Ultrasound-Assisted Melt Extrusion of Polymer Nanocomposites

A review of the latest developments in ultrasound-assisted melt extrusion of polymer nanocomposites is presented. In general, the application of ultrasound waves during melt extrusion of polymer in the presence of nanoparticles results in a more homogeneous dispersion of the nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. In spite of this, a lack of understanding in the field has hindered the development of this processing technique. Based on the analysis of literature on the field, key aspects are identified for a better understanding of the physical and chemical effects of ultrasound waves and the fabrication of polymer nanocomposites by means of melt extrusion

African swinw fever (ASF) virus: A missing link between poxviruses and iridoviruses

Trabajo presentado en el VII International Congress of Virology, celebrado en Edmonton (Canadá) del 09 al 14 de agosto de 1987

Marcadores ecográficos de cromosomopatías en el I trimestre de la gestación: ductus venoso

La evaluación Doppler del flujo en el ductus venoso en el primer trimestre ha venido a contribuir con información clínica relevante en las orientaciones a los padres. No sólo se mostró eficaz en el rastreo de anomalías cromosómicas, como la trisomía 21, disminuyendo la tasa de procedimientos invasivos, sino también en el rastreo de cardiopatías congénitas, redefiniendo el grupo de alto riesgo a ser sometido aecocardiografía precoz. Por su parte, un flujo anormal en el ductus venoso asociado a la translucencia nucal aumentada en uno o en ambos fetos de un embarazo monocoriónico parece una combinación sensible para rastrear precozmente el síndrome de transfusión feto fetal. En todas estas situaciones, el ductus venoso se muestra un marcador eficaz deinsuficiencia/disfunción cardíaca

Marcadores ecográficos de cromosomopatías en el I trimestre de la gestación: translucencia nucal

El examen ecográfico detallado de la anatomía fetal permite detectar por un lado las malformaciones y por otro los marcadores ecográficos de cromosomopatías. Analizando especialmente a la translucencia nucal, que representa el grosor del espacio econegativo localizado entre la piel y el tejido blando subcutáneo del embrión a nivel cervical, visualizado entre las semanas 11 a 13+6 de gestación. Se debe utilizar un equipo de ultrasonografía capaz de aumentar lo suficiente la imagen como para que la cabeza y la parte superior del tórax del feto ocupen el monitor y permita diferenciar medidas de hasta 0,1 mm, por vía abdominal o vaginal, situando los calipers en una posición dentro-dentro y evitando confundir la presencia del amnios como un valor alterado de la medida.La translucencia nucal se comporta como el marcador primario por excelencia en el I trimestre del embarazo, en gestaciones únicas o múltiples, de bajo o alto riesgo genético, no solo para discriminar las cromosomopatías, sino también por su importante asociación en fetoseuploides con mayor probabilidad de padecer malformaciones severas, sobre todo cardíacas. Sin embargo, la valoración óptima del riesgo incluye la consideración de otros factores, entre ellos la edad materna, antecedentes familiares y marcadores bioquímicos

Novel compound shows in vivo anthelmintic activity in gerbils and sheep infected by Haemonchus contortus

8 páginas, 2 figuras, 2 tablas.The control of gastrointestinal nematodes in livestock is becoming increasingly difficult due to the limited number of available drugs and the rapid development of anthelmintic resistance. Therefore, it is imperative to develop new anthelmintics that are effective against nematodes. Under this context, we tested the potential toxicity of three compounds in mice and their potential anthelmintic efficacy in Mongolian gerbils infected with Haemonchus contortus. The compounds were selected from previous in vitro experiments: two diamine (AAD-1 and AAD-2) and one benzimidazole (2aBZ) derivatives. 2aBZ was also selected to test its efficacy in sheep. In Mongolian gerbils, the benzimidazole reduced the percentage of pre-adults present in the stomach of gerbils by 95% at a dose of 200 mg/kg. In sheep, there was a 99% reduction in the number of eggs shed in faeces after 7 days at a dose of 120 mg/kg and a 95% reduction in the number of worm adults present in the abomasum. In conclusion, 2aBZ could be considered a promising candidate for the treatment of helminth infections in small ruminants. © 2022, The Author(s).Financial support came from MINECO: RETOS (AGL2016-79813-C2-1R/2R) and MICINN/AEI (PID2020- 119035RB-100). EVG was funded by FPU17/00627, FPU17/05346; VCGA, MAB, MCP and LGP are recipients of Junta de Castilla y León (JCyL) (LE082-18, LE051-18, LE135-19, LE096-20, respectively) and MMV by the Spanish “Ramon y Cajal” Programme (Ministerio de Economía y competitividad; MMV, RYC-2015-18368).Peer reviewe

Transcriptome profiling of grapevine seedless segregants during berry development reveals candidate genes associated with berry weight

