Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a nerve growth factor that has antidepressant-like effects in animals and may be implicated in the etiology of mood-related phenotypes. However, genetic ...association studies of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism (single nucleotide polymorphism rs6265) in major depressive disorder (MDD) have produced inconsistent results. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies comparing the frequency of the BDNF Val66Met-coding variant in depressed cases (MDD) and nondepressed controls. A total of 14 studies involving 2812 cases with DSM-III or -IV defined MDD and 10 843 nondepressed controls met the inclusion criteria. Analyses were stratified either by gender or ethnicity (Asian and Caucasian) because MDD is more prevalent in women and in Caucasians and because BDNF allele frequencies differ by ethnicity. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were provided for allelic analyses (Met versus Val), as well as for genotypic analyses (Met/Met and Val/Met versus Val/Val). In the total sample, the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism was not significantly associated with depression. However, the gender stratified analyses revealed significant effects in both the allelic and genotypic analyses in men (OR(MET), 95% CI; 1.27 (1.10-1.47); OR(MET/MET), 95% CI; 1.67 (1.19-2.36)). Stratification according to ethnicity did not show significant effects of the Val66Met polymorphism on MDD. Our results suggest that the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism is of greater importance in the development of MDD in men than in women. Future research into gender issues will be of interest.
The stereoselective total synthesis of unnatural (+)‐galanthamine starting from phenethyl acetate is described. Chirality was introduced via microbial dihydroxylation of phenethyl acetate with the ...recombinant strain JM109 (pDTG601A) to the corresponding cis‐cyclohexadi–enediol, configuration of which provided the absolute stereochemistry of the ring C of (+)‐galanthamine. Intramolecular Heck cyclization was used to form the quaternary carbon and dibenzofuran functionality. The synthesis of (+)‐galanthamine was completed in a total of ten steps and an overall yield of 5.5 %. Experimental and spectral data are provided for all new compounds.
Enzymatic dihydroxylation: The toluene dioxygenase mediated dihydroxylation of phenethyl acetate served to introduce chirality and absolute stereochemistry. An intramolecular Heck cyclization was used to form the quaternary carbon and the dibenzofuran functionality. The synthesis of (+)‐galanthamine was completed in a total of ten steps and an overall yield of 5.5 %.
A novel inverse CeO2/CuO catalyst for preferential oxidation of CO in H2-rich stream (CO-PROX) has been developed on the basis of a hypothesis extracted from previous work of the group (JACS 2007, ...129, 12064). Possible separation of the two competing oxidation reactions involved in the process (of CO and H2, respectively) is the key to modulation of overall CO-PROX activity and is based on involvement of different sites as most active ones for each of the two reactions. Achievement of large size CuO particles and adequate CeO2−CuO interfacial configurations in the inverse catalyst apparently allows appreciable enhancement of the catalytic properties of this kind of system for CO-PROX, constituting an interesting alternative to classic direct configurations so far explored for this process. Reasons for such behavior are analyzed on the basis of operando-XRD, -XAFS, and -DRIFTS studies.
Secondary batteries based on earth-abundant sodium metal anodes are desirable for both stationary and portable electrical energy storage. Room-temperature sodium metal batteries are impractical today ...because morphological instability during recharge drives rough, dendritic electrodeposition. Chemical instability of liquid electrolytes also leads to premature cell failure as a result of parasitic reactions with the anode. Here we use joint density-functional theoretical analysis to show that the surface diffusion barrier for sodium ion transport is a sensitive function of the chemistry of solid-electrolyte interphase. In particular, we find that a sodium bromide interphase presents an exceptionally low energy barrier to ion transport, comparable to that of metallic magnesium. We evaluate this prediction by means of electrochemical measurements and direct visualization studies. These experiments reveal an approximately three-fold reduction in activation energy for ion transport at a sodium bromide interphase. Direct visualization of sodium electrodeposition confirms large improvements in stability of sodium deposition at sodium bromide-rich interphases.The chemistry at the interface between electrolyte and electrode plays a critical role in determining battery performance. Here, the authors show that a NaBr enriched solid-electrolyte interphase can lower the surface diffusion barrier for sodium ions, enabling stable electrodeposition.
