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Based on ISO 17043:2010, eight (8) proficiency testing (PT) rounds were organized for moisture, ash, caffeine, and total sugar analyses using commercial ground roasted pure coffee and roasted coffee with sugar added as PT materials as part of the Interlaboratory Food Analysis Rounds Program (PRIDAA, by its acronym in Spanish). Twenty-five (25) laboratories from Latin America participated in these PT Rounds. Results were evaluated using statistical procedures based on ISO 13528: 2016. The Z/Z′-scores used to evaluate the performance of laboratories were computed using the standard deviation for PT (σ p) defined based on fitness-for-purpose, while the assigned values (mean, median, or robust mean) were obtained from the consensus of PT participants' results. For ash and caffeine, 89 % and 88 % of PT participants achieved a satisfactory performance (|Z/Z'|≤2), respectively, as average of the eight (8) rounds. Only 75 % achieved a "satisfactory" performance in the case of total sugars and 83 % in the case of moisture. For total sugar and caffeine, results obtained with methods other than HPLC were not comparable to the assigned value defined as the consensus of the HPLC results. Significant improvements in the methodology were applied to the PT when the ISO 17043:2010 accreditation was achieved in 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemodynamics are believed to play an important role in the initiation of cerebral aneurysms. In particular, studies have focused on wall shear stress (WSS), which is a key regulator of vascular biology and pathology. In line with the observation that aneurysms predominantly occur at regions of high WSS, such as bifurcation apices or outer walls of vascular bends, correlations have been found between the aneurysm initiation site and high WSS. The aim of our study was to analyze the WSS field at an aneurysm initiation site that was neither a bifurcation apex nor the outer wall of a vascular bend. Ten cases with aneurysms on the A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery were analyzed and compared with ten controls. Aneurysms were virtually removed from the vascular models of the cases to mimic the pre-aneurysm geometry. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were created to assess the magnitude, gradient, multidirectionality, and pulsatility of the WSS. To aid the inter-subject comparison of hemodynamic variables, we mapped the branch surfaces onto a two-dimensional parametric space. This approach made it possible to view the whole branch at once for qualitative evaluation. It also allowed us to empirically define a patch for quantitative analysis, which was consistent among subjects and encapsulated the aneurysm initiation sites in our dataset. To test the sensitivity of our results, CFD simulations were repeated with a second independent observer virtually removing the aneurysms and with a 20 % higher flow rate at the inlet. We found that branches harboring aneurysms were characterized by high WSS and high WSS gradients. Among all assessed variables, the aneurysm initiation site most consistently coincided with peaks of temporal variation in the WSS magnitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to derive a sampling theory in U-invariant subspaces of a separable Hilbert space ℋ where U denotes a unitary operator defined on ℋ. To this end, we use some special dual frames for L2(0, 1), and the fact that any U-invariant subspace with stable generator is the image of L2(0, 1) by means of a bounded invertible operator. The used mathematical technique mimics some previous sampling work for shift-invariant subspaces of L2(ℝ). Thus, sampling frame expansions in U-invariant spaces are obtained. In order to generalize convolution systems and deal with the time-jitter error in this new setting we consider a continuous group of unitary operators which includes the operator U. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Static Code Analysis (SA) is the process of finding vulnerabilities in software. This process has become popular and one of the most evaluated phases in the process of continuous integration of software. However, the literature is spread over different proposals and there is a lack of research that shows the main contributions and applications to this topic. The purpose of this paper is to identify the main conceptual contributions of SA using the Tree of Science algorithm. The results show three main branches of this area: machine learning for smell detection, actionable ranking techniques, and Technical alert tools. Artificial Intelligence has been transforming SA and programmers will have access to more sophisticated tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interactions between fungi occur when they grow on the same host plant. This is the case of Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium expansum on grape. P. expansum is also responsible for production of the mycotoxin patulin. In this study, the influence of the interaction between both fungi on fungal growth parameters was studied as well as the effect on the accumulation of patulin by P. expansum. For that purpose, spores of B. cinerea and P. expansum were inoculated together (mixed inoculum), and the parameters growth rate, time for growth and patulin accumulation were assessed. The presence of P. expansum conidia shortened the time for growth of mixed inoculum colonies which, at the end of incubation, were B. cinerea-like. Although some P. expansum growth was observed in mixed inoculum colonies, very low levels of patulin were observed. In assays carried out in patulin-spiked medium, B. cinerea was capable to metabolize the mycotoxin. The capabilities of B. cinerea to shorten time for growth and prevent patulin accumulation are competing abilities that facilitate grape colonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the characterization as frames of some sequences in U-invariant spaces of a separable Hilbert space H where U denotes an unitary operator defined onH; besides, the dual frames having the same form are also found. This general setting includes, in particular, shift-invariant or modulation-invariant subspaces in L2(R), where these frames are intimately related to the generalized sampling problem. We also deal with some related perturbation problems. In doing so, we need the unitary operator U to belong to a continuous group of unitary operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cerebral