Indexación: Web of Science; PubMedBackground Berry size is considered as one of the main selection criteria in table grape breeding programs. However, this is a quantitative and polygenic trait, and its genetic determination is still poorly understood. Considering its economic importance, it is relevant to determine its genetic architecture and elucidate the mechanisms involved in its expression. To approach this issue, an RNA-Seq experiment based on Illumina platform was performed (14 libraries), including seedless segregants with contrasting phenotypes for berry weight at fruit setting (FST) and 6–8 mm berries (B68) phenological stages. Results A group of 526 differentially expressed (DE) genes were identified, by comparing seedless segregants with contrasting phenotypes for berry weight: 101 genes from the FST stage and 463 from the B68 stage. Also, we integrated differential expression, principal components analysis (PCA), correlations and network co-expression analyses to characterize the transcriptome profiling observed in segregants with contrasting phenotypes for berry weight. After this, 68 DE genes were selected as candidate genes, and seven candidate genes were validated by real time-PCR, confirming their expression profiles. Conclusions We have carried out the first transcriptome analysis focused on table grape seedless segregants with contrasting phenotypes for berry weight. Our findings contributed to the understanding of the mechanisms involved in berry weight determination. Also, this comparative transcriptome profiling revealed candidate genes for berry weight which could be evaluated as selection tools in table grape breeding programs.http://bmcplantbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12870-016-0789-

Simulación de los efectos que causan la inclusión de pastos mejorados y los cambios en la estrategia de parición anual, sobre la producción de leche en una vaquería comercial.

The work aims to solve the current problem about low milk production and poor efficiency of this process through a group of simulations performed with different% of animals giving birth at the beginning of the dry period and spring with a minimum of expenses and with an improvement of the grazing-forage areas of a commercial dairy farm to define possible bio-economic responses of these combinations and propose the best solution as part of a possible development plan to the management of this entity, this study was carried out carried out in the Asilo production unit belonging to the Florida Livestock Company, located in the municipality of Florida in the province of Camagüey, Cuba where yields and botanical composition of the dairy areas were studied for the whole year, which together with other indicators, it was considered for the execution of an Ex – before analysis, the indicators of milk efficiency obtained They come from the simulation, they approached the potential of this herd in the conditions studied, and demonstrate the possibilities of responses if the partition patterns and the forage base of the farm are improved, the best dairy efficiency results were achieved with 70 and 90% of paritions concentrated at the beginning of the rainy period, with the highest production rates per hectare and by units of work and the best profitability on working capital with values ​​of 63 and 61.3% respectively (249)El trabajo tiene como objetivo dar solución a la problemática actual sobre la baja producción de leche y pobre eficiencia de este proceso a través de un grupo de simulaciones realizadas con diferentes % de animales pariendo a inicios del periodo seco y de la primavera con un mínimo de gastos y con una mejora de las áreas de pastoreo-forraje de una vaquería comercial para definir posibles respuestas bio-económicas de estas combinaciones y proponer la mejor solución como parte de un posible plan de desarrollo a la dirección de esta entidad, este estudio se llevó a cabo en la unidad de producción Asilo perteneciente a la Empresa Pecuaria Florida, ubicada en el municipio de Florida en la provincia de Camagüey, Cuba donde se estudiaron los rendimientos y la composición botánica de las áreas de la vaquería para todo el año, lo cual junto a otros indicadores permitió considerarlo para la ejecución de un análisis Ex–antes, los indicadores de eficiencia láctea que se obtienen de la simulación, se acercaron al potencial de este rebaño en las condiciones estudiadas, y demuestran las posibilidades de respuestas si se mejoran los patrones de parición y la base forrajera de la finca, los mejores resultados de eficiencia láctea se alcanzaron con el 70 y 90% de pariciones concentrada al inicio del periodo lluvioso, con los máximos índices de producción por hectáreas y por unidades de trabajo y la mejor rentabilidad sobre el capital de operaciones con valores de 63 y 61.3% respectivamente (249

Diverging results of areal and volumetric bone mineral density in Down syndrome

Population with Down syndrome (DS) has lower areal BMD, in association with their smaller skeletal size. However, volumetric BMD and other indices of bone microarchitecture, such as trabecular bone score (TBS) and calcaneal ultrasound (QUS), were normal. INTRODUCTION: Patients with DS have a number of risk factors that could predispose them to osteoporosis. Several studies reported that people with DS also have lower areal bone mineral density, but differences in the skeletal size could bias the analysis. METHODS: Seventy-five patients with DS and 76 controls without intellectual disability were recruited. Controls were matched for age and sex. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measure by Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA), and volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) was calculated by published formulas. Body composition was also measured by DXA. Microarchitecture was measured by TBS and QUS. Serum 25-hidroxyvitamin D (25OHD), parathyroid hormone (PTH), aminoterminal propeptide of type collagen (P1NP), and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) were also determined. Physical activity was assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQ-short form). To evaluate nutritional intake, we recorded three consecutive days of food. RESULTS: DS individuals had lower height (151 ± 11 vs. 169 ± 9 cm). BMD was higher in the controls (lumbar spine (LS) 0.903 ± 0.124 g/cm2 in patients and 0.997 ± 0.115 g/cm2 in the controls; femoral neck (FN) 0.761 ± .126 g/cm2 and 0.838 ± 0.115 g/cm2, respectively). vBMD was similar in the DS group (LS 0.244 ± 0.124 g/cm3; FN 0.325 ± .0.073 g/cm3) and the controls (LS 0.255 ± 0.033 g/cm3; FN 0.309 ± 0.043 g/cm3). Microarchitecture measured by QUS was slightly better in DS, and TBS measures were similar in both groups. 25OHD, PTH, and CTX were similar in both groups. P1NP was higher in the DS group. Time spent on exercise was similar in both groups, but intensity was higher in the control group. Population with DS has correct nutrition. CONCLUSIONS: Areal BMD is reduced in DS, but it seems to be related to the smaller body and skeletal size. In fact, the estimated volumetric BMD is similar in patients with DS and in control individuals. Furthermore, people with DS have normal bone microarchitecture