling outputs provided by the OA. Also, a discussion on how these sets of tools have been put together as a coordinated scientific watch and forecast system for each country and for the entire region is presented. Our experiences over the past 2 yr suggest that this initiative would significantly improve the current decision-making processes in Andean countries

Enfriamiento al inicio de verano para mitigar el estrés por calor en vacas Holstein del noroeste de México

The objective of this study was to determine the physiological, endocrine and productive response in lactating dairy cows under several series of artificial cooling at the beginning of the summer (June to July, 2011). Fourteen multiparous Holstein cows were assigned in one of two treatments: Cooling (C) before milking (0700 and 1700 h) and additional cooling (AC) each 2 h (from 0700 to 1700h) in the holding pen of the milking parlor. Milk yield (MY), and serum levels of prolactin (PRL) and IGF1 were measured. Rectal temperature and respiratory rate were registered and included as physiological markers of heat stress. Ambient temperature and relative humidity were also collected and used to calculate temperature-humidity index (THI). Both markers of heat stress showed a significant interaction (P<0.001) between treatment and time/week, which were lower in AC treatment (-3.8 breaths per minute and -0.2 °C) during wk 6 and 7. Serum levels of PRL were higher under additional cooling (AC: 35.1 vs C: 29.4 ng/ml; P=0.004), while  IGF1 serum levels showed variation only through the sampling weeks (P=0.014). The MY increased (P<0.05) in AC only during wk 6 (+3.1 kg/d) and 7 (+3.1 kg/d). It was concluded that additional cooling at the beginning of the summer reduced heat stress in dairy cows allowing a better productive performance at the end of the study because such effect relied on the variable time/week.El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la respuesta fisiológica, endócrina y productiva en vacas lactantes sometidas a varias series de enfriamiento artificial al inicio de verano (junio a julio de 2011). Se asignaron 14 vacas Holstein multíparas a uno de dos tratamientos: enfriamiento (E) antes de la ordeña (0700 y 1700 h) y enfriamiento adicional (EA) cada 2 h de 0700 a 1700 h en el corral de espera a la ordeña. Se midió la producción de leche (PL), niveles de prolactina (PRL) e IGF1, mientras que la temperatura rectal y frecuencia respiratoria fueron registradas y consideradas como indicadores fisiológicos de estrés por calor. La temperatura ambiental y humedad relativa también fueron registradas y utilizadas para calcular el índice de temperatura-humedad (ITH). Los indicadores de estrés calórico mostraron una interacción significativa (P<0.001) entre tratamiento y tiempo/semana, los cuales fueron menores con EA (-3.8 respiraciones por minuto y -0.2 °C) sólo durante las semanas 6 y 7. Los niveles séricos de PRL fueron mayores bajo enfriamiento adicional (EA: 35.1 vs E: 29.4 ng/ml; P=0.004), mientras que los de IGF1 solo variaron a través de las semanas de muestreo (P=0.014). La PL se incrementó (P<0.05) en EA durante las semanas 6 (+3.1kg/día) y 7 (+3.1 kg/día). Se concluye que la mayor frecuencia de baños mitigó la condición de estrés calórico al inicio de verano, permitiéndole a la vaca expresar un mejor desempeño productivo al final del estudio, ya que dicho efecto dependió de la variable tiempo/semana

The Effects of Ash and Black Carbon (Biochar) on Germination of Different Tree Species

Forest fires generate large amounts of ash and biochar, or black carbon (BC), that cover the soil surface, interacting with the soil’s constituents and its seedbank. This study concerns reproductive ecology assessments supported by molecular characterisation to improve our understanding of the effects of fire and fire residues on the germination behaviour of 12 arboreal species with a wide geographic distribution. For this purpose, we analysed the effects of three ash and one BC concentration on the germination of Acacia dealbata Link, A. longifolia (Andrews) Willd., A. mearnsii De Wild., A. melanoxylon R. Br., Pinus nigra Arnold, P. pinaster Aiton, P. radiata D. Don, P. sylvestris L., Quercus ilex L., Q. pyrenaica Willd., Q. robur L., and Q. rubra L. Each tree species was exposed to ash and BC created from its foliage or twigs (except for Q. rubra, which was exposed to ash and BC of Ulex europaeus L.). We monitored germination percentage, the T50 parameter, and tracked the development of germination over time (up to 1 yr). The BC of A. dealbata, P. pinaster, and Q. robur was analysed by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (PY-GC-MS) to assess the molecular composition. In six species, ash inhibited the germination, while in another five species, germination was not affected by ash or by BC. In Q. rubra, ash and BC stimulated its germination. This stimulating effect of the BC on Q. rubra is likely to be related to the chemical composition of the ash and BC obtained from Ulex feedstock. The BC of U. europaeus has a very different molecular composition than the other BC samples analysed, which, together with other factors, probably allowed for its germination stimulating effects.This study was carried out within the Project 10MDS200007PR, financed by the Xunta de Galicia; the Project AGL2013-48189-C2-2-R, financed by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain; and FEDERS

