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Introduction. We present the first case of pediatric ileocystoplasty using a purely robotic approach in Spain. Case report. 12-year-old male with neurogenic bladder of low capacity and high pressures. After failure of conservative treatment, bladder augmentation with ileum patch was decided upon. Surgery was carried out using a purely robotic approach with 4 robotic and 2 accessory ports. Surgery duration was 380 minutes in total, without intraoperative complications. He was discharged 2 weeks after cystographic control. During 32-months follow-up, he has remained continent. Discussion. The minimal invasion, surgical precision and ergonomics made the robotic approach an optimal option for complex surgical techniques. Given the little availability of the robot and the low pediatric volume, its standardization is a challenge. Our accumulated experience is consistent with the current literature and shows promising surgical and esthetic results. We hope this case report will contribute to the divulgation and progressive introduction of robotic surgery in our daily lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fracture Mechanics is an extensively developed discipline for a wide range of materials used in scientific and engineering applications. However, the thorough understanding and characterization of fracture phenomena in many soil and rock-type materials are still under development. This work aims to characterize the suction-dependent fracture response in undisturbed clay soils, which will lead to identifying a ductile–brittle behavior threshold. The undisturbed condition will provide information on the behavior of the soil in its natural state. For this purpose, a new experimental procedure is presented in order to obtain a closed-form relationship between mode I fracture toughness (K Ic) and a suction range (Ψ) for the Guadalquivir blue marl. In order to achieve this objective, an experimental campaign was carried out using a series of semi-circular specimens subjected to the three-point bending test with different suctions. The corresponding loading–displacement curves from the tests are qualitatively analyzed to identify the fracture response of this material, and the linear regression technique is used to finally obtain the desired relationship. Current results show that an increasing value of suction increases both the maximum load and the stiffness, yielding a more brittle behavior associated with an increase in K Ic. Finally, an alternative expression for the determination K Ic with respect to that proposed by Kuruppu and coauthors (Kuruppu et al., 2013) is presented, which involves the explicit inclusion of the suction variable for the more brittle behavior, limited by the threshold found. This provides a new perspective on how moisture content affects the fracture mechanics of clays. • Determination of suction effect on the fracture behavior of clays. • Identification of a ductile–brittle threshold for suction-dependent unsaturated soils. • Correlation between suction and mode I fracture toughness for brittle behavior. • A new methodology for fabricating undisturbed clay NSCB specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) has been reported. Whether COVID-19 increases the risk of VTE in non-ICU wards remains unknown. We aimed to evaluate the burden of asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in COVID-19 patients with elevated D-dimer levels. In this prospective study consecutive patients hospitalized in non-intensive care units with diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia and D-dimer > 1000 ng/ml were screened for asymptomatic DVT with complete compression doppler ultrasound (CCUS). The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee. The study comprised 156 patients (65.4% male). All but three patients received standard doses of thromboprophylaxis. Median days of hospitalization until CCUS was 9 (IQR 5–17). CCUS was positive for DVT in 23 patients (14.7%), of whom only one was proximal DVT. Seven patients (4.5%) had bilateral distal DVT. Patients with DVT had higher median D-dimer levels: 4527 (IQR 1925-9144) ng/ml vs 2050 (IQR 1428-3235) ng/ml; p < 0.001. D-dimer levels > 1570 ng/ml were associated with asymptomatic DVT (OR 9.1; CI 95% 1.1–70.1). D-dimer showed an acceptable discriminative capacity (area under the ROC curve 0.72, 95% CI 0.61–0.84). In patients admitted with COVID-19 pneumonia and elevated D-dimer levels, the incidence of asymptomatic DVT is similar to that described in other series. Higher cut-off levels for D-dimer might be necessary for the diagnosis of DVT in COVID-19 patients. • An increased risk of VTE in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to intensive care unit has been reported. • The most consistent hemostatic abnormalities with COVID-19 include mild thrombocytopenia and increased D-dimer levels. • In COVID-19 patients with high D-dimer levels, the incidence of asymptomatic DVT is similar to that described in other series. • Higher cut-off levels for D-dimer might be necessary for the diagnosis of DVT in COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The value of D-dimer testing for the diagnosis of thrombosis in unusual sites is not properly established and evidence is scarce. We performed a systematic review of the literature. The search was conducted in MEDLINE and Cochrane Library for papers published in the last 10 years including different presentations of thrombosis in unusual sites. Twenty-three articles were included, from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2018, comprising 3378 patients with thrombosis in unusual sites (upper extremity deep vein thrombosis, cerebral vein thrombosis and splanchnic vein thrombosis). The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the quality of the studies. Two articles were related to upper extremity thrombosis, showing a high sensitivity and negative predictive value for D-dimer testing. Twelve articles concerned cerebral vein thrombosis, concluding that the timing of D-dimer testing was important, and that patients with a shorter duration of symptoms showed higher D-dimer levels. Sensitivity and specificity in these patients ranged from 58% to 97% and from 77% to 97.5%, respectively. Nine articles were related to splanchnic vein thrombosis. One described a population of patients with mesenteric venous thrombosis, and the rest included patients with portal vein thrombosis. The D-dimer testing methods and the proposed cut-off levels were remarkably different among the included studies. D-dimer testing should not be currently recommended for the diagnosis of thrombosis in unusual sites as a first line diagnostic tool. The development of algorithms combining biomarkers such as D-dimer and clinical decision tools could improve the diagnosis. • D-dimer testing for the diagnosis of venous thrombosis in unusual sites is controversial. • Upper extremity, cerebrum and abdomen are unusual sites of venous thrombosis. • There is the need for the