Durability parameters of reinforced recycled aggregate concrete: Case study

Recycled concrete aggregate (RA) from pavement demolition was used to make concrete. Ten concrete mixtures with different replacement percentages of RA (coarse and fine) were made. The corrosion rate of steel and the electrical resistivity of concrete were determined on reinforced concrete specimens subjected to wetting-drying cycles (3.5% solution of NaCl). Corrosion rate was determined using the electrochemical technique of linear polarization resistance, while the electrical resistivity was measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results show that the use of RA introduces more interfaces in concrete, which accelerates the steel corrosion process because the porosity increases and the electrical resistivity decreases. However, steel corrosion and the electrical resistivity in concrete are not significantly influenced by replacing a maximum 30% of coarse aggregate or 20% of fine aggregate with RA.Peer ReviewedPreprin

Alanine Scanning Mutagenesis of the C-Terminal Cytosolic End of Gpm6a Identifies Key Residues Essential for the Formation of Filopodia

Neuronal membrane glycoprotein M6a (Gpm6a) is a protein with four transmembrane regions and the N- and the C-ends facing the cytosol. It functions in processes of neuronal development, outgrowth of neurites, and formation of filopodia, spines, and synapsis. Molecular mechanisms by which Gpm6a acts in these processes are not fully comprehended. Structural similarities of Gpm6a with tetraspanins led us to hypothesize that, similarly to tetraspanins, the cytoplasmic tails function as connections with cytoskeletal and/or signaling proteins. Here, we demonstrate that the C- but not the N-terminal cytosolic end of Gpm6a is required for the formation of filopodia by Gpm6a in cultured neurons from rat hippocampus and in neuroblastoma cells N2a. Further immunofluorescence microcopy and flow cytometry analysis show that deletion of neither the N- nor the C-terminal intracellular domains interferes with the recognition of Gpm6a by the function-blocking antibody directed against the extracellular part of Gpm6a. Expression levels of both truncation mutants were not affected but we observed decrease in the amount of both truncated proteins on cell surface suggesting that the incapacity of the Gpm6a lacking C-terminus to induce filopodium formation is not due to the lower amount of Gpm6a on cell surface. Following colocalization assays shows that deletion of the C- but not the N-terminus diminishes the association of Gpm6a with clathrin implying involvement of clathrin-mediated trafficking events. Next, using comprehensive alanine scanning mutagenesis of the C-terminus we identify K250, K255, and E258 as the key residues for the formation of filopodia by Gpm6a. Substitution of these charged residues with alanine also diminishes the amount of Gpm6a on cell surface and in case of K255 and E258 leads to the lower amount of total expressed protein. Subsequent bioinformatic analysis of Gpm6a amino acid sequence reveals that highly conserved and functional residues cluster preferentially within the C- and not within the N-terminus and that K250, K255, and E258 are predicted as part of sorting signals of transmembrane proteins. Altogether, our results provide evidence that filopodium outgrowth induced by Gpm6a requires functionally critical residues within the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail.Fil: Rosas, Nicolás Matías. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez Juliá, Anabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Alzuri, Sofia E.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Frasch, Alberto Carlos C.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Fuchsova, Beata. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; Argentin

Induction of Engineered Residual Stresses Fields and Associate Surface Properties Modification by Short Pulse Laser Shock Processing

Laser shock processing (LSP) is consolidating as an effective technology for the improvement of metallic materials surface properties involving their fatigue life. The main acknowledged advantage of the LSP technique consists on its capability of inducing a relatively deep compression residual stresses field into metallic alloy pieces allowing an improved mechanical behaviour, explicitly the life improvement of the treated specimens against wear, crack growth and stress corrosion cracking. Progress accomplished by the authors in the line of practical development of the LSP technique at an experimental level, aiming its integral assessment from an interrelated theoretical and experimental point of view, is presented in this paper. Concretely, experimental results on the residual stress profiles and associated surface properties modification successfully reached in typical materials (especially Al and Ti alloys) under different LSP irradiation conditions are presented, a correlated analysis of the residual stress profiles obtained under different irradiation strategies and the evaluation of the corresponding induced surface properties as roughness and wear resistance being also presented. Through a coupled theoretical- experimental analysis the real possibilities of the LSP technique as a possible substitutive of related traditional surface modification techniques as, for example, shot peening

Does native Trypanosoma cruzi calreticulin mediate growth inhibition of a mammary tumor during infection?

