Differential in vitro and in vivo effect of barley cysteine and serine protease inhibitors on phytopathogenic microorganisms

Protease inhibitors from plants have been involved in defence mechanisms against pests and pathogens. Phytocystatins and trypsin/α-amylase inhibitors are two of the best characterized protease inhibitor families in plants. In barley, thirteen cystatins (HvCPI-1 to 13) and the BTI-CMe trypsin inhibitor have been previously studied. Their capacity to inhibit pest digestive proteases, and the negative in vivo effect caused by plants expressing these inhibitors on pests support the defence function of these proteins. Barley cystatins are also able to inhibit in vitro fungal growth. However, the antifungal effect of these inhibitors in vivo had not been previously tested. Moreover, their in vitro and in vivo effect on plant pathogenous bacteria is still unknown. In order to obtain new insights on this feature, in vitro assays were made against different bacterial and fungal pathogens of plants using the trypsin inhibitor BTI-CMe and the thirteen barley cystatins. Most barley cystatins and the BTI-CMe inhibitor were able to inhibit mycelial growth but no bacterial growth. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants independently expressing the BTI-CMe inhibitor and the cystatin HvCPI-6 were tested against the same bacterial and fungal pathogens. Neither the HvCPI-6 expressing transgenic plants nor the BTI-CMe ones were more resistant to plant pathogen fungi and bacteria than control Arabidopsis plants. The differences observed between the in vitro and in planta assays against phytopathogenic fungi are discusse

Designing school reopening in the COVID-19 pre-vaccination period in Bogotá, Colombia: A modeling study

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions of people around the world. In Colombia, 1.65 million cases and 43,495 deaths were reported in 2020. Schools were closed in many places around the world to slow down the spread of SARS-CoV-2. In Bogotá, Colombia, most of the public schools were closed from March 2020 until the end of the year. School closures can exacerbate poverty, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. To reconcile these two priorities in health and fighting poverty, we estimated the impact of school reopening for in-person instruction in 2021. We used an agent-based model of SARS-CoV- 2 transmission calibrated to the daily number of deaths. The model includes schools that represent private and public schools in terms of age, enrollment, location, and size. We simulated school reopening at different capacities, assuming a high level of face-mask use, and evaluated the impact on the number of deaths in the city. We also evaluated the impact of reopening schools based on grade and multidimensional poverty index. We found that school at 35% capacity, assuming face-mask adherence at 75% in>8 years of age, had a small impact on the number of deaths reported in the city during a third wave. The increase in deaths was smallest when only pre-kinder was opened, and largest when secondary school was opened. At larger capacities, the impact on the number of deaths of opening pre-kinder was below 10%. In contrast, reopening other grades above 50% capacity substantially increased the number of deaths. Reopening schools based on their multidimensional poverty index resulted in a similar impact, irrespective of the level of poverty of the schools that were reopened. The impact of schools reopening was lower for pre-kinder grades and the magnitude of additional deaths associated with school reopening can be minimized by adjusting capacity in older grades.https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8165-3198Revista Internacional - No indexadaN

Projected changes in the season of hot days in the Middle East and North Africa

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUGThe present study analyses changes in the timing and duration of the hot days season over the Middle East and North Africa region from 1970 to 2099 using model simulations of 11 regional models from the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment under the RCP8.5 scenario. In general, a non-symmetrical lengthening of the hot days season is projected, with a tendency to extend more into spring than into autumn. By the end of the century and the RCP8.5 scenario, Western Africa and the Persian Gulf display a hot days season starting 60 days earlier than in the historical period (1970–1999) (May vs. July, respectively). Southernmost latitudes are the most affected by a later retreat of the hot days season, of up to 60 days with respect to the historical period (October vs. August). The length of the extreme season is projected to increase between 100 and 120 days for the southernmost latitudes and the Persian Gulf resulting in nearly four more months with hot days conditions.Comisión Europea | Ref. INTERREG‐POCTEP 2014‐2020Comisión Europea | Ref. 0034‐RISC_ML_6_EXunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 2017/6

