Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae in Questing Ticks, Central Spain

These results demonstrate that SFG rickettsiae with public health relevance are found in ticks in central Spain as in other regions in Spain. In central Spain, the widespread distribution of tick vectors and possible wildlife hosts, the presence of persons in tick-infested recreational and hunting areas, and the transstadial and transovarial transmission of the pathogen in ticks may favor transmission to humans.Fil: Fernandez de Mera, Isabel G.. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas. Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos; España;Fil: Ruiz-Fons, Francisco. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas. Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos; España;Fil: de la Fuente, Gabriela. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas. Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos; España;Fil: Mangold, Atilio Jose. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Santa Fe. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria, Rafaela; Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina;Fil: Gortázar, Christian. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas. Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos; España;Fil: de la Fuente, José. Oklahoma State University; Estados Unidos de América

Influencia de la temperatura durante el quemado sobre el despellejado en aceitunas variedad Aloreña y Manzanilla Sevillana

Las aceitunas variedad Manzanilla Sevillana y Aloreña se cocieron en recipientes de 8 litros a temperatura controlada a diferentes intervalos. Aloreña y Manzanilla Sevillana se sometieron a 19-20 °C, 22 °C, 23-24 °C, 25-26 °C, 28-29 °C y además solo para Manzanilla Sevillana se agregó el intervalo 32-35 °C. Se utilizó una solución de NaOH al 2,5% p/v en el cocido y en todos los tratamientos, además se emplearon los mismos lavados y la misma salmuera inicial de fermentación con el 10% de concentración de NaCL +0,1% ácido acético glacial. El objetivo de este trabajo es mostrar el efecto de la temperatura en el defecto del despellejado para las diferentes variedades. En todos los tratamientos se evaluó el defecto de despellejado haciendo un corte con cuchillo en toda la circunferencia de cada fruto y se observó si hay o no desprendimiento de la piel adyacente al corte, luego se pasó el dedo en el corte en el mismo sentido para verificar si la piel no se desprendía. La correlación de Pearson observada entre la temperatura de quemado y el porcentaje de despellejado fue de 0,93 (p<0,001) para Aloreña y 0,95 (p<0,001) para Manzanilla indicando una relación directa entre los dos factores. En el intervalo de 19-20 °C se consigue un defecto medio de 1% en Manzanilla y 1,25% en Aloreña.Manzanilla Sevillana and Aloreña variety olives were taken and subject to alkaline treatment in 8 liter containers at a controlled temperature in the following intervals: 19-20 °C, 22 °C, 23-24 °C, 25-26 °C, 28-29 °C, for Aloreña and for Manzanilla Sevillana. In addition to those mentioned, an extra interval of 32-35 °C was performed for Manzanilla Sevillana. A 2.5% w/v NaOH solution was used in the alkaline treatment, in all treatments; the same washes were made and the same initial fermentation brine was used, with a concentration of 10% of NaCl + 0.1% glacial acetic acid. The aim of this work is to show the effect temperature has on the peeling defect these two varieties suffer. The skin detachment or peeling defect was evaluated in every treatment, by making a cut with knife along the entire circumference of each fruit, thus to observe if there was peeling adjacent to the cut, then a finger was passed in the cut in the same direction to check if the skin did not come off. Pearson correlation observed between the lye treatment temperature and the peeling percentage was 0.93 (p<0.001) for Aloreña and y 0.95 (p<0.001) for Manzanilla, indicative of a direct relation between these factors. In the interval 19-20 °C, a mean defect of 1% is obtained in Manzanilla and of 1.25% in Aloreña.EEA ChilecitoFil: Juarez, Julio Ariel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Chilecito. Agencia de Extensión Rural Aimogasta; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, C. La Rioja (Argentina : provincia) .Departamento Arauco. Dirección de Bromatología; ArgentinaFil: De La Fuente, M. Asociación de productores “Aimoarauco”, Departamento Arauco, La Rioja; Argentina

Impaired neurogenesis and neural progenitor fate choice in a human stem cell model of SETBP1 disorder

Background Disruptions of SETBP1 (SET binding protein 1) on 18q12.3 by heterozygous gene deletion or loss-of-function variants cause SETBP1 disorder. Clinical features are frequently associated with moderate to severe intellectual disability, autistic traits and speech and motor delays. Despite the association of SETBP1 with neurodevelopmental disorders, little is known about its role in brain development. Methods Using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology, we generated a SETBP1 deletion model in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and examined the effects of SETBP1-deficiency in neural progenitors (NPCs) and neurons derived from these stem cells using a battery of cellular assays, genome-wide transcriptomic profiling and drug-based phenotypic rescue. Results Neural induction occurred efficiently in all SETBP1 deletion models as indicated by uniform transition into neural rosettes. However, SETBP1-deficient NPCs exhibited an extended proliferative window and a decrease in neurogenesis coupled with a deficiency in their ability to acquire ventral forebrain fate. Genome-wide transcriptome profiling and protein biochemical analysis revealed enhanced activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in SETBP1 deleted cells. Crucially, treatment of the SETBP1-deficient NPCs with a small molecule Wnt inhibitor XAV939 restored hyper canonical β-catenin activity and restored both cortical and MGE neuronal differentiation. Limitations The current study is based on analysis of isogenic hESC lines with genome-edited SETBP1 deletion and further studies would benefit from the use of patient-derived iPSC lines that may harbor additional genetic risk that aggravate brain pathology of SETBP1 disorder. Conclusions We identified an important role for SETBP1 in controlling forebrain progenitor expansion and neurogenic differentiation. Our study establishes a novel regulatory link between SETBP1 and Wnt/β-catenin signaling during human cortical neurogenesis and provides mechanistic insights into structural abnormalities and potential therapeutic avenues for SETBP1 disorder

