Morphometry of the Glomerular Tuft During Normal Postnatal Growth in Female Rats. Effects of Age, Location of Glomeruli and Methods of Obtaining and Processing the Renal Tissue

Total glomerular filtration rate depends upon the structural integrity, number and area of glomeruli. Counting  the number of glomeruli as well as measuring glomerular area or volume is nowadays widely employed  in human and experimental biology. Although functional and morphological differences between superficial and juxtamedullary glomeruli have  been described, this is not always taken into account in morphometric studies. The aim of this paper was to  study in female rats the area of juxtamedullary glomeruli and the area of superficial glomeruli as well as the  influence of the age of rats and the methods of obtaining and processing the renal tissue. The glomerular area was larger in kidneys collected in liquid nitrogen and smaller in those fixed in Bouin  (See Materials and Methods); 4% formaldehyde. These results were obtained in superficial and in juxtamedullary  glomeruli (F=29.60, p<0.0001).  Glomerular area increased with time in superficial as well as in juxtamedullary glomeruli (F=9.21,  p<0.0001). The area of the juxtamedullary glomeruli was significantly higher (F=329.29, p<0.0001) than that of superficial  glomeruli, independently of the different methods of obtaining and processing renal tissue, or the  age of the animals. The results indicate that glomerular area is greater in juxtamedullary glomeruli, increases with age, and  that different methods of obtaining and processing the renal tissue do have influence on glomerular size.

Generational Differences in Values between Hispanics in the United States and Four Latin American Countries

We examined similarities and differences in generational values and value orientation of 4,952 working adults in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico as compared to those of US Hispanics. US Hispanics demonstrated a primary value orientation of High Social/High Moral that is different from the four Latin American countries but closer to respondents from Argentina and Brazil. Values of generations across countries were more similar than values between generations in each country. Additionally, generational value schema was more similar in Latin American countries than in the US. Implications of these findings, study limitations and recommendations for further research are also discussed

Viscoelastic characterization of a thermoplastic elastomer processed through material extrusion

Objective. We aim to characterize the viscoelastic behavior of Polyether-Block-Amide (PEBA 90A), provide reference values for the parameters of a constitutive model for the simulation of mechanical behaviors, and paying attention to the influence of the manufacturing conditions. Methods. Uniaxial relaxation tests of filaments of PEBA were used to determine the values of the parameters of a Prony series for a Quasi-Linear Visco-Elastic (QLVE) model. Additional, fast cyclic loading tests were used to corroborate the adequacy of the model under different test criteria in a second test situation. Results. The QLVE model predicts the results of the relaxation tests very accurately. In addition, the behavior inferred from this model fits very well with the measurements of fast cyclic loading tests. The viscoelastic behavior of PEBA under small strain polymer fits very well to a six-parameter QLVE model.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

The Mediterranean diet and lifestyle

The Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) is characterized by a high intake of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and olive oil, moderate consumption of poultry and fish, and a limited intake of red meat and minimal processed foods. It has been associated with many health benefits, including the prevention and management of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and certain types of cancer, as well as increased longevity and reduced risk of mortality. The protective effects of the MedDiet are related to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The MedDiet is not only a health-promoting dietary pattern, but it is also environmentally sustainable, showing a negative correlation with greenhouse gas emissions, among other environmental indicators. In addition to the MedDiet, the Mediterranean lifestyle, which involves regular physical activity, adequate rest, and socializing during meals, has also been linked to beneficial health outcomes. Preventive strategies for noncommunicable diseases should focus on promoting the Mediterranean lifestyle and implementing early detection and prevention programs, at both individual and social levels

Physiological adaptation to Mediterranean habitats of the native crab Pachygrapsus marmoratus and the invasive Percnon gibbesi (Crustacea: Decapoda)

Markers of oxidative stress in the hepatopancreas and carotenoid and vitamin E content in the carapace of the invasive crab Percnon gibbesi and the native crab Pachygrapsus marmoratus were compared as indicators of their physiological condition and environmental adaptation. Crabs similar in size were collected from coastal waters of Portals Vells (Mallorca Island, Spain; 39°28’18.79”N, 2°28’19.63”E) at <1 m depth. Vitamin E levels were significantly higher in P. marmoratus than in P. gibbesi, whereas all carotenoid concentrations, except astaxanthin, were significantly higher in P. gibbesi. Catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities were significantly greater in P. marmoratus. Malondialdehyde concentration, a marker of lipid peroxidation, was higher in the hepatopancreas of P. gibbesi. The differences in carotenoid and vitamin E contents and in the antioxidant enzyme activities are a reflection of the different physiological activity of the two species and may suggest that P. gibbesi is not a potential competitor for the native crab P. marmoratusVersión del editor1,006

Impact of printing orientation on inter and intra-layer bonds in 3D printed thermoplastic elastomers: a study using acoustic emission and tensile tests

The use of the Material Extrusion technique with Thermoplastic Elastomers is currently growing because of the large number of benefits of this family of materials. They are processable materials with high flexibility, which makes them very useful, for example, in biomedical applications that require flexible objects with complex geometries. This study aims to characterize a specific polymer, namely polyether-block-amide-based polymer (PEBA), by analyzing its anisotropic behavior in printed samples and investigating the mechanical properties based on different printing orientations. Three orientations (X, Y, and Z) were used to relate the printing orientation to the type of bonds formed in the samples: intra-layer bonds, inter-layer bonds, and the deposited filament. Tensile tests following ASTM D638 were conducted to measure sample rigidity, while Acoustic Emission, an advanced Non-Destructive Technique, was employed to examine the trend of the failure process. The presence of voids was also observed to assess printing quality, which is influenced by the printing orientation and alters the quality of bonds. The results revealed that samples printed horizontally exhibited higher Young’s Modulus values and fewer voids in the inner parts. Vertically printed samples displayed inferior mechanical properties and a greater number of voids. Consequently, the intra-layer yielded better bond formation and minimized voids. Acoustic Emission analysis corroborated these findings by demonstrating distinct energy distribution patterns among the different printing orientations. Hits were concentrated at maximum stresses, primarily observed in the vertically printed samples, which experienced macroscopic failure. Furthermore, this particular specimen exhibited a vertical asymptote near the maximum stress level. The analysis of the energy of Acoustic Emission hits demonstrated a reasonably good fit with the Gutenberg-Richter (GBR) law based on the printing direction.Peer ReviewedObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::9 - Indústria, Innovació i InfraestructuraPostprint (published version