Porcine circovirus 3 is highly prevalent in serum and tissues and may persistently infect wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa)

Porcine circovirus 3 (PCV‐3) prevalence has been minimally investigated in wild boar; dynamics of infection and viral tissue distribution are currently unknown. In this study, serum samples from 518 wild boar (from years 2004 to 2018) were used to study frequency of infection. Also, serum samples from 19 boar captured and recaptured at least two times for a period of time from 1 month to 1 year were collected to determine PCV‐3 infection dynamics. Finally, to elucidate PCV‐3 DNA organic distribution, sera, different tissues and faeces were obtained from 35 additional wild boar. PCV‐3 DNA was extracted and amplified with a conventional PCR. For the PCV‐3 PCR‐positive sera from the longitudinally sampled and different tissue types, a quantitative PCR was performed. Genome sequence was obtained from a number of PCV‐3 PCR‐positive samples from different years, different time‐points of infection and tissues. Obtained results confirmed the susceptibility of wild boar to the virus, showing high frequency of PCV‐3 detection (221 out of 518, 42.66%) and demonstrating circulation at least since 2004. Compiled data indicate the possibility of long‐term infections, since 5 out of 10 PCV‐3 PCR‐positive boars longitudinally sampled showed positivity in samplings separated for more than 5 months. All tested tissue types' harboured PCV‐3 genome, with the highest percentage of PCR positivity in submandibular lymph node, tonsil, lung, liver, spleen and kidney. The amount of DNA in all tested PCV‐3 PCR‐positive samples was moderate to low. All partial and complete PCV‐3 sequences obtained from wild boar displayed high nucleotide identity, higher than 98%. In conclusion, this study further confirms that wild boar is susceptible to PCV‐3 infection, showing high frequency of detection in this animal species. Furthermore, PCV‐3 can be found in different tissues of wild boar and is apparently able to cause persistent infection.Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria. Grant Number: E‐RTA2017‐00007‐00‐0

Influence of hypothermia on right atrial cardiomyocyte apoptosis in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that programmed cell death can be triggered during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and may be involved in postoperative complications. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether apoptosis occurs during aortic valve surgery and whether modifying temperature during CPB has any influence on cardiomyocyte apoptotic death rate. METHODS: 20 patients undergoing elective aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis were randomly assigned to either moderate hypothermic (ModHT group, n = 10, 28°C) or mild hypothermic (MiHT group, n = 10, 34°C) CPB. Myocardial samples were obtained from the right atrium before and after weaning from CPB. Specimens were examined for apoptosis by flow cytometry analysis of annexin V-propidium iodide (PI) and Fas death receptor staining. RESULTS: In the ModHT group, non apoptotic non necrotic cells (annexin negative, PI negative) decreased after CPB, while early apoptotic (annexin positive, PI negative) and late apoptotic or necrotic (PI positive) cells increased. In contrast, no change in the different cell populations was observed over time in the MiHT group. Fas expression rose after reperfusion in the ModHT group but not in MiHT patients, in which there was even a trend for a lower Fas staining after CPB (p = 0.08). In ModHT patients, a prolonged ischemic time tended to induce a higher increase of Fas (p = 0.061). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that apoptosis signal cascade is activated at early stages during aortic valve replacement under ModHT CPB. This apoptosis induction can effectively be attenuated by a more normothermic procedure

Design of Volatile Mixed-Ligand Tantalum(V) Compounds as Precursors to Ta2O5 Films

Synthesis and structural characterization of six monomeric, heteroleptic tantalum(V) complexes of the general formula Ta((OPr)-Pr-i)(4)(ArTFP), where Ar = pyridine (1), 4,5- dimethyloxazole (2), 4,5-dimethylthiazole (3), benzimidazole (4), benzoxazole (5), benzthiazole (6), and TFP = trifluoropropenol, are described. Introduction of a donor-functionalized beta-heteroarylalkenolate in the coordination sphere of Ta in the dimeric Ta-2((OPr)-Pr-i)(10) increases significantly the stability and volatility of these precursors, simplifying the depositions of Ta2O5. The molecular structures of 16 exhibited a distorted octahedral coordination around the tantalum center by four isopropoxide groups and one beta-heteroarylalkenolate. Thermal decomposition studies (TG/DTA) and analysis of byproducts by NMR spectroscopy confirmed the decomposition mechanism and gas-phase stability of the heteroleptic compounds necessary for Ta2O5 depositions. Chemical vapor deposition studies with 1 and 2 demonstrated their suitability as efficient precursors for the growth of Ta2O5 thin films, whose properties were compared with Ta2O5 thin films obtained from homoleptic alkoxides

Electrochemical Energy Storage Applications of CVD Grown Niobium Oxide Thin Films

