Tucumanin, a β-hydroxy-γ-lactone bistetrahydrofuranic acetogenin from Annona cherimolia, is a potent inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I

A new β-hydroxy-γ-methyl-γ-lactone bistetrahydrofuranic acetogenin, tucumanin, with the infrequent symmetrical threo/trans/threo/trans/ threo relative configuration at the tetrahydrofuran rings was isolated from Annona cherimolia (Annonaceae) seeds. The inhibitory potency on the mitochondrial complex I of acetogenins with this relative configuration (tucumanin and asimicin) was compared with that shown by the corresponding pairs with an asymmetrical threo/trans/threo/trans/erythro relative configuration (laherradurin/rolliniastatin-2, and itrabin/molvizarin). All these compounds act as selective inhibitors of mitochondrial complex 1 in the 0.18 - 1.55 nM range.Fil: Barrachina, Isabel. Universidad de Valencia; EspañaFil: Neske, Adriana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Granell, Susana. Universidad de Valencia; EspañaFil: Bermejo, Almudena. Universidad de Valencia; EspañaFil: Chahboune, Nadia. Universidad de Valencia; EspañaFil: El Aouad, Noureddine. Universidad de Valencia; EspañaFil: Alvarez, Olga. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Bardon, Alicia del Valle. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Química del Noroeste. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química del Noroeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Zafra Polo, M. Carmen. Universidad de Valencia; Españ

A new and simple variable-angle accessory for infrared specular reflectance

A simple, low-cost accessory (patent pending) with only two flat mirrors and a new variable-angle mechanism has been developed for infrared specular reflectance measurements. The system allows the angles of incidence to be varied continuously from 15° (near normal incidence) to 85° (near grazing angle) without losing the alignment of the accessory. The reflectivity of boron nitride thin films deposited on metallic substrates has been measured at different angles of incidence to demonstrate the utility of this accessory

¿Jugamos al fútbol o a las casitas?

La frontera entre géneros se hace patente desde las edades más tempranas en los patios de nuestros colegios. En el trabajo que se presenta se aplicó un cuestionario a los niños y niñas de 2º, 3º y 5º de Educación Primaria de distintos colegios de la capital cordobesa, completando la información con la observación directa. La finalidad de nuestra investigación es dar a conocer la evolución de las relaciones infantiles en el juego, en función de la edad y el sexo

Dielectric characterization of multiferroic magnetoelectric double-perovskite Y(Ni0.5Mn0.5)O3 thin films

We report on the functional properties of the Y(Ni0.5Mn0.5)O3 epitaxial thin films, growth by pulsed laser deposition, observing the clear features of their ferroelectric and ferromagnetic nature at cryogenic temperature. The characterization of temperature-dependent complex impedance spectroscopy has shown a dielectric anomaly around the ferromagnetic Curie temperature (100 K) indicative of coupling between magnetic and electric orders.The financial support by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion of the Spanish Government (Grant No. BES-2009-028641 and Project Nos. MAT2011-29269-C03-03, NANOSELECT, MAT2014-56063-C2-2-R, CSD2007-00041, MAT2015-73839-JIN, and IMAGINE CSD2009-00013) and Generalitat de Catalunya (2014 SGR 734) is acknowledged. E.C. would like to thank the National Science Centre of Poland under the PRELUDIUM (UMO-2015/17/N/ST5/ 01988) for financial support. I.F. acknowledges the financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, through the “Severo Ochoa” Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D (SEV-2015-0496), and also the Juan de la Cierva–Incorporacion postdoctoral fellowship (IJCI- 2014-19102) from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spanish Government.Peer reviewe

Fiscal rules and their influence on public sector efficiency

This paper explores the possible link between the presence and stringency of fiscal rules and the overall efficiency levels of the public sector for a sample of 50 economies from different geographical regions around the world. In particular, we are interested in analyzing this possible relationship in the years following the period of fiscal consolidation that most countries experienced after the 2008 financial crisis. To do this, we rely on a nonparametric conditional approach that allows the consideration of two alternative composite indicators representing fiscal rule strength level as a potential conditional factor that might affect the estimation of efficiency scores reflecting public sector performance. Our results suggest that the influence of fiscal rules on public sector efficiency scores is significant and negative, especially when the system of fiscal rules has not reached an advanced stage of development

