Behavioral and Cytological Differences between Two Parkinson’s Disease Experimental Models

The knowledge about the biochemical and behavioral changes in humans with PD has allowed proposing animal models for its study; however, the results obtained so far have been heterogeneous. Recently, we established a novel PD model in rodents by manganese chloride (MnCl2) and manganese acetate (Mn (OAc)3) mixture inhalation. After inhaling, the rodents presented bilateral loss of SNc dopaminergic neurons. Later, we conclude that the alterations are of dopamine origin since L-DOPA reverted the alterations. After six months, SNc significantly reduced the number of cells, and striatal dopamine content decreased by 71%. The animals had postural instability, action tremor, and akinesia; these symptoms improved with L-DOPA, providing evidence that Mn mixture inhalation induces comparable alterations that those in PD patients. Thus, this study aimed to compare the alterations in two different PD experimental models: 6-OHDA unilateral lesion and Mn mixture inhalation through open field test, rotarod performance and the number of SNc dopaminergic neurons. The results show that the Mn-exposed animals have motor alterations and bilateral and progressive SNc neurons degeneration; in contrast, in the 6-OHDA model, the neuronal loss is unilateral and acute, demonstrating that the Mn exposure model better recreates the characteristics observed in PD patients

An open-access database and analysis tool for perovskite solar cells based on the FAIR data principles

AbstractLarge datasets are now ubiquitous as technology enables higher-throughput experiments, but rarely can a research field truly benefit from the research data generated due to inconsistent formatting, undocumented storage or improper dissemination. Here we extract all the meaningful device data from peer-reviewed papers on metal-halide perovskite solar cells published so far and make them available in a database. We collect data from over 42,400 photovoltaic devices with up to 100 parameters per device. We then develop open-source and accessible procedures to analyse the data, providing examples of insights that can be gleaned from the analysis of a large dataset. The database, graphics and analysis tools are made available to the community and will continue to evolve as an open-source initiative. This approach of extensively capturing the progress of an entire field, including sorting, interactive exploration and graphical representation of the data, will be applicable to many fields in materials science, engineering and biosciences.</jats:p

Functional composition of avocado (Persea americana Mill. Var Hass) pulp, extra virgin oil, and residues is affected by fruit commercial classification

The avocado's quality classification criteria are based on the presence and extension of fruit shape defects and surface damages made during its growth or postharvest handling. This study aims to address the variations according to the commercial quality of Southern Jalisco avocado Hass fruits, focusing on some compositional and biofunctional compounds of the edible, inedible fractions, and the oil. Fresh fruits of four quality classifications were separated into the pulp, peel, and seed, and the extra virgin avocado oil (EVAO) was extracted to analyze for the fat, humidity, dry matter contents, total phenolic content (TPC), total carotenoid content (TCC), antioxidant capacity, fatty acids profiles, and phenolic compounds. Depending on the fraction, the lower-quality class (D) had a significantly (p < 0.001) highest total phenolic content (0.605–23.18 mg EAG/g FW), total carotenoid content (0.137–1.696 mg/100 g FW), ABTS antioxidant capacity (0.32–24.52 μmol TE/g FW), higher oleic acid (37.47–64.87%), and a lower saturated fatty acid content than the highest class (A). The principal component analysis made it possible to classify samples according to the fraction but not with the quality classification. The most important parameters for PC1 were DPPH, oleic acid, ABTS, linoleic acid, and TPC, while for PC2 were oleic acid, DPPH, erucic acid, TPC, and ABTS. However, the general discriminant analysis made it possible to discriminate 98% of the samples according to classes and 100% according to classes/fraction combinations by using 12 and 24 of the evaluated variables, respectively. It was demonstrated that quality classification has not only a cosmetic impact but also on functional compound composition. Lower-class fruits could be used for oil production instead of superior classes, and peels could be included in the extraction process

Expansion of native wild boar populations is a new threat for semi-arid wetland areas

Wildlife management and conservation requires monitoring of species distribution and population indicators, especially when the unbalanced demographic changes of some species can affect the whole ecosystem functioning. The populations of wild boar (Sus scrofa) have, over the past few decades, undergone an expansion around the world, reaching situations of overabundance that can cause serious economic, ecological and health problems. This numerical increase of wild boar and its new spatial invasion can affect certain vulnerable species in sensitive ecological zones, such as the main inland wetland complex in SW Europe. In this context, we aim to (i) examine the association of wild boar abundance and that of lagomorphs, and waterbird productivity, controlling the possible effects of wild carnivores and other environmental predictors, and (ii) applying a survey method useful for managers to evaluate expected effect of wild boar abundance. Overall, the presence of wild boar has been detected in 80.8% of the monitored wetlands (n = 26), but a high variation of abundance rates was found. Wild boar abundance negatively associated with the productivity of the entire community of waterbirds, a priori highly vulnerable, breeding on shores or islands, both colonially (genus Gelochelidon, Himantopus, Recurvirostra, Sternula, Glareola, Tringa and Phoenicopterus) or solitary (genus Anas, Spatula, Mareca, Charadrius, Vanellus, Anser, Ardea, Aythya, Fulica, Netta, Oxyura and Tadorna). In addition, we evidenced a clear negative association of wild boar and wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) population abundance in the monitored wetlands. Rabbits are a keystone species in the study area and represent stable prey for many endangered predators. Our results suggest that potential impacts caused by high wild boar abundance may be already reaching unsustainable levels for some wetlands. Inter-species integrated monitoring is key to address the population management plans of wild boar populations in wetlands and to preserve the most vulnerable species.The present work has benefited from financial support of LIFE project “Humedales de la Mancha”. JAB and AJC were supported by a “Juan de la Cierva” contract (FJCI-2015-23643 and FJCI-2017-33114) from MINECO-UCM and MINECO-UCLM, respectively.Peer reviewe