Management Practices and Bioproductivity in Grassland of Dry Areas

In Mexico, the grassland represents 40.1% of the total area of the country and it is a source of feed for livestock, although suffers different degrees of degradation due to lack of management and adverse climatic conditions. The problem of the grasslands is complex since it involves diverse type’s soils, presence of invasive plants, low success in the establishment of grasses or replanting, high fluctuation in the rainfall distribution, as well as the low capacity of the soil to retain moisture. Among these constraints, the limited availability of soil moisture in arid conditions, makes these areas more fragile to the degradation of the environment which results in low productivity of the grassland. In this chapter, major ecological limitations of the grassland and techniques which improve the soils moisture retention capacity of the grassland especially in moisture deficit areas will be discussed

Synbiotic therapy decreases microbial translocation and inflammation and improves immunological status in HIV-infected patients: a double-blind randomized controlled pilot trial

BACKGROUND: HIV-infection results in damage and dysfunction of the gastrointestinal system. HIV enteropathy includes pronounced CD4+ T-cell loss, increased intestinal permeability, and microbial translocation that promotes systemic immune activation, which is implicated in disease progression. A synbiotic is the combination of probiotics and prebiotics that could improve gut barrier function. Our study goal was to determine whether the use of a synbiotic, probiotics or a prebiotic can recover immunological parameters in HIV-infected subjects through of a reduction of microbial translocation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind controlled study was performed; twenty Antiretroviral treatment-naïve HIV-infected subjects were subgrouped and assigned to receive a synbiotic, probiotics, a prebiotic, or a placebo throughout 16 weeks. RESULTS: We had no reports of serious adverse-events. From baseline to week 16, the synbiotic group showed a reduction in bacterial DNA concentrations in plasma (p = 0.048). Moreover, the probiotic and synbiotic groups demonstrated a decrease in total bacterial load in feces (p = 0.05). The probiotic group exhibited a significant increment of beneficial bacteria load (such as Bifidobacterium; p = 0.05) and a decrease in harmful bacteria load (such as Clostridium; p = 0.063). In the synbiotic group, the CD4+ T-cells count increased (median: +102 cells/μL; p = 0.05) and the level of Interleukin 6 cytokine decreased significantly (p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed a significant increase in CD4+ T lymphocyte levels in the synbiotic group, which could delay the initiation of antiretroviral therapy and decrease costs in countries with limited resources

Plasma-Functionalized Isotactic Polypropylene Assembledwith Conducting Polymers for Bacterial Quantification byNADH Sensing

Rapid detection of bacterial presence on implantable medical devices isessential to prevent biofilm formation, which consists of densely packedbacteria colonies able to withstand antibiotic-mediated killing. In this work, asmart approach is presented to integrate electrochemical sensors fordetecting bacterial infections in biomedical implants made of isotacticpolypropylene (i-PP) using chemical assembly. The electrochemical detectionis based on the capacity of conducting polymers (CPs) to detect extracellularnicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) released from cellular respirationof bacteria, which allows distinguishing prokaryotic from eukaryotic cells.Oxygen plasma-functionalized free-standing i-PP, coated with a layer(≈1.1 μm in thickness) of CP nanoparticles obtained by oxidativepolymerization, is used as working electrode for the anodic polymerization ofa second CP layer (≈8.2 μm in thickness), which provides very highelectrochemical activity and stability. The resulting layered material, i-PPf/CP2,detects the electro-oxidation of NADH in physiological media with asensitivity 417 μA cm−2and a detection limit up to 0.14×10−3m, which isbelow the concentration of extracellular NADH found for bacterial cultures ofbiofilm-positive and biofilm-negative strains.Authors acknowledge MINECO/FEDER (RTI2018-098951-B-I00), the Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (2017SGR359), and B. Braun Surgical, S.A. for financial support. Support for the research of C.A. from ICREA Academia program for excellence in research is gratefully acknowledged

Antimicrobial activity of poly(ester urea) electrospun fibers loaded with bacteriophages

The capacity to load bacteriophages into electrospun nanofibers of two representative biocompatible polymers has been evaluated, paying special attention to the possibility of preserving their antibacterial activity. Specifically, the work involves the following steps: (a) Evaluation of the effect of the applied electrical field on the phage activity; (b) evaluation of the activity when a lyophilization process could be avoided by using water soluble polymers (e.g., poly(ethylene glycol); (c) evaluation of the activity when dissolution of the polymer requires an organic solvent and lyophilization is theoretically necessary. In this case, a poly(ester urea) (PEU) derived from the natural L-leucine amino acid has been considered. Adsorption of commercial bacteriophage preparations into calcium carbonate particles was demonstrated to be a promising methodology to avoid lyophilization and keep the initial bactericide activity at a maximum. Phagestaph and Fersis bacteriophage commercial preparations have been selected for this study due to their spPeer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Scaffolds for sustained release of ambroxol hydrochloride, a pharmacological Chaperone that Increases the Activity of Misfolded ß-Glucocerebrosidase