Factores familiares, educativos y políticos asociados a la violencia en jóvenes del sector urbano del municipio de Ciénaga (Magdalena)

This article is the result of a research leading to the description and knowledge of the family, educational and political factors associated with violence in a group of youngsters of the urban area of Cienaga – Magdalena municipality (a vil1age located on the North Coast of Colombia). Violence has been a long burden in Colombia. It has directly and indirectly involved all colombians, especially young people who are considered a vulnerable group permanently facing marginalization and discrimination. Currently, violence is present in all areas of society such as the family, and educational and political environments. This phenomenon was viewed from a multivariable perspective having into account aspects forming pan of individual social life. A fact description of facts was made based on the principles of qualitative research. Data collection was performed by means of participating observations, semi-structured interviews, and focal group interviews. Additional tools, such as field notes and audiovisual records, were used to deepen into the knowledge of traditions, habitat, activities and beliefs of 100 young people between .14-26 living in Cienaga municipality.Este trabajo es el resultado de una investigación que busca describir y conocer los factores familiares, educativos y políticos asociados a la violencia en un grupo de jóvenes del sector urbano del municipio de Ciénaga (Magdalena). El fenómeno de la violencia ha tenido una continuidad a lo largo del tiempo y ha involucrado de manera directa e indirecta a todos los colombianos, en especial a los jóvenes, quienes son considerados comoun grupo vulnerable que se enfrenta permanentemente a situaciones de marginación y discriminación. Se concibió el fenómeno desde una perspectiva multivariable, teniendo en cuenta los aspectos que hacen parte de la vida social del individuo. Para tal fin se realizó una descripción de los hechos a partir de los lineamientos de la investigación cualitativa; la recolección de la información se realizó mediante observaciones participantes, entrevistas semiestructuradas y entrevistas a grupos focales. Además, se utilizaron herramientas como diarios de campo y registros audiovisuales que permitieron ahondar en las costumbres, el hábitat, las actividades y las creencias de 100 jóvenes del municipio de Ciénaga, con edades comprendidas entre los 14 y los 26 años

Influence of Dietary Algae Meal on Lipid Oxidation and Volatile Profile of Meat from Lambs with Competent Reticular Groove Reflex

Dietary lipid sources influence intramuscular fatty acid composition, which in turn may affect the volatile profile of meat. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of marine algae supplementation (Aurantiochytrium limacinum) on volatile compounds of cooked lamb meat. Forty-eight lambs with 42 days of age were divided into three groups: lambs fed a conventional diet without algae meal supplementation (NOALG), lambs with competent reticular groove reflex (RGR) fed the same diet supplemented with 2.5% marine algae meal mixed in the concentrate (ALGCON), and lambs with competent RGR, receiving the same diet and fed with 2.5% marine algae meal in a milk replacer to bypass the rumen (ALGMILK). Lipid and protein oxidation in raw meat was assessed and volatile compounds in grilled meat were determined. The highest and lowest lipid oxidations were observed in the ALGMILK and NOALG groups, respectively. Protein oxidation was unaffected. Out of 56 identified compounds, 12 volatiles significantly increased in both algae groups and 6 of them exclusively in the ALGCON treatment. Algae meal supplementation and its form of administration, either protected or not from rumen degradation, are important factors to consider in lipid oxidation and the aromatic profile of lamb meat

No transmission of hepatitis E virus in pigs fed diets containing commercial spray-dried porcine plasma : a retrospective study of samples from several swine trials

