Controlling eutrophication by means of water recirculation: an optimal control perspective

In this work, the artificial recirculation of water is presented and analyzed, from the perspective of the optimal control of partial differential equations, as a tool to prevent eutrophication effects in large waterbodies. A novel formulation of the environmental problem, based on the coupling of nonlinear models for hydrodynamics, water temperature and concentrations of the different species involved in the eutrophication processes, is introduced. After a complete and rigorous analysis of the existence of optimal solutions, a full numerical algorithm for their computation is proposed. Finally, some numerical results for a realistic scenario are shown, in order to prove the efficiency of our approach.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 2019/02Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. MTM2016-75140-

Triacylglyceride, antioxidant and antimicrobial features of virgin camellia oleifera, C. reticulata and C. sasanqua oils

Virgin oils obtained from seeds of Camellia oleifera (CO), Camellia reticulata (CR) and Camellia sasanqua (CS) were studied for their triacylglyceride composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Levels of fatty acids determined by 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance analysis were similar to those reported for olive oils (82.30%–84.47%; 5.69%–7.78%; 0.26%–0.41% and 8.04%–11.2%, for oleic, linoleic, linolenic and saturated acids, respectively). The CR oil showed the best antioxidant potential in the three in vitro models tested. With regard to EC50 values (μg/mL), the order in DPPH radical-scavenging was CR (33.48) < CO (35.20) < CS (54.87). Effectiveness in reducing power was CR (2.81) < CO (3.09) < CS (5.32). IC50 for LPO inhibition were 0.37, 0.52 and 0.75 μg/mL for CR, CO and CS, respectively. All the oils showed antimicrobial activity, and exhibited different selectivity and MICs for each microorganism tested (E. coli, B. cereus and C. albicans). B. cereus was the less sensitive species (MIC: 52.083 ± 18.042 for CO; 41.667 ± 18.042 for CR; 104.167 ± 36.084 for CS mg/mL) and the E. coli was the most sensitive to camellia oil’s effect. The standard gentamicin presented higher MIC for E. coli (4.2) than the CR (MIC= 2.6) and CO (MIC = 3.9) oils

Antimicrobial properties of Camellia oleifera oil

Camellias have been used in oriental ethnomedicine and appear very promising for pharmaceutical exploitation since modern science has made it possible to specify their potential medical significance with antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiallergic, antiviral and skin healing properties. In the present study oil obtained from seeds of Camellia oleifera was studied for its antimicrobial activity using clinically isolated bacterial and yeast strains. The oil evidenced antimicrobial activity, and showed different selectivity and MICs for each microorganism tested. Obtained results indicate that the tested oil acted best in relation to Gram (-) bacteria than Gram (+). The data obtained in the in vitro models clearly establish its antimicrobial potency.XUNTA DE GALICIA for financial support: Grants INCITE09 262346PR and PGIDIT06RAG26103PR. X.F. would also like to thank the Xunta de Galicia (Isidro Parga Pondal Program for young researchers, Grant No. IPP-020

Zn(II) and Cd(II) Coordination Dimers Based on Mixed Benzodioxole-Carboxylate and N-Donor Ligands: Synthesis, Characterization, Crystal Structures and Photoluminescence Properties

Four new compounds, formulated as [Zn(m-Pip)2(3-Phpy)]2 (1), [Zn(m-Pip)2(4-Phpy)]2 (2), [Cd(m-Pip)(Pip)(3-Phpy)2]2 (3) and [Cd(m-Pip)(Pip)(4-Phpy)2]2 (4) (HPip=1,3-benzodioxole-5-carboxylic acid; Phpy= phenylpyridine), have been successfully assembled based on rigid carboxylate/pyridine ligands. These four compounds have been fully characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods. The aim of the present study is to investigate the structural effect and the influence of the size of metal on the class, geometry and type of coordination of the carboxylate ligands (syn-syn, syn-anti) in the final 3D-arrangements of the structures. Finally, luminescence properties of these new four coordination dimers have been investigated

Impact of sphingomyelin acyl chain (16:0 vs 24:1) on the interfacial properties of Langmuir monolayers: a PM-IRRAS study

