Gradient analysis was used to determine factors driving small-scale variation of cloud forest communities harboring Magnolia dealbata, a threatened species and bioculturally relevant tree for the ...Chinantecan, Mazatecan, Nahuan, and Zapotecan ethnicities in southern Mexico. Particularly, we aimed to: (a) determine factors explaining major community gradients at different heterogeneity scales along a small-scale elevational gradient, (b) test the Decreasing and the Continuum hypotheses along elevation, and (c) classify vegetation to assist in identifying conservation priorities. We used a stratified random sampling scheme for 21 woody stands along a small-scale (352 m) elevational transect. Four main data matrices were used (presence-absence, density, basal area, and guild data). Through Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMS), Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA), and distance-based Redundancy Analysis (db-RDA), we found that major community variation was explained by soil pH, displaying an outstanding vegetation discontinuity, separating the species-rich relic Oreomunnea-Ticodendron-stands from stands with higher importance values for M. dealbata. The high species richness observed was explained by a combination of the windward effect of dry-seasonal maximum cloud condensation gain and habitat differentiation-specialization, a phenomenon that may also explain the mid-peak hypothesis and ensure the survival of relic species. Sampling-truncation and conservation status also played a role in this. Our results do not support the Decreasing and Continuum hypotheses along elevation.
The aim of this research was to map the state of the art on studies of new technologies in the agri-food sector through a systematic literature review in order to explore world trends. The systematic ...review method consisted of obtaining information from the Scopus database, with the search strategy limited by subject. Thiry-four keywords related to the topic were used and the search was limited only to title of scientific articles. For the coding and extraction of data and results, the VOSviewer software was used to generate, group and visualize networks and identify scientific fields and trends. In recent years there has been significant growth in the development of new technologies in the agri-food sector, concentrated in a few countries, institutions and disciplines. The results allow to identify changes in scientific paradigms and consolidate different scientific fields. It is possible to perceive that the fields of robotics, automation, artificial intelligence, among others, are gaining interest, and that genomics, biotechnology, and genetic improvement are losing dynamism. In addition, there is little research related to economic and social analysis and their relationship to the environment.
Abstract
The intestinal morphology and function can be compromised in pigs exposed to heat stress (HS), partly due to increased production of reactive-oxygen species. Because methionine (Met) ...functions as intracellular antioxidant, the requirement of Met may be increased in HS-pigs. The effect of dietary supplementation with dl-Met above requirement on performance, small intestine morphology, antioxidant enzymes activity, amino acid transporters expression, and serum concentration (SC) of free AA in HS-pigs was evaluated. A basal wheat–soybean meal diet was formulated to meet 100% Met requirement with the other indispensable AA exceeding at least 20% their requirement. Sixty individually housed pigs (23.0 ± 2.4 kg BW, 12 pigs per treatment) were randomly assigned to five treatments: TN100, thermal-neutral (22.7 °C) housed pigs fed the basal diet; HS100, HS120, HS140, HS160; HS-pigs (29.6 °C to 39.4 °C) fed the basal diet supplemented with dl-Met to contain 0%, 20%, 40%, and 60% dl-Met above the requirement, respectively. Pigs had free access to feed and water during the 21-d trial. Blood samples were collected on day 18 to analyze the absorptive AA-SC. The effect of ambient temperature (HS100 vs. TN100), as well as the linear and quadratic effects of increasing Met levels in the diets for HS-pigs were analyzed. The HS100 pigs gained less weight than TN100 and HS120 pigs (P < 0.01); gain:feed was also higher in HS120 pigs than in HS100 pigs (P ≤ 0.05). Feed intake of TN100 pigs was higher than that of HS-pigs fed the dl-Met supplemented diets (P < 0.05). Villi height reduced in pigs HS, but Met supplementation quadratically increased it (P < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, reduced glutathione concentration, and relative expression of B0AT2 in ileum decreased (P < 0.05), but glutathione peroxidase activity increased in HS-pigs. dl-Met supplementation linearly affected catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities, as well as the relative expression of b0,+AT in jejunum (P < 0.05) of HS-pigs. The SC of Ile, Leu, Lys, Phe, and Val were higher in HS100 pigs than in TN100 pigs (P < 0.05). Graded levels of supplemental dl-Met in diets for HS-pigs linearly decreased SC of Ile, Leu, and Val (P < 0.05), tended to decrease His, Lys, and Thr (P < 0.10), and increased Met (P < 0.01). In conclusion, HS had negative effect on weight gain and intestinal morpho-physiology; however, it was ameliorated by adding 20% Met above the requirement in diets for growing pigs.
