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Nanoparticles derived from plant viruses play an important role in nanomedicine due to their biocompatibility, self-assembly and easily-modifiable surface. In this study, we developed a novel platform for increasing antibody sensing using viral nanoparticles derived from turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) functionalized with SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) through three different methods: chemical conjugation, gene fusion and the SpyTag/SpyCatcher technology. Even though gene fusion turned out to be unsuccessful, the other two constructs were proven to significantly increase antibody sensing when tested with saliva of patients with different infection and vaccination status to SARS-CoV-2. Our findings show the high potential of TuMV nanoparticles in the fields of diagnostics and immunodetection, being especially attractive for the development of novel antibody sensing devices., Ministerio de Universidades (España), Comunidad de Madrid, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Depto. de Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Fac. de Ciencias Biológicas, TRUE, pub

Marco Cordani recibió el apoyo de la subvención RYC2021-031003I financiada por MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 y por la Unión Europea NextGenerationEU/PRTR., Electrochemical bio-sensing is a potent and efficient method for converting various biological recognition events into voltage, current, and impedance electrical signals. Biochemical sensors are now a common part of medical applications, such as detecting blood glucose levels, detecting food pathogens, and detecting specific cancers. As an exciting feature, bio-affinity couples, such as proteins with aptamers, ligands, paired nucleotides, and antibodies with antigens, are commonly used as bio-sensitive elements in electrochemical biosensors. Biotin-avidin interactions have been utilized for various purposes in recent years, such as targeting drugs, diagnosing clinically, labeling immunologically, biotechnology, biomedical engineering, and separating or purifying biomolecular compounds. The interaction between biotin and avidin is widely regarded as one of the most robust and reliable noncovalent interactions due to its high bi-affinity and ability to remain selective and accurate under various reaction conditions and bio-molecular attachments. More recently, there have been numerous attempts to develop electrochemical sensors to sense circulating cancer cells and the measurement of intracellular levels of protein thiols, formaldehyde, vitamin-targeted polymers, huwentoxin-I, anti-human antibodies, and a variety of tumor markers (including alpha-fetoprotein, epidermal growth factor receptor, prostate-specific Ag, carcinoembryonic Ag, cancer antigen 125, cancer antigen 15-3, etc.). Still, the non-specific binding of biotin to endogenous biotin-binding proteins present in biological samples can result in false-positive signals and hinder the accurate detection of cancer biomarkers. This review summarizes various categories of biotin-functional nanoparticles designed to detect such biomarkers and highlights some challenges in using them as diagnostic tools., European Commission, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España), Depto. de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Fac. de Ciencias Biológicas, TRUE, pub

Enzyme scaffolding is an emerging approach for enhancing the catalytic efficiency of multi‐enzymatic cascades by controlling their spatial organization and stoichiometry. This study introduces a novel family of engineered SCAffolding Bricks, named SCABs, utilizing the consensus tetratricopeptide repeat (CTPR) domain for organized multi‐enzyme systems. Two SCAB systems are developed, one employing head‐to‐tail interactions with reversible covalent disulfide bonds, the other relying on non‐covalent metal‐driven assembly via engineered metal coordinating interfaces. Enzymes are directly fused to SCAB modules, triggering assembly in a non‐reducing environment or by metal presence. A proof‐of‐concept with formate dehydrogenase (FDH) and L‐alanine dehydrogenase (AlaDH) shows enhanced specific productivity by 3.6‐fold compared to free enzymes, with the covalent stapling outperforming the metal‐driven assembly. This enhancement likely stems from higher‐order supramolecular assembly and improved NADH cofactor regeneration, resulting in more efficient cascades. This study underscores the potential of protein engineering to tailor scaffolds, leveraging supramolecular spatial‐organizing tools, for more efficient enzymatic cascade reactions., European Commission, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España), Depto. de Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Fac. de Ciencias Biológicas, TRUE, pub

Better understanding of macrophyte tolerance under long exposure times in real environmental matrices is crucial for phytoremediation and phytoattenuation strategies for aquatic systems. The metal(loid) attenuation ability of 10 emergent macrophyte species (Carex riparia, Cyperus longus, Cyperus rotundus, Iris pseudacorus, Juncus effusus, Lythrum salicaria, Menta aquatica, Phragmites australis, Scirpus holoschoenus, and Typha angustifolia) was investigated using real groundwater from an industrial site, over a 90-day exposure period. A “phytobial” treatment was included, with 3 plant growth-promoting rhizobacterial strains. Plants exposed to the polluted water generally showed similar or reduced aerial biomass compared to the controls, except for C. riparia. This species, along with M. aquatica, exhibited improved biomass after bioaugmentation. Phytoremediation mechanisms accounted for more than 60% of As, Cd, Cu, Ni, and Pb removal, whilst abiotic mechanisms contributed to ∼80% removal of Fe and Zn. Concentrations of metal(loid)s in the roots were generally between 10–100 times higher than in the aerial parts. The macrophytes in this work can be considered “underground attenuators”, more appropriate for rhizostabilization strategies, especially L. salicaria, M. aquatica, S. holoschoenus, and T. angustifolia. For I. pseudacorus, C. longus, and C. riparia; harvesting the aerial parts could be a complementary phytoextraction approach to further remove Pb and Zn. Of all the plants, S. holoschoenus showed the best balance between biomass production and uptake of multiple metal(loid)s. Results also suggest that multiple phytostrategies may be possible for the same plant depending on the final remedial aim. Phytobial approaches need to be further assessed for each macrophyte species., This work has been funded by the GREENER project of the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (Grant Agreement No. 826312). S. Curiel-Alegre pre-doctoral contract was funded by Junta de Castilla y León (ORDEN EDU/1508/2020, de 15 de diciembre).

Contextualization: The production of cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.), an exotic fruit of great commercial importance in Colombia, has been limited by the presence of Fusarium sp. Which causes losses of up to 40% of production; this pathogen is mainly controlled with chemical synthesis products. Knowledge gap: The individual use of microorganisms for biological control has become a useful strategy to reduce the impact caused by Fusarium sp. However, its activity is limited in the field, and therefore it is necessary to carry out consortium combinations of different native microbial genera as a promising tool for biological control. Purpose: To evaluate the antagonistic activity of the combined application of Trichoderma sp. and Bacillus sp. as biocontrollers of Fusarium sp. at greenhouse level in cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) Methodology: Microorganisms were isolated from soil samples and plant material from a cape gooseberry crop. Isolates consistent with Bacillus sp. and Trichoderma sp. were confronted in vitro conditions to determine the percentage of inhibition over three Fusarium sp. that showed pathogenicity in cape gooseberry seeds according to their germination and root length. The in vivo antagonist activity was tested individually and in a consortium of Bacillus sp. and Trichoderma sp. that most inhibited Fusarium sp. with a higher pathogenicity index. Additionally, these isolates were identified by morphological, molecular and phylogenetic techniques. Results and conclusions: Seven native isolates consistent with Bacillus sp. with inhibitory activity against three Fusarium sp. were obtained. The bacterial isolate IB4B (identified as Bacillus sp.) registered the highest percentage of inhibition (48%), and TV1 was the fungus with the highest activity (64%) although. It did not differ statistically from TV2 (identified as Trichoderma asperellum). The pathogenicity test indicated that UCMV21 (identified as Fusarium oxysporum) inhibited the ge, Contextualización: La producción de la uchuva (Physalis peruviana L.), una fruta exótica de gran importancia comercial en Colombia; se ha visto limitada por la presencia de Fusarium sp. que causa pérdidas de hasta el 40% de la producción; este patógeno se controla, principalmente, con productos de síntesis química. Vacío de conocimiento: El uso individual de microorganismos para el control biológico se ha convertido en una estrategia útil para disminuir el impacto causado por Fusarium sp. Sin embargo, su actividad se encuentra limitada en campo y por lo tanto es necesario realizar combinaciones en consorcio de diferentes géneros microbianos nativos como herramienta promisoria para el control biológico. Objetivos: Evaluar la actividad antagónica de la aplicación combinada de Trichoderma sp. y Bacillus sp. como biocontroladores de Fusarium sp. a nivel de invernadero en uchuva (Physalis peruviana L.) Metodología: Se realizó el aislamiento de microorganismos de muestras de suelo y material vegetal de un cultivo de uchuva. Los aislados consistentes con Bacillus sp. y Trichoderma sp. fueron enfrentados en condiciones in vitro para determinar el porcentaje de inhibición sobre tres Fusarium sp. que mostraron patogenicidad en semillas de uchuva según su germinación y longitud radicular. La actividad antagonista in vivo se probó de manera individual y en consorcio de Bacillus sp. y Trichoderma sp. que más inhibieron a Fusarium sp. con mayor índice de patogenicidad, adicionalmente, estos fueron identificados por técnicas morfológicas, moleculares y filogenéticos. Resultados y conclusiones: Se obtuvieron siete aislados nativos consistentes con Bacillus sp. con actividad inhibitoria contra tres Fusarium sp. El aislado bacteriano IB4B (identificado como Bacillus sp.) registró el mayor porcentaje de inhibición (48%), y TV1 fue el hongo con mayor actividad (64%), aunque no difiere estadísticamente de TV2 (identificado como Trichoderma asperellum). La prueba de patogenicidad indicó

