Investigation of the Reaction Mechanism between Bovine Collagen and a Triazine- Based Coupling Reagent

Content: The triazine-based coupling reagent 4-(4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-4-methylmorpholinium chloride (DMTMM) is a promptly water-soluble white solid commonly used in chemical synthesis, which is proven to act as effective tanning agent. This research work provides an experimental evidence that the tanning ability of DMTMM is associated to an increase of the cross-linking density in the collagen molecule. As a result of the coupling reaction, DMTMM is converted into water-soluble by-products that can be removed by washing. Take-Away: chrome free tanning, reaction mechanis

NMR quantification of 16-O-methylcafestol and kahweol in Coffea canephora var. robusta beans from different geographical origins

Diterpenes have recently received a great deal of interest as tools to investigate the botanical origin of coffee. Specifically, kahweol has been proposed as a marker of Coffea arabica while 16-O-methylcafestol (16-OMC) is a Coffea canephora specific marker and its detection and quantification allow the authenticity of pure C. arabica roasted coffee blends to be assessed. In this study, we evaluated the possibility of the industrial use of the quantification of these diterpenes to assess the relative amounts of the two coffee species in blends. The content of 16-OMC and kahweol was determined in 78 samples (i.e., 39 green and the corresponding 39 roasted beans) of C. canephora from different geographical origins using a recently published NMR approach. Our results show a small natural variability in 16-OMC content for the Asian samples (average content = 1837 \ub1 113 mg/kg) while a much larger spread was found for the African samples (average content = 1744 \ub1 322 mg/kg). This large variability prevents the use of 16-OMC to quantify C. canephora in unknown roasted coffee blends. We also show that kahweol cannot be considered a specific C. arabica marker since it was detected almost all coffees and quantified in about 30% of the C. canephora samples

Secured data storage framework for land registration using blockchain technology

Land registration requires a complex of sensitive data that requires a decentralized environment. Current technology only concentrates on the less secure database storage and expose to any misconduct. This is due to the characteristics of the database, which still has some problems with unstructured data and non-relational databases. As the land registration methods require complexities and challenges in terms of land tenure security at a high-risk scale, the security level of the land registration system needs to be put at the highest level. Fraud is one the major problem which is currently a severe problem in the land registration methods. Also, the land registration process takes a long duration of time to complete. The land title indicates that the land is confirmed and already registered to an owner. The reason for ownership is to perceive property rights, which incorporates data relating to land region, area, limits, just as proprietorship and title of the ardent property. However, the land is registered, but still, there are lots of causes of fraud happened in which land registration data can be quickly deleted and or edited. Since land is an asset, and any fraud can cause a loss in a lot of money, it becomes very crucial that the registration of land becomes speedy, transparent, and with less hustle. In this research, we propose a framework for secure data storage of land registration using Blockchain. Blockchain offers the solution with its underlying technology. Blockchain is decentralized, transparent, and fast compared to the traditional centralized software approach. For the validation of the proposed framework, we performed a comparison between the proposed and existing methods

The lineage-specific, intrinsically disordered N-terminal extension of monothiol glutaredoxin 1 from trypanosomes contains a regulatory region

Glutaredoxins (Grx) are small proteins conserved throughout all the kingdoms of life that are engaged in a wide variety of biological processes and share a common thioredoxin-fold. Among them, class II Grx are redox-inactive proteins involved in iron-sulfur (FeS) metabolism. They contain a single thiol group in their active site and use low molecular mass thiols such as glutathione as ligand for binding FeS-clusters. In this study, we investigated molecular aspects of 1CGrx1 from the pathogenic parasite Trypanosoma brucei brucei, a mitochondrial class II Grx that fulfills an indispensable role in vivo. Mitochondrial 1CGrx1 from trypanosomes differs from orthologues in several features including the presence of a parasite-specific N-terminal extension (NTE) whose role has yet to be elucidated. Previously we have solved the structure of a truncated form of 1CGrx1 containing only the conserved glutaredoxin domain but lacking the NTE. Our aim here is to investigate the effect of the NTE on the conformation of the protein. We therefore solved the NMR structure of the full-length protein, which reveals subtle but significant differences with the structure of the NTE-less form. By means of different experimental approaches, the NTE proved to be intrinsically disordered and not involved in the non-redox dependent protein dimerization, as previously suggested. Interestingly, the portion comprising residues 65–76 of the NTE modulates the conformational dynamics of the glutathione-binding pocket, which may play a role in iron-sulfur cluster assembly and delivery. Furthermore, we disclosed that the class II-strictly conserved loop that precedes the active site is critical for stabilizing the protein structure. So far, this represents the first communication of a Grx containing an intrinsically disordered region that defines a new protein subgroup within class II Grx

