The objective of this research was to evaluate the chemical and functional properties of hard-to-cook (HTC) bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) protein concentrate to determine their potential practical applications. The respec...The objective of this research was to evaluate the chemical and functional properties of hard-to-cook (HTC) bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) protein concentrate to determine their potential practical applications. The respective protein concentrate was obtained from the flour using isoelectric precipitation and the protein content was 73.03%. Proximate composition and in vitro digestibility were measured to evaluate the chemical properties, and nitrogen solubility, emulsifying capacity, emulsion stability, foaming capacity, foam stability and viscosity were measured to evaluate its functional properties. The proximate composition of the HTC bean (P. vulgaris) flour and protein concentrate registered values of moisture, ash, protein, fat, fiber and NFE of 8.92, 4.52, 21.71%, 4.41%, 4.11% and 65.25% for flour and of 2.68%, 2.54%, 73.03%, 2.77%, 1.31% and 20.35% for protein concentrate. The in vitro digestibility was of 76.7%. The hard-to-cook bean protein concentrate exhibited good functional properties suggesting its use as additive. This concentrate registered solubility values that are ranging from 2.5% to 71.81%. The emulsifying (EC) and foaming capacity (FC) registered values of 89% - 97% and of 7% - 53% at different pH levels, respectively as well as an emulsion (ES) and foaming stability (FS) pH- and time-dependent. The HTC bean (P. vulgaris) protein concentrate registered a viscosity profile dependent of shear rate. The results suggest that HTC bean (P. vulgaris) protein concentrate is a valuable food ingredient or additive.展开更多
Aluminum alloy samples, 6061-T6 and 2219-T42, were exposed to Caribbean seawater for 90 d. The fluctuations of open circuit potential, considered as electrochemical noise (EN), were used to characterize and compare in...Aluminum alloy samples, 6061-T6 and 2219-T42, were exposed to Caribbean seawater for 90 d. The fluctuations of open circuit potential, considered as electrochemical noise (EN), were used to characterize and compare initial pitting events, which appeared on their surfaces. EN analysis was carried out using the power spectral density (PSD) vs frequency. The decrease of the β exponent in PSD graphs indicated a release of spontaneous energy with the progress of pit formation in seawater. The fluctuations were associated with the breakdown and formation of new corrosion layers. The values of β exponent in PSD graphs suggest that corrosion process of AA2219-T42 alloy occurs as a persistent non-stationary process, the dynamics of which is controlled by fractional Brownian motion (fBm), while on AA6061-T6 alloy the corrosion process was dominated by stationary and weakly persistent features, with the contribution of fractional Gaussian noise (fGn). After the exposure in seawater, SEM-EDX analysis revealed insoluble intermetallic particles on the alloys, rich in Cu or Fe and irregularly distributed. The preferential dissolution of Mg and Al occurs from the S-phase (Al2CuMg) of AA2219-T42 alloy.展开更多
The high activity of metallic magnesium and alloys limits its potential in biomedical applications;in recent years,extensive efforts have been devoted to modulating this reactivity.In this work,we present Mg(OH)_(2) a...The high activity of metallic magnesium and alloys limits its potential in biomedical applications;in recent years,extensive efforts have been devoted to modulating this reactivity.In this work,we present Mg(OH)_(2) and TiO_(2)barrier coatings to reduce the degradation of magnesium alloy(Mg-Ca-Zn)surfaces.These coatings were deposited by the anodization method and the spin-coating technique,respectively.The anodized layer was coated with TiO_(2)generated from the hydrolysis of 3%weight of TTIP(Ti[OCH(CH_(3))_(2)]_(4),Titanium(IV)isopropoxide)in 2-Propanol deposited by the spin-coating method.Studying the degradation in Ringer’s solution by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and OCP revealed a 98%reduction in pittings in uncoated samples after 14 days of immersion.The p H measurements revealed that the TiO_(2)coating reduced the alkalization of the physiological environment,keeping the pH at 6.0 values.In vitro studies of two types of bacteria(E.coli and S.aureus)exhibited zones of inhibition in the agar and activity bactericidal(kill time test).The mechanisms behind the improved degradation resistance and enhanced antibacterial activity are presented and discussed here.Surface modification with Mg(OH)_(2)/TiO_(2)coatings is a promising strategy to control the biodegradation of magnesium implants for bone regeneration.展开更多
Soft tissue sarcomas represent only 1% of all adult cancers;myxofibrosarcoma is the most common type that arises in adult extremities, particularly lower limbs (77%), other less common locations are the trunk (12%) an...Soft tissue sarcomas represent only 1% of all adult cancers;myxofibrosarcoma is the most common type that arises in adult extremities, particularly lower limbs (77%), other less common locations are the trunk (12%) and neck (3%). Usually presenting as a painless, subcutaneous, slow growing mass with tendency for recurrence, they are prone to have higher histological grade and metastatic potential after recurrence;even in optimal multidisciplinary settings patients can have incomplete resections, making metastatic disease more common after misdiagnosis. We present the case of a 69-year-old male patient with a right infraescapular tumor, presenting as a painless 15 × 8 cm, mobile mass, with a slow but progressive growth, history of a previous tumor excised at the same location 5 years prior without histopathological report.展开更多
Meplazumab,a humanized CD147 antibody,has shown favourable safety and efficacy in our previous clinical studies.In DEFLECT(NCT04586153),167 patients with severe COVID-19 were enroled and randomized to receive three do...Meplazumab,a humanized CD147 antibody,has shown favourable safety and efficacy in our previous clinical studies.In DEFLECT(NCT04586153),167 patients with severe COVID-19 were enroled and randomized to receive three dosages of meplazumab and a placebo.Meplazumab at 0.12 mg/kg,compared to the placebo group,showed clinical benefits in significantly reducing mortality by 83.6%(2.4%vs.14.6%,p=0.0150),increasing the proportion of patients alive and discharged without supplemental oxygen(82.9%vs.70.7%,p=0.0337)and increasing the proportion of patients who achieved sustained clinical improvement(41.5%vs.31.7%).The response rate in the 0.2 mg/kg group was relatively increased by 16.0%compared with the placebo group(53.7%vs.46.3%).Meplazumab also reduced the viral loads and multiple cytokine levels.Compare with the placebo group,the 0.3 mg/kg significantly increased the virus negative rate by 40.6%(p=0.0363)and reduced IL-8 level(p=0.0460);the 0.2 mg/kg increased the negative conversion rate by 36.9%,and reduced IL-4(p=0.0365)and IL-8 levels(p=0.0484).In this study,the adverse events occurred at a comparable rate across the four groups,with no unexpected safety findings observed.In conclusion,meplazumab promoted COVID-19 convalescence and reduced mortality,viral load,and cytokine levels in severe COVID-19 population with good safety profile.展开更多
