Potential Role of Bioactive Proteins and Peptides Derived from Legumes towards Metabolic Syndrome.

Legumes have been widely consumed and used to isolate bioactive compounds, mainly proteins. The aim of this study was to review the beneficial actions of different legumes proteins and peptides updating the main findings that correlate legumes consumption and the effects on non-transmissible chronic diseases, specifically metabolic syndrome. An exhaustive revision of five relevant bioactivities (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, hypocholesterolemic -all of them linked to metabolic syndrome- and antitumoral) of proteins and peptides from legumes focused on isolation and purification, enzymatic hydrolysis and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion was carried out. The promising potential of bioactive hydrolysates and peptides from pulses has been demonstrated by in vitro tests. However, only a few studies validated these biological activities using animal models. No clinical trials have been carried out yet; so further research is required to elucidate their effective health implications.post-print374 K

Análisis numérico de la barra estabilizadora trasera del vehículo VW Jetta Hybrid 2016

"El enfoque de este estudio fue con el objetivo principal de analizar la barra de estabilidad trasera del Vehículo VW Jetta Hybrid modelo 2016, con un análisis numérico y analítico en condiciones estáticas y dinámicas. El realizar el análisis de dicha barra es de gran importancia, ya que gracias a esto es posible realizar una propuesta de mejora con materiales compuestos como material alternativo en el material empleado actualmente en la barra estabilizadora, todo esto en función de los resultados obtenidos en el análisis. Se realizó una validación de resultados de una investigación científica tanto numérica como analítica para usarlo como base para los análisis desarrollados en la barra de estabilidad de Vehículo VW Jetta Hybrid modelo 2016. En base a lo anterior, se creó el modelo con ayuda de la tomografía computarizada industrial y el método de ingeniería inversa, escaneando la pieza real de la barra de estabilidad. Posteriormente, se efectuó recopilación de parámetros y desarrolló del análisis estático y dinámico con el material usado actualmente de forma analítica y numérica.

Pining for answers: Study of cationic amino acids (CATs) transport in maritime pine Pinus pinaster Aiton.

Amino acid (AA) transporters are membrane proteins involved in AA mobilization within and between cells and cells compartments. In plants, these transporters are responsible of AA transport from sink to source organelle/cell and vice versa. They have a variety of biological functions, including phloem loading and unloading, seed development, intracellular transport, and organic nitrogen (N) assimilation in roots (Dinkeloo et al., 2018). Widhalm et al. (2015) confirmed the existence of a cationic AA transporter in Petunia hybrida (PhCAT) that is involved in Phe transport from the plastids to the cytosol in flowers. Pinus pinaster is a conifer model tree with ecological and economical importance due to its forestry and biotechnological interest. Molecular studies have been developed, especially related with N transport, metabolism, and regulation as well as wood formation (Castro-Rodríguez et al., 2016, 2017; Ortigosa et al., 2020, 2022). The objective of this study is to identify cationic amino acid transporters (CATs) in maritime pine (P. pinaster) and to elucidate the intracellular and intercellular transport of amino acids. In our research group, 9 CATs have been identified in P. pinaster (PpCATs) using differential transcriptomic profiling in different tissues. The structure and topology of the membrane proteins, their gene expression levels and subcellular localization have been studied for PpCAT3, PpCAT9, PpCAT10 and PpCAT11. PpCAT3 and PpCAT9 are localized in the plasma membrane, PpCAT11 in the tonoplast while PpCAT10 is found in the chloroplast membrane. Furthermore, the localization of PpCAT10 was verified by chloroplast isolation and confirmed using an organelle marker. The location of PpCAT10 in the plastid membrane and its expression pattern suggest that this AA transporter has a critical role in AA transport from plastids to the cytosol (and/or vice versa) during seasonal growth in maritime pine.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Las características personales y los valores sociales de una población urbana relacionados con la participación social

The aim of this work was identify personal characteristics (ontosystem) and values (macrosystem)which are related with social participation. A sample of 113 inhabitants of a northeast city of Mexico was studied using a survey. It was used structural equations for identifyinga social participation model integrated by personal characteristics factor (ontosystem) withpositive self-concept, negative self-concept and positive self-esteem, the values factor (macrosystem)with sociality, responsibility and justice-equality values and social participationfactor was integrated with the variables called social organization, communities actions andmaking decisions. The model found matches with theoretical model. Accordingly personalcharacteristics factor (ontosystem) and values factor (macrosystem) explain ten percent ofsocial participation factor´s variance. This study show personal characteristics factor (ontosystem)and values factor (macrosystem) influence social participation factor.Este estudio tuvo por objetivo identificar las características personales (ontosistema) y losvalores sociales (macrosistema) que se relacionan con la participación social. Se encuestó a113 habitantes de una ciudad en el noroeste de México. Se emplearon ecuaciones estructuralespara identificar el modelo integrado por el factor características personales (ontosistema)con las variables autoconcepto positivo, autoconcepto negativo y autoestima positiva;el factor valores sociales (macrosistema) con las variables prosocialidad, responsabilidad yjusticia-igualdad y el factor participación social con las variables organización social, accionescomunitarias y toma de decisiones. El modelo propuesto corresponde con el teórico, porlo que el factor características personales (ontosistema) y el factor valores (macrosistema)explican el diez por ciento de la varianza para el factor participación social. Se concluyó quetanto el factor características personales (ontosistema) como el factor valores (macrosistema)influyen directamente a la participación social