The antioxidant- and cell proliferation-related functions of methionine may be useful to counteract the negative effects of exposing pigs to high ambient temperature. In the present study, adding 20%, 40%, and 60% extra methionine above the requirement to the diet, was evaluated on the function of the small intestine of growing pigs exposed to high ambient temperature.
Lay Summary
The exposure of pigs to ambient temperature above their comfort zone affects several functions of the small intestine, especially those related with digestion of feed and absorption of nutrients, which in turn reduces the availability of nutrients for growth. Amino acids such as methionine are involved in multiple functions of intestinal cells. Thus, methionine supplementation may help pigs to overcome the negative impact of their exposure to high ambient temperature. Indeed, methionine supplementation to the diet increased growth rate and feed efficiency of pigs housed under heat stress, which was presumably associated with an improvement in the utilization of the absorbed amino acids.
The intellectual disability syndrome characterized by seizures and dysmorphic features was initially described in 2017 and was associated with genetic variants in the OTUD6B gene, identified by exome ...sequencing (ES) in a large cohort. This multisystem disorder primarily affects the central nervous system, the gastrointestinal, and the skeletal systems. In this article, we describe the first Mexican patient diagnosed by ES. The homozygous c.433C>T (p.Arg145*) variant of the OTUD6B gene confirmed this intellectual disability syndrome. In addition to seizures and other more frequently reported manifestations of this condition, this is the third patient with associated hypothyroidism and hypogammaglobulinemia, underscoring the value of screening for these conditions in other patients. The current challenge with this patient is to ensure medical management of his seizures and provide him with a better quality of life. The possibilities of additional therapeutic approaches may increase by understanding the physiopathology of the involved pathways.
Solar thermal collectors represent a practical option to capture energy from the sun, providing low-cost domestic and industrial heating and decreasing the dependency on fossil fuels. Spinel-type ...metal oxides show interesting physicochemical properties and so can be used as active materials for converting solar energy to electrical, chemical, and heat energy. We report the synthesis and characterization of nickel–cobalt mixed metal oxides used as an active phase in selective paints for solar absorber coatings applied to a domestic flat collector. The nickel–cobalt mixed oxides crystallized in the cubic phase related to the spinel structure, exhibiting good thermal stability and reproducibility. These mixed oxides presented oxidation states (2+ and 3+) for both nickel and cobalt. The coatings fabricated from the selective paints based on nickel–cobalt mixed oxides showed a solar absorptance value of 94%, while for the commercial paint Solkote®, the value was 93%. A representative coating based on the NiCo2O4 composition was evaluated for the first time in a domestic-type flat solar collector for water heating under real operating conditions, achieving an outstanding performance that competes with that of commercial collectors. The potential application of nickel–cobalt mixed oxides in solar collectors opens up new opportunities for future innovations and developments in functional absorber coatings.
Rotavirus-associated diarrheal diseases significantly burden healthcare systems, particularly affecting infants under five years. Both Rotarix™ (RV1) and RotaTeq™ (RV5) vaccines have been effective ...but have distinct application schedules and limited interchangeability data. This study aims to provide evidence on the immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and safety of mixed RV1-RV5 schedules compared to their standard counterparts.
This randomized, double-blind study evaluated the non-inferiority in terms of immunogenicity of mixed rotavirus vaccine schedules compared to standard RV1 and RV5 schedules in a cohort of 1,498 healthy infants aged 6 to 10 weeks. Participants were randomly assigned to one of seven groups receiving various combinations of RV1, and RV5. Standard RV1 and RV5 schedules served as controls of immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and safety analysis. IgA antibody levels were measured from blood samples collected before the first dose and one month after the third dose. Non-inferiority was concluded if the reduction in seroresponse rate in the mixed schemes, compared to the standard highest responding scheme, did not exceed the non-inferiority margin of -0.10. Reactogenicity traits and adverse events were monitored for 30 days after each vaccination and analyzed on the entire cohort.
Out of the initial cohort, 1,365 infants completed the study. Immunogenicity analysis included 1,014 infants, considering IgA antibody titers ≥20 U/mL as seropositive. Mixed vaccine schedules demonstrated non-inferiority to standard schedules, with no significant differences in immunogenic response. Safety profiles were comparable across all groups, with no increased incidence of serious adverse events or intussusception.