standardization in D-dimer tests and cutoff levels. • D-dimer combined with a clinical decision rule may be useful for the diagnosis of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis. • The usefulness of D-dimer is still debatable in cerebral vein thrombosis and splanchnic vein thrombosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• No information exists on the quince tree mechanisms to confront drought. • Quince trees were characterized by an extreme anisohydric behavior. • Active osmotic adjustment operated contributing to the maintenance of leaf turgor (stress tolerance mechanism). • Low apoplastic water contributed a steeper gradient in water potential between the leaf and the soil favouring water absorption. Quince tree (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) is known for bearing fruits that are rich in nutrients and health-promoting compounds while requiring low inputs of agrochemicals, and maintenance, but no information exists on the mechanisms developed at the level of leaf water relations to confront water stress and recovery. For this reason, the purpose of the present study was to identify the strategy (isohydric or anisohydric) by which quince plants cope with water stress and to further elucidate the resistance mechanisms developed in response to water stress and during recovery. In summer 2016, field-grown own rooted 17-years old quince trees (cv. BA-29) were subjected to two irrigation treatments. Control (T0) plants were drip irrigated (105% ETo) to ensure non-limiting soil water conditions, while T1 plants were irrigated at the same level as used in T0, except that irrigation was withheld for 42 days during the linear fruit growth phase, after which irrigation returned to the levels of T0 (recovery period). During the experimental period, T0 and T1 received a total of 374 and 143 mm water, respectively, including rain water. The quince trees exhibited extreme anisohydric behaviour under the experimental conditions. As water stress developed and during the recovery period, the plants exhibited high hydraulic conductivity, probably the result of resistance to cavitation. From the beginning of water stress to the time of maximum water stress, leaf turgor was maintained, possibly due to active osmotic adjustment (stress tolerance mechanism). This leaf turgor maintenance may have contributed to the high leaf conductance, and, therefore, good leaf productivity. The low quince leaf apoplastic water fraction under water stress could be considered as another drought tolerance characteristic because if the accumulation of water in the apoplasm is avoided a steeper gradient in water potential between the leaf and the soil can take place under water stress, thus favouring water absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Digestate was valorised through solid-state fermentation into biopesticides. • Bacillus thuringiensis can grow on digestate to produce biopesticides. • Reactors of different type (insulated and mixed) and scale (10–100 L) were used. • Sporulation over 80% is obtained in all the studied reactors. • Stirred non-insulated reactor is pointed as the best option for further scale-up. The main goal of this work is the production of a biopesticide through solid-state fermentation of biowaste digestate inoculated with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) at pilot scale using different configurations of reactors. Fermentations were carried out using insulated and non-insulated, stirred and non-stirred reactors at different scales (10, 22 and 100 L) in order to assess the influence of the reactor configuration on the biopesticide production process. A maximum temperature of 60 °C was reached in 10-L insulated non-stirred reactors where increments of Bt viable cells and spores with respect to initial values of 1.9 and 171.6 respectively, were attained. In contrast, when temperature was regulated by using 22-L non-insulated stirred reactors the increment of viable cells and spores were 0.8 and 1.9, respectively, at a stable temperature of 27 °C. When the non-insulated stirred reactor was scaled up to 100-L, the increase of viable cells and spore counts were 1.2 and 3.8 respectively, with an average temperature of 28 °C. These results demonstrated that the election of a proper reactor configuration is important when considering the development of a new SSF process, especially when dealing with non-conventional substrates as digestate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fetal stress increases the susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases in adult age, including hypertension, a process known as fetal programming of hypertension (FPH). This study intends to investigate the interplay between vascular sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and RAS, namely the neuromodulatory role exerted by Angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor-1 (AT1) in FPH, and respective contribution for hypertension. 6-month old Sprague-Dawley offspring from mothers fed ad-libitum (CONTROL) or with 50% intake during the second half of gestation (maternal undernutrition, MUN) were used. Sympathetic neurotransmission was studied in mesenteric/tail arteries and mesenteric veins by electrically-evoked [3H]-noradrenaline release experiments using RAS drugs. AT1 receptors in sympathetic nerves of mesenteric arteries were investigated by immunohistochemistry and Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy. Ang II facilitated noradrenaline release in the vessels studied from MUN and CONTROL rats. Losartan induced a tonic facilitation only in MUN vessels. Sympathetic innervation was larger in MUN versus CONTROL vessels. AT1 receptors on sympathetic nerves were present in higher amounts in MUN versus CONTROL vessels. Findings support that FPH is associated with a vascular hyper-sympathetic activation, involving a tonic facilitation of prejunctional AT1 receptors by endogenous Ang II, which can justify, at least in part, the development of hypertension. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The resistance mechanisms (stress avoidance and stress tolerance) developed by persimmon plants (Diospyros kaki L. f. grafted on Diospyros lotus L.) in response to mild water stress and the sensitivity of continuously (on a whole-day basis) and discretely (at predawn and midday) measured indicators of the plant water status were investigated in 3-year old 'Rojo Brillante' persimmon plants. Control (T0) plants were drip irrigated in order to maintain soil water content at levels slightly above soil field capacity (102.3% of soil field capacity) and T1 plants were drip irrigated for 33 days in order to maintain the soil water content at around 80% of soil field capacity. The results indicated persimmon plants confront a mild water stress situation by gradually developing stomata control (stress avoidance mechanism) and exhibiting some xeromorphic characteristic such as high leaf relative apoplastic water content, which could contribute to the retention of water at low leaf water potentials. In addition, sap flow measurements made by the heat-pulse technique were seen to be the most suitable method for estimating persimmon water status, because it provided the highest signal intensity (actual value/reference value):noise (coefficient of variation) ratio in almost all intervals of time considered and provides continuous and automated registers of the persimmon water status in real time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Despite the convolution preserving most of the smooth properties of the functions that take part in it, there exist differentiable functions whose convolution is not differentiable. In the present result, we study the algebraic genericity of the set of those functions. In particular, it is proved that periodic continuous functions can be approximated by functions belonging to a vector space each of whose nonzero members generates some convolution which is not differentiable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract 'Brava' and 'Mansa de Figueiredo' extra-virgin olive oils (EVOOs) are two varieties identified from north-western Spain. A systematic phenolic characterization of the studied oils was undertaken by LC-ESI-IT-MS. In addition, the role of dietary polyphenols from these EVOOs has been evaluated against the inhibition of key enzymes (α-glucosidase and α-amylase) in the management of diabetes mellitus (DM). Oleuropein and ligstroside derivatives comprised 83% and 67% of the total phenolic compounds in 'Brava' and 'Mansa de Figueiredo' EVOOs, respectively. The main secoiridoids from oleuropein were DOA (3,4-DHPEA-EDA, 59 and 22 mg kg−1, respectively) and the main isomer of OlAgl (3,4-DHPEA-EA, 74 and 23 mg kg−1). The main secoiridoids from ligstroside were D-LigAgl (p -HPEA-EDA or oleocanthal, 23 and 167 mg kg−1) and the main isomer of LigAgl (p -HPEA-EA, 214 and 114 mg kg−1). For α-glucosidase, both EVOO extracts displayed stronger inhibitory activity (IC 50 values of 60 ± 8 and 118 ± 9 μg mL−1, respectively) than the commercial inhibitor acarbose (IC 50 = 356 ± 21 μg mL−1). Nevertheless, for α-amylase, only 'Brava' extracts showed anti-α-amylase capacity. A daily VOO intake lower than the requirements of EFSA seem to be enough to reach both 50% for α-glucosidase and 25% for α-amylase inhibition. These findings support the potential health benefits derived from Galician EVOOs that might be probably linked to the outstanding high concentration levels of phenolic acids and flavonoids. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Phenolic-rich extracts from EVOOs: new functional foods for management of diabetes. • First LC-MS characterization of EVOOs from 'Brava' and 'Mansa de Figueiredo' varieties. • Phenolic-rich extracts from EVOOs were stronger inhibitors of α-glucosidase than commercial inhibitor (acarbose). • Phenolic-rich extracts from 'Brava' oil exhibited stronger inhibition against α-amylase than 'Mansa de Figueiredo' oil. • Some phenolic compounds seem to be responsible of enzyme inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Metabolic disorders have risen in prevalence during recent years. • hiPSCs emerge as a source of cells for functional grafts in medicine. • Recent patient-derived hiPSCs could be useful for the discovery of new biomarkers. • hiPSCs together with GWAS allow identification of specific therapeutic drugs. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) enable in vitro high-throughput pharmacological screening assays of diseased tissue. Together with recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS), hiPSCs enable the identification of key mutations for the development of effective treatments based on precise drugs. In concert with CRISPR/Cas9 systems, hiPSC technology can reveal therapeutic targets in metabolic disorders. The ex vivo CRISPR correction of autologous patient-derived hiPSCs has led to the development of replacement cell therapies, providing better patient prognoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge is a characteristic of people who reside in the brain and represents an intelligent activity that can be realized through it. This knowledge is generated from the interpretation of the information that is stored and obtained from different media. The stability of the results of an institution is largely due to the way in which this knowledge is formed, developed and retained. This is why knowledge management plays a fundamental role in the sustainable development of small and medium-sized organizations that produce software. Currently, the development of interactive video games has been positively conditioned by the needs of dynamic software according to the different spheres of society. The Vertex Interactive Environments Center is located at the Informatics Science University, which presents the development of videogames among its production lines and constitutes a reference entity within the group of organizations of this industry at the national level. The objective of this research is to design a procedure for knowledge management in the development of video games that allows to maintain, train and develop knowledge effectively. The proposed procedure is composed of a plan of actions and measures indicators. It also incorporates a simple mathematical method that makes it possible to evaluate the intelligence of the organization represented by the videogame projects of the industry, using a computer support tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to clarify some of the assumptions and approximations about the use of the distribution coefficient K d for 226 Ra in soils, a systematic study has been performed using centrifugation to extract the soil solution. The separated fractions of the soil solution have different kinetics with respect to the sorption process in the soil, which may in turn condition the final chemical composition and even the speciation of the radionuclides in solution. In the experimental design of this study three factors were considered: the moisture level in the incubation process, incubation time and the speed of centrifugation. Also, three levels were chosen for each factor. In order to analyze the influence of the structural characteristics of the soil, this study was performed with three textural fractions: coarse sand, fine sand, and silt and clay, obtained from an only soil. Also, the soil was naturally enriched with radionuclides of the 238 U series. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed in order to assess the influence of the factors studied on the distribution coefficient of 226 Ra. The results indicate that different behaviors can be observed depending on the structural characteristic of the soil. In the case of particle size, the soil with the largest grain size showed that the incubation process parameters influence the equilibrium level achieved, while in the case of the smallest edaphic particles, radium is not homogeneously distributed in the soil solution and the K d value is dependent on the speed of centrifugation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pistacia lentiscus is a wild species that grows widely in the Mediterranean area. However, despite it appearing to be particularly resistant to some stressful conditions, drought and salinity may alter its physiological and morphological behavior. While the responses of P. lentiscus to both stresses have been partially studied, its avoidance and tolerant mechanisms are poorly understood. In particular, changes in leaf tissue cell wall and the photosynthetic activity during a prolonged water deficit and salinity are unknown. Nursery grown plants were subjected to four irrigation treatments lasting eleven months: control (1 dS m −1 , 100% water holding capacity), two deficit treatments (moderate and severe water deficit, corresponding to 60 and 40% of control) and saline treatment (4 dS m −1 , same amount of water supplied as control). Biomass accumulation was affected more by deficit irrigation than by salinity. Salt tolerance in P. lentiscus was associated with the restricted uptake of Cl − and its storage in roots. However, the cumulative effect of irrigating with saline water involved an over-accumulation of Na + and Cl − in leaves, which probably contributed to the pronounced decrease in photosynthesis, confirming the importance of the length of exposure of the plants to salt stress. Plants under saline or severe deficit irrigation exhibited slight dehydration throughout the experiment, as indicated by the lower leaf water potential and relative water content, due to the low availability of substrate water (osmotic effect). The response of plants to severe water stress, which resulted in stomatal closure and a decrease in net photosynthesis rate, involved a marked decrease in plant height and growth, especially in the first months of the experiment, after which a slight acclimation may have occurred in these plants. Under moderate water stress, most of these responses were mitigated. Salinity induced active osmotic adjustment and decreased leaf tissue elasticity. Due to its tolerance of water stress and salinity, P. lentiscus is a suitable ornamental species for gardening in arid and saline area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, phenol-rich extracts from ‘Cornicabra’ and ‘Picual’ virgin-olive oils (EVOOs) were examined, for the first time, to establish their capacity to inhibit key enzymes involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD) (acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) and 5-lipoxygenase (LOX)), major depressive disorder (MDD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) (monoamine oxidases: h MAO-A and h MAO-B respectively), and diabetes mellitus (DM) (α-glucosidase and α-amylase). ‘Cornicabra’ displayed the best inhibitory activity against all enzymes, when compared to ‘Picual’: BuChE (IC 50  = 156 ± 4 and 308 ± 33 mg mL −1 ), LOX (IC 50  = 26 ± 0.5 and 37 ± 3 mg mL −1 ), h MAO-A (IC 50  = 20 ± 2 and 37 ± 0.2 mg mL −1 ), h MAO-B (IC 50  = 131 ± 7 and 215 ± 13 mg mL −1 ) and α-glucosidase (IC 50  = 154 ± 17 and 251 ± 31 mg mL −1 ), respectively. The behaviour observed can be associated with the higher content of secoiridoids, lignans and phenolic acids in ‘Cornicabra’ EVOO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Itolizumab is a humanized anti‐CD6 monoclonal antibody (mAb) that has previously shown encouraging results, in terms of safety and positive clinical effects, in a 6‐week monotherapy clinical trial conducted in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The current Phase I study evaluated the safety and clinical response for a longer treatment of 12 itolizumab intravenous doses in subjects with active RA despite previous disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy. Twenty‐one subjects were enrolled into four dosage groups (0·1, 0·2, 0·4 and 0·8 mg/kg). Efficacy end‐points including American College of Rheumatology (ACR)20, ACR50 and ACR70 response rates and disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) were monitored at baseline and at specific time‐points during a 10‐week follow‐up period. Itolizumab was well tolerated up to the highest tested dose. No related serious adverse events were reported and most adverse events were mild. Remarkably, itolizumab treatment did not produce lymphopenia and, therefore, was not associated with infections. All patients achieved a clinical response (ACR20) at least once during the study. Eleven subjects (55%) achieved at least a 20% improvement in ACR just 1 week after the first itolizumab administration. The clinical response was observed from the beginning of the treatment and was sustained during 24 weeks. The efficacy profile of this 12‐week treatment was similar to that of the previous study (6‐week treatment). These results reinforce the safety profile of itolizumab and provide further evidence on the clinical benefit from the use of this anti‐CD6 mAb in RA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of agricultural pesticides in the environment and their effects on ecosystems are major concerns addressed in a significant number of articles. However, limited information is available on the pesticide concentrations released from crops. This study reports losses of new-generation fungicides by foliar wash-off from vineyards and their potential impact on the concentrations of their main active substances (AS) in surface waters. Two experimental plots devoted to vineyards were treated with various combinations of commercial new-generation fungicide formulations. Then, up to sixteen throughfall collectors were installed under the canopy. Concentrations of sixteen different AS in throughfall were determined along nine rainfall episodes. Concentrations in throughfall far exceeded the maximum permissible levels for drinking water established by the European Union regulations. Dynamics of fungicide release indicated a first-flush effect in the wash-off founding the highest concentrations of AS in the first rain episodes after application of the fungicides. This article shows that foliar spray application of commercial formulations of new-generation fungicides does not prevent the release of their AS to soil or the runoff. Concentration data obtained in this research can be valuable in supporting the assessment of environmental effects of new-generation fungicides and modeling their environmental fate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser capture microdissection (LCM) allows the isolation of specific cell populations from complex tissues that can be then used for gene expression studies. However, there are no reproducible protocols to study RNA in the brain and, particularly, in the substantia nigra. RNA is a very labile biomolecule that is easily degraded during manipulation. LCM studies use low amounts of material and special precautions must be taken to preserve RNA yield and integrity, which are decisive for PCR analysis. The RNA yield and/or integrity can be affected negatively by tissue manipulation, LCM process and RNA extraction. We have optimized