water control is critical to maintain neuronal excitability, and to prevent injuries derived from brain swelling or shrinkage. The influence of aquaporins (AQPs) in the balance of water distribution between intracranial compartments is getting much experimental support. The importance of AQPs in fluid clearance during vasogenic brain edema seems well established but their role in cytotoxic swelling and in brain cell shrinkage is not known in detail. The main AQPs function as water channels anticipates their influence on cell volume changes as well as on the mechanisms of volume recovery, which include notably the osmolyte translocation across the cell membrane. Osmolyte fluxes permit the reestablishment of an osmotic balance and volume recovery in anisosmotic-elicited cell volume changes, but are also causal factors per se of brain cell swelling or shrinkage in pathological situations. This review aims to inform on the so far described functional interactions between AQPs and osmolyte fluxes and their volume-sensitive pathways. It also points to the coincidence of AQPs and activation of osmolyte fluxes in physiological and pathological conditions and to the importance of finding possible functional links between these two events, thus enlarging the possibilities via AQP manipulations, to prevent the adverse consequences of cell volume changes in brain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Mediante un diseño completamente aleatorizado, con arreglo factorial, se utilizaron 28 borregos Pelibuey, con peso inicial de 14.9 ± 2.2 kg, para evaluar el comportamiento productivo de los animales que consumieron raciones de alta energía y diferentes niveles de pulpa de cítricos deshidratada (PCD) y urea. Se midió además, la concentración de nitrógeno ureico (NU), glucosa y fósforo (P) en suero sanguíneo. Las determinaciones se realizaron cada 14 d y el experimento tuvo una duración de 56 d. Para el período total no hubo diferencias en el consumo de materia seca ni en el aumento diario de peso vivo (ADP). En el último período de 14 d, los borregos que no recibieron PCD en su dieta disminuyeron (P < 0.05) sus ADP en 11.5%, cuando se les aumentó el nivel de urea de 0.5 a 1 %. La conversión alimentaria en los borregos que consumieron las dietas con 0 % de PCD y 0.5 % urea (3.28), así como con 10 % de PCD y 1 % urea (3.33), fue diferente (P < 0.05) con respecto a los que ingirieron dietas que contenían 0 % de PCD y 1 % de urea (3.47), igualmente para 10 % de PCD y 0.5% de urea (3.58). Para el período de 42 a 56 d, hubo efecto significativo (P < 0.05) de la interacción de los niveles de urea x PCD, para las variables de aumento diario de peso (ADP), conversión alimentaria y eficiencia de proteína. En los días 14 y 56, el NU se incrementó significativamente, obteniéndose valores de 13 y 10.3 vs 22.5 y 25.3 mg/dL en borregos alimentados con 0.5 y 1% de urea, respectivamente. Asimismo, en el día 28 hubo efecto significativo (P < 0.01) de la PCD en el NU sanguíneo (11.3 vs. 8.7 mg/dL), y en el 42 hubo efecto (P < 0.05; 31.1 vs. 27 mg/dL de NU) en los borregos que consumieron las dietas con 0 y 10 % de PCD, respectivamente. La concentración de glucosa sanguínea no se afectó por los niveles de PCD y urea. El nivel de P en sangre no se modificó por efecto de la PCD y/o de urea. Solamente hubo efecto (P < 0.05) debido a la interacción PCD x urea para el día 42. Se concluye que es posible utilizar la pulpa de cítricos a 10 %, con 1 % de urea en raciones de alta energía para la alimentación del ovino Pelibuey en confinamiento, en fase de crecimiento y engorda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the opportunities of Penicillium expansum to develop and produce patulin in apples during cold storage and in the steps prior to processing of apple products. Methods and Results: Two lots of apples var. Golden with different ripeness degree were used. Half of each lot was fungicide treated. Apples were inoculated with P. expansum and stored at 1°C for 6 weeks. The extent of lesions and patulin accumulation both at the end of cold storage and after 3 days at 20°C were assessed. Short storage at 20°C aimed to simulate the transport and storage steps at room temperature before processing. Lesion size significantly increased during the storage at 20°C. An interaction between fungicide treatment and ripeness degree was found; efficiency of fungicide treatment was higher for ripe apples. Although lesions were evident after cold storage, no patulin was detected. Patulin was detected only when fruits were further stored at 20°C. Neither ripeness degree nor fungicide treatment affected patulin accumulation. Conclusions: Cold storage periods of 6 weeks do not lead to patulin accumulation. Significance and Impact of the Study: Shortening preprocessing times at warm temperatures would result into a reduction in patulin content at initial steps of fruits entering the processing plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work assesses the extent of patulin contamination in Penicillium expansum-infected apples stored at room temperature for short periods of time and its relationship with apple variety (Golden or Fuji), degree of ripeness and size of lesions. Inoculated apples were incubated at 20°C. Patulin was determined in both sound and decayed tissue from cylindrical samples taken around the lesions and cut into 0.5-cm thick sections. Higher accumulation of patulin occurred in Golden apples, with less ripened apples showing higher concentrations. Total accumulated patulin was similar or higher in 4-cm compared to 2-cm lesioned apples, although a decrease in patulin concentration was observed in older lesion sections. Patulin accumulation occurred over a short period of time at room temperature, thus the stand-by period before processing should be minimised. Of total patulin, 2–6% migrated to the surrounding sound tissue, thus trimming tissue around the rotten part may be a good preventive practice for apple derivative production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent evidence documents the involvement of protein tyrosine kinases (TK) in the signalling network activated by hyposmotic swelling and regulatory volume decrease. Both receptor type and cytosolic TK participate as signalling elements in the variety of cell adaptive responses to volume changes, which include adhesion reactions, reorganization of the cytoskeleton, temporal deformation/remodelling of the membrane and stress-detecting mechanisms. The present