Los biosólidos de aguas residuales urbanas en el contenido de metales pesados en un suelo cultivado de tomate (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill).

Con el objetivo de evaluar el impacto de la aplicación de biosólidos de aguas residuales urbanas en la concentración de metales pesados (MP) en el sistema suelo-planta y la composición microbiológica del suelo, se realizó el presente trabajo en el Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Agrícolas (INCA), La Habana, Cuba. La aplicación de biosólidos en el suelo Ferralítico Rojo compactado incrementó el contenido cobre (Cu), níquel (Ni) y cinc (Zn) en los sustratos; mientras que, el contenido de hierro (Fe) y manganeso (Mn) disminuyó, comportamiento que mantuvo la misma tendencia al evaluar los diferentes órganos de las plantas. Se destaca que las concentraciones de MP encontradas en los sustratos y los órganos vegetales no representaron riesgos de fitotoxicidad ya que fueron inferiores a los niveles considerados como máximos permisibles para este tipo de suelo y para las plantas de tomate

Turning Emergency Plans into Executable Artifacts

ISBN: 978-0-692-21194-6 Available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) LicenseInternational audienceOn the way to the improvement of Emergency Plans, we show how a structured specification of the response procedures allows transforming static plans into dynamic, executable entities that can drive the way different actors participate in crisis responses. Additionally, the execution of plans requires the definition of information access mechanisms allowing execution engines to provide an actor with all the information resources he or she needs to accomplish a response task. We describe work in progress to improve the SAGA's Plan definition Module and Plan Execution Engine to support information-rich plan execution

Fast HPLC analysis of omeprazole, 5-hydroxyomeprazole and omeprazole sulfone in liquid culture medium using a monolithic column for application in biotransformation studies with fungi

A fast liquid chromatography method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of omeprazole (OMZ), 5-hydroxyomeprazole (5-HOMZ) and omeprazole sulphone (OMZ SUL) in liquid culture medium for application in biotransformation studies employing phytopathogenic and endophytic fungi. The separation was achieved using a monolithic Chromolith Fast gradient RP 18 endcapped column, using a mobile phase consisting of 0.15% (v/v) trifluoroacetid acid (TFA) in water (solvent A) and 0.15% (v/v) TFA in acetonitrile (solvent B), under linear gradient of 5 to 90% of B in 1 min, flow rate of 1.0 mL min-1, temperature at 30 ºC and detection at 220 nm. Sample preparation was performed by liquid-liquid extraction, with recoveries in the range of 62.3 to 76.6% for all analytes. The method was linear in the range of 0.2 to 10.0 µg mL-1 (r &#8805; 0.995). The values for intra- and inter-day precision (% coefficient of variation) and accuracy (% relative error) were < 15% for all analytes. The validated method was used to evaluate OMZ biotransformation to their mammalian metabolites by selected fungi. In general, the phytopathogenic fungi studied were more efficient to biotransform OMZ. The sulfonation reaction was more prevalent for all studied fungi.Um método rápido por cromatografia líquida foi desenvolvido para a determinação simultânea de omeprazol (OMZ), 5-hidroxiomeprazol (5-HOMZ) e omeprazol sulfona (OMZ SUL) em meio de cultura líquido, para aplicação em estudos de biotransformação empregando fungos fitopatogênicos e endofíticos. A separação foi realizada empregando uma coluna monolítica Chromolith Fast gradient RP 18 com a fase móvel constituída por ácido trifluoroacético (TFA) 0,15% (v/v) em água (solvente A) e TFA 0,15% (v/v) em acetonitrila (solvente B). Foi empregado um gradiente linear de 5 a 90% de B em 1 minuto, vazão de 1,0 mL min-1, temperatura de 30 ºC e detecção em 220 nm. A extração líquido-líquido foi empregada na preparação das amostras, com recuperações na faixa de 62,3-76,6% para todos os analitos. O método foi linear na faixa de 0,2-10,0 µg mL-1 (r &#8805; 0,995). Os valores de precisão e exatidão intra- e inter-dias (coeficiente de variação e erro relativo) foram inferiores a 15% para todos os analitos. O método validado foi utilizado para avaliar a biotransformação do OMZ em seus principais metabólitos humanos pelos fungos selecionados. Em geral, os fungos fitopatogênicos foram mais eficientes para biotransformar o OMZ. A reação de sulfonação foi mais prevalente em todos os fungos estudadosFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Heritability of motor skills: Study with monozygotic and dizygotic twins