these three critical steps using nigral tissue sections, and developed a LCM protocol to obtain high-quality RNA for gene expression analysis. The optimal LCM protocol requires the use of 20 µm-thick tissue sections mounted on glass slides and processed for rapid tyrosine hydroxylase immunofluorescence. Additionally, a total microdissected tissue area of 1 mm and a column-based RNA extraction method were used to obtain a high RNA yield and integrity. In the rat substantia nigra, we demonstrated the expression of RNA for the angiotensin type 1 and type 2 receptors using this optimized LCM protocol. In conclusion, the LCM protocol reported here can be used to study the expression of both scarcely or abundantly expressed genes in the different brain regions of mammals under both physiological and pathological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paraneoplastic syndromes produce tumors at sites distant from themselves and are not physically related to those tumors or to their metastases. Various gastrointestinal tumors may present syndromes or systemic, dermatological, hematological, renal, neurological and other manifestations. This study reviews these manifestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soil-to-plant transfer factors were determined in a granitic area for the two long-lived uranium series radionuclides 238 U and 226 Ra. With the aim to identify a physical fraction of soil whose concentration correlates linearly with the plant concentration, the soil compartment was analyzed in various stages. An initial study identified the soil compartments as being either bulk soil or its labile fraction. The bulk soil was subsequently divided into three granulometric fractions consisting of: coarse sand, fine sand, and silt and clay. The soil-to-plant transfer of radionuclides for each of these three texture fractions was analyzed. Lastly, the labile fraction was extracted from each textural part, and the activity concentration of the radionuclides 238 U and 226 Ra was measured. In order to assess the influence of soil texture on the soil-to-plant transfer process, we sought to identify possible correlations between the activity concentration in the plant compartment and those found in the different fractions within each soil compartment. The results showed that the soil-to-plant transfer process for uranium and radium depends on soil grain size, where the results for uranium showed a linear relationship between the activity concentration of uranium in the plant and the fine soil fraction. In contrast, a linear relation between the activity concentration of radium in the plant and the soil coarse-sand fraction was observed. Additionally, the presence of phosphate and calcium in the soil of all of the compartments studied affected the soil-to-plant transfer of uranium and radium, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, equivalence constants between various polynomial norms are calculated. As an application, we also obtain sharp values of the Hardy–Littlewood constants for 2-homogeneous polynomials on ℓ p 2 spaces, 2 < p ≤ ∞ . We also provide lower estimates for the Hardy–Littlewood constants for polynomials of higher degrees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromium (Cr) is a highly toxic metal for microorganisms as well as plants and animal cells. Due to its widespread industrial use, Cr has become a serious pollutant in diverse environmental settings. The hexavalent form of the metal, Cr(VI), is considered a more toxic species than the relatively innocuous and less mobile Cr(III) form. The study of the interactions between microorganisms and Cr has been helpful to unravel the mechanisms allowing organisms to survive in the presence of high concentrations of Cr(VI) and to detoxify and remove the oxyanion. Various mechanisms of interactions with Cr have been identified in diverse species of bacteria and fungi, including biosorption, bioaccumulation, reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III), and chromate efflux. Some of these systems have been proposed as potential biotechnological tools for the bioremediation of Cr pollution using bioreactors or by in situ treatments. In this review, the interactions of microorganisms with Cr are summarised, emphasising the importance of new research avenues using advanced methodologies, including proteomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses, as well as the use of techniques based on X-ray absorption spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is known that there is not a two dimensional linear space in RR every non-zero element of which is an injective function. Here, we generalize this result to arbitrarily large dimensions. We also study the convolution of nondifferentiable functions which gives, as a result, a differentiable function. In this latter case, we are able to showthe existence of linear spaces of the largest possible dimension formed by functions enjoying the previous property. By doing this we provide both positive and negative results to the recent field of lineability. Some open questions are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we prove that the complex polynomial Bohnenblust–Hille constant for 2-homogeneous polynomials inis exactly. We also give the exact value of the real polynomial Bohnenblust–Hille constant for 2-homogeneous polynomials in. Finally, we provide lower estimates for the real polynomial Bohnenblust–Hille constant for polynomials inof higher degrees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of methylenemalononitriles and ethyl cyanoacrylates derived from both aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes were synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation catalysed with native and modified chitosan-based heterogeneous catalysts. The efficiency of our hydrogel organocatalysts, chitosan hydrogel beads and ureidyl-chitosan derivative hydrogel disks, was evaluated as function of pH, temperature and catalyst concentration by considering reaction rates, conversions, E/Z stereoselectivities, and kinetic studies of a model reaction between 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and ethyl cyanoacetate. An unprecedented study by solid state 13 C CP MAS NMR of the employed catalyst when reaction was quenched after a 50% of conversion, has demonstrated that an imine-chitosan intermediate is formed during this process. Analysis of E / Z ethyl cyanoacrylate isomer mixtures for determining the corresponding stereoselectivity was carried out by NMR measuring carbon-proton coupling constants ( 3 J C,H ) using a novel CLIP-HSQMCB experiment. Additionally, DFT calculations let us rationalise the observed E / Z stereoselectivities as well as to evaluate the role of ureidyl moiety on interaction with aldehydes and imine intermediate formation with chitosan derivative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared carcass and meat quality traits between 16 vaccinated (VF), 19 castrated (CF) and 8 entire (EF) female Iberian pigs, and between 21 