Chagas disease is one of the most important vector‐borne diseases in Latin America, including Mexico. Meccus phyllosomus pallidipennis (Stål), 1872 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) is a Mexican triatomine ...vector that is commonly associated with hens and rabbits. The biological parameters of two cohorts fed on hens (H) and on rabbits (R) were evaluated. The median lifecycles of the two cohorts were 198 days (H) and 180 days (R). Moreover, mortality was around 30% in both cohorts. Time lapse for beginning of feeding was 0.5–1.9 (H) and 1.1–2.4 min (R). Feeding times of each instar in both cohorts were over 10 min. Most specimens fed on hens defecated immediately after feeding, whereas those that fed on rabbits defecated within 1–5 min post‐feeding. Similar numbers of males and females (50%) were obtained in both cohorts. An average of 2.1–2.3 eggs per female per day was noted in both cohorts, with eclosion rates of 95.4 (H) and 88.8% (R). Thus, it can be concluded that M. phyllosomus pallidipennis may take advantage of feeding in hens, as in rabbits, which could imply a higher risk of Trypanosoma cruzi transmission to humans and animals in its distribution area.
Biological parameters of two cohorts of Meccus phyllosomus pallidipennis fed on hens and rabbits as bloodmeal sources are reported, with slight advantages for the cohort fed on hens.
An apparent influence of the race of hens used as bloodmeal source was noticed.
Study parameters lead to considering that M. phyllosomus pallidipennis is a very skilful subspecies, as it can easily take advantage of feeding on different hosts.
Calcium ion movements between cellular stores and the cytosol govern muscle contraction, the most energy-consuming function in mammals, which confers skeletal myofibers a pivotal role in glycemia ...regulation. Chronic myoplasmic calcium elevation ("calcium stress"), found in malignant hyperthermia-susceptible (MHS) patients and multiple myopathies, has been suggested to underlie the progression from hyperglycemia to insulin resistance. What drives such progression remains elusive. We find that muscle cells derived from MHS patients have increased content of an activated fragment of GSK3β - a specialized kinase that inhibits glycogen synthase, impairing glucose utilization and delineating a path to hyperglycemia. We also find decreased content of junctophilin1, an essential structural protein that colocalizes in the couplon with the voltage-sensing Ca
1.1, the calcium channel RyR1 and calpain1, accompanied by an increase in a 44 kDa junctophilin1 fragment (JPh44) that moves into nuclei. We trace these changes to activated proteolysis by calpain1, secondary to increased myoplasmic calcium. We demonstrate that a JPh44-like construct induces transcriptional changes predictive of increased glucose utilization in myoblasts, including less transcription and translation of GSK3β and decreased transcription of proteins that reduce utilization of glucose. These effects reveal a stress-adaptive response, mediated by the novel regulator of transcription JPh44.
Background Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has emerged as a potential treatment option for local tumor control of primary malignancies of the pancreas. We report on our experience with ...SBRT in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma who were found not to be candidates for surgical resection. Methods The prospective database of the first 20 consecutive patients receiving SBRT for unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinomas and a neuroendocrine tumor under an IRB approved protocol was reviewed. Prior to SBRT, cylindrical solid gold fiducial markers were placed within or around the tumor endoscopically ( n = 13), surgically ( n = 4), or percutaneously under computerized tomography (CT)-guidance ( n = 3) to allow for tracking of tumor during therapy. Mean radiation dose was 25 Gray (Gy) (range 22–30 Gy) delivered over 1–3 fractions. Chemotherapy was given to 68% of patients in various schedules/timing. Results Patients had a mean gross tumor volume of 57.2 cm3 (range 10.1–118 cm3 ) before SBRT. The mean total gross tumor volume reduction at 3 and 6 mo after SBRT were 21% and 38%, respectively ( P < 0.05). Median follow-up was 14.57 mo (range 5–23 mo). The overall rate of freedom from local progression at 6 and 12 mo were 88% and 65%. The probability of overall survival at 6 and 12 mo were 89% and 56%. No patient had a complication related to fiducial markers placement regardless of modality. The rate of radiation-induced adverse events was: grade 1–2 (11%) and grade 3 (16%). There were no grade 4/5 adverse events seen. Conclusion Our preliminary results showed SBRT as a safe and likely effective local treatment modality for pancreatic primary malignancy with acceptable rate of adverse events.
Coal has been a valuable natural resource for Mexico not just for its relative abundance but for its critical role in the development of the steel and energy industries. It has been also important in ...the socioeconomic context of the northeast of the country. However, since years ago, coal mining is facing a transition due to the emergence of new energy sources and the public concern about global warming. A brief review on coal reserves, production and possible non-power uses was carried out to provide insight on the reserves in a global context, extraction patterns and alternatives that the Mexican coal industry has to evolve. For this purpose, Mexican coal reserves were overviewed and contextualized at a global level and total coal production figures from 1970 to 2021 were analyzed to identify fluctuations and differences in the amounts produced between coking and non-coking coal. Further, rare earth elements, carbon fiber and humic acid from coal were briefly reviewed with the aim of initiating a debate on the high value-added products that can be obtained and the technologies that can be adopted to develop the coal industry of Mexico. Coal proven reserves in Mexico are of 1211 million tonnes and, from 1970 to 2021, 428.11 million tonnes have been produced. Of the total cumulative production, 68.8% corresponds to non-coking coal and 31.2% to coking coal.
Background
There is a lack of health promotion programming designed to change the physical activity environment of the group home setting. The Menu‐Choice programme assists staff in creating physical ...activity goals alongside residents with intellectual disabilities and provides strategies to incorporate activity into the group home schedule. The purpose of this study was to complete a process evaluation of Menu‐Choice utilizing qualitative methods.
