Avaliación ecotoxicolóxica de contaminantes orgánicos e microplásticos mediante bioensaios de supervivencia co copépodo mariño Acartia clausi

Traballo fin de mestrado (UDC.CIE). Biotecnoloxía avanzada. Curso 2017/2018[Resumen] Debido al amplio alcance de la contaminación por plásticos en los ecosistemas marinos, son numerosos los estudios realizados para su cuantificación y evaluación de los posibles efectos que puedan producir en la biota. Este trabajo se centra en determinar el impacto que suponen los microplásticos sobre el zooplancton marino, de forma aislada o en combinación con contaminantes orgánicos hidrófobos (HOC) habituales en el medio: benzofenona-3 (BP-3), 4-nonilfenol (4-NP) y 3-(4-mentilbencilideno) alcanfor (4-MBC). Para ello, se ha seleccionado como indicador biológico al copépodo Acartia clausi en fase de larva nauplio y se han llevado a cabo una serie de bioensayos mediante un agitador rotatorio. Se documentó la ingestión activa de dichos microplásticos -de polietileno puro-, así como su ausencia de toxicidad. Por el contrario, los contaminantes sí presentaron efectos tóxicos sobre la población, siendo los valores de CL50 de 45,5 μg L-1 y 193,5 μg L-1 para el 4-NP y 4-MBC, respectivamente. Para las concentraciones utilizadas de BP-3 se obtuvo una respuesta de supervivencia elevada. Estos valores de toxicidad no se vieron incrementados por la adición de microplásticos, sino que, en algunos casos, los redujeron. El trabajo desarrollado sienta las bases para pruebas futuras en el campo de los efectos ecotoxicológicos de los microplásticos en el medio marino

A Bayesian Multivariate Gametic Model in a Reciprocal Cross with Genomic Information: An Example with Two Iberian Varieties

[EN] INGA FOOD, S.A. initiated a crossbreeding program between two Iberian pig varieties, Retinto (R) and Entrepelado (E), with the goal of producing a hybrid sow (F1). Several studies have been conducted to evaluate its productive performance, and these studies have revealed differences in litter size between the two reciprocal crosses, suggesting the presence of genomic imprinting effects. To further investigate these effects, this study introduces a multivariate gametic model designed to estimate gametic correlations between paternal and maternal effects originating from both genetic backgrounds involved in the reciprocal crosses. The dataset consisted of 1258 records (the total number born-TNB and the number born alive-NBA) from 203 crossbred dams for the Entrepelado (sire) x Retinto (dam) cross and 700 records from 125 crossbred dams for the Retinto (sire) x Entrepelado (dam) cross. All animals were genotyped using the GeneSeek((R)) GPP Porcine 70 K HDchip (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). The results indicated that the posterior distribution of the gametic correlation between paternal and maternal effects was distinctly different between the two populations. Specifically, in the Retinto population, the gametic correlation showed a positive skew with posterior probabilities of 0.78 for the TNB and 0.80 for the NBA. On the other hand, the Entrepelado population showed a posterior probability of a positive gametic correlation between paternal and maternal effects of approximately 0.50. The differences in the shape of the posterior distribution of the gametic correlations between paternal and maternal effects observed in the two varieties may account for the distinct performance outcomes observed in the reciprocal crosses.The research was partially funded by grants CGL2016-80155-R, PID2020-114705RB-I00 (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación), and IDI-20170304 (CDTI). Srihi received funding from the European Union s H2020 research and innovation program under a Marie Sklodowska Curie grant agreement, No. 801586.Srihi, H.; López-Carbonell, D.; Ibáñez-Escriche, N.; Casellas, J.; Hernández, P.; Negro, S.; Varona, L. (2023). A Bayesian Multivariate Gametic Model in a Reciprocal Cross with Genomic Information: An Example with Two Iberian Varieties. Animals. 13(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13101648131

Solution-based synthesis and processing of Sn- and Bi-doped Cu3SbSe4 nanocrystals, nanomaterials and ring-shaped thermoelectric generators

Copper-based chalcogenides that comprise abundant, low-cost, and environmental friendly elements are excellent materials for a number of energy conversion applications, including photovoltaics, photocatalysis, and thermoelectrics (TE). In such applications, the use of solution-processed nanocrystal (NC) to produce thin films or bulk nanomaterials has associated several potential advantages, such as high material yield and throughput, and composition control with unmatched spatial resolution and cost. Here we report on the production of Cu3SbSe4 (CASe) NCs with tuned amounts of Sn and Bi dopants. After proper ligand removal, as monitored by nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopies, these NCs were used to produce dense CASe bulk nanomaterials for solid state TE energy conversion. By adjusting the amount of extrinsic dopants, dimensionless TE figures of merit (ZT) up to 1.26 at 673 K were reached. Such high ZT values are related to an optimized carrier concentration by Sn doping, a minimized lattice thermal conductivity due to efficient phonon scattering at point defects and grain boundaries, and to an increase of the Seebeck coefficient obtained by a modification of the electronic band structure with the Bi doping. Nanomaterials were further employed to fabricate ring-shaped TE generators to be coupled to hot pipes and which provided 20 mV and 1 mW per TE element when exposed to a 160 °C temperature gradient. The simple design and good thermal contact associated with the ring geometry and the potential low cost of the material solution processing may allow the fabrication of TE generators with short payback times.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