Estrus Detection in a Dairy Herd Using an Electronic Nose by Direct Sampling on the Perineal Region

Estrus detection is very important for the profitability of dairy herds. Different automatic systems for estrus detection have been developed over the last decades. Our study aimed to assess the ability of the electronic nose (EN) MENT-EGAS prototype to detect estrus, based on odor release from the perineal headspace in dairy cattle by direct sampling. The study was performed in an Italian dairy farm using 35 multiparous Holstein–Friesian cows. The cows were divided into three groups: group I included 10 lactating 5-month pregnant cows, group II included 19 lactating cycling cows, and group III included 6 cows that were artificially inseminated 18 days before the trial. Odors from the perineal headspace were collected using the MENT-EGAS prototype. In group I, odors were collected once a day for 5 consecutive days. In group II, odors were collected twice daily from day 18 until day 1 of the reproductive cycle. In group III, odors were also collected twice daily from the presumable day 18 of gestation until day 22. Principal component analyses (PCA) of the perineal headspace samples were performed. PCA in group I revealed no significant discrimination. PCA in group II revealed clear discrimination between proestrus and estrus, and between estrus and metestrus but no significant discrimination was obtained between proestrus and metestrus. PCA in group III revealed that in four cows the results were similar to group I and in two cows the results were similar to group II. On day 40 of the presumable pregnancy, the ultrasound examination revealed that only the four cows were pregnant and the other two cows were regularly cycling. On the basis of our findings, we conclude that it is possible to accurately detect estrus in dairy cattle from directly collected odor samples using the MENT-EGAS prototype. This represents the first study of estrus detection using an EN detection by direct sampling. EN technologies, such as MENT-EGAS, could be applied in the future in dairy cattle farms as a precise, non-invasive method for estrus detection

Fecal Microbiota, Bile Acids, Sterols, and Fatty Acids in Dogs with Chronic Enteropathy Fed a Home-Cooked Diet Supplemented with Coconut Oil

: Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) are considered to be interesting energy sources for dogs affected by chronic enteropathies (CE). This study analyzed the clinical scores, fecal microbiota, and metabolomes of 18 CE dogs fed a home-cooked diet (HCD) supplemented with virgin coconut oil (VCO), a source of MCFA, at 10% of metabolizable energy (HCD + VCO). The dogs were clinically evaluated with the Canine Chronic Enteropathy Activity Index (CCECAI) before and at the end of study. Fecal samples were collected at baseline, after 7 days of HCD, and after 30 days of HCD + VCO, for fecal score (FS) assessment, microbial analysis, and determination of bile acids (BA), sterols, and fatty acids (FA). The dogs responded positively to diet change, as shown by the CCECAI improvement (p = 0.001); HCD reduced fecal fat excretion and HCD + VCO improved FS (p < 0.001), even though an increase in fecal moisture occurred due to HCD (p = 0.001). HCD modified fecal FA (C6:0: +79%, C14:0: +74%, C20:0: +43%, C22:0: +58%, C24:0: +47%, C18:3n-3: +106%, C20:4n-6: +56%, and monounsaturated FA (MUFA): -23%, p < 0.05) and sterol profile (coprostanol: -27%, sitostanol: -86%, p < 0.01). VCO increased (p < 0.05) fecal total saturated FA (SFA: +28%, C14:0: +142%, C16:0 +21%, C22:0 +33%) and selected MCFAs (+162%; C10:0 +183%, C12:0 +600%), while reducing (p < 0.05) total MUFA (-29%), polyunsaturated FA (-26%), campesterol (-56%) and phyto-/zoosterols ratio (0.93:1 vs. 0.36:1). The median dysbiosis index was <0 and, together with fecal BA, was not significantly affected by HCD nor by VCO. The HCD diet increased total fecal bacteria (p = 0.005) and the abundance of Fusobacterium spp. (p = 0.028). This study confirmed that clinical signs, and to a lesser extent fecal microbiota and metabolome, are positively influenced by HCD in CE dogs. Moreover, it has been shown that fecal proportions of MCFA increased when MCFAs were supplemented in those dogs. The present results emphasize the need for future studies to better understand the intestinal absorptive mechanism of MCFA in dogs