Performing statistical analyses on quantitative data in Taverna workflows: an example using R and maxdBrowse to identify differentially-expressed genes from microarray data.

BACKGROUND: There has been a dramatic increase in the amount of quantitative data derived from the measurement of changes at different levels of biological complexity during the post-genomic era. However, there are a number of issues associated with the use of computational tools employed for the analysis of such data. For example, computational tools such as R and MATLAB require prior knowledge of their programming languages in order to implement statistical analyses on data. Combining two or more tools in an analysis may also be problematic since data may have to be manually copied and pasted between separate user interfaces for each tool. Furthermore, this transfer of data may require a reconciliation step in order for there to be interoperability between computational tools. RESULTS: Developments in the Taverna workflow system have enabled pipelines to be constructed and enacted for generic and ad hoc analyses of quantitative data. Here, we present an example of such a workflow involving the statistical identification of differentially-expressed genes from microarray data followed by the annotation of their relationships to cellular processes. This workflow makes use of customised maxdBrowse web services, a system that allows Taverna to query and retrieve gene expression data from the maxdLoad2 microarray database. These data are then analysed by R to identify differentially-expressed genes using the Taverna RShell processor which has been developed for invoking this tool when it has been deployed as a service using the RServe library. In addition, the workflow uses Beanshell scripts to reconcile mismatches of data between services as well as to implement a form of user interaction for selecting subsets of microarray data for analysis as part of the workflow execution. A new plugin system in the Taverna software architecture is demonstrated by the use of renderers for displaying PDF files and CSV formatted data within the Taverna workbench. CONCLUSION: Taverna can be used by data analysis experts as a generic tool for composing ad hoc analyses of quantitative data by combining the use of scripts written in the R programming language with tools exposed as services in workflows. When these workflows are shared with colleagues and the wider scientific community, they provide an approach for other scientists wanting to use tools such as R without having to learn the corresponding programming language to analyse their own data.RIGHTS : This article is licensed under the BioMed Central licence at http://www.biomedcentral.com/about/license which is similar to the 'Creative Commons Attribution Licence'. In brief you may : copy, distribute, and display the work; make derivative works; or make commercial use of the work - under the following conditions: the original author must be given credit; for any reuse or distribution, it must be made clear to others what the license terms of this work are

Impact of sodium butyrate and mild hypothermia on metabolic and physiological behaviour of CHO TF 70R cells

Background: To reduce costs associated with productivity of recombinant proteins in the biopharmaceutical industry, research has been focused on regulatory principals of growth and survival during the production phases of the cell culture. The main strategies involve the regulation of cell proliferation by the modulation of cell cycle control points (G1/S or G2/M) with mild hypothermia and the addition of sodium butyrate (NaBu). In this study, batch culture strategies were evaluated using CHO TF 70R cells producing the recombinant human tissue plasminogen activator (rh-tPA), to observe their individual and combined effect on the cellular physiological state and relevant kinetic parameters. Results: NaBu addition has a negative effect on the mitochondrial membrane potential (\u394\u3a8m), the values of which are remarkably diminished in cultures exposed to this cytotoxic compound. This effect was not reflected in a loss of cell viability. NaBu and mild hypothermic conditions increased the doubling time in the cell cultures, suggesting that these strategies triggered a general slowing of each cell cycle phase in a different way. Finally, the individual and combined effect of NaBu and mild hypothermia produced an increase in the specific rh-tPA productivity in comparison to the control at 37\ub0C without NaBu. Nevertheless, both strategies did not have a synergistic effect on the specific productivity. Conclusions: The combination of NaBu addition and mild hypothermic condition causes an impact on physiological and metabolic state of CHO TF 70R cells, decreasing cell growth rate and improving glucose consumption efficiency. These results therefore provide a promising strategy to increase specific productivity of rh-tPA