Uptake of uranium by lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in natural uranium contaminated soils in order to assess chemical risk for consumers

Uranium mining activity in Cunha Baixa (Portugal) village has left a legacy of polluted soils and irrigation water. A controlled field experiment was conducted with lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in an agricultural area nearby the abandoned mine in order to evaluate uranium uptake and distribution in roots and leaves as well as ascertain levels of uranium intake by the local inhabitants from plant consuming. Two soils with different average uranium content (38 and 106 mg/kg) were irrigated with non-contaminated and uranium contaminated water (100 μg/l). A non-contaminated soil irrigated with local tap water (<1 μg/l uranium) was also used as a control. Uranium in lettuce tissues was positively correlated with soil uranium content, but non-significant differences were obtained from contaminated soils irrigated with different water quality. Uranium in plants (dry weight) growing in contaminated soils ranged from 0.95 to 6 mg/kg in roots and 0.32 to 2.6 mg/kg in leaves. Lettuce bioconcentration is more related to available uranium species in water than to its uranium concentration. Translocated uranium to lettuce leaves corresponds to 30% of the uranium uptake whatever the soil or irrigation water quality. A maximum uranium daily intake of 0.06 to 0.12 μg/kg bodyweight day was estimated for an adult assuming 30 to 60 g/day of lettuce is consumed. Although this value accounts for only 10% to 20% of the recommended Tolerable Daily Intake for ingested uranium, it still provides an additional source of the element in the local inhabitants’ die

Intra-annual sediment dynamic assessment in the Wei River Basin, China, using the AIC functional-structural connectivity index

Hydrological and sediment dynamics have changed considerably on the Chinese Loess Plateau during the last six decades due to large scale land use changes and numerous water regulation actions. Understanding the mechanism of sediment transport change and its effects is of great importance to food and environmental security. Numerical approaches are useful to map and assess spatio-temporal patterns in sediment dynamics. This study evaluates monthly and annual sediment connectivity in the Wei River Basin (134,800 km2) at the basin and sub-basin scales using the aggregated index of sediment connectivity (AIC). For the first time, this index is applied on this relatively large regional scale. The two objectives were to (1) evaluate the performance of the AIC at the regional scale, addressing substantial differences among areas, and (2) analyze how each AIC sub-factor co-determines the monthly sediment and connectivity patterns. Results show that AIC has strong or moderate positive correlation with sediment yield from 15 out of 23 stations in the Wei and Jing sub-basin. The Jing sub-basin has the highest sediment connectivity due to degraded vegetation, while the Beiluo sub-basin has the lowest sediment connectivity on average due to better ecological restoration. Within the year, sediment connectivity is highest in April and lowest in January, due to the rainfall regime and intra-annual land cover variations. Among the AIC factors, the rainfall factor has the highest effect on sediment connectivity, implying that functional connectivity (graded by rainfall and soil cover) determines sediment dynamics more than structural connectivity (mainly determined by topography and soil permeability). This study provides one of the first large-scale estimates of spatial and temporal sediment connectivity from hillslopes to river stream and including large reservoirs, which can be further employed to implement regional ecological construction works and environmental catchment management.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pasta highly enriched with vegetables: from microstructure to sensory and nutritional aspects

A lifestyle that combines poor food choices with very low or no physical activity can result in the development of diseases such as obesity, and this is affecting a growing number of children. One of the most effective strategies to fight obesity combines physical activity and the consumption of low energy-dense foods, such as vegetables. Vegetables are known to have health benefits but are often non-appealing to children/adolescents due to their bitterness, undesired texture, and their low satiating capacity. One of the possible solutions to increase vegetable intake by children is to incorporate vegetables in a food matrix they like. Several studies have shown that pasta is very much appreciated by children, making it an ideal candidate for the development of vegetable-enriched foods. In this work, dried broccoli powder (BP) was used to enrich pasta-like products. We have investigated aspects that are important to sensorial properties and aspects related to possible health benefits. One aspect relevant to sensorial properties is rheology. The rheology of sweet potato starch (SPS) dough was drastically affected by high volume fractions of BP. This was caused by the swelling of the broccoli powder, up to a maximum of 7.6 times their original volume. In order to control this high swelling capacity of the particles two approaches were followed and both resulted in the prevention of particle swelling. The first was the use of hydrocolloids with high water binding capacity (e.g. xanthan gum) and the second was the use of a different matrix (durum wheat semolina (DWS)). DWS pasta did not show to be greatly affected by the incorporation of high amounts of broccoli powder. The acceptability of pasta products was assessed using a test panel. The results showed that all samples tested (0 – 30%BP) were acceptable, where 30% BP turned out to be on the limit of acceptability. Glucosinolates (GLs) are phytochemicals that are associated with the health benefits of broccoli. An increasing volume fraction of broccoli powder resulted in an increasing content of glucosinolates in dried cooked pasta. At volume fractions higher than 20% BP this effect levels off. From this work, we can conclude that as much as 20% BP can be added to DWS pasta to improve nutritional properties (in terms of GLs) while maintaining acceptable sensorial properties.</p

