Uso de métodos geoeléctricios (IP) en la exploración de depósitos de arcillas del Cerro Reconquista, Buenos Aires.

Las Sierras Septentrionales de la provincia de Buenos Aires, representa un importante centro de explotación de recursos cerámicos. Debido al grado de explotación realizado y a la demanda general de estos materiales, se planteó establecer su potencialidad económica, en particular en el área del Cerro Reconquista, mediante el uso de métodos geoeléctricos. Dichos métodos resultaron apropiados para determinar el alcance en profundidad y la continuidad lateral de los niveles arcillosos de interés económico

Allelic Variation of Wheat Flour Allergens in a Collection of Wheat Genotypes

Wheat is the most widely grown crop in the world and provides 20% of the daily protein and food calories for 4.5 billion people. Together with rice, it is the most important food crop in the developing world. In the last decades, various symptoms have been recorded across the population due to the consumption of wheat products, also summarized as "wheat allergy." Wheat allergy is usually reported as a food allergy but can also be a contact allergy as a result of exposure to wheat. Several important wheat allergens have been characterized in the last years through biochemical, immunological, and molecular biological techniques. In the present work, the identification of allelic variation of genes involved in wheat allergy was reported. A collection of wheat genotypes was screened in order to identify new alleles. A total of 14 new alleles were identified forprofilin, triosephosphate-isomerase, dehydrin, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase,α/βgliadin, GluB3-23,andGlutathione transferaseallergen genes (located on chromosomes 1B, 3B, 6A, and homoelogous groups 5 and 7), potentially related to a minor allergenicity and useful in breeding programs

Expression and subcellular localization of the bromodomain-containing protein 7 is a prognostic biomarker in breast cancer

Bromodomain-containing protein 7 (BRD7) is a member of the bromodomain-containing protein family. Previous studies suggest that BRD7 is predominantly localized in the nucleus, wherein it functions as a transcriptional regulator. Several lines of evidence imply a tumour suppressor function for BRD7. However, the importance of BRD7 in the pathogenesis of breast cancer is not well understood. We have investigated the expression, CpG island methylation and subcellular localization of BRD7 in breast cancer cell lines and clinical cases and thereby assessed its prognostic significance by correlating with clinical-pathological features and time-dependent clinical outcomes. We show that nuclear exclusion of BRD7 occurs commonly in breast cancer and is strongly associated with cases expressing wild-type p53. Moreover, clinical outcomes are significantly less favourable in cases with nuclear exclusion or loss of expression than those in which there is nuclear expression of BRD7. Methylation of the CpG island of BRD7 increases in breast cancer relative to normal breast tissue, but there is not an obvious correlation between methylation and reduced expression or between methylation and clinical outcomes. Overall, our results suggest that nuclear exclusion, rather than transcriptional silencing, is a common mechanism by which the tumour suppressor function of wild-type p53 is inhibited in breast cancer, and show that BRD7 is a promising candidate biomarker in breast cancer

Dissemination of a carbapenem-resistant acinetobacter baumannii strain belonging to international clone II/sequence type 2 and harboring a novel abar4-like resistance Island in Latvia

An outbreak of hospital-acquired Acinetobacter baumannii infections, caused by a blaOXA-23-positive carbapenem-resistant strain belonging to international clone II/ST2, was detected in Latvia. The strain was partially equipped with the armA gene and the intI1-aacA4-catB8-aadA1-qacE=1 class 1 integron. In addition, the strain carried AbaR25, a novel AbaR4-like resistance island of̃46,500 bp containing structures similar to the previously described AbaR22 and Tn6167 islands. AbaR25 was characterized by the occurrence of a second copy of Tn6022a interrupted by Tn2006 carrying the blaOXA-23 gene.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Sperm cryopreservation during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Purpose: Sperm cryopreservation is fundamental in the management of patients undergoing gonadotoxic treatments. Concerns have risen in relation to SARS-CoV-2 and its potential for testicular involvement, since SARS-CoV-2-positive cryopreserved samples may have unknown effects on fertilization and embryo safety. This study therefore aimed to analyze the safety of sperm cryopreservation for cancer patients after the onset of the pandemic in Italy, through assessment of the risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and viral RNA testing of semen samples. Methods: We recruited 10 cancer patients (mean age 30.5 ± 9.6 years) referred to our Sperm Bank during the Italian lockdown (from March 11th to May 4th 2020) who had not undergone a nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 testing. Patients were administered a questionnaire on their exposure to COVID-19, and semen samples were taken. Before cryopreservation, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was extracted from a 150 µl aliquot of seminal fluid in toto using QIAamp viral RNA kit (Qiagen) and amplified by a real time RT PCR system (RealStar SARS-CoV2 RT PCR, Altona Diagnostics) targeting the E and S genes. Results: The questionnaire and medical interview revealed that all patients were asymptomatic and had had no previous contact with COVID-19 infected patients. All semen samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Conclusion: This preliminary assessment suggests that a thorough evaluation (especially in the setting of a multidisciplinary team) and molecular confirmation of the absence of SARS-CoV-2 in seminal fluid from asymptomatic cancer patients may assist in ensuring the safety of sperm cryopreservation

The role of aging, time perspective, and gambling-related cognitions in affective decision-making

