Optimización mediante un diseño experimental de mezclas para conservar una formulación cosmética natural y orgánica (Original)

An optimization strategy for an experiment design is presented, through the structuring of a procedure for the design of mixtures using the Statgraphics Centurion XV computational system; that provides the methodological sequence of steps necessary to find the maximum or minimum proportion of the components of a mixture. Critical points for decision making were evaluated in each phase of the design; as well as the limits of the components to determine the experimental region, using as a case study the investigation of a natural and organic preservative for a cosmetic formulation. The Simplex-Lattice Mixture Design was established for three components including water and the five responses of antimicrobial activity; which allowed determining that only 14 runs are necessary for the experiment. The data were fitted with a cubic model, and for a better understanding of the response a simple linear regression analysis was used whose application to the case study allows reducing the experimental costs. According to the prediction, the essential oil component will be the one with the greatest influence on Gram (+) Bacteria, the oil component on Gram (-) Bacteria and on Fungi and Yeast the essential oil component is the one with the greatest influence.Se presenta una estrategia de optimización de un diseño de experimento, a través de la estructuración de un procedimiento para el diseño de mezclas, utilizando el sistema computacional Statgraphics Centurion XV que brinda la secuencia metodológica de pasos necesarios para encontrar la proporción máxima o mínima de los componentes de una mezcla. Se evaluaron, en cada fase del diseño, los puntos críticos para la toma de decisiones; así como los límites de los componentes para determinar la región experimental, utilizando como caso de estudio la investigación de un conservante natural y orgánico para una formulación cosmética. Se estableció el diseño de mezclas Simplex-Lattice, para tres componentes incluyendo el agua y las cinco respuestas de la actividad antimicrobiana, que permitió determinar que son necesarias solo 14 corridas para el experimento. Los datos se ajustaron con un modelo cúbico, y para un mejor entendimiento de la respuesta, se utilizó un análisis de regresión lineal simple cuya aplicación al caso de estudio permite reducir los costos experimentales. De acuerdo con la predicción será el componente aceite esencial el de mayor influencia sobre las Bacterias Gram (+), el componente aceite sobre las Bacterias Gram (-) y sobre los Hongos y Levadura el componente aceite esencial es el de mayor influencia

Effects of the tetravanadate [V4O12]4− anion on the structural, magnetic, and biological properties of copper/phenanthroline complexes

The aim to access linked tetravanadate [ V4O12]4− anion with mixed copper(II) complexes, using α-amino acids and phenanthroline-derived ligands, resulted in the formation of four copper(II) complexes [Cu(dmb)(Gly)(OH2)]2[Cu(dmb) (Gly)]2[V4O12]·9H2O (1) [Cu(dmb)(Lys)]2[V4O12]·8H2O (2), [Cu(dmp)2][V4O12]·C2H5OH·11H2O (3), and [Cu(dmp)(Gly) Cl]·2H2O (4), where dmb = 4,4′-dimethioxy-2,2′-bipyridine; Gly = glycine; Lys = lysine; and dmp = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline. The [ V4O12]4− anion is functionalized with mixed copper(II) units in 1 and 2; while in 3, it acts as a counterion of two [Cu(dmp)]2+ units. Compound 4 crystallized as a unit that did not incorporate the vanadium cluster. All compounds present magnetic couplings arising from Cu⋯O/Cu⋯Cu bridges. Stability studies of water-soluble 3 and 4 by UV–Vis spectroscopy in cell culture medium confirmed the robustness of 3, while 4 appears to undergo ligand scrambling over time, resulting partially in the stable species [Cu(dmp)2]+ that was also identified by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry at m/z = 479. The in vitro cytotoxicity activity of 3 and 4 was determined in six cancer cell lines; the healthy cell line COS-7 was also included for comparative purposes. MCF-7 cells were more sensitive to compound 3 with an IC50 value of 12 ± 1.2 nmol. The tested compounds did not show lipid peroxidation in the TBARS assay, ruling out a mechanism of action via reactive oxygen species formation. Both compounds inhibited cell migration at 5 μM in wound-healing assays using MCF-7, PC-3, and SKLU-1 cell lines, opening a new window to study the anti-metastatic effect of mixed vanadium–copper(II) systems.DGAPA-UNAM for the postdoctoral scholarshipCONAHCyT for the M.Sc. fellowship 1178302Conahcyt (A1-S-8682)DGAPA-PAPIIT (IN217020, IN216823)Gobierno Vasco/Eusko Jaurlaritza (IT1755-22)Junta de Andalucía (FQM-394

