A new 3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidine-based material for molecular recognition

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The impact of socioeconomic and phenotypic traits on self-perception of ethnicity in Latin America

Self-perception of ethnicity is a complex social trait shaped by both, biological and non-biological factors. We developed a comprehensive analysis of ethnic self-perception (ESP) on a large sample of Latin American mestizos from five countries, differing in age, socio-economic and education context, external phenotypic attributes and genetic background. We measured the correlation of ESP against genomic ancestry, and the influence of physical appearance, socio-economic context, and education on the distortion observed between both. Here we show that genomic ancestry is correlated to aspects of physical appearance, which in turn affect the individual ethnic self-perceived ancestry. Also, we observe that, besides the significant correlation among genomic ancestry and ESP, specific physical or socio-economic attributes have a strong impact on self-perception. In addition, the distortion among ESP and genomic ancestry differs across age ranks/countries, probably suggesting the underlying effect of past public policies regarding identity. Our results indicate that individuals’ own ideas about its origins should be taken with caution, especially in aspects of modern life, including access to work, social policies, and public health key decisions such as drug administration, therapy design, and clinical trials, among others

Developmental pathways inferred from modularity, morphological integration and fluctuating asymmetry patterns in the human face

Facial asymmetries are usually measured and interpreted as proxies to developmental noise. However, analyses focused on its developmental and genetic architecture are scarce. To advance on this topic, studies based on a comprehensive and simultaneous analysis of modularity, morphological integration and facial asymmetries including both phenotypic and genomic information are needed. Here we explore several modularity hypotheses on a sample of Latin American mestizos, in order to test if modularity and integration patterns difer across several genomic ancestry backgrounds. To do so, 4104 individuals were analyzed using 3D photogrammetry reconstructions and a set of 34 facial landmarks placed on each individual. We found a pattern of modularity and integration that is conserved across sub-samples difering in their genomic ancestry background. Specifcally, a signal of modularity based on functional demands and organization of the face is regularly observed across the whole sample. Our results shed more light on previous evidence obtained from Genome Wide Association Studies performed on the same samples, indicating the action of diferent genomic regions contributing to the expression of the nose and mouth facial phenotypes. Our results also indicate that large samples including phenotypic and genomic metadata enable a better understanding of the developmental and genetic architecture of craniofacial phenotypes

Bipolar disorder and metabolic syndrome: a clinical study in 185 patients

Abstract AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Italian patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and to determine the sociodemographic and clinical correlates of MetS in this patient population. METHODS: 185 subjects with BD I, II, NAS, cyclothymic disorder and schizoaffective disorder, bipolar subtype were included. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, lifestyle information (alcohol and smoking habits and rate of physical exercise) and comorbidity for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes were collected. Patients were assessed for MetS according to American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI) criteria. RESULTS: MetS was present in 27.9% of the sample. Abdominal obesity was present in 48.9%, hypertension in 53.8%, high triglycerides in 36.6%, low HDL-C levels in 33.3% and fasting hyperglycemia in 11.5% of the sample. Of the investigated variables, age, duration of illness, rate of obesity and cardiovascular disease were higher in patients with MetS. MetS was also associated with the absence of physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: MetS is highly prevalent in Italian patients with BD. Our 27.9% prevalence rate is similar to the rates reported in other European studies and lower than that in US studies. Elderly and obese patients with BD are at particularly high risk for MetS. The absence of physical exercise is also associated to MetS

OSAS-Related inflammatory mechanisms of liver injury in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is a common sleep disorder, affecting over 4% of the general population, and is associated with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease, independent of obesity and traditional risk factors. OSAS has been recently connected to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common chronic liver disease in the world, which can be found in 30% of the general adult population. Several studies suggest that the chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) of OSAS patients may per se trigger liver injury, inflammation, and fibrogenesis, promoting NAFLD development and the progression from steatosis to steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. In NAFLD patients, liver disease may be caused by hypoxia both indirectly by promoting inflammation and insulin resistance and directly by enhancing proinflammatory cytokine production and metabolic dysregulation in liver cells. In this review, we focus on molecular mechanisms linking OSAS to NAFLD, including hypoxia inducible factor (HIF), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), YKL-40, unfolded protein response, and hypoxic adipose tissue inflammation, which all could provide novel potential therapeutic approaches for the management of NAFLD patients with OSAS

Comparison of inorganic constituents in bottom and fly residues from pelletised wood pyro-gasification

Wood biomass is a source of renewable energy and now recognized as a potential alternative for sustainable energy production. During the pyro-gasification process, the species of the mineral component of the biomass accumulate under the grate of the pyro-gasifier (bottom residue) or become volatile and are deposited as fly residue in the cyclone filters. This work analyses the constituents of the two residues produced by a pilot scale downdraft pellet fuelled system. The residues are characterised by a high carbon content and ash content of 7 % (bottom residue) and 38 % (fly residue). The Ca, Mg, Na, S, P, Si and Cu contents in the two residues are more or less comparable. Fe, Al, Cr, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cd, Mn and B are concentrated in the fly residue. Potassium is a case apart and is present in a lower concentration in the fly residue. Mass balance has revealed that certain elements succeed in passing the first filtration phase (cyclones) and are entrained in the gas which must be cleaned. Therefore, knowledge of the composition of the biomass (macro and microelements) and of the behaviour of their transformation products is important for plant design and functioning and equally important for disposal or utilisation of process by-products, e.g. as actived carbons or as fuels

Evaluation of different bovine muscles to be applied in freeze-drying for instant meal. Study of physicochemical and senescence parameters

The aim of the present research was to evaluate bovine muscles to be submitted to freeze drying for an instant meal. Physicochemical and senescence parameters were evaluated. The experimental part was divided into two steps. In first place Semitendinous muscle was chosen to establish methodology and experimental conditions. Physicochemical, microstructure and senescence parameters were analyzed. In second place economic bovine muscles such as Semimembranous and Spinalis dorsi were submitted to the same methodology and conditions as in first place in order to compare them, analyzing the same parameters. values were statistically significant (P<0.05) for Semimembranous and Spinalis dorsi muscles showing differences among condition effects and in muscles. Humidity and water activity showed among the muscles analyzed that cooked and rehydrated samples did not exhibit differences. Microstructure of Semitendinous and Semimembranous were not separated and fragmented as occurred with Spinalis dorsi after freeze drying. Results allowed us to select among the muscles studied that Semimembranous was suitable and economic to be applied in an instant meal.Fil: Messina, Valeria Marisa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; Argentina. Ministerio de Defensa. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa; ArgentinaFil: Sancho, A.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Grigioni, Gabriela Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Fillipini, S.. Universidad Nacional de Luján; ArgentinaFil: Pazos, A.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Paschetta, F.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Chamorro, V.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Walsoe, Noemi Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; Argentina. Ministerio de Defensa. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa; Argentin