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) has been reported in the human population and pigs are a recognized reservoir for HEV and a possible source of HEV transmission to humans. Spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) is an ingredient commonly used in feed for pigs around the world. Even though processing conditions used to produce SDPP should be adequate to inactivate HEV, it was of interest to analyze commercial SDPP samples for presence of genome and antibodies (AB) against HEV and to retrospectively analyze serum samples collected from pigs used in past experiments that had been fed diets containing either 0% or 8% SDPP to detect potential transmission of HEV as determined by seroconversion. Eighty-five commercial SDPP samples were analyzed by ELISA and 100% of them contained AB against HEV, while 22.4% (11 of 49 samples analyzed) were positive for HEV RNA. Frozen sera samples (n = 140) collected from 70 pigs used in past experiments that had been fed diets containing either 0% or 8% commercial SDPP was analyzed by ELISA for AB against HEV. Age of pigs at sera sampling ranged from 3 to 15 weeks and feeding duration of diets ranged from approximately 4 to 9 weeks. One lot of SDPP used in one experiment was analyzed and confirmed to contain HEV RNA. Regardless of the diet fed, some sera samples collected at the beginning of an experiment contained AB titer against HEV. These sera samples were collected from weaned pigs prior to feeding of the experimental diets and the HEV titer was probably from maternal origin. However, by the end of the experiments, HEV titer was not detected or had declined by more than 50% of the initial titer concentration. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting presence of HEV AB titer and RNA in SDPP. Retrospective analysis of serum collected from pigs fed diets with SDPP revealed no indication of seroconversion to HEV. The results indicate that feeding SDPP in diets for pigs does not represent a risk of transmitting HEV, even though HEV genome may be detected in SDPP

Characteristics and outcomes of adult patients in the PETHEMA registry with relapsed or refractory FLT3-ITD mutation-positive acute myeloid leukemia

This retrospective study investigated outcomes of 404 patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3)-internal tandem duplication (ITD) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) enrolled in the PETHEMA registry, pre-approval of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Most patients (63%) had received first-line intensive therapy with 3 + 7. Subsequently, patients received salvage with intensive therapy (n = 261), non-intensive therapy (n = 63) or supportive care only (n = 80). Active salvage therapy (i.e., intensive or non-intensive therapy) resulted in a complete remission (CR) or CR without hematological recovery (CRi) rate of 42%. More patients achieved a CR/CRi with intensive (48%) compared with non-intensive (19%) salvage therapy (p < 0.001). In the overall population, median overall survival (OS) was 5.5 months; 1- and 5-year OS rates were 25% and 7%. OS was significantly (p < 0.001) prolonged with intensive or non-intensive salvage therapy compared with supportive therapy, and in those achieving CR/CRi versus no responders. Of 280 evaluable patients, 61 (22%) had an allogeneic stem-cell transplant after they had achieved CR/CRi. In conclusion, in this large cohort study, salvage treatment approaches for patients with FLT3-ITD mutated R/R AML were heterogeneous. Median OS was poor with both non-intensive and intensive salvage therapy, with best long-term outcomes obtained in patients who achieved CR/CRi and subsequently underwent allogeneic stem-cell transplant.This study was supported by Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer (CIBERONC), Valencia, Spain [CB16/12/00284]

Influence of the Cumulative Incidence of COVID-19 Cases on the Mental Health of the Spanish Out-of-Hospital Professionals

This study aimed to analyze the psychological affectation of health professionals (HPs) of Spanish Emergency Medical Services (EMSs) according to the cumulative incidence (CI) of COVID19 cases in the regions in which they worked. A cross-sectional descriptive study was designed, including all HPs working in any EMS of the Spanish geography between 1 February 2021 and 30 April 2021. Their level of stress, anxiety and depression (DASS-21) and the perception of self-efficacy (GSES) were the study’s main results. A 2-factor analysis of covariance was used to determine if the CI regions of COVID-19 cases determined the psychological impact on each of the studied variables. A total of 1710 HPs were included. A third presented psychological impairment classified as severe. The interaction of CI regions with the studied variables did not influence their levels of stress, anxiety, depression or self-efficacy. Women, younger HPs or those with less EMS work experience, emergency medical technicians (EMT), workers who had to modify their working conditions or those who lived with minors or dependents suffered a greater impact from the COVID-19 pandemic in certain regions. These HPs have shown high levels of stress, anxiety, depression and medium levels of self-efficacy, with similar data in the different geographical areas. Psychological support is essential to mitigate their suffering and teach them to react to adverse events.This research was funded by Fundación ASISA and Sociedad Española de Urgencias y Emergencias (SEMES)