Antibacterial Activity of Two Zn-MOFs Containing a Tricarboxylate Linker

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) can be used as reservoirs of metal ions with relevant antibacterial effects. Here, two novel Zn-based MOFs with the formulas [Zn(μ-O)(μ-FA)L] (GR-MOF-8) and [Zn(μ-O)L(HO)] (GR-MOF-9) (HL: 5-((4-carboxyphenyl)ethynyl) in isophthalic acid and FA (formate anion) were solvothermally synthetized and fully characterized. The antibacterial activity of GR-MOF-8 and 9 was investigated against Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Escherichia Coli (EC) by the agar diffusion method. Both bacteria are among the most relevant human and animal pathogens, causing a wide variety of infections, and are often related with the development of antimicrobial resistances. While both Zn-based materials exhibited antibacterial activity against both strains, GR-MOF-8 showed the highest inhibitory action, likely due to a more progressive Zn release under the tested experimental conditions. This is particularly evidenced in the inhibition of SA, with an increasing effect of GR-MOF-8 with time, which is of great significance to ensure the disappearance of the microorganism.GR-MOF preparation was co-funded by the M-ERA-NET C-MOF.cell project (PCI2020-111998 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 by the European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR); MOFSEIDON project (PID2019-104228RB-100, MCI/AEI/FEDER, UE); MagChirop project PGC2018-102052-B-C21 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033; B-FQM-734-UGR20, B-FQM-478-UGR20 and FQM-394 funded from Junta de Andalucía; the Multifunctional Metallodrugs in Diagnosis and Therapy Network (MICIU, RED2018-102471-T); VIRMOF-CM project associated with R&D projects in response to COVID-19 from “Comunidad de Madrid” and European Regional Development Fund-FEDER 2014-2020-OE REACT-UE 1; and Margarita Salas contract 401 funded by Ministerio de Universidades and Next Generation. TH and PH acknowledge the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement and the Talento Mod. 2 fellowship from Madrid Community (2018-T2/IND-11407). SR and PH thank the Regional Madrid fellowship funding Talento 2017 Modality 2, 2017-T2/IND-5149. SR and ARD acknowledge the Juan de la Cierva Incorporation grant JC2019-038894-I funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR

Serum angiopoietin-like 3 levels are elevated in obese non diabetic men but are unaffected during an oral glucose tolerance test

This study aimed to determine ANGPTL3 serum levels in healthy young lean and obese non-diabetic men during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and correlate them with anthropometric, biochemical and hormonal parameters. A case–control study was carried out and 30 young obese non-diabetic (23.90 ± 3.84 years and BMI 37.92 ± 4.85 kg/m2) and 28 age-matched healthy lean (24.56 ± 3.50 years and BMI of 22.10 ± 1.72 kg/m2) men were included in this study. The primary outcome measures were serum basal ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL3–area under the curve (AUC) levels. The percentage of body fat was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and biochemical, hormonal and insulin resistance indices were determined. Basal ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL3–AUC levels were significantly elevated (p < 0.05) in young obese subjects compared with lean subjects and were positively and significantly associated with different anthropometric measurements. Fasting ANGPTL3 serum levels were positively correlated with fasting insulin, leptin, Leptin/Adiponectin index and triglyceride—glucose index. Moreover, ANGPTL3–AUC was negatively correlated with Matsuda index. In this regard, chronically high ANGPTL3 levels in young obese subjects might favor triglyceride-rich lipoprotein clearance to replenish triglyceride stores by white adipose tissue rather than oxidative tissues.Fil: Garcés, Maria Fernanda. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; ColombiaFil: Buell Acosta, Julieth Daniela. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; ColombiaFil: Rodríguez Navarro, Haiver Antonio. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; ColombiaFil: Pulido Sánchez, Estefania. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; ColombiaFil: Rincon Ramírez, Juan José. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; ColombiaFil: Moreno Ordóñez, Diana Carolina. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; ColombiaFil: Franco Vega, Roberto. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; ColombiaFil: Roncancio Muñoz, Jhoan Sebastian. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; ColombiaFil: Burgos Cardenas, Alvaro Javier. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; ColombiaFil: Lacunza, Ezequiel. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Centro de Investigaciones Inmunológicas Básicas y Aplicadas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Castaño, Justo P.. Universidad de Córdoba; EspañaFil: Diéguez, Carlos. Universidad de Santiago de Compostela; EspañaFil: Nogueiras, Rubén. Universidad de Santiago de Compostela; EspañaFil: Sanchez, Elizabeth. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; ColombiaFil: Caminos, Jorge Eduardo. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; Colombi

