Twinning and grain subdivision during dynamic deformation of a Mg AZ31 sheet alloy at room temperature

The microstructural evolution of an AZ31 rolled sheet during dynamic deformation at strain rates of ∼103 s−1 has been investigated by electron backscatter diffraction, X-ray and neutron diffraction. The influence of orientation on the predominant deformation mechanisms and on the recovery processes taking place during deformation has been systematically examined. The results have been compared with those corresponding to the same alloy tested quasi-statically under equivalent conditions. It has been found that strain rate enhances the activation of extension twinning dramatically, while contraction and secondary twinning are not significantly influenced. The polarity of extension twinning is even reversed in some grains under selected testing conditions. Significant grain subdivision by the formation of geometrically necessary boundaries (GNBs) takes place during both quasi-static and dynamic deformation of this AZ31 alloy. It is remarkable that GNBs of high misorientations form even at the highest strain rates. The phenomenon of recovery has been found to be orientation dependen

Digitizing the Herbarium of the I.E.S. Padre Luis Coloma of Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz, SW Spain)

Hoy día las tecnologías avanzan a ritmos insospechados, y el acceso a la información es cada vez más fácil y rápido. Aunque es cierto, que mucha información todavía se encuentra en un formato inaccesible o desconocida para muchos, aunque cada vez son las menos. En esta comunicación vamos a explicar el proceso de digitalización del Herbario del IES Padre Luis Coloma de Jerez de la Frontera que data en sus inicios del año 1875 en adelante. Tras el acuerdo inicial con los propietarios del herbario, procedimos a trazar unas directrices para su correcta indexación y fotografiado. Por tanto, recopilamos la información de uno de los apuntes bibliográficos para confeccionar una base de datos primaria. Esto nos ahorró bastante trabajo pues era una recopilación de todas las etiquetas del herbario en sus inicios. Más adelante procedimos a crear un pequeño script web junto a una base de datos MySQL para ir editando datos y haciendo correcciones sobre la marcha del proceso de fotografiado. En este proceso se obtuvieron 6 fotos, una de pliego completo sin etiqueta, 3 de detalles importantes para su identificación y la propia etiqueta en su parte anterior y posterior. Finalmente recopilamos toda esta información, anotamos irregularidades y creamos una página web donde se pueden ver todas las fotos, e información de las etiquetas, junto a la posible información actualizada procedentes de la base de datos de la Flora Iberica. Además procedimos a la realización de un diseño adaptado a móvil y tablets con lo que cualquier persona desde su computadora o desde su propio móvil o tablet puede consultar la información y visualizar las fotos de los aproximádamente más de mil pliegos que componen este herbario.Technologies grows to unexpected rhythms, and access to information is becoming easier and faster. While it is true that a lot of information is still in an inaccessible format or unknown to many, but is increasingly less. In this paper we will explain the process of digitizing the Herbarium of IES Padre Luis Coloma from Jerez (Cádiz, SW Spain) dated in the beginning of 1875 onwards. After the initial agreement with the owners of the herbarium, we proceeded to draw up guidelines for proper indexing and photographed. Thus, we collect the information from one of the bibliographic notes for making a primary database. This saved us a lot of work as it was a compilation of all the labels of the herbarium at the beginning. Later we proceeded to create a small web script next to a MySQL database to go edit data and make corrections on the fly shooting process. In this process were obtained 6 photos, a complete sheet of unlabeled 3 important details to identify and label their own front and back. Finally we collect all this information, we noted irregularities and create a web page where you can see all the pictures, and information on their labels, along with the possible date information from the database of the Flora Iberica. Furthermore proceeded to carry out a design adapted to mobile and tablets with anyone from your computer or from your own phone or tablet can see information and view pictures of the estimated over a thousand sheets that comprise this herbarium

Lethality caused by ADP-glucose accumulation is suppressed by salt-induced carbon flux redirection in cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria are widely distributed photosynthetic organisms. During the day they store carbon, mainly as glycogen, to provide the energy and carbon source they require for maintenance during the night. Here, we generate a mutant strain of the freshwater cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 lacking both glycogen synthases. This mutant has a lethal phenotype due to massive accumulation of ADP-glucose, the substrate of glycogen synthases. This accumulation leads to alterations in its photosynthetic capacity and a dramatic decrease in the adenylate energy charge of the cell to values as low as 0.1. Lack of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, the enzyme responsible for ADP-glucose synthesis, or reintroduction of any of the glycogen synthases abolishes the lethal phenotype. Viability of the glycogen synthase mutant is also fully recovered in NaCl-supplemented medium, which redirects the surplus of ADP-glucose to synthesize the osmolite glucosylglycerol. This alternative metabolic sink also suppresses phenotypes associated with the defective response to nitrogen deprivation characteristic of glycogen-less mutants, restoring the capacity to degrade phycobiliproteins. Thus, our system is an excellent example of how inadequate management of the adenine nucleotide pools results in a lethal phenotype, and the influence of metabolic carbon flux in cell viability and fitness.España, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) (grant BFU2013-41712-P and BIO2016-75634-P)España, Junta de Andalucía (P12-BIO-1119