Ambroxol is a pharmacological chaperone (PC) for Gaucher disease that increases lysosomal activity of misfolded ß-glucocerebrosidase (GCase) while displaying a safe toxicological profile. In this work, different poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL)-based systems are developed to regulate the sustained release of small polar drugs in physiological environments. For this purpose, ambroxol is selected as test case since the encapsulation and release of PCs using polymeric scaffolds have not been explored yet. More specifically, ambroxol is successfully loaded in electrospun PCL microfibers, which are subsequently coated with additional PCL layers using dip-coating or spin-coating. The time needed to achieve 80% release of loaded ambroxol increases from ˜15 min for uncoated fibrous scaffolds to 3 days and 1 week for dip-coated and spin-coated systems, respectively. Furthermore, it is proven that the released drug maintains its bioactivity, protecting GCase against induced thermal denaturationPeer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Amphiphilic polypyrrole-poly(Schiff base) copolymers with poly(ethylene glycol) side chains: synthesis, properties and applications

New amphiphilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-grafted random intrinsically conducting copolymers which combine three different functionalities have been engineered, prepared and characterized. Specifically, these “rod-coil” type copolymers bear conducting polypyrrole (PPy) and poly(Schiff base) (PSB) sequences randomly distributed in their backbones; hydrophilic grafted side chains consisting of well-defined PEG chains are attached to the PSB units. Basically, the synthesis of the copolymers is conducted sequentially by employing the “macromonomer” technique via electrochemical co-polymerization of a bis (pyrrole) benzoic Schiff base-containing PEG macromonomer with pyrrole monomers. After investigation of the chemical and electrochemical properties of the synthesized copolymers, their advantages of multi-functionality in terms of biomedical applications have been demonstrated. More specifically, the conjugated PPy and PSB sequences enabled the grafted copolymers to exhibit great ability to catalyse the oxidation of serotonin, an important neurotransmitter found in blood platelets and in the central nervous systems of animals and humans. On the other hand, the enhanced biocompatibility in comparison with bare PPy is due to the presence of PEG side chains, while bacteriostatic activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria is imparted by the synergistic combination of the polycationic character of the PPy main chain with the benzoic Schiff base functional groups and with the bent-shaped architecture of the facially amphiphilic PSB sequences, respectively. Accordingly, these grafted copolymers are promising materials for developing implantable electrodes for serotonin detection which present the abovementioned characteristics.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Effect of hyoscine butylbromide on cervical dilation during labor

To compare the effects of intravenous hyoscine butylbromide versus placebo on the duration of labor in term pregnancies. Materials and methods: 86 patients were selected and randomly assigned to receive intravenous hyoscine butylbromide (20 mg twice) (n = 43) or an intravenous placebo (saline solution 10 cc) (n = 43). We evaluated maternal adverse effects, effects on neonatal Apgar score, cervical dilatation 1 h after drug administration and the interval between the onset of labor and delivery. Results: No significant differences were observed in the duration of phases of labor between the two groups. No significant differences were found between the groups in Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min. No maternal adverse effects were observed or reported due to the use of hyoscine butylbromide or the placebo. On the first phase of primigravidas it shortens the first labor phase up to 159.1 ± 84 min vs. the control group (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Hyoscine butylbromide oxytocin shortens the duration of labor in term primigravida pregnancies. No side effects were reported