Methods
Twelve participants, who completed a 10‐week pilot intervention (n = 7 staff, mean age 42; n = 5 residents, mean age 52), participated in face‐to‐face interviews. Participants represented five group home sites involved in the intervention.
Results
Meta‐themes included: (i) Programme training, (ii) Programme implementation, (iii) Programme physical activity, (iv) Programme barriers, (v) Programme facilitators and (vi) Programme feedback.
Conclusions
Changes in programme training and simplified programme materials are needed to accommodate identified barriers for implementation. The importance of obtaining increased agency support and policy change is highlighted.
Although electrochemical characterization has been used to elucidate the species formed during hydrometallurgical processes, it has not been commonly applied to the cyanidation of precious metal ...tellurides. In this study, voltammetric characterization of the silver telluride (Ag2Te) reaction system in alkaline cyanide solutions (pH 10.9 and 1250 mg/L CN−) was carried out making use of carbon paste electrodes. For this purpose, the electrochemical reactions system of elemental silver and elemental tellurium were first studied by cyclic voltammetry in two aqueous media (i.e., aqueous solution at pH 10.9, and 1250 mg/L CN− at pH 10.9) and, by comparing the cyclic voltammograms obtained with those for Ag2Te, the electrochemical reaction system was elucidated. The results obtained showed that the anodic oxidation of Ag2Te in alkaline cyanide solutions occurred by at least two consecutive steps according to:
Step 1 (fast reaction): Ag2Te + 4CN− ↔ Te + 2Ag(CN)2− + 2e−.
Step 2 (slow reaction): Te + 3H2O ↔ TeO32− + 6H+ + 4e−
while the cathodic reduction of Ag2Te in alkaline cyanide solutions occurred according to:Ag2Te+2e−↔2Ag+Te2−
•Anodic and cathodic potential dependent-reactions of Ag2Te were investigated.•Carbon paste electrodes in alkaline cyanide solutions were used.•The anodic oxidation of Ag2Te occurred in at least two consecutive steps.•The cathodic reduction of Ag2Te produced elemental silver and released Te2−.•SEM-EDS results support electrochemical results.
With its multifaceted health benefits, ginger is one of the commonly consumed dietary condiments with continued demand worldwide leading to more importation into countries such as the U.S. The ...rhizome of ginger, the seed-piece but also the edible portion, is highly vulnerable to pathogen infections causing seed-piece and soil-borne diseases (SSDs). Laboratory and high tunnel (HT) studies were conducted between 2018 and 2020 to evaluate the effect of soil and transplant drenches of selected biocontrol agents (BCAs) and chemicals. In vitro dual-culture tests revealed that the Trichoderma harzianum strain T-22 (Th-22) grew significantly faster than Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. zingiberi (Foz), the fungus causing yellows and rhizome rot in ginger. Th-22 grew more than three times faster than Foz within 3 days and engulfed the pathogen within 7 days when incubated at 30 °C. The bioproducts (RootShield® Plus, LifeGard®), an insecticide/nematicide (Vydate®) and disinfectant (10% Clorox) tested against Foz and any pre-existing pathogens in a HT significantly reduced severity of yellowing and rhizome rot when compared with the non-treated control. Yield was significantly higher for RootShield® Plus compared to the control in one of the trials. Spatially, declining ginger growth but an increased incidence of SSDs were observed as one walked from the door towards the back of the HT. Phospho-lipid fatty acid analysis showed better microbial activity on soils that received drenches of BCAs than on soils sampled pre-treatment.
TOR proteins, also known as targets of rapamycin, are serine/threonine kinases involved in various signaling pathways that regulate cell growth. The protozoan parasite
is the causative agent of ...giardiasis, a neglected infectious disease in humans. In this study, we used a bioinformatics approach to examine the structural features of GTOR, a
TOR-like protein, and predict functional associations. Our findings confirmed that it shares significant similarities with functional TOR kinases, including a binding domain for the FKBP-rapamycin complex and a kinase domain resembling that of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related kinases. In addition, it can form multiprotein complexes such as TORC1 and TORC2. These results provide valuable insights into the structure-function relationship of GTOR, highlighting its potential as a molecular target for controlling
cell proliferation. Furthermore, our study represents a step toward rational drug design for specific anti-giardiasis therapeutic agents.
•We show that IFMIF-DONES has the potentiality to be a competitive multi-purpose medium-flux neutron facility•A large range of non-fusion experiments will be possible at the IFMIF-DONES facility•A ...fast neutron beam will be available with a flux of about 21010 n/cm2/s•Thermal neutron fluxes can also be obtained with moderators but limited to a maximum in the range of about 107 n/cm2/s
The IFMIF-DONES facility will be dedicated to the irradiation of structural materials planned for the use in future fusion reactors such as DEMO (Demonstration Fusion Power Plant). The potentialities of the IFMIF-DONES facility to complement its principal purpose by other experiments that would open the facility to other communities is addressed in this work. It concerns a study based on simulations to evaluate the neutronic performances of IFMIF-DONES in an hall dedicated to complementary experiments where neutrons can be transported. With the simple beam tube geometry of 4.5 cm entrance diameter studied in this work we have shown that a collimated fast-neutron beam of about 2 1010 n/cm2/s is available in the hall. Adding a moderator in the hall with neutron extraction lines would allow to get thermal neutron beams of about 106-107 n/cm2/s for dedicated experiments. The results show that IFMIF-DONES has the potentialities to be a medium-flux neutron facility for most of the neutron applications.
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