review refers to the influence of TK on the activation/operation of the osmolyte efflux pathways, ultimately leading to cell volume recovery, i.e. the osmosensitive Cl− channel (Cl ), the K+ channels activated by swelling in the different cell types and the taurine efflux pathway as representative of the organic osmolyte pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The structure of families has changed a lot, with consensus instead of authority to organize relationship between family''s members, hedonism instead of duty as main value, and a child acknowledged at once as a person - “the baby is a person” -, lead to a transformed process of education and breeding of child. Thus, during first years, the introduction by the parents of the first prohibitions and restrictions (restrictions of the touch, prohibition of the incest) is done within a new framework, which changes its effectiveness. The difference of the sexes as a main landmark for education grows blurred with the disappearance of genders complementarity, changing the issue of the construction of the gender identity. The increasing place of the media can make them compare to a “third parent”. It results from this a shaping of child''s psyche, which is not any more on the neurotic pattern. We propose the assumption of one new basic personality, translation of the new social and cultural landmarks and consequences of the new education practices with children, which would replace the normal-neurotic basic personality which prevailing during first half of the XXe century. This “narcissistic-hedonistic” basic personality shows specific features: a weakness of internalizations, a weak Super-ego, an almost total absence of guilty, an Ego ideal little socialized, evoking rather Ideal ego the first childhood, a dependence increased towards objects and external stimulations, and finally, an individualism, appropriate to a worldwide culture and a globalized economy, which is the grounds and legitimation of subject behaviours mainly regulated by the economic level. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Osmolarity reduction (20%) elicited 3H-norepinephrine (NE) efflux from rat cortical synaptosomes. The hyposmotic NE release resulted from the following events: (i) a Na+-dependent and La3+-, Gd3+- and ruthenium red-sensitive depolarization; (ii) a cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) rise with contributions from external Ca2+ influx and internal Ca2+ release, probably through the mitochondrial Na+–Ca2+ exchanger; and (iii) activation of a [Ca2+]i-evoked, tetanus toxin (TeTX)-sensitive, PKC-modulated NE efflux mechanism. This sequence was established from results showing a drop in the hyposmotic [Ca2+]i rise by preventing depolarization with La3+, and by the inhibitory effects of Ca2+-free medium (EGTA; 50%), CGP37157 (the mitochondrial Na+–Ca2+ exchanger blocker; 48%), EGTA + CGP37157 or by EGTA-AM (> 95% in both cases). In close correspondence with these effects, NE efflux was 92% decreased by Na+ omission, 75% by La3+, 47% by EGTA, 50% by CGP37157, 90% by EGTA + CGP37157 and 88% by EGTA-AM. PKC influenced the intracellular Ca2+ release and, mainly through this action, modulated NE efflux. TeTX suppressed NE efflux. The K+-stimulated NE release, studied in parallel, was unaffected by Na+ omission, or by La3+, Gd3+ or ruthenium red. It was fully dependent on external Ca2+, insensitive to CGP37157 and abolished by TeTX. These results suggest that the hyposmotic events, although different from the K+-evoked depolarization and [Ca2+]i rise mechanisms, are able to trigger a depolarization-dependent, Ca2+-dependent and TeTX-sensitive mechanism for neurotransmitter release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four tepache samples (a traditional fermented fruit beverage) from four different sources obtained by different fermentation processes were sensory evaluated. A paired comparison test between the samples was carried out in a monadic sequential fashion in six sessions with 70 consumers each. A sample processed by double fermentation received the highest mean scores for the first impression and overall acceptance and in the sensory attributes of appearance, consistency, odor, flavor and sweetness/sourness ratio. Principal component analysis indicated that appearance, odor, flavor, first impression and overall acceptance are highly intercorrelated. That sample was also the most preferred beverage in the comparative test. Flavor intensity was significantly different in all of the paired comparisons. No significant differences were found in the overall acceptance evaluations between genders. A fairly good correlation was found between overall acceptance and consumers who drank the beverage once a week. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generalized Yang–Mills theories have a covariant derivative that employs both scalar and vector bosons. Here we show how grand unified theories of the electroweak and strong interactions can be constructed with them. In particular the SU(5) GUT can be obtained from SU(6) with SU(5)×U(1) as a maximal subgroup. The choice of maximal subgroup also determines the chiral structure of the theory. The resulting Lagrangian has only two terms, and only two irreducible representations are needed, one for fermions and another for bosons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses swelling-activated flux of osmolytes, and the role of the NIH/3T3 fibroblasts. Involvement of the anion channel in regulatory volume decrease (RVD); Discovery of chloride channels activated by hypotonicity; Details on the study.

Investigates the effect of regulatory volume in cultured astrocytes by the permeability of the hyposmolarity-activated pathway to amino acids and polyols in cultured astrocytes. Effect of osmolytes; Inhibitory effect of sorbitol and mannitol on volume regulation; Osmoregulation.

Characterizes the regulatory volume decrease (RVD) in detached cerebellar astrocytes in culture after exposure to differential osmotic pressure. Influence of potassium- and chloride-activated permeability on RVD; Effect of extracellular calcium on RVD; Inhibition of RVD; Osmoregulation; Transport channels.

Examines the concentration of free amino acids in NIH/3T3 cells, the release in response to swelling-associated efflux, and the properties of the swelling-associated efflux. Amino acid release activated by hypotonicity; Effect of chloride channel blockers on [3H] taurine efflux; Effect of calcium on osmolyte fluxes.