Plant viral nanoparticles (VNPs) are attractive to nanomedicine researchers because of their safety, ease of production, resistance, and straightforward functionalization. In this paper, we developed and successfully purified a VNP derived from turnip mosaic virus (TuMV), a well-known plant pathogen, that exhibits a high affinity for immunoglobulins G (IgG) thanks to its functionalization with the Z domain of staphylococcal Protein A via gene fusion. We selected cetuximab as a model IgG to demonstrate the versatility of this novel TuMV VNP by developing a fluorescent nanoplatform to mark tumoral cells from the Cal33 line of a tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Using confocal microscopy, we observed that fluorescent VNP–cetuximab bound selectively to Cal33 and was internalized, revealing the potential of this nanotool in cancer research., Ministerio de Universidades (España), Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España), Comunidad de Madrid, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (España), ERANet, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Depto. de Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Depto. de Biología Celular, Fac. de Ciencias Biológicas, Fac. de Medicina, TRUE, pub

[Introduction]: The bioeconomy addresses a series of problems in key areas for the Latin American region. As a result, a growing number of countries worldwide have developed bioeconomy policies or strategies, the Costa Rica Strategy beings the first in the region. [Objective]: The aim of this article is to analyze the opportunities and challenges of the advanced bioeconomy, emphasizing the biotechnology sector, to contribute to the Costa Rican productive and sustainable development. [Methodology]: The approach applied is qualitative based on primary and secondary sources, and ongoing reflection and discussion. [Results]: As a result, it is found that despite facing structural barriers and challenges such as market aspects, coordination governance, waste management, availability and use of biological, financial, educational, social resources, among others; the bioeconomy is positioned along with biotechnology as a great opportunity to develop valorization and management of waste, enhance productive processes and value chains with high added value related to research, development and innovation, knowledge, competitiveness, encouraging the generation of employment, new exports and access to more and better markets. [Conclusions]: It is possible to conclude that the aforementioned can be applied in harmony with natural ecosystems and social welfare that can even be replicated in other countries of the region contributing to improve the social, economic and environmental challenges., [Introducción]: La bioeconomía aborda una serie de problemas en áreas clave para la región latinoamericana. Debido a esto, cada vez más países el mundo han elaborado políticas o estrategias de bioeconomía, siendo la Estrategia de Costa Rica la primera en la región. [Objetivo]: El objetivo de este artículo es analizar las oportunidades y desafíos que enfrenta la bioeconomía avanzada, haciendo énfasis en el sector biotecnológico, para contribuir al desarrollo productivo y sostenible en Costa Rica. [Metodología]: El enfoque utilizado es cualitativo con uso de fuentes primarias y secundarias, así como la reflexión y discusión permanente. [Resultados]: Como resultado del análisis se encuentra que, pese a una serie de barreras estructurales y retos de mercado, articulación, gobernanza, gestión de residuos, disponibilidad y aprovechamiento de recursos biológicos, financieros, educativos, sociales, entre otros; la bioeconomía se posiciona con la biotecnología como una gran oportunidad para gestionar y valorar los residuos, procesos productivos y encadenamientos con alto valor agregado, incorporando investigación, desarrollo e innovación, conocimiento, competitividad, propiciando la generación de nuevos empleos, exportaciones, acceso a más y mejores mercados. [Conclusiones]: Es posible concluir que todo esto puede ser realizado en armonía con los ecosistemas naturales y el bienestar social e incluso replicado en otros países de la región para coadyuvar al mejoramiento de las problemáticas sociales, económicas y ambientales., [Introdução]: A bioeconomia aborda uma série de problemas em áreas-chave para a região latino-americana. Devido a isso, cada vez mais países ao redor do mundo desenvolveram políticas ou estratégias de bioeconomia, sendo a Estratégia da Costa Rica a primeira na região. [Objetivo]: O objetivo deste artigo é analisar as oportunidades e desafios enfrentados pela bioeconomia avançada, com ênfase no setor de biotecnologia, para contribuir para o desenvolvimento produtivo e sustentável na Costa Rica. [Metodologia]: A abordagem utilizada é qualitativa com recurso a fontes primárias e secundárias, bem como reflexão e discussão contínuas. [Resultados]: Como resultado da análise, verifica-se que, apesar de uma série de barreiras estruturais e desafios de mercado, a articulação, governança, gestão de resíduos, disponibilidade e utilização de recursos biológicos, financeiros, educacionais, sociais, entre outros; A bioeconomia posiciona-se com a biotecnologia como uma grande oportunidade para gerir e valorizar resíduos, processos e cadeias produtivas de alto valor agregado, incorporando pesquisa, desenvolvimento e inovação, conhecimento, competitividade, promovendo a geração de novos empregos, exportações, acesso a mais e melhor mercados. [Conclusões]: É possível concluir que tudo isto pode ser feito em harmonia com os ecossistemas naturais e o bem-estar social e até replicado em outros países da região para contribuir para a melhoria dos problemas sociais, económicos e ambientais.

Producción Científica, Aerogels are unique solid-state materials composed of interconnected 3D solid networks and a large number of air-filled pores. This structure leads to extended structural characteristics as well as physicochemical properties of the nanoscale building blocks to macroscale, and integrated typical features of aerogels, such as high porosity, large surface area, and low density, with specific properties of the various constituents. Due to their combination of excellent properties, aerogels attract much interest in various applications, ranging from medicine to construction. In recent decades, their potential was exploited in many aerogels’ materials, either organic, inorganic or hybrid. Considerable research efforts in recent years have been devoted to the development of aerogel-based biosensors and encouraging accomplishments have been achieved. In this work, recent (2018–2023) and ground-breaking advances in the preparation, classification, and physicochemical properties of aerogels and their sensing applications are presented. Different types of biosensors in which aerogels play a fundamental role are being explored and are collected in this manuscript. Moreover, the current challenges and some perspectives for the development of high-performance aerogel-based biosensors are summarized., Fundación Portuguesa para la Ciencia y la Tecnología (FCT) - (grant UIDB/04029/2020), Fundación Portuguesa para la Ciencia y la Tecnología (FCT) - (grant LA/P/0112/2020), Fundación Portuguesa para la Ciencia y la Tecnología (FCT) - (grant SFRH/BD/150790/2020), Junta de Castilla y León, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación y Unión Europea NextGenerationEU/PRTR,Unión Europea (UE)- Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) - (grant MA2TEC)

Producción Científica, Cereal straw stands out as one of the most abundant and globally distributed agricultural residues. Traditional applications cope with a limited amount of production, leaving the remainder in the field for natural decomposition. Managing cereal straw through controlled biological transformation under anaerobic conditions holds the potential to generate added value in the form of bioenergy. However, the lignocellulosic composition of these substrates poses challenges for organic degradation, often requiring energy-intensive pretreatments. A detailed study with a comprehensive calculation of the overall energy balance of the integrated process is proposed, aiming to provide real added value and replicability. Three scenarios for wheat straw transformation were investigated, incorporating two preliminary pre-treatment stages—mechanical milling and physicochemical steam explosion. Three conditions of pretreatment were essayed, varying the time exposure of the steam explosion. The subsequent energy integration analysis revealed that the process was optimized by up to 15% in the final energy balance when the steam explosion was set to 10 min. The macromolecular composition determination revealed that the thermal pretreatment reduced the lag phase of the hydrolysis step through hemicellulose breakdown., Junta de Castilla y León y Unión Euopea (UE)-Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) - (grant CL-EI-2021-07), Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación/Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) - (grant PID 2020-114918RB-I00), Union Europea, Programa LIFE, LIFE SMART AgroMobility - (grant LIFE19 CCM/ES/001206)

With a world market that is around 4,2 (1012) US$/year (3 Mton/year) and a growing projection of use, butanol is a compound that has more advantages as biofuel, than ethanol. Using the strategy of bibliometric analysis, this work looks to generate an integral vision of the determining research aspects concerning butanol through the combination of different keywords related to it. The databases used for the study, where those available in Scopus and Web of Science platforms, related to butanol in the VOSViewer during the period 1984-2020 and the first semester of 2021. It was also found that butanol production from lignocellulosic material does not yet show good yields and process intensification for an economically and environmentally acceptable biorefinery concept. Deficiencies in fermentation are a *Proyecto investigación origen: Becas Crédito-Condonable Formación Doctoral “Bicentenario”- Corte 1 (2020-2024). Financiación Beca Doctoral, Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Inovación- Convenio Colfuturo (2020). Colombia. Ejecución: Universidad del Valle; Grupo de investigación en Biocombustibles y Biorrefinerías GRUBIOC., El butanol, es un compuesto que tiene más ventajas como biocombustible que el etanol, con un mercado mundial que está alrededor de 4,2 (1012) US$/año (3 Mton/año), y una proyección de uso cada vez más creciente. Por esta razón, en el presente trabajo, bajo la estrategia de un análisis bibliométrico, se combinaron diferentes palabras claves relacionadas con el butanol, para generar una visión integral de los aspectos investigativos determinantes. Las bases de datos utilizadas, fueron las disponibles en las plataformas de Scopus y Web of Science, relacionada con el butanol en el VOSViewer durante el periodo 1984 a 2020 y el primer semestre de 2021. Se encontró que la producción de butanol a partir de material lignocelulósico, no muestra aún buenos rendimientos e intensificación de procesos, para un concepto de biorrefinería económica y ambientalmente aceptable. Un cuello de botella, son las deficiencias en la fermentación, por la falta de microorganismos más productores y tolerantes a altas concentraciones de butanol.