El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el poder relativo de contribución genética y ambiental de la variación de capacidades motoras en gemelos monocigóticos y dicigóticos. Método: participado 88 sujetos divididos en 56 monocigóticos y 32 dicigóticos de ambos sexos. Para la evaluación de la flexibilidad fue realizado el test de flexión de cadera; para la potencia de miembros inferiores fue aplicado el test contra movimiento y para la velocidad de desplazamiento, el test de carrera de 30m. Para determinar el índice de heredabilidad, utilizamos la ecuación: (h²) = (S²DZ–S²MZ)/S²DZx100. Fue utilizado tratamiento descriptivo y el test Shapiro-Wilk. Con la varianza de datos fueron calculados valores de tendencia central. Los datos fueron categorizados en percentiles de 25%. Resultados: flexibilidad 16%, velocidad de desplazamiento 83% y potencia de los miembros inferiores 70%.Conclusión: Fue evidenciado mayor heredabilidad para las variables de potencia y velocidad, y mayor influencia ambiental para la flexibilidadThe aim of the study was to assess the relative power of genetic and environmental contributions to the variation of motor skills in monozygotic and dizygotic twins. Method: For this study, participated 88 people divided in 56 monozygotic and 32 dizygotic twins of both sexes. For the assessment the flexibility, was performed hip flexion test, for assessment the lower limb power, was applied the test against movement and the speed of movement, the 30m running test. To determine the index of heritability, was used an equation: (h ²) = (S ²MZ- S²DZ) / S²DZx100. For the statistic, was used the descriptive treatment and Shapiro-Wilk test. The variance values were calculated, through the tendency central values. Data were categorized into percentiles of 25%. Results: Flexibility was 16% by heritability influence, speed of movement 83% of influence and for the lower limbs power were 70%. Conclusion: In this study was demonstrated higher heritability for the variables of lower limbs power and the speed of movement, and for the flexibility, a greater influence was linked for environmental factor

A Single Amino Acid Substitution, Found in Mammals with Low Susceptibility to Prion Diseases, Delays Propagation of Two Prion Strains in Highly Susceptible Transgenic Mouse Models

Specific variations in the amino acid sequence of prion protein (PrP) are key determinants of susceptibility to prion diseases. We previously showed that an amino acid substitution specific to canids confers resistance to prion diseases when expressed in mice and demonstrated its dominant-negative protective effect against a variety of infectious prion strains of different origins and characteristics. Here, we show that expression of this single amino acid change significantly increases survival time in transgenic mice expressing bank vole cellular prion protein (PrP C ), which is inherently prone to misfolding, following inoculation with two distinct prion strains (the CWD-vole strain and an atypical strain of spontaneous origin). This amino acid substitution hinders the propagation of both prion strains, even when expressed in the context of a PrP C uniquely susceptible to a wide range of prion isolates. Non-inoculated mice expressing this substitution experience spontaneous prion formation, but showing an increase in survival time comparable to that observed in mutant mice inoculated with the atypical strain. Our results underscore the importance of this PrP variant in the search for molecules with therapeutic potential against prion diseases

Multiclasificadores basados en aprendizaje automático como herramienta para la evaluación del perfil neurotóxico de líquidos iónicos

Los líquidos iónicos poseen un perfil fisicoquímico único, el cual los provee de un amplio rango de aplicaciones. Su variabilidad estructural casi ilimitada permite su diseño para tareas específicas. Sin embargo, su sustentabilidad, específicamente su seguridad desde el punto de vista toxicológico, ha sido frecuentemente cuestionada. Este último aspecto limita significativamente el cumplimiento de las regulaciones establecidas por la Unión Europea para el registro, evaluación, autorización y restricción de compuestosquímicos (REACH), así como su aplicación final. Debido a que la mayoría de los líquidos iónicos no han sido sintetizados, se hace evidente la importancia del desarrollo de herramientas quimioinformáticas que, de forma eficiente, permitan evaluar el potencial toxicológico de estos compuestos. En este sentido, el uso combinado de múltiples clasificadores ha demostrado superar las limitaciones de desempeño asociadas al uso de clasificadores individuales. En el presente trabajo fueron evaluadas varias estrategias alternativas de multiclasificadores basados en técnicas de aprendizaje automático supervisado, como herramientas para la evaluación del perfil neurotóxico de líquidos iónicos basado en la inhibición de la enzima acetilcolinesterasa, como indicador de neurotoxicidad. Se obtuvieron dos multiclasificadores con una alta capacidad predictiva sobre un conjunto de validación externa (no utilizado en el proceso de aprendizaje de los modelos). De acuerdo a los resultados obtenidos el 96% de un conjunto de nuevos líquidos iónicos podrá ser correctamente clasificado con la utilizaciónde estos multiclasificadores, los cuales constituyen herramientas de toma de decisión útiles en el campo del diseño y desarrollo de nuevos líquidos iónicos sustentables

