Plant establishment, presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and other rhizospheric fungi were studied in mine wastes from Zimapan, Hidalgo state, Mexico, using a holistic approach. Two ...long-term afforested and three non-afforested mine tailings were included in this research. Fifty-six plant species belonging to 29 families were successfully established on the afforested sites, while unmanaged tailings had only a few native plant species colonizing the surrounding soils. Almost all plant roots collected were associated to AMF in these sites. The genus
Glomus was the most abundant AMF species found in their rhizosphere; however, the
Acaulospora genus was also observed. Other rhizospheric fungi were identified by 18S rDNA sequencing analysis. Their role in these substrates, i.e. biocontrol, pollutant- and organic matter-degradation, and aides that increase plant metal tolerance is discussed. Our results advance the understanding of fungal diversity in sites polluted with metals and present alternative plants for remediation use.
Rhizospheric fungi and organic matter encourage plant vegetation of tailings by pioneers and colonizing species.
Introducción: El origen o el agravamiento del sufrimiento pueden tener determinantes de naturaleza espiritual; sin embargo, son reducidas las investigaciones en esta temática en pacientes con ...enfermedad renal crónica en hemodiálisis.Objetivos: Determinar si existe relación entre la presencia de sufrimiento y necesidades espirituales en pacientes en hemodiálisis.Material y Método: Estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transversal, que integró tareas de correlación en una muestra de 47 pacientes adultos que se hemodializan en el hospital Salvador Allende en La Habana. Los instrumentos empleados fueron la entrevista, el Instrumento para la Detección del Sufrimiento de Bayés y colaboradores y el Cuestionario de Conexión Espiritual de Wheeler y Hyland.Resultados: Se halló asociación significativa entre el malestar y el sexo masculino (p=0,04), la tenencia de hijos (p=0,01), la necesidad de “ser reconocido como persona” (p=0,01) y “volver a leer su vida” (p=0,01), mientras que el bienestar se asoció a la preparación para la hemodiálisis (p=0,01) y a la necesidad de “amar y ser amado” (p=0,00); también se encontró entre el nivel medio general de conexión espiritual y las necesidades: “volver a leer su vida” (p=0,03) y “continuidad, de un más allá” (p=0,02).Conclusiones: El sufrimiento se asoció al sexo, la tenencia de hijos y a determinadas necesidades espirituales. Las necesidades espirituales más reportadas fueron: “amar y ser amado”, “volver a leer su vida” y “expresar sentimientos y vivencias religiosas”
Maintenance of bacterial cell shape and resistance to osmotic stress by the peptidoglycan (PG) renders PG biosynthetic enzymes and precursors attractive targets for combating bacterial infections. ...Here, by applying native mass spectrometry, we elucidate the effects of lipid substrates on the PG membrane enzymes MraY, MurG, and MurJ. We show that dimerization of MraY is coupled with binding of the carrier lipid substrate undecaprenyl phosphate (C
-P). Further, we demonstrate the use of native MS for biosynthetic reaction monitoring and find that the passage of substrates and products is controlled by the relative binding affinities of the different membrane enzymes. Overall, we provide a molecular view of how PG membrane enzymes convey lipid precursors through favourable binding events and highlight possible opportunities for intervention.
The rapid spread of drug-resistant pathogens and the declining discovery of new antibiotics have created a global health crisis and heightened interest in the search for novel antibiotics. Beyond ...their discovery, elucidating mechanisms of action has necessitated new approaches, especially for antibiotics that interact with lipidic substrates and membrane proteins. Here, we develop a methodology for real-time reaction monitoring of the activities of two bacterial membrane phosphatases, UppP and PgpB. We then show how we can inhibit their activities using existing and newly discovered antibiotics such as bacitracin and teixobactin. Additionally, we found that the UppP dimer is stabilized by phosphatidylethanolamine, which, unexpectedly, enhanced the speed of substrate processing. Overall, our results demonstrate the potential of native mass spectrometry for real-time biosynthetic reaction monitoring of membrane enzymes, as well as their in situ inhibition and cofactor binding, to inform the mode of action of emerging antibiotics.