Indexación: Web of Science.Background: For several decades now an antagonism between Trypanosoma cruzi infection and tumor development has been detected. The molecular basis of this phenomenon remained basically unknown until our proposal that T. cruzi Calreticulin (TcCRT), an endoplasmic reticulum-resident chaperone, translocated-externalized by the parasite, may mediate at least an important part of this effect. Thus, recombinant TcCRT (rTcCRT) has important in vivo antiangiogenic and antitumor activities. However, the relevant question whether the in vivo antitumor effect of T. cruzi infection is indeed mediated by the native chaperone (nTcCRT), remains open. Herein, by using specific modified anti-rTcCRT antibodies (Abs), we have neutralized the antitumor activity of T. cruzi infection and extracts thereof, thus identifying nTcCRT as a valid mediator of this effect. Methods: Polyclonal anti-rTcCRT F(ab')(2) Ab fragments were used to reverse the capacity of rTcCRT to inhibit EAhy926 endothelial cell (EC) proliferation, as detected by BrdU uptake. Using these F(ab')(2) fragments, we also challenged the capacity of nTcCRT, during T. cruzi infection, to inhibit the growth of an aggressive mammary adenocarcinoma cell line (TA3-MTXR) in mice. Moreover, we determined the capacity of anti-rTcCRT Abs to reverse the antitumor effect of an epimastigote extract (EE). Finally, the effects of these treatments on tumor histology were evaluated. Results: The rTcCRT capacity to inhibit ECs proliferation was reversed by anti-rTcCRT F(ab')(2) Ab fragments, thus defining them as valid probes to interfere in vivo with this important TcCRT function. Consequently, during infection, these Ab fragments also reversed the in vivo experimental mammary tumor growth. Moreover, anti-rTcCRT Abs also neutralized the antitumor effect of an EE, again identifying the chaperone protein as an important mediator of this anti mammary tumor effect. Finally, as determined by conventional histological parameters, in infected animals and in those treated with EE, less invasive tumors were observed while, as expected, treatment with F(ab')(2) Ab fragments increased malignancy. Conclusion: We have identified translocated/externalized nTcCRT as responsible for at least an important part of the anti mammary tumor effect of the chaperone observed during experimental infections with T. cruzi.http://bmccancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12885-016-2764-

MODULACIÓN DE LA EXPRESIÓN DE RECEPTORES EMPLEADOS POR MICOBACTERIAS EN LEUCOCITOS POR Mycobacterium tuberculosis Y SUS FRACCIONES

Existen receptores en las células hospederas que reconocen patrones moleculares que favorecen la internalización de patógenos. Para Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) se encuentran CD11c, CD14 y CD40. Los receptores para a-quimiocinas y b-quimiocinas (CXCR4 y CCR5) son moléculas coreceptoras para el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) y medían su entrada a células CD4+. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar si Mtb y/o sus fracciones pueden modular laexpresión de CD11c, CD14, CD40, CXCR4 y CCR5 en cultivo de leucocitos de sujetos sanos PPDpositivos. Observamos una disminución en la expresión de CD11c por Mtb y sus fracciones (p<0.05), excepto por las proteínas extracelulares de Mtb. La expresión de CD14 fue incrementada por los lípidos y polisacáridos (p<0.05), sin embargo Mtb completo inhibió la expresión (p<0.05).Los monocitos CD40+ se ven disminuidos después de la estimulación con la bacteria completa (p<0.05). Por otro lado, monocitos CCR5+ fueron elevados después de la estimulación con el bacilo completo y polisacáridos (p<0.05). Finalmente, los linfocitos CXCR4+ fueron elevados después de la estimulación con proteínas intracelulares. La bacteria completa incremento el porcentaje demonocitos CXCR4+ (p<0.05). En conclusión, la micobacteria y algunas de sus fracciones regulan la expresión de receptores probablemente para asegurar su nicho y asegurar su multiplicación. Los resultados con los receptores de quimiocinas demuestran que la infección por Mtb genera un microambiente propicio para la co-infección por VIH.Palabras clave: Receptores, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Receptores de Quimiocinas, VIH.        Receptores, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Receptores de Quimiocinas, VIH

Caracterización de la actividad enzimática del jugo gástrico de pulpo, Octopus vulgaris y de choco, Sepia officinalis a distintos pH. Digestibilidad in vitro de distintas dietas, con jugo gástrico de pulpo