Background:Emphysematous pyelonephritis(EPN)is a necrotizing infection of the kidney and the surrounding tissues associated with considerable mortality.We aimed to formulate a score that classifies the risk of mortali...Background:Emphysematous pyelonephritis(EPN)is a necrotizing infection of the kidney and the surrounding tissues associated with considerable mortality.We aimed to formulate a score that classifies the risk of mortality in patients with EPN at hospital admission.Materials and methods:Patients diagnosed with EPN between 2013 and 2020 were retrospectively included.Data from 15 centers(70%)were used to develop the scoring system,and data from 7 centers(30%)were used to validate it.Univariable and mułtivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent factors related to mortality.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to construct the sconng system and calculate the risk of mortality.A standardized regression coefficient was used to quantify the discriminating power of each factor to convert the individual coefficients into points.The area under the curve was used to quantify the scoring system performance.An 8-point scoring system for the mortality risk was created(range,0-7).Results:In total,570 patients were included(400 in the test group and 170 in the validation group).Independent predictors of mortality in the multivariable logistic regression were included in the scoring system:quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment score≥2(2 points),anemia,paranephric gas extension,leukocyte count>22,000/pL,thrombocytopenia,and hyperglycemia(1 point each).The mortality rate was<5%for scores≤3,83.3%for scores 6,and 100%for scores 7.The area under the Curve was 0.90(95%confidence interval,0.84-0.95)for test and 0.91(95%confidence interval,0.84-0.97)for the validation group.Condusions:Our score predicts the risk of mortality in patients with EPN at presentation and may help clinicians identify patients at a higher risk of death.展开更多
Habanero pepper(Capsicum chinense Jacq.)is a crop of economic relevance in the Peninsula of Yucatan.Its fruits have a high level of capsaicinoids compared to peppers grown in other regions of the world,which gives the...Habanero pepper(Capsicum chinense Jacq.)is a crop of economic relevance in the Peninsula of Yucatan.Its fruits have a high level of capsaicinoids compared to peppers grown in other regions of the world,which gives them industrial importance.Soil is an important factor that affects pepper development,nutritional quality,and capsaicinoid content.However,the effect of soil type on fruit development and capsaicinoid metabolism has been little understood.This work aimed to compare the effect of soils with contrasting characteristics,black soil(BS)and red soil(RS),on the expression of genes related to the development of fruits,and capsaicinoid synthesis using a transcriptomic analysis of the habanero pepper fruits.Plants growing in RS had bigger fruits and higher expression of genes related to floral development,fruit abscission,and softening which suggests that RS stimulates fruit development from early stages until maturation stages.Fruits from plants growing in BS had enrichment in metabolic pathways related to growth,sugars,and photosynthesis.Besides,these fruits had higher capsaicinoid accumulation at 25 days post-anthesis,and higher expression of genes related to the branched-chain amino acids metabolism(ketol-acid reductisomerase KARI),pentose phosphate pathway and production of NADPH(glucose-6-phosphate-1-dehydrogenase G6PDH),and proteasome and vesicular traffic in cells(26S proteasome regulatory subunit T4 RPT4),which suggest that BS is better in the early stimulation of pathways related to the nutritional quality and capsaicinoid metabolism in the fruits.展开更多
Indium tin oxide(ITO)thin films were prepared using the technique of rf-sputtering with oblique angle deposition(OAD).The films were as-deposited and thermally treated at 250℃.The combination of substrate inclination...Indium tin oxide(ITO)thin films were prepared using the technique of rf-sputtering with oblique angle deposition(OAD).The films were as-deposited and thermally treated at 250℃.The combination of substrate inclination and annealing was used for modifying morphological and structural properties that lead to changes of the optical properties.The resulting films show morphology of tilted nanocolumn,fissures among columns,and structural changes.The as-deposited films are structurally disordered with an amorphous component and the annealed films are crystallized and more ordered and the film diffractograms correspond to the cubic structure of In2O3.The refractive index could be modified up to 0.3 in as-deposited films and up to 0.15 in annealed films as functions of the inclination angle of the nanocolumns.Similarly,the band gap energy increases up to about 0.4 eV due to the reduction of the microstrain distribution.It is found that the microstrain distribution,which is related to lattice distortions,defects and the presence of fissures in the films,is the main feature that can be engineered through morphological modifications for achieving the adjustment of the optical properties.展开更多
This paper addresses the development of a random forest classifier for the muki-class fault diagnosis in spur gearboxes. The vibration signal＇s condition parameters are first extracted by applying the wavelet packet ...This paper addresses the development of a random forest classifier for the muki-class fault diagnosis in spur gearboxes. The vibration signal＇s condition parameters are first extracted by applying the wavelet packet decomposition with multiple mother wavelets, and the coefficients＇ energy content for terminal nodes is used as the input feature for the classification problem. Then, a study through the parameters＇ space to find the best values for the number of trees and the number of random features is performed. In this way, the best set of mother wavelets for the application is identified and the best features are selected through the internal ranking of the random forest classifier. The results show that the proposed method reached 98.68% in classification accuracy, and high efficiency and robustness in the models.展开更多
The removal efficiency of Cu and Zn from swine wastewater was evaluated as effected by three variables: the hydraulic retention time (HRT) (24, 48, 72 and 96 hours), two different plant species (Typha domingensis Pers...The removal efficiency of Cu and Zn from swine wastewater was evaluated as effected by three variables: the hydraulic retention time (HRT) (24, 48, 72 and 96 hours), two different plant species (Typha domingensis Pers. and Eleocharis cellulosa) and two different sizes of filter media (5 and 15 mm) using a horizontal sub-surface flow constructed wetland. From the results, a significant difference was observed in the removal efficiency of Cu and Zn with respect to different hydraulic retention times. The best results were obtained in the HRT of 96 hours for Zn where 96% removal of Zn with Typha domingensis Pers. specie with gravel of 15 mm (experimental unit 6) was achieved. For Cu, at 72 hours of HRT, the efficiency was nearly 100% in five of the six study units (1, 2, 3, 5 and 6). In contrast, in experimental unit 4 with gravel of 15 mm and without plants, only 86% Cu removal was achieved.展开更多
Transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS)has been reportedly beneficial for different neurodegenerative disorders.tDCS has been reported as a potential adjunctive or alternative treatment for auditory verbal hallu...Transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS)has been reportedly beneficial for different neurodegenerative disorders.tDCS has been reported as a potential adjunctive or alternative treatment for auditory verbal hallucination(AVH).This study aims to review the effects of tDCS on AVH in patients with schizophrenia through combining the evidence from randomized clinical trials(RCTs).The databases of PsycINFO(2000–2019),PubMed(2000–2019),EMBASE(2000–2019),CINAHL(2000–2019),Web of Science(2000–2019),and Scopus(2000–2019)were systematically searched.The clinical trials with RCT design were selected for final analysis.A total of nine RCTs were eligible and included in the review.Nine RCTs were included in the final analysis.Among them,six RCTs reported a significant reduction of AVH after repeated sessions of tDCS,whereas three RCTs did not show any advantage of active tDCS over sham tDCS.The current studies showed an overall decrease of approximately 28%of AVH after active tDCS and 10%after sham tDCS.The tDCS protocols targeting the sensorimotor frontal-parietal network showed greater treatment effects compared with the protocols targeting other regions.In this regard,cathodal tDCS over the left temporoparietal area showed inhibitory effects on AVHs.The most effective tDCS protocol on AVHs was twice-daily sessions(2 mA,20-minute duration)over 5 consecutive days(10 sessions)with the anode over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the cathode over the left temporal area.Some patient-specific and diseasespecific factors such as young age,nonsmoking status,and higher frequencies of AVHs seemed to be the predictors of treatment response.Taken together,the results of tDCS as an alternative treatment option for AVH show controversy among current literatures,since not all studies were positive.However,the studies targeting the same site of the brain showed that the tDCS could be a promising treatment option to reduce AVH.Further RCTs,with larger sample sizes,should be conducted to reach a conclusion on the 展开更多
Malignant pleural mesothelioma(MPM)is a rare tumor with poor prognosis and rising incidence.Palliative care is common in MPM as radical treatment with curative intent is often not possible due to metastasis or extensi...Malignant pleural mesothelioma(MPM)is a rare tumor with poor prognosis and rising incidence.Palliative care is common in MPM as radical treatment with curative intent is often not possible due to metastasis or extensive locoregional involvement.Numerous therapeutic advances have been made in recent years,including the use of less aggressive surgical techniques associated with lower morbidity and mortality(e.g.,pleurectomy/decortication),technological advancements in the field of radiotherapy(intensity-modulated radiotherapy,image-guided radiotherapy,stereotactic body radiotherapy,proton therapy),and developments in systemic therapies(chemotherapy and immunotherapy).These improvements have had as yet only a modest effect on local control and survival.Advances in the management of MPM and standardization of care are hampered by the evidence to date,limited by high heterogeneity among studies and small sample sizes.In this clinical guideline prepared by the oncological group for the study of lung cancer of the Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology,we review clinical,histologic,and therapeutic aspects of MPM,with a particular focus on all aspects relating to radiotherapy,including the current evidence base,associations with chemotherapy and surgery,treatment volumes and planning,technological advances,and reradiation.展开更多
This study investigates the technique of variational calculus applied to estimate the slope stability considering the mechanism of planar failure.The critical plane failure surface should be determined because it theo...This study investigates the technique of variational calculus applied to estimate the slope stability considering the mechanism of planar failure.The critical plane failure surface should be determined because it theoretically indicates the most unfavorable plane to be considered when stabilizing a slope to rectify the instability generated by several statistically possible planes.This generates integrals that can be solved by numerical methods,such as the Newton Cotes and the finite differences methods.Additionally,a system of nonlinear equations is obtained and solved.The surface of the critical planar failure is determined by applying the condition of transversality in mobile boundaries,for which various examples are provided.The number of slices is varied in one of the examples,while the surface of the critical planar failure is determined in the others.Results are compared using analytical methods through axis rotations.All the results obtained by considering normal stress,safety factors,and critical planar failure are nearly the same;however,in this research,a study is carried out for“n”number of slices using programming methods.Sub-routines are important because they can be applied in slopes with different geometry,surcharge,interstitial pressure,and pseudo-static load.展开更多
The extraction of anthocyanins present in the skin of the dragon fruit was performed using trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) plus a mixture of methanol, acetic acid and water;the anthocyanins were then purified with a LC-18 ...The extraction of anthocyanins present in the skin of the dragon fruit was performed using trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) plus a mixture of methanol, acetic acid and water;the anthocyanins were then purified with a LC-18 cartridge, using methanol acidified with TFA as eluent, reaching concentrations of 44.3865 ± 1.3125 mg/100g of sample. The extracts were put through stability tests under different storage conditions, modifying the pH of the extracts (pH of 1, 4 and 6), the temperature (4℃, 25℃ and 68℃) and the absence and presence of light for a time period of 4 days;the tests indiated that anthocyanins remain more stable at a temperature of 4℃?with a pH of 4 in the absence of light, retaining up to 80% of the pigment. Three anthocyanins were partially identified in the extracts by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC);they were: cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, cyanidin 3,5 O-glucoside and pelargonidin 3,5 O-glucoside.展开更多