Implementación de un plan estratégico para la empresa de calzado Carubi en el distrito El Porvenir, 2019

La tesis busca implementar un plan estratégico para la empresa de calzados Carubi. El problema surge debido a que existen muchas empresas del mismo rubro lo cual origina gran variabilidad en los precios. El efecto de ello para la empresa la reducción de sus ventas, es por ello que el objetivo es plantear una solución que permita incrementar la rentabilidad de la empresa. La medición fue en cinco empresas del mismo rubro como muestra; el diseño de investigación fue método descriptivo simple. Los datos recogidos con la técnica del focus group. Referente a la competitividad se halló que la empresa inicialmente tenía un factor ponderado de 2.2 que fue hallado mediante la matriz de perfil competitivo, que significa que no está compitiendo fuertemente con otras empresas. El plan estratégico propuesto permitirá incrementar la competitividad en un 45.45% gracias al efecto de sus estrategias en el incremento de los factores claves de éxito como: experiencia 13.67%, calidad del producto 13.67%, competitividad de precios 11%, fidelidad del cliente 13.5% y variedad de productos 12%. Llegando a la conclusión que el plan estratégico propuesto para la empresa de calzados Carubi, le permitirá obtener ventajas competitivas, conforme estimaciones de objetivos a corto plazo

Corrosion evaluation of austenitic and duplex stainless steels in molten carbonate salts at 600 °C for thermal energy storage

Next-generation concentrated solar power (CSP) plants are required to operate at temperatures as high as possible to reach a better energy efficiency. This means significant challenges for the construction materials in terms of corrosion resistance, among others. In the present work, the corrosion behavior in a molten eutectic ternary Li2CO3-Na2CO3-K2CO3 mixture at 600 °C was studied for three stainless steels: an austenitic grade AISI 301LN (SS301) and two duplex grades, namely 2205 (DS2205) and 2507 (DS2507). Corrosion tests combined with complementary microscopy, microanalysis and mechanical characterization techniques were employed to determine the corrosion kinetics of the steels and the oxide scales formed on the surface. The results showed that all three materials exhibited a corrosion kinetics close to a parabolic law, and their corrosion rates increased in the following order: DS2507 < SS301 < DS2205. The analyses of the oxide scales evidenced an arranged multilayer system with LiFeO2, LiCrO2, FeCr2O4 and NiO as the main compounds. While the Ni-rich inner layer of the scales presented a good adhesion to the metallic substrate, the outer layer formed by LiFeO2 exhibited a higher concentration of porosity and voids. Both the Cr and Ni contents at the inner layer and the defects at the outer layer were crucial for the corrosion resistance for each steel. Among the studied materials, super duplex stainless steel 2507 is found to be the most promising alternative for thermal energy storage of those structural components for CSP plants.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

AKT and JUN are differentially activated in mesenchymal stem cells after infection with human and canine oncolytic adenoviruses

Factor de impacto: 5,987 Q1There is increasing evidence about the use of oncolytic adenoviruses (Ads) as promising immunotherapy agents. We have previously demonstrated the clinical efficiency of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) infected with oncolytic Ads as an antitumoral immunotherapy (called Celyvir) in human and canine patients, using ICOVIR-5 or ICOCAV17 as human and canine oncolytic Ads, respectively. Considering the better clinical outcomes of canine patients, in this study we searched for differences in cellular responses of human and canine MSCs to Ad infection that may help understand the mechanisms leading to higher antitumor immune response. We found that infection of human and canine MSCs with ICOVIR-5 or ICOCAV17 did not activate the NF-κB pathway or the interferon regulatory factors IRF3 and IRF7. However, we observed differences in the profile of cytokines secretion, as infection of canine MSCs with ICOCAV17 resulted in lower secretion of several cytokines. Moreover, we showed that infection of human MSCs with ICOVIR-5 increased the phosphorylation of a number of proteins, including AKT and c-JUN. Finally, we demonstrated that differences in regulation of AKT and c-JUN in human and canine MSCs by ICOVIR-5 or ICOCAV17 are intrinsic to each virus. Our findings suggest that ICOCAV17 induces a more limited host response in canine MSCs, which may be related to a better clinical outcome. This result opens the possibility to develop new human oncolytic Ads with these specific properties. In addition, this improvement could be imitated by selecting specific human MSC on the basis of a limited host response after Ad infection.This study was funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI14CIII/00005 and PI17CIII/00013 grants), Consejería de Educación, Juventud y Deporte of Comunidad de Madrid (P2017/BMD-3692 grant), Fundación Oncohematología Infantil, AFANION, and Asociación Pablo Ugarte, whose support we gratefully acknowledge.S