Background and purpose Given the overlapping clinical manifestations and pathology, the differentiation between essential tremor (ET) and Parkinson's disease (PD) is difficult. Our aims were to examine the plasma metabolomics profiling and their association with motor and non-motor symptoms (NMS) in patients with PD, and to determine differences between de novo PD compared to moderate-advanced PD vs. controls and patients with ET. Methods Plasma samples were collected from 137 subjects including 35 age matched controls, 29 NOVO-PD, 35 PD and 38 ET patients. PD severity, motor and NMS including cognitive function were assessed using the UPDRS, NMS and PD cognitive rating scales, respectively. Metabolomics analysis was performed by UPLC-ESI-QToF-MS followed by unsupervised multivariate statistics. The area under the curve of the biomarkers according to distribution of their concentrations and the diagnosis of PD (NOVO-PD, advanced PD) vs ET and healthy controls was used as a measurement of diagnostic ability. Results Several acyl-carnitines, bilirubin, tyramine and tetrahydro-21-deoxycortisol (THS) presented good predictive accuracy (AUC higher than 0.8) for differentiating de novo PD and advanced PD from controls and ET, suggesting an alteration in the lipid oxidation pathway. In multivariate regression analysis, metabolite levels were not significantly associated with motor and NMS severity in PD. Conclusions Diverse acyl-carnitines, bilirubin, tyramine and some adrenal gland derived metabolites are suggested as potential biomarkers able to distinguish between PD from controls and ET., This work was supported by Junta de Castilla y León (BIO/BU06/14).

The invention relates to a method for producing 2,3-butanediol using improved strains of Raoultella planticola, and to novel mutant strains obtained by random mutagenesis from the bacterial species Raoultella planticola CECT843, that can be used in the industrial production of 2,3-butanediol from glycerol. The invention preferably relates to the Raoultella planticola strains designated IA1 and IIIA3 and deposited in the Spanish Type Culture Collection (CECT) under deposit number CECT8158 (corresponding to the strain designated IA1) and deposit number CECT8159 (corresponding to the strain designated IIIA3). The invention also relates to a method for producing 2,3-butanediol from glycerol by means of a biotechnological process using the novel strains of the invention., Depto. de Ingeniería Química y de Materiales, Fac. de Ciencias Químicas, pub

publicado en: Folia Microbiologica 43:2 (1998)., Depto. de Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Fac. de Ciencias Biológicas, TRUE, pub

Work supported by projects granted by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN), BFU2011-23752, BFU2008-00203 and AGL2008-04255, and CSIC, PIE 201020E038., DNA methylation of cytosine residues constitutes a prominent epigenetic modification of the chromatin fiber which is locked in a transcriptionally inactive conformation leading to gene silencing. Plant developmental processes, as differentiation and proliferation, are accompanied by chromatin remodeling and epigenetic reprogramming. Despite the increasing knowledge gained on the epigenetic mechanisms controlling plant developmental processes, the knowledge of the DNA methylation regulation during relevant developmental programs in flowering plants, such as gametogenesis or embryogenesis, is very limited. The analysis of global DNA methylation levels has been frequently conducted by high performance capillary electrophoresis, and more recently also by ELISA-based assays, which provided quantitative data of whole organs and tissues. Nevertheless, to investigate the DNA methylation dynamics during plant development in different cell types of the same organ, the analysis of spatial and temporal pattern of nuclear distribution of 5-methyl-deoxy-cytidine (5mdC) constitutes a potent approach. In this work, immunolocalization of 5mdC on sections and subsequent confocal laser microscopy analysis have been applied for in situ cellular analysis of a variety of plant cells, tissues and organs with different characteristics, e.g. hardness, heterogeneity, cell accessibility, tissue compactness, etc.; the results demonstrated the versatility and feasibility of the approach for different plant samples, and revealed defined DNA methylation nuclear patterns associated with differentiation and proliferation events of various plant cell types and developmental programs. Quantification of 5mdC immunofluorescence intensity by image analysis software also permitted to estimate differences in global DNA methylation levels among different cells types of the same organ during development., Depto. de Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Fac. de Ciencias Biológicas, TRUE, pub

Plant viral nanoparticles (VNPs) have become an attractive platform for the development of novel nanotools in the last years because of their safety, inexpensive production, and straightforward functionalization. Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) is one example of a plant-based VNP used as a nanobiotechnological platform either as virions or as virus-like particles (VLPs). Their functionalization mainly consists of coating their surface with the molecules of interest via chemical conjugation or genetic fusion. However, because of their limitations, these two methods sometimes result in non-viable constructs. In this paper, we applied the SpyTag/SpyCatcher technology as an alternative for the functionalization of TuMV VLPs with peptides and proteins. We chose as molecules of interest the green fluorescent protein (GFP) because of its good traceability, as well as the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), given the previous unsuccessful attempts to functionalize TuMV VNPs by other methods. The successful conjugation of VLPs to GFP and VIP using SpyTag/SpyCatcher was confirmed through Western blot and electron microscopy. Moreover, the isopeptide bond between SpyTag and SpyCatcher occurred in vivo in co-agroinfiltrated Nicotiana benthamiana plants. These results demonstrated that SpyTag/SpyCatcher improves TuMV functionalization compared with previous approaches, thus implying the expansion of the application of the technology to elongated flexuous VNPs., Unión Europea, Ministerio de Universidades (España), Comunidad de Madrid, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Depto. de Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Fac. de Ciencias Biológicas, TRUE, pub

This work was supported by Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (project BFU2011-23752). M.R.S. was a recipient of a postdoctoral Juan-de-la-Cierva grant (JCI-2007-123-1177). ÍNDICES DE IMPACTO DE LA REVISTA: Citas recibidas • Citas en Sopas: 66 (22-01-2023) • Citas en Web os Science: 63 (28-12-2023) JCR (Journal Impact Factor) • Año 2012 • Factor de impacto de la revista: 5.242 • Factor de impacto sin autocitas: 4.782 • Article influence score: 1.609 • Cuartil mayor: Q1 • Área: PLANT SCIENCES Cuartil: Q1 Posición en el área: 13/197 (Edicion: SCIE) SCImago Journal Rank • Año 2012 • Impacto SJR de la revista: 2.619 • Cuartil mayor: Q1 • Área: Plant Science Cuartil: Q1 Posición en el área: 15/417 • Área: Physiology Cuartil: Q1 Posición en el área: 15/185 Scopus CiteScore • Año 2012 • CiteScore de la revista: 8.5 • Área: Plant Science Percentil: 95 • Área: Physiology Percentil: 89 • Área: Medicine (all) Percentil: 90, Stress-induced plant cell reprogramming involves changes in global genome organization, being the epigenetic modifications key factors in the regulation of genome flexibility. DNA methylation, accomplished by DNA methyltransferases, constitutes a prominent epigenetic modification of the chromatin fibre which is locked in a transcriptionally inactive conformation. Changes in DNA methylation accompany the reorganization of the nuclear architecture during plant cell differentiation and proliferation. After a stress treatment, in vitro-cultured microspores are reprogrammed and change their gametophytic developmental pathway towards embryogenesis, the process constituting a useful system of reprogramming in isolated cells for applied and basic research. Gene expression driven by developmental and stress cues often depends on DNA methylation; however, global DNA methylation and genome-wide expression patterns relationship is still poorly understood. In this work, the dynamics of DNA methylation patterns in relation to nuclear architecture and the expression of BnMET1a-like DNA methyltransferase genes have been analysed during pollen development and pollen reprogramming to embryogenesis in Brassica napus L. by a multidisciplinary approach. Results showed an epigenetic reprogramming after microspore embryogenesis induction which involved a decrease of global DNA methylation and its nuclear redistribution with the change of developmental programme and the activation of cell proliferation, while DNA methylation increases with pollen and embryo differentiation in a cell-type-specific manner. Changes in the presence, abundance, and distribution of BnMET1a-like transcripts highly correlated with variations in DNA methylation. Mature zygotic and pollen embryos presented analogous patterns of DNA methylation and MET1a-like expression, providing new evidence of the similarities between both developmental embryogenic programmes., Depto. de Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Fac. de Ciencias Biológicas, TRUE, pub

This paper shows a simple and effective way to avoid the dissociation of multimeric enzymes by coating their surface with a large cationic polymer (e.g., polyethylenimine (PEI)) by ionic exchange. As model enzymes, glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) from Thermus thermophilus and formate dehydrogenase (FDH) from Pseudomonas sp. were used. Both enzymes are very unstable at acidic pH values due to the rapid dissociation of their subunits (half-life of diluted preparations is few minutes at pH 4 and 25 °C). GDH and FDH were incubated in the presence of PEI yielding an enzyme−PEI composite with full activity. To stabilize the enzyme−polymer composite, a treatment with glutaraldehyde was required. These enzyme−PEI composites can be crosslinked with glutaraldehyde by immobilizing previously the composite onto a weak cationic exchanger. The soluble GDH-PEI composite was much more stable than unmodified GDH at pH 4 and 30 °C (retaining over 90% activity after 24 h incubation) with no effect of the GDH concentration in the inactivation course. The composite could be very strongly, but reversibly, adsorbed on cationic exchangers. Similarly, FDH could be treated with PEI and glutaraldehyde after adsorption on cationic exchangers, This permitted a stabilized FDH preparation. In this way, the coating of the enzymes surfaces with PEI is used as a simple and efficient strategy to prevent enzyme dissociation of multimeric enzymes. These composites can be used as a soluble catalyst or reversibly immobilized onto a cationic exchanger (e.g., CM-agarose)., Comunidad de Madrid, Ministerio de Ciencia y Educacion, Fundacion Ramon Areces, Depto. de Ingeniería Química y de Materiales, Fac. de Ciencias Químicas, TRUE, pub