The design and construction of two Metamaterial (MTM) directional filters (DF) for multiplexing applications at 900 MHz is presented. The four-port filters are realized using composite-right-left-handed (CRLH) closed-loop resonators, which present small dimensions and suppression of harmonic resonances due to the zeroth-order resonance produced by MTM's. The first filter uses two conventional transmission lines (TL) between resonators to generate the necessary constructive-destructive interference for directional behavior. The second design is further miniaturized by a CRLH TL. The simulated responses are compared with measured data showing good agreement. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 1155–1156, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24275 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) will require unprecedented orbit stability at the low-beta experiments, ATLAS and CMS. Because the effect of seismic noise might become a relevant source of luminosity loss, several studies have been conducted to characterise the actual ground motion in the LHC tunnel. In preparation for the official groundbreaking of the civil engineering work for the high luminosity upgrade, that started on 15 June 2018 in parallel to LHC beam operation, seismic sensors were installed to permanently monitor the ground stability close to these experiments. Compactor work and shaft excavation were expected to induce vibrations in the accelerator magnets that would cause orbit disturbance, beam loss and potentially premature beam dumps. This paper summarises the observations made on the LHC beams and uses this data to benchmark estimates of the impact of low frequency vibrations on the closed orbit at the main interaction points and collimators. The impact of ground motion on HL-LHC operation is then estimated using the expected operational scenario and the estimated mechanical stability of the new HL-LHC triplet magnets that is based on recent measurements of mechanical magnet transfer functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to evaluate the acute and subacute toxicity of the injectable alpha compound to Hsd Han: WIST rats. For the acute toxicity assessment, rats were inoculated with doses of 2 000, 1 000, 500, 100, or 10 mg/kg alpha compound intramuscularly. The results of histopathological analysis did not show apparent changes with the doses used. Notably, 2 animals died after treatment with the 2 000 mg/kg dose, and one animal died in the 1 000 mg/kg group. In the subacute toxicity study, neither male nor female rats inoculated with repeated doses of 8, 24, and 40 mg/kg alpha compound showed significant changes in percent body weight (P = 0.5930). Among the females, significant differences were observed for the serum biochemical parameters glucose and cholesterol in the group inoculated with 8 mg/kg compared to the control. The hematocrit values in the 8, 24 and 40 mg/kg groups and the platelet count in the 24 mg/kg group were significantly different (P = 0.0110) among the females compared to the control group. For the male rats, significant differences were found in erythrocyte count and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in the groups treated with 8 and 40 mg/kg. However, these values are normal according to the literature. The histopathological evaluations did not show apparent changes, so it is concluded that the alpha compound has a wide margin of safety after injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently it has been reported that prolactin (PRL) exerts a neuroprotective effect against excitotoxicity in hippocampus in the rat in vivo models. However, the exact mechanism by which PRL mediates this effect is not completely understood. The aim of our study was to assess whether prolactin exerts neuroprotection against excitotoxicity in an in vitro model using primary cell cultures of hippocampal neurons, and to determine whether this effect is mediated via the prolactin receptor (PRLR). Primary cell cultures of rat hippocampal neurons were used in all experiments, gene expression was evaluated by RT-qPCR, and protein expression was assessed by Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry. Cell viability was assessed by using the MTT method. The results demonstrated that PRL treatment of neurons from primary cultures did not modify cell viability, but that it exerted a neuroprotective effect, with cells treated with PRL showing a significant increase of viability after glutamate (Glu) – induced excitotoxicity as compared with neurons treated with Glu alone. Cultured neurons expressed mRNA for both PRL and its receptor (PRLR), and both PRL and PRLR expression levels changed after the excitotoxic insult. Interestingly, the PRLR protein was detected as two main isoforms of 100 and 40 kDa as compared with that expressed in hypothalamic cells, which was present only as a 30 kDa variant. On the other hand, PRL was not detected in neuron cultures, either by western blot or by immunohistochemistry. Neuroprotection induced by PRL was significantly blocked by specific oligonucleotides against PRLR, thus suggesting that the PRL role is mediated by its receptor expressed in these neurons. The overall results indicated that PRL induces neuroprotection in neurons from primary cell cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frosty pod rot ( FPR), caused by Moniliophthora roreri, is responsible for significant losses in Theobroma cacao. Due to limited options for FPR management, biological control methods using Trichoderma are being studied. Combinations of three formulations and two Trichoderma isolates were studied between May 2009 and April 2011. The formulations were 0·3 mL L−1 of the surfactant BreakThru 100 SL ( BT), a mixture of 1% w/v Sure-Jell (source of pectin) and 1% w/v potato dextrose broth ( PDB) ( PP), and an invert oil emulsion of 50% v/v corn oil/2·5% w/v lecithin/0·5% w/v PDB ( COP). Water and fungicide, copper oxychloride, were included as controls. Humidity chamber studies indicated that Trichoderma conidia germinated in all formulations if free water was maintained, while only the COP formulation supported germination under drying conditions. In the field, Trichoderma ovalisporum DIS-70a and Trichoderma harzianum DIS-219f were applied monthly in each of the three formulations at a rate of 180 mL per tree, 2·46 × 107 conidia per mL. The COP/ DIS-70a formulation provided the largest yield increase compared to all other treatments, including the fungicide control. Averaged over the 2 years, the COP formulation increased yield to 30·7% healthy pods compared to 9·7% healthy pods in the water control. Although the