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A new family of IAN‐type amine N‐oxides is presented as catalysts for the allylation and crotylation of aromatic aldehydes with allyltrichlorosilanes. These reaction exhibit a remarkably positive nonlinear effect which enables utilization of the catalysts in subenantiopure form. As enantiopure catalysts are not required under this regime, the synthesis of these N‐oxides is straightforward through catalytic asymmetric synthesis, avoiding lenghty synthesis from the chiral pool or resolution of diastereoisomers. Studies of the corresponding crotylation with Z‐ and E‐crotylsilanes suggest that the reaction proceeds through a chair‐like transition state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the efficacy of high‐volume spraying with the adulticide α‐cypermethrin alone and in combination with the larvicide diflubenzuron on the density of sand flies in gardens of three detached households in periurban areas in southeast Spain. Treatments were applied four times between June and August 2016, and four nearby sites, two households and two non‐urbanized sites, were untreated controls. The number of sand flies collected between May and October 2016 using sticky interception and light attraction traps, was 4446 specimens. Species identified morphologically included Sergentomyia minuta (n = 2101; 48%), Phlebotomus perniciosus (n = 1922; 44%), Phlebotomus papatasi (n = 173; 4%), Phlebotomus sergenti (n = 161; 4%) and Phlebotomus ariasi (n = 36; 1%). Sand flies were detected in both treated and untreated sites. The proportion of positive sticky traps and the median (range) density of sand flies in positive traps were 61% traps and 7 (2–172) sand flies/m2/day in untreated sites, and 43% traps and 4 (1–56) sand flies/m2/day in treated sites (p < 0.05). Similarly, for light traps, it was 96% traps and 30 (3–168) flies/trap/day, and 83% traps and 3 (1–12) sand flies/trap/day, respectively (p < 0.05). However, sand fly density followed a comparable seasonal pattern in untreated and treated sites and did not consistently decrease following insecticide applications. These results were confirmed with mixed negative binomial modelling of sand fly density adjusted for time since application, month, environmental setting and site. The limited efficacy of the treatments, added to their cost, the impact of insecticides on non‐target organisms and human health, and the risk of development of insecticide resistance, should dissuade similar outdoor applications to control sand fly vector populations in residential areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface diffusion and intermixing of Ge ad‐atoms over Si (001) 2 × 1 substrates using classical molecular dynamics (CMD) simulations are characterized here. Several interatomic potentials, parametrizations, and parameter mixing rules are contemplated. A novel simulation scheme is devised to characterize the effective frequency of surface diffusion and intermixing events overcoming the inherent difficulties related to their interdependency in heteroepitaxial systems. The effective energy barriers of these events encompass different atomistic mechanisms weighted by their occurrence probabilities. The overall description of surface diffusion and intermixing based on Stillinger–Weber (SW) potential is in agreement with ab initio calculations and experimental observations, though some atomistic details differ. This study is extended to Si(001) substrates with stressed Ge monolayers grown on top. It is found that Ge ad‐atom dynamics is accelerated with respect to the case of the pure Si substrate and that diffusion across dimer rows is mainly mediated by the atomic exchange of the Ge ad‐atom with a Ge atom on the surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exchange of phosphorus (P) and carbon (C) between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is a major determinant of their mutualistic symbiosis. We explored the C dynamics in tomato (Solanum lycorpersicum) inoculated or not with Rhizophagus irregularis to study their growth response under different NaH2PO4 concentrations (Null P, 0 mM; Low P, 0.065 mM; High P, 1.3 mM). The percentage of AMF colonization was similar in plants under Null and Low P, but severely reduced under High P. However, the AMF mass biomarker 16:1ω5 revealed higher fungal accumulation in inoculated roots under Low P, while more AMF spores were produced in the Null P. Under High P, AMF biomass and spores were strongly reduced. Plant growth response to mycorrhiza was negative under Null P, showing reduction in height, biovolume index, and source leaf (SL) area. Under Low P, inoculated plants showed a positive response (e.g., increased SL area), while inoculated plants under High P were similar to non‐inoculated plants. AMF promoted the accumulation of soluble sugars in the SL under all fertilization levels, whereas the soluble sugar level decreased in roots under Low P in inoculated plants. Transcriptional upregulation of SlLIN6 and SlSUS1, genes related to carbohydrate metabolism, was observed in inoculated roots under Null P and Low P, respectively. We conclude that P‐limiting conditions that increase AMF colonization stimulate plant growth due to an increase in the source and sink strength. Our results suggest that C partitioning and allocation to different catabolic pathways in the host are influenced by AMF performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of our study was to evaluate HEV antibody kinetics in HIV/HCV‐coinfected patients with cirrhosis. A longitudinal retrospective study was designed. Patients were followed up every 6 months; anti‐HEV IgG and IgM antibodies levels and HEV‐RNA by qPCR were analysed. The prevalence and incidence of every HEV infection marker were calculated. The kinetics of anti‐HEV IgG and IgM during the follow‐up were evaluated. Seventy‐five patients comprised the study population. The seroprevalence observed was 17.3%. None showed IgM antibodies or HEV‐RNA at baseline. None showed detectable HEV viral load during the study period. After a median follow‐up of 5.1 years, two of 62 seronegative patients (3.2%) seroconverted to IgG antibody. The incidence for IgM was 2.7%. Of the 13 patients with IgG