Work supported by projects granted by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (MEC) BFU2005-01094 and AGL2005-05104, and it was performed in the frame of the CSIC-INIA Joint Collaboration Program (Convenio CC03-023). MTS is recipient of a predoctoral fellowship (FPI, BES-2006-14117) granted by the Spanish MEC. MJP was recipient of a contract granted by the project CAM 07G/0009/2003 1 funded by the Comunidad de Madrid. Partly supported by Spanish-Czech Joint project 2006CZ0006 granted by Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Czech Academy of Sciences and Czech grants MSM0021620806, LC535 and AV0Z50110509., Microspore embryogenesis to form haploid and double-haploid embryos and regenerated plants is an efficient method of producing homozygous lines for crop breeding. In trees, the process is of special interest since classical methods are impractical in many cases, as in Olea europaea L. Recently, a convenient method has been developed for microspore embryogenesis induction by stress in olive isolated microspores in vitro cultures. In the present work, the switch of the microspore developmental pathway and the formation of microspore-derived multicellular proembryos have been achieved and a cytochemical and immunocytochemical analysis was performed in the early stages. The young microspore proembryos displayed defined features different to both, the in vivo gametophytic, and the in vitro non-responsive microspores. Reprogrammed microspores showed an absence of starch, the occurrence of a first symmetrical division and cytokinesis, the presence of an abundant ribosomal population, and changes in cellulosic and pectic cell wall components which constituted early markers of the embryogenic microspore process. They provided new insights on the molecular and cellular events associated with the microspore reprogramming of woody plants, and specifically in olive, providing interesting knowledge which could guide future selection and regeneration strategies in this fruit tree of high economic interest., Depto. de Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Fac. de Ciencias Biológicas, TRUE, pub

The pH is fundamental to biological function and its measurement therefore crucial across all biosciences. Unlike homogenous bulk solution, solids often feature internal pH gradients due to partition effects and confined biochemical reactions. Thus, a full spatiotemporal mapping for pH characterization in solid materials with biological systems embedded in them is essential. In here, therefore, a fully biocompatible methodology for real-time optical sensing of pH within porous materials is presented. A genetically encoded ratiometric pH sensor, the enhanced superfolder yellow fluorescent protein (sYFP), is used to functionalize the internal surface of different materials, including natural and synthetic organic polymers as well as silica frameworks. By using controlled, tailor-made immobilization, sYFP is homogenously distributed within these materials and so enables, via self-referenced imaging analysis, pH measurements in high accuracy and with useful spatiotemporal resolution. Evolution of internal pH is monitored in consequence of a proton-releasing enzymatic reaction, the hydrolysis of penicillin by a penicillin acylase, taking place in solution or confined to the solid surface of the porous matrix. Unlike optochemical pH sensors, which often interfere with biological function, labeling with sYFP enables pH sensing without altering the immobilized enzyme’s properties in any of the materials used. Fast response of sYFP to pH change permits evaluation of biochemical kinetics within the solid materials. Thus, pH sensing based on immobilized sYFP represents a broadly applicable technique to the study of biology confined to the internally heterogeneous environment of solid matrices., Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Ramón Areces Foundation, Depto. de Ingeniería Química y de Materiales, Fac. de Ciencias Químicas, TRUE, pub

The immobilization of a glutamate dehydrogenase from Thermus thermophilus (GDH) on glyoxyl agarose beads at pH 7 has permitted to perform the immobilization, purification and stabilization of this interesting enzyme. It was cloned in Escherichia coli and a first thermal shock of the crude preparation destroyed most mesophilic multimeric proteins. Glyoxyl agarose can only immobilize enzymes via a multipoint and simultaneous attachment. Therefore, only proteins having several terminal amino groups in a position that permits their interaction with a flat surface can be immobilized. GDH became rapidly immobilized at pH 7 and its multimeric structure became stabilized as evidenced by SDS-PAGE. This derivative was stable at acidic pH value while the non-stabilized enzyme was very unstable under these conditions due to subunit dissociation. After immobilization, a further incubation at pH 10 improved enzyme stability under any inactivating conditions by increasing the enzyme–support bonds. In fact, GDH immobilized at pH 7 and incubated at pH 10 preserved more activity than GDH directly immobilized at pH 10 (50% versus 15% after 24 h of incubation) and was also more stable (1.5- to 3-fold, depending on the conditions)., Comunidad de Madrid, Ministerio de Ciencia, Fundación Ramón Areces, Depto. de Ingeniería Química y de Materiales, Fac. de Ciencias Químicas, TRUE, pub

Referencias bibliográficas: • AA.VV. (2009). Transhumanist Declaration. https://humanityplus.org/ transhumanism/transhumanist-declaration/ • Agar, N. (2015). Moral bioenhancement is dangerous. Journal of Medical Ethics, 41(4), 343-345. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44014061 • Aldridge, D. (2018). Cheating Education and the Insertion of Knowledge. Educational Theory, 68(6), 609-624. doi:10.1111/edth.12344 • Alexandre, L. (2017). La guerre des intelligences. Comment l’Intelligence Artificielle va révolutionner l’éducation. J.C. Lattès. • Anders, G. (2009). Llámese cobardía a esa esperanza. Besatari. • Anders, G. (2011). La obsolescencia del hombre. Pre-Textos. • Aristóteles. (1985). Ética a Nicómaco. Gredos. • Asimov, I. (1957). Profesión. En cuentos completos I. http://forexconmql. cl/geos/pa/profesion.pdf • Bellamy, F.-X. (2020). Permanecer. Para escapar del tiempo del movimiento perpetuo. Encuentro. • Bellamy, F.-X. (2021). Crisis de la transmisión y fiebre de la innovación. Teoría de la Educación. Revista Interuniversitaria, 33(2), 169-178. doi:10.14201/teri.25407 • Bennett, M. R. y Hacker, P. M. S. (2003). Philosophical Foundations of Neuroscience. Blackwell. • Bostrom, N. (2003). The Transhumanist FAQ. A General Introduction. http://www.nickbostrom.com/views/transhumanist.pdf • Bostrom, N. y Sandberg, A. (2009). Cognitive Enhancement: Methods, Ethics, Regulatory Challenges. Science and Engineering Ethics, 15(3), 311–341. doi:10.1007/s11948-009-9142-5 • Braidotti, R. (2015). Lo posthumano. Gedisa • Cabanas Díaz, E., y González-Lamas, J. (2021). Felicidad y educación: déficits científicos y sesgos ideológicos de la «educación positiva». Teoría de la Educación. Revista Interuniversitaria, 33(2), 65-85. https://doi.org/10.14201/teri.25433 • Carter, J. A. (2018). Autonomy, Cognitive Offloading, and Education. Educational Theory, 68(6), 657-673. doi:10.1111/edth.12338 • Castillejo, J. L. (1981). La educabilidad, categoría antropológica. En J. L. Castillejo, J. Escámez, Introducción: las tecnologías NBIC (nanotecnologías, biotecnologías, tecnologías de la información y las ciencias cognitivas) están impulsando las perspectivas del transhumanismo y del posthumanismo y suponen un auténtico desafío para la Pedagogía especialmente en su estatuto antropológico. Necesitamos, pues, reflexionar sobre qué enfoque antropológico se asume en la Pedagogía que facilite comprender la dimensión moral que encierra la noción de mejora humana. Metodología: análisis crítico hermenéutico con proyección teórico-pedagógica de la bibliografía vinculada al objeto de investigación. Discusión: el artículo discute críticamente tres trampas del enfoque transhumanista aplicado a la educación: todas las tecnologías del mejoramiento humano son iguales; un sujeto educado es el que tiene más y mejor memoria, atención o razonamiento; y, por último, educar es ayudar a alguien para evitarle esfuerzos. Resultados: la idea de desarrollo humano se empobrece y tergiversa si solamente la asumimos como un proyecto de dominio tecnológico. Debemos rechazar, desde la pedagogía, las tesis que pretenden alejarnos de la perspectiva de la formación humana como un bien intrínseco considerando erróneamente irrelevante el uso de los medios cuando son los que permiten realmente la formación humana. Conclusión: los pedagogos debemos combatir la idea de que las posibilidades de la educación, del mejoramiento del desarrollo humano, no aumentan por desdibujar, anular o descartar la condición humana. Debemos ir elaborando una teoría de las pérdidas o trampas educativas que provoca el transhumanismo., Introduction: NBIC technologies (nanotechnologies, biotechnologies, information technologies and cognitive sciences) are promoting the perspectives of transhumanism and posthumanism and represent a real challenge for Pedagogy, especially in their anthropological status. We therefore need to reflect on what anthropological approach is assumed in Pedagogy that facilitates understanding the moral dimension that the notion of human improvement contains. Methodology: hermeneutical critical analysis with theoretical-pedagogical projection of the bibliography linked to the research object. Discussion: the article critically discusses three pitfalls of the transhumanist approach applied to education: all human enhancement technologies are equal; an educated subject is the one with more and better memory, attention or reasoning; and, finally, to educate is to help someone to avoid efforts. Results: the idea of human development is impoverished and misrepresented if we only assume it as a project of technological dominance. We must reject, from pedagogy, the theses that seek to distance us from the perspective of human formation as an intrinsic good, mistakenly considering the use of the media irrelevant when they are what really allow human formation. Conclusion: pedagogues must combat the idea that the possibilities of education, of the improvement of human development, do not increase by blurring, canceling, or discarding the human condition. We must develop a theory of educational losses or traps caused by transhumanism., Depto. de Estudios Educativos, Fac. de Educación, TRUE, pub