formulation/isolate combinations did not consistently increase endophytic colonization, the PP/ DIS-219f, COP/ DIS-219f and COP/ DIS-70a combinations increased total endophytic/epiphytic colonization by Trichoderma. The invert corn oil formulation of DIS-70a significantly enhanced yield of healthy cacao pods over 2 years providing a promising model for optimizing Trichoderma-based biocontrol strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Bran content had no effect on toxins stability, while little effect of sourdough was observed. [•] Ochratoxin A was stable during the breadmaking process. [•] Fermentation affected DON levels, release taking place under some conditions. [•] Release of DON-3-G occurred during the breadmaking process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations can be employed to gain a better understanding of hemodynamics in cerebral aneurysms and improve diagnosis and treatment. However, introduction of CFD techniques into clinical practice would require faster simulation times. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of computationally inexpensive steady flow simulations to approximate the aneurysm's wall shear stress (WSS) field. Two experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 compared for two cases the time-averaged (TA), peak systole (PS) and end diastole (ED) WSS field between steady and pulsatile flow simulations. The flow rate waveform imposed at the inlet was varied to account for variations in heart rate, pulsatility index, and TA flow rate. Consistently across all flow rate waveforms, steady flow simulations accurately approximated the TA, but not the PS and ED, WSS field. Following up on experiment 1, experiment 2 tested the result for the TA WSS field in a larger population of 20 cases covering a wide range of aneurysm volumes and shapes. Steady flow simulations approximated the space-averaged WSS with a mean error of 4.3%. WSS fields were locally compared by calculating the absolute error per node of the surface mesh. The coefficient of variation of the root-mean-square error over these nodes was on average 7.1%. In conclusion, steady flow simulations can accurately approximate the TA WSS field of an aneurysm. The fast computation time of 6min per simulation (on 64 processors) could help facilitate the introduction of CFD into clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Polledness has been shown to have autosomal Mendelian inheritance, with the polled locus being dominant to the horned locus. This trait was mapped to the BTA1 centromeric end in several breeds. One of the distinctive attributes of Creole cattle, such as the Argentinean Creole, is the presence of long, lyre‐shaped horns. However, polled native animals were reported before the introduction of modern selected European breeds. Here, we studied the origin of the polled mutation, either independent or introgressed, in a Creole line from the Creole cattle founder group at the IIACS‐INTA Leales Experimental Station (northwest Argentina). The study sample (65 animals: 26 horned and 39 polled) was genotyped using high‐density SNP microarrays and three previously reported genetic markers (P202ID, P80kbID and PG). A genome‐wide association study, selection signatures, linkage disequilibrium analysis and copy number variations were used to detect the responsible region and the segregating haplotypes/alleles. The interval mapped in the Leales herd (1.23–2.13 Mb) overlapped with the region previously reported in several European cattle breeds, suggesting that the same locus could be segregating in this population. The previously reported variants PF and PG were not detected, thus dismissing the Holstein‐Friesian and Nellore origins of the polled phenotype in this native breed. Conversely, the presence of the Celtic variant PC suggests an almost complete co‐segregation. The cluster analysis rejected the hypothesis of recent introgression, which is compatible with the historical record of polled Creole cattle in northwest Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dog fecal samples were collected at the crime scene and from the shoes of the suspect to see whether they could be linked. DNA was genotyped using a 145 bp fragment containing a 60 bp hotspot region of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region. Once the species origin was identified, sequences were aligned with the 23 canine haplotypes defined, showing that evidence and reference had 100% identity with haplotype 5. The frequency of haplotype 5 and the exclusion power of the reference population were 0.056 and 0.89, respectively. The forensic index showed that it was 20 times more likely that the evidence belonged to the reference dog than to some other unknown animal. The results support that the mtDNA hypervariable region 1 (HV1) is a good alternative for typing in trace or degraded casework samples when the STR panel fails, and demonstrate the utility of domestic animal samples to give additional information to solve human legal cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrombin effect increasing swelling-induced glutamate efflux was examined in cultured cortical astrocytes, cerebellar granule neurons (CGN), hippocampal and cortical neurons. Hypotonic glutamate efflux (monitored by d-[H]aspartate) from cortical astrocytes was increased by thrombin (5 U/mL) to reach 16 % of the cell pool in 5 min. Thrombin had lower effects in CGN, and marginal effects in hippocampal and cortical neurons. These differences were related to the magnitude of thrombin-evoked cytosolic calcium rise. The protease-activated receptor 1 is expressed in astrocytes and neurons. In astrocytes exposed to chemical ischemia (sodium iodoacetate plus sodium azide) d-[H]aspartate release showed a first phase (20-40 min) of initial low efflux which progressively increases; and a second phase (40-60 min) of larger efflux coincident with cell swelling. Efflux at the first phase was 52 % inhibited by the glutamate transporter blocker DL- threo-β-benzyloxyaspartic-acid (TBOA) and 11 % by the volume-sensitive pathway blocker phloretin. At the second phase, efflux was reduced 52 and 38 % respectively, by these blockers. In CGN d-[H]aspartate efflux increased sharply and then decreased. This efflux was 32 % reduced by calcium omission, 46 % by TBOA and 32 % by 4-[(2-butyl-6,7dichloro-2-cyclopentyl-2,3-dihydro-1oxo-1 H-inden-5-yl)oxy] butanoic-acid. Thrombin enhanced this release by 32 %. Ischemic treatment increased astrocyte mortality from 4 % in controls to 39 and 61 % in ischemia and ischemia plus thrombin, respectively. Cell death was prevented by phloretin. CGN viability was unaffected by the treatment. These results suggest that coincidence of swelling and thrombin during ischemia elevates extracellular glutamate prominently from astrocyte efflux, which may endanger neurons in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. The host species used by a herbivorous insect may impose different selective pressures promoting host race formation, yet the presence of plasticity can potentially constrain host race formation. 