Comparative Analysis of Machine Learning Methods to Predict Growth of F. sporotrichioides and Production of T-2 and HT-2 Toxins in Treatments with Ethylene-Vinyl Alcohol Films Containing Pure Components of Essential Oils

The efficacy of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer films (EVOH) incorporating the essential oil components cinnamaldehyde (CINHO), citral (CIT), isoeugenol (IEG), or linalool (LIN) to control growth rate (GR) and production of T-2 and HT-2 toxins by Fusarium sporotrichioides cultured on oat grains under different temperature (28, 20, and 15 °C) and water activity (aw) (0.99 and 0.96) regimes was assayed. GR in controls/treatments usually increased with increasing temperature, regardless of aw, but no significant differences concerning aw were found. Toxin production decreased with increasing temperature. The effectiveness of films to control fungal GR and toxin production was as follows: EVOH-CIT > EVOH-CINHO > EVOH-IEG > EVOH-LIN. With few exceptions, effective doses of EVOH-CIT, EVOH-CINHO, and EVOH-IEG films to reduce/inhibit GR by 50%, 90%, and 100% (ED50, ED90, and ED100) ranged from 515 to 3330 µg/culture in Petri dish (25 g oat grains) depending on film type, aw, and temperature. ED90 and ED100 of EVOH-LIN were >3330 µg/fungal culture. The potential of several machine learning (ML) methods to predict F. sporotrichioides GR and T-2 and HT-2 toxin production under the assayed conditions was comparatively analyzed. XGBoost and random forest attained the best performance, support vector machine and neural network ranked third or fourth depending on the output, while multiple linear regression proved to be the worst

CERKL, a retinal disease gene,encodes an mRNA-biding protein that localizes in compact and unstranslated mRNPs associated to microtubules.

The function of CERKL (CERamide Kinase Like), a causative gene of retinitis pigmentosa and cone-rod dystrophy, still awaits characterization. To approach its cellular role we have investigated the subcellular localization and interaction partners of the full length CERKL isoform, CERKLa of 532 amino acids, in different cell lines, including a photoreceptor-derived cell line. We demonstrate that CERKLa is a main component of compact and untranslated mRNPs and that associates with other RNP complexes such as stress granules, P-bodies and polysomes. CERKLa is a protein that binds through its N-terminus to mRNAs and interacts with other mRNA-binding proteins like eIF3B, PABP, HSP70 and RPS3. Except for eIF3B, these interactions depend on the integrity of mRNAs but not of ribosomes. Interestingly, the C125W CERKLa pathological mutant does not interact with eIF3B and is absent from these complexes. Compact mRNPs containing CERKLa also associate with microtubules and are found in neurites of neural differentiated cells. These localizations had not been reported previously for any member of the retinal disorders gene family and should be considered when investigating the pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutical approaches in these diseases

Las redes sociales en la biblioteca Tomás Navarro Tomás. CSIC

Sección: En directoEl impacto de la web social en la transmisión de información y en la comunicación entre personas es de tal magnitud en la actualidad que las bibliotecas no pueden ni deben mantenerse al margen y desaprovechar todas las posibilidades que les ofrece. En este artículo queremos presentar cómo se ha aplicado la web social en la Biblioteca Tomás Navarro Tomás (BTNT) y cómo esta ha convertido a las redes sociales en un aliado para aumentar su visibilidad. En el momento actual la biblioteca sigue buscando nuevas fórmulas para sacar el máximo partido de sus herramientas fomentando el conocimiento de su colección bibliográfica y sus fondos de archivo. La BTNT, perteneciente a la Red de Bibliotecas y Archivos del CSIC, es una biblioteca de investigación en las áreas de humanidades y ciencias sociales (HCS). A pesar del interés de sus fondos y del volumen [1] de su colección, la BTNT no ha alcanzado todavía el nivel de difusión e impacto que correspondería a una biblioteca de su importancia, especialidad y tamaño. Este fue uno de los motivos que llevaron a la BTNT a plantearse aprovechar, desde su inicio, las oportunidades que ofrecen las herramientas de la web social.N

Unveiling the Differential Antioxidant Activity of Maslinic Acid in Murine Melanoma Cells and in Rat Embryonic Healthy Cells Following Treatment with Hydrogen Peroxide

