Combined kinetic and DFT studies on the stabilization of the pyramidal form of H3PO2 at the heterometal site of [Mo3M’S4(H2O)10]4+ clusters (M’= Pd, Ni)

Kinetic and DFT studies have been carried out on the reaction of the [Mo3M’S4(H2O)10]4+ clusters (M’= Pd, Ni) with H3PO2 to form the [Mo3M’(pyr-H3PO2)S4(H2O)9]4+ complexes, in which the rare pyramidal form of H3PO2 is stabilized by coordination to the M’ site of the clusters. The reaction proceeds with biphasic kinetics, both steps showing a first order dependence with respect to H3PO2. These results are interpreted in terms of a mechanism that involves an initial substitution step in which one tetrahedral H3PO2 molecule coordinates to M’ through the oxygen atom of the P=O bond, followed by a second step that consists in tautomerization of coordinated H3PO2 assisted by a second H3PO2 molecule. DFT studies have been carried out to obtain information on the details of both kinetic steps, the major finding being that the role of the additional H3PO2 molecule in the second step consists in catalysing a hydrogen shift from phosphorus to oxygen in O-coordinated H3PO2, which is made possible by its capability of accepting a proton from P-H to form H4PO2 + and then transfer it to the oxygen. DFT studies have been also carried out on the reaction at the Mo centres to understand the reasons that make these metal centres ineffective for promoting tautomerizatio

Bacterias marinas antagonistas de Staphylococcus aureus y Vibrio parahaemolyticus, agentes de enfermedades trasmitidas por alimentos.

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo la identificación de microorganismos marinos de las costas mexicanas que presentenactividad antimicrobiana contra Staphylococcus aureus y Vibrio parahaemolyticus, conocidos en el ámbito mundial por ser agentes de intoxicación alimentaria. Se colectaron muestras representativas de algas, sedimentos salinos, crustáceos y moluscos. De las 42 cepas probadas, 15 inhibieron estos patógenos. La secuenciación del gen 16S rRNA identificó solo cepas de Bacillus. Las cepas con la actividad inhibidora más alta contra S. aureus fueron B. aerius y B. pumilus. Las cepas B. pumilus, B. altitudinis y B. oryzicola mostraron una mayor actividad antimicrobiana contra V. parahaemolyticus. Este es el primer estudio del aislamiento de B. aerius, B. oryzicola, B. safensis, B. boroniphilus y B. altitudinis de ecosistemas marinos en México, así como el primer estudio que reporta sus efectos inhibidores contra S. aureus y V. parahaemolyticus. Los compuestos activos de los antagonistas se están identificando y evaluando actualmente. Los ecosistemas marinos tienen la mayor diversidad bacteriana asociada con invertebrados y algas; sin embargo, esta diversidad bacteriana no ha sido bien estudiada en las costas mexicanas

Lean and green in the transport and logistics sector – a case study of simultaneous deployment

© 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. The transport and logistics sector is of vital importance for the stimulation of trade and hence the economic development of nations. However, over the last few years, this sector has taken central stage in the green agenda due to the negative environmental effects derived from its operations. Several disciplines including operations research and sub-areas of supply chain management such as green supply chains, green logistics and reverse logistics have tried to address this problem. However, despite the work undertaken through these disciplines, theoretical or empirical research into the sequential or simultaneous deployment of the lean and green paradigms, particularly, in the road transport and logistics sector is limited. This paper presents a case study where both paradigms have been combined to improve the transport operations of a world leader logistics organisation in the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Mexico. To do this, a systematic methodology and a novel tool called Sustainable Transportation Value Stream Map (STVSM) were proposed. The results obtained from the case study indicate that the concurrent deployment of the green and lean paradigms through such methodology and the STVSM tool is an effective approach to improve both operational efficiency and environmental performance of road transport operations. The paper can be used as a guiding reference for transport and logistics organisations to undertake improvement projects similar to the one presented in this paper. Additionally, this research also intends to stimulate scholarly research into the application of lean and green paradigms in the transport and logistics sector to expand the limited research pursued in this area

Interaction of HLA Class II rs9272219 and TMPO rs17028450 (Arg690Cys) Variants Affects Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder Susceptibility in an Admixed Mexican Population