Intensive culture of marine species has been increasing in many countries, such as Japan, Norway, Spain, France, and Greece. Recent research to improve the quality and quantity of aquatic animals production by understanding the process of feeding (ingestion, digestion, and absorption), with emphasis on the digestive enzymatic capabilities is important in order to understand metabolic processes and reduce costs and time on the development of such diets. The impetus to increase knowledge about suitable inert diets to partially or totally replace live feed would reduce this expensive part of the operation, particularly in new potential species, such as the octopus, Octopus vulgaris, and the cuttlefi sh, Sepia offi cinalis, which are two of the most promising cephalopods for large-scale culture. This work is divided into two parts: (1) Enzymatic characterization, by determination of protease activity of the gastric juice at pH ranges from 2 to 12, since this is the major responsible of digestion processes, and (2) In vitro evaluation of several prepared diets, as well as a selection of several natural animal protein sources, by means of a pH-Stat system The results of Part 1 showed that the digestive enzyme activity in total proteases from the gastric juice was higher at pH 7 and 9, therefore being a more alkaline digestion for these species. Total proteases activity was higher at pH 8, while the tripsin activity was higher at pH 7, for both species. For Part 2, the natural diets (natural or liophylized squid, blue whiting and mussel) promoted the highest digestibility, with the highest value being attained with liophylized squid (49%). From the prepared diets, based on raw blue whiting paste, those diets agglutinated with gelatine delivered the highest digestibility. The use of soy protein, as well as heating gelatine as agglutinants, promoted poor digestibility

Efecto de la temperatura y el cuidado materno sobre el desarrollo embrionario del pulpo comun (Octopus vulgaris)

This work presents a study on the effects of two temperatures (14ºC and 18ºC) and incubation (artificial vs . female care) on the embryonic development of Octopus vulgaris . Results showed that type of incubation does not affect the embryonic development. For that reason data obtained from embryos incubated both artificial and by female were grouped. Temperature had a marked eff ect on embryonic development time of O. vulgari s . At 18ºC, embryonic development was of 40 days, while at 14ºC it was of 64 days. Temperature of 14 and 18°C were in the tolerance range of the species without affecting the morphological characteristics of hatchlings. Results showed that temperature modu lated in a different form the embryonic development, at least until stage XV where embryos maintained at 18°C showed values of eggs and embryo length lower than observed in embryos maintained at 14°C. t he fact that there were no differences between hatchli ngs maintained at both experimental temperatures demonstrates that O. vulgaris embryos can be favored if spawn occurs at relatively low but increasing temperatures, which contributes to a shorter planktonic life that will impact into the settle.En este trabajo se realizó el estudio sobre el desarrollo embrionario del pulpo común a 14ºC y a 18ºC y el efecto del cuidado materno. Los resultados muestran que la temperatura tiene un efecto marcado en el tiempo de desarrollo y que el cuidado mater no no afecta al desarrollo embrionario. A 18°C el tiempo de desarrollo fue de 40 días y a 14°C el tiempo de desarrollo fue de 64 dí as. A 18°C, se alcanzaron las estadios de Naef antes que a 14°C. Del mismo modo, el índice de desarrollo (DI) indica que caracterí sticas de diferenciación embrionaria fueron alcanzadas siempre antes a 18°C que a 14°C. Al final del desarrollo embrionario, no hubo diferencias en la longitud de l huevo, para los dos supuestos. Sin embargo, el aumento de longitud del huevo fue más evidente y visible cuando el embrión se comenzó a formar y con valores mayores a 14ºC que a 18ºC . L a longitud de embriones, la longitud del brazo, el diámetro del ojo, el peso del vitelo y el peso del huevo fue similar (p> 0,05) para ambas temperaturas, independientemente del cuidado materno, al final del período de desarrollo embrionario. Del mismo modo, no hubo diferencias en el peso ni en embriones ni en paralarvas reci én eclosionadas a las dos temperaturas ni con cuidado materno ni sin e

Neutralizing anti-RBD fraction for SARS-CoV-2 is associated with the interaction waist circumference and sex. An ESFUERSO preliminary report on university students

In a previous study we reported that 25% of college students had a family history of type 2 diabetes (T2D), and 39% of hypertension. Interestingly, between 17 to 47% reported not knowing about T2D or hypertension, neither the existing obesity-metabolic problems (ESFUERSO study). The COVID-19 pandemic forced confinement and modifications in food intake, physical activity, and psychological stress. This study aimed to analyze if the immune Ig-G anti-RBD (protective epitope in S protein) response associated with type of vaccination, metabolic risk, perceived stress, and history of COVID-19 contacts. We included 116 students at the 3th year of follow up in the ESFUERSO cohort at Reynosa. Mean age 21.4 (SD 1.04) years old, BMI 28 (6.6), females 70% (81/116). The serum concentration of Ig-G anti-RGB measured by ELISA adjusted by sex, age, body fat percentage, and BMI was analyzed. Researchers performed a multiple regression analysis with Stata V17.0. We found that 70% of the students had a family history of diabetes, hypertension, and/or obesity at baseline. Only 5 (4%) students did not have any vaccine at the time of the study, 102 (88%) were vaccinated with Moderna or Pfizer and 9 (8%) with other vaccines (Cansino, Sinovac). The prevalence of positive anti-RBD was 91%. The body fat percentage interacted with sex (p=0.034) explaining the serum concentration of anti-RBD decreased as adiposity increases in men, but increased in women. The interaction remained is spite of type of vaccination. We found no differences among metabolic risks for food consumption, distress, uncertainty, lack of sleep, sadness, and anxiety were associated with metabolic problems. Our model predicts neutralizing anti-RBD had multiplicative interaction by sex and body fat percentage (increases in females and decreases in males), with no effects on stress score or food consumption