The effect of water deficit was determined on both in vitro and soil seedling as well as in cells in suspension of Agave americana L.In order to do the establishment of cells,the formation of callus was induced;for it...The effect of water deficit was determined on both in vitro and soil seedling as well as in cells in suspension of Agave americana L.In order to do the establishment of cells,the formation of callus was induced;for it two auxins were evaluated:2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid(2,4-D)and 4-mino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid(picloram)at three concentrations(0.25,0.5 and 0.75 mg L−1)in three explants(leaf,root and meristems)cultured in MS semisolid medium.The callogenesis response was related to the type and section of the explant,as well as the regulator used,and a cell suspension was established using 0.5 mg L−1 naphthaleneacetic acid(NAA)+0.5 mg L−1 Benzylaminopurine(BAP).Seedlings were exposed to polyethyleneglycol(15%and 30%w/v)with a water potential of−0.87 and−2.67 MPa,respectively,under soil conditions.Water stress was applied through restricted irrigation.Fresh weight,root system growth,and chlorophyll concentration were some of the parameters that were affected by the effect of water deficit on A.americana L.Chlorophyll concentration values were significantly decreased by 15 at 30%PEG(19.6 SPAD units)compared to the control treatment.In in vitro plants,the highest concentration of proline was found in the roots,being the treatment with 30%polyethylene glycol where the highest concentration of this osmoregulator was obtained(62.5 mg g−1 DW).Under restricted irrigation conditions,an increase in proline concentration was observed both in the aerial part(2.2μg 100 g−1 DW)and in the root system(1.8μg 100 g−1 DW).However,the concentrations found were approximately ten times greater,less than those found under in vitro conditions.Therefore,the accumulation of proline can be considered an indicator of stress in Agave Americana L.growth in vitro.展开更多
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is an economically devastating disease with worldwide distribution caused by Betaarterivirus suid (PRRSV). The virion has great genetic and antigenic variability wi...Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is an economically devastating disease with worldwide distribution caused by Betaarterivirus suid (PRRSV). The virion has great genetic and antigenic variability with a marked increase in virulence. Vaccines tested to date have been of little use in controlling the problems caused by PRRSV, so the present study was conceived to evaluate the antiviral effect of polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) made with glycyrrhizic acid (GA). Recent work has proven that this nanoparticle system is stable. These nanoparticles have good GA carrying capacity, a size < 250 nm, a spherical morphology, and a wide safety range. The integrity of cell morphology can be maintained for up to 72 h. The antiviral effect of this nanoparticle system was tested in cultures of MARC-145 cells in pre- and coinfection assays with PRRSV to evaluate changes in cell morphology and effects on cell viability. The use of PNPsGA with the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) decreased viral infection by 38% in 3 amplification cycles. These results suggest that this system has an antiviral effect against PRRSV under the study conditions established.展开更多
Astyanax mexicanus has repeatedly colonized cave environments,displaying evolutionary parallelisms in many troglobitic traits.Despite being a model system for the study of adaptation to life in perpetual darkness,the ...Astyanax mexicanus has repeatedly colonized cave environments,displaying evolutionary parallelisms in many troglobitic traits.Despite being a model system for the study of adaptation to life in perpetual darkness,the parasites that infect cavefish are practically unknown.In this study,we investigated the macroparasite communities in 18 cavefish populations from independent lineages and compared them with the parasite diversity found in their sister surface fish populations,with the aim of better understanding the role that parasites play in the colonization of new environments.Within the cavefish populations,we identified 13 parasite taxa,including a subset of 10 of the 27 parasite taxa known for the surface populations.Parasites infecting the cavefish belong to five taxonomic groups,including trematodes,monogeneans,nematodes,copepods,and acari.Monogeneans are the most dominant group,found in 14 caves.The macroparasites include species with direct life cycles and trophic transmission,including invasive species.Surprisingly,paired comparisons indicate higher parasite richness in the cavefish than in the surface fish.Spatial variation in parasite composition across the caves suggests historical and geographical contingencies in the host-parasite colonization process and potential evolution of local adaptations.This base-line data on parasite diversity in cavefish populations of A.mexicanus provides a foundation to explore the role of divergent parasite infections under contrasting ecological pressures(cave vs.surface environments)in the evolution of cave adaptive traits.展开更多
Ecotourism is a tourism modality intricately linked to the principles of sustainability,due to its natural offer component and environmental education.The objective of this research is to evaluate the perception of ec...Ecotourism is a tourism modality intricately linked to the principles of sustainability,due to its natural offer component and environmental education.The objective of this research is to evaluate the perception of ecotourists present on the coast of Yucatan.From a regional approach,the author selected twenty-five community-based ecotourism ventures(CBET)present in the area and analysed the perception of ecotourists through a questionnaire and its respective statistical analysis with non-parametric tests,and developed a general profile of the ecotourist applying a sociodemographic segmentation and based on a geographical segmentation the author compared the perceptions of two populations:national ecotourists and international ecotourists.The data reveal that the profile of the ecotourist on the coast of Yucatan is similar to that postulated in the literature.In terms of environmental perception the author found a significant difference in both populations,and believed that this difference is because the international market is more critical and demanding.In addition,areas of opportunity were documented in the CBETs in the way they carry out their environmental communication.The author concluded that ecotourism in the region is still an activity in consolidation and although it presents great achievements.It is still not possible to qualify it as a sustainable activity.We call for continuing deepening the studies of ecotourism demand and evaluation of perception,through comparative,longitudinal studies and with new variables that allow new test statistics,to contribute new elements to the ecotourism debate.展开更多