Ligilactobacillus salivarius V4II-90 eradicates Group B Streptococcus colonisation during pregnancy: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the leading cause of bacterial neonatal sepsis. This study aimed to confirm the effect of Ligilactobacillus salivarius V4II-90 on GBS colonisation during pregnancy. A randomised, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study was conducted in seven hospitals in Madrid, Spain. The sample was broken down into two groups with 20 participants each (n = 40) in order to show reduced GBS colonisation frequency in the probiotic versus the placebo group. Pregnant participants positive for vaginal-rectal colonisation before or during the 13th week of gestation were randomly assigned to either the placebo or the probiotic group. The probiotic, L. salivarius V4II-90 at 1 × 109 cfu/day was administered for 12 weeks, starting at week 21-23 of gestation. The primary outcome was the percentage of participants with vaginal and/or rectal GBS colonisation at the end of the intervention period (35 weeks of gestation). Secondary outcomes were changes in the microbial composition of vaginal and rectal exudates; premature delivery; premature rupture of membranes; intrapartum antibiotics; new-borns with early or late-onset GBS sepsis; adverse events (AEs); and GBS test results performed at the hospital at week 35 of gestation. Of the 481 participants included, 44 were vaginal-rectal colonised with GBS and randomised. 43 completed the study (20 in the probiotic group and 23 in the placebo group). After intervention, GBS was eradicated in six participants (27%) from the placebo group and in twelve participants (63%) from the probiotic group (P = 0.030). None of the 185 AEs reported were identified as possibly, probably, or definitely related to the investigational product. In conclusion, oral administration of L. salivarius V4II-90 is a safe and successful strategy to significantly decrease the rates of GBS colonisation at the end of pregnancy and, therefore, to reduce the exposure of subjects and their infants to intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxisThis research was funded by Casen Recordati SL, Spai

Thinking Styles: Analysis of its structural validity using adolescents' responses to the thinking styles inventory

En su teoría del autogobierno mental, Sternberg afirma que tan importante como disponer de capacidades intelectuales es el modo en cómo se aplican éstas a las diferentes tareas, situaciones o contextos. A la forma predilecta que cada persona tiene de aplicar sus habilidades intelectuales Sternberg le denomina estilo intelectual. Este autor identifica trece estilos intelectuales que se agruparían en cinco dimensiones: función, forma, nivel, ámbito y tendencia. Algunos de los últimos estudios realizados sobre esta teoría ponen en entredicho la existencia de tales dimensiones. En el presente estudio, se analiza la estructura de los estilos pensamiento en una muestra de estudiantes de ESO significativamente mayor que las utilizadas en los estudios que preceden en el tiempo a éste (n= 1.153) y, además, aplicando el análisis factorial jerárquico confirmatorio. Los resultados obtenidos, en general, coinciden con los obtenidos por otros investigadores y ofrecen una estructura de los estilos intelectuales sustancialmente distinta a la sugerida por Sternberg.In his theory of mental self-government, Sternberg stated that the way individuals apply their intellectual skills to various tasks, situations, or contexts is as important as the skills themselves. This author called the preferred way in which people apply their intellectual skills thinking style. He identified thirteen thinking styles that are grouped into five dimensions: function, form, level, setting, and tendency. Some recent studies of this theory have cast doubt on the existence of these dimensions. In this study, the structure of thinking styles is analyzed by means of confirmatory hierarchical factor analysis in a sample of students (n= 1153) from Obligatory Secondary Education (ESO) who are significantly older than those employed in previous studies. In general, the results coincide with those reported by other researchers, providing a thinking-style structure that is substantially different from the one suggested by Sternberg.Centro de Investigación Educativa CIDE-98-02 -0 111Dirección General de Enseñanza Superior e Investigación Científica del MEC 1FD97-0 11

Feasibility of the adoption of soil erosion mitigation technology on farmland and pastures in northern Mexico

Objective: Identify the socioeconomic factors that determine the adoption of mitigation technologies of soil erosion in the Nazas-Aguanaval watershade at Durango State, Mexico. Design/methodology/approach: During 2018, 61 semi-structured surveys were applied to farmers in the region. The variables associated with the adoption disposition a binomial Logit regression of maximum likelihood was used. Results: Perception of the soil erosion problem, location of the watershade or agriculture productive unit, and economic activity were the most influential variables in the model. The main variable that conditions the disposition to improve the soil is the perception of soil erosion in the farm, with a marginal effect of 45.03 %. Limitations on study/implications: The results of this survey could be applicable to the study area only. Findings/conclusions: It is necessary to promote and increase the perception, understanding and acceptance of soil erosion mitigation technologies through training.Objective: To identify the socioeconomic factors which determine the adoption of soil erosion mitigation technologies in the Nazas-Aguanaval watershed region in the state of Durango, Mexico. Design/methodology/approach: During 2018, 61 semi-structured surveys were applied to farmers in the region. The variables associated with the willingness to adopt or not were analyzed with a maximum likelihood binomial Logit regression model. Results: Perception of the soil erosion problem, location of the watershed or agricultural unit, and economic activity were the most influential variables in the model. The main variable that conditions the willingness to adopt technologies to improve the soil is the perception of soil erosion in production areas, with a marginal effect of 45.03%. Limitations on study/implications: The results of this survey may only be applicable to the study area. Findings/conclusions: Training is necessary to promote and increase the perception, understanding and acceptance of soil erosion mitigation technologie