The role of B [Beta]-hydroxybutyrate in the regulation of ketogenesis in sheep

Eleven ewes weighing between 55 and 65 kg were randomly placed in one of three experimental categories: normal (n=5); diabetic insulin-treated, DIT (.n=3); and diabetic 72-hour-untreated, DUT (.n=3). Animals were rendered diabetic pharmacologically via intravenous doses of alloxan (50 mg/kg). The femoral artery and vein, along with the portal, hepatic, and mesenteric veins were cannulated immediately prior to each experiment. Experiments were therefore conducted in anesthetized (sodium pentobarbital) animals following surgery. Mesenteric infusion of para-aminohippuric acid (PAH) was used to determine whole blood flow rates across the splanchnic tissues. Three sets of preinfusion or control samples were obtained at 15-minute intervals immediately followed by continuous infusion of β-hydroxybutyrate into the caudal vena cava with four subsequent serial whole blood samples obtained from the femoral artery, and portal and hepatic veins at 30-minute intervals. The whole blood samples were analyzed for β-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and PAH, and plasma analyzed for free fatty acids and insulin. As expected, free fatty acid levels were depressed by β-hydroxy-butyrate infusion in the normal, DIT, and DUT animals. Since there was a concomitant decrease in net hepatic and total splanchnic uptake of free fatty acids, the concentration changes must have been due to decreased peripheral tissue lipolysis. Infusion of β-hydroxybutyrate increased pancreatic insulin release, but there was a corresponding hepatic uptake of the hormone, and thus, no net change in total splanchnic insulin flux was observed. In the normal and DIT, but not the DUT sheep, a net increase in total splanchnic acetoacetate uptake and a concomitant decrease in net total splanchnic β-hydroxybutyrate release during infusion of the ketone body was observed. From these results it was concluded that the effects of β-hydroxybutyrate infusion on ketone body and free fatty acid concentrations and fluxes may be mediated at the insulin receptor site and not by increased pancreatic insulin production

On the use of ray tracing programmable frameworks for radio wave propagation prediction

International Conference on Wireless Networks and Mobile Communication (EUIWNMC), 26/08/2021-27/08/2021, Marrakesh, Marruecos.This work focuses on the use of ray tracing programmable frameworks, like Nvidia Optix, for radio wave propagation prediction. Although these frameworks are oriented to graphics visualization, they can be tailored to calculate specular reflections on walls and diffractions in edges of buildings. Once all the paths between the transmitter and the receiver are obtained, Maxwell"s equations can be applied to compute the path loss or the received power.Comunidad de Madri

The role of short-term weather conditions in temporal dynamics of fire regime features in mainland Spain

In this paper we investigate spatial-temporal associations of fire weather danger and fire regime features from 1979 to 2013. We analyze monthly time series of fire activity (number of fires and burned area) and fire weather danger rating indices (Fire Weather Index, Burning Index and Forest Fire Danger Index) at two spatial scales: (i) regionally, splitting the Spanish mainland into Northwest, Hinterland and Mediterranean regions; and (ii) locally, using the EMCWF grid. All analyses are based on decomposing time series to retrieve differential indicators of seasonal cycles, temporal evolution and anomalies. At regional scale we apply lagged cross-correlation analysis (4 lags or months before fire) to explore seasonal associations; and trend detection tests on the temporal evolution component. At the local scale, we calculate Pearson correlation coefficients between each individual index and the 18 possible fire-activity subsets according to fire size (all sizes, > 1 ha and > 100 ha) and source of ignition (natural, unintended and arson); this analysis is applied to both cycles, temporal and anomalies series. Results suggest that weather controls seasonal fire activity although it has limited influence on temporal evolution, i.e. trends. Stronger associations are detected in the number of fires in the Northwest and Hinterland regions compared to the Mediterranean, which has desynchronized from weather since 1994. Cross-correlation analysis revealed significant fire-weather associations in the Hinterland and Mediterranean, extending up to two months prior fire ignition. On the other hand, the association between temporal trends and weather is weaker, being negative along the Mediterranean and even significant in the case of burned area. The spatial disaggregation into grid cells reveals different spatial patterns across fire-activity subsets. Again, the connection at seasonal level is noticeable, especially in natural-caused fires. In turn, human-related wildfires are occasionally found independent from weather in some areas along the northern coast or the Ebro basin. In any case, this effect diminishes as the size of the fire increases. Our work suggests that for some regions of mainland Spain, these fire danger indices could provide useful information about upcoming fire activity up to two months ahead of time and this information could be used to better inform wildland fire prevention and suppression activities

Preferencia por el olor del etanol tras la interacción social con un congénere intoxicado en ratas adolescentes expuestas a la droga in-útero