La utilidad de las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TICs) para la prevención de la depresión

Setzenes Jornades de Foment de la Investigació (Any 2011)Los problemas de salud mental generan costes importantes, tanto desde un punto de vista personal como económico y social. La Organización Mundial de la Salud estima que los problemas de salud mental suponen entre el 3% y 4% del PNB de los estados miembros de la Unión Europea (Gabriel, 2000). Estas enfermedades se refieren, principalmente, a los trastornos del estado de ánimo y a los trastornos de ansiedad. Estos datos subrayan la importancia de desarrollar estrategias y procedimientos para ayudar a las personas que padecen depresión, y también diseñar mejores herramientas para identificar a las personas en riesgo, así como programas de prevención. Tomando todo esto en consideración, en el marco del proyecto OPTIMI (Online Predictive Tools for Intervention in Mental Illness), financiado por el VII Programa marco de la Unión Europea, hemos diseñado herramientas basadas en las nuevas Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TICs) para la detección temprana y la prevención de la depresión. La hipótesis central del proyecto OPTIMI es que existe una relación importante entre depresión, estrés, y la capacidad de afrontamiento de la persona. En OPTIMI hemos desarrollado estrategias para monitorizar el comportamiento de personas expuestas a altos niveles de estrés. Contamos con herramientas de monitorización cognitiva, fisiológica y del comportamiento (verbal y motor), utilizando sensores de tasa cardiaca, actividad, electroencefalografía, reconocimiento de la voz, etc. Se han llevado a cabo una serie de ensayos de calibración que han servido para poner a prueba estos sensores en personas de alto riesgo con el objetivo de detectar los cambios asociados al estrés, el estado de ánimo y la capacidad de afrontamiento. Estas mediciones proporcionadas por los sensores se han complementado con información proporcionada por los participantes y por el clínico. El propósito de esta comunicación es presentar el diseño seguido en los estudios de calibración y algunos datos preliminares

hLMSC Secretome Affects Macrophage Activity Differentially Depending on Lung-Mimetic Environments

Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-based therapies for inflammatory diseases rely mainly on the paracrine ability to modulate the activity of macrophages. Despite recent advances, there is scarce information regarding changes of the secretome content attributed to physiomimetic cultures and, especially, how secretome content influence on macrophage activity for therapy. hLMSCs from human donors were cultured on devices developed in house that enabled lung-mimetic strain. hLMSC secretome was analyzed for typical cytokines, chemokines and growth factors. RNA was analyzed for the gene expression of CTGF and CYR61. Human monocytes were differentiated to macrophages and assessed for their phagocytic capacity and for M1/M2 subtypes by the analysis of typical cell surface markers in the presence of hLMSC secretome. CTGF and CYR61 displayed a marked reduction when cultured in lung-derived hydrogels (L-Hydrogels). The secretome showed that lung-derived scaffolds had a distinct secretion while there was a large overlap between L-Hydrogel and the conventionally (2D) cultured samples. Additionally, secretome from L-Scaffold showed an HGF increase, while IL-6 and TNF-α decreased in lung-mimetic environments. Similarly, phagocytosis decreased in a lung-mimetic environment. L-Scaffold showed a decrease of M1 population while stretch upregulated M2b subpopulations. In summary, mechanical features of the lung ECM and stretch orchestrate anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive outcomes of hLMSCs

Polyethylene microplastics do not increase bioaccumuation or toxicity of nonylphenol and 4-MBC to marine zooplankton

Global production of synthetic polymers, led by polyethylene (PE), rose steadily in the last decades, and marine ecosystems are considered as a global sink. Although PE is not biodegradable, in coastal areas it fragments into microplastics (MP) readily taken up by biota, and have been postulated as vectors of hydrophobic chemicals to marine organisms. We have tested this hypothesis using two organisms representative of the marine plankton, the holoplanktonic copepod Acartia clausi, and the meroplanktonic larva of the Paracentrotus lividus sea-urchin, and two model chemicals with similar hydrophobic properties, the 4-n-Nonylphenol and the 4-Methylbenzylidene-camphor used as plastic additive and UV filter in cosmetics. Both test species actively ingested the MP particles. However, the presence of MP never increased the bioaccumulation of neither model chemicals, nor their toxicity to the exposed organisms. Bioaccumulation was a linear function of waterborne chemical disregarding the level of MP. Toxicity, assessed by the threshold (EC10) and median (EC50) effect levels, was either independent of the level of MP or even in some instances significantly decreased in the presence of MPs. These consistent results challenge the assumption that MP act as vectors of hydrophobic chemicals to planktonic marine organismsThis study has received funding by the Spanish Government (MINECO/AEI) through Projects PCIN-2015-187-C03-03 (JPI Oceans EPHEMARE), PCIN-2015-170-C02-01 (JPI Oceans BASEMAN), CTM2016-77945-C3, and CTM2017-84763-C3-2-R, by Xunta de Galicia through “Program of Consolidation and structuring of competitive research groups in the University system of Galicia” (Refs GRC2013-004, ED431C 2017/28 and ED431C 2017/36), and by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). N. S.-G. was granted with a postdoctoral fellowship Mod. A (2016) by Axencia Galega de Innovación (GAIN), Xunta de GaliciaS