2. The goal of this study is to determine if there is phenotypic plasticity in life history traits of Brevicoryne brassicae in response to host and nutritional quality of two host species, Brassica oleraceae and Brassica campestris, and to what extent there are genetic differences among genotypes in plasticity. 3. Plants of B. oleraceae and B. campestris were fertilised with three different nitrogen doses (with nutritive solutions of 50, 200 and 400 ppm of soluble nitrogen) to produce plants with different nutritional qualities. Eight clones of B. brassicae were reared on those plants, and days to reproduction (DTR), number of nymphs, and fitness ( rm) were recorded. 4. A significant genotype × host interaction was detected in days to reproduction. Genotype × nitrogen interaction (plasticity) was detected in the number of nymphs when aphids were raised on B. campestris. Aphids showed plasticity in DTR and marginal plasticity in rm in reaction to the varying nitrogen content of B. oleraceae. 5. The phenotypic plasticity to fine-scale variation of host (nutritional quality) documented here may be an important source of phenotypic variation and may potentially constrain host race formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study in Swiss3T3 fibroblasts examines the effect of thrombin on hyposmolarity-induced osmolyte fluxes and RVD, and the contribution of the src/EGFR pathway. Thrombin (5 U/ml) added to a 30% hyposmotic medium markedly increased hyposmotic 3H-taurine efflux (285%), accelerated the volume-sensitive Cl− current ( $$ {\text{ICI}}^{ - }_{{{\text{swell}}}} $$ ) and increased RVD rate. These effects were reduced (50–65%) by preventing the thrombin-induced intracellular Ca2+ [Ca2+]i rise with EGTA-AM, or with the phospholipase C (PLC) blocker U73122. Ca2+calmodulin (CaM) and calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII) also participate in this Ca2+-dependent pathway. Thrombin plus hyposmolarity increased src and EGFR phosphorylation, whose blockade by PP2 and AG1478, decreased by 30–50%, respectively, the thrombin effects on hyposmotic taurine efflux, $$ {\text{ICI}}^{ - }_{{{\text{swell}}}} $$ and RVD. Ca2+- and src/EGFR-mediated pathways operate independently as shown by (1) the persistence of src and EGFR activation when [Ca2+]i rise is prevented and (2) the additive effect on taurine efflux, $$ {\text{ICI}}^{ - }_{{{\text{swell}}}} $$ or RVD by simultaneous inhibition of the two pathways, which essentially suppressed these events. PLC–Ca2+- and src/EGFR-signaling pathways operate in the hyposmotic condition and because thrombin per se failed to increase taurine efflux and $$ {\text{ICI}}^{ - }_{{{\text{swell}}}} $$ under isosmotic condition it seems that it is merely amplifying these previously activated mechanisms. The study shows that thrombin potentiates hyposmolarity-induced osmolyte fluxes and RVD by increasing src/EGFR-dependent signaling, in addition to the Ca2+-dependent pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood samples were collected by punction of the coxal vein from 18 and 20 Charolais and Beefmaster cows, respectively, in the four seasons. The cows were kept in rotational grazing of Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) in northeastern Mexico to assess the effect of seasonal changes on their serum concentrations of glucose, ureic nitrogen, phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), insulin and triiodothyronine (T3). Besides, their liveweight (LW) and body condition (BC) were assessed. The serum levels of glucose and ureic nitrogen were affected (P < 0.01) independently by both the season and the breed. The lowest (P < 0.01) values of glucose and ureic nitrogen were observed during the summer. The minimum content of glucose was not lower than that reported as normal (45 mg/dL), but, in the case of the ureic nitrogen, the lowest contents during the spring (6.4) and summer (5.7) were lower than the normal (10.3 mg/dL). The lowest (P < 0.05) values of Ca and P were recorded during the spring, when the concentration of Ca (8.5 mg/dL) was lower that the recommended value (9.0 mg/dL). The serum metabolites glucose and ureic nitrogen were different (P < 0.01) between the breed Charolais and Beefmaster, and were of 53 and 10.2 versus 68 and 8.7 mg/dL, respectively. The serum insulin concentration was lower in the summer (0.5 mg/dL) and the T3 was modified (P < 0.05) parallel to LW, according to the breed and the season. The body condition was changed according to season, although 90 % of the animals kept their body condition above 5. The blood metabolic profile in this research may represent a useful tool to establish differential needs of supplementation for the cattle grazing on Buffel grass throughout the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se recolectaron muestras de sangre por punción de la vena coccígea de 18 y 20 vacas Charolais y Beefmaster, respectivamente, en las cuatro estaciones del año. Las vacas se mantuvieron en pastoreo rotacional en praderas de zacate Buffel (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) en el Noreste de México para evaluar el efecto de los cambios estacionales en las concentraciones séricas de glucosa, nitrógeno ureico, fósforo (P), calcio (Ca), insulina y triyodotironina (T3 ). Además, se evaluó el peso vivo (PV) y la condición corporal (CC). Los niveles séricos de glucosa y nitrógeno ureico fueron influidos (P < 0.01) de manera independiente tanto por la estación del año como por la raza. Los menores valores (P < 0.01) de glucosa y nitrógeno ureico se observaron durante el verano. El tenor mínimo de glucosa no fue menor al reportado como normal (45 mg/dL), pero en el caso del nitrógeno ureico, los contenidos más bajos durante la primavera (6.4) y el verano (5.7) fueron menores al normal (10.3 mg/dL). Los niveles más bajos (P < 0.05) de Ca y P se registraron durante la primavera, cuando la concentración de Ca (8.5 mg/dL) fue menor al valor recomendado (9.0 mg/dL). Los metabolitos séricos glucosa y nitrógeno ureico fueron diferentes (P < 0.01) entre las raza Charolais y Beefmaster, y fueron de 53 y 10.2 versus 68 y 8.7 mg/dL, respectivamente. La concentración de insulina sérica fue más baja en el verano (0.5 mg/dL ) y la T3 se modificó (P < 0.05), en forma paralela al PV, de acuerdo con la raza y la estación del año. La CC se cambió dependiendo de la estación del año, aunque 90 % de los animales mantuvieron la CC mayor de 5. El perfil metabólico sanguíneo considerado en esta investigación puede representar una herramienta útil para establecer necesidades diferenciales de suplementación para ganado en pastoreo de zacate Buffel a través del año. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to assess the substitution of monocalcium phosphate by the enzyme phytase in pig diets through productive performance and fecal excretion, two experiments were conducted (1 and 2) with pigs of 66 and 51 kg of initial liveweight, respectively. In both, analyses of variance were carried out according to completely random design with three treatments and five repetitions. The treatments in experiment 1 consisted of three diets: basal diet of sorghum-soybean meal + 9.4 g of monocalcium phosphate/kg (0.52 % P), basal diet + 750 U of phytase/kg (0.32 % P), and basal diet (0.32 % P). For the experiment 2, three diets were also used: basal diet of sorghum-soybean meal + 10.5 g of monocalcium phosphate/kg (0.56 %), basal diet + 750 U of phytase/kg + 3.5 g of monocalcium phosphate/kg (0.42 % P), and basal diet + 750 U of phytase/kg (0.35 % P). No differences were found for feed intake and feed conversion. In Experiment 1, daily liveweight gain was reduced (P < 0.05) in 99 g/d for the treatment of basal diet without phytase, compared with the treatment of basal diet and monocalcium phosphate; however, it did not differ between the treatment with basal diet and monocalcium phosphate (989 g/d) and basal diet with phytase (943 g/d). In the experiment 2, no differences were observed between treatments for daily liveweight gain (880, 911 and 856 g/d, respectively). In both experiments, by substituting totally the monocalcium phosphate by the phytase evaluated, the phosphorus excretion in the feces was reduced (P < 0.05) in 31 and 50 %, respectively. In regards to the economic benefit, there were no differences between diets. It is concluded that phytase reduced the use of monocalcium phosphate in diets of pigs between 51 and 99 kg of liveweight, without affecting the productive performance and with a positive environmental effect by reducing the fecal excretion of P. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Para evaluar la sustitución de fosfato monocálcico por una enzima fitasa en dietas para cerdos, mediante indicadores de comportamiento productivo y excreción fecal, se realizaron dos experimentos (1 y 2) con cerdos de 66 y 51 kg de peso vivo inicial, respectivamente. En ambos se realizó análisis de varianza, según diseño completamente aleatorizado, con tres tratamientos y cinco repeticiones. Los tratamientos en el experimento 1 consistieron en tres dietas: dieta basal de sorgo-harina de soya + 9.4 g de fosfato monocálcico/kg (0.52 % de P), dieta basal + 750 unidades U de fitasa/kg (0.32 % P) y dieta basal (0.32 % P). Para el experimento 2 también se utilizaron tres: dieta basal de sorgo-harina de soya + 10.5 g de fosfato monocálcico/ kg (0.56 % P), dieta basal + 750 U de fitasa/kg + 3.5 g de fosfato monocálcico/kg (0.42 % P) y dieta basal + 750 U de fitasa/kg (0.35 % P). No se hallaron diferencias para el consumo de alimento y conversión alimentaria. En el experimento 1 la ganancia diaria de peso vivo se redujo (P < 0.05) con el tratamiento de la dieta basal sin fitasa en 99 g/d, con respecto al tratamiento de la dieta basal y fosfato monocálcico; sin embargo ésta no difirió entre los tratamientos con dieta basal y fosfato monocálcico (989 g/d) y dieta basal con fitasa (943 g/d). En el 2 no hubo diferencias entre tratamientos para la ganancia diaria de peso vivo (880, 911 y 856 g/d, respectivamente). En ambos experimentos, al sustituir totalmente el fosfato monocálcico por la fitasa evaluada, la excreción de fósforo en heces se redujo (P < 0.05) en 31 y 50 %, respectivamente. Con respecto al beneficio económico, no hubo diferencias entre las dietas. Se concluye que la fitasa redujo el uso del fosfato monocálcico en las dietas para cerdos entre 51 y 99 kg de peso vivo, sin disminuir el comportamiento productivo y con un efecto ambiental positivo, al reducir la excreción fecal de P. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increase in extracellular KCl ([KCl]o) occurs under various pathological conditions in the retina, leading to retinal swelling and possible neuronal damage. The mechanisms of this KClo-induced retinal swelling were investigated in the present study, with emphasis on the Cl- transport mechanisms. Increasing [KCl]o (from 5 to 70 mM) led to concentration-dependent swelling in chicken retinas. The curve relating the degree of swelling to [KCl]o was biphasic, with one component from 5 to 35 mM [KCl]o and another from 35 to 100 mM. As Cl- omission prevented swelling in all conditions, the effect of cotransporter or Cl- channel blockers was examined to investigate the mechanisms of Cl- influx. The cotransporter blockers bumetanide and DIOA reduced swelling by 68% and 76%, respectively at [KCl]o 25 mM (K25), and by 14-17% at [KCl]o 54 mM (K54). The Cl- channel blockers NPPB and niflumic acid did not affect swelling at K25 but reduced it by 90-95% at K54 (NPPB IC50 60.7 µM). Furosemide showed an atypical effect, decreasing swelling by 14% at K25 and by 95% at K54 (IC50 173.9 µM). Na+ omission decreased swelling at K25 but not at K54. These results suggest the contribution of cotransporters to Cl- influx at K25 and of Cl- channels at K54. At K25, swelling was found in the ganglion cell layer and in the lower half of the inner nuclear layer. With K54, swelling occurred in all inner retinal layers. The ganglion cell layer swelling was due to both Müller cell end-foot and ganglion cell soma swelling. K54 also induced ganglion cell damage as shown by disorganized, pyknotic and refringent nuclei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volume changes and whole cell ionic currents activated by gradual osmolarity reductions (GOR) of 1.8 mosM/min were characterized in C6 glioma cells. Cells swell less in GOR than after sudden osmolarity reductions (SOR), the extent of swelling being partly Ca2+ dependent. In nominally Ca2+-free conditions, GOR activated predominantly whole cell outward currents. Cells depolarized from the initial -79 mV to a steady state of -54 mV reached at 18% osmolarity reduction [hyposmolarity of -18% (H-18%)]. Recordings of Cl- and K+ currents showed activation at H-3% of an outwardly rectifying Cl- current, with conductance of 1.6 nS, sensitive to niflumic acid and 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid, followed