Mediterranean diet, diet quality, and bone mineral content in adolescents: the HELENA study

Summary: Dietary scores, rather than individual nutrients, allow exploring associations between overall diet and bone health. The aim of the present study was to assess the associations between the Mediterranean Diet Score for Adolescents (MDS-A) and the Diet Quality Index for Adolescents (DQI-A) and bone mineral content (BMC) among Spanish adolescents. Our results do not support an association between dietary scores or indices and BMC in adolescents. Introduction: To assess the associations between the MDS-A and a DQI-A with the BMC measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Methods: The MDS-A and the DQI-A were calculated in 179 Spanish adolescents, based on two 24-h dietary recalls from the HELENA cross-sectional study. The associations between the diet scores and the BMC outcomes [total body less head (TBLH), femoral neck (FN), lumbar spine (LS), and hip] were analyzed using logistic regression models adjusting for several confounders. Results: Four hundred ninety-two models were included and only fruits and nuts and cereal and roots were found to provide significant ORs with regard to BMC. The risk of having low BMC reduced by 32% (OR 0.684; CI 0.473–0.988) for FN when following the ideal MDS-A, but this association lost significance when adjusting for lean mass and physical activity. For every 1-point increase in the cereal and root and the fruit and nut components, the risk of having low FN diminished by 56% (OR 0.442; CI 0.216–0.901) and by 67% (OR 0.332; CI 0.146–0.755), respectively. Conclusion: An overall dietary score or index is not associated with BMC in our adolescent Spanish sample

Heterogeneous Delays in Neural Networks

We investigate heterogeneous coupling delays in complex networks of excitable elements described by the FitzHugh-Nagumo model. The effects of discrete as well as of uni- and bimodal continuous distributions are studied with a focus on different topologies, i.e., regular, small-world, and random networks. In the case of two discrete delay times resonance effects play a major role: Depending on the ratio of the delay times, various characteristic spiking scenarios, such as coherent or asynchronous spiking, arise. For continuous delay distributions different dynamical patterns emerge depending on the width of the distribution. For small distribution widths, we find highly synchronized spiking, while for intermediate widths only spiking with low degree of synchrony persists, which is associated with traveling disruptions, partial amplitude death, or subnetwork synchronization, depending sensitively on the network topology. If the inhomogeneity of the coupling delays becomes too large, global amplitude death is induced

Charm and hidden charm scalar mesons in the nuclear medium

We study the renormalization of the properties of low lying charm and hidden charm scalar mesons in a nuclear medium, concretely of the D_{s0}(2317) and the theoretical hidden charm state X(3700). We find that for the D_{s0}(2317), with negligible width at zero density, the width becomes about 100 MeV at normal nuclear matter density, while in the case of the X(3700) the width becomes as large as 200 MeV. We discuss the origin of this new width and trace it to reactions occurring in the nucleus, while offering a guideline for future experiments testing these changes. We also show how those medium modifications will bring valuable information on the nature of the scalar resonances and the mechanisms of the interaction of D mesons with nucleons and nuclei

Exploring the genomic diversity of black yeasts and relatives (Chaetothyriales, Ascomycota)