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) is a demyelinating autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, more prevalent in individuals of non-European ancestry. Few studies have analyzed genetic risk factors in NMOSD, and HLA class II gene variation has been associated NMOSD risk in various populations including Mexicans. Thymopoietin (TMPO) has not been tested as a candidate gene for NMOSD or other autoimmune disease, however, experimental evidence suggests this gene may be involved in negative selection of autoreactive T cells and autoimmunity. We thus investigated whether the missense TMPO variant rs17028450 (Arg630Cys, frequent in Latin America) is associated with NMOSD, and whether this variant shows an interaction with HLA-class II rs9272219, previously associated with NMOSD risk. A total of 119 Mexican NMOSD patients, 1208 controls and 357 Native Mexican individuals were included. The HLA rs9272219 "T" risk allele frequency ranged from 21 to 68%, while the rs17028450 "T" minor allele frequency was as high as 18% in Native Mexican groups. Both rs9272219 and rs17028450 were significantly associated with NMOSD risk under additive models (OR = 2.48; p = 8 × 10(-10) and OR = 1.59; p = 0.0075, respectively), and a significant interaction between both variants was identified with logistic regression models (p = 0.048). Individuals bearing both risk alleles had an estimated 3.9-fold increased risk of NMOSD. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting an association of TMPO gene variation with an autoimmune disorder and the interaction of specific susceptibility gene variants, that may contribute to the genetic architecture of NMOSD in admixed Latin American populations

Homogeneously derived transit timings for 17 exoplanets and reassessed TTV trends for WASP-12 and WASP-4

We homogeneously analyse ∼3.2 × 105 photometric measurements for ∼1100 transit lightcurves belonging to 17 exoplanet hosts. The photometric data cover 16 years 2004–2019 and include amateur and professional observations. Old archival lightcurves were reprocessed using up-to-date exoplanetary parameters and empirically debiased limb-darkening models. We also derive self-consistent transit and radial-velocity fits for 13 targets. We confirm the nonlinear TTV trend in the WASP-12 data at a high significance, and with a consistent magnitude. However, Doppler data reveal hints of a radial acceleration about ( − 7.5 ± 2.2) m/s/yr, indicating the presence of unseen distant companions, and suggesting that roughly 10 per cent of the observed TTV was induced via the light-travel (or Roemer) effect. For WASP-4, a similar TTV trend suspected after the recent TESS observations appears controversial and model-dependent. It is not supported by our homogeneus TTV sample, including 10 ground-based EXPANSION lightcurves obtained in 2018 simultaneously with TESS. Even if the TTV trend itself does exist in WASP-4, its magnitude and tidal nature are uncertain. Doppler data cannot entirely rule out the Roemer effect induced by possible distant companions

Type 2 Diabetes Is Associated with Reduced ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter A1 Gene Expression, Protein and Function

Objective Increasing plasma glucose levels are associated with increasing risk of vascular disease. We tested the hypothesis that there is a glycaemia-mediated impairment of reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). We studied the influence of plasma glucose on expression and function of a key mediator in RCT, the ATP binding cassette transporter-A1 (ABCA1) and expression of its regulators, liver X receptor-α (LXRα) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor–γ (PPARγ). Methods and Results Leukocyte ABCA1, LXRα and PPARγ expression was measured by polymerase chain reaction in 63 men with varying degrees of glucose homeostasis. ABCA1 protein concentrations were measured in leukocytes. In a sub-group of 25 men, ABCA1 function was quantified as apolipoprotein-A1-mediated cholesterol efflux from 2–3 week cultured skin fibroblasts. Leukocyte ABCA1 expression correlated negatively with circulating HbA1c and glucose (rho = −0.41, p<0.001; rho = −0.34, p = 0.006 respectively) and was reduced in Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (p = 0.03). Leukocyte ABCA1 protein was lower in T2DM (p = 0.03) and positively associated with plasma HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) (rho = 0.34, p = 0.02). Apolipoprotein-A1-mediated cholesterol efflux correlated negatively with fasting glucose (rho = −0.50, p = 0.01) and positively with HDL-C (rho = 0.41, p = 0.02). It was reduced in T2DM compared with controls (p = 0.04). These relationships were independent of LXRα and PPARγ expression. Conclusions ABCA1 expression and protein concentrations in leukocytes, as well as function in cultured skin fibroblasts, are reduced in T2DM. ABCA1 protein concentration and function are associated with HDL-C levels. These findings indicate a glycaemia- related, persistent disruption of a key component of RCT

Native American ancestry significantly contributes to neuromyelitis optica susceptibility in the admixed Mexican population

Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) is an autoimmune disease with a higher prevalence in non-European populations. Because the Mexican population resulted from the admixture between mainly Native American and European populations, we used genome-wide microarray, HLA high-resolution typing and AQP4 gene sequencing data to analyze genetic ancestry and to seek genetic variants conferring NMO susceptibility in admixed Mexican patients. A total of 164 Mexican NMO patients and 1,208 controls were included. On average, NMO patients had a higher proportion of Native American ancestry than controls (68.1% vs 58.6%; p = 5 × 10–6). GWAS identified a HLA region associated with NMO, led by rs9272219 (OR = 2.48, P = 8 × 10–10). Class II HLA alleles HLA-DQB1*03:01, -DRB1*08:02, -DRB1*16:02, -DRB1*14:06 and -DQB1*04:02 showed the most significant associations with NMO risk. Local ancestry estimates suggest that all the NMO-associated alleles within the HLA region are of Native American origin. No novel or missense variants in the AQP4 gene were found in Mexican patients with NMO or multiple sclerosis. To our knowledge, this is the first study supporting the notion that Native American ancestry significantly contributes to NMO susceptibility in an admixed population, and is consistent with differences in NMO epidemiology in Mexico and Latin America.Fil: Romero Hidalgo, Sandra. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica; MéxicoFil: Flores Rivera, José. Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía; MéxicoFil: Rivas Alonso, Verónica. Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía; MéxicoFil: Barquera, Rodrigo. Max Planck Institute For The Science Of Human History; Alemania. Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia; MéxicoFil: Villarreal Molina, María Teresa. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica; MéxicoFil: Antuna Puente, Bárbara. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica; MéxicoFil: Macias Kauffer, Luis Rodrigo. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Villalobos Comparán, Marisela. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica; MéxicoFil: Ortiz Maldonado, Jair. Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía; MéxicoFil: Yu, Neng. American Red Cross; Estados UnidosFil: Lebedeva, Tatiana V.. American Red Cross; Estados UnidosFil: Alosco, Sharon M.. American Red Cross; Estados UnidosFil: García Rodríguez, Juan Daniel. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica; MéxicoFil: González Torres, Carolina. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica; MéxicoFil: Rosas Madrigal, Sandra. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica; MéxicoFil: Ordoñez, Graciela. Neuroimmunología, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía; MéxicoFil: Guerrero Camacho, Jorge Luis. Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía; MéxicoFil: Treviño Frenk, Irene. American British Cowdray Medical Center; México. Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Salvador Zubiran; MéxicoFil: Escamilla Tilch, Monica. Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Salvador Zubiran; MéxicoFil: García Lechuga, Maricela. Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Salvador Zubiran; MéxicoFil: Tovar Méndez, Víctor Hugo. Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Salvador Zubiran; MéxicoFil: Pacheco Ubaldo, Hanna. Instituto Nacional de Antropología E Historia. Escuela Nacional de Antropología E Historia; MéxicoFil: Acuña Alonzo, Victor. Instituto Nacional de Antropología E Historia. Escuela Nacional de Antropología E Historia; MéxicoFil: Bortolini, María Cátira. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Gallo, Carla. Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia; PerúFil: Bedoya Berrío, Gabriel. Universidad de Antioquia; ColombiaFil: Rothhammer, Francisco. Universidad de Tarapacá; ChileFil: Gonzalez-Jose, Rolando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto Patagónico de Ciencias Sociales y Humanas; ArgentinaFil: Ruiz Linares, Andrés. Colegio Universitario de Londres; Reino UnidoFil: Canizales Quinteros, Samuel. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Yunis, Edmond. Dana Farber Cancer Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Granados, Julio. Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Salvador Zubiran; MéxicoFil: Corona, Teresa. Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía; Méxic

Amerind Ancestry, Socioeconomic Status and the Genetics of Type 2 Diabetes in a Colombian Population

The “thrifty genotype” hypothesis proposes that the high prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Native Americans and admixed Latin Americans has a genetic basis and reflects an evolutionary adaptation to a past low calorie/high exercise lifestyle. However, identification of the gene variants underpinning this hypothesis remains elusive. Here we assessed the role of Native American ancestry, socioeconomic status (SES) and 21 candidate gene loci in susceptibility to T2D in a sample of 876 T2D cases and 399 controls from Antioquia (Colombia). Although mean Native American ancestry is significantly higher in T2D cases than in controls (32% v 29%), this difference is confounded by the correlation of ancestry with SES, which is a stronger predictor of disease status. Nominally significant association (P<0.05) was observed for markers in: TCF7L2, RBMS1, CDKAL1, ZNF239, KCNQ1 and TCF1 and a significant bias (P<0.05) towards OR>1 was observed for markers selected from previous T2D genome-wide association studies, consistent with a role for Old World variants in susceptibility to T2D in Latin Americans. No association was found to the only known Native American-specific gene variant previously associated with T2D in a Mexican sample (rs9282541 in ABCA1). An admixture mapping scan with 1,536 ancestry informative markers (AIMs) did not identify genome regions with significant deviation of ancestry in Antioquia. Exclusion analysis indicates that this scan rules out ∼95% of the genome as harboring loci with ancestry risk ratios >1.22 (at P < 0.05)