vaccinated (VM) and 19 castrated (CM) male Iberian pigs reared in free ranging conditions. Vaccination consisted in the application of Improvac® at the age of 11, 12 and 14 months in VF and VM. Pigs were slaughtered at 16 months. In females, carcass and meat quality were found to be very similar regardless of the treatment. In males, VM had a leaner carcass, lower (P < 0.05) percentage of intramuscular fat, higher shear force and more rancidity than CM (P < 0.05 in all cases). It could be concluded that vaccination or castration had no major effects on quality traits in females. It should be then stated that entire females are suitable for free-range conditions in terms of product qualities. Vaccination in females did not alter carcass and meat quality, and specific interests should consider reproductive behavior in free-range conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to compare the effectiveness of diurnal and nocturnal pollinators, we studied the reproductive biology and pollinators of Tillandsia heterophylla E. Morren, an epiphytic tank bromeliad endemic to southeastern Mexico. Since anthesis in T. heterophylla is predominantly nocturnal but lasts until the following day, we hypothesised that this bromeliad would receive visits from both diurnal and nocturnal visitors, but that nocturnal visitors would be the most effective pollinators, since they arrive first to the receptive flower, and that bats would be the most frequent nocturnal visitors, given the characteristics of the nectar. Flowering of T. heterophylla began in May and lasted until July. The species is fully self-compatible, with an anthesis that lasts for ca. 15-16 h. Mean volume of nectar produced per flower was 82.21 µl, with a mean sugar concentration of 6.33%. The highest volume and concentration of nectar were found at 20:00 h, with a subsequent decline in both to almost zero over the following 12-h period. T. heterophylla has a generalist pollination system, since at least four different morphospecies of visitors pollinate its flowers: bats, moths, hummingbirds and bees. Most of the pollinating visits corresponded to bats and took place in the early evening, when stigma receptivity had already begun; making bats the probable pollinator on most occasions. However, diurnal pollinators may be important as a 'fail-safe' system by which to guarantee the pollination of T. heterophylla. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viral vectors are common tools in gene therapy to deliver foreign therapeutic sequences in a specific target population via their natural cellular entry mechanisms. Incorporating such vectors in implantable systems may provide strong alternatives to conventional gene transfer procedures. The goal of the present study was to generate different hydrogel structures based on alginate (AlgPH155) and poloxamer PF127 as new systems to encapsulate and release recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors. Inclusion of rAAV in such polymeric capsules revealed an influence of the hydrogel composition and crosslinking temperature upon the vector release profiles, with alginate (AlgPH155) structures showing the fastest release profiles early on while over time vector release was more effective from AlgPH155 + PF127 [H] capsules crosslinked at a high temperature (50 °C). Systems prepared at room temperature (AlgPH155 + PF127 [C]) allowed instead to achieve a more controlled release profile. When tested for their ability to target human mesenchymal stem cells, the different systems led to high transduction efficiencies over time and to gene expression levels in the range of those achieved upon direct vector application, especially when using AlgPH155 + PF127 [H]. No detrimental effects were reported on either cell viability or on the potential for chondrogenic differentiation. Inclusion of PF127 in the capsules was also capable of delaying undesirable hypertrophic cell differentiation. These findings are of promising value for the further development of viral vector controlled release strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fertilization is a key reproductive event in which sperm and egg fuse to generate a new individual. Proper regulation of certain parameters (such as intracellular pH) is crucial for this process. Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are among the molecular entities that control intracellular pH dynamics in most cells. Unfortunately, little is known about the function of CAs in mammalian sperm physiology. For this reason, we re-explored the expression of CAI, II, IV and XIII in human and mouse sperm. We also measured the level of CA activity, determined by mass spectrometry, and found that it is similar in non-capacitated and capacitated mouse sperm. Importantly, we found that CAII activity accounts for half of the total CA activity in capacitated mouse sperm. Using the general CA inhibitor ethoxyzolamide, we studied how CAs participate in fundamental sperm physiological processes such as motility and acrosome reaction in both species. We found that capacitated human sperm depend strongly on CA activity to support normal motility, while capacitated mouse sperm do not. Finally, we found that CA inhibition increases the acrosome reaction in capacitated human sperm, but not in capacitated mouse sperm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key points T-type Ca2+ channels are expressed in the ventricular myocytes of the fetal and perinatal heart, but are downregulated as development progresses. However, these channels are re-expressed in adult cardiomyocytes under pathological conditions., Hypoxia induces the upregulation of the T-type Ca2+ channel Cav3.2 mRNA in cardiac myocytes, whereas Cav3.1 mRNA is not significantly altered., The effect of hypoxia on Cav3.2 mRNA requires hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) stabilization and involves the small monomeric G-protein RhoA and its effector ROCKI., Our results suggest that the hypoxic regulation of the Cav3.2 channels may be involved in the increased probability of developing arrhythmias observed in ischemic situations, and in the pathogenesis of diseases associated with hypoxic Ca2+ overload., Abstract T-type Ca2+ channels are expressed in the ventricular myocytes of the fetal and perinatal heart, but are normally downregulated as development progresses. Interestingly, however, these channels are re-expressed in adult cardiomyocytes under pathological conditions. We investigated low voltage-activated T-type Ca2+ channel regulation in hypoxia in rat cardiomyocytes. Molecular studies revealed that hypoxia induces the upregulation of Cav3.2 mRNA, whereas Cav3.1 mRNA is not significantly altered. The effect of hypoxia on Cav3.2 mRNA was time- and dose-dependent, and required hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) stabilization. Patch-clamp recordings confirmed that T-type Ca2+ channel currents were upregulated in hypoxic conditions, and the addition of 50 μ m NiCl2 (a T-type channel blocker) demonstrated that the Cav3.2 channel