Respuestas de alimentación de Scolytus scolytus a extractos del floema de ramillas de olmo

Feeding responses by Scolytus scolytus were tested using elm twig bark extracts in a laboratory bioassay. One to 4- years-old elm twigs or small branches were sampled in spring and their bark extracted separately with methanol and with a mixture of petroleum ether and diethyl ether (1:1) as solvents. Bark extracts were tested in a two choice feeding bioassay consisting of two polyurethane discs placed in a 10 cm diameter Petri dish. Extracts were applied onto the discs and the amount of disc eaten by ten freshly emerged S. scolytus adults was recorded after 24 hours. Ten U. minor, two U. laevis, six U. glabra, three Dutch hybrids (European x Asiatic) and one U. pumila trees were tested in several comparisons. Discs with extracts from both U. laevis trees were significantly less eaten than those from U. pumila or from U. minor trees in two choice tests. Similarly, extracts from all U. glabra trees received less feeding than those from U. minor. On the contrary, S. scolytus showed no difference in feeding between U. pumila and U. minor extracts, and similarly for Dutch hybrids in comparison with two U. minor clones. Again, beetles preferred to feed on Dutch hybrid extracts better than in those from U. laevis. Significant intraspecific differences in feeding were obtained in U. minor. One of the U. minor clones resulted less chosen when compared to other four trees. Extracts from a dying U. minor tree received more feeding than those from a healthy tree. Comparisons were also made between bark extracts from 2-to 4-year-old vs. current-year twigs within the same trees. In one of the four U. minor tested, a significant preference for the older twig extracts was recorded.Se estudió la respuesta de alimentación de S. scolytus a extractos del floema de ramillas de olmo en bioensayos de laboratorio. Se muestrearon en primavera ramillas de olmo de uno a cuatro años de edad y su floema fue extraído independientemente con metanol o con una mezcla de eter de petróleo y eter dietílico (1:1). Los extractos del floema se evaluaron en un bioensayo de doble elección consistente en dos discos de poliuretano dispuestos en una placa Petri de 10 cm de diámetro. Se aplicaron los extractos a los discos y se midió la superficie de disco comida por diez adultos recién emergidos de S. scolytus durante 24 h. Se ensayaron diez U. minor, dos U. laevis, seis U. glabra, tres híbridos holandeses (europeo x asiático) y un U. pumila en diversas comparaciones. Los discos con extractos de ambos U. laevis fueron significativamente menos comidos que aquéllos con los de U. pumila o de U. minor. Igualmente, los extractos de todos los U. glabra recibieron menor alimentación que aquéllos de U. minor. Por el contrario, S. scolytus no mostró preferencias entre los extractos de U. minor y de U. pumila, e igualmente, entre los de U. minor y los de híbridos holandeses. Nuevamente, los escolítidos prefirieron alimentarse menos de los extractos de U. laevis que de los híbridos holandeses. Se encontraron diferencias intraespecíficas significativas en U. minor. Uno de los clones de U. minor resultó menos preferido cuando se le comparó con otros cuatro árboles. Los extractos de un U. minor moribundo recibieron mayor alimentación que los de un árbol sano. Se realizaron comparaciones entre los extractos del floema de ramillas de 2 a 4 años de edad y de ramillas del año en curso de un mismo árbol. En uno de cuatro U. minor ensayados se observó una preferencia significativa por los extractos de las ramillas más viejas