Contributions to the morphology and phylogeny of the newly discovered bat tick species, Ixodes ariadnae in comparison with I. vespertilionis and I. simplex

Background: Recently a new hard tick species, Ixodes ariadnae has been discovered, adding to the two known ixodid tick species (I. vespertilionis and I. simplex) of bats in Europe. Findings: Scanning electron microscopic comparison of adult females of these species shows morphological differences concerning the palps, the scutum, the Haller's organ, the coxae, as well as the arrangement and fine structure of setae. Molecular analysis of 10 geographically different isolates revealed 90-95% sequence homology in the 12S and 16S rDNA genes of bat tick species. Based on 12S rDNA sequences, genotypes of I. ariadnae clustered closest to I. simplex, whereas according to their 16S rDNA gene they were closest to I. vespertilionis. The subolesin gene of I. ariadnae had only 91% sequence homology with that of I. ricinus, and is the longest known among hard tick species. Conclusions: The present study illustrates the morphology and clarifies the phylogenetic relationships of the three known bat tick species that occur in Europe. According to its subolesin gene I. ariadnae may have a long evolutionary history

Identifying engagement and associated factors in nursing students: An exploratory study

Background Burnout and engagement in health students surpass work life. Although levels of burnout in Nursing students are high, academic engagement is an understudied topic in Nursing, which has shown benefits. The aims were to know the level of engagement of Nursing students and to identify factors that prompt higher levels of engagement. Methods An exploratory study was conducted during 2019 in three Universities in Spain. The UWES-S-17 questionnaire was used. Results The sample consisted of 808 Nursing students. An average level of engagement was found. Engagement differed significantly by gender and age, with females and older students showing greater attitudes. Participants in the second year showed lower scores in the willingness to dedicate effort and persistence than those in the first and third year (p < 0.05). Conclusions The identification of the level of engagement and factors involved are an opportunity to probe into this approach by reinforcing positive attitudes in Nursing students. These findings show the need to seek strategies through specific educational interventions and policies. Engagement should be upheld throughout the degree and once they enter the job market to ensure the well-being during academic and future work life, a high-quality nursing care and patient safetyS

Maladaptive plasticity in levodopa-induced dyskinesias and tardive dyskinesias: old and new insights on the effects of dopamine receptor pharmacology.

Maladaptive plasticity can be defined as behavioral loss or even development of disease symptoms resulting from aberrant plasticity changes in the human brain. Hyperkinetic movement disorders, in the neurological or psychiatric realms, have been associated with maladaptive neural plasticity that can be expressed by functional changes such as an increase in transmitter release, receptor regulation, and synaptic plasticity or anatomical modifications such as axonal regeneration, sprouting, synaptogenesis, and neurogenesis. Recent evidence from human and animal models provided support to the hypothesis that these phenomena likely depend on altered dopamine turnover induced by long-term drug treatment. However, it is still unclear how and where these altered mechanisms of cortical plasticity may be localized. This study provides an up-to-date overview of these issues together with some reflections on future studies in the field, particularly focusing on two specific disorders (levodopa-induced dyskinesias in Parkinson's disease patients and tardive dyskinesias in schizophrenic patients) where the modern neuroimaging approaches have recently provided new fundamental insights

In vivo grading of lipids in fatty liver by near-infrared autofluorescence and reflectance

The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) is rapidly increasing worldwide. When untreated, it may lead to complications such as liver cirrhosis or hepatocarcinoma. The diagnosis of NAFLD is usually obtained by ultrasonography, a technique that can underestimate its prevalence. For this reason, physicians aspire for an accurate, cost-effective, and noninvasive method to determine both the presence and the specific stage of the NAFLD. In this paper, we report an integrated approach for the quantitative estimation of the density of triglycerides in the liver based on the use of autofluorescence and reflectance signals generated by the abdomen of obese C57BL6/J mice. Singular value decomposition is applied to the generated spectra and its corresponding regression model provided a determination coefficient of 0.99 and a root mean square error of 240 mg/dl. This, in turn, enabled the quantitative imaging of triglycerides density in the livers of mice under in vivo conditionsMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovacion, Grant/Award Number: IJC2020-045229-I; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion, Grant/Award Number: NANONERVPID2019-106211RB-I0

Effects of boom-corridor thinning on harvester productivity and residual stand structure

Biomass derived from small-diameter, dense, thinning stands is largely underutilized within the European Union, mainly because of in-effective harvesting methods and cutting technology, leading to high supply costs. Therefore, the efficacy of boom-corridor thinning (BCT) and selective thinning (ST) on harvester felling and bunching productivity was compared for the first thinning of whole tree biomass in small-diameter, dense stands. BCT working method is when trees are cut with linear movements of the harvester's boom reach, along narrow corridors, instead of cutting each tree selectively (ST). Trials were performed in six forest stands, one in Sweden, two in Finland, and three in Slovenia, using the same harvester and operator. A time-and-motion study was carried out in 64 pre-marked study units (32 replications per method), across a variety of stand conditions. The biomass removal for both treatments averaged 40.2 dry t ha -1 and BCT productivity averaged 5.4 dry t PMh -1. For BCT, harvester work time consumption (sec tree -1) and productivity (dry t PMh -1) were on average 27% lower and 16% higher, respectively, compared with ST. The effectiveness of the accumulating felling head technology used could potentially be increased by implementing a feed-roller system when handling excessive tree lengths. Developing dedicated harvesting technology for BCT could further boost productivity, facilitating cost-effective and sustainable utilization of low-value small-diameter tree biomass and replacing fossil resources