Duración del tratamiento con etanercept y razones de discontinuación en una cohorte de pacientes con patología reumática

[EN] Objective: To evaluate the duration of etanercept (ETN) treatment and motives for discontinuation in our local cohort of patients with rheumatic pathology and compare them to the group with other biological treatments. Patients and methods: Prospective observational cohort study. Disease diagnosis, start and end date and motive for discontinuation were recorded. Survival estimation was explored using Kaplan-Meier analysis with remaining patients censored at 1-year, 2-years and 5-years follow-up. Results: Ninety-two (45%) out of 205 patients started ETN treatment. Disease diagnoses recorded were: 48% rheumatoid arthritis, 33% ankylosing spondylitis, 11% psoriatic arthritis, 8% others (juvenile idiopathic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease related spondylitis, SAPHO syndrome). 52% of patients are still on the drug. The motives for discontinuation were: inefficacy (65%), adverse events (33%) and lack of compliance (2%). Two patients discontinued ETN due to prolonged disease control. Adverse events were: infection (4 patients), post-injection skin reaction (3), uveitis (3), neoplasia (2) and others (3). Using a Kaplan–Meier analysis, at 1-year 64% (CI95% 54-74) of patients with ETN treatment had not experienced treatment failure, at 2-years, 59% (48-69) and at 5-years, 43% (30-52). With the rest of biologicals estimated survival was 61% (51-68), 47,5% (40-55) and 23% (10,5-32) respectively. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences (log-rank: P=.024; Breslow: P=.068; Tarone-Ware: P = .040). Conclusions: In our cohort of patients treated with ETN the estimated survival was better than patients treated with other biological drugs at 1-year, 2-years and 5-years. © 2011 Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.[ES] Objetivos: Evaluar la supervivencia del tratamiento con etanercept (ETN) y las causas de discontinuación en una cohorte local de pacientes en tratamiento biológico (TB). Comparar con la supervivencia general del resto de TB. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio observacional prospectivo de cohortes. Se han analizado los datos de diagnóstico, fecha de inicio y fin de tratamiento, así como la causa de interrupción de nuestro registro de TB. Mediante el método de Kaplan-Meier se ha estimado la supervivencia de ETN al ano, a los 2 a ˜ nos y a los ˜ 5 anos. ˜ Resultados: De un total de 205 pacientes que recibieron TB, 92 (45%) iniciaron tratamiento con ETN. En el 48% el diagnóstico fue artritis reumatoide, 33% espondilitis anquilosante, 11% artritis psoriásica y 8% otros diagnósticos (artritis idiopática juvenil, espondiloartritis asociada a enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal y síndrome SAPHO). Continúan con ETN 48 pacientes (52%). Las causas de discontinuación fueron: ineficacia (65%), acontecimiento adverso (33%), pérdida de seguimiento (2%). En 2 pacientes el tratamiento se retiró por remisión clínica. Los acontecimientos adversos fueron: infección (4 pacientes), reacción cutánea postinyección (3), uveítis (3), neoplasia (2) y otros (3). La supervivencia estimada de ETN al ano de tratamiento ˜ fue del 64% (IC del 95%, 54-74), a los dos anos del 59% (48-69 ˜ ) y a los 5 anos del 43% (30-52), y la del resto ˜ de TB fue del 61% (51-68), el 47,5% (40-55) y el 23% (10,5-32), respectivamente. Los tests estadísticos revelaron diferencias significativas (log-rank: p = 0,024; Breslow: p = 0,068; Tarone-Ware: p = 0,040). Conclusiones: En nuestra cohorte de pacientes la supervivencia estimada de ETN en el primero, segundo y quinto de ano de tratamiento es superior a la obtenida con el resto de TB, siendo la diferencia significativa ˜ a los 5 anos. ˜ © 2011 Elsevier Espana, S.L. Todos los derechos reservados.Senabre-Gallego, JM.; Rosas, J.; Santos-Soler, G.; Santos Ramirez, C.; Sánchez-Barrioluengo, M.; Salas, E.; Barber, X.... (2011). Duración del tratamiento con etanercept y razones de discontinuación en una cohorte de pacientes con patología reumática. Reumatología Clínica. 7(6):385-388. doi:10.1016/j.reuma.2011.06.005S3853887