Use of whole-body vibration as a mode of warming up before counter movement jump

This study was conducted without any conflict of interest, without financial assistance, and supported by grants from the Consejo Superior de Deportes (109/UPB31/03, 13/UPB20/04), the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (AP2003-2128, AP-2004-2745; AP2005-3827; AP2005-4358) and the HELENA study (European Community Sixth RTD Framework Programme, FOOD-CT-005-007034)

Influence of the calibration on experimental UV index at a midlatitude site, Granada (Spain)

The ultraviolet index (UVI) is the most commonly used variable to inform about the level and potential harmful effect of ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaching the Earth's surface. This variable is derived from the output signal of UV radiometers applying conversion factors from calibration methods. This paper focused on the influence of the use of two of these methods (called one-step and two-steps methods) on the experimental UVI measured by a YES UVB-1 radiometer located in a midlatitude station, Granada (Spain) for the period 2006–2009. In addition, it also analyzes the deviation from the UVI values obtained when the manufacturer's calibration factors are applied. For this goal, a detailed characterization of the UVB-1 radiometer from the first Spanish calibration campaign of broadband UV radiometers at the "El Arenosillo" INTA station in 2007 was used. In addition, modeled UVI data derived from the LibRadtran/UVSPEC radiative transfer code are compared with the experimental values recorded at Granada for cloud-free conditions. Absolute mean differences between measured and modeled UVI data at Granada were around 5% using the one-step and two-steps calibration methods, indicating an excellent performance of these two techniques for obtaining UVI data from the UVB-1 radiometer. Conversely, the application of the manufacture's calibration factor produced a large overestimation (~14%) of the UVI values, generating unreliable alarming high UVI data in summer. Thus, the number of days with an extreme erythemal risk (UVI higher than 10) increased up to 46% between May and September at Granada. This percentage reduced to a more reliable value of 3% when the conversion factors obtained with the two-steps calibration method are used. These results evidence the need for a sound calibration of the broadband UV instruments in order to obtain reliable measurements.This work was partially supported by the Andalusian Regional Government through projects P08-RNM-3568 and P10-RNM-6299, the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology through projects CGL2010-18782 and CSD2007-00067

Combinatorial gene therapy renders increased survival in cirrhotic rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Liver fibrosis ranks as the second cause of death in México's productive-age population. This pathology is characterized by acummulation of fibrillar proteins in hepatic parenchyma causing synthetic and metabolic disfunction. Remotion of excessive fibrous proteins might result in benefit for subjects increasing survival index. The goal of this work was to find whether the already known therapeutical effect of human urokinase Plasminogen Activator and human Matrix Metalloprotease 8 extends survival index in cirrhotic animals.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Wistar rats (80 g) underwent chronic intoxication with CCl₄: mineral oil for 8 weeks. Cirrhotic animals were injected with a combined dose of Ad-delta-huPA plus Ad-MMP8 (3 × 10¹¹and 1.5 × 10¹¹vp/Kg, respectively) or with Ad-beta-Gal (4.5 × 10¹¹) and were killed after 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 days. Then, liver and serum were collected. An additional set of cirrhotic animals injected with combined gene therapy was also monitored for their probability of survival.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Only the cirrhotic animals treated with therapeutical genes (Ad-delta-huPA+Ad-MMP-8) showed improvement in liver fibrosis. These results correlated with hydroxyproline determinations. A significant decrement in alpha-SMA and TGF-beta1 gene expression was also observed. Cirrhotic rats treated with Ad-delta-huPA plus Ad-MMP8 had a higher probability of survival at 60 days with respect to Ad-beta-Gal-injected animals.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A single administration of Ad-delta-huPA plus Ad-MMP-8 is efficient to induce fibrosis regression and increase survival in experimental liver fibrosis.</p

The NtrYX Two-Component System of Paracoccus denitrificans Is Required for the Maintenance of Cellular Iron Homeostasis and for a Complete Denitrification under Iron-Limited Conditions

Denitrification consists of the sequential reduction of nitrate to nitrite, nitric oxide, nitrous oxide, and dinitrogen. Nitrous oxide escapes to the atmosphere, depending on copper availability and other environmental factors. Iron is also a key element because many proteins involved in denitrification contain iron-sulfur or heme centers. The NtrYX two-component regulatory system mediates the responses in a variety of metabolic processes, including denitrification. A quantitative proteomic analysis of a Paracoccus denitrificans NtrY mutant grown under denitrifying conditions revealed the induction of different TonB-dependent siderophore transporters and proteins related to iron homeostasis. This mutant showed lower intracellular iron content than the wild-type strain, and a reduced growth under denitrifying conditions in iron-limited media. Under iron-rich conditions, it releases higher concentrations of siderophores and displayes lower nitrous oxide reductase (NosZ) activity than the wild-type, thus leading to nitrous oxide emission. Bioinformatic and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that NtrYX is a global transcriptional regulatory system that responds to iron starvation and, in turn, controls expression of the iron-responsive regulators fur, rirA, and iscR, the denitrification regulators fnrP and narR, the nitric oxide-responsive regulator nnrS, and a wide set of genes, including the cd1-nitrite reductase NirS, nitrate/nitrite transporters and energy electron transport proteins