Tropical alpine ecosystems exhibit outstanding plant diversity and endemism while being particularly sensitive to the impacts of climate change.Although understanding spatiotemporal changes in plant species compositio...Tropical alpine ecosystems exhibit outstanding plant diversity and endemism while being particularly sensitive to the impacts of climate change.Although understanding spatiotemporal changes in plant species composition,richness and community structure along tropical alpine altitudinal gradients is of primary importance,both the functional and historical/biogeographic dimensions of vegetation diversity remain largely unexplored.We used Generalized Linear Models and multivariate analyses to assess changes in species,growth forms,and biogeographic groups richness and abundance,in response to habitat variables along an elevation gradient in seven summits(3800 to 4600 m asl)in the Venezuelan Andes,studied using the standardized approach of the GLORIA-Andes monitoring network.The habitat variables assessed were soil temperature(-10 cm),soil organic matter,slope inclination,and substrate cover.We found 113 species,representing72 genera,32 families,13 growth forms,and seven biogeographic origins,that included 25%of endemic elements.We observed richer vegetation,both in terms of species and growth forms,in summits with higher soil temperatures and higher SOM content,as well as higher biogeographic origin richness with increasing soil temperatures.The presence of holarctic elements increased toward higher elevations,while the occurrence of austral antarctic elements increased toward lower elevations.Our results indicate that biogeographic and functional approaches to vegetation diversity capture well the effect of abiotic filtering on community structuring in these tropical alpine environments.These findings constitute an important baseline for monitoring vegetation dynamics linked to climate change in the Venezuelan Andes by highlighting the functional and historical perspective on vegetation analyses,in contrast with more traditional approaches,based only on taxonomic species diversity.展开更多
文摘The objective of this research was to evaluate the chemical and functional properties of hard-to-cook (HTC) bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) protein concentrate to determine their potential practical applications. The respective protein concentrate was obtained from the flour using isoelectric precipitation and the protein content was 73.03%. Proximate composition and in vitro digestibility were measured to evaluate the chemical properties, and nitrogen solubility, emulsifying capacity, emulsion stability, foaming capacity, foam stability and viscosity were measured to evaluate its functional properties. The proximate composition of the HTC bean (P. vulgaris) flour and protein concentrate registered values of moisture, ash, protein, fat, fiber and NFE of 8.92, 4.52, 21.71%, 4.41%, 4.11% and 65.25% for flour and of 2.68%, 2.54%, 73.03%, 2.77%, 1.31% and 20.35% for protein concentrate. The in vitro digestibility was of 76.7%. The hard-to-cook bean protein concentrate exhibited good functional properties suggesting its use as additive. This concentrate registered solubility values that are ranging from 2.5% to 71.81%. The emulsifying (EC) and foaming capacity (FC) registered values of 89% - 97% and of 7% - 53% at different pH levels, respectively as well as an emulsion (ES) and foaming stability (FS) pH- and time-dependent. The HTC bean (P. vulgaris) protein concentrate registered a viscosity profile dependent of shear rate. The results suggest that HTC bean (P. vulgaris) protein concentrate is a valuable food ingredient or additive.
基金the partial financial support of this study from CONACYT (Grant 179110)
文摘Aluminum alloy samples, 6061-T6 and 2219-T42, were exposed to Caribbean seawater for 90 d. The fluctuations of open circuit potential, considered as electrochemical noise (EN), were used to characterize and compare initial pitting events, which appeared on their surfaces. EN analysis was carried out using the power spectral density (PSD) vs frequency. The decrease of the β exponent in PSD graphs indicated a release of spontaneous energy with the progress of pit formation in seawater. The fluctuations were associated with the breakdown and formation of new corrosion layers. The values of β exponent in PSD graphs suggest that corrosion process of AA2219-T42 alloy occurs as a persistent non-stationary process, the dynamics of which is controlled by fractional Brownian motion (fBm), while on AA6061-T6 alloy the corrosion process was dominated by stationary and weakly persistent features, with the contribution of fractional Gaussian noise (fGn). After the exposure in seawater, SEM-EDX analysis revealed insoluble intermetallic particles on the alloys, rich in Cu or Fe and irregularly distributed. The preferential dissolution of Mg and Al occurs from the S-phase (Al2CuMg) of AA2219-T42 alloy.
基金financed by the FOMIX-Yucatán 2008-108160,CONACYT LAB-2009-01-123913,292692,294643,188345,and 204822 projectsthe financial support received from CONACYT。
文摘The high activity of metallic magnesium and alloys limits its potential in biomedical applications;in recent years,extensive efforts have been devoted to modulating this reactivity.In this work,we present Mg(OH)_(2) and TiO_(2)barrier coatings to reduce the degradation of magnesium alloy(Mg-Ca-Zn)surfaces.These coatings were deposited by the anodization method and the spin-coating technique,respectively.The anodized layer was coated with TiO_(2)generated from the hydrolysis of 3%weight of TTIP(Ti[OCH(CH_(3))_(2)]_(4),Titanium(IV)isopropoxide)in 2-Propanol deposited by the spin-coating method.Studying the degradation in Ringer’s solution by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and OCP revealed a 98%reduction in pittings in uncoated samples after 14 days of immersion.The p H measurements revealed that the TiO_(2)coating reduced the alkalization of the physiological environment,keeping the pH at 6.0 values.In vitro studies of two types of bacteria(E.coli and S.aureus)exhibited zones of inhibition in the agar and activity bactericidal(kill time test).The mechanisms behind the improved degradation resistance and enhanced antibacterial activity are presented and discussed here.Surface modification with Mg(OH)_(2)/TiO_(2)coatings is a promising strategy to control the biodegradation of magnesium implants for bone regeneration.
文摘Soft tissue sarcomas represent only 1% of all adult cancers;myxofibrosarcoma is the most common type that arises in adult extremities, particularly lower limbs (77%), other less common locations are the trunk (12%) and neck (3%). Usually presenting as a painless, subcutaneous, slow growing mass with tendency for recurrence, they are prone to have higher histological grade and metastatic potential after recurrence;even in optimal multidisciplinary settings patients can have incomplete resections, making metastatic disease more common after misdiagnosis. We present the case of a 69-year-old male patient with a right infraescapular tumor, presenting as a painless 15 × 8 cm, mobile mass, with a slow but progressive growth, history of a previous tumor excised at the same location 5 years prior without histopathological report.
基金The DEFLECT is supported by grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.92169211).Jiangsu Pacific Meinuoke Biopharmaceuticals provided meplazumab.The views expressed in this article is the authors’opinion,not the opinion or policy of funder.