at H-18% by an outwardly rectifying K+ current with conductance of 4.1 nS, inhibited by clofilium but insensitive to the typical K+ channel blockers. With 200 nM Ca2+ in the patch pipette, whole cell currents activated at H-3% and at H-13% cells depolarized from -77 to -63 mV. A K+ current activated at H-1%, showing a rapid increase in conductance, suppressed by charybdotoxin and insensitive to clofilium. These results show the operation of two different K+ channels in response to GOR in the same cell type, activated by Ca2+ and osmolarity and with different osmolarity activation thresholds. Taurine and glutamate efflux, monitored by labeled tracers, showed delayed osmolarity thresholds of H-39 and H-33%, respectively. This observation clearly separates the Cl- and amino acid osmosensitive pathways. The delayed amino acid efflux may contribute to counteract swelling at more stringent osmolarity reductions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Pioglitazone and glimepiride improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by different mechanisms. Pioglitazone is a thiazolidinedione that reduces insulin resistance, and glimepiride is a sulfonylurea insulin secretagogue. OBJECTIVE: The goals of this study were to compare changes in measures of glycemic control and insulin sensitivity in Mexican patients with type 2 diabetes who received pioglitazone or glimepiride for 1 year. METHODS: This was a multicenter, 52-week, double-blind, parallel-group trial. Patients were randomized to receive monotherapy with either glimepiride (2 mg QD initially) or pioglitazone (15 mg QD initially). Doses were titrated (maximal doses: pioglitazone 45 mg, glimepiride 8 mg) to achieve glycemic targets (fasting blood glucose < or =7 mmol/L and 1-hour postprandial blood glucose < or =10 mmol/L). Insulin sensitivity (primary end point) was evaluated in terms of the Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Sensitivity (HOMA-S), the Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI), and fasting serum insulin (FSI) concentrations. Glycemic control was evaluated in terms of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) values and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) concentrations. Patients were encouraged to maintain their individual diet and exercise regimens throughout the study. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-four patients (125 women, 119 men; all but 1 Hispanic) were randomized to receive pioglitazone (n = 121) or glimepiride (n = 123). In the intent-to-treat sample, pioglitazone and glimepirede produced comparable reductions in HbA(1c) from baseline to the end of the study (-0.78% and -0.68%, respectively). The pioglitazone group had significantly higher HbA(1c) values compared with the glimepiride group after 12 weeks of therapy (8.66% vs 7.80%; P = 0.007) but had significantly lower values after 52 weeks (7.46% vs 7.77%; P = 0.027). Pioglitazone significantly reduced FPG compared with glimepiride (-0.6 vs 0.6 mmol/L; P = 0.01). Pioglitazone therapy was associated with significant increases in insulin sensitivity (reduced insulin resistance), whereas glimepiride had no effect. HOMA-S values changed 18.0% for pioglitazone and -7.9% for glimepiride (P < 0.001), QUICKI values changed a respective 0.013 and -0.007 (P < 0.001), and FSI values were -21.1 and 15.1 pmol/L (P< 0.001). Both drugs were well tolerated, with pioglitazone associated with more peripheral edema (number of treatment-emergent cases: 35/121[28.9%] vs 17/123 [13.8%]; P = 0.005) and fewer hypoglycemic episodes (19 [15.7%] vs 38 [30.9%]; P = 0.024). The incidence of weight gain was not significantly different between treatment groups. Conclusions: These data suggest that long-term treatment with pioglitazone enhances insulin sensitivity relative to glimepiride in Mexican patients with type 2 diabetes and that pioglitazone may have a more sustained antihyperglycemic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultured cerebellar granule neurons exposed to gradual reductions in osmolarity (- 1.8 mOsm/min) maintained constant volume up to - 50% external osmolarity (π[sub o]), showing the occurrence of isovolumetric regulation (IVR). Amino acids, Cl[sup -], and K[sup +] contributed at different phases of IVR, with early efflux threshold for [[sup 3]H]taurine, d-[[sup 3]H]aspartate (as marker for glutamate) of π[sub o] - 2% and - 19%, respectively, and more delayed thresholds of - 30% for [[sup 3]H]glycine and - 25% and - 29%, respectively, for Cl[sup -] ([sup 125]I) and K[sup +] ([sup 86]Rb). Taurine seems preferentially involved in IVR, showing the lowest threshold, the highest efflux rate (five-fold over other amino acids) and the largest cell content decrease. Taurine and Cl[sup -] efflux were abolished by niflumic acid and [sup 86]Rb by 15 mm Ba[sup 2+]. Niflumic acid essentially prevented IVR in all ranges of π[sub o]. Cl[sup -]-free medium impaired IVR when π[sub o] decreased to - 24% and Ba[sup 2+] blocked it only at a late phase of - 30% π[sub o]. These results indicate that in cerebellar granule neurons: (i) IVR is an active process of volume regulation accomplished by efflux of intracellular osmolytes; (ii) the volume regulation operating at small changes of π[sub o] is fully accounted for by mechanisms sensitive to niflumic acid, with contributions of both Cl[sup -] and amino acids, particularly taurine; (iii) Cl[sup -] contribution to IVR is delayed with respect to other niflumic acid-sensitive osmolyte fluxes (osmolarity threshold of - 25% π[sub o]); and (iv), K[sup +] fluxes do not contribute to IVR until a late phase (< - 30% π[sub o]). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Temperature dependence of the μ transfer rate from μ p to oxygen is measured. • A strong monotonic rise by a factor three of the rate is observed between 104-300 K. • This effect will be exploited to measure the hyperfine splitting of the μ p 1S state. • Experiment took place at the RIKEN muon facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. • Fast scintillator counters based on LaBr3 crystals read by photomultipliers are used. We report the first measurement of the temperature dependence of muon transfer rate from muonic hydrogen atoms to oxygen between 100 and 300 K. Data were obtained from the X-ray spectra of delayed events in a gaseous target, made of a H 2 /O 2 mixture, exposed to a muon beam. This work sets constraints on theoretical models of muon transfer and is of fundamental importance for the measurement of the hyperfine splitting of muonic hydrogen ground state as proposed by the FAMU collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]