Características del deterioro cognitivo en el adulto mayor hospitalizado a nivel nacional

Determinar la frecuencia y grado de deterioro cognitivo del adulto mayor hospitalizado en el Perú, así como su asociación con otros síndromes y problemas geriátricos. En base a la información del estudio «Valoración Geriátrica Integral en adultos mayores hospitalizados a nivel nacional (Perú)», se incluyeron a 312 pacientes de 60 años o más. Se evaluó la frecuencia y severidad del deterioro cognitivo; y se comparó estos resultados con los principales síndromes y problemas geriátricos. Se encontró una frecuencia de deterioro cognitivo moderado-severo de 22.11%. Se encontró asociación significativa entre deterioro cognitivo y edad, grado de instrucción (analfabeto), situación socioeconómica, confusión aguda, deprivación sensorial auditiva, inmovilidad, caídas, incontinencia urinaria y fecal, desnutrición, depresión establecida y estatus funcional. La presencia de insomnio y deprivación visual no tuvo presentó asociación significativa. La frecuencia de deterioro cognitivo en la población adulta mayor hospitalizada es elevada. Se encontró que el deterioro cognitivo estuvo asociado a múltiples y diversos problemas y síndromes geriátricos.&nbsp

Neurocognitive Function in Acromegaly after Surgical Resection of GH-Secreting Adenoma versus Naïve Acromegaly

Patients with active untreated acromegaly show mild to moderate neurocognitive disorders that are associated to chronic exposure to growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) hypersecretion. However, it is unknown whether these disorders improve after controlling GH/IGF-I hypersecretion. The aim of this study was to compare neurocognitive functions of patients who successfully underwent GH-secreting adenoma transsphenoidal surgery (cured patients) with patients with naive acromegaly. In addition, we wanted to determine the impact of different clinical and biochemical variables on neurocognitive status in patients with active disease and after long-term cure. A battery of six standardized neuropsychological tests assessed attention, memory and executive functioning. In addition, a quantitative electroencephalography with Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography (LORETA) solution was performed to obtain information about the neurophysiological state of the patients. Neurocognitive data was compared to that of a healthy control group. Multiple linear regression analysis was also conducted using clinical and hormonal parameters to obtain a set of independent predictors of neurocognitive state before and after cure. Both groups of patients scored significantly poorer than the healthy controls on memory tests, especially those assessing visual and verbal recall. Patients with cured acromegaly did not obtain better cognitive measures than naïve patients. Furthermore memory deficits were associated with decreased beta activity in left medial temporal cortex in both groups of patients. Regression analysis showed longer duration of untreated acromegaly was associated with more severe neurocognitive complications, regardless of the diagnostic group, whereas GH levels at the time of assessment was related to neurocognitive outcome only in naïve patients. Longer duration of post-operative biochemical remission of acromegaly was associated with better neurocognitive state. Overall, this data suggests that the effects of chronic exposure to GH/IGF-I hypersecretion could have long-term effects on brain functions. © 2013 Martín-Rodríguez et al.Funding for this project was provided by an R&D grant from Novartis Oncology and the Plan Andaluz de Investigación (CTS-444). DAC was supported by the “Ramón y Cajal” program (RYC-2006-001071) of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.Peer Reviewe

Caregiver Burden Domains and Their Relationship with Anxiety and Depression in the First Six Months of Cancer Diagnosis

Cancer caregiving is associated with burden and a poor psychological state. However, there is no previous information about the predictive utility of specific burden domains on anxiety and depression in the first six months after a partner’s cancer diagnosis. In a longitudinal study, 67 caregivers completed the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at T1 (45–60 days after diagnosis) and T2 (180–200 days after diagnosis). Most of the caregivers were female (65.7%, mean age = 51.63, SD = 13.25), while patients were mostly male (56.7%). The TRIPOD checklist was applied. ZBI scores were moderate and HADS anxiety reached significant values. There were no differences in ZBI and HADS between T1 and T2. The relationship between burden, anxiety, and depression were more consistent at T2, while emotional burden at T1 were related and predicted anxiety and depression at T2. Some burden domains were related and predicted anxiety in caregivers in the first six months after partner cancer diagnosis. This information could be useful to prevent the onset of these symptoms in the first six months after diagnosis