Chronic oleoylethanolamide treatment decreases hepatic triacylglycerol level in rat liver by a pparγ/srebp-mediated suppression of fatty acid and triacylglycerol synthesis

none11noOleoylethanolamide (OEA) is a naturally occurring bioactive lipid belonging to the family of N-acylethanolamides. A variety of beneficial effects have been attributed to OEA, although the greater interest is due to its potential role in the treatment of obesity, fatty liver, and eating-related disorders. To better clarify the mechanism of the antiadipogenic effect of OEA in the liver, using a lipidomic study performed by1H-NMR, LC-MS/MS and thin-layer chromatography analyses we evaluated the whole lipid composition of rat liver, following a two-week daily treatment of OEA (10 mg kg−1 i.p.). We found that OEA induced a significant reduction in hepatic triacylglycerol (TAG) content and significant changes in sphingolipid composition and ceramidase activity. We associated the antiadipogenic effect of OEA to decreased activity and expression of key enzymes involved in fatty acid and TAG syntheses, such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, diacylglycerol acyltransferase, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1. Moreover, we found that both SREBP-1 and PPARγ protein expression were significantly reduced in the liver of OEA-treated rats. Our findings add significant and important insights into the molecular mechanism of OEA on hepatic adipogenesis, and suggest a possible link between the OEA-induced changes in sphingolipid metabolism and suppression of hepatic TAG level.openRomano A.; Friuli M.; Del Coco L.; Longo S.; Vergara D.; Del Boccio P.; Valentinuzzi S.; Cicalini I.; Fanizzi F.P.; Gaetani S.; Giudetti A.M.Romano, A.; Friuli, M.; Del Coco, L.; Longo, S.; Vergara, D.; Del Boccio, P.; Valentinuzzi, S.; Cicalini, I.; Fanizzi, F. P.; Gaetani, S.; Giudetti, A. M

Plasmopara viticola infection affects mineral elements allocation and distribution in Vitis vinifera leaves

Plasmopara viticola is one of the most important pathogens infecting Vitis vinifera plants. The interactions among P. viticola and both susceptible and resistant grapevine plants have been extensively characterised, at transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic levels. However, the involvement of plants ionome in the response against the pathogen has been completely neglected so far. Therefore, this study was aimed at investigating the possible role of leaf ionomic modulation during compatible and incompatible interactions between P. viticola and grapevine plants. In susceptible cultivars, a dramatic redistribution of mineral elements has been observed, thus uncovering a possible role for mineral nutrients in the response against pathogens. On the contrary, the resistant cultivars did not present substantial rearrangement of mineral elements at leaf level, except for manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe). This might demonstrate that, resistant cultivars, albeit expressing the resistance gene, still exploit a pathogen response mechanism based on the local increase in the concentration of microelements, which are involved in the synthesis of secondary metabolites and reactive oxygen species. Moreover, these data also highlight the link between the mineral nutrition and plants\u2019 response to pathogens, further stressing that appropriate fertilization strategies can be fundamental for the expression of response mechanisms against pathogens

Nutraceutical Profiles of Two Hydroponically Grown Sweet Basil Cultivars as Affected by the Composition of the Nutrient Solution and the Inoculation With Azospirillum brasilense

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is one of the most produced aromatic herbs in the world, exploiting hydroponic systems. It has been widely assessed that macronutrients, like nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S), can strongly affect the organoleptic qualities of agricultural products, thus influencing their nutraceutical value. In addition, plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been shown to affect plant growth and quality. Azospirillum brasilense is a PGPR able to colonize the root system of different crops, promoting their growth and development and influencing the acquisition of mineral nutrients. On the bases of these observations, we aimed at investigating the impact of both mineral nutrients supply and rhizobacteria inoculation on the nutraceutical value on two different sweet basil varieties, i.e., Genovese and Red Rubin. To these objectives, basil plants have been grown in hydroponics, with nutrient solutions fortified for the concentration of either S or N, supplied as SO42\u2013 or NO3\u2013, respectively. In addition, plants were either non-inoculated or inoculated with A. brasilense. At harvest, basil plants were assessed for the yield and the nutraceutical properties of the edible parts. The cultivation of basil plants in the fortified nutrient solutions showed a general increasing trend in the accumulation of the fresh biomass, albeit the inoculation with A. brasilense did not further promote the growth. The metabolomic analyses disclosed a strong effect of treatments on the differential accumulation of metabolites in basil leaves, producing the modulation of more than 400 compounds belonging to the secondary metabolism, as phenylpropanoids, isoprenoids, alkaloids, several flavonoids, and terpenoids. The primary metabolism that resulted was also influenced by the treatments showing changes in the fatty acid, carbohydrates, and amino acids metabolism. The amino acid analysis revealed that the treatments induced an increase in arginine (Arg) content in the leaves, which has been shown to have beneficial effects on human health. In conclusion, between the two cultivars studied, Red Rubin displayed the most positive effect in terms of nutritional value, which was further enhanced following A. brasilense inoculation

The evolutionary sequence of sub-mm galaxies: from diffuse discs to massive compact ellipticals?