seropositivity at baseline, five (38.5%) seroreverted. Meanwhile, of the two patients who exhibited IgM positivity during the study, one (50%) showed intermittent positivity. We found that HEV seropositivity is common in HIV/HCV‐coinfected cirrhotic patients. A remarkable rate of IgG seroreversions and IgM intermittence was found, limiting the use of antibodies for the diagnosis of HEV infection in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the spatial risk of exposure to Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) infection of healthy blood donors in an enzootic region with a predicted risk gradient based on a virus–animal interaction risk model. We designed a cross‐sectional study to test if the exposure pattern of the human population to CCHFV spatially matches the predicted risk. We randomly selected 1384 donors from different risk gradients and analyzed their sera searching for CCHFV antibodies. None of the selected blood donors showed exposure to CCHFV. This study shows that exposure risk spatial patterns, as predicted from animal‐tick‐virus models, does not necessarily match the pattern of human‐infected tick interactions leading to CCHFV infection and CCHF cases, at least in a region of predicted moderate infection risk. The findings suggest that future studies should bear the potential drivers of tick‐human encounter rates into account to more accurately predict risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enteropathogenic parasites can infect a wide range of mammals, including humans, supposing an important zoonotic risk. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging foodborne pathogen of increasing public health relevance, affecting both humans and animal populations. Because both microorganisms share faecal‐oral transmission route they may constitute an excellent model to evaluate the interplay between them. Thus, we aim to evaluate the viral‐parasite interactions at the enteric interface in swine. We included pigs of two different breeds farming in South Spain under different production systems. We compared the HEV prevalence by the presence of Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., Balantioides coli, Blastocystis sp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in faecal samples. The HEV prevalence was 13.1 (62 out 475, 95% CI: 10.2–16.4). Those pigs infected with Cryptosporidium spp. showed a higher prevalence of HEV (30.8 vs. 12%; p =.012). In the same way, animals bearing E. bieneusi seem to have a higher rate of HEV infection (24.2 vs. 12.2%; p =.06). According to their location in the gut, animals bearing intracellular enteroparasites showed a higher HEV prevalence than those uninfected (29.6 vs. 12.7%; p =.038), meanwhile those carrying extracellular enteroparasites had a lower likelihood to be infected by HEV than those uninfected (12.1 vs. 23.1%; p =.071). Those animals bearing both types of enteroparasites showed a similar prevalence of HEV infection than those exhibiting negative for both (20.8 vs. 26.1%; p =.763). Our study provides evidence that intracellular and extracellular enteroparasites modulate the susceptibility to HEV infection in pigs. Meanwhile, the presence of extracellular enteroparasites shows a protective effect on the risk of HEV acquisition in swine, whereas intracellular enteroparasites seems to have the opposite effect, favouring the HEV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous protist species are shared between humans and pigs. Among those, Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp. and Balantioides coli have a clear public and animal health significance. For others such as Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Blastocystis sp., their impact on animal health has not been fully established. Little information is currently available on the molecular diversity of these protists in swine populations. To fill this gap, we molecularly assessed G. duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., B. coli, Blastocystis sp. and E. bieneusi in faecal samples from Iberian and Large White pigs raised under different (intensive and/or extensive) management systems in southern Spain. A total of 151 extensively raised Iberian pigs, 140 intensively raised Iberian pigs, and 184 intensively raised Large White pigs were investigated. Blastocystis sp. was the agent most prevalently found (47.8%), followed by B. coli (45.5%), G. duodenalis (10.7%), E. bieneusi (6.9%), and Cryptosporidium spp. (5.5%). Blastocystis sp. was significantly less prevalent in intensively raised Iberian pigs (22.9%) than in their extensively raised counterparts (51.0%) or in intensively raised Large White pigs (64.1%). A significantly higher prevalence was found for G. duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., and E. bieneusi in Large White pigs than Iberian pigs. Balantioides coli was similarly distributed (40.0–51.1%) in all three investigated swine populations. Sequence analyses revealed the presence of G. duodenalis assemblage E, two Cryptosporidium species (Cryptosporidium scrofarum and Cryptosporidium suis), B. coli (genotypes A and B), Blastocystis sp. (ST1, ST3, and ST5), and E. bieneusi (EbpA, EbpC, EbpD, O, and a novel genotype named PigSpEb2). Novel genotype PigSpEb2 was found alone or in combination with EbpA. Data suggest a widespread exposure to protist enteroparasites in domestic pig populations irrespectively of breed and raising management system. Many of the species/genotypes identified have a zoonotic potential and might represent a public health concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autochthonous cases of hepatitis E (HE) associated with zoonotic genotypes HEV‐3 and HEV‐4 have significantly increased in industrialized countries over the last decade. Suidae are generally recognized as the main reservoirs of these genotypes. Susceptibility to HE virus (HEV) infection and zoonotic potential have also been confirmed in other species, including sheep and goat. However, the information about their role in the epidemiology of HEV remains very scarce. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence, spatial distribution and risk factors associated with HEV exposure in sheep and goats in southern Spain, the country with the highest census of small domestic ruminants in the European Union. Blood samples from 240 sheep and 240 goats were collected between 2015 and 2017. Sera were analysed in parallel using a commercial double‐antigen ELISA and real‐time PCR. A total of 38 (7.9%; 95%CI: 5.5–10.3) out of 480 sampled animals showed anti‐HEV antibodies. By species, the seroprevalences found in sheep and goats were 2.1% (5/240; 95%CI: 0.3–3.9) and 13.8% (33/240; 95%CI: 9.4–18.1) respectively. Anti‐HEV antibodies were found on 19 (59.4%; 95%CI: 42.4–76.4) of the 32 sampled farms. The GEE model showed that species (goat) and number of small ruminants in the farm (≤348 animals and ≥538 animals) were risk factors potentially associated with HEV exposure in small ruminants in the study area. HEV RNA was not detected in any of the 480 (0.0%; 95%CI: 0.0–0.8) tested animals. Our results confirm that sheep and goats are naturally, but not equally exposed to HEV and indicate the widespread spatial distribution of HEV among small ruminant populations in southern Spain. Further studies are required to elucidate the role of sheep and goat in the epidemiology of HEV and their potential implications for public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen that is currently recognized as one of the major causes of acute human hepatitis worldwide. In Europe, the increasing number of hepatitis E cases is mainly associated with the consumption of animal food products or contact with infected animals. Dogs and cats have been suggested as a zoonotic source of HEV infection. The aim of this study was to assess Orthohepevirus circulation, including HEV‐A, HEV‐B and HEV‐C species, in sympatric urban cats and dogs in southern Spain. Between 2017 and 2020, blood samples were collected from 144 stray cats and 152 dogs, both strays and pets. The presence of antibodies against HEV were tested using a double‐antigen sandwich ELISA and seropositive samples were further analysed by western blot. A RT‐PCR was performed to detect RNA of Orthohepevirus species (HEV‐A, HEV‐B and HEV‐C). A total of 19 (6.4%; 95%CI: 3.6‐9.2) of the 296 animals tested showed anti‐HEV antibodies by ELISA. Seropositivity was significantly higher in dogs (9.9%; 15/152; 95%CI: 5.1‐14.6) than in cats (2.8%; 4/144; 95%CI: 0.1‐5.5). Ten of the 18 ELISA‐positive animals that could be further analysed by western blot, reacted against HEV‐3 and/or HEV‐C1 antigens, which suggest circulation of both genotypes in urban cats and dogs in the study area. However, HEV‐A, HEV‐B and HEV‐C RNA were not detected in any of the tested sera. This is the first study to assess HEV circulation in both stray cats and dogs in Europe. Our results provide evidence of HEV exposure in sympatric urban cat and dog populations in southern Spain. Further studies are needed to determine the role of these species in the epidemiology of HEV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Ramsay scale is the most widely used scale during pediatric procedures although it has not been formally validated. Objective: To validate the Ramsay scale during invasive procedures under sedation in pediatrics. Methods: A prospective analytic study was conducted in two hospitals. All patients ≥6 months that were undergoing invasive procedures under sedation were enrolled. All were recorded, and these videos were edited and randomized. 150 videos were scored by four observers (a pediatrician, a pediatric intensive care unit nurse, an anesthetist, and an operating room nurse). All videos were scored with the Ramsay scale and University of Michigan Sedation Scale. Observers were blinded to drug administration. Construct validity was measured through Wilcoxon test paired samples after administration of sedatives. Criterion validity, intra‐observer reliability, and interobserver correlation were evaluated by comparing the scores of the scales using Spearman's correlation coefficient. Interobserver agreement was measured using the intraclass correlation coefficient. To assess test‐retest reliability, 50 videos were randomly selected and reevaluated. Results: Sixty‐five patients were included. Construct validity was demonstrated through changes in the Ramsay scale scoring after administration of sedatives (p <.0001). Regarding criterion validity, the Ramsay scale had a high correlation with the UMSS (ρ = 0.621). Intra‐observer agreement was ρ = 0.884. The Ramsay scale showed interobserver reliability with an intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.94 when comparing it with the University of Michigan Sedation Scale. Internal consistency was α = 0.91. Regarding applicability, in our study, it was applied in two hospitals in different areas by four professionals from distinct categories. Conclusions: The Ramsay scale is valid, reliable, and applicable to monitoring sedation for invasive procedures under deep sedation in pediatrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although studies on lupin protein isolate (LPI) have indicated the presence of a preventive effect on insulin resistance (IR) and lipid disturbances, their influence on established pathological traits has received little attention. Here, we evaluated the in vivo effects of LPI on IR and steatohepatitis as well as its influence on genes involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. We first induced IR and steatohepatitis in rats by maintaining them on a high‐fat diet for 5 weeks. Thereafter, we administered LPI to the rats daily for 3 weeks. LPI improved insulin sensitivity (AUC: 6,777 ± 232 vs. 4,971 ± 379, p <.05, pre‐ vs. post‐treatment values) and reduced glucose and triglyceride levels by one‐third. In addition, LPI‐treated rats exhibited attenuated steatohepatitis. At the molecular level, LPI treatment reduced liver Fasn gene expression substantially but increased Gys2 and Gsk3b levels. We concluded that the hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic activities of LPI may be caused by reduced liver lipogenesis and modulation of insulin sensitization mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐Cov‐2) has led to the elaboration of multiple studies to increase knowledge and understanding, hence, having the ability to accomplish an adequate and timely diagnosis and give an optimal