Este trabajo aborda el uso prevalente del término "Biotecnología", evidente en los 6,480,000 resultados en Google, reflejando su integración en discusiones en diversas plataformas. El creciente interés en la biotecnología en ámbitos académicos y empresariales ha llevado a diversas definiciones, unidas por la utilización de seres vivos, procesos o productos con fines comerciales. La OCDE define la biotecnología como la aplicación de ciencia y tecnología a organismos vivos para alterar materiales con fines de producción de conocimiento, bienes y servicios. La biotecnología abarca diversos sectores como agricultura, alimentos, medio ambiente, producción industrial y energía, mostrando su naturaleza multidisciplinaria. El documento enfatiza el auge de la biotecnología blanca en la industria farmacéutica, utilizando sistemas biológicos para producir productos farmacéuticos. La biocatálisis, ejemplificada por el uso de enzimas, surge como alternativa a los procesos químicos convencionales, ofreciendo beneficios económicos y ambientales. La discusión se extiende a la controversia en torno a los alimentos transgénicos, explorando argumentos a favor y en contra de su uso. El documento también profundiza en los avances y desafíos en genómica, medicina personalizada y terapias génicas, ilustrando el impacto de la biotecnología en diversos aspectos de la vida humana y el medio ambiente. En general, el término "Biotecnología" se ha vuelto fundamental para abordar desafíos globales como el hambre, las enfermedades y la mejora general de la calidad de vida., Depto. de Química en Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Fac. de Farmacia, TRUE, pub

This work is supported by projects AGL2014-52028-R and AGL2017-82447-R funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF/FEDER). YPP is the recipient of a grant (PEJ15/BIO/AI-01S8) funded by Comunidad de Madrid and European Commission through ERDF/FEDER., Microspores are reprogrammed towards embryogenesis by stress. Many microspores die after this stress, limiting the efficiency of microspore embryogenesis. Autophagy is a degradation pathway that plays critical roles in stress response and cell death. In animals, cathepsins have an integral role in autophagy by degrading autophagic material; less is known in plants. Plant cathepsins are papain-like C1A cysteine proteases involved in many physiological processes, including programmed cell death. We have analysed the involvement of autophagy in cell death, in relation to cathepsin activation, during stress-induced microspore embryogenesis in Hordeum vulgare. After stress, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell death increased and autophagy was activated, including HvATG5 and HvATG6 up-regulation and increase of ATG5, ATG8, and autophagosomes. Concomitantly, cathepsin L/F-, B-, and H-like activities were induced, cathepsin-like genes HvPap-1 and HvPap-6 were up-regulated, and HvPap-1, HvPap-6, and HvPap-19 proteins increased and localized in the cytoplasm, resembling autophagy structures. Inhibitors of autophagy and cysteine proteases reduced cell death and promoted embryogenesis. The findings reveal a role for autophagy in stress-induced cell death during microspore embryogenesis, and the participation of cathepsins. Similar patterns of activation, expression, and localization suggest a possible connection between cathepsins and autophagy. The results open up new possibilities to enhance microspore embryogenesis efficiency with autophagy and/or cysteine protease modulators., Depto. de Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Fac. de Ciencias Biológicas, TRUE, pub

Funding This work was supported by the European Research Council (ERC Consolidator Grant 2016 725061 TEMUBLYM) and the European Commission under the H2020 Programme (Grant H2020-634429 ParaFishControl). IE was recipient of APOSTD/2016/037 grant by the “Generalitat Valenciana” and YH was recipient of a PhD Studentship from the Ministry of Education, Republic of China (Taiwan). JWH was supported by BBSRC grant BB/K009125/1 and SNSF grant CRSII3_147649-1. PDR was funded by grant T1-BIO-1672 from the “Comunidad de Madrid”., Proliferative kidney disease (PKD) is a widespread disease caused by the endoparasite Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae (Myxozoa: Malacosporea). Clinical disease, provoked by the proliferation of extrasporogonic parasite stages, is characterized by a chronic kidney pathology with underlying transcriptional changes indicative of altered B cell responses and dysregulated T-helper cell-like activities. Despite the relevance of PKD to European and North American salmonid aquaculture, no studies, to date, have focused on further characterizing the B cell response during the course of this disease. Thus, in this work, we have studied the behavior of diverse B cell populations in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) naturally infected with T. bryosalmonae at different stages of preclinical and clinical disease. Our results show a clear upregulation of all trout immunoglobulins (Igs) (IgM, IgD, and IgT) demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis, suggesting the alteration of diverse B cell populations that coexist in the infected kidney. Substantial changes in IgM, IgD, and IgT repertoires were also identified throughout the course of the disease further pointing to the involvement of the three Igs in PKD through what appear to be independently regulated mechanisms. Thus, our results provide strong evidence of the involvement of IgD in the humoral response to a specific pathogen for the first time in teleosts. Nevertheless, it was IgT, a fish-specific Ig isotype thought to be specialized in mucosal immunity, which seemed to play a prevailing role in the kidney response to T. bryosalmonae. We found that IgT was the main Ig coating extrasporogonic parasite stages, IgT+ B cells were the main B cell subset that proliferated in the kidney with increasing kidney pathology, and IgT was the Ig for which more significant changes in repertoire were detected. Hence, although our results demonstrate a profound dysregulation of different B cell subsets during PKD, they po, Depto. de Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Fac. de Ciencias Biológicas, TRUE, pub

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) promote hydroxylations in a broad variety of substrates. Their prowess in C–H bond functionalization renders P450s promising catalysts for organic synthesis. However, operating P450 reactions involve complex management of the main substrates, O2 and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAD(P)H) reducing equivalents against an overall background of low operational stability. Whole‐cell biocatalysis, although often used, offers no general solution to these problems. Herein, we present the design of a tailor‐made, self‐sufficient, operationally stabilized and recyclable P450 catalyst on porous solid support. Using enzymes as fusion proteins with the polycationic binding module Zbasic2, the P450s BM3 (from Bacillus megaterium) was coimmobilized with glucose dehydrogenase (type IV; from B. megaterium) on anionic sulfopropyl‐activated carrier (ReliSorb SP). Immobilization via Zbasic2 enabled each enzyme to be loaded in controllable amount, thus maximizing the relative portion of the rate limiting P450 BM3 (up to 19.5 U/gcarrier) in total enzyme immobilized. Using lauric acid as a representative P450 substrate that is poorly accessible to whole‐cell catalysts, we demonstrate complete hydroxylation at low catalyst loading (≤0.1 mol%) and efficient electron coupling (74%), inside of the catalyst particle, to the regeneration of NADPH from glucose (27 cycles) was achieved. The immobilized P450 BM3 showed a total turnover number of ∼18,000, thus allowing active catalyst to be recycled up to 20 times. This study therefore supports the idea of practical heterogeneous catalysis by P450s systems immobilized on solid support, Comisión Europea, Depto. de Ingeniería Química y de Materiales, Fac. de Ciencias Químicas, TRUE, pub

Work supported by projects granted by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, MICINN, BFU2008-00203, AGL2008-04255 and BFU2011-23752. DP was recipient of a grant of the Spanish MICINN for Stays of Foreign Postdoctoral Researchers in Spanish Research Centres (SB2006-0074), HRS is recipient of a predoctoral fellowship of the Spanish MICINN (BES-2009-014245).REVISTA: BMC Plant Biology ISSN: 1471-2229 AÑO DE PUBLICACIÓN: 2012 VOLUMEN: 12 • Citas en Scopus: 66 (28-01-2023) JCR (Journal Impact Factor) • Año 2012 • Factor de impacto de la revista: 4.354 • Factor de impacto sin autocitas: 4.127 • Article influence score: 1.351 • Cuartil mayor: Q1 • Área: PLANT SCIENCES Cuartil: Q1 Posición en el área: 16/197 (Edicion: SCIE) SCImago Journal Rank • Año 2012 • Impacto SJR de la revista: 2.126 • Cuartil mayor: Q1 • Área: Plant Science Cuartil: Q1 Posición en el área: 23/417 Scopus CiteScore • Año 2012 • CiteScore de la revista: 6.5 • Área: Plant Science Percentil: 93, Microspore embryogenesis represents a unique system of single cell reprogramming in plants wherein a highly specialized cell, the microspore, by specific stress treatment, switches its fate towards an embryogenesis pathway. In Brassica napus, a model species for this phenomenon, incubation of isolated microspores at 32°C is considered to be a pre-requisite for embryogenesis induction., Depto. de Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Fac. de Ciencias Biológicas, TRUE, pub

The financial support from the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (BFU2005-00603) and from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (AL07-PID-008) is gratefully acknowledged., Plant legumains are cysteine proteinases putatively involved in processing endogenous proteins. Phytocystatins (PhyCys) have been described as plant inhibitors of papain-like cysteine proteinases. Some PhyCys contain a carboxy terminal extension with an amino acid motif (SNSL) similar to that involved in the inhibition of legumain-like proteins by human cystatins. The role of these carboxy terminal extended PhyCys as inhibitors of legumain-like cysteine proteinases is here shown by in vitro inhibition of human legumain and legumain-like activities from barley extracts. Moreover, site-directed mutagenesis has demonstrated that the asparagine of the SNSL motif is essential in this inhibition. We prove for first time the existence of legumain inhibitors in plants., Depto. de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Fac. de Ciencias Biológicas, TRUE, pub