Membrane structure is a key factor for the cell`s physiology, pathology, and therapy. Evaluating the importance of lipid species such as N-nervonoyl sphingomyelin (24:1-SM) —able to prevent phase separation— to membrane structuring remains a formidable challenge. This is the first report in which polarization-modulated infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) is applied to investigate the lipid-lipid interactions in 16:0 vs 24:1-SM monolayers and their mixtures with 1,2-Dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) and cholesterol (Chol) (DOPC/SM/Chol 2:1:1). From the results we inferred that the cis double bond (Δ15) in 24:1-SM molecule diminishes intermolecular H-bonding and chain packing density compared to that of 16:0-SM. In ternary mixtures containing 16:0-SM, the relative intensity of the two components of the Amide I band reflected changes in the H-bonding network due to SM-Chol interactions. In contrast, the contribution of the main components of the Amide I band in DOPC/24:1-SM/Chol remained as in 24:1-SM monolayers, with a larger contribution of the non-H-bonded component. The most interesting feature in these ternary films is that the Cdouble bondO stretching mode of DOPC appeared with an intensity similar to that of SM Amide I band in DOPC/16:0-SM/Chol monolayers (a two-phase [Lo/Le] system), whereas an extremely low intensity of the Cdouble bondO band was detected in DOPC/24:1-SM/Chol monolayers (single Le phase). This is evidence that the unsaturation in 24:1-SM affected not only the conformational properties of acyl chains but also the orientation of the chemical groups at the air/water interface. The physical properties and overall H-bonding ability conferred by 24:1-SM may have implications in cell signaling and binding of biomolecules.Fil: Vázquez, Romina Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner"; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Química; ArgentinaFil: Daza Millone, Maria Antonieta. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner"; ArgentinaFil: Pavinatto, Felippe J.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Fanani, Maria Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Catolica de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Química Biologica; ArgentinaFil: Oliveira, Osvaldo N. Jr.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Vela, Maria Elena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Maté, Sabina María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner"; Argentin

Iron deprivation enhances transcriptional responses to in vitro growth arrest of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The establishment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) long-term infection in vivo depends on several factors, one of which is the availability of key nutrients such as iron (Fe). The relation between Fe deprivation inside and outside the granuloma, and the capacity of Mtb to accumulate lipids and persist in the absence of growth is not well understood. In this context, current knowledge of how Mtb modifies its lipid composition in response to growth arrest, depending on iron availability, is scarce. To shed light on these matters, in this work we compare genome-wide transcriptomic and lipidomic profiles of Mtb at exponential and stationary growth phases using cultures with glycerol as a carbon source, in the presence or absence of iron. As a result, we found that transcriptomic responses to growth arrest, considered as the transition from exponential to stationary phase, are iron dependent for as many as 714 genes (iron-growth interaction contrast, FDR &amp;lt;0.05), and that, in a majority of these genes, iron deprivation enhances the magnitude of the transcriptional responses to growth arrest in either direction. On the one hand, genes whose upregulation upon growth arrest is enhanced by iron deprivation were enriched in functional terms related to homeostasis of ion metals, and responses to several stressful cues considered cardinal features of the intracellular environment. On the other hand, genes showing negative responses to growth arrest that are stronger in iron-poor medium were enriched in energy production processes (TCA cycle, NADH dehydrogenation and cellular respiration), and key controllers of ribosomal activity shut-down, such as the T/A system mazE6/F6. Despite of these findings, a main component of the cell envelope, lipid phthiocerol dimycocerosate (PDIM), was not detected in the stationary phase regardless of iron availability, suggesting that lipid changes during Mtb adaptation to non-dividing phenotypes appear to be iron-independent. Taken together, our results indicate that environmental iron levels act as a key modulator of the intensity of the transcriptional adaptations that take place in the bacterium upon its transition between dividing and dormant-like phenotypes in vitro

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of cyanobacteria in carbonate matrices under simulated Martian environment