Trends in early alcohol and drunkenness initiation, by gender and subregion

In 2014, around one in four adolescents in the Region first consumed alcohol at age 13 or younger, and just under one in 10 were first drunk at this early age. • Gender differences are not present in all countries and regions, but when present, boys are more likely to report early alcohol initiation and early drunkenness. • Early alcohol initiation has declined in most countries and regions. On average, early alcohol initiation across all countries and regions declined from 46% in 2002 to 28% in 2014. Similarly, early drunkenness more than halved, from 17% to 8%, over this period. • A significant increase in alcohol use at age 13 or younger was reported in Slovenia among both boys and girls and in Greece among girls only. • The biggest changes in early initiation of alcohol and drunkenness were seen in the Nordic and Ireland/Great Britain subregions, which had the highest prevalence in 2002. Less change was seen in the southern Europe/ Mediterranean subregio

Dogs are resistant to prion infection, due to the presence of aspartic or glutamic acid at position 163 of their prion protein

Unlike other species, prion disease has never been described in dogs even though they were similarly exposed to the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent. This resistance prompted a thorough analysis of the canine PRNP gene and the presence of a negatively charged amino acid residue in position 163 was readily identified as potentially fundamental as it differed from all known susceptible species. In the present study, the first transgenic mouse model expressing dog prion protein (PrP) was generated and challenged intracerebrally with a panel of prion isolates, none of which could infect them. The brains of these mice were subjected to in vitro prion amplification and failed to find even minimal amounts of misfolded prions providing definitive experimental evidence that dogs are resistant to prion disease. Subsequently, a second transgenic model was generated in which aspartic acid in position 163 was substituted for asparagine (the most common in prion susceptible species) resulting in susceptibility to BSE‐derived isolates. These findings strongly support the hypothesis that the amino acid residue at position 163 of canine cellular prion protein (PrPC) is a major determinant of the exceptional resistance of the canidae family to prion infection and establish this as a promising therapeutic target for prion diseases.MINECO/FEDER. Grant Numbers: AGL2015‐65046‐C2‐1‐R, AGL2008‐05296‐C02 Interreg. Grant Number: POCTEFA EFA148/1

Microplastic pollution in sublittoral coastal sediments of a North Atlantic island: The case of La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain)

In this work, the microplastic content of sediments collected in July 2020 between 5 and 7 m depth was studied in four locations of La Palma island (Canary Islands, Spain). At each sampling location, three samples were taken parallel to the shoreline. The microplastic content in each sampling corer was studied every 2.5 cm depth after digestion with a H2O2 solution followed by flotation in a saturated NaCl solution. Visualization of the final filtrates under a stereomicroscope revealed that all the sediment samples evaluated contained mostly microfibers (98.3%) which were mainly white/colorless (86.0%) and blue (9.8%), with an average length of 2423 ± 2235 (SD) mm and an average concentration of 2682 ± 827 items per kg of dry weight, being the total number of items found 1,019. Fourier Transform Infrared microscopy analysis of 13.9% (n = 139) of the microfibers also showed that they were mainly cellulosic (81.3%). No significant differences were found between the depths of the sediment. However, significant differences were found between the number of fibers from the sampling sites at the east and west of the island. Such variability could be driven by the winds and ocean mesoscale dynamics in the area. This study confirms the wide distribution of microfibers in sediments from an oceanic island like La Palma, providing their first report in marine sediments of the Canary Islands.En prensa3,20