The population of compact massive galaxies observed at z > 1 are hypothesised, both observationally and in simulations, to be merger remnants of gas-rich disc galaxies. To probe such a scenario we analyse a sample of 12 gas-rich and active star forming sub-mm galaxies (SMGs) at 1.8 < z < 3. We present a structural and size measurement analysis for all of these objects using very deep ACS and NICMOS imaging in the GOODS-North field. Our analysis reveals a heterogeneous mix of morphologies and sizes. We find that four galaxies (33% \pm 17%) show clear signs of mergers or interactions, which we classify as early-stage mergers. The remaining galaxies are divided into two categories: five of them (42% \pm 18%) are diffuse and regular disc-like objects, while three (25% \pm 14%) are very compact, spheroidal systems. We argue that these three categories can be accommodated into an evolutionary sequence, showing the transformation from isolated, gas-rich discs with typical sizes of 2-3 kpc, into compact (< 1 kpc) galaxies through violent major merger events, compatible with the scenario depicted by theoretical models. Our findings that some SMGs are already dense and compact provides strong support to the idea that SMGs are the precursors of the compact, massive galaxies found at slightly lower redshift.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 8 pages, 4 figures and 1 tabl

Estrategia de aula invertida con modalidad virtual. Estudio de caso en la formación de profesionales en ciencias naturales

A pocos días para el comienzo de las clases se presentó un fuerte cambio de contexto en el marco de la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2. Ante el crecimiento exponencial de contagios, el aislamiento social obligatorio fue una de las medidas principales adoptadas por los diferentes países del mundo. En esta realidad resultó inevitable retrasar o detener el dictado de clases en los distintos ámbitos académicos, especialmente de educación superior (Cayo-Rojas y Rosell, 2020). Como muchas instituciones educativas de Argentina, la UNC implementó el cursado completamente virtual de sus carreras. En la Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, inmediatamente se comenzó a trabajar en la adaptación del dictado de todos los espacios curriculares hacia el Campus Académico.Como alternativa a las metodologías de enseñanza tradicionales surge el Aula Invertida como enfoque integral que fomenta el aprendizaje autónomo de los estudiantes, contando con acceso a los contenidos a través de entornos virtuales para luego aplicarlos en actividades diversas y participativas. En este trabajo se plantea valorar la implementación del modelo aula invertida para el dictado virtual del espacio curricular Fisicoquímica de la carrera Licenciatura en Agroalimentos de la Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias. Inicialmente, la asignatura fue planificada para llevarse a cabo mediante un enfoque de Aula Invertida, aprovechando los entornos virtuales desde un modelo de aprendizaje centrado en la construcción activa del conocimiento por parte de los estudiantes. Del total de alumnos matriculados, accedió a promoción directa de la asignatura el 62,3% y adquirió condición de alumno regular el 4,1%. Considerando que fue la primera vez que se dictó la materia, sin antecedentes de dictado presencial, se podría decir que los resultados fueron favorables ya que los alumnos demostraron en su gran mayoría una elevada adherencia a las actividades planteadas, a pesar de las vicisitudes presentadas por la dificultad de acceso a internet. Esta situación debe ser considerada al pensar la planificación de una asignatura desde la virtualidad.publishedVersionFil: Uliana, A. S. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias. Departamento de Fundamentación Biológica. Cátedra de Biología Celular; ArgentinaFil: Prieto, María Cecilia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Prieto, María Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina.Fil: Bergesse, A. E. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Bergesse, A. E. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina.Fil: Camiletti, O. F. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Camiletti, O. F. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina.Fil: Mariani, E. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias. Departamento de Fundamentación Biológica. Cátedra de Química Orgánica; Argentina.Fil: Valentinuzzi, M. C. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias. Departamento de Ingeniería y Mecanización Rural. Cátedra de Física; Argentina

High-redshift elliptical galaxies: are they (all) really compact?

We investigate the properties of 12 ultra-massive passively evolving early type galaxies (ETGs) at z_phot>1.4 in the COSMOS 2 deg^2 field. These 12 ETGs were selected as pBzKs, have accurate 1.4<= z_phot <=1.7,high Sersic index profiles typical of ellipticals, no detection at 24 micron, resulting in a complete ETG sample at M*>2.5x10^11 M_sun (Chabrier IMF). Contrary to previous claims, the half light radii estimated in very high S/N imaging data from HST+ACS are found to be large for most of the sample, consistent with local ellipticals. If the high redshift ETGs with M*<2.5x10^11 M_sun are really small in size and compact as reported in previous studies, our result may suggest a "downsizing" scenario, whereby the most massive ETGs reach their final structure earlier and faster than lower mass ones. However, simulating galaxies with morphological properties fixed to those of local ETGs with the same stellar mass show that the few compact galaxies that we still recover in our sample can be understood in term of fluctuations due to noise preventing the recovery of the extended low surface brightness halos in the light profile. Such halos, typical of Sersic profiles, extending even up to 40 kpc, are indeed seen in our sample.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, accepted by MNRA