Eficiencia mecánica de pedaleo en ciclistas de diferente nivel competitivo

La eficiencia muscular (gruesa, neta y delta) es una variable determinante del rendimiento en ciclismo, y mejora con el entrenamiento. Ningún trabajo previo ha mostrado diferencias en eficiencia mecánica (index of effectiveness, cociente entre los impulsos mecánico propulsivo y total) entre ciclistas de diferente nivel competitivo. Este fue el principal objetivo del presente trabajo. Participaron 11 ciclistas profesionales y 23 ciclistas amateurs que realizaron pruebas a 200, 250 y 300 W de potencia (cadencia fija a 90 rpm). La fuerza y el impulso mecánico positivo y negativo durante el pedaleo, así como la cinemática 2D de la pierna derecha fueron registradas. Los resultados muestran que no existiendo diferencias en las medidas antropométricas y de las bicicletas de los dos grupos de ciclistas, los profesionales obtuvieron más de eficiencia mecánica que los amateurs (1.5%, 2.1% y 2.4%, respectivamente). Esto se debió fundamentalmente a su menor fuerza e impulso negativos a todas las potencias. El tobillo fue la única articulación que sistemáticamente modificó su patrón de movimiento con el incremento de potencia. La eficiencia mecánica de pedaleo es también un factor determinante del nivel de rendimiento deportivo en ciclismo. Futuros estudios deben analizar la influencia del entrenamiento en esta variable.Muscular efficiency (e.g. gross, net and delta efficiency) is a key factor of cycling performance, and it improves after a training period. No previous study showed differences on mechanical efficiency (e.g. index of effectiveness and positive/negative impulses ratio) between cyclists of different competition level. Eleven professional cyclists and twenty-three amateur cyclists participated in this study. They performed three sets of pedalling at 200, 250 and 300 W (90 rpm). Both torque and impulse (negative and positive) were registered simultaneously with 2D kinematics in the right leg. Results show similar anthropometrical characteristics and similar bicycle dimensions in the two groups. Professional cyclists obtained more mechanical efficiency than amateur cyclists (1.5%, 2.1% and 2.4%, respectively). The lower minimum torque and lower negative impulse at all intensities justified these differences. Ankle was the only one joint which systematically altered its movement pattern when intensity was increased. Mechanical efficiency is too a key factor of performance in cycling. Future studies should evaluate the influence of training on this variable.Peer ReviewedAward-winnin

Piezoelectric and magnetically responsive biodegradable composites with tailored porous morphology for biotechnological applications

The biomedical area in the scope of tissue regeneration pursues the development of advanced materials that can target biomimetic approaches and, ideally, have an active role in the environment they are placed in. This active role can be related to or driven by morphological, mechanical, electrical, or magnetic stimuli, among others. This work reports on the development of active biomaterials based on poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid-co-3-hydroxyvaleric acid), PHBV, a piezoelectric and biodegradable polymer, for tissue regeneration application by tailoring its morphology and functional response. PHBV films with different porosities were obtained using the solvent casting method, resorting to high-boiling-point solvents, as N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and the combination of chloroform (CF) and DMF for polymer dissolution. Furthermore, magnetoelectric biomaterials were obtained through the combination of the piezoelectric PHBV with magnetostrictive iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles. Independently of the morphology or filler content, all biomaterials proved to be suitable for biomedical applications.This work was supported by national funds through the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) and by ERDF through COMPETE2020 - Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI) in the framework of the Strategic Programs UID/FIS/04650/2020, and project PTDC/BTM-MAT/28237/2017. TMA thank FCT for the research grant: SFRH/BD/141136/2018, VC for the junior researcher contract (DL57/2016) and CR for the contract under the Stimulus of Scientific Employment, Individual Support (CEECIND) – 3 rd Edition (2020.04163.CEECIND). Finally, the authors acknowledge funding by Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERFD) through the project PID2019-106099RBC43/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and from the Basque Government Industry Departments under the ELKARTEK program

Generation of a novel three-dimensional scaffold-based model of the bovine endometrium

Bovine in vitro endometrial models that resemble tissue function in vivo are needed to study infertility, long-term uterine alterations induced by pathogens and impact of endocrine disruptor chemicals on reproductive function and other reproductive system complications that cause high economic losses in livestock species. The present study aimed to generate an innovative, reproducible, and functional 3D scaffold-based model of the bovine endometrium structurally robust for long term-culture. We developed a multicellular model containing both endometrial epithelial and stromal cells. Epithelial cells organized to form a luminal-like epithelial layer on the surface of the scaffold. Stromal cells produced their own extracellular matrix forming a stable subepithelial compartment that physiologically resembles the normal endometrium. Both cell types released prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin F2α following a treatment with oxytocin and arachidonic acid. Additionally signal pathways mediating oxytocin and arachidonic acid stimulation of prostaglandin synthesis were analyzed by real time PCR (RT-PCR). Oxytocin receptor (OXTR), prostaglandin E2 receptor 2 (EP2), prostaglandin E2 receptor 4 (EP4), prostaglandin F receptor (PTGFR), prostaglandin E synthase (PTGES), PGF-synthase (PGFS) and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (COX-2) expression was detected in both control and treatment groups, however, only significant changes in abundance of OXTR mRNA transcripts were found. The results obtained by this study are a step forward in bovine in vitro culture technology. This 3D scaffold-based model provides a platform to study regulatory mechanisms involved in endometrial physiology and can set the basis for a broader tool for designing and testing novel therapeutic strategies for recurrent uterine pathologies

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene-based composites with permalloy with tailored magnetic response