Aplicaciones de narices electrónicas en la industria frutícola

Describir el papel de las narices electrónicas en el campo agroalimentario para identificar las ventajas y desventajas del uso de éstas en la producción frutícolaEl aroma de los alimentos se analiza principalmente para determinar su calidad, usando diferentes técnicas sensoriales y cromatográficas con el fin de cuantificar la fracción volátil que lo compone, lo que permite crear una huella específica para cada tipo de alimento. No obstante, al proceso de cada técnica le falta rapidez analítica, en este caso surgieron las narices electrónicas o NE que si poseen ésta característica, lo que me permite identificar y clasificar alimentos en función de su similitud aromática, destacándose como usos principales: la detección y clasificación de olores ya sea en exposición de sustancias tóxicas, la confiabilidad y precisión en la toma de datos, además, realiza el análisis de las muestras en tiempo real, es de fácil transporte, entre otras. En este caso se habla de NE usadas en frutas, su funcionamiento inicia cuando se estimula por compuestos volátiles, esta cuenta con un arreglo de sensores electroquímicos que crean una huella digital del alimento y luego se analizan los datos obtenidos por medio de métodos estadísticos, esto logra realizar un control de calidad, al igual que una caracterización y una clasificación por estado de madurez. El siguiente artículo hace una revisión bibliográfica acerca de la historia, desarrollo y funcionamiento de las narices electrónicas (NE) en general y para determinar los grados de madurez de las frutas, revisando conceptos relacionados con el olfato y la biomimesis, además nombra los principales campos en donde se han aplicado los sistemas de olfato electrónico.The aroma of food is analyzed mainly to determine its quality, using different sensory and chromatographic techniques in order to quantify the volatile fraction of a food, which allows to create a specific footprint for each type of food. However, the process of each technique lacks analytical speed, in this case the electronic noses or NE arose that if they have this characteristic, which allows me to identify and classify foods according to their aromatic similarity, highlighting as main uses: the detection and classification of odors either in exposure of toxic substances, reliability and accuracy in data collection, in addition, performs the analysis of samples in real time, it is easy to transport, among others. In this case we talk about NE used in fruits, its operation starts when it is stimulated by volatile compounds, it has an array of electrochemical sensors that create a fingerprint of the food and then the data obtained through statistical methods is analyzed, this It manages to perform a quality control, as well as a characterization and classification by state of maturity. The following article makes a bibliographic review about the history, development and functioning of electronic noses (NE) in general and to determine the degrees of ripeness of fruits, reviewing concepts related to smell and biomimesis, also names the main fields where electronic smell systems have been applied

Aplicaciones de narices electrónicas en la industria frutícola

Describir el papel de las narices electrónicas en el campo agroalimentario para identificar las ventajas y desventajas del uso de éstas en la producción frutícolaEl aroma de los alimentos se analiza principalmente para determinar su calidad, usando diferentes técnicas sensoriales y cromatográficas con el fin de cuantificar la fracción volátil que lo compone, lo que permite crear una huella específica para cada tipo de alimento. No obstante, al proceso de cada técnica le falta rapidez analítica, en este caso surgieron las narices electrónicas o NE que si poseen ésta característica, lo que me permite identificar y clasificar alimentos en función de su similitud aromática, destacándose como usos principales: la detección y clasificación de olores ya sea en exposición de sustancias tóxicas, la confiabilidad y precisión en la toma de datos, además, realiza el análisis de las muestras en tiempo real, es de fácil transporte, entre otras. En este caso se habla de NE usadas en frutas, su funcionamiento inicia cuando se estimula por compuestos volátiles, esta cuenta con un arreglo de sensores electroquímicos que crean una huella digital del alimento y luego se analizan los datos obtenidos por medio de métodos estadísticos, esto logra realizar un control de calidad, al igual que una caracterización y una clasificación por estado de madurez. El siguiente artículo hace una revisión bibliográfica acerca de la historia, desarrollo y funcionamiento de las narices electrónicas (NE) en general y para determinar los grados de madurez de las frutas, revisando conceptos relacionados con el olfato y la biomimesis, además nombra los principales campos en donde se han aplicado los sistemas de olfato electrónico.The aroma of food is analyzed mainly to determine its quality, using different sensory and chromatographic techniques in order to quantify the volatile fraction of a food, which allows to create a specific footprint for each type of food. However, the process of each technique lacks analytical speed, in this case the electronic noses or NE arose that if they have this characteristic, which allows me to identify and classify foods according to their aromatic similarity, highlighting as main uses: the detection and classification of odors either in exposure of toxic substances, reliability and accuracy in data collection, in addition, performs the analysis of samples in real time, it is easy to transport, among others. In this case we talk about NE used in fruits, its operation starts when it is stimulated by volatile compounds, it has an array of electrochemical sensors that create a fingerprint of the food and then the data obtained through statistical methods is analyzed, this It manages to perform a quality control, as well as a characterization and classification by state of maturity. The following article makes a bibliographic review about the history, development and functioning of electronic noses (NE) in general and to determine the degrees of ripeness of fruits, reviewing concepts related to smell and biomimesis, also names the main fields where electronic smell systems have been applied

Relatives of people with spinal cord injury: a qualitative study of caregivers’ metamorphosis

©2017. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ This document is the Accepted, version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Spinal Cord. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-018-0092-0Study design Qualitative study. Objective To detect the major challenges and needs reported by family member caregivers of people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Setting Family member caregivers of people with SCI and expert professionals were evaluated. This study was conducted in Spain, and most of the participants attended the National Paraplegics Hospital of Toledo. Methods We performed 25 semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed from a phenomenological perspective using the Colaizzi method. Results The metamorphosis of the caregiver is a complex personal and family-related process. Analysis of the adjustment phase of the caregiving role allowed us to describe three stages, patterns, and trends. Five basic needs were identified. Conclusions People with SCI and their primary caregivers experienced changes in every sphere of their lives. Their most important needs were psychological support, social support, economic resources, information, training throughout the process of suffering, and the creation of informal groups of mutual aid