Changes in humoral immune response after SARS-CoV-2 infection in liver transplant recipients compared to immunocompetent patients

The protective capacity and duration of humoral immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection are not yet understood in solid organ transplant recipients. A prospective multicenter study was performed to evaluate the persistence of anti-nucleocapsid IgG antibodies in liver transplant recipients 6 months after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resolution. A total of 71 liver transplant recipients were matched with 71 immunocompetent controls by a propensity score including variables with a well-known prognostic impact in COVID-19. Paired case-control serological data were also available in 62 liver transplant patients and 62 controls at month 3 after COVID-19. Liver transplant recipients showed a lower incidence of anti-nucleocapsid IgG antibodies at 3 months (77.4% vs. 100%, p <.001) and at 6 months (63.4% vs. 90.1%, p <.001). Lower levels of antibodies were also observed in liver transplant patients at 3 (p =.001) and 6 months (p <.001) after COVID-19. In transplant patients, female gender (OR = 13.49, 95% CI: 2.17-83.8), a longer interval since transplantation (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.03-1.36), and therapy with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (OR = 7.11, 95% CI: 1.47-34.50) were independently associated with persistence of antibodies beyond 6 months after COVID-19. Therefore, as compared with immunocompetent patients, liver transplant recipients show a lower prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and more pronounced antibody levels decline

Diseño paramétrico asistido por computadora de un seguidor solar fotovoltaico a un eje polar

En las últimas décadas existe un marcado interés mundial hacia la investigación, desarrollo y aplicación de las fuentes renovables de energías, debido a su indiscutible impacto en la disminución de los efectos del cambio climático. Una de las variantes de este tipo de energías, es la que se obtiene del sol. Para ello, se utilizan entre otras tecnologías, los seguidores solares. Este artículo presenta las características generales de un procedimiento para el diseño paramétrico de un seguidor solar a un eje polar, utilizando las herramientas CAD/CAE. El procedimiento considera un conjunto de requerimientos funcionales definidos por el ingeniero y produce una descripción de los módulos y partes que conforman el seguidor solar a un eje. El alcance es ilustrar el procedimiento para el diseño paramétrico del referido seguidor solar

Reduced visual surround suppression in schizophrenia shown by measuring contrast detection thresholds.

