LA ACUAPONÍA, DIVERSIFICACIÓN PRODUCTIVA SUSTENTABLE

An aquaponics system was evaluated as a model for diversification of food production with a completely randomized experimental design through the variables of water temperature (20-31.5 °C), pH (5.7-7.6) and oxygen (4.0-5.3 mg L-1), applied to parsley (Petroselinum crispum), serrano pepper (Capsicum annuum) and ornamental pepper (Capsicum sp.) with controls grown in traditional cultivation with a 2:1 soil-tezontle substrate, during a 4-month period, along with white tilapia, var. Rocky Mountain (Oreochromis niloticusxO. aureus). Results indicated that the effluent derived was too salty (C4). The tilapia had a weight gain of 206 g in 120 days and a survival of 91%. Serrano pepper grown in aquaponics (11 cm) did not show statistically significant differences in terms of plant growth (P>0.05), compared to traditional cultivation (70 cm). Parsley did not develop in aquaponics due to the salinity. The ornamental pepper had a limited development with a height lower than the control grown in traditional cultivation, so the conclusion is that the effluent limits the selection of species to be cultivated, although the potential for species that tolerate salinity can be seen.Se evaluó un sistema acuapónico como modelo de diversificación productiva de alimentos en un diseño experimental completamente al azar mediante las variables temperatura del agua (20-31.5 °C), pH (5.7-7.6) y oxígeno (4.0-5.3 mg L-1), aplicados a perejil (Petroselinum crispum), chile serrano (Capsicum annuum) y chile de ornato (Capsicum sp.) con testigos en siembra tradicional con sustrato tierra-tezontle 2:1, en un periodo de 4 meses, además de tilapia blanca var. Rocky mountain (Oreochromis niloticusxO. aureus). Los resultados indicaron que el efluente derivado fue muy salino (C4). La tilapia tuvo una ganancia de peso de 206 g en 120 días y sobrevivencia de 91%. El chile serrano cultivado en acuaponía (11 cm) no mostró diferencias estadísticamente significativas en crecimiento de la planta (P>0.05), en comparación con la siembra tradicional (70 cm). El perejil no se desarrolló en acuaponía atribuido a la salinidad. El chile de ornato tuvo un desarrollo limitado con altura menor al testigo bajo siembra tradicional, concluyendo que el efluente delimita la selección de las especies a cultivar, apreciando potencial para especies tolerantes a salinidad

Stable interference of EWS–FLI1 in an Ewing sarcoma cell line impairs IGF-1/IGF-1R signalling and reveals TOPK as a new target

BACKGROUND: Ewing sarcoma is a paradigm of solid tumour -bearing chromosomal translocations resulting in fusion proteins that act as deregulated transcription factors. Ewing sarcoma translocations fuse the EWS gene with an ETS transcription factor, mainly FLI1. Most of the EWS–FLI1 target genes still remain unknown and many have been identified in heterologous model systems

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Fractal morphology of Beta vulgaris L. cell suspension culture permeabilized with Triton X-100

n this work, morphology of Beta vulgaris L. cells permeabilized with 0.7 mM of Triton X-100® was evaluated using digital image processing and concepts of fractal dimension (perimeter- area relations). Important morphometric changes were found when the contact-time with chemical agent was increased.The size of cells decreased, the cells lost the roundness and their shape was more sinuous; this behaviour was a result of a probable shrinkage caused by the excess of exposure with the permeabili- zation agent. Morphology of B. vulgaris cells after permeabili- zation, exhibited a fractal nature since the slope of the ratio of the logarithm of the perimeter vs logarithm of the area was higher than unit. Fractal geometry of the cell morphology was affected as a re- sult of the exposure to Triton X-100®. Those changes can be attri- buted to the loss of turgor and structure of the cell wall

Prebiotic Potential of Agave angustifolia Haw Fructans with Different Degrees of Polymerization

Inulin-type fructans are the most studied prebiotic compounds because of their broad range of health benefits. In particular, plants of the Agave genus are rich in fructans. Agave-derived fructans have a branched structure with both β-(2→1) and β-(2→6) linked fructosyl chains attached to the sucrose start unit with a degree of polymerization (DP) of up to 80 fructose units. The objective of this work was to assess the prebiotic potential of three Agave angustifolia Haw fructan fractions (AFF) with different degrees of polymerization. The three fructan fractions were extracted from the agave stem by lixiviation and then purified by ultrafiltration and ion exchange chromatography: AFF1, AFF2 and AFF3 with high (3–60 fructose units), medium (2–40) and low (2–22) DP, respectively. The fructan profile was determined with high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD), which confirmed a branched fructan structure. Structural elucidation was performed by Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy. The AFF spectrum shows characteristic fructan bands. The prebiotic effect of these fractions was assessed in vitro through fermentation by Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains. Four growth patterns were observed. Some bacteria did not grow with any of the AFF, while other strains grew with only AFF3. Some bacteria grew according to the molecular weight of the AFF and some grew indistinctly with the three fructan fractions