Background: Prenatal exposure to ethanol and later socially mediated exposure predicts ethanol intake in human adolescents. Animal rat models indicate that brief interactions with an ethanol-intoxicated peer result in heightened preference for ethanol odor and ethanol intake. Methods: This study assessed preference for ethanol odor in adolescent male rats (observers) following social interaction with an ethanol intoxicated peer (demonstrators) as a function of prenatal ethanol exposure (gestational days 17-20, 1.0 g/kg, intragastric). Social behavior and locomotion during social interaction was also measured. Results: Social investigation was greater in observers that interacted with an intoxicated demonstrator in comparison to those that interacted with a sober peer. Social contact increased when the demonstrator was under the effects of ethanol, but only if the observer had experienced ethanol prenatally. Ethanol inhibited locomotion in the demonstrators. Finally, social interaction with an intoxicated peer during adolescence as well as prenatal ethanol experience increased preference for ethanol odor. Conclusions: Fetal exposure to ethanol mediated by maternal intoxication at late gestation or by interaction with an intoxicated peer at adolescence heightens preference for the chemosensory cues of the drug.Antecedentes: la exposición prenatal al alcohol y la exposición postnatal en contextos sociales predice el consumo de alcohol durante la adolescencia en humanos. Modelos animales indican que la interacción con un congéner intoxicado aumenta la preferencia por el olor del alcohol y su consumo. Método: se analizó la preferencia hacia el olor del etanol en ratas macho adolescentes (observadores) que interactuaron con un compañero intoxicado con alcohol (demostrador), en función de la exposición prenatal al alcohol (días gestacionales 17-20, 1,0 g/kg, intragástrica). Durante la interacción social, se evaluó la conducta social y la locomoción. Resultados: la investigación social fue mayor en los observadores que interactuaron con un sujeto intoxicado en comparación con aquellos que interactuaron con un sujeto sobrio. El contacto social aumentó cuando el demostrador estaba intoxicado, solo si el observador había sido expuesto al alcohol prenatalmente. El alcohol inhibió la locomoción en los demostradores. Finalmente, tanto la interacción social con un congéner intoxicado como la exposición prenatal incrementaron la preferencia por el olor a etanol. Conclusiones: el contacto con etanol durante la vida fetal, así como mediante la exposición a un par intoxicado durante la adolescencia, incrementa la preferencia por las claves quimiosensoriales de la droga.Fil: March, Samanta Mabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Pautassi, Ricardo Marcos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Nizhnikov, Michael. University Of Binghamton; Estados UnidosFil: Fernandez Vidal, Juan Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra; ArgentinaFil: Spear, Norman E.. University Of Binghamton; Estados UnidosFil: Molina, Juan Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Argentin

A linked data approach to sentiment and emotion analysis of twitter in the financial domain

Sentiment analysis has recently gained popularity in the financial domain thanks to its capability to predict the stock market based on the wisdom of the crowds. Nevertheless, current sentiment indicators are still silos that cannot be combined to get better insight about the mood of different communities. In this article we propose a Linked Data approach for modelling sentiment and emotions about financial entities. We aim at integrating sentiment information from different communities or providers, and complements existing initiatives such as FIBO. The ap- proach has been validated in the semantic annotation of tweets of several stocks in the Spanish stock market, including its sentiment information

Comparação da Sensibilidade ao Glyphosate de Populações de Euphorbia davidii

Euphorbia davidii (Euphorbiaceae) is a summer annual weed present in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity to glyphosate of different populations of Euphorbia davidii. Twotechniques were used: a seed bioassay and shikimate determination in glyphosa tetreated plants. Germination rates of seeds belonging to the populations from Espartillar, Barrow, Olavarria and Azul exposed to different concentrations of glyphosate were compared. Plants from the same locations treated with glyphosate were evaluated to determine shikimate levels. The most sensitive population was from Espartillar, with a CE50 (average effective concentration) of 4.00 g e.a. L-1. Based on this finding, the resistance index for each population was 1.76, 2.39 and 2.48 for Azul, Olavarria and Barrow respectively. Regarding glyphosate-treated plants in which shikimate levels were determined, a significant increase in the concentration of this metabolite was only observed in the population from Espartillar. Accumulation of shikimate was not detected in the other groups. These results show differential sensitivity to glyphosate of the evaluated populations.Euphorbia davidii (Euphorbiaceae) é uma planta infestante de ciclo anual primaveril-estival presente na Província de Buenos Aires, Argentina. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a sensibilidade ao glyphosate de diferentes populações de Euphorbia davidii. Para isso, foram usadas duas técnicas: bioensaio com sementes e determinação dos níveis de chiquimato nas plantas tratadas com glyphosate. Fez-se uma comparação da germinação de sementes de populações provenientes de Espartillar, Barrow, Olavarria e Azul, expostas a diferentes concentrações de glyphosate. Procedeu-se à determinação dos níveis de chiquimato em plantas provenientes das mesmas localidades e tratadas com o herbicida. A população mais sensível foi a de Espartillar, com uma CE50 (concentração efetiva média) de 4,00 g a.e. L-1. Com base neste valor, o índice de resistência de cada local de origem foi de 1,76 , 2,39 e 2,48 para Azul, Olavarría e Barrow, respectivamente. Entre as plantas tratadas, em que os valores de chiquimato foram determinados, observou-se apenas aumento significativo na concentração desse metabólito na população de Espartillar. Nas outras populações não foi identificada qualquer acumulação de chiquimato. Os resultados mostram a sensibilidade diferencial ao glyphosate das populações avaliadas.Fil: Núñez Fré, Federico Roberto. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Juan, Victor Fabian. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Yanniccari, Marcos Ezequiel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Barrow; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Saint André, Horacio María. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, R.R.. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentin

Docker security in web simulation tools: a layered approach

International Conference on Wireless Networks and Mobile Communication (EUIWNMC), 26/08/2021-27/08/2021, Marrakesh, Marruecos.In this work, container security issues and strengths are studied using Docker as the main implementation. First, the container infrastructure is described and compared against the traditional approach of virtual machines. Secondly, the Docker containers security is discussed by the different infrastructure layers that compose them and different solutions are proposed to try to decrease the attack surface over this kind of applications.Universidad de Alcal

A recombinant iron transport protein from Bordetella pertussis confers protection against Bordetella parapertussis

Whooping cough, which is caused by Bordetella pertussis and B. parapertussis, is a reemerging disease. New protective antigens are needed to improve the efficacy of current vaccines against both species. Using proteomic tools, it was here found that B. parapertussis expresses a homolog of AfuA, a previously reported new vaccine candidate against B. pertussis. It was found that this homolog, named AfuABpp, is expressed during B. parapertussis infection, exposed on the surface of the bacteria and recognized by specific antibodies induced by the recombinant AfuA cloned from B. pertussis (rAfuA). Importantly, the presence of the O-antigen, a molecule that has been found to shield surface antigens on B. parapertussis, showed no influence on antibody recognition of AfuABpp on the bacterial surface. The present study further showed that antibodies induced by immunization with the recombinant protein were able to opsonize B. parapertussis and promote bacterial uptake by neutrophils. Finally, it was shown that this antigen confers protection against B. parapertussis infection in a mouse model. Altogether, these results indicate that AfuA is a good vaccine candidate for acellular vaccines protective against both causative agents of whooping cough.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasFacultad de Ciencias Veterinarias (FCV)Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales (CINDEFI

Clinical evaluation of the role of ceftaroline in the management of community acquired bacterial pneumonia

Ceftaroline fosamil (ceftaroline) was recently approved for the treatment of community- acquired pneumonia (CAP) and complicated skin infections. This newly developed cephalosporin possesses a broad spectrum of activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Most importantly, ceftaroline demonstrates potent in vitro antimicrobial activity against multi-drug resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. In two Phase III, double-blinded, randomized, prospective trials (FOCUS 1 and FOCUS 2), ceftaroline was shown to be non-inferior to ceftriaxone for the treatment of CAP in hospitalized patients. Ceftaroline exhibits low resistance rates and a safety profile similar to that of other cephalosporins. In this review, we will evaluate the pharmacological characteristics, safety, antimicrobial properties, and efficacy of ceftaroline and its applications in the treatment of CAP

POLD3 Is Haploinsufficient for DNA Replication in Mice

The Pold3 gene encodes a subunit of the Polδ DNA polymerase complex. Pold3 orthologs are not essential in Saccharomyces cerevisiae or chicken DT40 cells, but the Schizosaccharomyces pombe ortholog is essential. POLD3 also has a specialized role in the repair of broken replication forks, suggesting that POLD3 activity could be particularly relevant for cancer cells enduring high levels of DNA replication stress. We report here that POLD3 is essential for mouse development and is also required for viability in adult animals. Strikingly, even Pold3(+/-) mice were born at sub-Mendelian ratios, and, of those born, some presented hydrocephaly and had a reduced lifespan. In cells, POLD3 deficiency led to replication stress and cell death, which were aggravated by the expression of activated oncogenes. Finally, we show that Pold3 deletion destabilizes all members of the Polδ complex, explaining its major role in DNA replication and the severe impact of its deficiency.Research was funded by Fundacion Botin, Banco Santander, through its Santander Universities Global Division, and by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) (SAF2014-59498-R; SAF2014-57791-REDC), Fundacio La Marato de TV3, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the European Research Council (ERC-617840) to O.F.-C.; by a Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowshp (IOF) from the FP7 Marie Curie Actions and a grant from MINECO (BFU2014-55168-JIN) that was co-funded by European Regional Development Funds (FEDER) to E.L.; by a grant from MINECO (BFU2013-49153) to J.M.; and by the European Commission (ERC grant ONIDDAC) to T.D.H.S