We report here on the controlled synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical properties of different polymorphs of niobium pentoxide grown by CVD of new single-source precursors. Nb2O5 films deposited at different temperatures showed systematic phase evolution from low temperature tetragonal (TT-Nb2O5, T-Nb2O5) to high temperature monoclinic modifications (H-Nb2O5). Optimization of the precursor flux and substrate temperature enabled phase-selective growth of Nb2O5 nanorods and films on conductive mesoporous biomorphic carbon matrices (BioC). Nb2O5 thin films deposited on monolithic BioC scaffolds produced composite materials integrating the high surface area and conductivity of the carbonaceous matrix with the intrinsically high capacitance of nanostructured niobium oxide. Heterojunctions in Nb2O5/BioC composites were found to be beneficial in electrochemical capacitance. Electrochemical characterization of Nb2O5/BioC composites showed that small amounts of Nb2O5 (as low as 5%) in conjunction with BioCarbon resulted in a 7-fold increase in the electrode capacitance, from 15 to 104 F g(-1), while imparting good cycling stability, making these materials ideally suited for electrochemical energy storage applications

Plasma levels of intestinal fatty-acid binding protein (I-FABP), abdominal distension and hydrogen concentration after lactitol small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) test

Breath tests with glucose, lactulose or lactitol are useful for diagnosis of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Nevertheless, they have suboptimal sensitivity and specificity and, indeed, are positive in a considerable number of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The complexity in the management of patients with functional intestinal disorders and the availability of these tests are leading to frequent diagnoses of SIBO. Intestinal Fatty-Acid Binding protein (I-FABP) is a protein present in the cytosol of intestinal epithelial cells. Its plasmatic levels have been related to different enteropathies and, therefore, could be a marker of early intestinal damage with unconfirmed clinical utility. Hence, we have studied the plasmatic I-FABP level of patients who are requested a lactitol test to confirm SIBO and related it to clinical and laboratory characteristics and SIBO test results.This work was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science (PID2019-104218RB-I00) and by the Programa Estratégico Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular (IBGM), Junta de Castilla y León (CCVC8485). DB is part of the CSIC’s Global Health Platorm (PTI Salud Global).Peer reviewe

Design of Volatile Mixed-Ligand Tantalum(V) Compounds as Precursors to Ta₂O₅ Films

Synthesis and structural characterization of six monomeric, heteroleptic tantalum­(V) complexes of the general formula Ta­(O^<i>i</i>Pr)₄(ArTFP), where Ar = pyridine (<b>1</b>), 4,5- dimethyloxazole (<b>2</b>), 4,5-dimethylthiazole (<b>3</b>), benzimidazole (<b>4</b>), benzoxazole (<b>5</b>), benzthiazole (<b>6</b>), and TFP = trifluoropropenol, are described. Introduction of a donor-functionalized β-heteroarylalkenolate in the coordination sphere of Ta in the dimeric Ta₂(O^<i>i</i>Pr)₁₀ increases significantly the stability and volatility of these precursors, simplifying the depositions of Ta₂O₅. The molecular structures of <b>1</b>–<b>6</b> exhibited a distorted octahedral coordination around the tantalum center by four isopropoxide groups and one β-heteroarylalkenolate. Thermal decomposition studies (TG/DTA) and analysis of byproducts by NMR spectroscopy confirmed the decomposition mechanism and gas-phase stability of the heteroleptic compounds necessary for Ta₂O₅ depositions. Chemical vapor deposition studies with <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> demonstrated their suitability as efficient precursors for the growth of Ta₂O₅ thin films, whose properties were compared with Ta₂O₅ thin films obtained from homoleptic alkoxides

Synthesis, Characterization, and Humidity Detection Properties of Nb₂O₅ Nanorods and SnO₂/Nb₂O₅ Heterostructures

Nanostructured metal oxide semiconductors are ideally suited for their integration in different devices due to their high thermal and mechanical stability, unique electronic characteristics, and low-cost fabrication. The modification of their surface allows the design of heterostructures with novel properties. In this work, we have synthesized single-crystalline niobium pentoxide (Nb₂O₅) nanorods and niobium-pentoxide-coated tin oxide (Nb₂O₅/SnO₂) heterostructures by chemical vapor deposition. HR-TEM analysis and computer simulation studies showed the low density of defects and high crystallinity of the Nb₂O₅ nanorods, which exhibited high sensitivity toward humidity at low temperatures (60 °C). The fabrication of SnO₂/Nb₂O₅ core–shell heterostructures combines the high sensitivity of Nb₂O₅ shell toward moisture with the good electrical conductivity of SnO₂. The growth of the nanoscopic Nb₂O₅ overlayer on SnO₂ nanowires introduces defects in the structure, which influence the electronic properties of the material and enable the design of more efficient humidity sensors