Algorithm for identifying and separating beats from arterial pulse records

BACKGROUND: This project was designed as an epidemiological aid-selecting tool for a small country health center with the general objective of screening out possible coronary patients. Peripheral artery function can be non-invasively evaluated by impedance plethysmography. Changes in these vessels appear as good predictors of future coronary behavior. Impedance plethysmography detects volume variations after simple occlusive maneuvers that may show indicative modifications in arterial/venous responses. Averaging of a series of pulses is needed and this, in turn, requires proper determination of the beginning and end of each beat. Thus, the objective here is to describe an algorithm to identify and separate out beats from a plethysmographic record. A secondary objective was to compare the output given by human operators against the algorithm. METHODS: The identification algorithm detected the beat's onset and end on the basis of the maximum rising phase, the choice of possible ventricular systolic starting points considering cardiac frequency, and the adjustment of some tolerance values to optimize the behavior. Out of 800 patients in the study, 40 occlusive records (supradiastolic- subsystolic) were randomly selected without any preliminary diagnosis. Radial impedance plethysmographic pulse and standard ECG were recorded digitizing and storing the data. Cardiac frequency was estimated with the Power Density Function and, thereafter, the signal was derived twice, followed by binarization of the first derivative and rectification of the second derivative. The product of the two latter results led to a weighing signal from which the cycles' onsets and ends were established. Weighed and frequency filters are needed along with the pre-establishment of their respective tolerances. Out of the 40 records, 30 seconds strands were randomly chosen to be analyzed by the algorithm and by two operators. Sensitivity and accuracy were calculated by means of the true/false and positive/negative criteria. Synchronization ability was measured through the coefficient of variation and the median value of correlation for each patient. These parameters were assessed by means of Friedman's ANOVA and Kendall Concordance test. RESULTS: Sensitivity was 97% and 91% for the two operators, respectively, while accuracy was cero for both of them. The synchronism variability analysis was significant (p < 0.01) for the two statistics, showing that the algorithm produced the best result. CONCLUSION: The proposed algorithm showed good performance as expressed by its high sensitivity. The correlation analysis demonstrated that, from the synchronism point of view, the algorithm performed the best detection. Patients with marked arrhythmic processes are not good candidates for this kind of analysis. At most, they would be singled out by the algorithm and, thereafter, to be checked by an operator

Field and Laboratory Studies Provide Insights into the Meaning of Day-Time Activity in a Subterranean Rodent (Ctenomys aff. knighti), the Tuco-Tuco

South American subterranean rodents (Ctenomys aff. knighti), commonly known as tuco-tucos, display nocturnal, wheel-running behavior under light-dark (LD) conditions, and free-running periods >24 h in constant darkness (DD). However, several reports in the field suggested that a substantial amount of activity occurs during daylight hours, leading us to question whether circadian entrainment in the laboratory accurately reflects behavior in natural conditions. We compared circadian patterns of locomotor activity in DD of animals previously entrained to full laboratory LD cycles (LD12∶12) with those of animals that were trapped directly from the field. In both cases, activity onsets in DD immediately reflected the previous dark onset or sundown. Furthermore, freerunning periods upon release into DD were close to 24 h indicating aftereffects of prior entrainment, similarly in both conditions. No difference was detected in the phase of activity measured with and without access to a running wheel. However, when individuals were observed continuously during daylight hours in a semi-natural enclosure, they emerged above-ground on a daily basis. These day-time activities consisted of foraging and burrow maintenance, suggesting that the designation of this species as nocturnal might be inaccurate in the field. Our study of a solitary subterranean species suggests that the circadian clock is entrained similarly under field and laboratory conditions and that day-time activity expressed only in the field is required for foraging and may not be time-dictated by the circadian pacemaker

Voluntary exercise can strengthen the circadian system in aged mice

Consistent daily rhythms are important to healthy aging according to studies linking disrupted circadian rhythms with negative health impacts. We studied the effects of age and exercise on baseline circadian rhythms and on the circadian system's ability to respond to the perturbation induced by an 8 h advance of the light:dark (LD) cycle as a test of the system's robustness. Mice (male, mPer2luc/C57BL/6) were studied at one of two ages: 3.5 months (n = 39) and &gt;18 months (n = 72). We examined activity records of these mice under entrained and shifted conditions as well as mPER2::LUC measures ex vivo to assess circadian function in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) and important target organs. Age was associated with reduced running wheel use, fragmentation of activity, and slowed resetting in both behavioral and molecular measures. Furthermore, we observed that for aged mice, the presence of a running wheel altered the amplitude of the spontaneous firing rate rhythm in the SCN in vitro. Following a shift of the LD cycle, both young and aged mice showed a change in rhythmicity properties of the mPER2::LUC oscillation of the SCN in vitro, and aged mice exhibited longer lasting internal desynchrony. Access to a running wheel alleviated some age-related changes in the circadian system. In an additional experiment, we replicated the effect of the running wheel, comparing behavioral and in vitro results from aged mice housed with or without a running wheel (&gt;21 months, n = 8 per group, all examined 4 days after the shift). The impact of voluntary exercise on circadian rhythm properties in an aged animal is a novel finding and has implications for the health of older people living with environmentally induced circadian disruption