treatment according to the patient's condition. The clinical manifestations of COVID‐19 pose a series of challenges both in understanding and delimiting the disease secondary to the SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. This is due to the fact that the main axis of this disease is the endothelial compromise and the production of a "cytokine storm," triggering multiple organ failure and death. Given that a complete understanding of its pathophysiology and clinical behavior has not yet been achieved, we wondered if coinfection with other respiratory viruses modifies its performance and outcomes described so far. A literature search was performed, obtaining 68 articles, of which 25 were analyzed. The analysis showed us that there is a high variety both in the types of associated infections and in the clinical behavior of patients and their outcomes. Therefore, we consider that the search for other infections should be performed exhaustively, especially in those cases that may be susceptible to treatment such as Influenza A, human immunodeficiency virus, or bacterial infections. As well as optimize the analysis of these cases and establish if there are characteristics that allow establishing the possibility of carrying an additional infection to that of SARS‐CoV‐2 and the implications for the management and prognosis of the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microsporidia is a phylum of obligate emergent intracellular protist‐like fungi pathogens that infect a broad range of hosts including vertebrates and invertebrates. Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most common cause of microsporidiosis in humans, affecting primarily immunosuppressed patients but also reported in immunocompetent individuals. Epidemiological information on the presence and molecular diversity of E. bieneusi in livestock and wildlife in Spain is limited. Therefore, the occurrence of this microsporidia was investigated in sympatric extensively reared Iberian pigs (n = 186) and free ranging wild boars (n = 142) in the province of Córdoba, Southern Spain. Forty‐two Iberian pigs (22.6%) and three wild boars (2.1%) were found E. bieneusi positive by PCR. In Iberian pigs, occurrence of E. bieneusi was significantly higher in sows than in fattening pigs (31.6% vs. 11.4%; p =.001). Five genotypes were identified in Iberian pigs, four previously reported (EbpA, PigEb4, O, Pig HN‐II) and a novel genotype (named PigSpEb1), while only two genotypes were identified in wild boars, EbpA and novel genotype PigSpEb1. All five genotypes identified belong to Group 1 suggesting zoonotic potential. This study constitutes the first report on the occurrence and molecular characterization of E. bieneusi in Iberian pigs and wild boars. The identification of two genotypes with zoonotic potential in sympatric Iberian pigs and wild boars suggests that E. bieneusi can be potentially transmitted between those two hosts, but also implies that they may act as natural sources of microsporidia infection to other hosts including humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the pressing issue of antibiotic resistance, there is a constant need for new antibiotics. However, the fact that traditional methods of drug discovery are expensive and time-consuming has discouraged the pharmaceutical industry, leaving the burden of discovery to research institutions. This is where quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) methods become a key tool in fighting multidrug-resistant bacteria, seeing as they provide useful information for the rational design of new active molecules at a minimal cost. A variety of linear and nonlinear statistical methods are used to develop these models based on the 2D or 3D representations of the molecules. QSAR models have proven to be effective in rapidly providing lead compound candidates against resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp., Bacillus subtilis, or Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Moreover, QSAR methods allow for a deeper analysis of a library of molecules, selecting those with not only the optimal activity, but also the most favorable pharmacokinetic and toxicological profiles. The information obtained from QSAR studies makes optimizing an existing drug simpler, which is a cost-effective approach to obtain new treatments against increasingly resistant bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the MD (marginal discrepancy) on the calcinable copings in abutments for cemented prostheses with three luting agents. Methods. Sixty-four analogs of CeraOne-type abutments (NACONIH code, Titanium Fix Implant Sytem SP, Brazil) were divided into four groups (n = 16). The copings were cast and placed on the CeraOne abutment analogs and cemented with eugenol-free zinc oxide (EfZO) (n = 16), with glass ionomer (GI) (n = 16), and with zinc phosphate (ZP) (n = 16), and as a control group, there were CeraOne plastic copings (NACOC code, Titanium Fix Implant Sytem SP, Brazil) (n = 16) which were not cemented with any material. After 24 hours, the MD of the four groups was measured. MD was evaluated using a stereoscopic microscope (Leica EZ4 W, Leica Microsystems, Germany) with an increase of ×100. MD was measured at four predetermined and equidistant sites with respect to the marginal line of the cast adaptation. The measurement was made from the distance between the free edge of the cast cylinder and the margin of preparation of the titanium abutment, with a level of statistical significance of p<0.05. Results. Of the three fixing agents, the ZP was found to have the highest MD (53.59 ± 14.21 μm); however, the lowest MD (41.72 ± 9.10 μm) was found in the GI group. These differences are statistically significant at p<0.001. Conclusions. In summary, according to our results, it was found that ZP cement showed the highest MD after cementation, followed by the glass ionomer, while EfZO showed the lowest MD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) represents a major health problem worldwide. As the course of HEV cases is often subclinical, asymptomatic infections could represent an important source of viral spread and infection via routes such as blood donations. Before universal screening for HEV in