Maslinic acid (MA) is a natural triterpene from Olea europaea L. with multiple biological properties. The aim of the present study was to examine MA’s effect on cell viability (by the MTT assay), reactive oxygen species (ROS levels, by flow cytometry) and key antioxidant enzyme activities (by spectrophotometry) in murine skin melanoma (B16F10) cells compared to those on healthy cells (A10). MA induced cytotoxic effects in cancer cells (IC50 42 M), whereas no effect was found in A10 cells treated withMA(up to 210 M). In order to produce a stress situation in cells, 0.15mMH2O2 was added. Under stressful conditions, MA protected both cell lines against oxidative damage, decreasing intracellular ROS, which were higher in B16F10 than in A10 cells. The treatment with H2O2 and without MA produced different responses in antioxidant enzyme activities depending on the cell line. In A10 cells, all the enzymes were up-regulated, but in B16F10 cells, only superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase increased their activities. MA restored the enzyme activities to levels similar to those in the control group in both cell lines, highlighting that in A10 cells, the highest MA doses induced values lower than control. Overall, these findings demonstrate the great antioxidant capacity of MA.General Secretariat of Universities, Research and Technology of the Ministry of Economy, Innovation, Science and Employment Government of the Junta de Andalucia (Spain) BIO-157program FEDER-INNTERCONECTA from the Spanish Government C-3650-0

Multi-Phase Flash Sintering: The Next Natural Step in Flash Sintering Evolution

Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstrac

Las farmacopeas españolas publicadas en los últimos 500 años (siglos XVI-XXI)

El objetivo de este trabajo es describir las diferentes ediciones de las antiguas Farmacopeas que han sido utilizadas en España, así como su evolución y relación con la profesión farmacéutica mediante búsqueda en fuentes primarias y terciarias. Desde la aparición de la primera Farmacopea publicada en España en 1511 denominada Concordia Apothecariorum Barcinonensium y posteriormente la primera Farmacopea con “carácter oficial” que se publicó en 1601 por el Colegio de Valencia denominada Officina Medicamentorum hasta la cuarta edición de la Real Farmacopea Española publicada en 2011 han transcurrido 500 años de sucesivas ediciones de Farmacopeas que nos permiten conocer la historia de la farmacia española. Las antiguas Farmacopeas son textos del pasado que contribuyen a valorar la profesión farmacéutica, que han permitido una atención científica de los boticarios, a lo largo de los siglos, a muchos pacientes y que refuerzan la imagen del farmacéutico en el presente y el futuro. Estos antiguos e importantes libros han constituido y constituyen una guía obligatoria de los farmacéuticos para cumplir su tarea profesional como expertos del medicamento

Age-Adjusted Endothelial Activation and Stress Index for Coronavirus Disease 2019 at Admission Is a Reliable Predictor for 28-Day Mortality in Hospitalized Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019

Background: Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX) predict death in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation who develop endothelial complications. Because coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients also have coagulopathy and endotheliitis, we aimed to assess whether EASIX predicts death within 28 days in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Methods: We performed a retrospective study on COVID-19 patients from two different cohorts [derivation (n = 1,200 patients) and validation (n = 1,830 patients)]. The endpoint was death within 28 days. The main factors were EASIX [(lactate dehydrogenase * creatinine)/thrombocytes] and aEASIX-COVID (EASIX * age), which were log2-transformed for analysis. Results: Log2-EASIX and log2-aEASIX-COVID were independently associated with an increased risk of death in both cohorts (p 7) of 47.6% (95% CI = 44.2-50.9%). The cutoff of log2 aEASIX-COVID = 6 showed a positive predictive value of 31.7% and negative predictive value of 94.7%, and log2 aEASIX-COVID = 7 showed a positive predictive value of 47.6% and negative predictive value of 89.8%. Conclusion: Both EASIX and aEASIX-COVID were associated with death within 28 days in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. However, aEASIX-COVID had significantly better predictive performance than EASIX, particularly for discarding death. Thus, aEASIX-COVID could be a reliable predictor of death that could help to manage COVID-19 patients.This study was supported by grants from Instituto de Salud Carlos III [grant number COV20/1144 [MPY224/20) to AF-R/MÁJ-S]. MÁJ-S and AF-R are supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (grant numbers CP17CIII/00007 and CP14CIII/00010, respectively).S

Glucocorticoid Resistance: Interference between the Glucocorticoid Receptor and the MAPK Signalling Pathways