Aim: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous blood-derived material that has been used to enhance bone regeneration. Clinical studies, however, reported inconsistent outcomes. This study aimed to assess the effect of changes in leucocyte and PRP (L-PRP) composition on bone defect healing. Materials and Methods: L-PRPs were prepared using different centrifugation methods and their regenerative potential was assessed in an in-vivo rat model. Bilateral critical-size tibial bone defects were created and filled with single-spin L-PRP, double-spin L-PRP, or filtered L-PRP. Empty defects and defects treated with collagen scaffolds served as controls. Rats were euthanized after 2 weeks, and their tibias were collected and analysed using micro-CT and histology. Results: Double-spin L-PRP contained higher concentrations of platelets than singlespin L-PRP and filtered L-PRP. Filtration of single-spin L-PRP resulted in lower concentrations of minerals and metabolites. In vivo, double-spin L-PRP improved bone healing by significantly reducing the size of bone defects (1.08 ± 0.2 mm3) compared to single-spin L-PRP (1.42 ± 0.27 mm3) or filtered L-PRP (1.38 ± 0.28 mm3). There were fewer mast cells, lymphocytes, and macrophages in defects treated with double-spin L-PRP than in those treated with single-spin or filtered L-PRP. Conclusion: The preparation method of L-PRP affects their composition and potential to regenerate bone., Depto. de Especialidades Clínicas Odontológicas, Fac. de Odontología, TRUE, pub

This work has been supported under contract EUI2008-03600 and CTQ2010-11765-E., Bioconversion of biodiesel-derived waste glycerol into high-value products is proposed as a solution to improve economic viability of biorefineries. Several microorganisms are able to metabolize glycerol into 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BD), a promising bulk chemical with wide applications: solvent, fuel additive, and feedstock for synthetic rubber production, among them. In the present work, a wide screening of microorganisms present both into the waste water treatment system in a biodiesel industry and in culture collections was carried out in order to evaluate their potential as new 2,3-BD producer biocatalysts. Two microorganisms for 2,3-BD production from glycerol as sole carbon source have been selected, namely Raoultella planticola CECT 843 and Raoultella terrigena CECT 4519. Raoultella strains belong to the non‐pathogenic bacteria class (biosafety level 1). This genus has not been previously described as biocatalyst for the studied process. The influence of operational temperature, organic acid addition, and yeast extract concentration on 2,3-BD yield and productivity have been studied through Taguchi design methodology as well as initial glycerol concentration. Based on these results, the feasibility of the process employing pure glycerol and different samples of raw glycerol has been demonstrated., Depto. de Ingeniería Química y de Materiales, Fac. de Ciencias Químicas, TRUE, pub

Although the positive effect that cellulose nanofibers (CNF) can have on paper strength is known, their effect on flocculation during papermaking is not well understood, and most relevant studies have been carried out in presence of only cationic starch. Flocculation is the key to ensuring retention of fibers, fines, and fillers, and furthermore floc properties have a great influence on paper quality. The aim of this research is to study the interactions between CNF and flocculants by assessing the effect of two types of CNF, from eucalyptus and corn, on the flocculation process induced by three different retention systems [a dual system, polyvinylamine (PVA), and cationic starch as reference]. The results showed that CNF interacted with the flocculants in different ways, affecting flocculation efficiency and floc properties. In general, addition of CNF increased floc stability and minimized overdosing effects. Moreover, presence of CNF increased floc size for given PVA dose; therefore, CNF addition could contribute to improve the wet end in the paper machine if combined with the optimal flocculant and dose., Depto. de Ingeniería Química y de Materiales, Fac. de Ciencias Químicas, TRUE, pub

D-Amino acid oxidase from Trigonopsis variabilis (TvDAO) is applied in industry for the synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates. Because free TvDAO is extremely sensitive to exposure to gas–liquid interfaces, biocatalytic processing is usually performed with enzyme immobilizates that offer enhanced stability under bubble aeration. We herein present an ‘‘Immobilization by Design’’ approach that exploits engineered charge complementarity between enzyme and carrier to optimize key features of the immobilization of TvDAO. A fusion protein between TvDAO and the positively charged module Zbasic2 was generated, and a corresponding oppositely charged carrier was obtained by derivatization of mesoporous glass with 3- (trihydroxysilyl)-1-propane-sulfonic acid. Using 250 mM NaCl for charge screening at pH 7.0, the Zbasic2 fusion of TvDAO was immobilized directly from E. coli cell extract with almost absolute selectivity and full retention of catalytic effectiveness of the isolated enzyme in solution. Attachment of the homodimeric enzyme to the carrier was quasi-permanent in low-salt buffer but fully reversible upon elution with 5 M NaCl. Immobilized TvDAO was not sensitive to bubble aeration and received substantial ( tenfold) stabilization of the activity at 458C as compared to free enzyme, suggesting immobilization via multisubunit oriented interaction of enzyme with the insoluble carrier. The Zbasic2 enzyme immobilizate was demonstrated to serve as re-usable heterogeneous catalyst for D-amino acid oxidation. Zbasic2- mediated binding on a sulfonic acid group-containing glass carrier constitutes a generally useful strategy of enzyme immobilization that supports transition from case-specific empirical development to rational design, Minsiterio de Educación, Depto. de Ingeniería Química y de Materiales, Fac. de Ciencias Químicas, TRUE, pub

Porous silica materials make great supports for heterogeneous catalysis with immobilized enzymes; however, direct functionalization of their surface through stable attachment of enzymes, reporter molecules, or both is a difficult problem. Overcoming that is necessary for practical implementation. Here, we integrate the development of luminophor-doped oxygen-sensing silica materials with a modular strategy of enzyme immobilization to demonstrate generally applicable design of an oxygen-dependent biocatalyst on a porous silica support. Zbasic2, a highly positively charged silica-binding module of about 7 kDa size, was fused to d-amino acid oxidase, and the resulting chimeric protein was tethered noncovalently via Zbasic2 in defined orientation and in a highly selective manner on silica. The enzyme supports used differed in overall shape and size as well as in internal pore structure. A confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) analysis that employed the oxidase’s flavin cofactor as the fluorescent reporter group showed a homogeneous internal protein distribution in all supports used. Ru-based organometallic luminophor was adsorbed tightly onto the silica supports, thus enabling internal optical sensing of the O2 available to the enzymatic reaction. Optimization of the surface labeling regarding homogeneous luminophor distribution was guided, and its efficacy was verified by CLSM. Mesostructured silica surpassed controlled pore glass by ≥10-fold in terms of immobilized enzyme effectiveness at high loading of oxidase activity. The effect was shown from detailed comparison of the time-resolved O2 concentration profiles in solution and inside porous support to result exclusively from variable degrees of diffusion-caused limitation in the internal O2 availability. Enzyme immobilized on mesostructured silica approached perfection of a heterogeneous biocatalyst in being almost as effective as the free enzyme (assayed in oxidative deamination of d-methionine), thus emphasizin, Depto. de Ingeniería Química y de Materiales, Fac. de Ciencias Químicas, TRUE, pub

Formate dehydrogenase (FDH) is a stable enzyme that may be readily inactivated by the interaction with hydrophobic interfaces (e.g., due to strong stirring). This may be avoided by immobilizing the enzyme on a porous support by any technique. Thus, even if the enzyme is going to be used in an ultra-membrane reactor, the immobilization presents some advantages. Immobilization on supports activated with bromocianogen, polyethylenimine, glutaraldehyde, etc., did not promote any stabilization of the enzyme under thermal inactivation. However, the immobilization of FDH on highly activated glyoxyl agarose has permitted increasing the enzyme stability against any distorting agent: pH, T, organic solvent, etc. The time of support-enzyme reaction, the temperature of immobilization, and the activation of the support need to be optimized to get the optimal stability-activity properties. Optimized biocatalyst retained 50% of the offered activity and became 50 times more stable at high temperature and neutral pH. Moreover, the quaternary structure of this dimeric enzyme becomes stabilized by immobilization under optimized conditions. Thus, at acidic pH (conditions where the subunit dissociation is the first step in the enzyme inactivation), the immobilization of both subunits of the enzyme on glyoxyl-agarose has allowed the enzyme to be stabilized by hundreds of times. Moreover, the optimal temperature of the enzyme has been increased (even by 10 °C at pH 4.5). Very interestingly, the activity with NAD+-dextran was around 60% of that observed with free cofactor., Comunidad de Madrid, Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, CONICYT-BID, Depto. de Ingeniería Química y de Materiales, Fac. de Ciencias Químicas, TRUE, pub

This work has been supported by MICINN under contracts CTQ2013-45970-C2-1-R, RTC-2014-1826-3 and BSCH-UCM, GR35/10-A 910134., BACKGROUND The fluid dynamic conditions play a key role in the development and scaling-up of bioprocesses. In aerobic cultures, oxygen is an essential substrate for microbial growth, production and culture maintenance; an effective gas–liquid transfer must be achieved. Changes in fluid dynamics due to stirrer speed can affect the culture negatively, causing hydrodynamic stress (increasing shear stress) or oxidative stress (by an increase of available oxygen in the liquid phase). RESULTS Under oxygen-limiting conditions, specific growth rate increases with stirrer speed, and several fermentation products were specifically released to the culture medium. 2,3-butanediol production increased with stirrer speed, reaching a maximum at 400 rpm. When the agitation was increased over 550 rpm, the metabolic flux was mainly routed to increase the cell growth. Negative effects of fluid dynamic conditions on biomass production were observed at 1900 and 2000 rpm. Cellular response to shear stress conditions was also shown in the large increase of the broth viscosity over time. CONCLUSIONS Raoultella terrigena is able to adapt the carbon metabolic flux to the availability of oxygen, producing fermentation products, alcohols or directing microbial growth. Moreover, cells can withstand aggressive agitation conditions (up to 1600 rpm). © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry, MICINN, Depto. de Ingeniería Química y de Materiales, Fac. de Ciencias Químicas, TRUE, pub

Economic globalization has led to production increasingly becoming concentrated in certain regions and countries of the world. This article develops an accounting framework to provide the trends for the contribution of countries to global gross domestic production (GDP). In particular, the method transforms the multiregional input-output model to quantify the relative importance of individual economies to world GDP. The proposal uses a world input-output database that distinguishes between three main economic areas: China, the United States of America and the European Union. The results suggest that identical changes in sectoral demand asymmetrically modify the relative contributions from individual economies, with China showing the highest positive (negative) impact after an increase (decrease) in world demand. These findings suggest that a generalized economic expansion (contraction) is linked to a boost (decline) in the asymmetries of production across the world.