This study investigated the association of diabetes in patients who recovered from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection with the presence of long-term post-coronavirus disease ...(COVID) symptoms. A case-control study that included individuals hospitalized during the first wave of the pandemic was conducted. Patients with a previous diagnosis of diabetes and under medical control were considered case subjects. Two age- and sex-matched patients without presenting diabetes per case subject were recruited as control subjects. Hospitalization and clinical data were collected from hospital medical records. Patients were scheduled for a telephone interview. A list of post-COVID symptoms was systematically evaluated, but participants were invited to freely report any symptom. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used to assess anxiety and depressive symptoms, and sleep quality, respectively. Multivariable conditional logistic regression models were constructed. Overall, 145 patients with diabetes and 144 control subjects without diabetes who had recovered from COVID-19 were assessed at 7.2 (SD 0.6) months after hospital discharge. The number of post-COVID symptoms was similar between groups (incident rate ratio 1.06, 95% CI 0.92-1.24,
= 0.372). The most prevalent post-COVID symptoms were fatigue, dyspnea on exertion, and pain. No between-groups differences in any post-COVID symptom were observed. Similarly, no differences in limitations with daily living activities were found between patients with and without diabetes. Diabetes was not a risk factor for experiencing long-term post-COVID symptoms.
In this work, a hyperelastic-thermoviscoplastic constitutive model including thermomechanical coupling is presented to predict the mechanical behavior of semi-crystalline polymers. The constitutive ...model is based on the original approach developed by Polanco-Loria and coauthors (2010) and it accounts for: material hardening due to strain rate sensitivity, temperature evolution during the deformation process due to heat generation induced by plastic dissipation, thermal softening and thermal expansion of the material. The parameters of the constitutive model have been identified for polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) from experimental data published by Rae and coauthors (2007). In order to analyze the predictive capacity of the model under dynamic conditions, the constitutive model has been implemented in a FE code within a large deformation framework to study two different problems: low velocity impact test on PEEK thin plates and dynamic necking on PEEK slender bar. These problems involve large and irreversible deformations, high strain rates and temperature increment due to plastic dissipation. The analysis determines the interplay between strain rate and thermal effects in the material behavior. The constitutive model presented herein reproduces adequately the mechanical behavior of PEEK under different thermal and loading conditions, demonstrating the importance of considering the coupling between temperature and strain rate.
•A hyperelastic-viscoplastic model for semi-crystalline polymers is developed.•Model includes thermo-mechanical coupling, temperature and rate dependencies.•Model implemented in a FE code is applied to study polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK).•Two dynamic problems were analyzed: low velocity impact test and dynamic necking.•Mechanical behavior under different thermal and strain rate conditions is analyzed.
► Changes in functionality of food proteins by high ultrasound treatment (HIUS) were evaluated. ► HIUS promoted a decrease in the consistency index of all protein solutions. ► The gelation properties ...of the samples were different depending on their structure. ► The aggregates size was reduced for whey and soy and increased for egg samples. ► Surface hydrophobicity was greatly increased after treatment for all proteins.
The objective of this work was to comparatively explore the impact of high intensity ultrasound (HIUS) on the functionality of some of the most used food proteins at the industrial level: whey protein concentrate (WPC), soy protein isolate (500E) and egg white protein (EW).
10% w/w solutions at pH 6.5–7.1 were treated with HIUS for 20min, in an ultrasonic processor. The operating conditions were: 20kHz, 4.27±0.71W and 20% of amplitude.
Before and after the HIUS treatment, the size of protein particles was measured by static light scattering. The amount of sulfhydryl groups was determined with Ellman’s reagent and the surface hydrophobicity by a fluorescence technique.
The effects of HIUS on samples viscosity were determined. The evolution of the elastic (G′) and viscous (G″) moduli as well as tan δ were registered upon time and temperature in a controlled stress rheometer.