is responsible for this upregulation. This increase in current density was not accompanied by significant changes in the Cav3.2 channel electrophysiological properties. The small monomeric G-protein RhoA and its effector Rho-associated kinase I (ROCKI), which are known to play important roles in cardiovascular physiology, were also upregulated in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes subjected to hypoxia. Pharmacological experiments indicated that both proteins were involved in the observed upregulation of the Cav3.2 channel and the stabilization of HIF-1α that occurred in response to hypoxia. These results suggest a possible role for Cav3.2 channels in the increased probability of developing arrhythmias observed in ischaemic situations, and in the pathogenesis of diseases associated with hypoxic Ca2+ overload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current trend of the olive oil market is the production of high quality extra from traditional minor olive varieties with peculiar and differentiated characteristics (especially with respect to the aromatic and phenolic composition). In this way, the interest of Galician oil producers (NW Spain) in recovering old autochthonous Local olive fruits has increased substantially in recent years. In order to investigate the potential of the Local olives by either producing high quality monovarietal oils or mixing with the most widespread olives in Galicia (Arbequina and Picual cv.), quality indices, and fatty acid composition as well as volatile and phenolic profiles were determined and compared. All EVOOs studied in this work can be considered as “extra virgin olive oil” due to quality indices fell within the ranges established in legislation. Picual and Local olive oils as well as those resulting from their co-crushing reach values which are required by EU legislation to add the specific health claim on the oil label. Co-crushing Picual: Local (80:20) provided a significant enhancement of grass and apple nuances and a decrease of banana notes with respect to Picual oils. The co-crushing process improved sensory and health properties of Picual extra virgin olive oils. The effect of co-crushing on phenolics, ester volatiles and banana nuances cannot be easily modulated, contrary to quality indices and fatty acid composition, both changing linearly in strict correlation with the fruit mass ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the design and operation of the first prototype of a robot, designed to guide the insertion of screws in spinal fixation surgery. This type of surgery, usually done manually, could cause many injuries due to human error at the moment of inserting the screws into the patient's vertebrae. Computed tomography can be used to avoid such errors, but the results are much better if a robot assists and indicates the surgeon the path for the insertion of the screw, according to the image scanner. This article shows how using a commercial low-cost robot can be implemented in a system that provides a practical solution to this problem. A software that allows you to define the start and the end positions of the screw to be introduced on the Dicom image of the patient, was implemented. With this information the system moves the robot which has a ring that will guide the surgeon in the final insertion. The results show a fairly accurate system, giving the surgeon a safe path of insertion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper lost in foliar wash-off from vine leaves treated with Cu-based fungicides was analyzed with a single-drop rainfall simulator. The temporal losses of the particulate Cu (Cu P ) and the solution Cu (Cu S ) from raindrop strikes on leaves were modeled using a Poisson point process. This model estimated maximum detachment rates of 0.82 ng Cu P and 0.033 ng Cu S per raindrop. The total amount of Cu (Cu T ) in the leaves before rainfall ranged between 0.4 and 4.4 g Cu kg −1 dry weight. Wash-off reduced the amount of Cu T present in the leaves by 0.6 g kg −1 . Particulate losses of Cu T ranged from 75 to 90%, while soluble losses of Cu T ranged from 10 to 25%. The kinetic energy of the raindrops influenced the loss of Cu S but not the loss of Cu P . The Poisson point approach can provide an interesting starting point to model non-point source pollution produced from agricultural chemicals washed-off by rain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composites of biomorphic silicon carbides (bioSiCs) and hydrogels are proposed in order to obtain materials able to load and release poor soluble drugs with application in bone pathologies therapy. Hydrogels composed by alginate and poloxamer were loaded with indomethacin, incorporated into the ceramics and crosslinked. The indomethacin release profile is dependent on the microstructure of the bioSiC selected. The loaded oak and sapelli bioSiCs composites have adequate release profiles to promote the decreasing of the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in LPS stimulated macrophages, showing stronger anti-inflammatory effects than pine bioSiC composites. The released indomethacin is able to modulate the degradation of chondrocytes extracellular matrix and promote the formation of new collagen by osteoarthritic chondrocytes. Particles derived from mechanical wear of biomorphic silicon carbides do not show high toxicity, being similar to the zirconia particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was recently proved by F. Bayart and the fourth and fifth authors that the complex polynomial Bohnenblust–Hille inequality is subexponential. Here, we show that (for real scalars) this no longer holds. Moreover, we show (among other results) that, if D R , m stands for the real Bohnenblust–Hille constant for m -homogeneous polynomials, then lim ⁡ sup m ⁡ D R , m 1 / m = 2 , a quite surprising result having in mind that the exact value of the Bohnenblust–Hille constants is still a mystery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research in micromilling processes has found that tool deflection phenomenon affects the forces significantly, causing a smoothing effect in the tool run-out. Therefore, this needed to be taken into account to design a model for reliably predicting the cutting forces in these processes. In this paper, a study of the tool deflection phenomenon was carried out by applying the principles of elasticity of materials to the situation of a tool under a distributed force along its edge. The contribution of this study consisted of considering a variable deflection along the length of the edge, which has not been taken into account in previous models. A new methodology of obtaining the rigidity, based on experimental data, was applied to two specific types of mills by using their geometry. With this model, a linear equations system that allows the prediction of cutting forces was obtained. These predictions, which were calculated with a low computational cost, can be used in monitoring systems and adaptive control of the process for the prevention of