The study confirms that mixed rotavirus vaccine schedules are non-inferior to standard RV1 and RV5 regimens in terms of immunogenicity and safety. This finding supports the flexibility of rotavirus vaccination strategies, particularly in contexts of vaccine shortage or logistic constraints. These results contribute to the global effort to optimize rotavirus vaccination programs for broader and more effective pediatric coverage.
: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02193061.
Abstract
The exposure of pigs to heat stress (HS) appears to damage their intestinal epithelia, affecting the absorption of amino acids (AAs). Arg is involved in the restoration of intestinal ...epithelial cells but HS reduces Arg intake. The effect of dietary supplementation with Arg on the morphology of intestinal epithelia, AA transporter gene expression, and serum concentration (SC) of free AAs in HS pigs was analyzed. Twenty pigs (25.3 ± 2.4 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments: Control (0.81% Arg), wheat–soybean meal diet supplemented with l-Lys, l-Thr, dl-Met, and l-Trp, and the experimental diet where 0.16% free l-Arg was supplemented to a similar Control diet (+Arg). All pigs were individually housed and exposed to HS, fed ad libitum with full access to water. The ambient temperature (AT), recorded at 15-min intervals during the 21-d trial, ranged on average from 29.6 to 39.4 °C within the same day. Blood samples were collected on day 18 at 1600 hours (AT peak); serum was separated by centrifugation. At the end of the trial, five pigs per treatment were sacrificed to collect samples of mucosa scratched from each small intestine segment. The expression of AA transporters in intestinal mucosa and the SC of AAs were analyzed. Villi height (VH) was higher (P < 0.01) in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum but the crypt depth did not differ between the Control and the +Arg pigs. Supplementation of l-Arg increased the mRNA coding for the synthesis of the cationic AA transporter b0,+ (P < 0.01) and the neutral AA transporter B0 (P < 0.05) in the duodenum by approximately 5-fold and 3-fold, respectively, but no effect on mRNA abundance was observed in the jejunum and ileum. The supplementation of l-Arg increased serum Arg, His, Met, Thr, Trp, and urea (P < 0.05) and also tended to increase Val (P < 0.10) but did not affect Ile, Lys, Leu, and Phe. These results indicate that supplementing 0.16% l-Arg to the Control diet may help to improve the function of the small intestine epithelium, by increasing the VH, the abundance of AA transporters, and the SC of most indispensable AAs in pigs exposed to HS conditions. However, the lack of effect of supplemental Arg on both Lys SC and weight gain of pigs suggests that increasing the Lys content in the +Arg diet might be needed to improve the performance of HS pigs.
This study aimed to detect dengue virus (DENV) serotypes in serum samples obtained in Matamoros Tamaulipas, Mexico, and to determine the concordance of conventional nested reverse transcriptase ...polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and a serological test enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA NS1). Here, we detected mixed infections consisting of four serotypes of DENV. The most prevalent serotype was DENV-1, followed by DENV-4. This is the first report of DENV-4 in our region. Mixed infections were also detected in 21.5% of samples, and the predominant coinfection consisted of DENV-1 and DENV-2. Therefore, continuous epidemiological surveillance of DENV in this area is required to predict future forms of dengue heterologous infections and the effect of this on health care.
Arrhythmias are the most common events tracked by a physician. The need for continuous monitoring of such events in the ECG has opened the opportunity for automatic detection. Intra- and ...inter-patient paradigms are the two approaches currently followed by the scientific community. The intra-patient approach seems to resolve the problem with a high classification percentage but requires a physician to label key samples. The inter-patient makes use of historic data of different patients to build a general classifier, but the inherent variability in the ECG’s signal among patients leads to lower classification percentages compared to the intra-patient approach. In this work, we propose a new unsupervised algorithm that adapts to every patient using the heart rate and morphological features of the ECG beats to classify beats between supraventricular origin and ventricular origin. The results of our work in terms of F-score are 0.88, 0.89, and 0.93 for the ventricular origin beats for three popular ECG databases, and around 0.99 for the supraventricular origin for the same databases, comparable to supervised approaches presented in other works. This paper presents a new path to make use of ECG data to classify heartbeats without the assistance of a physician despite the needed improvements.
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