In general, HIUS promoted a decrease in the consistency index of all protein solutions, mainly of soybean isolate. The gelation performance of EW was not modified by HIUS. However, WPC presented a higher elastic character, but 500E did not show changes upon heating, as it was already denatured before HIUS treatment. The size of aggregates suffered an overall reduction for WPC and 500E, but a slight increase for EW. Sulfhydryl content was unchanged for all proteins after HIUS application but surface hydrophobicity was greatly increased after treatment for all proteins. HIUS affected the studied functional properties differently depending on the size and nature of the protein. This technology could be used to obtain improved functional properties in some protein samples.
The new Sysmex UF‐1000i analyzer – which incorporates bacteria morphology distinction – allows to automatically screen samples to be cultured at microbiology laboratories. We have evaluated the ...feasibility and accuracy of Sysmex UF‐1000i to screen urinary tract infections (UTIs). A total amount of 2468 urine samples from six Spanish hospitals were analysed. Demographic and clinical data such as age, gender, source and sample type, preserving conditions, cytometer parameters (bacteria, leucocytes and bacteria morphology) as well as urine culture results (gold standard) were recorded. After applying data mining techniques, the variables of age, bacteria count and rod morphology were defined as predictive variables of UTIs. By using the UF‐1000i in combination with a predictive algorithm of three decision rules, we could identify 94·9 and 47·4% positive and negative urine samples, respectively, with a negative predictive value of 97 and only 1·17% diagnostic error. This error was reduced down to 0·4% when contaminated samples were excluded. Our results show that flow cytometry parameters together with age, by means of a predictive algorithm model, can be used to screen UTIs. Its implementation would avoid culturing 38% of urine samples, and therefore, would reduce time to diagnosis with a discrete false negative ratio.
Significance and Impact of the Study
Fluorescent flow cytometry performance has recently spread for urine screening. However, controversy about cytometer results can be drawn from medical literature. This study shows the diagnosis accuracy of Sysmex UF‐1000i analyzer by means of a group of decision rules encompassing both demographic variables (age) and cytometer parameters (bacteria, leucocytes and bacteria morphology). After applying the predictive algorithm, the UF‐1000i could optimally identify 95% urinary tract infections with high negative predictive value and low diagnostic error. Implementation of UF‐1000i would avoid culturing almost 38% of urine samples, thus reducing time to diagnosis, unnecessary antibiotic treatments and consequently improving cost‐effectiveness.
Significance and Impact of the Study: Fluorescent flow cytometry performance has recently spread for urine screening. However, controversy about cytometer results can be drawn from medical literature. This study shows the diagnosis accuracy of Sysmex UF‐1000i analyzer by means of a group of decision rules encompassing both demographic variables (age) and cytometer parameters (bacteria, leucocytes and bacteria morphology). After applying the predictive algorithm, the UF‐1000i could optimally identify 95% urinary tract infections with high negative predictive value and low diagnostic error. Implementation of UF‐1000i would avoid culturing almost 38% of urine samples, thus reducing time to diagnosis, unnecessary antibiotic treatments and consequently improving cost‐effectiveness.
The prokaryotic microbial communities (Bacteria and Archaea) of three different systems operating in Denmark for the treatment of domestic wastewater (horizontal flow constructed wetlands (HFCW), ...vertical flow constructed wetlands (VFCW) and biofilters (BF)) was analysed using endpoint PCR followed by Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE). Further sequencing of the most representative bacterial bands revealed that diverse and distinct bacterial communities were found in each system unit, being γ-Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes present mainly in all of them, while Firmicutes was observed in HFCW and BF. Members of the Actinobacteria group, although found in HFCW and VFCW, seemed to be more abundant in BF units. Finally, some representatives of α, β and δ-Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria and Chloroflexi were also retrieved from some samples. On the other hand, a lower archaeal diversity was found in comparison with the bacterial population. Cluster analysis of the DGGE bacterial band patterns showed that community structure was related to the design of the treatment system and the organic matter load, while no clear relation was established between the microbial assemblage and the wastewater influent.
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•Compared the community composition of different types of constructed wetland systems by PCR-DGGE.•Analyzed the bacterial diversity profiles over time.•Discarding the idea of community related to type of system.•Microbial community structure was related to the oxygen conditions (saturated or unsaturated) and organic matter load.•A lower diversity of aechae was found in comparison with the bacterial population.
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