Oenococcus oeni is the lactic acid bacteria most suited to carry out malolactic fermentation in wine, converting L-malic acid into L-lactic acid and carbon dioxide, thereby deacidifying wines. Indeed, wine is a harsh environment for microbial growth, partly because of its low pH. By metabolizing citrate, O. oeni maintains its homeostasis under acid conditions. Indeed, citrate consumption activates the proton motive force, helps to maintain intracellular pH, and enhances bacterial growth when it is co-metabolized with sugars. In addition, citrate metabolism is responsible for diacetyl production, an aromatic compound which bestows a buttery character to wine. However, an inhibitory effect of citrate on O. oeni growth at low pH has been highlighted in recent years. In order to understand how citrate metabolism can be linked to the acid tolerance of this bacterium, consumption of citrate was investigated in eleven O. oeni strains. In addition, malate and sugar consumptions were also monitored, as they can be impacted by citrate metabolism. This experiment highlighted the huge diversity of metabolisms between strains depending on their origin. It also showed the capacity of O. oeni to de novo metabolize certain end-products such as L-lactate and mannitol, a phenomenon never before demonstrated. It also enabled drawing hypotheses concerning the two positive effects that the slowing down of citrate metabolism could have on biomass production and malolactic fermentation occurring under low pH conditions.

Beverages are an important part of the diet, but their environmental impact has been scarcely assessed. The aim of this study was to assess how changes in beverage consumption over a one-year period can impact the environmental sustainability of the diet. This is a one-year longitudinal study of 55-75-year-old participants with metabolic syndrome (n = 1122) within the frame of the PREDIMED-Plus study. Food and beverage intake were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire and a validated beverage-specific questionnaire. The Agribalyse (R) 3.0.1 database was used to calculate environmental impact parameters such as greenhouse gas emission, energy, water, and land use. A sustainability beverage score was created by considering the evaluated environmental markers. A higher beverage sustainability score was obtained when decreasing the consumption of bottled water, natural and packed fruit juice, milk, and drinkable dairy, soups and broths, sorbets and jellies, soft drinks, tea without sugar, beer (with and without alcohol), and wine, as well as when increasing the consumption of tap water and coffee with milk and without sugar. Beverage consumption should be considered when assessing the environmental impact of a diet. Trial registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN89898870. Registered 5 September 2013.

Background Excessive alcohol consumption has been associated with increased risk of atrial fibrillation, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. An enlarged left atrium and impaired left atrial function may lead to atrial fibrillation. The association of alcohol consumption with structural and functional left atrial measures, however, has received limited attention.Methods and Results We studied 503 participants from the PREDIMED-Plus (Prevencion con Dieta Mediterranea) trial, a randomized trial testing intensive weight loss intervention with an energy-reduced Mediterranean diet and physical activity promotion in preventing cardiovascular disease in adults with metabolic syndrome. Participants underwent transthoracic echocardiography at baseline, year 3, and year 5 of the study. Outcomes of interest included volume index and reservoir, conduit, and contractile strains of the left atrium. Alcohol consumption was calculated through food frequency questionnaires and presented as drinks consumed per day. Multiple linear regression and mixed models estimated the association of alcohol consumption with left atrial measurements at baseline and through follow-up. Cross-sectionally, higher alcohol consumption (per 1 drink/day increases) was associated with larger left atrial volume (0.65 mL/m2 [95% CI, 0.18-1.11]) and lower left atrial reservoir and contractile strain (-0.44% [95% CI, -0.87 to -0.01]; and -0.44% [95% CI, -0.75 to -0.14]). Baseline alcohol consumption was not associated with changes in left atrial measurements, but increases in alcohol consumption (per 1 drink/day increase) during follow-up were associated with left atrial enlargement (0.71 mL/m2 [95% CI, 0.17-1.26]).Conclusions In a population at high cardiovascular risk, increased alcohol consumption

Excessive alcohol consumption has been associated with increased risk of atrial fibrillation, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. An enlarged left atrium and impaired left atrial function may lead to atrial fibrillation. The association of alcohol consumption with structural and functional left atrial measures, however, has received limited attention.We studied 503 participants from the PREDIMED-Plus (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea) trial, a randomized trial testing intensive weight loss intervention with an energy-reduced Mediterranean diet and physical activity promotion in preventing cardiovascular disease in adults with metabolic syndrome. Participants underwent transthoracic echocardiography at baseline, year 3, and year 5 of the study. Outcomes of interest included volume index and reservoir, conduit, and contractile strains of the left atrium. Alcohol consumption was calculated through food frequency questionnaires and presented as drinks consumed per day. Multiple linear regression and mixed models estimated the association of alcohol consumption with left atrial measurements at baseline and through follow-up. Cross-sectionally, higher alcohol consumption (per 1 drink/day increases) was associated with larger left atrial volume (0.65 mL/m2 [95% CI, 0.18-1.11]) and lower left atrial reservoir and contractile strain (-0.44% [95% CI, -0.87 to -0.01]; and -0.44% [95% CI, -0.75 to -0.14]). Baseline alcohol consumption was not associated with changes in left atrial measurements, but increases in alcohol consumption (per 1 drink/day increase) during follow-up were associated with left atrial enlargement (0.71 mL/m2 [95% CI, 0.17-1.26]).In a population at high cardiovascular risk, increased alcohol consumption was associated with left atrial enlargemen

This paper presents a new conformal mapping method to solve 2D Laplace and Poisson equations in MOS devices. More specifically, it consists of an analytical solution of the 2D Laplace equation in a rectangular domain with Dirichlet boundary conditions, with arbitrary values on the boundaries. The advantages of the new method are that all four edges of the rectangle are taken into account and the solution consists of closed-form analytical expressions, which make it fast and suitable for compact modeling. The new model was validated against other similar methods. It was found that the new model is much faster, easier to implement, and avoids many numerical issues, especially near the boundaries, at the cost of a very small loss in accuracy.

Beverages are an important part of the diet, but their environmental impact has been scarcely assessed. The aim of this study was to assess how changes in beverage consumption over a one-year period can impact the environmental sustainability of the diet. This is a one-year longitudinal study of 55-75-year-old participants with metabolic syndrome (n = 1122) within the frame of the PREDIMED-Plus study. Food and beverage intake were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire and a validated beverage-specific questionnaire. The Agribalyse® 3.0.1 database was used to calculate environmental impact parameters such as greenhouse gas emission, energy, water, and land use. A sustainability beverage score was created by considering the evaluated environmental markers. A higher beverage sustainability score was obtained when decreasing the consumption of bottled water, natural and packed fruit juice, milk, and drinkable dairy, soups and broths, sorbets and jellies, soft drinks, tea without sugar, beer (with and without alcohol), and wine, as well as when increasing the consumption of tap water and coffee with milk and without sugar. Beverage consumption should be considered when assessing the environmental impact of a diet. Trial registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN89898870. Registered 5 September 2013.

In the era of man–machine interfaces, digital twins stand as a key technology, offering virtual representations of real-world objects, processes, and systems through computational models. They enable novel ways of interacting with, comprehending, and manipulating real-world entities within a virtual realm. The real implementation of graphene-based sensors and electronic devices remains challenging due to the integration complexities of high-quality graphene materials with existing manufacturing processes. To address this, scalable techniques for the in-situ fabrication of graphene-like materials are essential. One promising method involves using a CO2 laser to convert polyimide into graphene. Optimizing this graphitization process is hindered by complex parameter interactions and nonlinear terms. This article explores how these digital replicas can enhance the fabrication of laser-induced graphene (LIG) through laser simulation and machine learning methods to enable rapid single-step LIG patterning. This approach aims to create a universal simulation for all CO2 lasers, calculating optical energy flux and utilizing machine learning to control and predict LIG conductivity (ability to conduct current), morphology, and electrical resistance. The proposed procedure, integrating digital twins in the LIG production process, will avoid or reduce the preliminary tests required to determine the proper laser parameters to reach the desired LIG characteristics. Accordingly, this approach will reduce the time and costs associated with these tests and thus increase the efficiency and optimize the procedure.