Endogenous glucocorticoids (GCs) are steroid hormones that signal in virtually all cell types to modulate tissue homeostasis throughout life. Also, synthetic GC derivatives (pharmacological GCs) constitute the first-line treatment in many chronic inflammatory conditions with unquestionable therapeutic benefits despite the associated adverse effects. GC actions are principally mediated through the GC receptor (GR), a ligand-dependent transcription factor. Despite the ubiquitous expression of GR, imbalances in GC signalling affect tissues differently, and with variable degrees of severity through mechanisms that are not completely deciphered. Congenital or acquired GC hypersensitivity or resistance syndromes can impact responsiveness to endogenous or pharmacological GCs, causing disease or inadequate therapeutic outcomes, respectively. Acquired GC resistance is defined as loss of efficacy or desensitization over time, and arises as a consequence of chronic inflammation, affecting around 30% of GC-treated patients. It represents an important limitation in the management of chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer, and can be due to impairment of multiple mechanisms along the GC signalling pathway. Among them, activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and/or alterations in expression of their regulators, the dual-specific phosphatases (DUSPs), have been identified as common mechanisms of GC resistance. While many of the anti-inflammatory actions of GCs rely on GR-mediated inhibition of MAPKs and/or induction of DUSPs, the GC anti-inflammatory capacity is decreased or lost in conditions of excessive MAPK activation, contributing to disease susceptibility in tissue- and disease- specific manners. Here, we discuss potential strategies to modulate GC responsiveness, with the dual goal of overcoming GC resistance and minimizing the onset and severity of unwanted adverse effects while maintaining therapeutic potential

Pyrolysis kinetics of ethylene-propylene (EPM) and ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM)

The thermal degradation kinetics of several ethylene-propylene copolymers (EPM) and ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers (EPDM), with different chemical compositions, have been studied by means of the combined kinetic analysis. Until now, attempts to establish the kinetic model for the process have been unsuccessful and previous reports suggest that a model other than a conventional nth order might be responsible. Here, a random scission kinetic model, based on the breakage and evaporation of cleavaged fragments, is found to describe the degradation of all compositions studied. The suitability of the kinetic parameters resulting from the analysis has been asserted by successfully reconstructing the experimental curves. Additionally, it has been shown that the activation energy for the pyrolysis of the EPM copolymers decreases by increasing the propylene content. An explanation for this behavior is given. A low dependence of the EPDM chemical composition on the activation energy for the pyrolysis has been reported, although the thermal stability is influenced by the composition of the diene used.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad CTQ2011-27626Junta de Andalucía TEP-785

Nutraceutical Role of Polyphenols and Triterpenes Present in the Extracts of Fruits and Leaves of Olea europaea as Antioxidants, Anti-Infectives and Anticancer Agents on Healthy Growth

This research has been funded by the Junta de Andalucia (Andalusian Research Plan, Junta de Andalucia, Spain) by the grant from the research group BIO-157 "Drugs, Environmental Toxics and Cellular Metabolism".There is currently a worldwide consensus and recognition of the undoubted health benefits of the so-called Mediterranean diet, with its intake being associated with a lower risk of mortality. The most important characteristics of this type of diet are based on the consumption of significant amounts of fruit, vegetables, legumes, and nuts, which provide, in addition to some active ingredients, fiber and a proportion of vegetable protein, together with extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) as the main sources of vegetable fat. Fish and meat from poultry and other small farm animals are the main sources of protein. One of the main components, as already mentioned, is EVOO, which is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and to a lesser extent in polyunsaturated fatty acids. The intake of this type of nutrient also provides an important set of phytochemicals whose health potential is widely spread and agreed upon. These phytochemicals include significant amounts of anthocyanins, stilbenes, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenes of varying complexities. Therefore, the inclusion in the diet of this type of molecules, with a proven healthy effect, provides an unquestionable preventive and/or curative activity on an important group of pathologies related to cardiovascular, infectious, and cancerous diseases, as well as those related to the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this review is therefore to shed light on the nutraceutical role of two of the main phytochemicals present in Olea europaea fruit and leaf extracts, polyphenols, and triterpenes, on healthy animal growth. Their immunomodulatory, anti-infective, antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-carcinogenic capabilities show them to be potential nutraceuticals, providing healthy growth.Junta de Andalucia BIO-15