Colección digital de fuentes documentales para el estudio del medievo hispánico y su utilización didáctica en el aula I

Depto. de Historia de América y Medieval y Ciencias HistoriográficasFac. de Geografía e HistoriaFALSEsubmitte

Thio- and selenosemicarbazones as antiprotozoal agents against Trypanosoma cruzi and Trichomonas vaginalis

Herein, we report the preparation of a panel of Schiff bases analogues as antiprotozoal agents by modification of the stereoelectronic effects of the substituents on N-1 and N-4 and the nature of the chalcogen atom (S, Se). These compounds were evaluated towards Trypanosoma cruzi and Trichomonas vaginalis. Thiosemicarbazide 31 showed the best trypanocidal profile (epimastigotes), similar to benznidazole (BZ): IC50 (31)=28.72 μM (CL-B5 strain) and 33.65 μM (Y strain), IC50 (BZ)=25.31 μM (CL-B5) and 22.73 μM (Y); it lacked toxicity over mammalian cells (CC50 > 256 µM). Thiosemicarbazones 49, 51 and 63 showed remarkable trichomonacidal effects (IC50 =16.39, 14.84 and 14.89 µM) and no unspecific cytotoxicity towards Vero cells (CC50 ≥ 275 µM). Selenoisosters 74 and 75 presented a slightly enhanced activity (IC50=11.10 and 11.02 µM, respectively). Hydrogenosome membrane potential and structural changes were analysed to get more insight into the trichomonacidal mechanism.Junta de Andalucía Grant PID2020- 116460RB-I00, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/50110001103

Results of the worldwide, cross-sectional ASAS-PerSpA study

Objectives: To characterise peripheral musculoskeletal involvement in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) including psoriatic arthritis (PsA), across the world. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 24 participating countries. Patients with a diagnosis of axial SpA (axSpA), peripheral SpA (pSpA) or PsA according to their rheumatologist were included. The investigators were asked which diagnosis out of a list of six (axSpA, PsA, pSpA, inflammatory bowel disease-associated SpA, reactive arthritis or juvenile SpA (Juv-SpA)) fitted the patient best. Peripheral manifestations (ie, peripheral joint disease, enthesitis, dactylitis and root joint disease), their localisation and treatments were evaluated. Results: A total of 4465 patients were included (61% men, mean age 44.5 years) from four geographic areas: Latin America (n=538), Europe plus North America (n=1677), Asia (n=975) and the Middle East plus North Africa (n=1275). Of those, 78% had ever suffered from at least one peripheral musculoskeletal manifestation; 57% had peripheral joint disease, 44% had enthesitis and 15% had dactylitis. Latin American had far more often peripheral joint disease (80%) than patients from other areas. Patients with PsA had predominantly upper limb and small joint involvement (52%). Hip and shoulder involvement was found in 34% of patients. The prevalence of enthesitis ranged between 41% in patients with axSpA and 65% in patients with Juv-SpA. Dactylitis was most frequent among patients with PsA (37%). Conclusion: These results suggest that all peripheral features can be found in all subtypes of SpA, and that differences are quantitative rather than qualitative. In a high proportion of patients, axial and peripheral manifestations coincided. These findings reconfirm SpA clinical subtypes are descendants of the same underlying disease, called SpA.publishersversionpublishe

Adopting a High-Polyphenolic Diet Is Associated with an Improved Glucose Profile: Prospective Analysis within the PREDIMED-Plus Trial

Previous studies suggested that dietary polyphenols could reduce the incidence and complications of type-2 diabetes (T2D); although the evidence is still limited and inconsistent. This work analyzes whether changing to a diet with a higher polyphenolic content is associated with an improved glucose profile. At baseline, and at 1 year of follow-up visits, 5921 participants (mean age 65.0 ± 4.9, 48.2% women) who had overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome filled out a validated 143-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), from which polyphenol intakes were calculated. Energy-adjusted total polyphenols and subclasses were categorized in tertiles of changes. Linear mixed-effect models with random intercepts (the recruitment centers) were used to assess associations between changes in polyphenol subclasses intake and 1-year plasma glucose or glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Increments in total polyphenol intake and some classes were inversely associated with better glucose levels and HbA1c after one year of follow-up. These associations were modified when the analyses were run considering diabetes status separately. To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the relationship between changes in the intake of all polyphenolic groups and T2D-related parameters in a senior population with T2D or at high-risk of developing T2