Several studies have examined age differences in affective decision-making utilizing the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). However, findings are mixed, with some studies reporting impairments due to aging and others showing no age-related differences. The few studies that have explored personality correlates of IGT performance suggest that underlying personality characteristics may impact performance on the IGT beyond aging. Therefore, the present study investigated the interplay between chronological age, temporal perspective, and gambling-related cognitions in affective decision-making while controlling for gambling severity. Through snowball sampling, 302 adults aged 18–75 years were recruited. They administered the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), Consideration of Future Consequences scale (CFC-14), Gambling-Related Cognitions Scale (GRCS), and IGT. Regression analysis showed that future orientation and gambling-related cognitions (namely gambling expectancies, illusion of control, and predictive control) predicted IGT performance. Gender, age, education, and gambling severity were not included in the final model. Path analysis showed that gambling expectancies positively impacted the performance, whereas illusion of control and predictive control were detrimental to decision-making. Being oriented toward the future mitigated the negative effects of the two cognitive biases on IGT performance. The present study shows that aging does not affect negatively IGT performance. The quality of performance appears to depend upon individual characteristics, such as future orientation and gambling-related cognitions, irrespective of gambling severity. These findings suggest that individual characteristics should be considered in the clinical evaluation of IGT performance

Bond of NSM FRP strengthened concrete: round robin test initiative

Despite the extensive research that has been conducted on the debonding behaviour of FRP strengthening systems, no standard methodology has been yet established on its experimental characterization. In this context, to assess the performance and reliability of small scale testing on NSM (near surface mounted) FRP strengthening systems, an experimental program was carried out on a series of nine NSM FRP strengthening systems, in the framework of an international Round Robin Testing (RRT). Eleven laboratories and seven manufacturers and suppliers participated in this extensive international exercise, which regarded both NSM and EBR FRP strengthening systems. Test results obtained for the NSM systems by the participating laboratories are discussed and compared in this paper to investigate the feasibility of the adopted single/double pulling shear test method, to investigate the mechanism of bond between NSM FRP reinforcement and concrete, and to investigate the level of variability obtained between the participating laboratories testing the same material batches. It is concluded that the tested variants in the adopted single/double shear pulling test have a significant influence, stressing the importance of the level of detail of standardized test protocols for bond verification. On overall, given the variants included in this study, the obtained variation in bond stress-slip behaviour between the laboratories remained fairly limited.The authors wish to acknowledge the financial assistance of the European Union for the Marie Curie Research Training Network En-Core, and the support of TG 9.3 of the International Federation for Structural Concrete (fib). Hughes Brothers and Fortius, Magmatech, Schock, S&P, Sika, ATP, and Sto Scandinavia AB are acknowledged for their participation in the RRT and for supplying the test materials

Worsening of Cardiomyopathy Using Deflazacort in an Animal Model Rescued by Gene Therapy

We have previously demonstrated that gene therapy can rescue the phenotype and extend lifespan in the delta-sarcoglycan deficient cardiomyopathic hamster. In patients with similar genetic defects, steroids have been largely used to slow down disease progression. Aim of our study was to evaluate the combined effects of steroid treatment and gene therapy on cardiac function. We injected the human delta-sarcoglycan cDNA by adeno-associated virus (AAV) 2/8 by a single intraperitoneal injection into BIO14.6 Syrian hamsters at ten days of age to rescue the phenotype. We then treated the hamsters with deflazacort. Treatment was administered to half of the hamsters that had received the AAV and the other hamsters without AAV, as well as to normal hamsters. Both horizontal and vertical activities were greatly enhanced by deflazacort in all groups. As in previous experiments, the AAV treatment alone was able to preserve the ejection fraction (70±7% EF). However, the EF value declined (52±14%) with a combination of AAV and deflazacort. This was similar with all the other groups of affected animals. We confirm that gene therapy improves cardiac function in the BIO14.6 hamsters. Our results suggest that deflazacort is ineffective and may also have a negative impact on the cardiomyopathy rescue, possibly by boosting motor activity. This is unexpected and may have significance in terms of the lifestyle recommendations for patients

Molecular diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in seminal fluid

Purpose Due to relevant repercussions on reproductive medicine, we aimed to evaluate feasibility of RT-PCR as a detection method of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in seminal fluid. Methods A qualitative determination of the RT-PCR assays in semen was performed through different approaches: (1) efficiency of RNA extraction from sperm and seminal plasma was determined using PRM1 and PRM2 mRNA and a heterologous system as control; (2) samples obtained by diluting viral preparation from a SARS-CoV-2 panel (virus cultured in Vero E6 cell lines) were tested; (3) viral presence in different fractions of seminal fluid (whole sample, seminal plasma and post-centrifugation pellet) was evaluated. Semen samples from mild and recovered COVID-19 subjects were collected by patients referring to the Infectious Disease Department of the Policlinico Umberto I Hospital - "Sapienza" University of Rome. Control subjects were recruited at the Laboratory of Seminology-Sperm Bank "Loredana Gandini'' of the same hospital. Results The control panel using viral preparations diluted in saline and seminal fluid showed the capability to detect viral RNA presence with C-t values depending on the initial viral concentration. All tested semen samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2, regardless of the nasopharyngeal swab result or seminal fluid fraction. Conclusion These preliminary data show that RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 RNA testing appears to be a feasible method for the molecular diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in seminal fluid, supported by results of the control panel. The ability to detect SARS-CoV-2 in semen is extremely important for reproductive medicine, especially in assisted reproductive technology and sperm cryopreservation

Measurement of neutral current e+/-p cross sections at high Bjorken x with the ZEUS detector

The neutral current e+/-p cross section has been measured up to values of Bjorken x of approximately 1 with the ZEUS detector at HERA using an integrated luminosity of 187 inv. pb of e-p and 142 inv. pb of e+p collisions at sqrt(s) = 318GeV. Differential cross sections in x and Q2, the exchanged boson virtuality, are presented for Q2 geq 725GeV2. An improved reconstruction method and greatly increased amount of data allows a finer binning in the high-x region of the neutral current cross section and leads to a measurement with much improved precision compared to a similar earlier analysis. The measurements are compared to Standard Model expectations based on a variety of recent parton distribution functions.Comment: 39 pages, 9 figure