Aim
We aimed to test whether contributions of individual species (SCBD) and contributions of single sites (LCBD) to overall beta diversity can be predicted by species metrics and species ...characteristics and also by community metrics and ecological variables, respectively.
Location
A mainland‐island landscape in the southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest domain.
Methods
Dung beetles were sampled along 100 sampling units within four large forest fragments. We partitioned beta diversity into SCBD and LCBD aiming to explore their relationships to species and site characteristics, respectively. We then used a combination of multivariate methods and beta regression analyses to examine patterns in SCBD and LCBD. The occupancy, total abundance, niche position, niche breadth and biological traits of species were used as predictor variables for SCBD values. Community metrics, environmental and spatial variables, and temporal patterns in the beta diversity components of turnover and nestedness were used as predictor variables for LCDB values.
Results
We found that SCBD was strongly related to various species characteristics, such as occupancy, abundance and niche position, but was not related to biological traits of species and niche breadth. In particular, occupancy and its quadratic term showed a very strong unimodal relationship with SCBD, suggesting that intermediate species in terms of site occupancy contribute most to beta diversity. LCBD was mostly explained by variation in species richness, with a negative relationship being detected. Litter height and large‐scale spatial variables were also important in explaining variation in LCBD.
Main conclusions
SCBD and LCBD were highly predictably related to species occupancy and species richness, respectively. Environmental conditions and large‐scale spatial variables also correlated with LCBD values. Understanding the determinants of SCBD and LCBD may thus hold a key to various general ecological, bioassessment and conservation issues. Protecting sites with high LCBD values may be a suitable approach to practical biodiversity conservation.
The remarkable tunability of 2D carbon structures combined with their non-toxicity renders them interesting candidates for thermoelectric applications. Despite some limitations related to their high ...thermal conductivity and low Seebeck coefficients, several other unique properties of the graphene-like structures could out-weight these weaknesses in some applications. In this study, hybrid structures of alumina ceramics and graphene encapsulated alumina nanofibers are processed by spark plasma sintering to exploit advantages of thermoelectric properties of graphene and high stiffness of alumina. The paper focuses on thermal and electronic transport properties of the systems with varying content of nanofillers (1-25 wt.%) and demonstrates an increase of the Seebeck coefficient and a reduction of the thermal conductivity with an increase in filler content. As a result, the highest thermoelectric figure of merit is achieved in a sample with 25 wt.% of the fillers corresponding to ~3 wt.% of graphene content. The graphene encapsulated nanofibrous fillers, thus, show promising potential for thermoelectric material designs by tuning their properties via carrier density modification and Fermi engineering through doping.
To investigate the specific and combined effects of personal concentrations of some per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), other persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and chemical elements ...–measured in individuals’ blood several years before the pandemic– on the development of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease in the general population.
We conducted a prospective cohort study in 240 individuals from the general population of Barcelona. PFAS, other POPs, and chemical elements were measured in plasma, serum, and whole blood samples, respectively, collected in 2016–2017. PFAS were analyzed by liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. SARS-CoV-2 infection was detected by rRT-PCR in nasopharyngeal swabs and/or antibody serology in blood samples collected in 2020–2021.
No individual PFAS nor their mixtures were significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity or COVID-19 disease. Previously identified mixtures of POPs and elements (Porta et al., 2023) remained significantly associated with seropositivity and COVID-19 when adjusted for PFAS (all OR > 4 or p < 0.05). Nine chemicals comprised mixtures associated with COVID-19: thallium, ruthenium, lead, benzobfluoranthene, DDD, other DDT-related compounds, manganese, tantalum, and aluminium. And nine chemicals comprised the mixtures more consistently associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity: thallium, ruthenium, lead, benzobfluoranthene, DDD, gold, and (protectively) selenium, indium, and iron.