Visual perception in schizophrenia is attracting a broad interest given the deep knowledge that we have about the visual system in healthy populations. One example is the class of effects known collectively as visual surround suppression. For example, the visibility of a grating located in the visual periphery is impaired by the presence of a surrounding grating of the same spatial frequency and orientation. Previous studies have suggested abnormal visual surround suppression in patients with schizophrenia. Given that schizophrenia patients have cortical alterations including hypofunction of NMDA receptors and reduced concentration of GABA neurotransmitter, which affect lateral inhibitory connections, then they should be relatively better than controls at detecting visual stimuli that are usually suppressed. We tested this hypothesis by measuring contrast detection thresholds using a new stimulus configuration. We tested two groups: 21 schizophrenia patients and 24 healthy subjects. Thresholds were obtained using Bayesian staircases in a four-alternative forced-choice detection task where the target was a grating within a 3∘ Butterworth window that appeared in one of four possible positions at 5∘ eccentricity. We compared three conditions, (a) target with no-surround, (b) target embedded within a surrounding grating of 20∘ diameter and 25% contrast with same spatial frequency and orthogonal orientation, and (c) target embedded within a surrounding grating with parallel (same) orientation. Previous results with healthy populations have shown that contrast thresholds are lower for orthogonal and no-surround (NS) conditions than for parallel surround (PS). The log-ratios between parallel and NS thresholds are used as an index quantifying visual surround suppression. Patients performed poorly compared to controls in the NS and orthogonal-surround conditions. However, they performed as well as controls when the surround was parallel, resulting in significantly lower suppression indices in patients. To examine whether the difference in suppression was driven by the lower NS thresholds for controls, we examined a matched subgroup of controls and patients, selected to have similar thresholds in the NS condition. Patients performed significantly better in the PS condition than controls. This analysis therefore indicates that a PS raised contrast thresholds less in patients than in controls. Our results support the hypothesis that inhibitory connections in early visual cortex are impaired in schizophrenia patients

Crecimiento de plántulas de tomate ("Solanum lycopersicum" L.) tratadas con humato de vermicompost

El humato de vermicompost es un estimulante que mejora la calidad y productividad de los cultivos y permite eliminar total o parcialmente los fertilizantes químicos contribuyendo a la agricultura orgánica, ecológica y sustentable. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto de diferentes concentraciones de humato de vermicompost (1/10, 1/20, 1/30 v/v y un control-agua destilada-) en el crecimiento de plántulas de Solanum lycopersicum cultivadas en suelos afectados por salinidad. El experimento se realizó utilizando un diseño completamente al azar con cuatro repeticiones por tratamiento de 40 plántulas cada una. A los 24 días después del trasplante, se midió altura de plántulas, diámetro de tallo, número de hojas, peso fresco y seco de parte aérea y de raíz. Los resultados mostraron diferencias significativas entre tratamientos y todas las variables mostraron valores superiores en la dilución de 1/30 (v/v), seguido de las diluciones 1/20 y 1/10, mostrando valores inferiores en el control. El valor porcentual de incremento en la dilución de 1/30 respecto al control fue de 61, 68, 63, 50, 19, 30, 56 y 27 para altura, diámetro de tallo, longitud de raíz, número de hojas, peso fresco de raíz, peso seco de raíz, peso fresco de parte aérea y peso seco de parte aérea, respectivamente. Palabras clave: altura, peso fresco, peso seco, salinida

Vav2 catalysis-dependent pathways contribute to skeletal muscle growth and metabolic homeostasis

Skeletal muscle promotes metabolic balance by regulating glucose uptake and the stimulation of multiple interorgan crosstalk. We show here that the catalytic activity of Vav2, a Rho GTPase activator, modulates the signaling output of the IGF1- and insulin-stimulated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway in that tissue. Consistent with this, mice bearing a Vav2 protein with decreased catalytic activity exhibit reduced muscle mass, lack of proper insulin responsiveness and, at much later times, a metabolic syndrome-like condition. Conversely, mice expressing a catalytically hyperactive Vav2 develop muscle hypertrophy and increased insulin responsiveness. Of note, while hypoactive Vav2 predisposes to, hyperactive Vav2 protects against high fat diet-induced metabolic imbalance. These data unveil a regulatory layer affecting the signaling output of insulin family factors in muscle.We also thank the input of S. Virtue on our metabolic data. X.R.B. is supported by grants from the Castilla-León Government (CSI252P18, CLC-2017-01), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MSI) (RTI2018-096481-B-100), and the Spanish Association against Cancer (GC16173472GARC). X.R.B.’s institution is supported by the Programa de Apoyo a Planes Estratégicos de Investigación de Estructuras de Investigación de Excelencia of the Castilla-León autonomous government (CLC-2017-01). S.R.-F. and L.F.L.-M. contracts have been mostly supported by funding from the MSI (BES-2013-063573) and the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (L.F.L.-M., FPU13/02923), respectively. Subsequently, they both were supported by the CLC-2017-01 grant. Both Spanish and Castilla-León government-associated funding is partially supported by the European Regional Development Fund