文摘Meplazumab,a humanized CD147 antibody,has shown favourable safety and efficacy in our previous clinical studies.In DEFLECT(NCT04586153),167 patients with severe COVID-19 were enroled and randomized to receive three dosages of meplazumab and a placebo.Meplazumab at 0.12 mg/kg,compared to the placebo group,showed clinical benefits in significantly reducing mortality by 83.6%(2.4%vs.14.6%,p=0.0150),increasing the proportion of patients alive and discharged without supplemental oxygen(82.9%vs.70.7%,p=0.0337)and increasing the proportion of patients who achieved sustained clinical improvement(41.5%vs.31.7%).The response rate in the 0.2 mg/kg group was relatively increased by 16.0%compared with the placebo group(53.7%vs.46.3%).Meplazumab also reduced the viral loads and multiple cytokine levels.Compare with the placebo group,the 0.3 mg/kg significantly increased the virus negative rate by 40.6%(p=0.0363)and reduced IL-8 level(p=0.0460);the 0.2 mg/kg increased the negative conversion rate by 36.9%,and reduced IL-4(p=0.0365)and IL-8 levels(p=0.0484).In this study,the adverse events occurred at a comparable rate across the four groups,with no unexpected safety findings observed.In conclusion,meplazumab promoted COVID-19 convalescence and reduced mortality,viral load,and cytokine levels in severe COVID-19 population with good safety profile.
文摘Background:Emphysematous pyelonephritis(EPN)is a necrotizing infection of the kidney and the surrounding tissues associated with considerable mortality.We aimed to formulate a score that classifies the risk of mortality in patients with EPN at hospital admission.Materials and methods:Patients diagnosed with EPN between 2013 and 2020 were retrospectively included.Data from 15 centers(70%)were used to develop the scoring system,and data from 7 centers(30%)were used to validate it.Univariable and mułtivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent factors related to mortality.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to construct the sconng system and calculate the risk of mortality.A standardized regression coefficient was used to quantify the discriminating power of each factor to convert the individual coefficients into points.The area under the curve was used to quantify the scoring system performance.An 8-point scoring system for the mortality risk was created(range,0-7).Results:In total,570 patients were included(400 in the test group and 170 in the validation group).Independent predictors of mortality in the multivariable logistic regression were included in the scoring system:quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment score≥2(2 points),anemia,paranephric gas extension,leukocyte count>22,000/pL,thrombocytopenia,and hyperglycemia(1 point each).The mortality rate was<5%for scores≤3,83.3%for scores 6,and 100%for scores 7.The area under the Curve was 0.90(95%confidence interval,0.84-0.95)for test and 0.91(95%confidence interval,0.84-0.97)for the validation group.Condusions:Our score predicts the risk of mortality in patients with EPN at presentation and may help clinicians identify patients at a higher risk of death.
文摘Habanero pepper(Capsicum chinense Jacq.)is a crop of economic relevance in the Peninsula of Yucatan.Its fruits have a high level of capsaicinoids compared to peppers grown in other regions of the world,which gives them industrial importance.Soil is an important factor that affects pepper development,nutritional quality,and capsaicinoid content.However,the effect of soil type on fruit development and capsaicinoid metabolism has been little understood.This work aimed to compare the effect of soils with contrasting characteristics,black soil(BS)and red soil(RS),on the expression of genes related to the development of fruits,and capsaicinoid synthesis using a transcriptomic analysis of the habanero pepper fruits.Plants growing in RS had bigger fruits and higher expression of genes related to floral development,fruit abscission,and softening which suggests that RS stimulates fruit development from early stages until maturation stages.Fruits from plants growing in BS had enrichment in metabolic pathways related to growth,sugars,and photosynthesis.Besides,these fruits had higher capsaicinoid accumulation at 25 days post-anthesis,and higher expression of genes related to the branched-chain amino acids metabolism(ketol-acid reductisomerase KARI),pentose phosphate pathway and production of NADPH(glucose-6-phosphate-1-dehydrogenase G6PDH),and proteasome and vesicular traffic in cells(26S proteasome regulatory subunit T4 RPT4),which suggest that BS is better in the early stimulation of pathways related to the nutritional quality and capsaicinoid metabolism in the fruits.
基金supported by the Project No.CB/2012/178748 CONACYT/México
文摘Indium tin oxide(ITO)thin films were prepared using the technique of rf-sputtering with oblique angle deposition(OAD).The films were as-deposited and thermally treated at 250℃.The combination of substrate inclination and annealing was used for modifying morphological and structural properties that lead to changes of the optical properties.The resulting films show morphology of tilted nanocolumn,fissures among columns,and structural changes.The as-deposited films are structurally disordered with an amorphous component and the annealed films are crystallized and more ordered and the film diffractograms correspond to the cubic structure of In2O3.The refractive index could be modified up to 0.3 in as-deposited films and up to 0.15 in annealed films as functions of the inclination angle of the nanocolumns.Similarly,the band gap energy increases up to about 0.4 eV due to the reduction of the microstrain distribution.It is found that the microstrain distribution,which is related to lattice distortions,defects and the presence of fissures in the films,is the main feature that can be engineered through morphological modifications for achieving the adjustment of the optical properties.
文摘This paper addresses the development of a random forest classifier for the muki-class fault diagnosis in spur gearboxes. The vibration signal＇s condition parameters are first extracted by applying the wavelet packet decomposition with multiple mother wavelets, and the coefficients＇ energy content for terminal nodes is used as the input feature for the classification problem. Then, a study through the parameters＇ space to find the best values for the number of trees and the number of random features is performed. In this way, the best set of mother wavelets for the application is identified and the best features are selected through the internal ranking of the random forest classifier. The results show that the proposed method reached 98.68% in classification accuracy, and high efficiency and robustness in the models.