Climate change and the kidney

The worldwide increase in temperature has resulted in a marked increase in heat waves (heat extremes) that carries a markedly increased risk for morbidity and mortality. The kidney has a unique role not only in protecting the host from heat and dehydration but also is an important site of heat-associated disease. Here we review the potential impact of global warming and heat extremes on kidney diseases. High temperatures can result in increased core temperatures, dehydration, and blood hyperosmolality. Heatstroke (both clinical and subclinical whole-body hyperthermia) may have a major role in causing both acute kidney disease, leading to increased risk of acute kidney injury from rhabdomyolysis, or heat-induced inflammatory injury to the kidney. Recurrent heat and dehydration can result in chronic kidney disease (CKD) in animals and theoretically plays a role in epidemics of CKD developing in hot regions of the world where workers are exposed to extreme heat. Heat stress and dehydration also has a role in kidney stone formation, and poor hydration habits may increase the risk for recurrent urinary tract infections. The resultant social and economic consequences include disability and loss of productivity and employment. Given the rise in world temperatures, there is a major need to better understand how heat stress can induce kidney disease, how best to provide adequate hydration, and ways to reduce the negative effects of chronic heat exposure.Published versio

Direct toxicity of six antibiotics on soil bacterial communities affected by the addition of bio-adsorbents

Reducing the toxicity caused by antibiotics on bacterial communities in the soil is one of the great challenges of this century. For this, the effectiveness of amending the soil with different bioadsorbents such as crushed mussel shell (CMS), pine bark (PB) and biomass ash (BA), as well as combinations of them (CMS + PB and PB + BA) was studied at different doses (0 g kg−1 to 48 g kg−1). Soil samples were spiked, separately, with increasing doses (0–2000 mg kg−1) of cefuroxime (CMX), amoxicillin (AMX), clarithromycin (CLA), azithromycin (AZI), ciprofloxacin (CIP) and trimethoprim (TMP). Their toxicity on bacterial growth was estimated using the tritium-labeled leucine (3H) incorporation method. Toxicity was observed to behave differently depending on the antibiotic family and bioadsorbent, although in different magnitude and at different doses. The toxicity of β-lactams (AMX and CXM) was reduced by up to 54% when the highest doses of bio-adsorbents were added due to the increase in pH (CMS and BA) and carbon (PB) contribution. Macrolides (CLA and AZI) showed slight toxicity in un-amended soil samples, which increased by up to 65% with the addition of the bio-adsorbents. The toxicity of CIP (a fluoroquinolone) increased with the dose of the bio-adsorbents, reaching up to 20% compared with the control. Finally, the toxicity of TMP (a diaminopyrimidine) slightly increased with the dose of bio-adsorbents. The by-products that increase soil pH are those that showed the highest increases of CLA, AZI, CIP and TMP toxicities. These results could help to prevent/reduce environmental pollution caused by different kinds of antibiotics, selecting the most appropriated bio-adsorbents and doses.Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. RTI2018-099574-B-C21Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. RTI2018-099574-B-C22Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad | Ref. RYC-2016-20411Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481B-2022-081Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481A-2021/309Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISU

Effects of Schizochytrium microalgae and sunflower oil as sources of unsaturated fatty acids for the sustainable mitigation of ruminal biogases methane and carbon dioxide

Biogases produced during ruminant production needs to be reduced. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated CH4 production from livestock to contribute about 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions, while carbon dioxide (CO2) accounted for about 9% of the emission (FAO, 2006). Besides, these gases including CH4, CO2, and H2 are produced during ruminal fermentation and cause losses amounting to 2e12% of dietary energy in ruminants (Johnson and Johnson, 1995). Furthermore, these emissions have been implicated in causing climate change. Yeast, organic acids salt, exogenous enzymes, and essential oils have been used as new strategies to mitigate the production of ruminal methane from ruminants (Elghandour et al., 2016, 2017; Hernandez et al., 2017).Mitigation of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions as well as ruminal fermentation parameters of a total mixed ration in the presence of Schizochytrium microalgae (SA) and sunflower oil (SO) or their mixture (SASO) as unsaturated fatty acid sources was investigated. Rumen liquor from two rumen cannulated Holstein steers and two rumen cannulated Creole goats was used as inoculum. Interactions between inoculum source additive type, and inoculum source additive type dose were observed for gas, CH4 and CO2 production and fermentation parameters. Additives affected the fermentation parameters in a dose-dependent manner. With goats’ inoculum, the inclusion of SO (1, 2, 4, 5%), SA (2, 3, 5%) and SASO (1, 3%) increased gas production (GP) and decreased the rate of GP, while with the steer inoculum, SO at 1 and 4% increased GP and the rate of GP. All levels of SA and SASO decreased the asymptotic GP and increased the rate of GP. The goat inoculum decreased CH4 at different doses of SO, SA and SASO whereas the steer inoculum decreased CH4 production. At all doses, additives decreased fermentation pH, protozoal counts, and increased ammonia-N, DM degradability and total bacterial counts. Sunflower oil (i.e., SO) at 1e3%, SA at 1e2%, and SASO at 1e2% were the most efficacious in the nutrition of goats, compared with SO at 1 to 2 in steers. The results suggest that Schizochytrium microalgae and sunflower oil could be a valuable means of sustainably mitigating CH4 and CO2 emissions for improved environmental conditions