2023 Crummer Truist Portfolio Recommendations: Crummer Investment Management 24th Anniversary

We would like to thank you for your service to the Crummer Truist Portfolio. Without your participation, Crummer students would not benefit from the unique insight you bring to managing an active portfolio. We have been fortunate to listen and learn from some outstanding guest speakers who have been generous with their time and expertise: Phillip Rich, Chief Investment Officer, Seaside Bank; Sarah Passero, Senior Consultant, EY; Shawn Fletcher, Financial Analyst, The Walt Disney Company; Ryan Abronski, Venture Capital Associate, Morgan Creek Digital; Robert Zhang, Senior Research Analyst, DePrince, Race and Zollo; Dr. William Seyfried, Professor, Crummer Graduate School of Business; Marc Miller, Partner, DePrince, Race and Zollo; Rick Ahl, President, Ahl Investment Management; Dr. Rob Roy, Senior VP and Chief Investment Officer, AdventHealth; Jay Menozzi, Principal and Chief Investment Officer, Orange Investment Advisors, LLC; Sean Warrington, Partner & Portfolio Manager, Gresham Partners. SunTrust (now Truist) endowed this portfolio to provide scholarships for future Crummer students and to give current students a practical, hands-on learning opportunity. This year, we are pleased to be able to disburse $55,000 to be used for scholarships. We are extremely grateful for SunTrust’s generosity and investment in higher education. We have all learned a great deal from this experience and the responsibility of managing real money. Our first challenge is to establish a portfolio position that takes advantage of economic opportunities while avoiding unnecessary risk and conforming to the Crummer Truist Investment Policy Statement (IPS). We are also tasked by the IPS to operate at two levels simultaneously – tactical for the near term, and strategic for the long run. Additionally, this portfolio presents some unusual portfolio management challenges by trading only once a year, in early April. Our tactical approach began with a top-down sector analysis. We established an economic forecast based on research and consultation with economists, including Professor William Seyfried of the Crummer School and Philip Rich of Seaside Bank. We based our equity and fixed income split on that forecast with a 20% allocation to bonds, at the highest level allowed by the IPS. That forecast also drove our allocation among the eleven S&P sectors: Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary, Consumer Staples, Energy, Financials, Healthcare, Industrials, Information Technology, Materials, Real Estate, and Utilities. Within the next twelve-month period, we forecast stagnant economic growth that will not quite be a recession. Accordingly, we tilted the allocation towards sectors that should do well in such a macro environment while paying attention to ongoing recovery from inflationary pressures as well as other issues such as the ongoing war in Ukraine. Our asset class allocation embodies the long-run strategy of our portfolio. The IPS sets asset class ranges from low to moderate risk to keep the portfolio from being whipsawed by transitory market cycles. Our equity allocations signify a heightened level of risk, consistent with our view that the stock market will relatively underperform the fixed income market through the end of March 2024. We maintain an allocation to a sector ETF in each sector to ensure diversification. Due to enrollment constraints, we actively manage eight sectors this year with a limit of two individual stocks in each sector. The remaining sectors are invested 100% in their sector ETF. Fixed income is our anchor sector, providing a hedge against the risk of an economic slowdown adversely impacting our equity holdings. Consistent with our non-parallel shifting yield curve projection, we are at the high end of our IPS range for fixed income at 20%, but towards the lower end of the permissible duration level. Furthermore, we have continued to incorporate the theme of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing into our portfolio selection process. While ESG investing has become a lightning rod and ESG ratings have been under heavy criticism for lack of consistency, the fund flows into this domain have continued to grow globally. Regardless of a security’s consistency with this theme, all recommendations must be undervalued after rigorous quantitative and qualitative analysis. In other words, our intent is not to maximize the ESG impact of our portfolio but to tilt towards this factor. Specifically, the proposed equity holdings in this year’s portfolio have a weighted average FTSE ESG score of 3.56 out of 5, while S&P 500 holdings have a cap-weighted average score of 3.34. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have witnessed three extraordinary and unpredictable years in many respects. Inflation levels that have not been seen in the past 40 years, supply chain problems, the Russian-Ukrainian war, and interest rate hikes at an unprecedented pace have all contributed to an increased uncertainty. We do not intend to simply follow the crowd. Yet, echoing the philosophy of Warren Buffett, “our opinions and beliefs, grounded in economics and guided by all of those who have counseled us,” lead us to a strategy that is not significantly different from many investors. Even so, we accept responsibility for our investment decisions. We are investing for the long-term and we have been conservative in our forecasts and recommendations. Simultaneously, in the short term, we are mindful of the need to protect the portfolio’s commitment to scholarships. We thank you for your time and participation in this important endeavor. - Sincerely, The Crummer Investment Management Tea