文摘The removal efficiency of Cu and Zn from swine wastewater was evaluated as effected by three variables: the hydraulic retention time (HRT) (24, 48, 72 and 96 hours), two different plant species (Typha domingensis Pers. and Eleocharis cellulosa) and two different sizes of filter media (5 and 15 mm) using a horizontal sub-surface flow constructed wetland. From the results, a significant difference was observed in the removal efficiency of Cu and Zn with respect to different hydraulic retention times. The best results were obtained in the HRT of 96 hours for Zn where 96% removal of Zn with Typha domingensis Pers. specie with gravel of 15 mm (experimental unit 6) was achieved. For Cu, at 72 hours of HRT, the efficiency was nearly 100% in five of the six study units (1, 2, 3, 5 and 6). In contrast, in experimental unit 4 with gravel of 15 mm and without plants, only 86% Cu removal was achieved.
文摘Transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS)has been reportedly beneficial for different neurodegenerative disorders.tDCS has been reported as a potential adjunctive or alternative treatment for auditory verbal hallucination(AVH).This study aims to review the effects of tDCS on AVH in patients with schizophrenia through combining the evidence from randomized clinical trials(RCTs).The databases of PsycINFO(2000–2019),PubMed(2000–2019),EMBASE(2000–2019),CINAHL(2000–2019),Web of Science(2000–2019),and Scopus(2000–2019)were systematically searched.The clinical trials with RCT design were selected for final analysis.A total of nine RCTs were eligible and included in the review.Nine RCTs were included in the final analysis.Among them,six RCTs reported a significant reduction of AVH after repeated sessions of tDCS,whereas three RCTs did not show any advantage of active tDCS over sham tDCS.The current studies showed an overall decrease of approximately 28%of AVH after active tDCS and 10%after sham tDCS.The tDCS protocols targeting the sensorimotor frontal-parietal network showed greater treatment effects compared with the protocols targeting other regions.In this regard,cathodal tDCS over the left temporoparietal area showed inhibitory effects on AVHs.The most effective tDCS protocol on AVHs was twice-daily sessions(2 mA,20-minute duration)over 5 consecutive days(10 sessions)with the anode over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the cathode over the left temporal area.Some patient-specific and diseasespecific factors such as young age,nonsmoking status,and higher frequencies of AVHs seemed to be the predictors of treatment response.Taken together,the results of tDCS as an alternative treatment option for AVH show controversy among current literatures,since not all studies were positive.However,the studies targeting the same site of the brain showed that the tDCS could be a promising treatment option to reduce AVH.Further RCTs,with larger sample sizes,should be conducted to reach a conclusion on the
文摘Malignant pleural mesothelioma(MPM)is a rare tumor with poor prognosis and rising incidence.Palliative care is common in MPM as radical treatment with curative intent is often not possible due to metastasis or extensive locoregional involvement.Numerous therapeutic advances have been made in recent years,including the use of less aggressive surgical techniques associated with lower morbidity and mortality(e.g.,pleurectomy/decortication),technological advancements in the field of radiotherapy(intensity-modulated radiotherapy,image-guided radiotherapy,stereotactic body radiotherapy,proton therapy),and developments in systemic therapies(chemotherapy and immunotherapy).These improvements have had as yet only a modest effect on local control and survival.Advances in the management of MPM and standardization of care are hampered by the evidence to date,limited by high heterogeneity among studies and small sample sizes.In this clinical guideline prepared by the oncological group for the study of lung cancer of the Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology,we review clinical,histologic,and therapeutic aspects of MPM,with a particular focus on all aspects relating to radiotherapy,including the current evidence base,associations with chemotherapy and surgery,treatment volumes and planning,technological advances,and reradiation.
文摘This study investigates the technique of variational calculus applied to estimate the slope stability considering the mechanism of planar failure.The critical plane failure surface should be determined because it theoretically indicates the most unfavorable plane to be considered when stabilizing a slope to rectify the instability generated by several statistically possible planes.This generates integrals that can be solved by numerical methods,such as the Newton Cotes and the finite differences methods.Additionally,a system of nonlinear equations is obtained and solved.The surface of the critical planar failure is determined by applying the condition of transversality in mobile boundaries,for which various examples are provided.The number of slices is varied in one of the examples,while the surface of the critical planar failure is determined in the others.Results are compared using analytical methods through axis rotations.All the results obtained by considering normal stress,safety factors,and critical planar failure are nearly the same;however,in this research,a study is carried out for“n”number of slices using programming methods.Sub-routines are important because they can be applied in slopes with different geometry,surcharge,interstitial pressure,and pseudo-static load.
文摘The extraction of anthocyanins present in the skin of the dragon fruit was performed using trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) plus a mixture of methanol, acetic acid and water;the anthocyanins were then purified with a LC-18 cartridge, using methanol acidified with TFA as eluent, reaching concentrations of 44.3865 ± 1.3125 mg/100g of sample. The extracts were put through stability tests under different storage conditions, modifying the pH of the extracts (pH of 1, 4 and 6), the temperature (4℃, 25℃ and 68℃) and the absence and presence of light for a time period of 4 days;the tests indiated that anthocyanins remain more stable at a temperature of 4℃?with a pH of 4 in the absence of light, retaining up to 80% of the pigment. Three anthocyanins were partially identified in the extracts by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC);they were: cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, cyanidin 3,5 O-glucoside and pelargonidin 3,5 O-glucoside.
基金To CONACYT for the Master’s scholarship of Arnoldo Enrique Alfaro Corres(Scholarship No.621617).