The finding on the Martian surface of hydrated salt minerals, like carbonates and sulphates, and their interpretation as deriving from the desiccation of old bodies of water, has provided an evidence of liquid water activity on the surface of Mars [1]. These evaporite environments and their saline deposits are now a chief goal for planetary missions devoted to the search for fossil Martian life. Such minerals have the possibility of trapping and preserving over geologic times a biological record made up of halophilic extremophiles [1]. The existence of species of cyanobacteria that inhabit rock substrates on Earth, capable of growing in environments considered extreme, makes them ideal organisms for studying biological responses in different environmental conditions [2]. One possible organism detection strategy consists in the study of the most relevant emission lines and molecular bands attributed to presence of life by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). However, the detection of these species can be complex as LIBS is sensitive to environmental conditions, such as the atmosphere composition and pressure, and could contribute to this signal [3]. In the present study, several species of cyanobacteria with dissimilar extremophilic characteristics [4] (tolerance to desiccation and salinity) were examined by LIBS. The identification and discrimination of cyanobacteria on carbonate substrates was based on organic signal emissions (C, C2, CN...) and the presence of other microelements (Fe, Si, Cu, K…). For this purpose, and to evaluate the influence of the surrounding atmosphere on the plasma composition and its contribution on LIBS signal, a set of samples including Arthrospira platensis (commercial), Microcystys aeruginosa (cultured) and Chroococcidiopsis sp. (natural samples) was analyzed under i) Mars-analogue atmosphere and ii) low air vacuum (7mbar)Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Morphological Description of Frontal EEG Interictal and Ictal Discharges in an Adult Cohort of 175 Patients

EEG morphology; Electroencephalography; Frontal lobe seizuresMorfología EEG; Electroencefalografía; Convulsiones del lóbulo frontalMorfologia EEG; Electroencefalografia; Convulsions del lòbul frontalClinical and electroencephalogram (EEG) features in frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) vary considerably among patients, making the diagnosis a challenge. The objective of this study was to describe interictal and ictal EEG activity, identifying variables that could help to differentiate and diagnose frontal lobe epilepsy cases. A prospective cross-sectional study from patients with frontal interictal epileptiform discharges (IED) referred to the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital (Barcelona, Spain) after a clinical event compatible with epileptic seizures was designed. The interictal and ictal activity were analyzed to provide a detailed EEG description of the cases, using different statistical analyses. The morphological seizure pattern at the ictal onset remained globally unchanged over time in seizures arising from the frontal lobe for each patient. Isolated sharp waves were the most frequent waveforms in the expression of IED. Frontal lobe seizures are frequently short and sometimes appear grouped in clusters within the same recording. Often the ictal expression of the electrical activity in frontal lobe seizure is subtle and challenging to interpret. A description of the main findings is summarized to identify seizures arising from the frontal lobe and avoid false negatives findings in EEG interpretations.This research received no external funding

Management of incidentally discovered appendiceal neuroendocrine tumors after an appendicectomy

Appendiceal neoplasms; Carcinoid tumor; Treatment outcomeNeoplasias apendiculares; Tumor carcinoide; Resultado del tratamientoNeoplàsies apendiculars; Tumor carcinoide; Resultat del tractamentAppendiceal neuroendocrine tumors (aNETs) are an uncommon neoplasm that is relatively indolent in most cases. They are typically diagnosed in younger patients than other neuroendocrine tumors and are often an incidental finding after an appendectomy. Although there are numerous clinical practice guidelines on management of aNETs, there is continues to be a dearth of evidence on optimal treatment. Management of these tumors is stratified according to risk of locoregional and distant metastasis. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding tumors that measure 1-2 cm. In these cases, some histopathological features such as size, tumor grade, presence of lymphovascular invasion, or mesoappendix infiltration must also be considered. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans are recommended for evaluating the presence of additional disease, except in the case of tumors smaller than 1 cm without additional risk factors. Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy or positron emission tomography with computed tomography should be considered in cases with suspected residual or distant disease. The main point of controversy is the indication for performing a completion right hemicolectomy after an initial appendectomy, based on the risk of lymph node metastases. The main factor considered is tumor size and 2 cm is the most common threshold for indicating a colectomy. Other factors such as mesoappendix infiltration, lymphovascular invasion, or tumor grade may also be considered. On the other hand, potential complications, and decreased quality of life after a hemicolectomy as well as the lack of evidence on benefits in terms of survival must be taken into consideration. In this review, we present data regarding the current indications, outcomes, and benefits of a colectomy