blood donations can be implemented, studies evaluating the incidence of infection are needed to establish the potential risk of viral transmission. This is a prospective longitudinal study that included blood donors recruited at the Hospital de Ciudad Real Transfusion Service between October 2017 and January 2018. Pools of eight donations were tested for HEV viremia by PCR. Positive pools were individually evaluated following the same procedure. Positive samples were tested for anti‐HEV IgG and IgM. Recipients of blood transfusions obtained from HEV‐positive donors were retrospectively evaluated. The prevalence of HEV was calculated. A total of 11 313 healthy donors were analysed during the study period. Four blood donations from four different donors were HEV RNA‐reactive. The prevalence of HEV infection was 0.035% (95% CI: 0.01%‐0.09%), which meant a ratio of one positive donation per 2828 donations. All donors were negative for anti‐HEV IgM at the time of the donation. Five patients received transfusions from HEV‐positive blood donations, none of them showed an increase in alanine aminotransferase levels after transfusion. In conclusion, our study found a high prevalence of HEV infection in blood donors from south‐central Spain. In view of the prevalence, Spanish blood banks should carefully consider including screening for HEV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis E (HE) is an important emerging disease in European countries. To analyse the role of equids as potential reservoirs for HE virus (HEV), we determined the prevalence of HEV infection in 861 equines from 464 herds in Spain. HEV RNA in serum was detected in 0.4% (3/692) of horses, 1.2% (1/86) of donkeys and 3.6% (3/83) of mules. Phylogenetic analysis identified the zoonotic genotype 3 as being closely related to viral human and swine strains. In this first report on HEV in equids in Europe, we confirm the susceptibility of horses, donkeys and mules to HEV infection. The low prevalence detected indicates that equids may be considered spillover hosts rather than true reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research on well‐being and physical exercise point to the possibility of a placebo effect. This study analyzes the effect of expectancy manipulation on psychological (well‐being and self‐esteem) and physical (agility and cardiorespiratory fitness) outcomes after a seven‐week program of aerobic training. 114 undergraduate students (age M = 19.81, SD = 1.75; 86.1% women) were randomized into G1 – No Exercise (n = 13), G2 – Exercise only (n = 15), G3 – Exercise + Manipulation of expectations: No psychological effect (n = 17) and G4 – Exercise + Manipulation of expectations: Psychological effect (n = 21). Outcome measures were the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale, the Well‐Being subscale of the Subjective Exercise Experiences Scale, the Agility T‐test and the 20‐meter Shuttle Run Test. Paired t‐tests showed significant improvements from baseline in self‐esteem, agility, and cardiovascular fitness for the exercise groups. G4 also showed a significant improvement in well‐being. ANCOVA with adjustments for the baseline measures was used to test between‐group differences at the end of the program. The only significant differences at posttest were between G1 and the exercise groups. The data do not support a differential effect of elevated expectations of psychological benefits on the participants' self‐esteem or psychological well‐being after an aerobic training program. Future research should analyze whether reinforcing expectations more frequently throughout the program might show a more robust influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic liver disease (CLD) with a variety of causes is currently reported to be one of the main causes of death worldwide. Patients with CLD experience deteriorating liver function and fibrosis, progressing to cirrhosis, chronic hepatic decompensation (CHD), end-stage liver disease (ESLD), and death. Patients may develop acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), typically related to a precipitating event and associated with increased mortality. The objective of this review was to analyze the role of acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in patients with CLD, focusing on the impact of this infection on patient survival and prognosis in several world regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein isolates prepared by alkaline solubilization followed by isoelectric precipitation and freeze-drying from six varieties of Lupinus angustifolius (Haags Blaue, Sonate, Probor, Borlu, Boregine, and Boruta) grown in Mexico were evaluated for functional properties: nitrogen solubility, water-holding capacity (WHC), oil holding capacity (OHC), emulsion activity index (EAI), emulsion stability index (ESI), foaming capacity (FC), foam stability (FS), and gelling minimum concentration (GMC). The nitrogen solubility values, WHC, OHC, and FC did not show significant differences between the protein isolates. The solubility of the isolates was minimal at pH of 4.0 and 5.0 while the regions of maximum solubility were found at pH of 2.0 and 10.0. There were significant differences in EAI and ESI depending on the varieties used. The isolates of the Boregine and Borlu varieties showed the highest EAI with 29.3 and 28.3m2g-1, respectively, while the lowest index was recorded in the isolate obtained from the Sonate variety (24.6m2g-1). Like solubility, these indices also increased at both extremes of pH evaluated; both properties were minimal in the isoelectric pH range (4.0 to 5.0). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exascale computing systems are being built with thousands of nodes. The high number of components of these systems significantly increases the probability of failure. A key component for them is the interconnection network. If failures occur in the interconnection network, they may isolate a large fraction of the machine. For this reason, an efficient fault-tolerant mechanism is needed to keep the system interconnected, even in the presence of faults. A recently proposed topology for these large systems is the hybrid k-ary n-direct s-indirect family that provides optimal performance and connectivity at a reduced hardware cost. This paper presents a fault-tolerant routing methodology for the k-ary n-direct s-indirect topology that degrades performance gracefully in presence of faults and tolerates a large number of faults without disabling any healthy computing node. In order to tolerate network failures, the methodology uses a simple mechanism. For any source-destination pair, if necessary, packets are forwarded to the destination node through a set of intermediate nodes (without being ejected from the network) with the aim of circumventing faults. The evaluation results shows that the proposed methodology tolerates a large number of faults. For instance, it is able to tolerate more than 99.5% of fault combinations when there are 10 faults in a 3-D network with 1000 nodes using only 1 intermediate node and more than 99.98% if 2 intermediate nodes are used. Furthermore, the methodology offers a gracious performance degradation. As an example, performance degrades only by 1% for a 2-D network with 1024 nodes and 1% faulty links. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize (Zea mays L.) germplasm accessions in Mexico have been studied for grain yield and other traits. The cornhusk, or toto-moxtle, is more important than the grain for Mexican peasant farmers because it generates increased income. However, limited information is available on the level of phenotypic variation in cornhusk traits, and few studies have been performed on the potential of maize landraces for the production of cornhusk. This study assessed maize landraces from three regions in Mexico. These landraces (as well as checks) were evaluated at multiple locations using lattice designs. The measured variables included the per-plant grain yield, cornhusk length and width, ear coverage, and cornhusk, peduncle and ear weight. A cluster analysis of the data from the three regions grouped populations according to their region of origin. Morphological diversity within the cornhusk traits among maize landraces was found in the three regions, and landraces from Tehuacan had the greatest potential for cornhusk production. The measured cornhusk traits were superior in the maize landraces compared with those of the improved hybrids. The cornhusk weight, length and width, and ear coverage were the most effective traits for grouping according to population origin and discriminating among the populations. Thus, these traits are proposed as phenotypic selection criteria for identifying promising maize populations and initiating breeding programs for improved cornhusk production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two different approaches to highly symmetric macrocycles by reversible Nicholas reactions have been developed. The first sequence uses a bis[Co2(CO)6] complex derived from a double propargylic alcohol supporting two natural product moieties. The reactions with BF3 ·OEt2 and different benzene dimethanols yielded either (1:1) or (2:2) adducts, depending essentially on the nature of the tether joining both Co clusters. Alternatively, the Nicholas reactions of Co-complexed propargyl alcohol templates with one steroid and one monoterpene fragment as well as one aromatic terminus containing an alcohol moiety yielded the corresponding macrocycles derived from self-dimerization. Both routes to macrocycles are complementary and efficiently produce sophisticated natural-product-containing structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of wave-like phenomena, Fourier pseudospectral time-domain (PSTD) algorithms are some of the most efficient time-domain numerical methods for engineering applications. One important drawback of these methods is the so-called Gibbs phenomenon. This error can be avoided by using absorbing boundary conditions (ABC) at the end of the simulations. However, there is an important lack of ABC using a PSTD methods on a wave equation. In this paper, we present an ABC model based on a PSTD damped wave equation with an absorption parameter that depends on the position. Some examples of optimum variation profiles are studied analytically and numerically. Finally, the results of this model are also compared to another ABC model based on an hybrid formulation of the scalar perfectly matched layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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ABSTRACT Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a hypersensitivity pulmonary disease that affects both patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and those with asthma. HLA-DRB1 alleles have previously been associated with ABPA-CF susceptibility; however, HLA-DQB1 allele associations have not been clearly established. The aim of the present study was to investigate HLA class II associations in patients with ABPA-CF and determine their roles in susceptibility or protection. Patients with ABPA-CF, patients with CF without ABPA, patients with asthma without ABPA (AST), and healthy controls were included in this study. DNA was extracted by automatic extractor. HLA-DRB1 and -DQB1 genotyping was performed by the Luminex PCR-SSOP method (One Lambda, Canoga Park, CA, USA). Allele specific PCR-SSP was also performed by high-resolution analysis (One Lambda). Statistical analysis was performed with SSPS and Arlequin software. Both HLA-DRB1*5:01 and -DRB1*11:04 alleles occurred with greater frequency in patients with ABPA-CF than in those with AST and CF and control subjects, corroborating previously published data. On the other hand, analysis of haplotypes revealed that almost all patients with ABPA-CF lacking DRB1*15:01 or DRB1*11:04 carry either DRB1*04, DRB1*11:01, or DRB1*07:01 alleles. In the HLA-DQB1 region, the HLA-DQB1*06:02 allele occurred more frequently in patients with ABPA-CF than in those with AST and CF and healthy controls, whereas HLA-DQB1*02:01 occurred less frequently in patients with ABPA-CF. These data confirm that there is a correlation between HLA-DRB1*15:01, -DRB1*11:04, DRB1*11:01, -DRB1*04 and -DRB1 *07:01 alleles and ABPA-CF susceptibility and suggest that HLA-DQB1*02:01 is an ABPA-CF resistance allele. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Networks on-chip (NoCs) interconnect the components located inside a chip. In multicore chips, NoCs have a strong impact on the overall system performance. NoC bandwidth is limited by the critical path delay. Recent works show that the critical path delay is heavily affected by switch port buffer size. Therefore, by removing buffers, switch clock frequency can be increased. Recently, a new switching technique for NoCs called Blind Packet Switching (BPS) has been proposed, which is based on removing the switch port buffers. Since buffers consume a high percentage of switch power and area, BPS not only improves performance but also reduces power and area. In BPS, as there are no buffers at the switch ports, packets cannot be stopped and stored on them. If contention arises packets are dropped and later reinjected, negatively affecting performance. In order to prevent packet dropping, some techniques based on resource replication have been proposed. In this paper, we propose some alternative and complementary techniques that do not rely on resource replication. By using them, packet dropping is highly reduced. In particular, packet dropping is completely removed for a very wide network traffic range. Moreover, network throughput is increased and packet latency is reduced. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we discuss from an atomistic point of view some of the issues involved in the modeling of electrical characteristics evolution in silicon devices as a result of ion implantation and annealing processes in silicon. In particular, evolution of electrically active dose, sheet resistance and hole mobility has been investigated for high B concentration profiles in pre-amorphized Si. For this purpose, Hall measurements combined with atomistic kinetic Monte Carlo atomistic simulations have been performed. An apparent anomalous behavior has been observed for the evolution of the active dose and the sheet resistance, in contrast to opposite trend evolutions reported previously. Our results indicate that this anomalous behavior is due to large variations in hole mobility with active dopant concentration, much larger than that associated to the classical dependence of hole mobility with carrier concentration. Simulations suggest that hole mobility is significantly degraded by the presence of a large concentration of boron-interstitial clusters, indicating the existence of an additional scattering mechanism. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES To analyse the implications of DNA mismatch repair genes h MLH1 and h MSH2 in sporadic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS Specimens of tumour and healthy renal tissue were collected from 89 patients treated for sporadic RCC. Another 95 blood samples taken from individuals with no history of cancer were also analysed. After DNA extraction and PCR amplification, microsatellite instability (MSI) was determined using the Bethesda microsatellite panel, two exonic microsatellites of the TGFbRII and BAX genes, and the microsatellite D3S1611. The promoter methylation status of h MLH1 was investigated using the HpaII and MspI restriction enzymes. In addition, a sequencing analysis of complete coding region of h MLH1 and h MSH2 genes was performed . RESULTS MSI and promoter hypermethylation of h MLH1 were not detected. Interestingly, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) was common among patients with RCC, particularly in microsatellite D3S1611 (34.9%). Mutations were identified in eight patients: K618A and V716M in gene h MLH1; and I145V, G322D, and the novel mutation P349A, in gene h MSH2. The mutations also appeared in healthy renal tissue and therefore, were considered as germline DNA sequence variations. There were G322D and K618A changes in >1% of the healthy control subjects, suggesting that they are DNA polymorphisms. CONCLUSIONS Our data show that loss of function of both h MLH1 and h MSH2 is not involved in sporadic RCC, either by promoter methylation or mutation in their exons. However, LOH indicated that chromosomal instability affecting large fragments of DNA was the main genetic alteration we detected associated with RCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatic injury by d-galactosamine ( d-GalN) is a suitable experimental model of hepatocellular injury. The induction of oxidative and nitrosative stress participates during d-GalN-induced cell death in cultured rat hepatocytes. This study aimed to identify protein expression changes during the induction of apoptosis and necrosis by d-GalN in cultured human hepatocytes. Methods: A proteomic approach was used to identify the proteins involved and those altered by tyrosine nitration. A high dose of d-GalN (40 mM) was used to induce apoptosis and necrosis in primary culture of human hepatocytes. Cellular lysates prepared at different times after addition of d-GalN were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Gel spots with an altered expression and those matching nitrotyrosine-immunopositive proteins were excised and analyzed by mass spectrometry. Results: d-GalN treatment upregulated microsomal cytochrome b5, fatty acid binding protein and manganese superoxide dismutase, and enhanced annexin degradation. d-GalN increased tyrosine nitration of four cytosolic (Hsc70, Hsp70, annexin A4 and carbonyl reductase) and three mitochondrial (glycine amidinotransferase, ATP synthase β chain, and thiosulfate sulfurtransferase) proteins in human hepatocytes. Conclusions: The results provide evidences that oxidative stress and nitric oxide-derived reactive oxygen intermediates induce specific alterations in protein expression that may be critical for the induction of apoptosis and necrosis by d-GalN in cultured human hepatocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the effect of melatonin on the oxidative changes produced by the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of okadaic acid (200 ng/kg BW) in the Wistar rat. The effects of okadaic acid were evaluated as changes in the quantity of lipid peroxides, reduced glutathione content (GSH) and activity of antioxidative enzymes. Okadaic acid caused lipid peroxidation (5.35 ± 0.47 μ mol/g tissue in the i.c.v. vehicle group versus 10.14 ± 0.88 μ mol/g tissue in the okadaic acid group, P < 0.001), GSH consumption (0.115 ± 