文摘The effect of water deficit was determined on both in vitro and soil seedling as well as in cells in suspension of Agave americana L.In order to do the establishment of cells,the formation of callus was induced;for it two auxins were evaluated:2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid(2,4-D)and 4-mino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid(picloram)at three concentrations(0.25,0.5 and 0.75 mg L−1)in three explants(leaf,root and meristems)cultured in MS semisolid medium.The callogenesis response was related to the type and section of the explant,as well as the regulator used,and a cell suspension was established using 0.5 mg L−1 naphthaleneacetic acid(NAA)+0.5 mg L−1 Benzylaminopurine(BAP).Seedlings were exposed to polyethyleneglycol(15%and 30%w/v)with a water potential of−0.87 and−2.67 MPa,respectively,under soil conditions.Water stress was applied through restricted irrigation.Fresh weight,root system growth,and chlorophyll concentration were some of the parameters that were affected by the effect of water deficit on A.americana L.Chlorophyll concentration values were significantly decreased by 15 at 30%PEG(19.6 SPAD units)compared to the control treatment.In in vitro plants,the highest concentration of proline was found in the roots,being the treatment with 30%polyethylene glycol where the highest concentration of this osmoregulator was obtained(62.5 mg g−1 DW).Under restricted irrigation conditions,an increase in proline concentration was observed both in the aerial part(2.2μg 100 g−1 DW)and in the root system(1.8μg 100 g−1 DW).However,the concentrations found were approximately ten times greater,less than those found under in vitro conditions.Therefore,the accumulation of proline can be considered an indicator of stress in Agave Americana L.growth in vitro.
文摘Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is an economically devastating disease with worldwide distribution caused by Betaarterivirus suid (PRRSV). The virion has great genetic and antigenic variability with a marked increase in virulence. Vaccines tested to date have been of little use in controlling the problems caused by PRRSV, so the present study was conceived to evaluate the antiviral effect of polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) made with glycyrrhizic acid (GA). Recent work has proven that this nanoparticle system is stable. These nanoparticles have good GA carrying capacity, a size < 250 nm, a spherical morphology, and a wide safety range. The integrity of cell morphology can be maintained for up to 72 h. The antiviral effect of this nanoparticle system was tested in cultures of MARC-145 cells in pre- and coinfection assays with PRRSV to evaluate changes in cell morphology and effects on cell viability. The use of PNPsGA with the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) decreased viral infection by 38% in 3 amplification cycles. These results suggest that this system has an antiviral effect against PRRSV under the study conditions established.
基金supported by the Project No. 191986,Fronteras de la Ciencia–CONACyTthe Programa de Apoyo a Proyectos de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica (PAPIIT),UNAM No.IN212419
文摘Astyanax mexicanus has repeatedly colonized cave environments,displaying evolutionary parallelisms in many troglobitic traits.Despite being a model system for the study of adaptation to life in perpetual darkness,the parasites that infect cavefish are practically unknown.In this study,we investigated the macroparasite communities in 18 cavefish populations from independent lineages and compared them with the parasite diversity found in their sister surface fish populations,with the aim of better understanding the role that parasites play in the colonization of new environments.Within the cavefish populations,we identified 13 parasite taxa,including a subset of 10 of the 27 parasite taxa known for the surface populations.Parasites infecting the cavefish belong to five taxonomic groups,including trematodes,monogeneans,nematodes,copepods,and acari.Monogeneans are the most dominant group,found in 14 caves.The macroparasites include species with direct life cycles and trophic transmission,including invasive species.Surprisingly,paired comparisons indicate higher parasite richness in the cavefish than in the surface fish.Spatial variation in parasite composition across the caves suggests historical and geographical contingencies in the host-parasite colonization process and potential evolution of local adaptations.This base-line data on parasite diversity in cavefish populations of A.mexicanus provides a foundation to explore the role of divergent parasite infections under contrasting ecological pressures(cave vs.surface environments)in the evolution of cave adaptive traits.
文摘Ecotourism is a tourism modality intricately linked to the principles of sustainability,due to its natural offer component and environmental education.The objective of this research is to evaluate the perception of ecotourists present on the coast of Yucatan.From a regional approach,the author selected twenty-five community-based ecotourism ventures(CBET)present in the area and analysed the perception of ecotourists through a questionnaire and its respective statistical analysis with non-parametric tests,and developed a general profile of the ecotourist applying a sociodemographic segmentation and based on a geographical segmentation the author compared the perceptions of two populations:national ecotourists and international ecotourists.The data reveal that the profile of the ecotourist on the coast of Yucatan is similar to that postulated in the literature.In terms of environmental perception the author found a significant difference in both populations,and believed that this difference is because the international market is more critical and demanding.In addition,areas of opportunity were documented in the CBETs in the way they carry out their environmental communication.The author concluded that ecotourism in the region is still an activity in consolidation and although it presents great achievements.It is still not possible to qualify it as a sustainable activity.We call for continuing deepening the studies of ecotourism demand and evaluation of perception,through comparative,longitudinal studies and with new variables that allow new test statistics,to contribute new elements to the ecotourism debate.
基金the financial support to the GLORIA-Andes network in Venezuela of CONDESAN and the Swiss Development Agency(SDC)The present synthesis analysis was financed by the Adaptation at Altitude Program(CONDESAN-SDC)。
文摘Tropical alpine ecosystems exhibit outstanding plant diversity and endemism while being particularly sensitive to the impacts of climate change.Although understanding spatiotemporal changes in plant species composition,richness and community structure along tropical alpine altitudinal gradients is of primary importance,both the functional and historical/biogeographic dimensions of vegetation diversity remain largely unexplored.We used Generalized Linear Models and multivariate analyses to assess changes in species,growth forms,and biogeographic groups richness and abundance,in response to habitat variables along an elevation gradient in seven summits(3800 to 4600 m asl)in the Venezuelan Andes,studied using the standardized approach of the GLORIA-Andes monitoring network.The habitat variables assessed were soil temperature(-10 cm),soil organic matter,slope inclination,and substrate cover.We found 113 species,representing72 genera,32 families,13 growth forms,and seven biogeographic origins,that included 25%of endemic elements.We observed richer vegetation,both in terms of species and growth forms,in summits with higher soil temperatures and higher SOM content,as well as higher biogeographic origin richness with increasing soil temperatures.The presence of holarctic elements increased toward higher elevations,while the occurrence of austral antarctic elements increased toward lower elevations.Our results indicate that biogeographic and functional approaches to vegetation diversity capture well the effect of abiotic filtering on community structuring in these tropical alpine environments.These findings constitute an important baseline for monitoring vegetation dynamics linked to climate change in the Venezuelan Andes by highlighting the functional and historical perspective on vegetation analyses,in contrast with more traditional approaches,based only on taxonomic species diversity.