tool failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment with 360 lambs grouped into three Spanish commercial categories, (Pascual, 1 3 - 1 6 kg; Recental, 9 - 1 3 kg and Lechal <7 kg carcass weight) and kid goats (7 kg) was performed to assess stunning effectiveness after head-only (HO) and head-to-body (HB) electrical stunning with intensity currents of 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 Amperes (A) compared to 1.0 A. After stunning, all animals showed tonic-clonic muscular activity and epileptiform EEG, absence of rhythmic breathing, corneal reflex, spontaneous blinking and pain sensibility. The quiescent EEG occurred earlier (P < 0.05) in HB compared to HO in all categories. More animals recovered corneal reflex and rhythmic breathing before onset of the quiescent activity after HO (from 15 to 50%) compared to HB (from 0 to 15%) (P < 0.05). Concluding, HO and HB electrical stunning with 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 A induce effective stunning similar to 1.0 A in lambs and kid goats. After stunning and sticking, brain failure occurs earlier in HB than HO system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systematic studies of physico-chemical and stability-related properties, and chemical composition, of extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) obtained from drupes cropped in specific regions are of special agricultural interest. This is particularly so with new production areas, where careful selection of the most suitable olive varieties for EVOO production is required. This paper reports the first comprehensive chemical characterisation of EVOOs obtained from three different olive varieties (viz., Picual, Morisca and Manzanilla de Sevilla) grown in a new cultivation area in Galicia (NW Spain). The Morisca variety was that providing the highest industrial oil yield (21%). However, the three types of EVOO exhibited no statistically significant differences in standard quality-related indices other than acidity. Morisca EVOO was that with the lowest content in oleic acid (mean = 68%) and highest content in linoleic acid (mean = 13%). Also, Morisca EVOO exhibited the highest sterol levels (mean = 1616 mg/kg) and Picual EVOO the lowest (mean = 1160 mg/kg). Picual EVOO contained greater amounts of the phenolic compounds luteolin and pinoresinol than both Morisca and Manzanilla de Sevilla EVOOs. Finally, Manzanilla de Sevilla EVOO exhibited differential attributes, with banana and olive fruit aromatic series prevailing predominantly over bitter-like, pungent-like and leaf series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wolbachia is an obligate endosymbiont whose spread depends mainly on its capacity to alter host reproduction by, for instance, cytoplasmic incompatibility. Several mathematical models have been developed to explain the dynamics of bacterial spread, because of its applied interest. However, some aspects of the host's and bacterium's biology have not been considered in modelling: for instance, changes in Wolbachia proportions during the host's life cycle have been observed in several species, including Drosophila sp., Nasonia sp. and Aedes sp. (Diptera), but also in the grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus (Orthoptera), the species studied in this article. These changes influence the proportion of incompatible crosses and, consequently, infection prevalence in subsequent generations. In this paper, we are interested in ascertaining whether these changes in the infection proportions during the host's life cycle can influence the dynamics of the spread of these bacteria. We have examined its consequences using a mathematical model to predict the evolution of Wolbachia infection frequencies. The simulations were validated by experimental field data from C. parallelus. The main outcome is that those changes above mentioned might affect long-term infection spread, with possible consequences for the current distribution of Wolbachia and the way it affects its host's reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The olive paste kneading temperature and time affects the volatile and phenol profiles. [•] A clear difference was found between oils processed at 30°C/30min and 30°C/90min. [•] Morisca oils are characterised mainly by bitter, pungent, leaf and apple odorant series. [•] In Manzanilla de Sevilla oils, frutal (banana, olive) and grass notes are predominant. [•] Increase in the phenolic content is observed at 30°C and 30min, especially in Morisca oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Fruit water potential is more stable than other water potential assessments. [•] Before harvest water could enter the fruits using the phloem rather than the xylem. [•] Aril turgor increase would put pressure on the peel and make it susceptible to cracking. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The possibility of using magnesium based eutectic metal alloys as phase change material (PCM) for thermal energy storage (TES) in concentrated solar power (CSP) applications is analysed. An extensive thermophysical characterization of the Mg-51%Zn eutectic metal alloy between room temperature and melting temperature has been performed. The results are compared with some available data in the literature, and differences found are discussed. A comparison with pure, binary and ternary inorganic salts used as PCM is presented highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of the different systems. This alloy is proposed not only as a candidate for latent heat thermal energy storage for direct steam generation (DSG) in CSP applications but for high pressure and high energy steam processes as well. Reported data are essential for ensuing modelling and experimental reactor studies employing this alloy as a PCM for TES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Direct contact of materials with blood components may trigger numerous processes which ultimately lead to hemolysis, clot formation and recruitment of inflammatory cells. In this study, the blood-surface interactions for two inert bioinspired ceramic scaffolds obtained from natural resources; biomorphic carbon and silicon carbides (bioSiC) from different origins have been studied. The response of the blood in contact with carbon is well known, however little has been identified on the influence of their 3D porous structure. Moreover, to our knowledge, there is no reference in the literature about the hemocompatibility of biomorphic silicon carbide as a porous scaffold. The experimental results showed the surface energy to be crucial to evaluate the hemocompatibility of a material however the surface topography and material porosity are also parameters to be considered. Surface roughness modifies clot formation whereas for protein adsorption total sample porosity seems to be the key parameter to be considered for hydrophilic materials (biomorphic silicon carbides), while the size of the pores determines the hemolytic response. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]