0.0065 μ mol/g tissue in the i.c.v. vehicle group versus 0.024 ± 0.0021 μ mol/g tissue, P < 0.001), and a reduction in the activity of GSH-peroxidase, GSH-reductase and GSH-transferase between 60–80%. All these changes were prevented by pre-injection of 4.5 mg melatonin per kg BW 2 hr before okadaic acid. These findings indicate: (i) okadaic acid induces a status of oxidative stress in the brain, characterized by a high level of lipid peroxidation, decreases in GSH content and diminished activities of antioxidative enzymes, and (ii) melatonin prevents the deleterious effects induced by okadaic acid. In conclusion, the results show the ability of melatonin to modify the neural response to okadaic acid with the protective mechanism likely involving the antioxidative processes of melatonin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In March of 2020, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) escalated into a global health emergency. In Madrid, public institutions were overwhelmed by this crisis, and mutual aid networks were deployed in multiple neighbourhoods to assist thousands of families—approximately 15,000 households—with food and care in the absence of actions taken by the Madrid City Council. Drawing on a mixed methodology that combines discourse analysis and statistical data from social actors and multi‐level institutions, this study aims to highlight the patterns of socio‐spatial inequalities in Madrid in light of the urban impact of pandemic regulations and the role of public institutions in re‐territorialising its already existing inequalities through legal zoning. In particular, this study examines the relationship between the territorial irruption of COVID‐19‐related collective action initiatives and the re‐spatialisation of social inequalities in Madrid. In line with this objective, two additional questions are addressed. The study highlights the value of a legal geography theoretical framework in examining how law works as a political technology over territory and also shows how social organisations and networks have claimed legal regulations as bottom‐up social change processes, challenging the dynamics in the political production of law. The aim of this work is twofold: on the one hand, we wonder to what extent the solidarity networks could be related to urban territorialities and the spatialisation of social inequalities in Madrid. On the other hand, we aim to show how a legal geography perspective could be useful in examining how law is used over territory as a political technology and as a surveillance tool and, conversely, how from social movements representing social networks in pandemic, many regulations are demanded and vindicated as bottom‐up social change processes that mean a contention of former dynamics in the political production of law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anthocyanins have been studied recent in the last years due to increasing reports of health benefits. Similarly, anthocyanins have been encapsulated using a variety of methods. The purposes of this work, microencapsulated anthocyanin by spray drying of berries and roselle were evaluated to determine the effect of different carrier agents (a mixture of arabic gum‐maltodextrin [50:50 p/p], whey protein isolated [WPI] and agave fructans) on "In vitro" release of anthocyanins, functional properties and antimicrobial properties. The concentration of all carrier agents, was 0,5% (in base, the total soluble solids percentage of berries and roselle extract). The encapsulation efficiency values varied between 10.71% and 86.09%. Microencapsulated anthocyanins of blackberry (R. fruticosus L.) with agave fructans showed a high percentage of antimicrobial inhibition for E. coli of 67%. Microencapsulated anthocyanin of blackberry (R. adenotrichos L.) with agave fructans showed a higher percentage of antimicrobial inhibition for S. thyphy at 38%. Most anthocyanins are released in acid phase and pepsin phase during in vitro release. The best carrier agent for the protection of anthocyanins is whey protein isolated (WPI). In vitro release studies showed that encapsulation stabilizes anthocyanins and functions as a delivery method. Practical applications: The selection of microencapsulated ingredients for the development of functional foods depends on the physicochemical and release parameters in a complex environment. This approach encompasses an understanding of the effects of processing and the factors that control the chemical and physical events that may govern the stability and release properties of the microencapsulated product; however, the test of whether a microencapsulation system is properly adapted for its application in a final product is its acceptance in the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The telomeres of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum are essential not only for chromosome end maintenance during blood stage development in humans but also to generate genetic diversity by facilitating homologous recombination of subtelomeric, multigene virulence families such as var and rifin. However, other than the telomerase PfTERT, proteins that act at P. falciparum telomeres are poorly characterised. To isolate components that bind to telomeres, we performed oligonucleotide pulldowns and electromobility shift assays with a telomeric DNA probe and identified a non-canonical member of the ApiAP2 family of transcription factors, PfAP2Tel (encoded by PF3D7_0622900), as a component of the P . falciparum telomere-binding protein complex. PfAP2Tel is expressed throughout the intra-erythrocytic life cycle and localises to the nuclear periphery, co-localising with telomeric clusters. Furthermore, EMSAs using the recombinant protein demonstrated direct binding of PfAP2Tel to telomeric repeats in vitro, while genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by next generation sequencing corroborated the high specificity of this protein to telomeric ends of all 14 chromosomes in vivo. Taken together, our data describe a novel function for ApiAP2 proteins at chromosome ends and open new avenues to study the molecular machinery that regulates telomere function in P. falciparum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]