In this study, we evaluated the lipidome alterations caused by type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), by determining lipids significantly associated with diabetes overall and in both sexes, and lipids associated with the glycaemic state.An untargeted lipidomic analysis was performed to measure the lipid profiles of 360 subjects (91 T1D, 91 T2D, 74 with prediabetes and 104 controls (CT)) without cardiovascular and/or chronic kidney disease. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS) was conducted in two ion modes (positive and negative). We used multiple linear regression models to (1) assess the association between each lipid feature and each condition, (2) determine sex-specific differences related to diabetes, and (3) identify lipids associated with the glycaemic state by considering the prediabetes stage. The models were adjusted by sex, age, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, body mass index, glucose, smoking, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, alternate Mediterranean diet score (aMED) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR); diabetes duration and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were also included in the comparison between T1D and T2D.A total of 54 unique lipid subspecies from 15 unique lipid classes were annotated. Lysophosphatidylcholines (LPC) and ceramides (Cer) showed opposite effects in subjects with T1D and subjects with T2D, LPCs being mainly up-regulated in T1D and down-regulated in T2D, and Cer being up-regulated in T2D and down-regulated in T1D. Also, Phosphatidylcholines were clearly down-regulated in subjects with T1D. Regarding sex-specific differences, ceramides and phosphatidylcholines exhibited important diabetes-associated differences due to s

The exploration of edible insects, specifically Alphitobius diaperinus and Tenebrio molitor, as sustainable sources of protein for human consumption is an emerging field. However, research into their effects on intestinal health, especially in relation to inflammation and permeability, remains limited. Using ex vivo and in vivo models of intestinal health and disease, in this study we assess the impact of the above insects on intestinal function by focusing on inflammation, barrier dysfunction and morphological changes. Initially, human intestinal explants were exposed to in vitro-digested extracts of these insects, almond and beef. Immune secretome analysis showed that the inflammatory response to insect-treated samples was comparatively lower than it was for samples exposed to almond and beef. Animal studies using yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) and buffalo (Alphitobius diaperinus) flours were then used to evaluate their safety in healthy rats and LPS-induced intestinal dysfunction rats. Chronic administration of these insect-derived flours showed no adverse effects on behavior, metabolism, intestinal morphology or immune response (such as inflammation or allergy markers) in healthy Wistar rats. Notably, in rats subjected to proinflammatory LPS-induced intestinal dysfunction, T. molitor consumption did not exacerbate symptoms, nor did it increase allergic responses. These findings validate the safety of these edible insects under healthy conditions, demonstrate their innocuity in a model of intestinal dysfunction, and underscore their promise as sustainable and nutritionally valuable dietary protein sources.

Ectopic fat accumulation in non-adipose tissues is closely related to diabetes-related myocardial dysfunction. Nevertheless, the complete picture of the lipid metabolites involved in the metabolic-related myocardial alterations is not fully characterized. The aim of this study was to characterize the specific lipid profile in hearts in an animal model of obesity/insulin resistance induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). The cardiac lipidome profiles were assessed via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)/MS-MS and laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) tissue imaging in hearts from C57BL/6J mice fed with an HFD or standard-diet (STD) for 12 weeks. Targeted lipidome analysis identified a total of 63 lipids (i.e., 48 triacylglycerols (TG), 5 diacylglycerols (DG), 1 sphingomyelin (SM), 3 phosphatidylcholines (PC), 1 DihydroPC, and 5 carnitines) modified in hearts from HFD-fed mice compared to animals fed with STD. Whereas most of the TG were up-regulated in hearts from animals fed with an HFD, most of the carnitines were down-regulated, thereby suggesting a reduction in the mitochondrial beta-oxidation. Roughly 30% of the identified metabolites were oxidated, pointing to an increase in lipid peroxidation. Cardiac lipidome was associated with a specific biochemical profile and a specific liver TG pattern. Overall, our study reveals a specific cardiac lipid fingerprint associated with metabolic alterations induced by HFD.

This study delves into the Single Band Ratiometric (SBR) method for luminescence thermometry, specifically employing Tb3+-doped LiSrGdW3O12 (LSGW) as a novel phosphor. The prepared samples crystallize with the tetragonal scheelite structure, with the optimal Tb3+ concentration pinpointed at 0.3Tb(3+) ions. When stimulated at diverse wavelengths exhibit luminescence characterized by varying heat dependencies. By utilizing two Fluorescence Intensity Ratio (FIR) parameters for the 544 nm green emission, firstly excited at 405 nm and 488 nm, and then at 405 nm and 379 nm, the Sr relative thermal sensitivity of the luminescent thermometer peaks at 3.56% K-1 and 4.21% K-1, respectively, within the temperature range of 290-440 K. The temperature resolution (delta T) of the luminescent thermometer is calculated to be delta T-1 = 0.68 K and delta T-2 = 0.75 K for T = 290 K, respectively. These outcomes underscore the applicability of Tb3+ ions for SBR thermometry, emphasizing the impact of the excitation wavelength on the thermal sensitivity. The study lays the groundwork for developing highly sensitive temperature probes by elucidating the interplay of material properties and physical processes.

Growing interest in lignocellulosic bioethanol stems from the European Union's renewable energy directive, targeting a global bioethanol output of 130 billion L to achieve a minimum threshold of 42.5%. Despite industrialization challenges, recent advancements, especially in crucial stages like pretreatment, hydrolysis, and fermentation, are transforming the landscape. This review delves into the progress of bioethanol production, addressing technological, environmental, and economic hurdles. Innovations such as deep eutectic solvent pretreatment and mechanocatalysis, offering advantages like 30% and 100% solid loading, respectively, surpass traditional techniques and enzymatic hydrolysis in yielding better results. Improved pretreatment methods, enzyme exploration, saccharification techniques, genetic engineering, and integrated biorefineries contribute to overall economic viability. Ongoing research involves techno-economic analysis for cost-effective strategies, aiming to enhance the competitiveness of lignocellulosic bioethanol production. Scrutinizing the feasibility of these innovative approaches not only highlights their potential to overcome existing shortcomings but also envisions a more attractive future for industrial bioethanol production. Embracing these advancements could pave the way for a vibrant and sustainable bioethanol industry.

The recovery of additional mandibular fossils from the Atapuerca Sima de los Huesos (SH) site provides new insights into the evolutionary significance of this sample. In particular, morphological descriptions of the new adult specimens are provided, along with standardized metric data and phylogenetically relevant morphological features for the expanded adult sample. The new and more complete specimens extend the known range of variation in the Atapuerca (SH) mandibles in some metric and morphological details. In other aspects, the addition of new specimens has made it possible to confirm previous observations based on more limited evidence. Pairwise comparisons of individual metric variables revealed the only significant difference between the Atapuerca (SH) hominins and Neandertals was a more vertical symphysis in the latter. Similarly, principal components analysis of size-adjusted variables showed a strong similarity between the Atapuerca (SH) hominins and Neandertals. Morphologically, the Atapuerca (SH) mandibles show nearly the full complement of Neandertal-derived features. Nevertheless, the Neandertals differ from the Atapuerca (SH) mandibles in showing a high frequency of the H/O mandibular foramen, a truncated, thinned and inverted gonial margin, a high placement of the mylohyoid line at the level of the M3, a more vertical symphysis and somewhat more pronounced expression of the chin structures. Size-related morphological variation in the SH hominins includes larger retromolar spaces, more posterior placement of the lateral corpus structures, and stronger markings associated with the muscles of mastication in larger specimens. However, phylogenetically relevant features in the SH sample are fairly stable and do not vary with the overall size of the mandible.

Aims To evaluate the effect of an intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) on the structural and functional cardiac substrate of atrial fibrillation (AF) in overweight or obese people with metabolic syndrome (Mets).Methods and results Participants of the PREvencion con DIeta MEDiterranea-Plus trial (n = 6874) were randomized 1:1 to an ILI programme based on an energy-reduced Mediterranean diet, increased physical activity, and cognitive-behavioural weight management or to a control intervention of low-intensity dietary advice. A core echocardiography lab evaluated left atrial (LA) strain, function, and volumes in 534 participants at baseline, 3-year, and 5-year follow-ups. Mixed models were used to evaluate the effect of the ILI on LA structure and function. In the subsample, the baseline mean age was 65 years [standard deviation (SD) 5 years], and 40% of the participants were women. The mean weight change after 5 years was -3.9 kg (SD 5.3 kg) in the ILI group and -0.3 kg (SD 5.1 kg) in the control group. Over the 5-year period, both groups experienced a worsening of LA structure and function, with increases in LA volumes and stiffness index and decreases in LA longitudinal strain, LA function index, and LA emptying fraction over time. Changes in the ILI and control groups were not significantly different for any of the primary outcomes {LA emptying fraction: -0.95% [95% confidence interval (CI) -0.93, -0.98] in the control group, -0.97% [95% CI -0.94, -1.00] in the ILI group, Pbetween groups = 0.80; LA longitudinal strain: 0.82% [95% CI 0.79, 0.85] in the control group, 0.85% [95% CI 0.82, 0.89] in the ILI group, Pbetween groups = 0.24} or any of the secondary outcomes.Conclusion In overweight or obese people with Mets, an ILI had no impact on the underlying structural a

Two new vitrimeric materials have been studied for potential additive manufacturing applications such as 3Dprinting. A monomer containing disulfide bonds and beta-hydroxyesters was easily synthesized from two lowcost and commercially available reagents. Another disulfide-containing monomer was synthesized for comparison purposes. Materials were prepared through a UV-light radical polymerization of methacrylates. The addition of two reactive diluents such as poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) and ethylene glycol phenyl ether methacrylate (EGPMA) was necessary to achieve a suitable viscosity for the curing as well as for their printability. The curing process was controlled by FTIR. Thermomechanical properties were investigated by means of DMTA analysis revealing near-ambient T-g values. Stress relaxation tests revealed that both materials were capable to relax the 63% of the initial stress in less than 10 min at 110( degrees)C. The recyclability of the materials was achieved, and the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of the recycled samples were compared to the virgin ones revealing a great recovery of the initial properties. Finally, Digital Light Processing (DLP) technique was used to print complex structures with high resolution highlighting the great potential of these vitrimeric materials in 3D printing.