The PFAS studied were not associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity or COVID-19. The results confirm the associations between personal blood concentrations of some POPs and chemical elements and the risk of COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 infection in what remains the only prospective and population-based cohort study on the topic. Mixtures of POPs and chemical elements may contribute to explain the heterogeneity in the risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 in the general population.
•With a clear time sequence, this is the only prospective cohort study on the topic.•We analyzed 120 chemicals, including the 8 PFAS most usually detected.•Such PFAS were not associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity or COVID-19.•Adjusting for PFAS, mixtures of POPs and elements remained associated with COVID-19.•Some POPs and elements may contribute to explain the heterogeneity in the two outcomes.
To develop EULAR points-to-consider for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of biopharmaceuticals in inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs).
The points-to-consider were developed in ...accordance with EULAR standardised operation procedures by a multidisciplinary task force from eight European countries, based on a systematic literature review and expert consensus. Level of evidence and strength of the points-to-consider were determined, and mean levels of agreement among the task force were calculated using a 10-point rating scale.
Six overarching principles and 13 points-to-consider were formulated. The level of agreement among the task force for the overarching principles and points-to-consider ranged from 8.4 to 9.9.The overarching principles define TDM and its subtypes, and reinforce the underlying pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic principles, which are relevant to all biopharmaceutical classes. The points-to-consider highlight the clinical utility of the measurement and interpretation of biopharmaceutical blood concentrations and antidrug antibodies in specific clinical scenarios, including factors that influence these parameters. In general, proactive use of TDM is not recommended but reactive TDM could be considered in certain clinical situations. An important factor limiting wider adoption of TDM is the lack of both high quality trials addressing effectiveness and safety of TDM and robust economic evaluation in patients with RMDs. Future research should focus on providing this evidence, as well as on further understanding of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of biopharmaceuticals.
These points-to-consider are evidence-based and consensus-based statements for the use of TDM of biopharmaceuticals in inflammatory RMDs, addressing the clinical utility of TDM.
Resumo O artigo é resultado de uma pesquisa exploratória e documental, que teve como objetos as políticas educacionais, a gestão e o financiamento dos Centros Concertados de Educação Infantil e ...Educação Primária na Espanha. Investigam-se os aspectos históricos e políticos quanto à estrutura e à organização da política educativa, a partir do processo de descentralização, naquele país, bem como o papel do Conselho Escolar na formulação da política educacional espanhola. Ademais, o artigo busca compreender os aspectos relacionados com a manutenção do ensino nos Centros Concertados de Educação Infantil e de Educação Primária, a fim de apreender os pressupostos orçamentários. O resultado evidenciou a necessidade de manutenção da participação coletiva para a construção de políticas educacionais mais equitativas e não segregatórias na Espanha.
Abstract The abstract is a result of a exploratory and desk research that has a subject the educational policies, the management and the financing for the Childhood and Primary Education Concerted Centers, which was investigated the historical and political aspects as structure and the political organizational starting by the process of decentralization in the country. It was prioritized the analysis of the role of the School Board for the formulation of the Spanish educational politic and the aspects related to the maintenance of the Childhood and Primary Education Concerted Centers, with the need of learning the assumption budget in the period of 2016-2017. It was presented about the investments and the implication of the collective participation for the construction of educational politics more fair and non-segregate in Spain.
Resumen El artículo es resultado de una búsqueda exploratoria y documental que tuvo como enfoque las políticas educacionales, la administración y el financiamiento a los Centros de Educación Infantil y Primaria Concertados en España, en la cual se investigó los aspectos historiales y políticos cuanto a la estructura y organización de la política educativa a partir del proceso de descentralización en el país. Se priorizó el análisis del papel del Consejo Escolar a la formación de la política educacional y española y los aspectos relacionados a la manutención de las enseñanzas en los Centros de Educación Infantil y Primaria Concertados, a fin de aprender los presupuestos en el periodo de 2016-2017. Se presenta los aportes y las implicaciones a los Centros Concertados en la cual el resultado evidencia la necesidad de la manutención de la participación colectiva a la construcción de políticas educacionales más equitativas y no segregantes en España.
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