The order Chaetothyriales (Pezizomycotina, Ascomycetes) harbours obligatorily melanised fungi and includes numerous etiologic agents of chromoblastomycosis, phaeohyphomycosis and other diseases of vertebrate hosts. Diseases range from mild cutaneous to fatal cerebral or disseminated infections and affect humans and cold-blooded animals globally. In addition, Chaetothyriales comprise species with aquatic, rock-inhabiting, ant-associated, and mycoparasitic life-styles, as well as species that tolerate toxic compounds, suggesting a high degree of versatile extremotolerance. To understand their biology and divergent niche occupation, we sequenced and annotated a set of 23 genomes of main the human opportunists within the Chaetothyriales as well as related environmental species. Our analyses included fungi with diverse life-styles, namely opportunistic pathogens and closely related saprobes, to identify genomic adaptations related to pathogenesis. Furthermore, ecological preferences of Chaetothyriales were analysed, in conjuncture with the order-level phylogeny based on conserved ribosomal genes. General characteristics, phylogenomic relationships, transposable elements, sex-related genes, protein family evolution, genes related to protein degradation (MEROPS), carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), melanin synthesis and secondary metabolism were investigated and compared between species. Genome assemblies varied from 25.81 Mb (Capronia coronata) to 43.03 Mb (Cladophialophora immunda). The bantiana-clade contained the highest number of predicted genes (12,817 on average) as well as larger genomes. We found a low content of mobile elements, with DNA transposons from Tc1/Mariner superfamily being the most abundant across analysed species. Additionally, we identified a reduction of carbohydrate degrading enzymes, specifically many of the Glycosyl Hydrolase (GH) class, while most of the Pectin Lyase (PL) genes were lost in etiological agents of chromoblastomycosis and phaeohyphomycosis. An expansion was found in protein degrading peptidase enzyme families S12 (serine-type D-Ala-D-Ala carboxypeptidases) and M38 (isoaspartyl dipeptidases). Based on genomic information, a wide range of abilities of melanin biosynthesis was revealed; genes related to metabolically distinct DHN, DOPA and pyomelanin pathways were identified. The MAT (MAting Type) locus and other sex-related genes were recognized in all 23 black fungi. Members of the asexual genera Fonsecaea and Cladophialophora appear to be heterothallic with a single copy of either MAT-1-1 or MAT-1-2 in each individual. All Capronia species are homothallic as both MAT1-1 and MAT 1-2 genes were found in each single genome. The genomic synteny of the MAT-locus flanking genes (SLA2-APN2-COX13) is not conserved in black fungi as is commonly observed in Eurotiomycetes, indicating a unique genomic context for MAT in those species. The heterokaryon (het) genes expansion associated with the low selective pressure at the MAT-locus suggests that a parasexual cycle may play an important role in generating diversity among those fungi

Response to Novel Drugs before and after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Relapsed Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains as an incurable disease and, although allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a potentially curative approach, most patients ultimately relapse, and their treatment remains challenging. Because allo-HSCT can modify not only the biology of the disease, but also the immune system and the microenvironment, it can potentially enhance the response to rescue therapies. Information on the efficacy and safety of novel drugs in patients relapsing after allo-HSCT is lacking, however. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of rescue therapies in patients with MM who relapsed after allo-HSCT, as well as to compare their efficacy before and after allo-HSCT. This retrospective multicenter study included 126 consecutive patients with MM who underwent allo-HSCT between 2000 and 2013 at 8 Spanish centers. All patients engrafted. The incidence of grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was 47%, and nonrelapse mortality within the first 100 days post-transplantation was 13%. After a median follow-up of 92 months, overall survival (OS) was 51% at 2 years and 43% at 5 years. The median progression-free survival after allo-HSCT was 7 months, whereas the median OS after relapse was 33 months. Patients relapsing in the first 6 months after transplantation had a dismal prognosis compared with those who relapsed later (median OS, 11 months versus 120 months; P <.001). The absence of chronic GVHD was associated with reduced OS after relapse (hazard ratio, 3.44; P <.001). Most patients responded to rescue therapies, including proteasome inhibitors (PIs; 62%) and immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs; 77%), with a good toxicity profile. An in-depth evaluation, including the type and intensity of PI- and IMiD-based combinations used before and after allo-HSCT, showed that the overall response rate and duration of response after allo-HSCT were similar to those seen in the pretransplantation period. Patients with MM who relapse after allo-HSCT should be considered candidates for therapy with new drugs, which can achieve similar response rates with similar durability as seen in the pretransplantation period. This pattern does not follow the usual course of the disease outside the transplantation setting, where response rates and time to progression decreases with each consecutive line of treatment

Determinants and Differences in Satisfaction with the Inhaler Among Patients with Asthma or COPD

Satisfaction with the inhaler is an important determinant of treatment adherence in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, few studies have compared these 2 groups to identify the factors associated with satisfaction with the inhaler. To assess and compare satisfaction with the inhaler in patients with asthma or COPD and to determine the variables associated with high inhaler satisfaction. A multicenter, cross-sectional study of 816 patients (406 with asthma and 410 with COPD) was conducted. Satisfaction was assessed with the Feeling of Satisfaction with Inhaler (FSI-10) questionnaire. All participants completed the Test of Adherence to Inhalers and either the Asthma Control Test (ACT) or the COPD Assessment Test (CAT). Overall, the asthma group was significantly more satisfied with the inhaler (mean [standard deviation] FSI-10 scores: 44.1 [6.5] vs 42.0 [7.7]; P <.001) and more satisfied on most (7 of 10; 70%) items. Patients with asthma were significantly more satisfied with the inhaler regardless of the adherence level or the type of nonadherence pattern. Younger age, good disease control (ACT ≥20 or CAT ≤10), previous inhaler training, and absence of unwitting nonadherence were all independently and significantly associated with high inhaler satisfaction. Age, disease control, and training in inhalation technique all play a more significant role than the specific diagnosis in explaining satisfaction with the device in patients with asthma and COPD. These findings underscore the need to provide better training and more active monitoring of the inhalation technique to improve patient satisfaction, treatment adherence, and clinical outcomes