This work reports on tailoring the magnetic properties of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)-based composites for their application in magnetoactive systems, such as magnetic sensors and actuators. The magnetic properties of the composites are provided by the inclusion of varying permalloy (Py—Ni75Fe20Mo5) nanoparticle content within the ABS matrix. Composites with Py nanoparticle content up to 80 wt% were prepared and their morphological, mechanical, thermal, dielectric and magnetic properties were evaluated. It was found that ABS shows the capability to include high loads of the filler without negatively influencing its thermal and mechanical properties. In fact, the thermal properties of the ABS matrix are basically unaltered with the inclusion of the Py nanoparticles, with the glass transition temperatures of pristine ABS and its composites remaining around 105 °C. The mechanical properties of the composites depend on filler content, with the Young’s modulus ranging from 1.16 GPa for the pristine ABS up to 1.98 GPa for the sample with 60 wt% filler content. Regarding the magnetic properties, the saturation magnetization of the composites increased linearly with increasing Py content up to a value of 50.9 emu/g for the samples with 80 wt% of Py content. A numerical model has been developed to support the findings about the magnetic behavior of the NP within the ABS. Overall, the slight improvement in the mechanical properties and the magnetic properties provides the ABS composites new possibilities for applications in magnetoactive systems, including magnetic sensors, actuators and magnetic field shielding.This project was supported by the PID program CDTI (EXP-00131900/IDI-20210369). Funding is from the Basque Government Industry Department under the ELKARTEK program. Support was received from the Portuguese Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, grant SFRH/BPD/110914/2015

Spanish and Portuguese Societies of Internal Medicine consensus guideline about best practice in end-of-life care

Aim: To develop consensus recommendations about good clinical practice rules for caring end-of-life patients. Methods: A steering committee of 12 Spanish and Portuguese experts proposed 37 recommendations. A two rounds Delphi method was performed, with participation of 105 panelists including internists, other clinicians, nurses, patients, lawyers, bioethicians, health managers, politicians and journalists. We sent a questionnaire with 5 Likert-type answers for each recommendation. Strong consensus was defined when >95% answers were completely agree or >90% were agree or completely agree; and weak consensus when >90% answers were completely agree or >80% were agree or completely agree. Results: The panel addressed 7 specific areas for 37 recommendations spanning: identification of patients; knowledge of the disease, values and preferences of the patient; information; patient's needs; support and care; palliative sedation, and after death care. Conclusions: The panel formulated and provided the rationale for recommendations on good clinical practice rules for caring end-of-life patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Occupational Diseases and Perceived Health in Operating Room Nurses : A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Background: The surgical environment has multiple factors that could affect nurses' health. The aim was to determine the effects of the working environment of operating room nurses on their health compared to hospitalization nurses. Methods: A sample of operating room nurses and hospitalization nurses were included in the study and participated by filling in a self-report survey containing sociodemographic data items, the validated Nordic and SF12 scales and a list of medical conditions. Results: Three hundred and thirty-one nurses participated in the study. Statistically significant results had obtained for diagnoses of musculoskeletal disorders and contact dermatitis among the operating room nurses. Conclusion/Application to Practice: Continuous training in ergonomics is essential. Moreover, surgical protocols for preventing infection should be revised, optimizing the chlorhexidine content of soaps to reduce the risk of lesions among the surgical staff

Impact of a COVID-19 Outbreak in an Elderly Care Home after Primary Vaccination

[EN] Elderly care home residents are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 due to immunesenescence, pre-existing medical conditions, and the risk of transmission from staff and visitors. This study aimed to describe the outcomes of a COVID-19 outbreak in a long-term care facility for elderly persons following the initial vaccination. A single-center, retrospective, observational design was used to analyze the variables associated with hospitalization and death rate by logistic regression. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Sixty-eight residents received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Despite being negative six days after vaccination, the performance of a second test 4 days later revealed 51 positives (75.0%) among residents and 18 among workers (56.3%). A total of 65 of the 68 residents (95.58%) had positive results with symptoms, whereas 34.9% required hospitalization, and 25.8% died. The best-fitting model to explain the distribution of cases reflects three points at the time of infection.. The time from vaccination to symptom onset explains the hospitalization and mortality rates since a day elapsed halves the risk of hospitalization (aOR = 0.57; CI = 0.38−0.75) and the risk of death by a quarter (aOR = 0.74; CI = 0.63−0.88). Nursing homes present an elevated risk of transmission and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although vaccination reduces the risk of hospitalization and death, extreme prevention and control measures are essential in these institutions despite the high vaccination coverage.S