Deep neural networks allow expert-level brain meningioma segmentation and present potential for improvement of clinical practice

Accurate brain meningioma segmentation and volumetric assessment are critical for serial patient follow-up, surgical planning and monitoring response to treatment. Current gold standard of manual labeling is a time-consuming process, subject to inter-user variability. Fully-automated algorithms for meningioma segmentation have the potential to bring volumetric analysis into clinical and research workflows by increasing accuracy and efficiency, reducing inter-user variability and saving time. Previous research has focused solely on segmentation tasks without assessment of impact and usability of deep learning solutions in clinical practice. Herein, we demonstrate a three-dimensional convolutional neural network (3D-CNN) that performs expert-level, automated meningioma segmentation and volume estimation on MRI scans. A 3D-CNN was initially trained by segmenting entire brain volumes using a dataset of 10,099 healthy brain MRIs. Using transfer learning, the network was then specifically trained on meningioma segmentation using 806 expert-labeled MRIs. The final model achieved a median performance of 88.2% reaching the spectrum of current inter-expert variability (82.6-91.6%). We demonstrate in a simulated clinical scenario that a deep learning approach to meningioma segmentation is feasible, highly accurate and has the potential to improve current clinical practice

Rehabilitative treatment of patients with covid-19 infection: The p.a.r.m.a. evidence based clinical practice protocol

Background: The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 on the National Health System (NHS) required a reorganization of the various levels of care, which also involved the rehabilitation reality. Aim of the work: A clinical practice review of the literature was conducted to provide operational-rehabilitation guidelines adapt-ed to the local reality and to the recent corporate reorganization in the context of the COVID-19 emergency. Methods: A practice review of the available scientific evidence was regularly conducted from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to periodically update the clinical practice guidelines. Articles that met the following inclusion criteria were included: studies conducted on human adult subjects with COVID-19 infection, un-dergoing rehabilitation in any hospitalization setting. Results: The results of this clinical practice update were periodically discussed with colleagues and collaborators in a multi-professional team, in order to guarantee a good clinical practice protocol, named P.A.R.M.A. Conclusions: The P.A.R.M.A. protocol is the result of a periodic review literature update, which has allowed us to take charge of patients affected by COVID-19 ac-cording to the most up-to-date clinical evidences, guaranteeing a shared and uniform treatment within a local reality in an era of health emergency. (www.actabiomedica.it)

Prognostic relevance of serum beta2 microglobulin in patients with follicular lymphoma treated with anthracycline-containing regimens. A GISL study.

Background and ObjectivesAlthough serum b2 microglobulin (b2M) is an easy parameter to measure, and overexpressedin a large number of lymphoproliferative diseases, its prognostic value hasbeen largely underestimated. The present study examined the influence of b2M levelson overall survival (OS) of patients with follicular lymphoma (FL).Design and MethodsThe prognostic role of b2M was evaluated in 236 patients with FL identified from thedatabases of the Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio dei Linfomi (GISL) and treated withanthracycline-based regimens from 1993 to 2003.ResultsElevated serum b2M levels were found in 82 patients (35%). According to multivariatelogistic regression analysis, elevated b2M levels were associated with elevatedlactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (p=0.021), age (p=0.029), and number of involvednodal areas (p<0.001). The percentage of elevated b2M levels increased progressivelywith increasing FLIPI scores (17%, 38%, and 63% in the low-, intermediate-, andhigh-risk groups, respectively). Five-year OS was 61% (95% CI, 47-73%) and 89% (95%CI, 82-93%) for patients with elevated vs normal b2M levels respectively (p<0.001).Cox regression analysis showed that b2M level had an independent and stable prognosticvalue (HR=3.0; 95%CI, 1.6-5.7). In a multivariate analysis the impact of b2Mlevel on survival was independent of FLIPI score, with a HR of 2.94 (95% CI, 1.54-5.62).Interpretation and ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that in patients treated in the pre-rituximab era, b2M levelwas an independent prognostic marker in addition to FLIPI score. We thus suggestthat b2M be routinely assessed and tested in future prognostic studies of FL patientstreated with combination chemotherapy and anti-CD20 agents